l am not quite yet in the financial position to buy a porsche but will be soon. l really cannot afford a Porsche more than $7000, so l have been looking at 912 is as they have the 911 shape l have to come to love (as well as no post-73 impact bumpers).
l could put up with a 914, but am not sure about any of the front engined coupes. A well sorted 3.2 Carrera would be perfect, but what kind of condition would it be in for $7000?

Right now l am planning but any advice would be great!

invest in real estate.

the parts are much cheaper.

l really do not think you will find one for $7000, unless maybe it is something you might want to restore, which is an option. Good luck though. l envy you!

try for a 912, l have one myself the 356 engine in them is spectatular, There are only a few people out there that can really tell the 911 is and 912 is apart, because the only difference in them is the enigine, all prosche did was use 911 body pieces left over from the manufacture and changed the engine it is a really good car and they are all pretty much cheap.. l got mine for $1500 and only had to do a little bit of restoration to it, it was well worth it.

The 912 is a nice car, but one that is likely to present a problem. about 10 years ago l recall seeing a variety of 912s available, & then within 1-2 years the market seperated, leaving a buyer with the choice of a prestine concours condition car, that would demand a premium well over ur budget, or a nearly ready for the junk yard cheapie, that would probably wind up being even more expensive in the long run. This is something that tends to happen with most older cars at one point or another, u r left with those well cared for, those that have been restored, & those waiting to either be junked or be restored. While $7k is theoretically a good budget for a 912, l think the cars u will have to choose from in that range will not be good buys.

As a generalization, going after any Porsche while on budget limitations can be bad. they r well built & very reliable cars, but if u need something done, u will find repair costs will reflect that these were very expensive cars when new. But that said:

Your budget would be a good match for a 914. Many in good condition should be available for less than this price range (with the exception of the 914-6, which has been seeing dramatic price increases in recent years).

A 3.2L Carrea would generally run about $15-22k. Targas would generally be the least expensive, & it is possible u might find one in ok condition for as low as $12k, but still well above the $7k u mention. Any 3.2L that would be even close to that is not a car u should consider. A better option in an impact bumper 911 would be the early 911S (a 911SC would also stay above ur stated range). The '74-'77 911S is one of the least loved versions of the 911 due to the many documented problems with the 2.7L engine. However, the problems that have made them undesirable should all have been addressed by now. Due to the fact that many will look past these cars due to that history means they usually sell for less than other 911 models. Your budget might find a good buy here. but as stated before, it would leave nothing for possible problems (though if u look long u might find a gem for less than ur budget).

A number of 944 models would fit into the budget & could be among the best options - offering great handling, but also more power than any of the other 4 cylinder models. They also have a little more utility than some of the other cars in terms of interior space. Your budget would give u a wide range to choose from - probably only excluding the later S2 or turbo models.

Lastly, whatever model u key in on, make sure to take ur time in looking & to have the car inspected by a knowledgable Porsche mechanic before u buy (the money spent here could save u lots in the long run).

go for the 911 u will enjoy it alot

You can not buy a decent 6-cylinder 911 for $7000 so forget that.

You might find a decent 912 & that would be an okay first Porsche. However, they r rather slow, so do not expect it to feel exciting to drive. It is powered by the little Porsche 356 motor & it is not an easy engine to get much more power out of. Also, keep in mind that a rebuild of a 912 motor will cost almost as much as a 911 motor, & more than the value of the entire car. So you'd better buy a 912 will a very well tested engine or you're screwed.

Nothing wrong with a 914. They r not really Porsches, as they have a VW engine (from the 411 model, the pancake engine). They r not fast either, but they handle really well & have a targa top system that is very clever. The best 914 is the 2.0 model & u can find decent ones for $7000.

REMEMBER--buy the BEST Porsche u can afford. DO NOT buy a ''fixer-upper''. It is just a money pit for u at this price level.

Personally I'd suggest u save up ur money & buy a 1988-1989 911 Carrera for around $16,000. They r good cars, fast, pretty & very civilized. Older Porsches r quite primitive in terms of heat & ventilation.

If l were you, I'd go with the 914 2.0.