When you go back and read nearly every car magazine in the 1980's, you'll find the same kind of road tests that exist today. In dozens of issues you'll find sports car comparisons, and the car that was consistently at the top of the heap was the Porsche 944. With its superb handling and more than adequate power, this 1989 Porsche 944 is still a great drive, and a fully serviced, unabused car like this one is an awesome find.Outside, shiny Azurite Blue paint is one of the classic Porsche colors. It highlights every curve while looking subdued and timeless, and that's no small feat. The paint is in nice shape with good gloss, showing off superior Porsche quality and excellent maintenance over the past 28 years. The original windows are clean and clear, as are the lights and lenses, and it doesn't look like it's spent much time outdoors. Pop-up headlamps might be a thing of the past but they sure did clean up the front view on a sports car. Other options seen here are the factory alarm system, the rear window wiper and the sunroof. You can tilt up the sunroof as shown in the pictures, or you can remove it entirely; it's the 944's cool parlor trick, and it's perfect for making the car feel even more open. The hatchback design, coupled with folding rear seats, means a 944 can swallow a huge amount of cargo. As cool as the car looks it's also immensely practical.Inside, Porsche's engineers made sure there was plenty of room and plenty of visibility for driver and passenger. Blue leather power buckets are supportive and make it easy to settle in behind the wheel, and this car is loaded with options: A/C, power windows, locks, and mirrors, and even cruise control! Pillars are thin and the amount of glass is surprising, so there really aren't any blind spots, which might be why these cars are still so popular as track cars. There's a factory Blaupunkt AM/FM/cassette stereo in the dash just ahead of the stubby 5-speed shifter, and as you look around, you'll find that it is in splendid condition that's all out of proportion to its price. 944s make great weekend cars, great cars for long trips, and great commuter cars. They really can do it all.Under the hood is the 2.7-liter 4-cylinder that owes its architecture to big brother 928's V8. 165 Horsepower doesn't sound like a lot, but this car tips the scales at around 2900 pounds, so it's more than enough to get the car moving in a hurry and on to a top speed of better than 130 MPH. The engines themselves are extremely durable, and the only real maintenance is a timing belt service which was done recently on this car. The large displacement allows the engine to be very flexible with lots of torque down low so that you're not constantly shifting. Not that the transmission is a problem: The Audi-sourced gearbox finds cogs quickly and efficiently. The engine, transaxle and steering systems look dry, which isn't always the case with a 30-year-old car. Look at the pictures, but you really have to drive the car to see what's going on here. Standard "phone dial" wheels are a cool '80s throwback and carry 215/65/15 Pirelli radials with lots of life left in them.944's are seriously underrated and undervalued, but that's changing. With 911 prices skyrocketing, collectors are turning their attention to Porsche's other models. These drive better than a 911, are more practical, and get you piles of thumbs-ups. Call today and see for yourself!