Wanted to buy a used porsche, now afraid

[papasmurf]

I was around ~27 years old and looking to purchase my first home. I bought a '00 2.7 with 33k miles about a year before I bought the house and wondered what the maintenance costs would be like. I had two 300zx's (1st and 2nd gen....really miss the 2nd gen) before the boxster but had always wanted a boxster since I had first witnessed the concept car as a teen in the early 90's. I purchased the car in 2007 I think and have now had it 6 years or so and for the most part it has been a fairly reliable vehicle and has never left me stranded. The car now has 85k miles and for the first 4+ years of ownership it was my only vehicle and a daily driver. I now drive a nissan hardbody truck as a DD and drive the car once or twice a week and put about 5k miles a year on it. Over the years I have had to replace the AOS, window regulator, two sets of tires, muffler (just for aesthetics), air flow meter, convertible top, brake pads and rotors, and the waterpump/hoses. I do everything myself as the closest specialist is about an hour and a half away. Having a second vehicle is a really nice fall back plan so I can take my time doing whatever I need to do to the car. You can find a lot of good cars well under your max price you listed and I would probably go that route and put the saved money in the bank for repairs if needed down the road. I would not discount the 350z as my best friend had one and it was a great car and very reliable...the convertible version looks like crap IMO but they are a lot of car for the money, especially if you can find a track model. Whenever I am financially able, I plan to get another 300zx to park next to the boxster someday as they are great cars.