Porsche 944: Options & Equipment
The Porsche 944 was offered for the 1983–1991 model years. This page documents 42 equipment codes across 6 trims for the United States market, grouped into 9 categories. Select a trim at left to see its specific options and standard equipment. “No charge” marks no-cost equipment and “—” marks an option whose period price has not yet been sourced. Showing 1987 prices: “Not offered” marks equipment that wasn’t on that year’s order sheet, which is different from a price we haven’t sourced.
Background
The 944 used the 924’s body shell and transaxle layout with flared wheel arches and a Porsche-designed 2.5-litre inline-four in place of the Volkswagen engine. The engine was closely related to one bank of the 928’s V8 and used twin balance shafts, under a licence from Mitsubishi, to reduce vibration. Like the 924, it was built at Neckarsulm.
A revision in mid-1985 introduced a new dashboard and interior. The 944 Turbo followed for 1986 with a turbocharged 2.5-litre engine and a restyled nose with an integrated bumper, and the 16-valve 944 S was offered for 1987 and 1988. The 1988 944 Turbo S was a higher-output Turbo with a limited-slip differential, and the engine of the base 944 grew to 2.7 litres for 1989.
The 944 S2 of 1989 to 1991 had a 3.0-litre 16-valve engine and adopted the Turbo’s nose. A 944 S2 Cabriolet was offered in the US for 1990 and 1991. Every 944 sold in the US had a five-speed manual gearbox, with a three-speed automatic optional on the base 944.
Body Styles
Model Range
| Trim | Body | Model years | Curb weight | Base price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 944 | Coupe | 1983–1989 | 1260 kg | $36,360 |
| 944 Turbo | Coupe | 1986–1989 | 1280 kg | $47,600 |
| 944 S | Coupe | 1987–1988 | 1300 kg | $34,580 |
| 944 Turbo S | Coupe | 1988 | 1360 kg | $45,275 |
| 944 S2 | Coupe | 1989–1991 | 1360 kg | $43,350 |
| 944 S2 Cabriolet | Cabriolet | 1990–1991 | 1410 kg | $50,350 |
Transmission
| Code | Option | Availability | Price, 1987 (USD) | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | 5-speed manual transaxle | 944 Turbo, 944, 944 S | — | |
| 249 | Automatic transmission | 944 | — | |
| — | 5-speed manual transaxle with external oil cooler | 944 Turbo S | Not offered |
Performance & Sound
| Code | Option | Availability | Price, 1987 (USD) | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 220 | Limited-slip differential | 944, 944 Turbo, 944 S, 944 Turbo S | Not offered |
Chassis & Brakes
| Code | Option | Availability | Price, 1987 (USD) | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Rear stabilizer bar | 944 Turbo | — | |
| 593 | Anti-lock brakes (ABS) | 944, 944 Turbo, 944 S, 944 Turbo S | Not offered | |
| 404 | Heavy-duty front and rear stabilizer bars | 944, 944 Turbo, 944 S | $160 | |
| 474 | Sport shock absorbers | 944, 944 Turbo, 944 S | $260 | |
| 030 | Firmer springs and shock absorbers, thicker front stabilizer bar, stiffer suspension bushings | 944 Turbo S | Not offered | |
| — | Stabilizer bars and sport shock absorbers | 944 | Not offered |
Exterior Design
| Code | Option | Availability | Price, 1987 (USD) | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Rear underbody spoiler | 944 Turbo | — | |
| 650 | Removable sunroof with electric tilt | 944, 944 Turbo, 944 S, 944 Turbo S | $869 | |
| — | Outside mirrors, electrically adjustable and heated | 944, 944 Turbo, 944 S | — | |
| — | Rear spoiler | 944, 944 Turbo, 944 S | — | |
| 455 | Wheel anti-theft locks | 944 Turbo, 944, 944 S | — observed $50 (1983) | |
| 418 | Protective side moldings | 944, 944 Turbo, 944 S, 944 Turbo S | Not offered | |
| — | 16-Ventiler lettering | 944 S | Not offered |
Lighting
| Code | Option | Availability | Price, 1987 (USD) | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 288 | Headlight washers | 944 Turbo, 944, 944 S, 944 Turbo S | Not offered | |
| — | Integrated fog lights | 944 Turbo, 944, 944 S | — |
Seats
| Code | Option | Availability | Price, 1987 (USD) | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Sport seats in leather or cloth | 944, 944 Turbo, 944 S | — | |
| 139 | Heated front seats | 944, 944 Turbo, 944 S | — | |
| — | Heated power-adjustable comfort seats in sport cloth | 944 Turbo S | Not offered | |
| — | Individually folding rear seat backs | 944 Turbo S | Not offered | |
| — | Partial leather seats | 944 S, 944 Turbo S, 944 S2, 944, 944 S2 Cabriolet | $518 | |
| — | Full power driver seat | 944 S2 Cabriolet | Not offered | |
| — | Full power front passenger seat | 944 S2 Cabriolet | Not offered |
Comfort & Assistance
| Code | Option | Availability | Price, 1987 (USD) | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Power windows | 944 Turbo, 944, 944 S, 944 Turbo S | Not offered | |
| — | Electric rear window defroster | 944, 944 Turbo, 944 S | — | |
| 454 | Cruise control | 944, 944 Turbo, 944 S, 944 Turbo S | $384 | |
| 533 | Alarm system | 944, 944 Turbo, 944 S | — observed $210 (1986) · $250 (1988) | |
| — | Automatic climate control air conditioning | 944, 944 Turbo, 944 S, 944 Turbo S | Not offered | |
| 341 | Central locking | 944, 944 Turbo, 944 S, 944 Turbo S | $325 | |
| 425 | Rear window wiper | 944, 944 Turbo, 944 S, 944 Turbo S | Not offered | |
| 562 | Driver and passenger airbags | 944 Turbo, 944, 944 S | — |
Infotainment & Audio
| Code | Option | Availability | Price, 1987 (USD) | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Windshield antenna with four speakers and radio prewiring | 944 Turbo, 944, 944 S | — | |
| — | Blaupunkt cassette radio with digital display | 944, 944 Turbo, 944 S | $623 | |
| — | Ten-speaker stereo sound system | 944 Turbo S | Not offered | |
| — | Hi-Fi sound system with amplifier | 944 Turbo S, 944 S2, 944 S2 Cabriolet | Not offered | |
| — | AM/FM radio with CD player | 944 Turbo S, 944 S2, 944 S2 Cabriolet | Not offered |
Interior Personalisation
| Code | Option | Availability | Price, 1987 (USD) | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 981 | Full leather interior | 944 Turbo, 944, 944 S | — | |
| — | Leather-covered four-spoke sport steering wheel and shift lever | 944, 944 Turbo, 944 S | — observed $70 (1983) · $74 (1986) | |
| 423 | Front center armrest with cassette and coin holder | 944, 944 Turbo, 944 S | — observed $35 (1983) |
Missing something?
Got a build sheet or window sticker listing an option we don’t have? Add it. Everything gets checked before it goes in.
Sources
Compiled from period Porsche brochures, Porsche press releases and technical specifications, Porsche’s approved-wheel bulletins, US-market paint and specification listings, EPA fuel-economy data and, for model years no Porsche document covers, published reference works. Figures are provisional historical data provided without warranty.
For software and AI agents: this page as Markdown, this generation as JSON, and llms.txt for the whole dataset.