MVP validated, onto v0.1!

Last week I asked reddit for feedback on issue 1 and I got lots of great notes. Thank you for your comments and upvotes.

My goal is to make Porsche ownership accessible to everyone. That means giving you the knowledge to choose the right car for you. I'll be expanding my notes on mechanical issues so you enter ownership with realistic expectations. I'll also share more comparable sales and comps with each pick, giving you a better sense of market direction.

Anyway, time to get this going. This week:

• 🏅 A neat PCA member-owned manual 2005 Boxster

• 😍 A gorgeous low-mileage 996 in Orient Red Metallic

• 🤝 The best priced 987.2 manual I could find

Ready for issue 2? Let’s go!

—RF

PS: The Craigslist links are definitely fixed this time. And by definitely, I mean 50/50 chance they work.

PCA member-owned manual 2005 Boxster [10K-15K range]

🚗 [2005] 987.1 Boxster | 🍑 5-speed manual | 🌎 Murphy, TX

🟢 Owned by a PCA member 🟢 Convertible top recently serviced (known failure point) 🟢 IMS/bore scoring rare on the 2.7L M97 engine 🔴 Ad light on details

This is a great entry point into Porsche ownership, manual transmission and all, for a very affordable price. It's more reliable than the previous 986 generation and doesn't have the bore scoring issues like the S model does.

The spec isn't terribly unique—but at least it's not an Arctic Silver. It has over 100K miles, but the car doesn’t show it in the pictures. The green flag for me: The owner is a Porsche Club of America member. I feel more comfortable reaching out knowing that.

The ad's been up for a month, so the seller might be open to negotiating at this point.

👉 Best pick for first-time Porsche ownership? (link)

🔧 What You (and Your Mechanic) Should Know

• This 987.1 still uses the M97 engine, which is susceptible to IMS bearing failure, though it’s much less common than with the 986s.

• No bore scoring issues with this 2.7L engine (unlike the S models)

• Convertible tops can be problematic, but this one was recently serviced

• Manual clutches typically need replacement around 60-80K miles. Ask the seller about this, since the car has 100K+ miles

Minty 996 in rare color [20K-25K range]

🚗 [2001] 996 911 Carrera | 🍑 Tiptronic | 🌎 Los Angeles, CA

🟢 49K miles on the odometer 🟢 Looks mint 🟢 Gorgeous rare color (Orient Red Metallic) 🔴 No service history details; no word of IMS replacement 🔴 Missing the 2002 refresh improvements

I’ll admit it, this one got to me. Low-mileage early 996, rare color, the right wheels, mint condition. Wow. This is exactly why I started this newsletter.

This pre-2002 996 is a bit more of a commitment than the later .2 revision. You’d be missing some nice upgrades (details below), but anyone specifically hunting an early 996 probably doesn't care. I certainly don't. (Though I found a great 996.2 comp for those who do - link below as well).

The ad is only a couple days old and sparse on details, but the seller sounds sensible, which I always prioritize. Great price too. Similar condition 996.1s usually list for 3-4K more.

👉 The 996 that stole your heart? (link)

📈 The Rest of the Market

It's hard to find anything this low-mileage and clean-looking under $27,000. In a sea of overpriced, worn-out 996s, I handpicked these 2 Tiptronic alternatives:

• 2001 with lots of work done but 149K miles - $26,000

• Nice 2002 996.2 with 91K miles, excellent options - $24,996

🔧 What You (and Your Mechanic) Should Know

• This 2001 model has a strengthened timing chain mechanism, so it's more reliable than earlier 996s

• It's the last year before the 2002 refresh, so you're missing the 996.2 upgrades (new 3.6L engine, throttle-by-wire, better traction control, etc.)

• Budget for an eventual IMS replacement for extra peace of mind

Hard-to-find manual 987.2 Cayman [25K-30K range]

🚗 [2010] 987.2 Cayman | 🍑 6-speed manual | 🌎 Portland, OR

🟢 One of the most reliable Cayman gen and model 🟢 Great service history 🟢 Great price

Every week I spend many hours scouring the internet looking for the best cars. Lately, manual 987.2s have been surprisingly hard to find, specially under the $30K mark.

Regarding this pick I don't have much to add beyond: just check the ad. Tidy condition, extensive recent maintenance list, and this is one of the most reliable Cayman models you can buy (details below). It's also the last naturally aspirated Cayman before the 981 generation arrived in 2013, so values should hold strong.

👉 Peak Cayman under $30,000? (link)

📈 The Rest of the Market

Manual 987.2s are hard to find under $30K right now. Cars & Bids has only sold a base model and an S this year. Plenty of 987.2 Tiptronics at that price though (like this one or this other one).

If you're open to Tiptronic, this one is worth checking out (clean title, but some damage reported): 2010 Cayman S for only $24,000 but with some gotchas?

🔧 What You (and Your Mechanic) Should Know

• The 987.2 is considered one of the most reliable Caymans, with fewer major engine issues than previous generations

• No IMS bearing problems. The 987.2 uses direct fuel injection (DFI) engines, eliminating the well-known failure risk

• Watch for shifter cable failures. They can break and leave you stuck in gear. This is the most commonly reported issue, but upgraded cables fix it permanently

Already Adopted? (aka updates on past picks)

• The Macadamia Metallic Boxster ($13,500) disappeared from Craigslist. I thought it sold, but it resurfaced on PCarMarket instead (now sold at auction for $10,000).

• The Arctic Silver 2006 Cayman S also vanished, only to pop up again here.

Porsche Problems (aka meme of the week)

And that’s a wrap for this week! How did you like version 0.1? Hit reply and let me know.

We’ll be back next week.

Take care,

—RF

P.S. Thank you for forwarding this to anyone who might enjoy it.