KARL MEYER

Karl Meyer is a Uk-based independent Porsche buyer advising OPCS and independent specialists. Buying everything from 986s to Carrera GTS, his is a trusted name in the space of moving off-market and premium Porsches. If buying, selling or part exchanging, call Karl first. Visit theporschebuyer.com

As a fresh new year kicks off, would-be Porsche buyers are looking at a crowded marketplace and are wondering where they should be putting their money. Fortunately, a variety of used Porsche sports cars offer a secure place to park your cash, not only in the here and now, but also long into the future...

At the start of each year, I am always asked for my opinion on which Porsches will make sound investments during the coming twelve months. All investments must generally satisfy a few questions before they can be classed as positive, but chief among them concerns the cost of doing nothing with your money — it’s surely better to invest than allow your hard-earned cash to collect dust?

2024 will give speculators new factors to carefully consider. It’s no secret we face a number of global instabilities right now, from wars and political unrest to banks failing. Additionally, in the UK, no less than twenty-six of our local councils are verging on bankruptcy. Typically, these would be scenarios lubricating funds toward car buying. You see, aside from the potential for a decent return on spend, cars have a number of benefits for investors. For starters, unlike stocks and shares, they’re tangible, meaning they seldom wipe-out to absolute zero value. They’re also obviously transportable, meaning a car can, potentially, increase its value by moving to different territory, where the vehicle in question it is seen as more desirable. And, of course, gains in a car’s value are taxfree. As we head into 2024, however, we face strong(ish) interest rates and a bullish stock market, encouraging many would-be speculators to leave their cash where it is. Yet, with all this in mind, and with the sales data accrued at theporschebuyer.com, I see real potential for the values of certain Porsches in 2024. Let’s take a twelve-to-twenty-four-month view, which is typical for ownership of a used Porsche. I believe the aforementioned circumstances will play favourably into price increases at the two extremes of the market, by which I mean sub£45k and above £250k. Which cars, then, do I think you should be considering?

Any 996 is a no-brainer. These 911s won’t get any cheaper — we’ve seen prices increase dramatically in recent months. Indeed, I’m blown away by recent 996 sale prices, especially for 40 Jahre and Millennium Edition models. Perhaps surprisingly, the GT3 doesn’t make my two-year cut — prices for this particular breed of 996 have now crystallised, unlike those of the Carrera models, which are on the up.

Elsewhere, restomodders continuing to take a large number of 964s out of the marketplace have really helped improve 993 Carrera values. Moreover, I’m aware of a number of Porsche start-ups building their business model on modifying 993s. Some well-known companies already ‘reimagining’ the 911 are also turning their attention to the 993. Expect the restomod scene to diversify accordingly. First-generation 997 Carrera S and 4S models with fault-free engines will also do very well in the coming year or two. If you have a budget of circa £30k for a 911, this is where you should be putting your money. Even the base 3.6-litre 997 Carrera is a near perfect Porsche, but that little S badge takes things up a notch. Put it this way, there’s a reason motoring journalists love the 3.8-litre first-generation 997 Carrera models, especially if Sport Chrono is included. At the other end of the price scale, the 993 Turbo S has recently been changing hands for serious money. I believe it will continue to do so. I’m talking more than half a million and still going. As ridiculous as it sounds, I think the 918 Spyder is presently undervalued. I’ve been speaking to various investors and this gamechanging Porsche PHEV is on all their radars. The reality of the situation is that the 918 speaks to a new generation of multi-millionaires in a way the 959 probably never will. Also, the 918 is always spoken of in the same breath as the Mclaren P1 and Laferrari, which bolsters the Porsche’s PR no end. If we look forward to a five-year speculation, modern classics will gather strong pace. Our friends at Ferrari make the point better than any hypothetical example: today’s new, entry-level, mid-engined Ferrari is some £330k in decent trim, making the availability of a 360 at £50k look very cheap indeed. Modern classics have seen a significant rise in value in recent years, and as yet another generation of buyers comes of economic age, I expect the trend to continue. My top pick for the long-term is the 991 Carrera S 50th Anniversary Edition, launched in 2014. Exquisitely beautiful and individually numbered, this is Carrera exclusivity done brilliantly well. Equally attractive are both generations of 997 GT3 and RS, especially as we head into an automotive age concerning itself with electrification and the development of selfdrive technology. These cars tell a story now, but imagine how awe-inspiring they will be in the coming age of passive motoring. I anticipate values to continually rise in coming years. This round-up of the Porsches making strong arguments for parting with your cash is far from exhaustive, but demonstrates there is significant justification in going car shopping in 2024.