- "Just like a Cossie to drive, but more expensive."
- ―Clarkson's Top 100 Cars
The Porsche 944 is a sports car manufactured by German automobile manufacturer Porsche from 1982 to 1991. A front-engine, rear-wheel drive mid-level model based on the 924 platform, the 944 was available in coupé or cabriolet body styles, with either naturally aspirated or turbocharged engines. With over 163,000 cars produced, the 944 was the most successful sports car in Porsche's history until the introductions of the Boxster and 997 Carrera. It featured a 4-cylinder engine at the front and was rear wheel drive.
Despite his dislike towards Porsche, Jeremy Clarkson has spoken fondly of the 944 praising it's style, handling, balance, speed, comfort and pop-up headlamps.
Appearances[]
- In Clarkson's Top 100 Cars, the 944 comes in at 36th place.
- In Series 5, Episode 6, James buys a 944 as his £1500 Porsche agaisnt Richard in a 924 and Jeremy in a 928. Despite winning many challenges and proving to be a solid all rounder the 944 ultimately loses to the 928.
- In Clarkson: Thriller, Jeremy buys a D Registered 944 Turbo for £5000, praising it's speed, comfort, ease of use, pop-up headlamps and comfort. He then fits rocket lauchers to it and uses them to rid the world of all of it's problems speed cameras, buses and traffic wombles.
- In Series 13, Episode 5, Jeremy buys a 944 S2 for under £1500 in a bid to prove that RWD cars are better than FWD against Richard in a Nissan 300ZX and James in a Ford Capri 2.8L Injection (later a Morris Marina) as they travel across France. Despite meding his car and it being a solid overall package, he ultimately loses a race on ice against James in the Marina.
- In Top Gear USA "Fully Charged" Wood uses an all electric powered 944 to out drag a dragster.
- In Series 22, Episode 3, Jeremy buys a 944 Turbo and converts it into an Ambulance, which he nicknames the Rambulance against James in a Ford Scorpio Cosworth hearse (nicknamed the ECNALUBMA) and Richard in a Chevrolet G20 V8 van (nicknamed Low Cost Nuclear Waste). Jeremy modified the 944 by painting it in Gulf Livery, fitting a hydraulic handbrake, a split tailgate and a large lowering ram to knock parked vehicles out of the way. The Rambulance's siren played "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees. Despite winning the most challenges, he ultimately loses to Richard despite the latter having a worse vehicle.
- In Top Gear USA "America vs Europe" Foust purchases a 944 due to him having heritage from Germany against Ferrara's Italian built Alfa Romeo Spider and Wood's British Built Jaguar XJS