I’m at the complete opposite end of the 944 Turbo ownership spectrum from this guy, and I can appreciate that immensely. I have a half-million mile 944 Turbo in my driveway right now with a cracked dash, a leaky power steering pump, and an old tired motor, and I love every minute of driving that beast around. Steve Bastian has a perfectly restored and track-prepared daily driver 944 Turbo that he says has had at least $200,000 spent on it, split between himself and the prior owner. Judging by the craftsmanship and the quality of the parts used in the build, I believe him completely. This is not an ordinary 944 Turbo, it’ll track down and beat many cars costing multiple times more.
“There’s nothing like going down a country road, seein’ her spool up, and get down on it!”
I’m not sure that Steve’s 944 is worth several orders of magnitude more than my own 951, but it certainly makes a lot more power with a 3-liter and a huge turbo, and it’ll run rings around mine at the track. Every inch of this 944 has been massaged in the search for perfection, and it might be as close as one can get. One thing is for certain, I’d rather have a perfectly perfected 944 Turbo than a brand new GT3, wouldn’t you? There is something to that old-school analog driving experience that delivers something a modern car just can’t. Even more true when the old school car is old school turbocharged. With lag you can measure with the minute hand of your watch, and power you can feel in the small of your back, this 944 is bound to be hair raising, at a minimum.
In the Porsche world, there are many fanatics who will spend irresponsible money building their dreams. In Steve’s case, much more has been “invested” than the car will ever be worth. The fact is, he knows the car is an act of fiscal idiocy, and loves it all the more for it. This is an owner who will never get rid of his 944, and will likely preach the awesome-ness of the transaxle Porsche for several other folks to “find the light” and make their own 944 purchase. It’s time for the transaxle car to be known as one of the best Porsche driving experiences of all time. Get out and drive one, and you’ll find out just how great it is. Hell, I have three of them, just give me a call and we’ll go for a drive!