Last weekend I had to chance to BS for a while with a Porsche mechanic. He said that if I was looking for my first Porsche, a Boxster is the way to go. It seems that parts (particularly consumables) are a lot more expensive on 996's, and he felt that cheaper Porsches (944's, 924's) are more hassle than they are worth in terms of performance.
I've seen two Boxster S's listed in this area recently for ten grand. That's a lot of bang for the buck, but I'm sticking with my turbo Miata for now.
Boxsters are going for crackhead prices around here.
There's only this one and maybe one more that i could even really think about looking at.
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=298770340&dealer_id=87809&car_year=1998&systime=&doors=&model=BOXSTE&search_lang=en&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=50&min_price=&rdm=1308077694571&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=y&fuel=&keywords_display=&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2012&showZipError=n&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=INDIANAPOLIS&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&transmission=&default_sort=priceASC&
"Triple Black" 99.
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=298104749&dealer_id=54976989&car_year=1999&systime=&doors=&model=BOXSTE&search_lang=en&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=100&min_price=&rdm=1308078181073&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=y&fuel=&keywords_display=&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2012&showZipError=n&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=INDIANAPOLIS&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&transmission=&default_sort=priceASC&max_mileage=&color=&address=46237&sort_type=priceASC&max_price=&make=POR&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=102&standard=false
Why not a 944 convertible?
93EXCivic wrote: Why not a 944 convertible?
The only 944s that "do it" for me are the Turbo, Turbo S, and S2. Additionally, i really hate the way they look in droptop form. 
I somewhat doubt they have the "feel" i'm looking for that brought me to the Miata and/or MR-S, anyways.
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:93EXCivic wrote: Why not a 944 convertible?The only 944s that "do it" for me are the Turbo, Turbo S, and S2. Additionally, i really hate the way they look in droptop form.
I have driven a plain jane 944 and a NA Miata and I would rather have the 944 especially for long drives.
93EXCivic wrote:92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:I have driven a plain jane 944 and a NA Miata and I would rather have the 944 especially for long drives.93EXCivic wrote: Why not a 944 convertible?The only 944s that "do it" for me are the Turbo, Turbo S, and S2. Additionally, i really hate the way they look in droptop form.
NA has already been nixed lol.
Remember, it's not just about this roadtrip, but it's about what i'd like to own/daily drive/tool around in/maintain afterwards. 
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: 1997 Miata M-Edition. (I think, can someone tell me exactly what the heck this thing was?) http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=297255281
I'm 99% sure that's not an M-Edition. M-Editions always had special colours and white wasn't among them. However everybody and their dog seem to be convinced that their base model Miata is an M-Edition...
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:93EXCivic wrote:NA has already been nixed lol. Remember, it's not just about this roadtrip, but it's about what i'd like to own/daily drive/tool around in/maintain afterwards.92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:I have driven a plain jane 944 and a NA Miata and I would rather have the 944 especially for long drives.93EXCivic wrote: Why not a 944 convertible?The only 944s that "do it" for me are the Turbo, Turbo S, and S2. Additionally, i really hate the way they look in droptop form.
I can't imagine the NB is that different then the NA as far as driving. I have ridden around in a modified NB and I think I would still take the 944.
I'd rather have a plain-jane 944 than any Miata, which is why my NA is gone and there's a 944 in my driveway.
I guess I should throw up the results from Sunday's autocross:
35th of 66 Overall, 1st in P2 - 34.623
100% stock 8V 944 with 225K on Hankook R-S3's (225/15) and only 1.6* of front camber. The only Miata's faster were #15/#30 overall, a Spec Miata on 710's, and #31 a Turbo Miata. Notice that I beat some Boxster's, Cayman's, and 911's along with some other fast stuff.
It's an under-rated car that nobody gives any credence to, that could totally rock the autocross. Did I mention that we drove there on the same tires, went out to lunch in downtown Portland afterwords, and drove home with 25MPG average including the racing?
BoxheadTim wrote:92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: 1997 Miata M-Edition. (I think, can someone tell me exactly what the heck this thing was?) http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=297255281I'm 99% sure that's not an M-Edition. M-Editions always had special colours and white wasn't among them. However everybody and their dog seem to be convinced that their base model Miata is an M-Edition...
Gotcha. I just kindof figured it might be since it seemed to have some weird options. Or maybe not, i don't really know what years had what standard in these things, since there was eleventy billion variants.
All i know is that the 2000 i drove had a black cloth interior, power windows, manual locks, glass rear window/defrost, premium stereo, and a Nardi Torino steering wheel that was PERFECT.
I would be 110% happy if i could find another one of those spec'd out exactly like that for about $4k cheaper. 
I know of someone in Columbus selling a 2000 Miata with 14k miles for $10k.
Javelin wrote: I'd rather have a plain-jane 944 than any Miata, which is why my NA is gone and there's a 944 in my driveway. I guess I should throw up the results from Sunday's autocross: Link to Results 35th of 66 Overall, 1st in P2 - 34.623 100% stock 8V 944 with 225K on Hankook R-S3's (225/15) and only 1.6* of front camber. The only Miata's faster were #15/#30 overall, a Spec Miata on 710's, and #31 a Turbo Miata. Notice that I beat some Boxster's, Cayman's, and 911's along with some other fast stuff. It's an under-rated car that nobody gives any credence to, that could totally rock the autocross. Did I mention that we drove there on the same tires, went out to lunch in downtown Portland afterwords, and drove home with 25MPG average including the racing?
Looking for a street car, not yet another race car.... i ruled out 1.6 Miatas before i even started looking, and convertible is not something i'm willing to sway on. And convertible 944s are disgusting.
I appreciate that you two thought of something that i never would have, but i'm not going to look for one.
Don't take that harshly!
93EXCivic wrote:92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:I can't imagine the NB is that different then the NA as far as driving. I have ridden around in a modified NB and I think I would still take the 944.93EXCivic wrote:NA has already been nixed lol. Remember, it's not just about this roadtrip, but it's about what i'd like to own/daily drive/tool around in/maintain afterwards.92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:I have driven a plain jane 944 and a NA Miata and I would rather have the 944 especially for long drives.93EXCivic wrote: Why not a 944 convertible?The only 944s that "do it" for me are the Turbo, Turbo S, and S2. Additionally, i really hate the way they look in droptop form.
The two i drove felt HUGELY different, and it wasn't just suspension differences. The NB felt roomier, more solid, more like a real car. The NA had potential that i could feel, but i'm looking for something that's 90% what i want out of a car, then i deal with the remaining 10%. Not 60/40 split.
EvanB wrote: I know of someone in Columbus selling a 2000 Miata with 14k miles for $10k.
Hrmmm.... details? If it's red, i'm out.
The NB feels vastly different than an NA. Also, its faster. I sold an '03 performance package with 30k on it for like $7500 last year due to a few issues I didn't feel like dealing with. Some people think their NBs are worth $ texas, but keep you eyes open and you can get a good one well under 10k. I wouldn't worry about the mileage. Hell, I'd be more scared of one with 15k on it than 80k.
I'd shoot for an 01+ 5 spd. 16" wheels = sport brakes. 03+ all have the sport brakes. 01+ (iirc) have the better headlights.
Although, if you are going to spend 10k... you could easily grab an AP1 S2000.
So why isn't the AP1 S2000 on this list? To me it's a fantastic combination of thrilling to drive hard, yet easy to live with daily (doesn't hurt that it has some of the best seats I've ever sat in either). I'd love to take a long road trip in mine someday. A decent one will probably be right at or over your 10k limit, but I'd consider stretching for it given their excellent reliability and the fact that they seem to be just about done depreciating (if anything, the prices have gone up a bit since I bought mine).
ProDarwin wrote: The NB feels vastly different than an NA. Also, its faster. I sold an '03 performance package with 30k on it for like $7500 last year due to a few issues I didn't feel like dealing with. Some people think their NBs are worth $ texas, but keep you eyes open and you can get a good one well under 10k. I wouldn't worry about the mileage. Hell, I'd be more scared of one with 15k on it than 80k. I'd shoot for an 01+ 5 spd. 16" wheels = sport brakes. 03+ all have the sport brakes. 01+ (iirc) have the better headlights. Although, if you are going to spend 10k... you could easily grab an AP1 S2000.
Which years/trim got the Nardi steering wheel? I'd also like the lip kit that the one i drop yesterday had. And cloth interior.
I like this one a lot, other than the red outside and tan leather interior.
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/2394704319.html
Hate red. Hate tan. Hate leather.
This one is exactly what i'm looking for, just a bit out of the price range due to mileage. (Notice the Nardi Steering wheel)
http://www.rayskillmannortheastmazda.com/details/used-2000-Mazda-MX-5-Miata-SE-Special-Edition-Indianapolis-IN/JM1NB3539Y0141732/78324441#
Although, "sport brakes" are never a bad thing.
AP1 S2000 is on the list, but they seem to be substantially harder to find in my price range. My close friend has one that he got for a ridiculous deal, and if i could find another deal like that, i probably wouldn't hesitate.
However, there are things about the NB i like more than the S2000, and vice versa. In the end, i lean slightly more towards the Miata because it feels a little more nimble, and a little less "techno-gimmicky." I also kindof really don't want leather.
Is there a list somewhere of all the different NB variants? I had no idea a "performance package" existed.
The S2000 seats are leather, but they're REALLY GOOD seats. I had to put race buckets in the Miata to keep from flopping around at autocrosses, but I don't really feel the need in the S2k. The interior ergonomics just feel so much more driver-focused in the S2k, I assume you've driven one?
I will admit that a Miata is a lot easier to push a little bit on the street without terrifying yourself or others, though.
Josh wrote: The S2000 seats are leather, but they're REALLY GOOD seats. I had to put race buckets in the Miata to keep from flopping around at autocrosses, but I don't really feel the need in the S2k. The interior ergonomics just feel so much more driver-focused in the S2k, I assume you've driven one? I will admit that a Miata is a lot easier to push a little bit on the street without terrifying yourself or others, though.
I've driven two AP1s, and i admit i liked them a lot. They're just.... more car that i need, and the price reflects that.
Honestly, the NB felt better to me than the AP1 in terms of ergonomics. Other than the seats of course, but then again, i'm not going to race this.
I was also a little less claustrophobic in the NB than the AP1.
Sport brakes can be a bad thing. Makes it much harder to fit certain 15" wheels. And its hard to buy snows for the 16" wheels.
Not sure where to find the info. Performance package on the later NBs is just the Bilsteins (rough) and Torsen (sometimes). I've owned an NB and now have an S2000 (ap2). It does feel heavier, but its a ton faster, rides better than an NB with Bilsteins (w/ less body roll), and looks a lot cooler. Gets about the same mileage on the highway too.
My NB had the Nardi wheel... not sure why you are after it so much. Can't you just swap one in if you desire?
Don't get me wrong, I love both cars. I race an NA in STR locally - which is unbelievably slow in a straight line, but a total berkeleying blast on course.
Ergonomics... yeah, the Miata feels less like you have your legs in a coffin than the S2K does.
ProDarwin wrote: Sport brakes can be a bad thing. Makes it much harder to fit certain 15" wheels. And its hard to buy snows for the 16" wheels. Not sure where to find the info. Performance package on the later NBs is just the Bilsteins (rough) and Torsen (sometimes). I've owned an NB and now have an S2000 (ap2). It does feel heavier, but its a ton faster, rides better than an NB with Bilsteins (w/ less body roll), and looks a lot cooler. Gets about the same mileage on the highway too. My NB had the Nardi wheel... not sure why you are after it so much. Can't you just swap one in if you desire? Don't get me wrong, I love both cars. I race an NA in STR locally - which is unbelievably slow in a straight line, but a total berkeleying blast on course.
I guess i could just swap one... but after so many project cars where i've had to completely transform them... i would LOVE to have a car that i could just throw an intake/header/exhaust/ and wheels/tires at it and drive it and not even THINK about anything else.
Unfortunately, i thought that steering wheel was the bee's knees, and i must have one.
I'll swap one if it comes down to it.
The brakes on the one i drove yesterday didn't feel lacking, so i guess i don't need the sport brakes, and i'd rather run 15x8s anyways.
I DO want a Torsen if i can find one.... any way to identify which ones have it by looking at them? Don't care much about the Bilsteins, struts are easy to replace if i don't like the stockers.
ProDarwin wrote: Ergonomics... yeah, the Miata feels less like you have your legs in a coffin than the S2K does.
I may just be a perfect fit for the S2k. I feel a lot more comfortable in it than my Miata, especially on long drives. Everything seems to be right where I'd want it to be, and nothing gets in my way, but there definitely isn't any wasted space in the cockpit.
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