When it comes to performance cars, Porsche has always been one marque where the brand tax was apparent. Aside from a few exceptions, like the rather undesirable 924, no Porsche can truly be called affordable in my opinion. Moreover, the vast majority of the German brand’s sports cars tend to appreciate over time, making virtually any Porsche that doesn’t share hardware with Volkswagen Group cars (VAG), a great investment. So if you’re looking to spend as little money as possible on a Porsche sports car, but still want something that packs decent performance, there are a few interesting options out there. Among those are, not one, but two generations of the 911 as well as a V8 model grand tourer to name a few. While some of these cars are only now beginning to be truly appreciated, you can still find great examples of each at reasonable prices with the possibility of even snagging some of the more desirable trims. After looking at market trends of some underappreciated Porsches, I think these are the models with the highest chance of going up in value. The cars in the following list have been arranged from most expensive to most affordable.

6. (997.1) Porsche 911 Carrera/ Carrera 4

The 997-generation Porsche 911 is universally loved for a few good reasons. It is the last water-cooled 911 that truly adheres to the classic 911 philosophy. The 997 is what many believe the 996 should have been from the start. It is also the last 911 to feature Porsche’s hydraulic steering, which was praised for its exceptional feedback, making it the last analog 911. The last 911 Turbo to feature a manual transmission is a 997. If that isn’t enough, the last Porsche to feature a Mezger engine is also a 997. Those variants, however, are highly sought-after and expensive.

Instead, I want to focus my attention on the Carrera and Carrera 4 models, which is the most affordable way to get behind the wheel of a 997. The Carrera variants of the 997.1 still feature the M96 engine, which was known for a few issues including the infamous IMS beraring. The 997.1 is also the last pre-PDK-era 911, so you will have to settle for the Mercedes-derived 5G-Tronic automatic – a reliable transmission (if serviced properly), but hardly a sporty one. I calculated an average market value for the 997.1 of $37,784, with automatic-equipped Carrera Cabriolet models being the most affordable.

5. Porsche 928 S Manual

The 928 was an interesting chapter in Porsche’s history. It was necessary to improve the brand’s image after the 930 Turbo (a.k.a the Widowmaker) developed a grim reputation for killing its drivers. The Porsche 928 was playing it safe, offering a front-engine rear-wheel-drive setup and a more luxurious cockpit. It was also one of the most over-engineered sports cars of its day, featuring the revolutionary Weissach rear axle for improved handling, transaxle gearbox, and other clever engineering to make the sports-luxury coupe as compliant as possible.

It is a popular belief that the Porsche 928 was there to replace the 911, but despite the model’s initial success that never happened. The best part is that the V-8 Porsche sports car can be found, even with the rare, dog-leg manual transmission, for under $30,000. The average market value is, currently, at $28,011. I am not talking about the base model either, but the more potent 928 S, which is the mid-range model in the 928 lineup. Sadly, U.S.-spec models were a whopping 63 horsepower down compared to the Euro-spec cars, but those were the times. If you settle for the four-speed automatic (three-speed for early European models), performance is far from adequate.

4. Porsche 944 Turbo

Believe it or not, you can get the range-topping variant of a classic Porsche sports car for less than $30,000. I am talking about the Porsche 944 Turbo, which was the logical evolution of the highly undesirable 924. Unlike its predecessors, all 944 variants featured Porsche-built inline-four engines, but I am focusing on the Turbo, as it is the only one that packs real performance. These are some of the first Porsche cars to feature more advanced electronics, so they can be an electrical nightmare, but in terms of body and mechanicals, the 944 Turbo is a solid car when taken care of.

Even well-preserved concourse-level examples aren’t crazy expensive as they gravitate between $40,000-$45,000. There are plenty of models for way less than that, with the average market value being $27,492. Like other front-engine trans-axle era Porsche sports cars, the transmission is in the rear for better weight distribution. In this case, you can only choose a five-speed manual, which is how it should be.

3. Porsche 996.1 Carrera/ Carrera 4

In recent years, people started warming up to the most hated 911 generation. The 996 was a bit of a pioneer, perhaps too much for purists. It was the first water-cooled 911, the first to feature an all-new platform, and the first to feature a more contemporary interior. It also did away with the traditional round headlights, in favor of the "fried eggs" design. Build quality was also somewhat inconsistent. Regardless, early 996 models are, currently, the cheapest way to get a 911 from that era. With help from Classic.com, I managed to calculate an average market value of $27,370.

Interestingly enough, the Carrera 4 models are slightly more affordable – roughly $2,700 on average, compared to the rear-wheel-drive models. By now, the rear main seal and IMS bearing should have been addressed as these cars are of age. Bore scoring is also a known issue. If you are not a Porsche purist, LS-swapping the Porsche 911 is a possible avenue that unlocks extra performance. However, by doing so, you are forgoing the investment aspect of a 911 purchase.

2. Porsche 968

The Porsche 968 is the final evolution of the 924 – a car that wasn’t supposed to be a Porsche to begin with. This was a more affordable, front-engine alternative to the 911, which came with one of the largest, four-cylinder engines ever made. The transmission was mounted at the rear for better weight distribution. There was even a 968 Clubsport variant and a very rare 968 Turbo, both of which commanded a hefty premium (30-50%) over the base models, when new in the early 1990s, not just for packing additional hardware, but also for being limited production models. The 968 carries over the two-plus-two layout.

Coupe variants carry over the hatchback tailgate, dating back to the 924 and 944 models while convertibles feature an electric soft-top. Many owners convert the Cabriolet’s soft top to manual by disconnecting the cables, so as not to brake unobtanium parts. I calculated an average market price for the Porsche 968 at $23,794, but there are plenty of examples for under $10,000.

1. Porsche 986 Boxster

The entry-level Porsche sports car from the mid-1990s was the unsung hero that saved Porsche from bankruptcy. Utilizing much of the 996 hardware, the 986 Boxster offered 80 percent of the 911 Carrera performance, in some cases for less than half the price. As a bonus, the mid-engine layout is believed to be superior to the 911’s rear-engine setup. The 986 also shared many of the 996’s problems, including the rear main seal and once again, the dreaded IMS bearing.

Luckily, many of these cars have these issues addressed. It may sound counter-intuitive, but low-mileage cars could be riskier as these problems may not have manifested themselves yet. A good service history could indicate that. Officially, there was never a 986.2 update, but in 1999, the base engine went from 2.5 to 2.7 liters. According to Classic.com, the average market value of a 986 is $12,716, but more affordable models are plentiful. Manual models are, on average, $3,000 more expensive and pack better performance than Tiptronic-equipped 986 examples.

GALLERY