Spotting a Porsche 944 in the wild still brings a small thrill. I’m used to seeing a couple regularly – a silvery-gold one that often turns up at Phoenix Classics meets and Ed Keech’s VR6‑powered drag racer in the VWDRC – but to come across one parked unannounced at the roadside is something else. For years they were the overlooked Porsche, the one your mate’s uncle might have picked up in the 1990s as a cheap way into the badge. Time has been kind though, and now the 944 stands tall as one of the defining sports coupés of its era. This white example looked terrific, broad‑shouldered and neatly proportioned, with just enough everyday wear to prove it’s driven rather than cosseted. The pop‑up headlamps were left raised, giving it a faintly startled look, but that only added to the charm.
I’ve always had a soft spot for 944s. Detractors might dismiss them as “just a glorified Capri,” but that misses the point – they’re cars that bridge classic and modern, still practical and easy to live with, yet brimming with the kind of analogue tactility newer Porsches can only dream of. This one wore a set of base‑model 996 Carrera 4 wheels, a later touch that suited the shape well, giving it a subtle OEM+ flavour and adding a hint of Stuttgart continuity without looking forced. For years the 944 was touted as the affordable way into Porsche ownership, but prices have crept up and it’s the early Boxsters that now carry that label. All the more reason to savour the sight: a reminder that Porsche once built front‑engined coupés that felt utterly, unarguably right.