8. Porsche 911 with M96 engines
With the prices of classic 911s skyrocketing in the last few years, the choice of an affordable 911 comes down to one model – the Porsche 997. Built from 2004 to 2012, most Porsche purists do not pursue this model, mostly due to the fact that it shares the front end with the inferior Boxster. Still, this 911 was a commercial success with more than 100,000 sold examples, and it was well-received by the automotive press and general public.
The 997 was a well-built sports car with respectable performance, even by today’s standards. But, even German engineering comes with occasional flaws, and in this case, that is the M96 flat-six. The issue with this engine is in the intermediate shaft bearing.
More precisely, it’s about lack of greasing in the intermediate shaft bearing due to the construction of the engine. As the internal grease of the IMS inevitably dries up, that can lead to permanent engine damage and costly repair bills. Judging by the official data, around 10 percent of 2000 to 2005 M96 engines suffered from this issue, while the later engines also have the probability of this breakdown.
The Porsche is expensive to repair, and the revised 2006 to 2008 models leave you with only one possibility: removing and disassembling the whole engine. So, the most affordable Porsche 911 out there come with some expensive issues waiting to happen, and that’s something drivers should avoid if they want a reliable and carefree ride.