Checking out the used Porsche market every week, it always feels the same.

I start looking at sites and can only see boring cars. The dread starts to set in: Will I find anything worth writing about this week?

But then, just as I'm about to lose hope, something shiny appears. A tiny gold nugget in a sea of the mundane.

Grab your sunglasses because you are about to be blinded by it.

Onwards!

RF

PS. Before we dive in, thank you for all the kind messages after last week's issue. The stories you shared meant a lot.

You are my sunshine (and you're a 996)

🔗 2001 996 911 Carrera 4 | Manual | Orlando, FL | $33,000

I recently found myself looking out at a large parking lot.

I couldn't stop thinking about the sea of grey, silver, black cars neatly parked below. Only the odd dark red car daring to be different.

That parking lot needed very badly a car like this Speed Yellow 996.

This 2001 Carrera 4 is as bright as it can be, unmodified, and sold by a certified Porsche tech. Plus the pictures in the ad are excellent. Seriously, just go check it out.

Sometimes we are afraid of calling for attention with our choices. But what if the world around us needs a bit of color?

Get this yellow Porsche for public service.

Market Report

The sweet spot for a well-sorted manual 996.1 sits between $27K and $31K. These are cars with miles but major mechanical and aesthetic issues properly addressed. Examples here and here.

This particular car, with only 77K miles, in a rare and bold color, and presenting as well as it does, warrants the $33,000 asking price.

What You (and Your Mechanic) Should Know

The seller being a certified Porsche technician should give you peace of mind. Yet I'd still ask for paper records of recent maintenance and any further service history.

Since the seller is also a dealer, I would ask how they came to own this car and any details they may know about previous owners.

The C4's AWD system uses a viscous coupling that can fail over time, leaving you with RWD only. Confirm its current condition during your inspection.

Best of the Rest

These cars also passed the Pepita filter this week:

🔗 This 2006 997, in case you missed out on last week’s. Ad with excellent description and pictures. Priced at $37,000.

🔗 This 1999 996 Carrera (same year as the BaT one), same owner for the last 7 years, manual transmission, only $20,000.

🔗 This 996 Turbo cab for only $36,000 (you read that right), Tiptronic transmission, beautiful blue color, and recent maintenance.

🔗 This gorgeous Guards Red over Sand Beige interior 987.1 Cayman S, automatic, for $22,500.

🔗 This 2009 987.2 Boxster, automatic, 88K miles, for a steal at $18,680

Out There

What's the word for when you feel attraction and confusion at once?

That's what this "986 Cayman" did to me.

There was no 986 Cayman, as you know. But this first-gen Boxster sports a rare removable Zienthop hardtop. I didn't know these existed, but they are totally my thing. Good looking, yet some of the design lines are odd and unexpected.

There is perfect beauty and then there is interesting beauty.

This car is all in on interesting.

🔗 2000 986 Boxster S | Hayden, ID | $15,250

Adopted Puppies

Porsche Problems

See you next time with more affordable picks!

Take care,

—RF