- Pepita Picks
- Posts
- Five ways to own a Porsche
Five ways to own a Porsche
This week: Enthusiast builds, turn-key perfection and a $11K surprise
Hi again!
I've been thinking about how many ways there are to become a Porsche owner right now. It's kind of remarkable. This week alone I found:
A special Cayman S that’s going unnoticed by the dealer.
A 981 for $19K that would've been $60K not long ago.
A stunning Lapis Blue 996 for those who want turn-key perfection.
An almost-finished 996 project where someone else already did the expensive work.
A well kept red Boxster at an unbeatable price.
Five different ways in.
The internet will tell you that to own a Porsche you need a six-figure salary and a mechanic on speed dial, with the usual fear-mongering about everything that can go wrong.
I think it’s simpler than that.
So let's cut through it with this week's picks.
Onwards!
—RF
Full-leather Cayman S (dealer has no idea)
PROS
| CONS
|
This car hides a secret.
The red interior caught my attention, but what really sets it apart is harder to spot: the full leather option. First time I've seen it on a 987 in the wild. The leather stitching around the dials gives it away.
Under 100K miles. Two keys. Great cosmetic condition. They're all excellent signs.
But then there's the dealer description, which took about five seconds to write. It looks like they don't know what they have.
Here's what I think happened: someone ordered this Cayman S with expensive options. Kept it in great condition. Kept the second key too. Then this car landed on this dealer's lap, and all they see is another grey Cayman they want to sell fast.
Find out if service records exist, and move fast if they look good.
Market Report
The car is listed for $24,998 in the link above, but listed for $23,985 in this other listing, so that’s really your starting price.
987 S models typically trade about $5K higher than base models (think $24-28K), but they tend to sit a bit longer. I think it's the widespread fear of bore scoring.
But this one won't last. Someone who knows what they're looking at will grab it.
What You (and Your Mechanic) Should Know
Bore scoring happens when cylinder walls get scratched, leading to oil consumption, noise, and eventual engine failure. It's expensive to fix, which is why S models scare people.
Always get a pre-purchase inspection on any S model. This is especially important with this car since we don't know the service history yet.
The good news is that properly cared-for S models run well past 100K miles without issues.
19-grand 981 Cayman (I can't find the catch)
PROS
| CONS
|
This one will be quick, just like this 981 Cayman will sell for $19,000.
Your first thought is probably the same I had: what's wrong with this car?
I read and reread the ad, but all I found was: clean title, $3K custom exhaust, "great mechanical condition, no issues daily driven as well."
Some of these details mean nothing without service records, but the car looks clean in the pictures. It will be a long time till you see another 981 Cayman priced this low.
Market Report
Most 981 PDKs still sit around $30K. Some have dropped into the high-$20Ks. At $19K, this is the cheapest 981 Cayman I've found that isn't salvage title or obviously damaged.
The high miles pushed the price down, but 981s can handle mileage if maintained properly.
What You (and Your Mechanic) Should Know
981s are bulletproof: no IMS concerns, no bore scoring. Water pump typically needs replacement at 60-80K miles. PDK fluid needs changing every 60K miles.
Your inspection checklist: PDK service history, water pump replacement records, suspension condition at 140K, and why they're selling $10K under market.
The 996 I’d follow on Instagram
PROS
| CONS
|
That blue. That Aero Kit. Those chrome wheels.
It's in moments like this that I hate a budget.
I usually hunt for 996s in the $20-30K range, but this one got my attention fully. It's asking $48K, which is wild for a base Carrera, but whoever said "it's worth what people will pay for it" was talking about this Lapis Blue 996.
The 35,000 miles on the clock, manual transmission, and meticulous maintenance support the seller's case.
What do you think? Is it worth $48K?
The 996 I’d finish building
PROS
| CONS
|
For less than half the price of the Lapis Blue 996, here's the one I'd actually take home.
The seller is clearly an enthusiast who dedicated lots of time, money and care to building this 996. That's your advantage: you get a mostly sorted car at $21K without paying for all the work that went into it.
The interior was updated with care. GT3-style center console delete. Brand new custom upholstery. Tall-friendly seats on lengthened brackets.
$21K includes the Fuchs wheels. Or $24K with two sets (adds VT Forged 18" staggered wheels).
Before you get too excited: the car has a check engine light for emissions systems (Secondary Air Injection and Tank Vent). The seller's upfront about it, which is good. It won't stop the car from running, but it will stop you from passing emissions. Budget $200-$1,200 to sort it depending on what's needed.
Clean title. No accidents. Dual-row IMS bearing done. New timing chain guides, new ECU, and more. The car still needs work, but it's an extremely solid base.
They're letting go of their sunken cost. You're getting a great 996 for cheap. Win-win.
Market Report
The $27K spread between these two 996s tells you everything about how this market works.
Most 996.1 Carreras sit between $20-35K depending on miles, condition, and spec. The Lapis Blue is an outlier. The black car is market-typical pricing for a high-mileage example with some level of maintenance done to it.
What You (and Your Mechanic) Should Know
About that check engine light: The black 996 has faults in its emissions system, specifically the Secondary Air Injection and Tank Vent System. This is important.
These systems typically don't affect how the car drives, but they will prevent passing emissions tests in states that require them. Repairs may range from cleaning or replacing valves ($200-$400) to replacing pumps or canisters ($600-$1,200).
If you're not comfortable diagnosing emissions issues or negotiating repairs into the price, this isn't the car for you. But if you have a trusted mechanic, get a pre-purchase inspection, and negotiate the final price accordingly.
I rest my case
PROS
| CONS
|
If anyone still has doubts that Porsche ownership is accessible, show them this car.
A manual little red beauty barely over $10K. Yes, it has 165,000 miles. Yes, the odometer was replaced. But from the pics and description, it looks in great condition, with a seller who sounds knowledgeable, sensible, and took good care of the car (with records to show).
High miles on a well-maintained Porsche aren't scary, they are proof the car works.
What else is there to say?
Market Report
Manual 987.1 Boxsters typically ask $18K-22K depending on condition and miles. Even with 165K miles, this one is priced thousands under typical market.
What You (and Your Mechanic) Should Know
This 2007 Boxster uses the updated IMS bearing design with failure rates under 1%. No bore scoring concerns with the 2.7L base engine.
Given the 165,000 real miles, be thorough in reviewing the existing service records, and check when the clutch was last replaced. Inspect the usual suspects: soft top operation, suspension, and brakes.
Adopted Puppies
Another week, another handful of cars gone from the market. Notable sales were the $37,000 C4S manual and the gorgeous 997 with factory Aero Kit (and a rebuilt title) that went as low as $25,000 before the ad was taken down. |  |
Porsche Problems
See you next week with more affordable picks!
Take care,
—RF