I personally am on these forums to research buying a 1980s SC/Carerra 3.2,
but my friend would be someone who feels more comfortable with a modern car.
In fact, the newer, the better, for the typical consumer.
964: 1989-1994
993: 1993-1998
996: 1998-2005
997: 2004-2012
964, 993, 996.....They all seem to be within the same ballpark price, for various reasons.
For a non-purist/non-DIY guy, which model is the best bet?
I think my friend can find a car like the 996 for $30,000.
Is there an article or link that compares these 4 models? Pros and cons?
For example, the 996 gets a scathingly negative overall review here:
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/08/porsches-deadly-sin-1-1999-porsche-911-996-3-4/
Or an article with common failures, like this one:
• Rear main oil seals: Just like the Boxster, the 996 suffers from leaky rear main oil-seals. And, just like the Boxster, it’s a £20 replacement part with £500 labour, due to accessibility issues. It can make sense to swap the clutch at the same time.
• Intermediate shafts: Another niggle shared with the Boxster is intermediate-shaft bearing failure. The bearing goes and the shaft can wobble. When it does that, the pistons and valves have a punch-up. It’s a £7-8k fix.
• Radiators:The radiators in the nose are made from very thin aluminium, which can corrode and is susceptible to stone chips, with consequences for both the engine’s coolant supply and the air-con.
• Sat-nav: Don’t pay extra for a car with the optional sat-nav – it’s so dated these days that it’s nicer to have a car without it. Don’t you have the app on your iPhone 5?
Used cars: how to buy a second-hand Porsche 996 | Road Testing Reviews | Car Magazine Online
Lastly, thanks for all the helful responses. I am just making a VERY rough calculation. I didn't include costs like maintenance. I was not implying owning a sports car is cheap, just that it may be more affordable than people assume, in light of a few factors (Buy used, buy outright, own the car for a long period of time, realize a significant resale value) instead of assuming you need to pay $1200/mo to lease to get into one of these.