A Note on Pricing: The going prices for these cars are accurate at the time of publishing but may change the longer the classified ads are live.
Legend has it, German cars are incredibly reliable. To their credit, the brands from Deutschland have done a spectacular job of selling their “perceived reliability,” despite Japanese cars being historically more dependable. Not to knock legendary marques like Porsche — it’s entirely possible to get a near faultless 911 or 944; just keep in mind you’ll be paying a premium for it. But, what happens when you lower the budget to $10,000? Suddenly the choices available create a veritable car shopping minefield of lemons, headaches and “project cars.”
2002 Porsche Boxster
The original Boxster convertible may not have the performance car reputation of some of its bigger brothers, but it is a blast to drive. You’re sitting right in front of its engine which makes the sensation of its RWD “push” all the more sensational. This particular model has low miles, a manual transmission and comes with a hardtop, which means track days are a go. Plus, its all-white paint job is a perfect canvas for adding your livery of choice. — Kyle Snarr, Head of Marketing
Mileage: 71,500 miles
Original MSRP: $39,980
1984 Porsche 944
The 944 is the only truly “cheap” Porsche left. That’s understandable: it’s doesn’t look especially Porsche-like. It was praised in its day but didn’t take hold with Porsche purists who couldn’t stomach a front-engined car. By today’s standards, the 924 is slow. But 944s still say Porsche all over the place; in fact, this one says it on the side too. The seller says it’s in great running order, save a few issues that should be fixable. The 944 is legendary in a certain way, it’s affordable and it’s approachable. Plus, a kid I went to high school with drove one and I resented it the entire time. So above all, this one’s for Adam. — Nick Caruso, Coordinating Producer
Mileage: 67,000 miles
Original MSRP: ~$21,000
1989 Porsche 928 S4
The 928 holds an awkward place in Porsche’s history. The front-engine V8 coupe was the company’s first front-engine V8 and was also burdened with the herculean task of replacing the 911 — pretty obvious how wel that went. Despite the car’s attempt to usurp the flagship title, and its dubious design aesthetic, the 928 was hit. Being featured in both Scarface and Risky Business in ’83 helped boost its pop culture status too.
Coincidently, buying an ’89 Porsche-anything for under $10,000 can be considered risky business—especially the 928 and its oil-hungry 5.0-liter V8. Based on the condition of the exterior, interior and engine bay, at 85,000 miles and for $6,400, this 928 has seen better days, but I’d rather take my chances with this eight-cylinder, rear-drive coupe than any other weathered, grenade-in-waiting budget-Porsche out there. — Bryan Campbell, Staff Writer
Mileage: 90,375 miles
Original MSRP: $74,545
1987 Porsche 924 S
I’ve written a few times about my desire for a 1987 924 S. My dad had one while I was growing up, and I have fond memories of it (I fondly remember the cassette tape rack in the center console). More on that here. There’s not much info provided on this 924 S by the seller, but the description does mention that it was meticulously cared for and bought in Germany then delivered to the US. The car is painted Zermatt Silver and comes with new tires. What more could you want in a Porsche under $10,000? — AJ Powell, Project Manager, Gear Patrol Studios