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Three unusual stories to wrap the year
This week: A 911 with a party trick, a high-mileage debate, and how I almost got scammed
I thought this week would be the usual: find a few good Pepitas, do a deep dive on them, share them with you.
Instead, I found three unusual stories:
A 996 that's more about occasion than performance
A high-mileage 987.2 Boxster S that challenges what "too many miles" really means
And a cheap 997.2 that almost fooled me
Onwards!
—RF
Sometimes you need milk in your coffee
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What matters more to you in a sports car?
A sense of occasion or maximum performance?
These unique 996 Targas offer a party trick like no other: a huge sliding glass roof and hatchback that flood the cabin with light and make every drive feel special.
This 2003 Targa has everything you want in a listing. Great pictures, detailed car history, and a seller who guides you through all the ins and outs of this particular car.
Some enthusiasts worry about the added weight and lesser rigidity compared to coupes. I think that misses the point. It's like coffee. I love a good black coffee made of great beans. But some days I just need milk in it, full fat if possible. Even a splash of Baileys if I'm in a festive mood.
A Targa is like that: more than just performance stats.
Market Report
Market-wise, Targas sit in the middle of the 996 hierarchy: not "hero" cars like GT3/Turbo/C4S, but fetching a few extra thousand dollars than base Carrera models.
Interestingly, a very similar car sold recently: exact same spec, slightly lower mileage, roof mechanism needs some work, yet higher asking price. Check it out here.
What You (and Your Mechanic) Should Know
Long-term owners consistently praise their Targas, and they report few real-world issues if the roof is properly maintained.
When buying, ensure the roof opens and closes smoothly, at normal speed, without grinding noises, warning errors, or water leaks. Confirm with the seller its smooth operation and service history, if any.
Updates on your .2 shopping list
PROS
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This very high-mileage .2 Boxster S needs explanation.
At first glance, this is another grey Boxster with a ton of miles, asking almost $24K. We've featured high-mileage Boxsters in the past for as low as $11K. So what makes this different?
Here's the case for it: .2 revision, S model, manual transmission, excellent cosmetic condition, 2 owners, and full service history. That's a genuinely compelling list.
The listing includes a full AutoCheck report, which confirms most of what the seller claims. (It does show 3 owners instead of 2, but that may be AutoCheck shenanigans. Confirm with the seller.)
At 185K miles, this car HAS SEEN things. If this were another grey base .1 Boxster with these miles, I wouldn't bother. But the spec list here matters. I’d push back on the asking price though and negotiate a high-mileage discount. Tell them you need to budget for wear items and potential big-ticket failures (suspension, engine, transmission, cooling system). At $20K-$22K, this becomes genuinely interesting.
Speaking of discounts, this .2 Cayman from last week has gone down in price by $1,500. Discounted even before you pick up the phone.
Check out last week's full report on 987.2s for market insights and mechanical details.
I almost got scammed (don’t be me)
When I found this 997.2 (a revision with important upgrades to the original 997) for only $41K, I got excited.
The description was just a list of features, but that was enough for me to keep digging. The seller's profile, Matthew from Texas, showed many luxury cars but that wasn't necessarily a red flag.
I then started researching comps for 997.2s. First time I’m featuring one of these in Pepita, so I wanted to understand the market.
I was on Bring a Trailer checking sold comps when I found another silver car that looked very similar with the same miles on the odometer. Funny, I thought.
Then I noticed the same PCA sticker on the same window. The alarms went off.
It was the same car. How did it sell in Florida a month ago for $58K (commenters calling it a great price) and now sweet Matt is selling it at a $17K loss?
He's not, of course. Upon closer inspection of his profile, I noticed he's stealing pictures of cars all over the internet, listing them at unbelievable prices, and waiting for people like me to bite. He then asks for a deposit or full payment via wire/Zelle/Cash App "to hold the car" before viewing. Pushes a story that the car is "in storage/with a shipper/out of state" so you cannot see it easily, while offering fake shipping or escrow.
The whole scam fell apart because I happened to be researching that exact model on BaT that day. Most buyers wouldn't catch this. And that's what makes these scammers dangerous: they're betting you won't do the homework.
Anyway, another case closed for the Porsche crime division.
Porsche Problems
Pepita Picks will be taking a break for a few weeks.
Enjoy your holidays of choice, including but not limited to Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year!
Thank you for being such a wonderful community and see you in 2026 with more affordable picks.
—RF