10 Overrated Porsche Models: Are They Really Worth The Hype?

10. 2023 Porsche 911 (992) Sport Classic

The Porsche 911 has no shortage of special-edition models, regardless of the generation. For the 992, there are a number of those. In 2023, Porsche introduced the second iteration of the retro-inspired 911 Sport Classic. The first one came in 2010 and was based on the 997.2 Carrera GTS. This second iteration of the Sport Classic is based on the 992 Turbo and like its predecessor, it comes with all the classic bits, dating back to the iconic 911 Carrera 2.7 RS.

But the 992 Sport Classic wasn’t just a Turbo with a unique aesthetic treatment. It ditched all-wheel drive and instead of a PDK, it has a manual. The flat-six engine was also detuned. With a price of $274,750 when new, the 992 Sport Classic retailed for a whopping $90,400 more than a regular 992 Turbo without being a better car. The only thing that makes it more special is the stick shift and limited production of 1,250 examples, but even so, I would rather have the 992 Turbo instead for considerably less.

9. 1985 Porsche 944 Turbo

The Porsche 944 is a great car, if a bit controversial. It was the base of a bad situation. The 944 was an evolution of the 924, which wasn’t meant to be a Porsche to begin with. Instead, it was to be a Volkswagen-badged sports car, co-developed with Porsche. VW, essentially, bailed on its partner, leaving them with one of the most hated Porsche sports cars ever.

The 944 was a big step up from the 924 in terms of quality and performance, especially in the range-topping Turbo and Turbo S trims. Publications from the day, praised the front-engine Porsche sports car for its exceptional balance and surprising performance. These great qualities, however, are not enough to justify the $100,000-plus asking price on the classic car market. Moreover, with age, 944s are prone to a lot of electrical issues.

8. 1974 Porsche 911 (930) Turbo

Ah yes!! The original Porsche 911 Turbo The first turbocharged Porsche 911 was so significant that Porsche gave it a separate name. Based on the G-Body 911, the 930 Turbo was the brainchild of Ernst Fuhrmann. He adapted the rudimentary turbo technology of the Porsche 917/30 Le Mans race car and used it in the Porsche 930.

A casual drive in the Porsche 930 was an unfamiliar concept as the car kept you on edge every time you wanted to use the power. Despite the promise of a thrilling drive and having earned a grim nickname, a.k.a the Widowmaker the result was a car that was a real handful machine, even for experienced drivers. People even took Porsche to court for making a car that killed its drivers, but even so, the car became one of the most iconic and historically significant Porsche models. Prices reflect that despite the fact that it is one of the most dangerous Porsche sports cars.

7. 2019 Porsche 911 (991.2) Speedster

The Speedster concept was how Porsche established a strong foothold in the U.S. market in the 1950s. The idea of a bare-bones, lightweight, open-top sports car, suitable for quick dashes through town or up a canyon road proved a winning formula. Nowadays, not so much. The Speedsters were meant for Southern California where you could drive with the top down all the time. Almost all Porsche 911s had a Speedster variant, except for the Porsche 993 Speedster, which was never officially made. The 991 Speedster is the last iteration and like other models, it comes with a soft manual top that is a pain in the rear to put on.

The "less is more” philosophy applies to the 911 Speedster, but for the Porsche 991 Speedster, less might actually be less. Sure, you get the iconic high-revving flat-six of the 991 GT3 RS, but with no roof, you can enjoy it in a much more limited capacity. Then, there is the starting MSRP of $275,750, which puts it in borderline supercar territory. Even with only 1,948 units made, that’s still a steep price, and it only gets steeper with time.

6. 2024 Porsche 911 (992.1) S/T

Porsche is one of few automakers that would still sell you a driver-focused model of the 911. Not that all 911s aren’t driver’s cars, but the 992.1 S/T is meant to tickle the senses like no other. The S/T is to the GT3 RS, which is what the GT3 Touring is to the regular GT3, but there’s more. Porsche has removed some of the tech from the S/T, including the rear-wheel steering, to save weight. This necessitated a new steering rack with a 15.0:1 ratio instead of the standard 14.2:0.

The suspension and power steering have been retuned so over bumpy roads, the car is more refined, compared to the GT3 Touring. The S/T is 84 pounds lighter than the GT3 Touring, making it one of the most lightweight, modern-day Porsches. All that sounds great until we get to the price. At $290,000, the 992 S/T is $77,500 more expensive than the GT3 Touring. It seems a bit much even with production being limited to 1,963 units.

5. 2020 Porsche Taycan

In 2019 Porsche introduced its first EV model, the Taycan. Like other carmakers, Porsche decided to put its money on electrification a strategy that proved to be wrong. Porsche has, since, changed its mind, but the Taycan is still around. The EV sedan quickly became one of the most popular and fastest-selling performance BEV cars, but it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows.

Early Taycans suffered from limited driving range (208 miles on the base variant) and reliability issues, concerning the charging cable that is prone to overheating, problems with the infotainment, the battery, and various software issues. Porsche issued a recall for the most severe problems, which were fixed free of charge. Taycan sales are currently on the decline and with a new EV Panamera coming out, the Taycan could share the fate of the Porsche 928.

4. 2023 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid

In 2023, the third-generation Porsche Cayenne got a facelift. With it, came a new range-topping variant in the form of the Turbo E-Hybrid. The new range-topping Cayenne was more powerful, but also heavier, more expensive, and slower to 60 mph. Many tuning companies still go for the non-hybrid Cayenne Turbo as it is the more athletic variant.

Moreover, you can spend the price difference on making the non-hybrid Cayenne Turbo quicker than the E-Hybrid and more unique, and compared to a hybrid, a gas-powertrain is always going to be simpler and easier to maintain in the long run. The only redeeming feature I suppose is a new 20.6-kWh Lithium-ion battery, which allows for up to 45 miles of driving on electricity. At $158,995, the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid does not come cheap, and while it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison, the most expensive Cayenne is still lesser than most 911s.

3. 2005 Porsche 911 (997.1) Carrera/ Carrera 4

In the eyes of many, the Porsche 997 is the best generation 911. It comes from a time when Porsche’s sports cars were still relatively compact and analog. The 997 is the last Porsche to feature hydraulic steering and a Mezger engine. It was also the last time we got a 911 Turbo with a manual. Bridging the old and new, the 997 returned to the traditional round headlights, but underneath, it was a very comprehensive facelift to the controversial 996.

Early 997 Carrera models even carried over the M96 engine, which is known for some severe issues that may or may not manifest themselves. Moreover, early 997 models were pre-PDK cars, meaning if you went for the automatic, you got a Mercedes-derived, five-speed torque converter, which is smooth, but robs the Carrera from much-needed performance. The 997 is generally a great car, but early 997 Carrera models don’t offer much bang for the buck, especially with the auto.

2. 2016 Porsche 911 R (991)

The 991-based Porsche 911 R is an epic homage to the most radical variant of the original Porsche 911. Back in 1966, Porsche created a 911 with the best possible power-to-weight ratio. The result was the Porsche 911R, which had an unladen weight of 1,753 pounds and a flat-six engine that developed 210 horsepower. The car itself was based on the Carrera S but with all amenities taken out. This included the deletion of the window crank mechanisms.

The modern-day interpretation is one of the most driver-focused road-going 911s. The GT3 RS engine is matched with a single-mass flywheel, and a close-ratio manual, and put in a wide-body 911 that lacks the wings and spoilers of the GT3 RS. All that sounds great until we get to the price. When new, the 2016 Porsche 911 R cost less than $150,000, but today, average prices are upwards of $450,000. But beyond the astronomical prices on the secondary market, is the minimalist philosophy truly worth the premium over a 991 GT3 RS? Average prices still hover under 200 grand and you get the additional aero bits missing on the 911R.

1. 2025 Porsche 911 GT3 (992.2)

Porsche continues to offer the 911 GT3 in its classic format, with a high-revving normally-aspirated flat-six and a manual option. If you are looking for a more understated look and want more of a canyon carver than a track weapon, the Touring is still here. That said the 992.2 GT3 was a bit of a letdown, at least on paper. For the first time, the GT3 did not gain power, and peak torque is lesser than before, albeit mid-range should be better.

We have emissions regulations to blame for that. Worse even, the next-generation 911 GT3 could be vastly different because of that. We are yet to see how the 992.2 GT3 stacks up to the 992.1 performance-wise. For 2025, the GT3 is $40,000 more expensive than the 2024 model year, but I doubt 992.1 GT3 owners will be getting a $40,000 better car.