Two Porsches, one price – First Porsche for 50,000 euros

A few months ago, we presented you with the fictitious and admittedly controversial choice between the Porsche 997 and 964 Cabrio. Somewhat surprisingly, 60 percent of all users voted for the newer 911 from the 997 Model series. Many of you found the mind game interesting and entertaining. So let’s move on and look at two more options. This time we are looking for a first Porsche in our popular category “Porsche under 50,000 euros.”

What is an entry-level Porsche anyway?

A man’s will is his own kingdom – especially when it comes to cars. It is therefore obvious that there is no one ideal first Porsche for all requirements. However, the majority of all Porsche drivers did not opt for a new 911 straight away, but rather put a used Porsche in their garage first. The budget for a first Zuffenhausen sports car is also rarely at the same level as for repeat offenders.

But if we had to imagine an ideal first Porsche, it would probably be stable in value and reliable. It may have a few years under its belt, but it should be usable every day and not pose any problems for its new owner. This also applies to any repairs and maintenance. Do you want to have to search for a specialized workshop because your first Porsche is a proper exotic? Better not… Rather, an entry-level Porsche means a relatively inexpensive and uncomplicated sports car that doesn’t overtax either in terms of maintenance or behind the wheel.

911 or not a 911? That is the question here…

When you think of Porsche, you usually have a 911 in mind. So of course a 911 has to be on the list of potential first Porsches. For 50,000 euros, there is one option that is now considered a coveted classic – the Porsche 996 Carrera 4S. Beautiful, aged like a fine wine and still at the top of its game when it’s about driving. It is simply a real 911. Even its former critics, who once saw it as the downfall of the brand, have to admit that.

But there are also outstanding sports cars from Zuffenhausen that promise an even better driving experience. We are, of course, talking about Porsche’s mid-engine platform. With prices around 50,000 euros, there is little to go wrong with a Porsche Boxster of the 981 generation. It stands for modern technology, plenty of comfort, breathtaking sound and outstanding quality. But is it ultimately so good that you would prefer it to a 911?

Once misunderstood, now loved – The 996 Carrera 4S is now one of the most sought-after 911s

How quickly things change in life… After the Porsche 996 received mixed reviews at its launch, things changed noticeably around 20 years later. The fact that it shared its water cooled engine platform and front end with the lower positioned Boxster, it was seen as an affront by some long-standing fans of the brand. For Porsche, on the other hand, it meant an economic upswing. Both models sold magnificently. Something that set the 911 Turbo apart from model year 2000 onwards also found its way onto the Carrera models for the 2002 facelift, though – the new headlights.

The Carrera 4S also made its return. This 996 was based on the wider body of the Turbo and also used its front and rear aprons. However, with the continuous light strip under the boot lid with Carrera spoiler and the omission of the air intakes in the rear fenders, it differed from the top model. The result was a beautifully designed and, even from today’s perspective, excellently proportioned 911.

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Despite the very good sales figures – 17,298 996 Carrera 4S Coupés and 5,757 Cabriolets alone were sold – used prices fell, in some cases very significantly. Prices fell to as low as 30,000 euros at times. That is only 30 percent of its roughly 100,000 euros sticker price. However, since 2015 at the latest, the wide Carrera models have stabilized. Today, there is plenty of choice at around 50,000 euros. At the same time, the 996 Carrera 4S is one of the most sought-after Porsche 911s, not only within the model series, but overall.

5.1 seconds from 0-100 kph, 280 kph top speed – still sporty even after more than 20 years

Although pure numbers are not the top purchase criterion in a Porsche that is at least 20 years old, power is always nice to have. In the case of the Porsche 996 Carrera 4S, this means at least 320 hp, and even 345 hp with the factory power kit (WLS) X51. In combination with a kerb weight of 1,565 kilograms in the convertible and 1,495 kilograms in the coupé, this still means sporty acceleration of 5.1 seconds from zero to a hundred kph. The convertible takes 0.2 seconds longer, but achieves the same top speed of 280 kph. Even Tiptronic models with 5.6 and 5.9 seconds from zero to one hundred and a top speed of 275 kph are by no means obstacles in traffic.

In addition, there are excellent brakes from the 911 Turbo – 35 meters from 100 kph to a standstill is still contemporary – a ten millimeter lower sports suspension, great steering and, of course, a sound that only a naturally aspirated six-cylinder boxer engine can produce. This is what driving a 911 should feel like! The 996 Carrera 4S is also usually lavishly equipped. Leather, electric memory seats and CD radio with the extended sound package are standard. With a Porsche Classic Communication Management System or a Bluetooth upgrade, good sound from the radio is also guaranteed.

The Porsche Boxster 981 – base model, yet a car for the heart?

The third generation Porsche Boxster, the 981, was built a total of 54,374 times between 2012 and 2016 and was a great success in many respects. Visually, it was certainly recognizable as a 987 successor, but the design team led by Michael Mauer succeeded in making the rear section in particular much more appealing than its predecessor. In terms of style and feel, it was also very close to the then current 911, the 991. Equipped with high-quality materials in the interior and direct-injection engines with 2.7 and 3.4 liters of displacement, which were considered to be very durable, the series earned an excellent reputation. Quite a few consider the 981 to be the best Boxster of all time.

However, this also creates covetousness. Those who have one often keep it for a long time. The supply is correspondingly small. In the set budget of 50,000 euros, you therefore have to be a little lucky and quick if you want to get one of the 18,297 beautiful 981 Boxster S models. But does it even have to be an S model? After all, the 265 hp Boxster, of which 28,511 were built, is also a quick, beautiful and superbly finished car. What’s more, the acoustic experience in the base Boxster is no worse than in the Boxster S, if we’re honest.

Exemplary handling and almost limitless driving pleasure in a package that still looks fresh today

The 981 platform was celebrated across the board by all publications. Handling, engines, transmission, brakes – everything was at such a high level that the series was deservedly voted World Performance Car of the Year 2013. Yes, the 981 really is that good. In fact, it is so good that its big brother, the 911, had to be afraid of its little sibling for the first time. Some car testers even attested that it was the better sports car than the 991.

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Anyone who has experienced group tours in the Alps will see 981s even among super car tours – and none of them stand out negatively in this group. Quite the opposite. If you attach great importance to dynamics in your first Porsche, the 981 is the perfect choice. What makes it particularly charming is the interior, which still has a cutting-edge look. The material feel is exquisite, Bluetooth connectivity is either included ex works or can be retrofitted at a reasonable price.

At 5.8 seconds from standstill to 100 kph and a top speed of 264 kph, the performance of the Porsche 981 Boxster is not far off the 996 Carrera 4S. If you can find a suitable Boxster S in your budget, they are practically on a par.

What’s more, the 7-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) is also available as an automatic transmission for performance freaks. Everything about the Porsche 981 still looks so contemporary and up to date that you would be forgiven for thinking it was a current design. It even comes with the coveted Porsche Approved Warranty. This means that the kilometers driven in a Boxster 981 are not only incredibly fun, but also relatively carefree.

A comparison as a symbol for the development of the Porsche 911

A direct comparison of the two vehicles is of course unfair to the Porsche 996 Carrera 4S, which is almost ten years older. The difference in character inevitably catches the driver’s eye. The fact that the 996 C4S weighs around 200 kilograms more than a Boxster 981 is particularly noticeable when cornering. This is where the agile Boxster plays all its trump cards. It is nimble and at the same time playfully easy to drive. Even a speedy driver would have to make quite an effort to keep up with a base Boxster in the 996.

But in a way, this realization stands for what the Porsche 911 has become over the decades: a sports car with outstanding GT qualities. Despite its now proud age of over 20 years, the 996 is relaxed to drive. It is not unpleasantly loud, offers all the necessary comfort and can still be damn sporty when required. The Boxster is the other way around. It is first and foremost a thoroughbred sports car, but still has good everyday qualities. They are on the same spectrum, but come from different sides.

What abolut the market values of the Porsche Boxster 981 and 996 Carrera 4S?

Nobody likes to lose money. A vehicle that holds its value is therefore always one that the owner likes to remember. Experience shows that cars reach their lowest price level, the often-cited trough, after around 15 years. In the case of the Porsche Boxster 981, this would mean that prices are likely to fall for a few more years. However, the 981 – like its big brother the 991 – occupies a special position on the market.

Porsche Boxster 981s are now among the most stable Porsche models of all.

The third Boxster never became really cheap. Instead of dropping in price, 981s remained at just under 40,000 euros at best and even rose slightly in the meantime. Today, top examples with few kilometers have been stable at around 50,000 euros for a few years. If you buy a 981, you will most likely get the money you paid back after a few years if you want to sell it. Big jumps upwards are not to be expected, but neither are losses.

The prospects for the Porsche 996 Carrera 4S are very similar. Compared to its narrow Carrera siblings, it has always proved to be somewhat more stable in value. In the trough around 2010 to 2015, prices from around 30,000 euros were realistic. Since 2020, market prices for a decent 996 C4S have stabilized at around 50,000 euros. The same outlook applies to it as to the Boxster – extreme price changes are not to be expected in the medium term.

Which is the better first Porsche for 50,000 euros?

Objectively speaking, the Boxster 981 would certainly be the better choice. It is newer, easier to handle, cheaper to maintain and basically has no mechanical Achilles heel. On the other hand, the 996 Carrera 4S is a 20-year-old classic that is not available with a dual-clutch gearbox, but does have a rear row of seats. With the 996, you should also be aware that of bore score which may ultimately necessitate an engine overhaul.

But there are also good reasons why the 996 Carrera 4S could be the better first Porsche. Firstly, of course, there is its historical significance for the Porsche brand. With it, the Zuffenhausen-based company entered the new millennium, the age of water cooling. It is the only 911 that doesn’t have round headlights. And despite this – or perhaps because of it – it is one of the most popular Porsche 911s today.

The first Porsche is always something very special. The choice should therefore be carefully considered – in this case, both would be a good one.

A recommendation could perhaps be as follows: For those who would like to drive their first Porsche in everyday life, a 981 with Porsche Approved Warranty would be a better choice than the 996 Carrera 4S. If, on the other hand, you would like to drive a piece of Porsche myth on selected occasions throughout the year, you can go for the real 911 with a clear conscience.

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