Jon LaPlant

New here and per title looking to spend 50k (hard budget) to get into a 911.

I have narrowed down my options to 3 and want to get your thoughts as well, if they are realistic or not. Looking for 70k miles or less. The cheaper options I would be willing to spend more to get lower miles.

1) 997.2 PDK Carrera S

2) 997.1 Turbo Auto

3) 991 Base model Auto

This would be my only car, but I take the bus to work so technically not my “daily driver”. Driving would consist of weekends, 1 or 2 long drives a year and the everyday 1 mile trip to the gym. My gf would need to drive it so auto.

My top choice above would be the Turbo but not sure what’s available in the price range. Anyone think I should adjust my expectations on this budget or have any mother options I should look into?

996AE

Drive them.

One will speak to you.

Each car listed drive radically different.

Enjoy the hunt.

Jon LaPlant

how do you typically get in the seat of these to test drive? Looking to buy third party, but would I go to dealerships to test drive? Or a used car dealer?

Balr14

I did several searches and found no turbos and no 991 for $50k. It is hard to get to test drive one unless you find a very friendly dealer and look like you have money to spend.

C4SDayton

Get a 997.1 auto. You'll get a great discount on a car and can look for better options and lower miles and $ for service and tires. The other ones will he higher miles or ridden hard for that price.

Jon LaPlant

I have found several medium miles 997.1 turbos that have sold below $50k so they are there I just need to keep looking until the right one pops up. thanks for the input

C4SDayton

I too had a 50k ish budget and ended up spending 57k minus trade in. But I daily mine 8k miles a year, so I wanted lower miles and specific features. Service wise I have no budget, whatever happens happens. A medium miles turbo sounds great, as long as you have potentially thousands set aside for service on average yearly without a worry. I wanted a manual 997.1 turbo but not the price range I wanted for a daily driver.

996AE

Join PCA and attend a few breakfast meetings. Lots of cars and great people. Take a ride in each of these cars.

Dont buy a car you have never been in or worse not driven.

swingwing

OP, in my newbie opinion your three choices are well nigh unobtainable for $50k. As example in Oct Panorama (PCA monthly magazine) there are five 997.1 Turbo ads. Low price is $63k, high is $89.5k.
I recommend you go slow and do more research. Join PCA on the Test Drive membership and start looking at member ads. It’s a large club so there’s probably a chapter in your area. Excellence Magazine publishes a good Buyer’s Guide that has pretty good price reference on the different models.
991 has no “Auto” transmission. It’s gonna be PDK.

snaphappy

You might be able to find a TT in sorry shape for $55k. But the $50k Turbo remains an elusive dream. Prove me wrong, I’d be thrilled!!

visitador

A higher mileage base 991.1 PDK is doable

swingwing

True. In same mag issue there’s a 2013 991.1 PDK listed with ask price of $46k. Car has 72,300 miles. Service history’s key in my opinion.

Jon LaPlant

yea this is becoming more of a realization, thank you for pointing it out. I will look into a PCA membership, my friend is a member.

Depreciation would probably hit a 997 low mileage S less than a 991 high mileage Base I am thinking.

swingwing

Where do you live OP? You a DIYer or pay shop for maintenance? Will you travel for a prospective car or need to buy local? Set on a 911, or open to other Porsche models? Cayman is a nice car, affordable Boxsters abound.

Jon LaPlant

Bay Area, I will do basic maintenance like oil changes etc. myself. I will fly west coast for a car and drive back and possibly ship if price is right and I can get a the person to do a PPI. Definitely set on a 911.