My mom owned a Miata. Very reliable and great handling. I also think they are ugly.
I love me some Porsche. But a Boxster is ugly, and to me, growing up in SoCal, every middle aged woman and douche lipped man has one.
No thanks on either one.
I want something cheaper that can fit an LS, and still carry me, the wife, and my daughter.
I'm seeing from dealers, Later NC1 cars and good 986's for sale in the 13K range. The 986 is nice and clean. I looked at it last weekend. I decided to hold out for an S though.
http://www.terrydavison.com/detail-2002-porsche-boxster-used-14008967.html
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=78681&endYear=2016&modelCode1=MIATA&showcaseOwnerId=0&startYear=1981&makeCode1=MAZDA&listingType=used&listingTypes=used&firstRecord=26&searchRadius=200&showcaseListingId=0&mmt=%5BMAZDA%5BMIATA%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=407612799&Log=0
I've gone through this debate myself many times...same two cars. I've owned 5 Miatas, never a Boxster. I know the Boxster is a better sports car in every measurable way. I would love to own one. But what it comes down to for me is the reality of my life. I don't have the time nor mechanical skills to do more than basic maintenance (which I struggle to even find time for that). That would leave me with only paying someone to fix the car if/when it breaks. I don't know I want to commit the funds the Porsche would need. So for me even though I'd probably enjoy a Boxster more, Miata would probably still be the answer.
solamf wrote: My mom owned a Miata. Very reliable and great handling. I also think they are ugly. I love me some Porsche. But a Boxster is ugly, and to me, growing up in SoCal, every middle aged woman and douche lipped man has one. No thanks on either one. I want something cheaper that can fit an LS, and still carry me, the wife, and my daughter.
Solamf, Wecome to the boards!!!! Happy to have new blood on here. Great for the hobby and our average nuttery.
So a few things. Don't take VS threads too seriously. Most of this is just a mental exercise between what is listed in the OP (original post) and the Hive (what we call ourselves, maybe The Collective would be better given our Borg-ish adaptation to tech (Side note we have our own 7 of 9 running around but we don't like to focus on it) but that is too many characters to write, so Hive it is!) Just so you know, your comment, in this case, really doesn't have a place on this particular thread.
It would make an excellent "What car" thread! We like helping on those. Get some very creative answers on those.
So again welcome, and can't wait to see you in the fray!
Klayfish wrote: I've gone through this debate myself many times...same two cars. I've owned 5 Miatas, never a Boxster. I know the Boxster is a better sports car in every measurable way. I would love to own one. But what it comes down to for me is the reality of my life. I don't have the time nor mechanical skills to do more than basic maintenance (which I struggle to even find time for that). That would leave me with only paying someone to fix the car if/when it breaks. I don't know I want to commit the funds the Porsche would need. So for me even though I'd probably enjoy a Boxster more, Miata would probably still be the answer.
I too have a Miata in the history and spent seat time in the MR2 and S2000. The Boxster, although I have driven and have not owned, just keeps calling out to me.
Maybe it is next. A high mileage S isn't too far a stretch...
solamf wrote: But a Boxster is ugly, and to me, growing up in SoCal, every middle aged woman and douche lipped man has one.
That explains why they're so cheap here.
Because it was brought up earlier in the thread... A fellow board member got the chance to drive a LS7 powered Renegade Hybrids Cayman. This is what he had to say about it:
It's possibly the best car ever built. It drives exactly like a Cayman, except it has twice the power. You can do things with that car that shouldn't be possible. The power is very linear and surprisingly tractable. You can be mid-corner and use the brake or gas to correct anything without getting out of sorts. So so good. Just… Oof. So good.
So, 'all-in' price being equal, which do you choose -- a V8 Miata or V8 Boxster?
In reply to nderwater:
All in? V8 Boxster. Because it's a Porsche, not a Mazda.
V8 Boxster hands down. Mid Engined yummy yum
Flight Service wrote: V8 Boxster hands down. Mid Engined yummy yum
Hells yeah. Miatas are fun, but Boxsters are go-karts, and they love to turn. Badge snobbery doesn't enter into it for me, the Boxster is just a more entertaining car to drive.
You mentioned auto-x. How would the cars class after whatever changes you might make? Do you care?
Personally I'd skip both and have an S2000. As that was not an option I would take the Porsche for the previously mentioned club factor.
NOHOME wrote: I am trying to recall who wrote the article on operating a high-end used Mercedes for a year and came to the conclusion that it was cheaper to lease a new model than try to keep an out of warranty car on the road. Not to mention the many days in the shop and the towing hassle.
Wasn't this Edmunds with a long-term CL600? EDIT: It was a CL65: http://www.edmunds.com/mercedes-benz/cl-class/2005/long-term-road-test/introduction.html
That would be the one, or at least the start of it.
blockquote>pushrod36 wrote:
Personally I'd skip both and have an S2000. As that was not an option I would take the Porsche for the previously mentioned club factor.
And this for the win. Mechanically as boring as the Miata and as entertaining a chassis as the Porsche. Kind of a "Win" salad.
pushrod36 wrote: You mentioned auto-x. How would the cars class after whatever changes you might make? Do you care? Personally I'd skip both and have an S2000. As that was not an option I would take the Porsche for the previously mentioned club factor.
For the comparison, stock for stock.
Woody wrote: I own a Miata and a Cayman S. My Cayman has needed approximately zero replacement engines. My only expenses have been oil changes and tires. Tires are much more expensive, obviously, but even a DIY oil change is probably going to be $100 or more, as they hold a lot of oil and they are supposed to get synthetic. Plus, decent filters cost a little more.
How many miles have you put on the Cayman? Though I've never driven one, they strike me as the perfect sports car.
I've been on track with a few "S" models over a couple of seasons and they've held up quite well. OTOH every air or water 911 owner I know seem to throw 5 figure repair bills at them. Small sample size but makes me pause.
$3000 for a motor swap kit!
I said DIY, not Pump Me Dry.
Plus that kind of pricing seems to be not unusual in LSx swap-land. Ford 302s, OTOH, are at grassroots pricing.
But I have to say, those Renegade cars look choice. If I got the urge to go high-end track car, a 1st gen Cayman chassis and an LSx would be the unholy alliance. Some times, you get what you're willing to pay for.
Mean time, I'll go back to finishing up the Fubarri.
Honestly, and this is going to sound blasphemous, since you can get stupid torque numbers from the Ford Ecoboost 2.0L with little to no work, do a Boxster swap with that. Lighter, easier on fuel, doesn't sound like Chevy (let's be honest a Porsche that sounds like a Chevy is a bit bizarre) and very driveable and doesn't require you to cut forward like it does with the LS (now you know why I wanted the Boxster engine bay dimensions a few weeks back.) 
In reply to Flight Service:
That's part of my reasoning for secretly desiring an early Boxster with LS (LT?) swap kit...but using the new GM LV3 V6 in a few years when the price on them drops. While I'm at it, I'd like the same in an RX-8 for my daily driver and occasional kid hauler.
There is a guy in town with a Boxter who is totally pissed that my 35 yr old hotted up Triumph TR8 can blow his doors off. He doesn't realize that his car isn't a 930 turbo. That, plus the fact the car is always in the shop for something. There is also a guy with a Miata who thinks the TR8 is cool and his car is totally reliable. Go with the Miata. 
TR8owner wrote: There is a guy in town with a Boxter who is totally pissed that my 35 yr old hotted up Triumph TR8 can blow his doors off. He doesn't realize that his car isn't a 930 turbo. That, plus the fact the car is always in the shop for something. There is also a guy with a Miata who thinks the TR8 is cool and his car is totally reliable. Go with the Miata.
All this talking is distracting me from my fiendish plan to put a V12 M70 into an E36 chassis.
How is the Fubarri project coming?
The answer here is Miata. I'm leary of Boxsters..
KyAllroad wrote: Which is more important? Straight line or ability to turn? In my experience the Porsche will go faster in a straight line but the Miata handles better.
This is contrary to the experience everyone else has had.
Miata will have much lower cost of ownership. A Porsche is still a Porsche, even if it is a Boxster. I looked at and drove a ton of cars before I got my Mazdaspeed Miata, which fit me like a bespoke suit. Boxster was #2 on the list, and was superior to the Miata in almost every respect. I did not want to buy the car and immediately need to put in the aftermarket part to solve the IMS issue. Besides, I already have a midengine P car in the garage(914) so it would have been hard to justify.
On two track nights now I and two of my Miatai driving friends have lapped NCM in the intermediate group and all three of us have been universally "up the trumpet" (to use Mr. Clarksons phrasing) of the P-cars in all the corners. Then we get walked in the straights.
YMMV
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