MX-5 30th Anniversary vs. Porsche Boxster (981)

Interesting article by Dan Trent for Piston Heads. I can guess where everyone’s views would be here but it’s always a interesting wrestle with do you buy new or a used car. 


https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=1838937#message1

If my lifestyle necessitated me driving high annual mileage most of which was long distances on motorways and “A” roads then the obvious choice would be the Boxster, no question.  But as I only drive low mileage, short journeys on “B” and “Unclassified” roads with the occasional stretch of “A” road then my “5’s” are the perfect choice.  Horses (or cars) for courses as they say!

 

As my 30AE is a daily driver I look at like this. 

Do I buy a great £54,000 car with a big discount and risk expensive repairs due to poor reliability and high mileage 

Or

do I buy a ”cheaper” great (and in this case limited edition) car that comes with a warranty. 3 years “free” MOT and far better reliability due to age and low mileage.

both have good points its a personal choice  

Dan T and Dan Trent? Is this purely a coincidence?  

just asking… 

Barrie

 

 

haha I am a bit thick, not thinking that people might think that! My surname is Turner and my gramma is far to bad to be a journalist.

so no I am not Dan Trent 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lol - I guess a fair few of us made this exact comparison/choice.

I was looking to spend upto circa £35k and so did also consider a few ‘used’ options including Boxter and F-Type.

However as a fun daily driver that can be enjoyed on the roads I use mostly, AE30 with BBR Super220 was my choice (as one of those commented suggested). A fantastic little car that is great fun and I love it to bits.

For the price of a new 30AE I was also looking at a “pre-loved” 911.
However, the Mazda comes with 5 years of manufacturer warranty (with extensions) and the 911 could easily come with £10K+ “IMS Bearing Failure”, which I then couldn’t afford to fix.
The Porsche also comes with eye watering Porsche servicing and parts costs…

& as a daily driver, not as reliable and also isn’t as fun at lower (real world while commuting) speeds.

I own a Porsche 996 with the chocolate engine as well as a Mk1 Mx5 and a leased Mx5 Mk4. The IMS Bearing issue is blown out of all proportion. Yes it can happen but keep an eye on the oil and filter during service or get one of the many upgraded versions of IMS out there. Cost about £1800. Eye watering Porsche servicing costs is also not necessarily true. I have a maintenance plan on my 996 which I pay under £60 a month for. This covers my Annual service and MOT plus the labour on any work I need over the year. Plenty of good Indies out there do these type of plans. Yes it does cost more than an MX to run but nothing like people make out. I’m selling my 996 because it just doesn’t get used. It is just too much car for my type of driving. 

 

Colin 

 

 

The 981 Boxster is a very reliable car and Porsche specialists service costs are pretty reasonable, £180 to be precise for a normal service. the boxster is a far superior car the MX5 but its not costly to run as some might expect and your money is safer with a Porsche. residuals dont matter to everyone howver it snice to know that in desperate times that you have something to fall back on

 

When I was looking for a car to replace my R400 Seven , only two cars were on the list . You can guess which one I chose , and 'je ne regrette rien ', but my decision to buy an MX5 was a rare example of my head overruling my heart . I was dissuaded from Boxster (not ‘Boxter’ - please!) ownership by running costs and the Sword of Damocles, in the form of an expensive engine failure. I knew the risk was small - maybe about the same as my ND gearbox having a hissy fit? - but it was one I elected not to take .

The format of the Trent piece has been used for decades , back to 'why the 205GTi can humble a Ferrari 348 ’ days , and beyond . And in objective terms such tests may well show the Poundshop choice to be the better one , but buying sports cars isn’t much about objectivity at all, is it ?

It is about emotion, fun , heritage and (of course ) image. Even in objective terms the Porsche is the better car -as you’d expect , really , for double the money . It has a hugely charismatic engine (or had ,before they put in the flat four ) , which is not only far more powerful but sounds exquisite . It is also better equipped , has better steering and feels hewn from solid . My MX5 is fine , more so since its springs were lowered, but its engine is still anodyne and the steering devoid of meaningful feel .

If price and potential costs were not factors there’d be a Boxster S with sports exhaust on my drive, without any doubt