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The Chevrolet Corvette coupe and Porsche 944 turbo coupe cater to those who don`t have to worry about where the next gourmet meal is coming from.

Both are high-powered, high-priced sports models-fun-to-drive, fun-to-be- seen-in machines that are a cut above average.

It`s domestic versus import among the performance crowd.

We stepped out of the 1989 Corvette (Cartalk, April 23)and into the 1989 Porsche 944 turbo.

The 944 turbo is in a league of its own, but not simply because of the body style or off-the-line power or the fact it`s an import. The 944 stands apart from the competition because the West German automaker did the unthinkable. After a dramatic decline in sales, Porsche lowered the price.

No $200 rebate or 2.9 percent financing to lure buyers. This was a $2,700 chunk taken off the sticker, a 5.7 percent price reduction to $44,900 from $47,600. How un-American-though from a West German automaker, you can excuse the approach.

Most retailers mark down the sticker when an item doesn`t sell. The $500 suit moves to $400, the $400 television set to $300, the $300 lawnmower to $200 and so on.

It`s different among carmakers, however. The $20,000 car doesn`t sell so the factory offers 2.9 percent financing. That means the factory priced the car so high that you can`t afford it. But rather than reduce the price, the factory lowers the amount of the monthly financing on that high price. Though economics professors blush, the generosity brings a tear to many consumers.

What a refreshing change of pace by Porsche. The automaker realized $47,600 was too stiff a price whether financed at 0 or 6.9 percent for 60 months, so it bit the bullet.

Before you reach in pocket or purse and sympathetically send a donation to Porsche, keep in mind that the $47,600 starting price for the `89 944 turbo last fall was up $7,845 from the `88 sticker. So, though the $2,700 price cut is significant, it isn`t the $7,845 added when the `89s reached showrooms.

Porsche said the $7,845 was added to cover the cost of making standard antilock brakes, cruise control, anti theft alarm, electric sunroof and a Blaupunkt AM/FM stereo with cassette, along with a limited slip differential, transmission oil cooler, forged alloy wheels with larger tires and a 30 percent boost in horsepower.

Total Porsche U.S. sales in the first three months of this year were down 59 percent, to 1,808 units from 4,426 a year earlier. Those numbers tell why Porsche cut prices.

Oddly enough, many observers blame Porsche`s relatively inexpensive 924, when it was in vogue, for much of its trouble.

Though a success, the $20,000 924 took some of the lustre off the Porsche name. Imagine tooling your 944 or 928 along Lake Shore Drive and having some geek in a 924 that cost about the same as a Chevy Caprice roll by with upraised thumb as a sign of Porsche brotherhood. You`d pr obably upchuck your quiche.

The 924was intended to be a low-priced model to bring those wanting a sports car into the Porsche fold and move them up into a 944 or 928. But the move backfired.

Then the value of the dollar fell against the German mark, and the 924 price started rising rapidly. Those who wanted a “cheap“ Porsche were priced out of the market. The 924 was dropped in 1988. And the increase in the mark that sent924 prices skyrocketing also had its effect on the 944, 911 and 928. Thus the $47,600 Porsche 944 turbo, slumping sales and need for a price reduction.

Base price of the Vette, by comparison, is $31,545 or $13,355 less than the 944 turbo.

Having moved from the Vette into the 944 turbo, a comparison was obvious. The 944 is powered by a 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine that develops247 horsepower with its turbo boost. It`s teamed with a 5-speed manual. The Vette comes with the 5.7-liter, 245 horsepower nonturbo V-8, a few l ess horses from a larger displacement engine. It comes with a 6-speed manual.

The Porsche 5-speed and Vette 6-speed shifted smoothly. There`s no first- to-fourth gear feature in the Porsche to fool with, however.

The Vette seemed quicker off the line. The Porsche breaks into a gallop when the turbo kicks in, but there seemed to be a pause at each gear until reaching full power. Porsche seems to propel you in bursts, Vette in a one- slap-into-the-seat motion. The edge to the Vette.

The folks at Porsche figured enthusiasts wanted the 944 turbo to have a more rigid suspension, so springs and shock rates were stiffened and a larger stabilizer bar was added. The Vette came with an optional FX-3 suspension with three settings for soft, firm and performance.

The 944 turbo was stiff without being unduly harsh. Corners and turns at speed were very good, with only slight lean in sharp corners. But the FX-3 at Chevrolet was ideal regardless of speed. Left in the performance mode, the Vette seemed to have better road manners, less harshness and superior road holding and hugging ability. The Vette`s Goodyear unidirectional 16-inch tires seemed to stick better to the pavement than the Goodyear Eagles on the Porsche turbo.

The power steering on the Porsche was very stiff at low speeds and really didn`t limber up until the accelerator moved closer to the firewall. The edge to Vette again.

The price you pay for performance with the Vette was a 16 mile-per-gallon city, 25 m.p.g. highway mileage rating. The 944 turbo is rated at 19/27 m.p.g. So give the fuel economy edge to Porsche.

The 944 turbo is built on a 94.5-inch wheelbase and is 168.9 inches long. That compares with a 96.2-inch wheelbase and 176.5-inch length on the Vette. Both require a working knowledge of and skill in aerobics to get in and out. Both are two-seaters, though Porsche does have two seats in back that aren`t quite large enough for humans. Roominess goes to the Vette.

Other standard equipment on the Porsche 944 turbo includes power brakes and steering, power windows and door locks and rear defroster.

In the safety department, the 944 turbo has driver- and passenger-side air bags as well as antilock brakes as standard. The Vette has antilock brakes as standard, but no air bag. The edge goes to Porsche.

Then there are the intangibles-styling and prestige.

The `89 Vette is vanilla, very plain compared with models before 1984. The 944 is more of a head-turner and finger-pointer. Porsche gets the nod for styling.

As for prestige or snob factor, it goes to Porsche hands down. You find Vettes parked at the softball field when the local pub is playing. Porsches take the first 10 places outside the racquetball club. Vette owners have unlisted phones at home; Porsche owners have unlisted phones in their cars.

1989 Porsche 944 Turbo
Wheelbase: 94.5 inches Length: 168.9 inches Engine: 2.5 liter, 247 h.p. four Transmission: 5-speed manual. Fuel economy: 19/27 Base price: $44,900 Strong point: Styling, power Weak point: Price >>