Shannon Harper of Harper Porsche, Knoxville, Tennessee runs a Porsche store the way most of us wish every dealer did: No games and no nonsense. We talk pricing, ADMs, and the stuff you ask us about all the time, especially allocations and why some cars feel impossible to get.

What we cover

• Why some dealers add big markups, and why Shannon refuses to do it
• What really happens when someone flips a new GT car
• How allocation works, and why GT cars stay tight
• How Porsche rewards dealers, and what the “hoops” actually look like
• What a Gen 5 Porsche dealership is, and why it feels like a Porsche clubhouse
• Shannon’s personal collection, and why he is obsessed with green cars
• The most reliable Porsche pick for a normal owner who just wants a car that works
• PLATICA, how it started, and how it turned into a serious event

Porsche PLATICA info

• Knoxville, Tennessee
• Sunday, May 3, 2026
• Follow @porsche_platica on Instagram for ticket announcements and updates
• Website: porsche-platica dot com
• 
  

Rennthusiast Radio

• Listen and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Watch Will

• Rennthusiast on YouTube

Watch Derek

• ElevenAfterNine on YouTube

If you have a dealer experience that made you swear off a store forever, tell us in the comments!

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In this episode of Rennthusiast Radio, you hear the full ownership story behind one of the most talked-about modern 911s. Will breaks down eight months with his 2009 997.2 Carrera S manual in Guards Red. The good, the bad, and the expensive.

You hear how he found a rare manual car in a sea of PDKs. You hear what felt off right after delivery. You hear how $13,000 in maintenance and mods changed the car, and his opinion of the platform.

We talk real buying advice. What to ask sellers. What PPIs miss. Why borescope proof matters. Why cold second gear surprises owners. Why the 997.2 feels different from both older air-cooled cars and newer 991s.

If you are shopping for a 997.2, this episode matters. If you already own one, this will sound familiar.

Topics covered:

• Finding a rare 997.2 manual

• Ownership reality after 80k+ miles

• Transmission behavior and cold shifting

• Exhaust, suspension, and seat upgrades

• $13k in work, what was worth it

• Is the 997.2 really an $80k driving experience

• Would he buy another one

Watch Will’s full video series on the car on the Rennthusiast YouTube channel.

Check out Derek’s reviews and ownership stories on ElevenAfterNine.

Subscribe, leave a comment, and tell us if you think the 997 is actually worth it.

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This week, you get a holiday revisit of one of our most requested topics. Should your first Porsche be a 911 or a Boxster? Before the episode starts, Derek shares a few updates from the road, plus a straight take on winter driving. If you own the car you love, do not park it for months and stare at it. Pick the right day, set the car up right, drive it, then rinse the salt off.

Questions? Email Derek at [email protected]

Watch Will’s channel: Rennthusiast on YouTube

Watch Derek’s channel: ElevenAfterNine on YouTube

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Nathan Merz is back on Rennthusiast Radio with Derek and Will.

If you buy, sell, or even daydream about Porsches, this one is for you. We talk ownership reality, what people get wrong before they buy, and what the market is actually doing going into 2026. Nathan has been around more Porsches than most of us will see in a lifetime. He’s also one of the few people who will tell you the truth even if it hurts your feelings.

What we cover:

We start with the mistakes that kill Porsche ownership for first timers.

Then we get into what’s hot, what’s dead, and what still feels like a deal.

We also talk online auctions and how they changed pricing and behavior.

We finish with a fun budget game where Nathan picks the best Porsche in a few price ranges.

Topics in this episode

Emotional buying and why people call for validation, not advice

Buying for status, buckets vs “sofas”, and the spec trap

Bring a Trailer, global demand, and why local deals feel harder

2025 market recap and why pricing stayed stronger than expected

What’s moving, G body 3.2 cars, 964 demand, and the 993 “settle” trend

What cooled off, longhood interest, SWB cars, 914 values, most 928s, and transaxle pricing

356 market shift, concours perfect vs driver and hot rod style builds

Where to find better cars, relationships and community beat scrolling listings

Budget game, Cayman R vs 981 Spyder vs 991.2 Carrera S, plus the $50k and $30k rounds

Risk talk, bore scoring reality, early PDK risk, and why you need reserve money

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:52 Nathan’s quick reset from last episode

03:57 The biggest buyer mistakes Nathan sees every week

07:16 Buying for other people, spec pressure, buckets vs comfort

12:07 Online auctions and how they changed the market

19:49 The underrated truth, you can still have fun under $10k

20:14 How to actually find good cars

23:48 2025 market recap and the 2026 setup

27:21 What’s hot in air cooled 911s

29:17 The best value right now, longhood 911s

34:02 What’s soft, 914, 928, transaxle market

39:29 356 market changes and what buyers want now

44:06 Budget game, $80k to $120k

48:26 $50k to $80k, why 981 keeps winning

53:09 $30k to $50k, 996 reality and 987.2 base sweet spot

59:30 Wrap up

Shout outs:

Watch Will’s channel, Rennthusiast on YouTube.

Watch Derek's channel, ElevenAfterNine on YouTube. [email protected]

Check out Nathan’s inventory and work at Columbia Valley Luxury Cars.

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In this episode of Rennthusiast Radio, Will and Derek sit down with Justin Roeser, a filmmaker, writer, and one of the most respected voices in Porsche color history.

Justin is best known for his work around Moonstone, one of the rarest and most emotional Porsche colors ever produced.

This episode covers:

• Why certain Porsche colors make owners happier long term

• How color can affect resale value without turning cars into garage art

• Moonstone’s origin story and why it failed when new

• Why social media changed how Porsche buyers spec cars

• Paint to Sample vs standard palette, what actually makes sense

• Why the 996 and early Boxster are still huge value plays

• Why original paint matters less than most people think

• How to chase a rare color without getting burned

If you care about driving your Porsche, loving your Porsche, and choosing a spec you will still enjoy in 10 or 20 years, this one is for you.

Guest links:

Justin Roeser Porsche Moonstone feature

https://www.porsche.com/stories/dreams/moonstone-the-rare-porsche-colour/

Moonstone film by Justin Roeser

https://youtu.be/woL2wzourIM?si=0Z4Xw9JHRBxf_WJr

Justin on Instagram

33bosshog

If you post about this episode, tag him. He will share it.

Check out Will’s YouTube channel for in depth Porsche ownership, driving impressions, and real world updates.

Check out Derek’s YouTube channel, ElevenAfterNine, for Porsche reviews, buyer advice, and long term ownership stories.

[email protected]

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Tis the season to buy Porsche stuff and feel good about it.

In this Rennthusiast Radio holiday episode, Will and Derek break down your Porsche Christmas list into two clear buckets: Porsche gifts you want your significant other to buy, and Porsche upgrades you should unapologetically buy for yourself. Using real numbers and real experiences, they walk through everything from cheap stocking stuffers to serious driver-focused mods, all with a hard cap around that $1,500 mark.

If you are a Porsche owner, dreamer, or you share a house with one, this episode gives you concrete gift ideas at different budgets and explains why they matter in the real world. It is also permission to treat yourself, backed by two serial Porsche owners who have tried most of this stuff the hard way.

If you want your partner to “accidentally” get the hint, play this episode in the car and let Will and Derek do the talking for you. And if you are the Porsche person in the relationship, use this as your checklist before you buy anything else for the garage.

Will Youtube: Rennthusiast

Derek Youtube: ElevenAfterNine

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The Porsche market feels broken right now. Prices are out of sync, good cars are scarce, sellers are glued to Bring a Trailer numbers, and honest driver-grade examples have all but vanished. In this episode, Derek and Will talk through why the hunt feels exhausting, what’s changed, and how real buyers are struggling in today’s Porsche world.

If you enjoy the show, hit subscribe on our YouTube channel.

Check out Will’s videos at Rennthusiast.

Watch Derek’s reviews and stories at ElevenAfterNine.

And browse our full library of Porsche episodes anytime.

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Thinking about a Porsche and stuck between a base car and an S badge? This episode is for you.

Will and Derek break down what actually separates Porsche base models from S models, going past forum noise and badge ego. If you have ever heard “you only buy a base because you can’t afford an S,” you will want to hear this.

In this episode you’ll hear:

– Why Porsche created base and S trims in the first place

– How the split goes all the way back to early 356 and long-hood 911s

– Real differences in power, torque, brakes, wheels, and cooling between base and S

– Why older, lower horsepower cars benefit more from the S upgrade

– How modern turbo motors shrink the gap between base and S

– Why a base 997, 991, 986/987 Boxster, or 981/718 can feel closer to an “old school” Porsche

– How S models can be too fast to enjoy on real roads

– Why the base often lets you use more of the rev range and more of the chassis

– When an S absolutely makes sense for track use, canyons, or big straight roads

– How this plays out with 991.2 vs 992, Carrera T, and air-cooled vs water-cooled cars

– Practical advice for first-time buyers and repeat Porsche owners

Will talks through his own journey from “unapologetic S snob” to someone who now respects base cars in a serious way. Derek argues that many experienced drivers quietly prefer the base, and that real driver engagement lives in the cars everyone overlooks.

If you are cross-shopping:

– Base vs S 911 (997, 991, 992)

– Base vs S Boxster or Cayman

– Base vs S Macan or Cayenne

you will get clear, honest guidance on what actually matters and what is marketing.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to Rennthusiast Radio

01:00 Why base vs S feels like Boxster vs 911

03:00 History of base vs S from 356 to modern cars

06:30 Psychology, pricing, and how Porsche moves you up the ladder

10:30 “Embrace the base or say yes to the S”

13:00 Real power, torque, and brake differences

18:00 Will’s S snob phase and what changed

24:00 Air-cooled vs water-cooled: why S matters more in old cars

29:00 Why base feels more like a classic Porsche on real roads

35:00 991.2 Carrera S vs 992 Carrera T back to back

40:00 Tunes, torque, and modern turbo tricks

44:00 Practical buying advice: who should pick base, who should pick S

50:00 Listener challenge: defend your side in the comments

Watch Will’s builds and ownership stories on the Rennthusiast YouTube channel.

Watch Derek’s reviews and road trips on ElevenAfterNine.

Listen to Rennthusiast Radio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps.

Tell us in the comments what you own, base or S, and whether we got this right or completely wrong.

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You bought a Porsche because you want a car that feels alive on the road. This episode gives you a simple plan to turn that car into a true driver focused machine. Will and Derek break down the upgrades that matter, the ones that do nothing, and the traps new owners fall into when they start buying parts before they even drive the car.

You will hear what actually improves feel, control, and confidence across multiple generations of 911, Boxster, and Cayman. No hype, no wasted money, just real experience from two guys who have owned and driven these cars for years.

In this episode you will learn:

• When to use PPF, when to skip ceramic, and how to protect your paint the right way

• Which exhaust changes add character without making the car miserable

• Why a short shift kit and fresh bushings can transform older gearboxes

• How to clean and service the pedal box for a better clutch feel

• What steering wheels work on older cars, and why some modern swaps fit and others do not

• How PIWIS steering profiles change the feel of newer cars

• Why Michelin PS4S tires are the best all round choice

• Why old rubber with “good tread” is still unsafe

• How suspension fades over time and why fresh dampers can bring a tired car back to life

• When corner balancing and a proper alignment change the way the car responds

• Simple seat repairs that make the car feel new again

If you want sharper shifts, better turn in, more grip, and a cleaner connection to the chassis, this guide gives you a clear path. Follow these steps before you spend big money on unnecessary mods.

Hosted by Will from Rennthusiast and Derek from ElevenAfterNine.

Subscribe for more Porsche reviews, ownership stories, and weekly podcast episodes.

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In this episode of Rennthusiast Radio, Derek and Will dive into one of the longest-running debates in Porsche ownership: Coupe vs. Targa vs. Cabriolet.

Will is a lifelong coupe guy who’s suddenly catching Targa fever, while Derek argues for the open-top experience. Together they cover:

• How each 911 body style drives across generations
• Common failure points and maintenance costs
• Why coupes always seem to hold more value
• The truth about leaky Targas and flexy Cabs
• Which models are the best buys today

You’ll also hear stories from real 911 ownership, from 993s and G-bodies to Boxsters and 996 Cabs, plus a few tangents about teenage stereos and subwoofers.

If you’re shopping for your first 911 or just want to understand what makes each roof style unique, this episode is for you.

Subscribe on YouTube and follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.

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