Whats the cheapest model year to own and drive?
 

Biggest thing is as always the condition of the car, but in general I think it would be an early car with Ljet, automatic, and non clear coat paint. Maybe a non S 1981?

I think a well maintained car will always be cheaper to run, but as always, I maintain that the 84 auto is a real sleeper. The thing is, if you are willing to forgo AC and cosmetics, there are some pretty stout cars out there for not much money.

And that is the funny thing. Some of the ugliest Porsches I have seen were the strongest runners, and some of the prettiest were real needy bastiges.

Buy the car that runs like you want it to run, and looks like you want it to look. If anything goes wrong, you are just returning to baseline, not trying to build the sucker up and then having to go through the teething process. My first 928, i just kept thinking, I'll fix this, and then It'll be OK, I'll fix THIS, and then it'll be ok. I'll FIX THIS, AND >>>>>>...

Wally Plumley put it something like this:

buy the newest/best condition model you can afford to purchase.


--Russ

In two years of looking, and I have never stopped looking, not one car has crossed my path that would be a clear buy, other than in hindsight, and even then of cars I could have remotely accquired looking nationwide MAYBE two or three. Good cars are VERY rare.

Trust me on this second part, I walked into this with a MUCH smaller notion of what I could afford or might actually spend. If I KNEW the true cost two years ago chances are pretty good I would still be thinking someday, maybe someday. Buying a $3k car that needs a little fixing up is a VERY different situation on the homefront from laying out $20k for a perfect car.

Other than that I agree 100%.