"A garage without a Porsche 911 is a dull, empty hole," said Walter Röhrl. The rally icon speaks to the soul of many car fans.
Form, technology and motorsport are the pillars on which the Porsche legend and especially the 911 legend is based. "For years, the 911 was a pure sports car from a sports car manufacturer, similar to Ferrari, and not a sporty car from a mixed car company like BMW or Mercedes," says Frank Wilke from the market observer Classic Analytics. "That's how this myth came about."
The 911 has been the epitome of the sports car for decades and is a dream car for many drivers. Since new ones cost far more than 100,000 euros, many fans with smaller budgets choose a used one. It doesn't have to be really cheap either.
From 1948 onwards, Porsche relied on the one-model strategy for years: first the 356, later the 911. Racing cars were also created. Only in 1969, with the 914 under the VW-Porsche brand, did a second model series appear.
At Porsche, design and the six-cylinder boxer form a unique combination. "This combination did not exist before and for many fans it still represents the ultimate in sports cars," says Frank Wilke.
Because it has essentially remained true to itself over the past 60 years, the 911 is also one of the popular sports cars for Henning Hinze. “Technically, the 911 has moved with the times, but it still has the fascination of the past. It drives sporty, but is suitable for everyday use," says the editor-in-chief of "Auto Bild Klassik".
With the six-cylinder boxer engine in the rear, the 911 offers a unique engine concept and handling. A 911 always fits and is useful in every situation, says Hinze. “The 911 can be driven slowly in the city and quickly on mountain passes. It's a special experience when the engine behind the passengers starts to throb and rumble."
In addition, the 911 is accepted and socially acceptable. That means: In contrast to a Ferrari or a Lamborghini, a Porsche is hardly noticeable on the road.
All this has its price: driving a Porsche has never been cheap and it never will be. According to Hinze, the air-cooled 911s are models of the G series between 1973 and 1989, especially the models from the late 1970s and early 1980s with 2.7 and 3.0 liter boxer engines.
The early F series (1963 to 1973), on the other hand, is puristic, expensive and sensitive. The later Type 964 (1989-1994) was expensive to maintain. The last air-cooled boxer, the Type 993 (1993-1998), was never cheap.
The cheapest entry into the world of the 911 currently offers the model known internally as the 996. It first came onto the market 25 years ago. The first water-cooled series six-cylinder boxer engine was frowned upon by die-hard Porsche fans at first, but the type has since been accepted.
"Even if the change from air to water cooling represented the downfall of the West for die-hard Porsche fans and the mirror-egg headlights were criticized, the 996 still offers sporty and comfortable driving behavior today," says Frank Wilke.
According to Hinze, models from the facelift (year of construction 2001) are suitable for everyday use and offer “a lot of Porsche for the money”. Well-groomed ones are available for less than 25,000 euros. Automatic models are cheaper because there is less demand. However, the automatic converter is less agile.
However, after bottoming out eight years ago, 996 prices are picking up slightly. Well-preserved models (grade 2) are worth around 27,000 euros according to Classic Analytics calculations.
Frank Wilke considers a Carrera coupé to be of lasting value for the 996, because only that offers the original 911 shape. With a manual gearbox, conventional, unobtrusive paintwork and a black interior, a 996 could easily be resold if you didn't like it.
"Even if the 996 is the cheapest 911, that doesn't mean it's cheap. Spare parts and repairs can be expensive on the model because the repairs are expensive,” says Wilke.
Henning Hinze therefore advises buying a more expensive car because it is better. The cheapest 20 percent of vehicles are often in poor condition. "There are no longer any bargains at Porsche, all cars are being sought and the market has been transparent for years," he says. "Buyers don't have to be under any time pressure."
The price difference between a good and a better car is small. "With an inexpensive car, the money saved beforehand can quickly flow into the repairs - and only cover half the costs," says Hinze.
As a rough rule of thumb, he says that everything costs at least 1000 euros - regardless of whether the brakes, tires, springs or the heating are defective. An engine revision with expansion costs at least 15,000 euros.
"Anyone who is not dependent on four seats can also choose a Cayman or Boxster," says Hinze. The vehicles are identical to the 996 right down to the seat rails. "The models offer six cylinders and are fun to drive, but cost less to buy and maintain than a 911," he says.
The 924, 944 and 968 models are also great sports cars, but because of their front engine and rear-wheel drive they offer completely different handling than a 911. And those who want the classic 911 shape can't get past the 996.
Porsche fans who want a lively car are better off with the Boxster (986) and Cayman (987c). The value of well-maintained vehicles in condition 2 is around 14,500 euros (Boxster) and 23,000 euros (Cayman).
Maintenance is particularly important for used models - also because of the high repair costs. For extensive repairs, there should be proof from an expert in the form of photos and an invoice.
A completed checkbook must be available as well as a well-documented history. Maintenance and repair work does not necessarily have to have been carried out at a Porsche center.
"In most cities there are specialists for older Porsche models who often have more expertise," says Henning Hinze. Their hourly wages are also below those of a Porsche center.
Thorsten Rechtien generally sees no major difference to other types of vehicles when viewing a used sports car. "But if a sports car is driven like a sports car, i.e. more sporty and often under full load, interested parties should examine wearing parts carefully," says the expert from TÜV Rheinland.
Tires, brakes, tie rod ends, handlebars or dampers are subjected to greater stress when driving faster and wear out faster. The engine, transmission, axles and differentials can also wear out and leak oil during extreme driving. If you are not an expert yourself, you should definitely take someone with you who understands something about sports cars and their peculiarities.
Technical changes to the chassis, exhaust or wheel-tire combination must either be entered in the vehicle documents or a general operating permit (ABE) must be available for the components.
A completed checkbook is irrelevant for a main inspection (HU). But it is an indication that an owner cares for his vehicle and that the car is regularly checked and serviced in addition to the statutory general inspection according to extended manufacturer specifications, so Rechtien. So that the Porsche not only fills a dark garage, but can also be moved reliably.
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