10 Of The Cheapest Porsches You Can Buy On A Budget
As with many things, Porsche prices have gone a little crazy over the last few years, and the days of a properly cheap Porsche are seemingly a thing of the past. While you may still spot a $5,000 Boxster or a sub-$20,000 996, the average prices for traditionally cheaper models have more than doubled in some cases since 2020.
With that being said, the prices for more desirable models have also seen a significant hike, and the "entry-level" Porsches are still the bottom rungs on that particular ladder. If you want to join the prestigious Porsche owner's club, you can do so with the models we're about to list. We've included an obvious entry-level option, a plane-pulling rally champion, a utility vehicle, a wolf in Porsche's clothing, and what is undoubtedly a 911, among other things. These models certainly aren't among the most expensive Porsches of all time. That's why they should be high on your list if you're set on a German sports car but don't want to pay the excessive sticker price for a new build from the dealer or a hotly sought-after classic.
2008 Porsche Cayman
The Porsche Cayman is an interesting vehicle: it rests comfortably sandwiched between the performance metrics of the 911, a famed racer in its own right, and the Boxster — a sporty cruiser with some pep, but far lighter muscle. The 2008 Cayman in particular is a car that looks the part and offers quality road performance to boot. The standard Cayman model (as opposed to the Cayman S) is driven via a 2.7L flat-six engine that produces 245 horsepower and 201 pound-feet of torque. The Cayman S boosts these figures with the addition of a 3.4L engine instead, sporting 295 horsepower and 251 pound-feet of torque.
However, the Cayman remains a potent sports car even when stacked up against its older brother. Buyers today will see Caymans from around 2008 on the market for around $15,000 (for a good example through a private seller), making them a quality option for a Porsche enthusiast on the hunt for a classic model. The Cayman combines the convertible aesthetic of the Boxster with the classic body shape pulled almost directly from the 911 blueprint. As a result, Porsche Cayman models sit right at the sweet spot between some of the most enthusiastically sought-after models ever produced by the brand.
Early 2010s Porsche Panamera
Last but certainly not least is the Porsche Panamera. The Panamera was introduced at the Shanghai Motor Show in 2009, and model years in the first generation of Panameras offer a valuable mixture of great traits. It has aesthetically pleasing exterior lines, a four door sedan layout that's perfect for shuttling friends or children around, and a reduced price tag that rounds out the car nicely.
While a newer Panamera will set you back a fair amount (the new model starts at $92,400), a more vintage example will cost closer to $20,000. This makes the car an excellent option for someone seeking a performance Porsche at a steep discount.
The Panamera came in S, 4S, and Turbo options. Any of the three will stand to you as a driver, as all options are powered by a 4.8L V8 engine that produces 400 horsepower (500 horsepower for the turbo trim). While changes in the layout began to appear in the 2014 model year, any of the early 2010s models represent a great option for a buyer seeking to bag a Porsche while saving on the cost.
The first generation of Porsche Panameras ran until 2016, so there's likely a divergent price gap between the early models and the more contemporary second generation. The four door Porsche makes for an excellent crossover vehicle that retains the sporty DNA of the Porsche namesake, while offering a more expansive cabin for passengers.
[Featured image by EurovisionNim via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY-SA 4.0]
Porsche Cayenne
If you just want something that goes pretty fast and has a Porsche badge stuck to it, then you can grab the Porsche Cayenne for surprisingly cheap. While Porsche is mainly known for its sports coupes, it has produced other vehicle types. It all really started with the Cayenne, over 20 years ago. The Cayenne definitely isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you're looking for a Porsche, but it is a very good crossover — it's surprisingly spacious, has solid off-road performance, and even has a few long-distance rally wins to drive that point home. You can also expect plenty of torque, as Cayennes have even been pictured towing an Airbus A380.
In terms of a downside, it isn't what you'd expect from a Porsche. Yes, it's good-looking and exceedingly sporty for a small SUV, but it isn't a nippy little sports coupe. Still, you can get your hands on an older Cayenne for less than $10,000, assuming you wouldn't mind owning a model from 2010 or earlier. Ultimately, it's one of the cheapest ways to get a Porsche in your garage.
Porsche Macan
The Cayenne isn't Porsche's only foray into the world beyond the sports car. The Macan is Porsche's luxury crossover, and it's available at a pretty reasonable price point as far as Porsches go. A brand new 2024 version of the small SUV starts at $60,000 — but that's used 911 money. For these purposes, we don't want to spend anywhere near that much. The oldest Macans on the market are turning 10 years old at the time of writing.
As the Macan isn't a collectible Porsche by any means, those older models should be available at a very attractive price point — in fact, you're likely to spot one for under $20,000. Used 2015 models are selling for around $17,000 on average, for example. If you want something slightly newer, then you should be aware that the average used Porsche Macan changes hands for just over $37,000. Either way, the Macan is a very cheap and very practical Porsche, even if you decide to buy one brand new.
Porsche 912e
As far as "it's not a proper 911" goes, the Porsche 912e is undoubtedly the king of the knockoff jungle, mainly because it is a proper 911 ... sort of. It's built on the same chassis as the original 912, which was produced between 1965 and 1969. The "e" variant came out a few years later in 1975. It was also exclusive to the U.S. market. If you look at it, even very closely, it just looks like a classic 911 from the 1960s. So, if you're just looking for something to decorate your driveway with, the 912e may be a way to get a classic out front for a third of its usual price.
Oddly enough, the 912e handles a bit better than the 911s of its time. It has all the benefits that come with a nimble Porsche chassis, and one glaring difference that makes it far less prone to oversteer and a sideways trip into a ditch or tree. Unfortunately, that difference is what makes people look down on it. While the original 912 had an exemplary air-cooled boxer engine, the 912e is powered by a reworked 2-liter Volkswagen engine originally designed for the Type 4. Its 90 hp output is the same as the actual 912, but the extra weight hampers performance somewhat. Still, if you want that classic Porsche look in a package that's less likely to kill you, you can pick up a 912 for just over $36,000 on average.
Porsche Boxster
In today's market, the Porsche Boxster is still the only truly cheap Porsche out there; either new or used, it's many people's gateway into the German performance brand. It's also widely looked down upon and derided as not a proper Porsche. You're part of the club, but you're on the lowest rung. Put another way, you're on the Jedi Council, but you're not being granted the rank of Master. You'll both love the fact you can tell people about the Porsche in your garage, and hate the fact you didn't bankrupt yourself buying the rusted-out husk of a 930 instead. All of this is pretty unfair.
Early Boxsters had their problems and were subject to some obvious corner-cutting in an effort to keep prices down, but things have improved drastically over the years. Its mid-engine configuration is arguably better than the flagship 911's classic rear-engine setup, too. If you can get over the stigma, you can nab a Boxster for around $25,000 on average, with some super cheap examples dipping into four figures. Just remember though, even though it's entry-level, it's still built from Porsche parts. So there's likely to be some serious expenses down the line, especially if you opt for one of the issue-packed late '90s models.
Porsche 996
If you want a genuine, bonafide, Porsche 911 but don't want to break the bank, you'll probably have to go for a less popular generation. One of the worst 911 generations is arguably the Porsche 996, which is looked down upon for several valid reasons. It used a lot of Boxster parts in an effort to keep total costs down, which rubbed fans of the flagship the wrong way. It dumped the air-cooled engines Porsche was famous for in favor of a water-cooled engine. Oh, and its headlights didn't look great. They were compared to fried eggs and haven't appeared on a 911 since. But what it lacks in looks, quality, and pedigree, the model more than makes up for in performance. It drives like a 911 and can be yours for around $45,000.
Those looking to buy a 996 should know that it and its successor, the 997, had a pretty catastrophic IMS bearing issue. There are aftermarket bearings that mitigate the problem, but if you see a model without paperwork showing that the IMS bearing has been replaced, you should either walk away or get the job done yourself immediately. An IMS bearing failure will utterly destroy your engine, and replacing the engine in any 911 comes with a bill so big you'll wish you spent the extra on a more desirable Porsche.
Porsche 924
If you want an affordable, sporty Porsche that isn't a 911 and has more prestige than a Boxster, then the 924 has always been a solid choice. Produced between 1976 and 1988, the affordable coupe was designed as an entry-level model capable of replacing the 914. Unlike its premium sibling, the 911, Porsche's 924 is a front-engined vehicle, though it remains rear-wheel drive. While its level of performance was historically criticized, the 924 has developed a cult status amongst Porsche enthusiasts over the decades.
During these dark times, Porsche 924s are currently averaging just under $30,000 per vehicle, which is far from cheap. However, if you dig deep enough, a bargain may still be available. Outliers on the lower end of the scale are still selling for close to the $10,000 mark. While this isn't quite a chance to nab a Porsche for a few grand, it's certainly very cheap by post-pandemic standards.
Porsche 944
While it suffers from "not a 911" syndrome, the Porsche 944 has a lot going for it — the main plus point being it's the last truly cheap Porsche out there these days. The sports coupes average around $26,000 — though if you're ever going to find a post-pandemic Porsche hovering around the $5,000 mark, it's probably one of these. There was a period when, in performance terms anyway, the 944 was arguably better than some of the 911s of its generation ... though said 911s are, to this day, notably more expensive.
Like the 924, the 944 is front-engined with a transaxle setup sending that power to the back wheels. A child of the 1980s, it's one of the more interesting looking Porsche coupes around. It has flip up headlights and a strange, almost muscle car-esque, bulk about it. It was also pretty fast for its time, with the Turbo S variant capable of going from zero to 60 in under six seconds and a top speed of 162 mph, making it the fastest four-cylinder production car on Earth for a short time. The model also has strong racing links, with its engine and transaxle setup both having ties with Le Mans 24 Hours.
Porsche 968
The Porsche 968 comes with a wide range of options. You can find one with a six-speed manual transmission or a Tiptronic transmission, you can opt for a coupé or a cabriolet, and you can just opt for a 944 if you don't see one available. The 968 is the last four-cylinder transaxle vehicle Porsche made and is the 944's successor. As a result, there are a lot of similarities between the two vehicles.
However, pound-for-pound performance may be worse with the 968. The 911s of the time got a major update, while the 968 was very much the entry-level vehicle it was supposed to be. One area where it does stand out is in the handling department. The front-engined vehicle's transmission is in the rear, which does wonders for weight distribution. According to Kelley Blue Book, Porsche 968 owners give the vehicle a 4.7 out of 5 rating — which may make it one of the more satisfying choices when it comes to classic Porsches.
With an average price currently hovering around the $30,000 mark, it's by no means cheap, but it is still inexpensive for a desirable Porsche. If you have a bit of patience and do enough digging, cheaper 968s can be found selling for around $20,000. Again, this isn't the bargain they were pre-pandemic — but it's just about as accessible as a Porsche coupe gets these days. The one snag is its rarity. Despite the price point, the Porsche 968 is one of the rarest vehicles that the German manufacturer produced. Fewer than 13,000 were made during the car's three-year production run.
How we compiled this list
We compiled this list by looking at the average price of a vehicle on websites that specialize in tracking such prices based on verified sales, including Kelley Blue Book, CarGurus, and Classics.com. We feel this is the fairest way to compile such a list. You're always going to get outliers, but someone being lucky enough to spot a slightly rusty 356 in a barn and handing a clueless farmer $10,000 for it doesn't mean you're going to stumble across one yourself. There are underpriced vehicles of all varieties if you look hard enough and exercise patience.
This list isn't meant to give you false hope, but rather a good idea of what a selection of entry-level Porsches are selling for at the time of writing. Theoretically, you should be able to pick any car from this list and find one for sale at a price point close to what we've suggested without too much effort. Beyond pricing, we also tried to provide a good amount of variety.
For example, there are other Porsches cheaper than a 996, but a reader may have their heart set on a 911. The 996 is the cheapest 911, so it made it on this list. It's a similar story with the 912e — there are cheaper things carrying a Porsche badge, and it can be a difficult thing to find, but you're unlikely to see something that looks pretty much exactly like a first-generation 911 at a similar price point.