Porsche cars are widely considered as some of the best sports cars that are also suitable for daily drivers. While there are a few exceptions, those being the more track-focused GT variants of the 911 and 718 models, the level of engineering and fine-tuning that goes into a Porsche is matched only by a few other companies in the industry. And even then, they would charge you a lot more. But that doesn’t mean Porsche sports cars are affordable.

In fact, the Porsche tax is real and the German automaker will happily charge you extra for even the most insignificant optional extra. Luckily, there is a thing called the used market, and if you want a proper driver’s car with the Porsche crest on the hood, without paying the hefty price of one, these five models should be right up your alley. Granted, some of these are not the brand’s finest hour, but they offer impressive driving dynamics for not a lot of money. All of the models listed below are under $30,000, with many available for as little as $2,000.

5. 1996-2004 Porsche 986 Boxster

In recent years, the Porsche 986 Boxster has become a popular offering on the Porsche used-car market. The initial mixed reception due to questionable quality and the fact it was two-thirds Porsche 996, has long sailed away, thanks to how affordable the mid-engine roadster has become. But this might not be the case for much longer. While there are plenty of 986s for way under $10,000, Classic.com shows an average market value of $15,973. The low end for these cars is, currently, around $4,000. There are three different variants of the M96 flat-six engine, none of which is particularly powerful or reliable unless a few common issues like the infamous IMS bearing failure, have been taken care of.

Luckily, these cars are old enough, so most likely, these issues have been taken care of. Look for the service history. Speaking of sharing of bits, the extensive tech-sharing carries on into the Porsche 981 and 991 models. What the Boxster lacks in power, it makes up with agility and impeccable balance, making it a blast to drive. Ideally, you want to look for a Boxster S with a manual. Base models with the Tiptronic transmission are the cheapest.

4. 2006-2008 Porsche 987 Cayman

The Porsche 987 is an evolution of the 986 Boxster. For the first time, Porsche’s entry-level sports car got a coupe variant in the form of the Cayman. It was much of the same with a few improvements. Sadly, most improvements came with the 987.2 facelift in 2009, which isn’t as affordable, hence why we are sticking with the earlier 987 Cayman. Even so, to get a decent one for under $20,000, you will have to look a bit harder, but they do exist. Classic.com shows an average price of $25,788 for a base model 987 with a manual. The Tiptronic-equipped examples are much cheaper and you can pick one up for around $11,000.

Those are the ones you want since the 987.1 still relies on the Mercedes-derived, 5G-Tronic automatic, which is anything but sporty. With the 987 Cayman, you get the M97 engine, which is an improvement over the M96. As with the 986, there are a few important things when looking to buy a Porsche 987.

3. 1982-1991 Porsche 944

The Porsche 944 was a much-needed improvement on the 924. The Porsche 944 is, often, referred to as the “German Miata” because it isn’t particularly powerful, but features a great balance. The manual gearbox is a transaxle, which means it is mounted in the back, contributing to a 50:50 weight distribution.

If you want to spend less on a 944, forget about the Turbo models. The base model 944 can still be had for $5,000 or less, although nicer lower-mileage examples are more expensive. Classic.com shows an average value of $14,089 for the base Porsche 944, but there are high-mileage examples for as little as $1,000. It is worth noting that U.S. variants are down 24 horsepower compared to European models, due to emissions regulations.

2. 1977-1995 Porsche 928

The Porsche 928 was Porsche’s take on the classic, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, sports car formula with a V8. In fact, the 928 was meant to replace the 911 when Porsche had doubts about the longevity of the rear-engine layout. That never happened and the Porsche 928 legacy is carried on by a company called Nardone. Despite being more of a gran tourer, the 928 is still a Porsche, which means it is athletic and balanced. Like the Porsche 944, the 928’s transmission is at the rear, for better weight distribution.

If you manage to snag one of the rare examples, featuring a dog-leg manual transmission, you are getting a proper driver’s car. Those are, typically 30 percent more expensive than the automatic variants. U.S.-spec variants are slightly less powerful due to emissions but even base models feature exceptional handling and a V-8 engine. Current average prices for the Porsche 928 are $26,841, but there are plenty of examples for less. If you are okay with a project car, you can pick up a Porsche 928 for as little as $2,600.

1. 1976-1982 Porsche 924

If a cheap Porsche sports car is what you are after, look no further than the Porsche 924. The reason for it being the cheapest, driver-focused Porsche money can buy is that the 924 wasn’t meant to be a Porsche to begin with. The car was co-developed with Volkswagen, similar to how the Porsche 914 came to be. However, VW bailed out mid-development, leaving Porsche with a sports car that featured an anemic, non-Porsche engine, which was even more strangled for the U.S. market, with less than 100 horsepower. The 924’s redeeming feature was the nimble and balanced chassis that went on to serve as the basis for the 944 and 968 models.

These cars suffered from some electrical gremlins and many 924s have been modified or engine-swapped, which is probably a good thing. Unless we are talking about the rare Turbo variant, the Porsche 924 is not a collector’s car, so Porsche purists will not judge you for anything you do to a 924. Classic.com shows an average price of $9,512, but in reality, there’s no shortage of some great examples for $4,000 or less.

GALLERY