SP or ND2?

[smy0003]

You can buy a 987 Boxster S for the same money or less than that ND2 and have a car that won't depreciate and is superior in almost every way.

Ahhh, the car in the ad I linked was originally advertised for $29,999, has been bumped up a lot since then. Couple more were round $32-34k.

Was pretty seriously looking at the Porsche's, but everyone I bounced it off called me a wanker.

I chose a great SE (GTX2860)(113XXX) after a long time researching. Mighty on the track. Great on the road and a blast in the country. After 3 years, it has cost me nothing in depreciation.

Sounds like what I was thinking, very nice!

If it’s mainly a road car, then IMO an ND2 is a no brainer over any NB. (SE,SP)

Yes, very much a road car, I drive around Healesville/Marysville a fair bit (Well, not at the moment).

An ND1 and a 124 have also crossed my mind. The engines in the 124's are pretty rubbish though.

[hmd]

You can buy a 987 Boxster S for the same money or less than that ND2 and have a car that won't depreciate and is superior in almost every way.

Ahhh, the car in the ad I linked was originally advertised for $29,999, has been bumped up a lot since then. Couple more were round $32-34k.
Was pretty seriously looking at the Porsche's, but everyone I bounced it off called me a wanker.

You need to look at the total cost of ownership. The Boxster service and parts cost will make your eyes water.

ND2 nothing to worry for the next 5 years.

SP is much older and will need more maintenance + less creature comfort. However will be a collectible.

[lucmor444]

Saw this cheap manual Boxster the other day:

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/surfers ... 1246652779

Don't worry about what other people may call you if you had a Boxster Rohan - MX-5 owners get flack too!

But as noted I'd be very wary of maintenance/repair costs on the Porsche and they do have some known/expensive problem areas.

[bootz]

The most expensive Porsche you will ever buy is a second hand one.

[Dan]

You can buy a 987 Boxster S for the same money or less than that ND2 and have a car that won't depreciate and is superior in almost every way.

Ahhh, the car in the ad I linked was originally advertised for $29,999, has been bumped up a lot since then. Couple more were round $32-34k.

Was pretty seriously looking at the Porsche's, but everyone I bounced it off called me a wanker.

I heard the same thing before I purchased my Boxster, the reaction was the same as what most people say when you tell them you have an MX5. It also usually comes from people who have watched too much Top Gear and have never even dríven one, let alone owned one.

If you haven’t already go drive a Manual 987 Boxster S before you make a decision, the build quality of a Porsche is second to none and the sound of Naturally Aspirated Flat 6 is amazing (I’m looking around for a Manual Cayman S 987 myself at the moment).

Yes maintenance is more expensive though nowhere near what people make out. If you made a spreadsheet of costs which includes depreciation and maintenance I think a 987 Manual Boxster S would come out well ahead of an ND2 and you will get a great experience. Obviously don't service it at the dealer as their tax is insane - I paid $2,100 for 4 corners genuine Pads+Rotors+Sensors+Labour from an independent on my 981 vs $1,100 just for the front pads from the dealer.

Main thing you need to make sure of on a 987 is that you have the car checked over by an Independent and that they have had the fix done for the IMS bearing (not relevant on the 987.2). 997/987+ generation Porsche are miles more reliable than older generations.

[trader]

ND’s are great cars - that’s why they are as common as Mazda 3’s - certainly seems to be. IMO The number of NB’s on the road of any variety are disappearing fast just like the NA’s. So if having a classic comes into the equation then forget the ND’s.

[bruce]

I think you'd prefer a modern/new car if you are going to daily it, thus the ND.
Plus I don't see too many on the road so they'd be as rare as a Porsche.

[Mr Morlock]

We give our opinions which may be opposite to what the author wants to hear. I would recommend an NC before an ND- better pricing and arguably a more practical and still a great fun car. When the ND first came out I thought it was a dud offered with a 1500 cc engine the 2litre was obviously well under what it should have been- the latter now rectified. I find the NC are remarkably good car and better than an NB.

I did consider a Porsche Boxster and ended up with the NC instead. For me I was not prepared to take a risk on the Boxster i.e. some models had a fatal flaw as described by Dan.Dan has all the right advice- can you see yourself in a Porsche. An engine rebuild would cost about the price of an NC car. However I think Dan has some very good points and the vehicle is apparently outstandingly stable and true at higher speeds and it has its own aura. Its so much cheaper than 911's ,which I was reliably told by a Porsche expert ,are pretty high maintenance vehicles. You can go cruising in a Boxster or an NC with a bit of room and a glove box and you can get a better top not the silly canvas top on the ND nor for that matter the pretty odd RS thing which is not really a convertible. Also if you are not doing big kms then why go for a late ND- what does it offer except quite a bit more depreciation.

[rascal]

Also if you are not doing big kms then why go for a late ND- what does it offer except quite a bit more depreciation.

The obvious answer to this one is to get the 135kw motor.....

[Ross]

If you're using it as a daily, ND RF would be the choice of MX5s, nice to drive and can play on weekends too.
If it's just for weekends, the SP wins hands down. It's an SP! 100 made, only in Aus, and convinced Mazda to build the SE, doesn't get much more desirable than that.
I'm going to struggle when the SP hits 25 years old. It will be very hard to resist putting one in the garage.

[93_Clubman]

I've almost pulled the trigger on near-new ND2s a couple of times (low 30's price-wise).
But, what about an SP? For the price of an ND2 I could have an SP with a GTX2860, Haltech and more power than my old turbo NA8.

Low 30s for a modded SP is a lot.

[smy0003]

You can buy a 987 Boxster S for the same money or less than that ND2 and have a car that won't depreciate and is superior in almost every way.

Ahhh, the car in the ad I linked was originally advertised for $29,999, has been bumped up a lot since then. Couple more were round $32-34k.

Was pretty seriously looking at the Porsche's, but everyone I bounced it off called me a wanker.

I heard the same thing before I purchased my Boxster, the reaction was the same as what most people say when you tell them you have an MX5. It also usually comes from people who have watched too much Top Gear and have never even dríven one, let alone owned one.

Sorry Dan, didn't realise you had a Boxter, not trying to be a smartarse, I quite like them myself. Most people who see an MX-5 assume it's a Ferrari anyway so the comments about being a wanker are much the same. In my case the comments are probably warranted anyway...

Saw this cheap manual Boxster the other day:

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/surfers ... 1246652779

Don't worry about what other people may call you if you had a Boxster Rohan - MX-5 owners get flack too!

But as noted I'd be very wary of maintenance/repair costs on the Porsche and they do have some known/expensive problem areas.

Hahaha yes, actually one time a guy threw a packet of hot Maccas chips at my silver Mx5 and called me a wanker on Springvale Road. I ate them out of the soft top.

I think you'd prefer a modern/new car if you are going to daily it, thus the ND.
Plus I don't see too many on the road so they'd be as rare as a Porsche.

Too much common sense for a forum debate there, Bruce hahahaha.

We give our opinions which may be opposite to what the author wants to hear. I would recommend an NC before an ND- better pricing and arguably a more practical and still a great fun car. When the ND first came out I thought it was a dud offered with a 1500 cc engine the 2litre was obviously well under what it should have been- the latter now rectified. I find the NC are remarkably good car and better than an NB.

Thanks Morlock, actually a good point. I have looked at a couple of NC2/3s, never dríven one though. They don't float my boat the way the ND's do, and I suppose that's a large part of buying a silly car like a 5 in he first place. I should really drive one before I rule it out though.

[Dan]

Sorry Dan, didn't realise you had a Boxter, not trying to be a smartarse, I quite like them myself. Most people who see an MX-5 assume it's a Ferrari anyway so the comments about being a wanker are much the same. In my case the comments are probably warranted anyway...

No offense taken, I wasn’t saying it like that anyway.

I actually think the ND2 is the best MX5 ever made by a decent margin and I will own one at some point when they are depreciated. If you can swing it I reckon go get one

[Rocky]

I really wish I liked the styling of the ND, it would make the next purchase such an easy one. Nothing to touch an MX5 for value.
To appeal to me it would need to look more like the old RX7/8 (FDs) but that's never going to happen as 'styling' has moved off in a different direction.
I am thinking 'Cayman' a couple of years further down the line but damn they hold their value. Ten-year-old cars (of which there are only a few) are still listed at around half their orig. RRP whilst 5 yo examples are close to original RRP. I have never seen this kind of value retention with any other Make.

[hmd]

Yes maintenance is more expensive though nowhere near what people make out.

This is somewhat true, however when something big goes wrong that's when the repair cost differential is huge.
I am speaking from experience, having own 7 porsches over a period of 20 years including a then 4 years old boxster.