How We Tried to Buy a $160K Porsche

Today I’ve got a story about a seriously cool 2022 Porsche 911 GT3. Personally, I think the 911 is nothing less than a masterpiece. And this GT3? Easily 10 out of 10. Just think about it: in an era of turbos and hybrids, this GT3 is the only 911 that’s not turbocharged, and the razor-sharp response and wild 502-hp 4.0-liter flat-six sound absolutely inspirational. But let’s jump into the story.

Our friend and customer Matt buys cars from auctions from time to time. We’ve already helped him get a few cars that he turned into awesome projects. One of his latest is a BMW M3 G80 – if you’re curious, you can check out the videos on his YT channel.

YouTube video thumbnails showcasing restoration projects of a BMW M3 G80 and Porsche 911

A few days ago, he wrote to us saying he wanted to place a bid on this GT3.

When I first saw it, the only thing I could think was: this is the purest and most rewarding 911 to drive. It feels like a real race car on the track – incredibly stable and predictable – but also comfortable enough for daily driving. And it’s not just a cool track car. It has ceramic brakes, carbon fiber parts, adjustable suspension, and tons of insane specs that make this thing absolutely unbelievable. This isn’t just a car – it’s a masterpiece, and if Matt wants it, we’re in!

2022 Porsche 911 GT3 at a salvage auction lot with minor damage

At first, Matt set a max bid of $130K. At that moment it was still preliminary bidding, the current bid was only $42,750, and we were feeling hopeful.

But on auction day everything started changing fast. The bids began climbing, so Matt raised his max to $140K. We were still the highest bidder at $116K. There were 48 minutes left before the live auction… and we were hoping nobody else would jump in.

Screenshot of the preliminary bidding interface with a $116,000 current bid for a Porsche auction lot

But come on – it’s a GT3. Of course someone did.

Right before live bidding started, our bid was outbid. Someone beat $140K! We let Matt know – and he raised his bid to $160K. We were back in as the highest bidder!

We had a real chance to win a car with a retail price of $244,386 for about 65% of retail. For a regular car that’s insanely expensive – most of our customers buy cars for 25-30% of retail – but this is a supercar, and the price can be justified. The live auction starts and…

Our $160K bid gets outbid almost immediately.

Final bid: a mind-blowing $184,000….

2022 Porsche 911 with front and side damage sold for $184,000 at auction

Is it expensive? Yeah, I think so.

But it had only minor damage, so honestly the winner still got a solid deal. With repairs it’ll cost him over $220K, but that’s still below retail. Is Matt disappointed?

A little bit, I think.

You can buy good cars on auction every day – but truly great ones don’t show up often. Now he’ll have to wait for the next chance. Am I disappointed?

You know… with experience comes a certain mindset. If you didn’t win the car – even if you were outbid by just $50 or $100 – it means only one thing: you will buy your next one, and it’ll be even better, and the price will be even sweeter.

And right now this is especially true – because right before Christmas, prices usually drop like crazy. It happens every single year. So if you’re thinking about buying a car – try placing your bid now. This is honestly the best time to get the best deal.