Performance Review: Porsche 944 Turbo - [1984]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Porsche 944 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Porsche 944 Turbo is the 5 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 1984. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1985 Lamborghini Countach LP5000S QV and the 1984 Audi Quattro Sport 2.2 T.This particular Porsche 944 has a 2479cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The 944 shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the 944's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1280 kgs (2821 lbs) this makes the Porsche 944 Turbo in the same weight category as the 2023 McLaren 750S 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The Porsche 944 shares the same bhp with the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (228 bhp)

In terms of power the 2479cc 8V St4 engine produces 217 bhp (161 kW) @ 5800 rpm similar to the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (228 bhp) or the 2020 Audi TT S Turbo 50 TFSI (225 bhp).

The Turbo St4 throws out 243 lb-ft (329.4 Nm) @ 3500 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (236 lb-ft) or the 2020 Toyota Camry TRD 3.5 V6 (267 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Porsche 944 you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2004 Porsche Boxster S 3.2 987 (194.3 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Porsche 944.

The Porsche 944 has a Power to weight ratio of 169.5 bhp per ton and 189.8 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1984 944 competing with the 2004 Porsche Boxster S 3.2 987 (194.3 bhp per ton) or the 1992 BMW 5 Series M5 E34 (194.2 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Porsche 944 generating around 189.8 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2012 Audi R8 5.2 V10 Spyder (214.8 lb-ft per ton) or the 2003 Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale (214.8 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 5.90 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 6.1 secs, this made the Porsche 944 Turbo as fast as the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost Automatic (5.90 secs) the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost Automatic Wagon (5.90 secs) the 2017 Hyundai i30 N Performance 2.0 Turbo (5.90 secs) the or the 2015 Seat Leon ST Cupra 280 (5.90 secs). This Porsche 944 Turbo is also faster than the 2019 Land-Rover Defender 110 3.0 Turbo (6.00 secs) the 2017 Dodge Challenger GT 3.6 V6 AWD (6.00 secs) the 2017 Toyota Century 5.0 V8 (6.00 secs) the and the 2015 Seat Leon ST Cupra 265 (6.00 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the 944 and the 1986 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth

When talking about the performance of the Porsche 944 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.8 secs @ 92.4 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1986 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth (14.74 secs), the 2006 Porsche Cayman 2.7 (14.74 secs), and the 1990 Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth 4x4 (14.74 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1984 version of the Porsche 944 Turbo has a maximum speed of 152mph.

Top Speed of the 1984 944 equals the 2020 Ford Mustang Bullitt 5.0 V8 (163 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1984 Porsche 944 Turbo then how about the 2020 Ford Mustang Bullitt 5.0 V8 (163 mph), the 2019 Renault Megane RS 1.8 Turbo 300 Trophy-R (163 mph), or the 1996 Lotus Esprit 2.0 Turbo GT3 (163 mph).

Related Links:

1984 944 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Porsche

Car Comparison