30k Porsche
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Discussion

Geoffcapes

Original Poster:

999 posts

182 months

Tuesday 30th May 2023
quotequote all
A good friend of mine is currently waiting for a business deal to finalise. Once it has, he said he's finally going to buy himself a Porsche.

Therein lies the problem. His wife has told him "no more than 30k" so that means up to 35k with a bit of man maths wink

He is also terrible at choosing cars. He's the type of bloke who would buy an absolute lemon, spend a fortune on fixing it, before selling it, so someone else can now have trouble free motoring rather than keeping it!

He wants something as new as he can get, but then newer doesn't always mean better.

My initial thought are a 718 Boxter/Cayman (but then you into high mileage), I think a 911 of 30-35k vintage may be a touch temperamental at that price point.

He ideally wants a convertible, so Boxter is the more obvious choice. But is the 718 (non S) worth the money over a 981 Boxter S?

P. ONeill

1,455 posts

70 months

Tuesday 30th May 2023
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The 718 non S will be a 2.0 litre, vs a 3.4 litre 981. My money would be going on the 981. Prices are higher than i expected for both, but the straight six wins out over the four pot for me.

Snowy999

491 posts

83 months

Tuesday 30th May 2023
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Tough choice but I would opt for an Approved Boxster 981 even though they are c.10-12 years old.

There is a nice Blue PDK one with c.33k miles for that budget on there now.

Approved means for me it has been checked over and will come with a decent Porsche Approved warranty.

When they go wrong they can be bloody expensive and that might ruin what appears to be a lifetime ambition !

Also it's a 6 cylinder and sound track will be great. But that would just be my bias speaking.

Geoffcapes

Original Poster:

999 posts

182 months

Tuesday 30th May 2023
quotequote all
Snowy999 said:
Tough choice but I would opt for an Approved Boxster 981 even though they are c.10-12 years old.

There is a nice Blue PDK one with c.33k miles for that budget on there now.

Approved means for me it has been checked over and will come with a decent Porsche Approved warranty.

When they go wrong they can be bloody expensive and that might ruin what appears to be a lifetime ambition !

Also it's a 6 cylinder and sound track will be great. But that would just be my bias speaking.
Looks nice. Is there much difference between the 981 Boxter and the S (I've never driven one) as there's a black one (no pics yet) being loaded for similar money, but obviously higher mileage.


Snowy999

491 posts

83 months

Tuesday 30th May 2023
quotequote all
Yes the key one being a bigger 3.4l engine. I am afraid I am not a Boxster/Cayman expert but people on here often speak highly of the Cayman and Boxster S as being in the sweetspot of 981.

Sadly I've not driven either!

Geoffcapes

Original Poster:

999 posts

182 months

Tuesday 30th May 2023
quotequote all
Snowy999 said:
Yes the key one being a bigger 3.4l engine. I am afraid I am not a Boxster/Cayman expert but people on here often speak highly of the Cayman and Boxster S as being in the sweetspot of 981.

Sadly I've not driven either!
Maybe I'll post a thread on the Cayman/Boxter section.

WeirdNeville

6,021 posts

233 months

Tuesday 30th May 2023
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981 Cayman PDK with nice options. Buy on condition and history not milage and you'll get a peach. Boxster if you want to win the wife over too.

SV_WDC

1,009 posts

107 months

Tuesday 30th May 2023
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Could likely get a 987.2 Boxster for well inside the £30k & would be worth looking at one of those.

From how you've described your mate, it's probably unlikely he will notice much difference between the 981 & 718 etc, so the 718 could be a good shout if wanting something fairly modern.

TTmonkey

20,911 posts

265 months

Tuesday 30th May 2023
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“No more than 30k”….. she said…..


That’s the deposit sorted, another 30k on credit, and your mate has a lovely car.

Hoofy

78,879 posts

300 months

Tuesday 30th May 2023
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996 Turbo every time.

TTmonkey

20,911 posts

265 months

Tuesday 30th May 2023
quotequote all
Be aware one thing.

With the 718 Boxster, it’s often advertised as a 2.0T. This means 2.0 turbo engine.

This is not the same as a 718 Boxster T which is a model in its own right.

718 models:

718 base- 2.0 litre
718 T (touring) 2.0 litre
718 S - 2.5 litre
718 GTS - 2.5 litre
718 GTS 4.0 litre


If I was spending 30k I think I’d want the 718 base with some options and modern tech, and a warranty. Probably need a few quid more than that though.


braddo

11,905 posts

206 months

Tuesday 30th May 2023
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Does the OP's friend have experience of fast cars? Why not just recommend the non-S 981? They're still pretty quick and there seems to be decent choice around the £30k budget.


Hammersia

1,564 posts

33 months

Tuesday 30th May 2023
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Boxsters and Caymans are great but small cars, very little luggage room.

Will he want luggage room? Would need a 911.


Hoofy

78,879 posts

300 months

Tuesday 30th May 2023
quotequote all
Hammersia said:
Boxsters and Caymans are great but small cars, very little luggage room.

Will he want luggage room? Would need a 911.
That's one area that's debatable. If you want to transport a fair bit of kit around, then the 911 is fine - back seats down or up depending on the item(s). I've picked up a 32" TV and just shoved it on the parcel shelf (seats down). biggrin

However, if you want to hide stuff then the Boxster (and Cayman? Not sure if it's fully covered?) has extra space behind the engine.

WeirdNeville

6,021 posts

233 months

Tuesday 30th May 2023
quotequote all
Hammersia said:
Boxsters and Caymans are great but small cars, very little luggage room.

Will he want luggage room? Would need a 911.
The Cayman has more luggage room than a 911. You can even get a bike in the back under the hatch.

Hammersia

1,564 posts

33 months

Tuesday 30th May 2023
quotequote all
WeirdNeville said:
Hammersia said:
Boxsters and Caymans are great but small cars, very little luggage room.

Will he want luggage room? Would need a 911.
The Cayman has more luggage room than a 911. You can even get a bike in the back under the hatch.
On view under the window, just about, scratching up the speakers etc.

For discreet luggage more than a briefcase it has to be a 911.

mr pg

2,019 posts

223 months

Tuesday 30th May 2023
quotequote all
Hammersia said:
WeirdNeville said:
Hammersia said:
Boxsters and Caymans are great but small cars, very little luggage room.

Will he want luggage room? Would need a 911.
The Cayman has more luggage room than a 911. You can even get a bike in the back under the hatch.
On view under the window, just about, scratching up the speakers etc.

For discreet luggage more than a briefcase it has to be a 911.
Having owned 3 911's and a 981 Cayman S, the 981 wins for me on space/luggage practicality. Has same size front boot, the rear boot and space above the engine cover. 911 has the rear seats where luggage can be put but is awkward to access and on view.
We did several 2 week+ euro tours in the Cayman and it is ideal for this. The Boxster loses the engine cover space so carries a bit less.

Getting back to the OP, my choice would be a 981 S or base 718 (driven several and is as fast as the 981 S) for £30kish.

braddo

11,905 posts

206 months

Tuesday 30th May 2023
quotequote all
Hammersia said:
WeirdNeville said:
The Cayman has more luggage room than a 911. You can even get a bike in the back under the hatch.
On view under the window, just about, scratching up the speakers etc.

For discreet luggage more than a briefcase it has to be a 911.
If you could somehow get a bike in the back of a 911, how is it any less on view than in a Cayman? wobble

WeirdNeville

6,021 posts

233 months

Tuesday 30th May 2023
quotequote all
braddo said:
If you could somehow get a bike in the back of a 911, how is it any less on view than in a Cayman? wobble
Who said anything about on view? It's inside the car, ergo less drag, no impact on ability to chuck the car down a fun bit of road, not getting wet/filthy, and secure when parked and left. It was an example of how a Cayman is more practical than you might assume given the shape and drivetrain.

And yes, the Cayman *still* has more 'hidden' luggage space than a 911 if your definition of luggage space somehow means 'cavities you can't see into'.

Edited by WeirdNeville on Tuesday 30th May 18:09

Jefferson Steelflex

1,568 posts

117 months

Tuesday 30th May 2023
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Far better to ask for forgiveness than seek permission, tell your friend to just get what he likes and worry about it later. A nice 997 can be in budget if you buy carefully, but as someone else said lump a bit more on and the options become a lot more exciting - £40k plus is much better.