Porsche for under 20k

jasst

Member
Messages
2,313
Knowing that a lot of you have experience of different marques, as a purely hypothetical question, if you had 20k to spend on a Porsche, what would you buy, and why, and more importantly which is to be avoided. Discuss. ;)
 

outrun

Member
Messages
5,017
You're a little short for a really good 911 unless you go for a 996, non-widebody car. A couple more grand will get you into a 996 carrera 4S which is worth pushing for. Make sure it's manual and the PSE - Porsche Sports Exhaust, which is turned on by a wee button to the right of the stereo.

Otherside, get the newest Cayman S that you can (or Boxster if you prefer wind in your hair) for the money. In this case, you can get PDK with the optional paddles on the sports steering wheel, PDK is from around 2009/10 on the facelift cars, don't mistake is for Tiptronic on the earlier cars which is pants and must be avoided.

I've assumed you want a sporty Porsche and not a 4X4 or Panamera type.
 

c4sman

Member
Messages
1,243
Buy the best Boxster or Cayman you can afford. Avoid 911 at this price as a false economy. Same advice as with most cars, in that you should buy on condition and history rather than age and mileage alone. 20k should get you a 987 variant. 987 come as 987.1 and 987.2. The .2 is a much safer buy if you can find one in you budget as they don’t suffer with a bearing failing called the IMS. This is the main Achilles heel of the .1 cars but doesn’t exist on the .2 cars so they are a safer bet.
Boxster and Cayman are epic cars, massively underrated and anyone who says they’re a poor mans Porsche has probably never driven one or been driven in one (and doesn’t understand what poor means).
 

jasst

Member
Messages
2,313
You're a little short for a really good 911 unless you go for a 996, non-widebody car. A couple more grand will get you into a 996 carrera 4S which is worth pushing for. Make sure it's manual and the PSE - Porsche Sports Exhaust, which is turned on by a wee button to the right of the stereo.

Otherside, get the newest Cayman S that you can (or Boxster if you prefer wind in your hair) for the money. In this case, you can get PDK with the optional paddles on the sports steering wheel, PDK is from around 2009/10 on the facelift cars, don't mistake is for Tiptronic on the earlier cars which is pants and must be avoided.

I've assumed you want a sporty Porsche and not a 4X4 or Panamera type.
Oh def sporty!
 

Nayf

Member
Messages
2,734
I echo others regarding 996s in this bracket.
Can be a minefield, and even excellent prospects can drop an eight grand bollock. BIL is going through the typical misery right now. It’s a choice between the right car (manual, 2WD) but a bit rough, or a mint wrongun (tiptronic, Cabrio).
The Cayman S at this price point makes so much more sense, but it felt a bit too… prim and proper, not helped by me driving an R before I drove an S. The Z4M for similar money is more my kinda thing.
 

DavidL

Member
Messages
214
944 turbo. Should be solid enough at that money but not perfect. Sensible mods take you to 300bhp and properly set up they are great to drive.
 

outrun

Member
Messages
5,017
Buy the best Boxster or Cayman you can afford. Avoid 911 at this price as a false economy. Same advice as with most cars, in that you should buy on condition and history rather than age and mileage alone. 20k should get you a 987 variant. 987 come as 987.1 and 987.2. The .2 is a much safer buy if you can find one in you budget as they don’t suffer with a bearing failing called the IMS. This is the main Achilles heel of the .1 cars but doesn’t exist on the .2 cars so they are a safer bet.
Boxster and Cayman are epic cars, massively underrated and anyone who says they’re a poor mans Porsche has probably never driven one or been driven in one (and doesn’t understand what poor means).

I've owned over 20 Porsches, a good 996 c4s is a great car and more exciting than a Cayman, although not as good a car for sure. Otherwise, i wouldn't go near any 20k or less 911.

On the 928 and 968 mentioned by others, 20k also isn't enough now to get a good one. I had a 968 sport which I loved as well as 3 X 928 and I still think the 928gts is one of ther very best, bit of course they are 40k plus now. 944 as well are decent but we're now talking about old cars and that's a different ball game from the modern stuff.

I think i'd be after a 987 S with PDK and the optional paddles. Super useable in all weathers, and great fun on back roads as they have just the right amount of power to use without getting too dangerous. I agree that a .2 is better but the 20k may be a bit tight. If it was me I would maybe consider a .2 non-S car as the 2.9 with nice options is really powerful enough for most.
 

hashluck

Member
Messages
1,515
Cayman R is wonderful but out of budget.

I agree with those saying 987 Boxster and one with a chassis number post IMS issues such as this, thoroughly sorted (this one owned by a friend of mine who has just upgraded to a Cayman R):

 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,033
Cayman R is wonderful but out of budget.

I agree with those saying 987 Boxster and one with a chassis number post IMS issues such as this, thoroughly sorted (this one owned by a friend of mine who has just upgraded to a Cayman R):


I've no idea if this is a good buy or not, but does look nice and with a private plate unless you are into your Porsches, could be just a few years old to me.
 

c4sman

Member
Messages
1,243
Just to say in agreement don’t get hung up getting an S variant of a 987. They are quick enough to have a lot of fun.
 

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
20,758
Cayman S would be my choice, looking myself but I love classics and 944 or even better a a nice 968 would tick a lot of boxes
 

azapa

Member
Messages
1,300
although happy to see Porsche prices climbing, I honestly don't understand it. They made lots of cars, and a few good ones. Crazy market. Boxster S or Cayman S, manual, 2012 on. or a beat up 912 to restore.