Best Porsche for $20-25k for a first time P-car owner

[2mAn]

Car would be my daily, weekend canyon and 4-6/year HPDE car. I live in Los Angeles but my commute is a quick 15-20 minute drive from Inglewood to El Segundo. No traffic. Yes, it IS possible to live in LA and not sit in 2 hours of traffic everyday...

No kids (at the moment) and the (not-pregnant) wife thought the Cayman looks nice. I really want a Cayman also, but the 2-seater vs the "back seat" that the 911s have makes it less tempting.

Im basically torn between a high-spec '99 996 (LSD, Sport Seats, aero kit and more) or some form of 987 Cayman.

I dont think theres anyway to get into an aircooled car for that budget, well maybe but it will probably need $10-15k of work, right? I also think a 997 would be out of the budget, though I did see a 997S for $22k and 150k miles lol

Also open to possibly a 928 if its manual, but not sure that will be the best first Porsche.

Thoughts?

Thanks

-Simon

ps buy my E30 so I can get the ball rolling

[Vaive]

It's like asking what kind of ice cream should I eat?
Drive a bunch and get the one you like the best.

Remember the IMS is a $2.5K fix for 99-05 models. Budget that into the equation.

[specialtyoneinc]

Your scraping the bottom of the barrel at $20k-$25k range regarding air-cooled 911s. Think you are on the right track with a well sorted 996 or 987. Make sure IMS issues have been dealt with. Lots of info on the forums. Try to find a car from an enthusiast with history. Repairs bills can add up real quickly on used Porsches. Best of luck.

[2mAn]

Originally Posted by specialtyoneinc

Your scraping the bottom of the barrel at $20k-$25k range regarding air-cooled 911s. Think you are on the right track with a well sorted 996 or 987. Make sure IMS issues have been dealt with. Lots of info on the forums. Try to find a car from an enthusiast with history. Repairs bills can add up real quickly on used Porsches. Best of luck.

Thanks, yea I figured an aircooled car wont be a good one, so Im not even going to bother looking, but a 996 or a 987 are right in that range.

Just wondering if the back seat is useful for small children/ kid seats or is it really just for storage/ utility. Id hate to buy one and have to sell it in a year or so

[jhynesrockmtn]

If you are planning on kids and want to use the car with them, you may want a 911 vs a Boxster/Cayman. I don't know what it would be like to try and get an infant with a car seat in the back of one but I have used my 911 rear seat for my granddaughter for school drop offs and my petite wife has been back there in a pinch. I think you are on the right track given your budget to think 996 generation car. Go drive a bunch. I daily drive a 2004 996 C4S.

[Mocker]

The back seat in any 911 is essentially useless in anything other than an emergency. That includes kids.

You should be able to find a good 2006-2007 Cayman for $25k. Good luck!

[Mixed76]

Depends how big you are. Normal size 12-yr olds fit in the back of my air cooled cars just fine.

I wouldn't put an infant car seat back there but a forward facing seat would be fine when they are old enough for that.

I found two seat cars to be somewhat limiting after kids. I still have them but they don't get as much use.

[2mAn]

Originally Posted by Mixed76

Depends how big you are. Normal size 12-yr olds fit in the back of my air cooled cars just fine.

I wouldn't put an infant car seat back there but a forward facing seat would be fine when they are old enough for that.

Im 5' 7" so the seat wont be all the way back

[Vaive]

Originally Posted by Mocker

The back seat in any 911 is essentially useless in anything other than an emergency. That includes kids.

I had my kids in the back of my 996 just fine. This was once they were past car seat age, although I have seen people fit car seats back there as well.

[LJ851]

Hi, Simon.

[jhynesrockmtn]

The rules have changed so much for what is required, age, height, weight, etc.

Forward facing, rear facing. I can't keep track.

A couple of years ago when my grand daughter was about 8 I drove her to school in the 911. She is the biggest kid in her class. There was no way to fit the booster in the rear yet she was not allowed up front. I threw her in the back and strapped her in. The first thing she did was rat me out to her Mom even though she loves riding in the car. My daughter is pretty pragmatic and didn't care. She's just glad we schlep the kid around a fair bit.

[2mAn]

Originally Posted by LJ851

Hi, Simon.

Hi Lorin

[Vaive]

Originally Posted by jhynesrockmtn

The rules have changed so much for what is required, age, height, weight, etc.

Forward facing, rear facing. I can't keep track.

A couple of years ago when my grand daughter was about 8 I drove her to school in the 911. She is the biggest kid in her class. There was no way to fit the booster in the rear yet she was not allowed up front. I threw her in the back and strapped her in. The first thing she did was rat me out to her Mom even though she loves riding in the car. My daughter is pretty pragmatic and didn't care. She's just glad we schlep the kid around a fair bit.

Federal guideline says under 4'9" OR under 8 years old, a booster seat should be used.
So you were fine if she's the tallest kid in class, means she was probably over the heigh threshold and age combination.

[Mixed76]

Good point about booster seats. They are simple devices but may not fit very well. I haven't used them back there. A block of foam would be suitable, the lift is just making sure the belt sits on the hips instead of the belly.

Sent from my Nokia 7.1 using Tapatalk

[sugarwood]

Simon,

I saw the other thread where you posted your E30.

What makes you want to buy a Porsche now? There are many BMWs in your price point. E36, E46, E90, F30. M variant or base.
You're coming from the BMW eta engine. Any car will be a speed upgrade from your 325e.

Why not keep the E30 and save up more money? How set are you on Porsche? There are many other cars out there that are a much better value, and will allow you to sleep easier. I once came across a great saying on this forum. "Don't buy a Porsche unless you can afford to buy two". I think this rule applies to all vintage car ownership. You just never know what you're going to get. You might get no repair bills for several years, or you might get a 5-figure repair bill. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Originally Posted by 2mAn

Thanks, yea I figured an aircooled car wont be a good one, so Im not even going to bother looking, but a 996 or a 987 are right in that range.

I think you should still search for air cooled cars. You will learn something, and might even test drive one or two. This may lead you to decide to wait to buy what you want instead of settling for something today.

[Matt Monson]

Buy the Cayman. You are so far from worrying about the car seat issue.

[ryans65]

Cayman

...and it's Porsche not P-car.

[Cornerlot]

Originally Posted by 2mAn

Car would be my daily, weekend canyon and 4-6/year HPDE car.

Also open to possibly a 928 if its manual, but not sure that will be the best first Porsche.

Thoughts?

Thanks

-Simon

ps buy my E30 so I can get the ball rolling

Don't buy a 928! Electrical nightmare, interior is not durable. Boxster S or Cayman S is the best bet.

[Kansas]

Originally Posted by 2mAn

Car would be my daily, weekend canyon and 4-6/year HPDE car. I live in Los Angeles but my commute is a quick 15-20 minute drive from Inglewood to El Segundo. No traffic. Yes, it IS possible to live in LA and not sit in 2 hours of traffic everyday...

No kids (at the moment) and the (not-pregnant) wife thought the Cayman looks nice. I really want a Cayman also, but the 2-seater vs the "back seat" that the 911s have makes it less tempting.

Im basically torn between a high-spec '99 996 (LSD, Sport Seats, aero kit and more) or some form of 987 Cayman.

I dont think theres anyway to get into an aircooled car for that budget, well maybe but it will probably need $10-15k of work, right? I also think a 997 would be out of the budget, though I did see a 997S for $22k and 150k miles lol

Also open to possibly a 928 if its manual, but not sure that will be the best first Porsche.

Thoughts?

Thanks

-Simon

ps buy my E30 so I can get the ball rolling

Originally Posted by 2mAn

Im 5' 7" so the seat wont be all the way back

Definitely get a 911. I have 9 children. I’ve owned a 964, 997 and now a 993. All of them at some point in time have been passengers in the back seat. You will never regret the family memories of cruising around your 911 with the kids. Most children under 12 will fit just fine. You should be able to get a we’ll sorted 996 for your budget. But I would not rule out an early 997, preferably a 2006 with the upgraded IMS bearing. You should be able to find a decent driver for upper 20s , low 30s. It’s a far better looking car with significant better power and performance.

[Cajundaddy]

For $25k you might just get into a 987.2 Cayman. That is what I would do/did if possible. I owned a 986 for 10 years prior and had a very good experience but a lot of friends with 986/996 did not. There were some serious design flaws in that series for your planned use that were all engineered out with the 987.2. IMS and marginal engine oiling being the most critical.

I have now owned my 2009 Cayman for 5 years and put 30k miles on her for a total of 70k including about 80 track days. The car is nearly flawless, does not burn oil, does not overheat, has had zero component failures.

FYI I am in your hood with PCA Long Beach being my local region. My 1st sports car was a 1969 Datsun 2000 Roadster.