I'm torn between these options...
1. NA Miata (cheap, fun, easily modded)
2. NB Miata (not as cheap, just as fun, easily modded)
3. MSM (more $$, less headache, already modded to an extent)
4. 1999-2001 Boxster (it's a Porsche, could be expensive to maintain)
5. 1981 911 SC (it's a 911, kinda old, will be expensive to maintain)
My goals are simple, to have fun. I want a convertible, but I'd settle for a 911 anyday since I've never owned a Porsche. Common sense says Miata, but my heart says Porsche. If I modded a Miata, I probably would be good with 200hp or less.
What would you do???
If you mean $15K as hard stop, buy 2 NAs: one for the road and one for the track. You'll have a couple grand left over for mods. Or one NA and one NB so you can be forever comparing them.
If you mean $15K each year, buy the old Porsche.
But I think you've answered your own question by the way you posed the choices.
I own an NA but I'd say on your list I'd run with the NB...for $15k you can have an almost zero mile late model Miata that's going to run trouble-free for years.
Bump it to $20k.
For 20K, I got my NA street Miata ($4200), My Suburban tow vehicle ($6200), my trailer ($1300) and my NB SSB prepped track car ($7000). You can buy tires and track time with the extra cash.
How will the car be used? Will it be a daily driver or a weekend toy? Also, can you turn your own wrenches or will you pay someone else to do most or all of the work?
Porsches are great cars but as much as I love them, I won't begin to say that they are likely to be as inexpensive as Miatas. That said, if you can do your own work they are not necessarily as shocking to own as many people here will claim.
BB.
Originally Posted by BeerBurner
How will the car be used? Will it be a daily driver or a weekend toy? Also, can you turn your own wrenches or will you pay someone else to do most or all of the work?
I want to use it as a weekend toy with occasional daily use. I'm definitely not a wrench turner, which is why I'm leaning toward MSM over an NA/NB. At this point, I'm pretty much sold on the MSM, but I'm willing to wait for the prices to drop a bit.
What about an S2000? A nice one can be had for $15k and it is more reliable/cheaper to work on than the Porsche while giving a quot;bitquot; more performance potential than the Miata. You have to drive them all and see what sings to you.
Originally Posted by lopro
I want to use it as a weekend toy with occasional daily use.
Ducati?
C5 coupe
Miata NA, NB or a high mile NC
S2000
Boxster
Z3 M
G35 coupe 6MT
350Z
RX8
Out of your options, a boxster. I would get the newest nicest quot;Squot; I could find. Make mine a red with tan.
If I was spending $15K for a weekend/occasional driver, there would be a S2000 in the driveway.
With some interweb searching, you can find some amazing NA or NB Miatas that have been 'spoiled'. In perfect cosmetic condition with hard top etc.These cars are addictive weekend toys when they've had all the right suspension and performance upgrades.
Supercharging really adds to the driveability in my opinion, and is quite reliable.
Bmw e34 / e39 m5.
gt;^..^lt;
Originally Posted by very hungry caterpillar
If you mean $15K each year, buy the old Porsche.
You tipped your hand too. $15k is a slight exaggeration.
I've owned Porsches and on average, I'd recommend putting $4k in a maintenance account and add $333/mo after one year for maintenance, tires, fixes. That's if you use a certified repair shop (not the dealer) and use lowest cost sourced original (but not through the dealer) parts. Could be less if you do the work yourself but that's a bit tricky for a rear engined and even trickier for a midship Porsche. That's a lot more $$ than for any Miata in decent shape. It's about three times what I spend on my 160kmi '91 NA.
So, figure about $2700/yr more to own a Porsche (plus possible insurance and maybe even registration) compared to a Miata. Gas too, possibly. I had a '84 928S in '90 and it needed new tires and alignment. By the time I was done it was over $1500 back then (which is dirt cheap compared to a C5 Vette today) and my Miata has 215-40s and was $525 earlier this year. I'd guess the tire cost differences might shock you a bit too.
Originally Posted by BSheppard
C5 coupe
Miata NA, NB or a high mile NC
S2000
Boxster
Z3 M
G35 coupe 6MT
350Z
RX8
Out of your options, a boxster. I would get the newest nicest quot;Squot; I could find. Make mine a red with tan.
I thought the point of this thread was to narrow it down for me...
Anywho...I like the ideas. Didn't really think all could be had for $15K! Lately, I've been thinking about what I can do for about $9k and use the other money on house mods.
I also read the M3 post from Catman. Stop it now, it's not making it any easier!!
I'd probably get a 2006-07 NC for $15k if I was following the OP's criteria. There are dozens for sale on Autotrader for in the 15's or less, most of them even have less than 40k miles on them.
That's it...Porsche is dropped from the agenda. C5 isn't a contender either.
I like the understatedness of the Miata. M3 is attractive, but I've owned 3 other BMWs in my lifetime and a bunch of Mercs so I guess I'm officially leaving Deutschland (at least if I'm spending under $10K).
Of the honorable mentions, the most tempting is the S2000. It seems like it's a bit more pricey. How is the S2000's handling versus the Miata? What about upgradability?
By the way, Catman mentioned the M5 not M3. Ahh yes... but no. I want some petite action this time around. I've done the e39 540i as my daily for over a year. (I know it's not the almighty M5). But it's still a very fun, gas guzzler that was best all around. It didn't quite handle the twisties like a roadster but you can't have it all at once in one sitting every time. I had repeated times to drive at 250km/hr on the highway and pretty much got that max speed madness out of my system too.
At the moment, I'm thinking MSM vs S2000...
E39 M5 does seem like a good idea..
MMM 394 horses....
Originally Posted by lopro
At the moment, I'm thinking MSM vs S2000...
Both are excellent choices. My advice is to go drive both and decide for yourself, but I wouldn't be surprised if you settled on the S2000.
Originally Posted by misterears
So, figure about $2700/yr more to own a Porsche (plus possible insurance and maybe even registration) .
I too have pined for a Porsche. As an old college prof hoping to be on a futher reduced fixed income in a couple years, that kinda brings the reality of my owning one (meaning a 911) to the forefront. Maybe my Miata is just fine.
Originally Posted by Colinod
E39 M5 does seem like a good idea..
MMM 394 horses....
I've had 2 friends sell their M5's due to repair costs. The first gen CTS-V is a much cheaper car to own, and similar if not better performance.
To the OP - I think you should go test drive an NC and an S2000. The S2000 will be faster and have less depreciation being older.
Originally Posted by jtwisconsin
My advice is to go drive both and decide for yourself, but I wouldn't be surprised if you settled on the S2000.
Well, I just drove an '08 S2000. The engine sound alone had me mesmerized. I noticed the famous vtec power surge around 6000rpm, me thinks. It was fun, but I'd have to drive hard to get to it. All in all, I was very impressed by the S2000. But considering my price range, I would have to get a pre-2004 version with the more peaky engine response and the more snappy rear end (at least from what I've heard). That being said, I'll probably go MSM for the drivability and try not to think about the power that I'd be sacrificing.
Have yet to drive the MSM...kinda hard to find locally at the moment. I guess my next best option is to drive a NC which should have similar power, I think? I just don't like the body style of the NC as much as the NB.
Try driving the 2.0L S2000. See if you like the motor. The snappy rear end has a fairly inexpensive aftermarket fix.
I would pick the Mazdaspeed Miata.
Easy to work on, easy to maintain, faster the the normal NA, NB, and NC, handles perfectly, rides well, and will put a massive smile on your face every time you drive it.
All these people talking about the S2000, I'm a little surprised there's no mention of the MR2 Spyder. Small, quick, mid-engine, and the ladies like it. Pretty easy to throw a turbo on there, too, if you get the itch down the line. Lots of low-mile examples in your price range.
Because of the very high maintenance costs on Porsches, and because I am very familiar with the MSM, I would have to strongly suggest the MSM is by far the best buy for under $15K. In fact, at this time one can find a lot of good low mileage MSMs for sale due to the sinking economic conditions, and this may just be the very best time to pick one up (think in terms of $11-13K for one with less than 40K mi bought from a private party). |
Post at 2-7 08:12 AM
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