H2

Which of the commonly produced, daily driver Porsches holds their values best or are "best buys?" 3.2 Carreras, C2s, C4s, 993s, 996s, 968s, or? That is, those built between 1985-to 2000. I don't include the 928s, early 911s, 964s, etc. since they've pretty well shown their colors...at least so far.

H2

Bill Gregory

The Porsche that is stock original holds its value best. Beyond that, read Bruce Anderson's monthly Market Update column in Excellence magazine for pricing trends.

epbrown01

I'd say right now, 2 Porsches would rate as blue-chip 911s in that year range assuming they are stock originals in condition 2 or better: the 3.2 models with the G-50 transmission, and the 993 with VarioRam. Though the 993 is popular but I'm a bit iffy on it as I don't think it's bottomed out on its depreciation curve, though I fully expect it to rebound slightly and hold steady when it does. For now, I think the G50 Carrera is the better "investment." It's helped by the fact it is entering that period when folks entering middle age seek out the models they're nostalgic about - for people that were in their teens in te 70s and 80s, the impact bumper cars are the 911, and the 87-89 cars are the best of that range.

Emanuel

GrantG

For US models, 3.2 Clubsport, 964 RSAmerica (I know you meant to exclude 964's but you should consider these) and 993 C2S. First two are so-called competition models, but they're also very easily daily-driven if stock. These are the US models that seem to have appreciated the most or depreciated the least. However, that also means you have the most to lose if market trends reverse. I've always thought that the 944 Turbo S is under-appreciated and has a chance to return a sizable portion of investment too - I've owned two.

The 965 3.6 and S as well as 993 Turbo S always command premiums too...

H2

Emmanuel,

From what I'm generally hearing (If I were to take a poll), what you're saying is on target.
Thanks,

Harvey

I'd say right now, 2 Porsches would rate as blue-chip 911s in that year range
assuming they are stock originals in condition 2 or better: the 3.2 models with
the G-50 transmission, and the 993 with VarioRam. Though the 993 is popular but
I'm a bit iffy on it as I don't think it's bottomed out on its depreciation
curve, though I fully expect it to rebound slightly and hold steady when it
does. For now, I think the G50 Carrera is the better "investment." It's helped
by the fact it is entering that period when folks entering middle age seek out
the models they're nostalgic about - for people that were in their teens in te
70s and 80s, the impact bumper cars are the 911, and the 87-89 cars are the best
of that range.

Emanuel

Jay H

I also think that if you can buy a nice 1984 to 1986 3.2 Carrera for the right money they tend to hold their value as well. Not as desireable as the 'blue chip' '87 to '89 cars, but they usually cost less to buy initially and don't cost much more to maintain than the '87 to '89 (except that they are older) cars.

I would tend to think that any 996 will continue to depreciate A LOT yet...

Jay
90 964

r911

All the 3.2L cars are subject to pressure from the 964's as those cars lose value. I expect the 3.2L cars to drop pretty quickly.

The early cars are the ones that will keep their value the best.

sschmerg

I don't think the 964s have as much effect on the value of the 3.2s as would normally be the case because the 964 doesn't have the "classic" appeal of the 3.2s. Although a geat 911 in its own right, the 964 never came close to the popularity of the 3.2s and never will. We have already seen the value of late model 3.2s equal or surpass the value of early 964s. The RS America is a notable exception.

No way to tell yet, but I predict that we may see the same effect with 993s vs. the 3.4 liter 996s...I think we already have to some extent. The 3.6 996 was a very nice improvement in many respects, however, and I think those will hold their value better than the 3.4s.

-Sean

M491

The 964s aren't going to affect the 3.2s much, IMO. They are just very different cars. The 964 has a horrible reputation, too. Like Sean says, nice G50 3.2s have already surpassed early 964s. Most buyers who ask their local shop if they should get a 3.2 or a 964 are going to get the same answer - stay away from the 964.

As far as devaluation from here on out, I think the 3.2 is the best bet.

Why?

1) It is the oldest of the cars that you listed. As such, it is the furthest down the depreciation curve. It has the shortest way to go until it bottoms out.

2) The 964 will continue to go down and I don't see it ever gaining widespread popularity. It is, and will continue to be, the black sheep, stuck for those few years between the 3.2 and the 993 (I'm not saying this is right or wrong, it's just the way it is).

3) The 993, while a great car, is still relatively new and therefore is not as far along on the depreciation curve. It has a long way to go.

So, if pure $$ is the analysis, the 3.2 is the way to go, no doubt. If you buy reasonably smart (i.e. a really nice example in the low 20s, for example), you could drive it for 2-3 years and probably not take a loss at all on it, if you take great care of it. Lots of people have actually done that over the past few years.

The 993 is also a great car - if you like a 993 better than a 3.2, I'd get the 993. While it may depreciate a little more than a 3.2, I don't think it is a huge difference.

The 996 effect on the 993? Hmm. I don't think it will be much. In many ways, as used cars, the 996 is to the 993 what the 964 is to the 3.2. You can easily find equal condition 996 selling for far less than an equivalent 993 these days. I've seen 996s in the 20s! The 993 and 996 seem to be completely different markets.

Now, going back a bit - I see prices of nice to exceptional SCs actually rising over the next few years. Kind of like the 914 market. As more SCs become dogs, the average price of the SC market will go down, but the very nice or exceptional cars will go up. When I sold my last 914 2.0, it was very hard to get $8K for a nice, original example. Now that car would get $12K pretty easily - a 50% increase in the last 6 or so years.

epbrown01

I agree that the 964 isn't going to push down on the later 3.2 - while they're good cars, they aren't as sought-after as the 911s before and after them. They're essentially the 2.7L cars of the 90s, though a black 964 coupe remains a thing of beauty to me. (Oddly enough, I like the black '74 coupe as well - I wouldn't mind looking like Morgan Freeman in the Alex Cross films as I tooled around in one when I get more gray in my hair.).

I'm less sure about the pressure the 996 will exert on the 993, though - the 996 mostly suffered from comparisons to it's prettier older sister. As more people get to drive them, I suspect it will develop a strong following as a modern used Porsche, while the 993 remains loved by the die-hard fans of air-cooling. I expect 993 prices to hold, but I don't think 996 prices will drop below them for quite some time.