Purely as an investment...

[hashluck]

As a Porsche enthusiast, I'd go for a clean sub-50k miles Porsche 996 Turbo.

The GT3 is way beyond the budget as is anything Porsche with tge coveted RS badge.

I know the marque inside out. So I'd not step outside and risk buying a bad example that could be a money-pit. I can spot a money-pit Porsche from a thousand yards and a look at the service book.

I don't know Porsche inside out and I am not a mega fan, but I do agree 996s look to have just started coming out of the bottom. They can be a scary/expensive purchase though if you don't know what you are doing or are looking for, probably as they got cheap enough to fall into the wrong hands.

Perhaps not as an investment but models you should not lose too much on and hopefully have at least a neutral experience with allowing for running costs would be the 987 Gen 2 Boxster and Cayman. None of the issues (perceived or otherwise) of the 986 and 987.1 as Porsche designed them out and made lots of little changes that added up to a lot. They are surprisingly rare as they did not make them for long and that was during a recession. Very contemporary to look at still, great to drive (and flattering) and can be a daily or a nice day car. Easy to own and you will not lose much (if anything). I agree with those who say go for the Cayman R if you can stretch to one as the best 'investment' choice.

 

[philw696]

Nothing wrong with a 987.1 as long as it's a 3.2 S

 

[DLax69]

Im a sucker for the looks of a Targa but I largely dont ‘get’ the Porsche thing.

Had one, and still don't get it.

 

[hashluck]

Did consider this as the Cup idea seems to be going nowhere but I’m miles away, alas.

As the journalist who has done more than most (probably the most) to promote Maserati heritage and up the profile of the marque you would get a very special discount, but it is still nowhere near Ewan's set budget on this thread. Alas.

 

[Lozzer]

I'll stick with the remit on this one, QP5 GTS

 

[williamsmix]

Had one, and still don't get it.

I’ve had two 911s and got that out of my system 20 years ago … but a mid engined Cayman S or R has appeal. Not sure the R really adds that much for the additional 10k though. I think the S offers better value for money.

 

[Lozzer]

I’ve had two 911s and got that out of my system 20 years ago … but a mid engined Cayman S or R has appeal. Not sure the R really adds that much for the additional 10k though. I think the S offers better value for money.

Friend of mine owns a Cayman, it surprised me how good it was.

 

[hashluck]

We just got a 987.2 Boxster 2.7 and a Cayman S 3.4 for stock and drove them back to back with a Cayman R. In the end you just don't think about any comparison, they all do what they do very well. I agree Cayman S might well be the sweet spot.

 

[cheshiremaserati]

Im a sucker for the looks of a Targa but I largely dont ‘get’ the Porsche thing.

No, but hundreds of thousands do. Looks aside, try driving one. The geometry, the chassis, the handling (especially a GT3) and the fact that prices are firm and for some models, still rising. Maybe you don't get the 'Porsche thing' but it is plain to see why hundreds of thousands do.

 

[outrun]

I’ve had two 911s and got that out of my system 20 years ago … but a mid engined Cayman S or R has appeal. Not sure the R really adds that much for the additional 10k though. I think the S offers better value for money.

No doubt the S offers better value but the question was on investment cars, and for that the R wins easily. There are just too many S out there. It's a bit like the Granturismo S vs MC Stradale discussion, the S is 99% of an MC but it's not an MC and therein lies the investment potential.

 

[williamsmix]

No doubt the S offers better value but the question was on investment cars, and for that the R wins easily. There are just too many S out there. It's a bit like the Granturismo S vs MC Stradale discussion, the S is 99% of an MC but it's not an MC and therein lies the investment potential.

Sure …‘potential’ being the operative word in which the (extra) investment risk is weighted.

 

[Nibby]

No, but hundreds of thousands do. Looks aside, try driving one. The geometry, the chassis, the handling (especially a GT3) and the fact that prices are firm and for some models, still rising. Maybe you don't get the 'Porsche thing' but it is plain to see why hundreds of thousands do.

I don’t think it is plain to see.
My brother’s had the full house with Porsches, RS GT3, GT3, Spyders but he’s now got a keeper, a Ferrari 458 Spider.
Any car show with rows of 911’s don’t create a lot of interest at all now. But fair play to them, they hold their money.

 

[Guy]

sticking to investment potential and not value or necessarily ability, how many GS were made and how many left in the UK. I know they have not gone anywhere for a few years but at 20-30k, what else offers the potential?
further up the price, Boxster Spyder?

 

[williamsmix]

sticking to investment potential and not value or necessarily ability, how many GS were made and how many left in the UK. I know they have not gone anywhere for a few years but at 20-30k, what else offers the potential?
further up the price, Boxster Spyder?

The problem with Maseratis is they’re perceived as being money pits … at least that’s what I’ve been told recently when asking for a part exchange price on my 3200. Most dealers are not interested at all. They see no “investment potential” whatsoever; they just see a lot of risk!

 

[safrane]

Given the price of many parts - I would say that perception is pretty much on the mark.

 

[williamsmix]

I don’t think anyone has mentioned it so I’ll throw in the idea of a Ferrari Mondial, particularly the T, the last of the series with the 348 layout. I think you’d find one of those for £45k. Prices seem to have risen quite strongly and ought to hold up as well as the rest of that marque(?).

 

[Phil the Brit]

I agree one to look for but already 10K won't do it. Low mileage cars are hitting 20K and beyond. Whether or not they have the colour coded Pile Position Recaros (factory-fit) makes a big difference. Not sure on your 200 of each colour either. Customer could order what they wanted so the numbers fell out from that. Also there were two different silvers, Avus Silver and Brilliant Silver.

These were the exact colours offered...............Avus Silver, Phantom Black, Mauritius Blue or Misano Red body colour.
Mine is Red and I have fitted leather seats so as to preserve the Recaro seats which I have stored in the house. Mine has done 69 thousand miles so doubt mine would fetch 20K!

 

[Nayf]

The on paper changes for the R don’t appear much, but the way the steering feels is so much more raw, engaging.
The Cayman S felt very competent, and I can see why it’s so loved. But the R - particularly the steering - is another level.

 

[hashluck]

The on paper changes for the R don’t appear much, but the way the steering feels is so much more raw, engaging.
The Cayman S felt very competent, and I can see why it’s so loved. But the R - particularly the steering - is another level.

Bit like Gransport to Gransport MC-V then - and the Cayman R is better with the bucket seats.

 

[hashluck]

These were the exact colours offered...............Avus Silver, Phantom Black, Mauritius Blue or Misano Red body colour.
Mine is Red and I have fitted leather seats so as to preserve the Recaro seats which I have stored in the house. Mine has done 69 thousand miles so doubt mine would fetch 20K!

Yes, sorry I was not clear. Customers could order any colour they wanted from the limited colour palette on offer for the quattro Sport -

.Avus Silver, Phantom Black, Mauritius Blue or Misano Red

Plus, if you can get your hands on the brochure, there was the 'normal' TT Silver which of couse noone ordered given Avus was available at no extra cost and thus is very rare now (on the qS). Good plan to preserve those Recaros, they alone are well over £2K/pair now.