As we've said time and time again here at HotCars, getting into the automotive world can be a very challenging task. Chief amongst these difficulties is money since almost everything worth its weight costs more than a normal person can afford.

Of course, there are outlets for affordable sports cars - JDM and American muscle included. However, European performance vehicles also contribute to this largely. Now, brands like Ferrari and Lamborghini will always be costly, but Porsches are significantly more flexible.

Knowing these German sports cars represent a great entry point for beginners, we've compiled a list of ten of the cheapest Porsches you can get today; all of which are beloved by true enthusiasts... 

10 Porsche Boxster (986) - ~$8,000

986 Porsche Boxster parked in a field
Motor1

First up is the original Porsche Boxster; body-code '986'. We consider this to be the German equivalent to the classic Mazda Miata. After all, the MX-5 and Boxster were direct competitors back then.

Porsche Boxster (986)
Via Drive

To be expected with a Porsche, there's a lot the Boxster does have that Mazda lacks: extra horsepower, extra tech, brand recognition, and so on. As we previously put it, "[The Porsche Boxster] is an adept sports car that can be considered as an upscale alternative to the Miata."

9 Porsche Panamera S 4.8 Manual Transmission - ~$27,000

Porsche Panamera S
Via Porsche Club of America

From the outset, this mid-2010's Porsche Panamera S doesn't seem like anything that special. However, it's only once you take a look inside that you realize why this Panamera is considered one of the bests...

Interior of a Porsche Panamera
Evo

That's right: a Porsche Panamera S with a manual transmission! To be frank, we didn't know that such a vehicle existed not long ago, but, thanks to our research, we've finally discovered this 'diamond in the ruff'.

What the Panamera has always lacked is a proper gearbox, so it's good to see that, at some point, Porsche actually made one.

RELATED: All 2021 Porsche 718 Models Available With PDK Dual Clutch Transmission

8 Porsche 911 Carrera (996) - $18,000

Porsche 996 Turbo for sale
Collecting Cars

Not long ago, we speculated that older sports cars from the early-2000's would begin to see drastic drops in price. Sure enough, over the past few years, models like the Ferrari 360 Modena and Porsche 911 (996) are becoming affordable to the general population.

Rear shot of a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S 996
MR Sportscars

Obviously, the 996 is much cheaper than a Ferrari 360, but both are pretty similar in terms of performance. That means you can get virtually the same level of speed as a Ferrari for a fraction of the price. As a previous owner of a Porsche 996, we can say that it's definitely a worthwhile investment!

7 Porsche 914 - ~$10,000

Porsche 914 driving on the road
Autocar

Every company, whether a monolith or a mom-and-pop shop, have their 'good days' and 'bad days'. Porsche is no different, as evidenced by one of their ugly ducklings: the Porsche 914.

Porsche 914 for auction
Hagerty

The 914 was made to be a small, lightweight racer that you could also take home afterward. The problem, though, was how different it was. It's hardly a Porsche on the outside, but it's all Porsche inside!

Although it wasn't received well at times, we can now see how instrumental it was in leading Porsche towards the later Boxster and Cayman models.

RELATED: Bring A Trailer: This Porsche 914-6 Race Car Is Another Porsche To Pine For

6 Porsche 924 - $8,000

Porsche 924 for auction
Hagerty

The Porsche 924 sits in a strange place among other classic Porsche sports cars. Serious Porsche enthusiasts know of the 924 well, but, compared to the 944 and 928, it's but a blip on the car community's radar.

Porsche 924 up for auction
Hagerty

Nevertheless, being underappreciated doesn't mean it's bad. Heck, if anything, it represents a potential deal for those who want one! The only real downside, though,  is the Audi power source and reliability. Some may say that those disqualify it from being a '"real" Porsche, but we disagree wholeheartedly.

5 Porsche 944 - ~$5,000

Porsche 944 at a shipping port
Porsche Newsroom

Next up is the well-known Porsche 944: a, sort of, mix between both the 924 and 928. Since it's such a common (and thus cheap) Porsche, we've started to dub it "The high-schooler's Porsche."

Porsche 944 for sale
Classiccars.com

The reason is pretty simple: their low price means that young gearheads rush towards the Porsche 944. Not only is it a fast sports car, but it's also a PORSCHE. For a sixteen-year-old, that's the best type of the first car you could ask for.

RELATED: 15 Porsches You Can Still Pick Up Relatively Cheap

4 Porsche 911 Targa (964) - ~$30,000

Porsche 911 Targa (964) up for auction
Paul Stephens

Out of all of Porsche's 911's throughout the decades, the 964 is one of the most beloved body-styles. It represents everything great about Porsche: the looks, sound speed, and so on. However, not many 964's are accessible to lower-income households. except for one - The 964 911 Targa.

Porsche 911 Targa with the driver-side door open
Border Reivers

Next to the Cabriolet (the soft-top convertible 911), the Targa is the fairest priced 964 you can find. Otherwise, you'll be paying close to, if not more than, $100,000 for anything else. Though, that's not to say the Targa is any less of a good car, just less rare.

3 Porsche Cayman (987) - ~$19,000

Porsche Cayman on the road
Carlook

Coming in third is another off-shoot of the everlasting 911 Carrera body-style: the Porsche Cayman, first generation (987).

Porsche Cayman S spotted overseas
Elferspot

In essence, the Porsche Cayman is almost identical to the Porsche Boxster's of the same time period. Each had nearly the same trim options, as well as exterior components like the headlights, aero, etc. If convertible Boxster's aren't your thing, then the Cayman's the next best option.

RELATED: 10 Awesome Pictures Of Modified Porsches You Need To See

2 Porsche 928 - $11,000

Porsche 928 photoshoot
Elferspot

The 1980s are a time to be reminiscent of, for sure. The designs, products, and ideas from that era were revolutionary during their time, as well as today. When looking back at what was the best of the '80s, we're reminded of a lot of cars, particularly the Porsche 928.

Porsche 928 profile view
ClassiCarGarage

O.K., the 928 may have been drafted in 1978, but it's close enough to have that '80s vibe'. It ended up lasting until 1991, proving that the 928 was a successful car for Porsche executives.

At the writing of this article, the average Porsche 928 can run you anywhere from $10,000 to over $20,000 depending on the quality. It may not be long before its value starts to climb back up, so get one cheap whilst you can...

1 Porsche 912 - ~$18,000

Porsche 912 up for auction
Mecum

Lastly, we have (perhaps) the best deal out of any other Porsche model, the Porsche 912. If you want an original 911, but can't cough up over $50,000 for the sale, then the 912 is your next best choice.

Porsche 912 spotted in California
Elferspot

Similar to the Porsche 964's, many of the O.G. Porsche 911's are extremely expensive - Almost to an excessive level. The 912, on the other hand, is no such cash cow. The 911 and 912 are almost the same, but the 912 has a four-cylinder instead. As you can probably guess, it's not as powerful as the 911, but identical on the outside.

Without the '912' badge to discern between the two, a majority of onlookers would likely assume its a regular 911, anyways.

NEXT: Porsche's First Le Mans 24 Hours Victor Wins Again At Concours Of Elegance