Boxster S v Mk3 MX-5 Sport v S1 Elise
Discussion
So in the new year I'm thinking of switching over to a 2 seater as a daily driver. Budget is sub £8k.
Things that are important are:
Driving enjoyment
Reliability
Running Costs
Comfort
So the options so far for the budget would be:
2000 Boxster S
2007 Mazda MX-5 2.0 Sport
1998 S1 Elise
I'm steering away from the S2000 and I don't think a Z4 is within budget. I do already have a 1993 Eunos which may or may not stay depending on if I do track days etc.
Thoughts and alternatives please?
CS
Things that are important are:
Driving enjoyment
Reliability
Running Costs
Comfort
So the options so far for the budget would be:
2000 Boxster S
2007 Mazda MX-5 2.0 Sport
1998 S1 Elise
I'm steering away from the S2000 and I don't think a Z4 is within budget. I do already have a 1993 Eunos which may or may not stay depending on if I do track days etc.
Thoughts and alternatives please?
CS
From my experience, I'd say:
Driving enjoyment: Elise > Boxster > MX5
Reliability: MX5 > Boxster > Elise
Running Costs: MX5 > Elise > Boxster
Comfort: Boxster = MX5 > Elise
If you include depreciation in the running costs, it's harder to call but I'd guess it would go Elise > Boxster > MX5 until the MX5 bottoms out.
Driving enjoyment: Elise > Boxster > MX5
Reliability: MX5 > Boxster > Elise
Running Costs: MX5 > Elise > Boxster
Comfort: Boxster = MX5 > Elise
If you include depreciation in the running costs, it's harder to call but I'd guess it would go Elise > Boxster > MX5 until the MX5 bottoms out.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 29th December 11:55
buzzer said:
It was always the paintwork that put me off the Elise, so many seem to have paintwork problems...
They pretty much all do once you get past a certain age, either in terms of stone chips or bubbling paint. I think if you're the kind of person who wants their car to look perfect, an Elise would be a poor choice because they often don't even look perfect as they leave the factory. It's a car to be driven, not polished. 
A Z3M Roadster would be in budget...that's what I went for.
I have since driven an S2 Elise with a view to changing but I knew I'd miss the big engine so declined. It was certainly a fun car though and day to day running costs would have been very reasonable I'm sure.
Haven't driven any in your list, but for me it would be between the Boxster S and the S1 Elise.
Tim
I have since driven an S2 Elise with a view to changing but I knew I'd miss the big engine so declined. It was certainly a fun car though and day to day running costs would have been very reasonable I'm sure.
Haven't driven any in your list, but for me it would be between the Boxster S and the S1 Elise.
Tim
kambites said:
buzzer said:
It was always the paintwork that put me off the Elise, so many seem to have paintwork problems...
They pretty much all do once you get past a certain age, either in terms of stone chips or bubbling paint. I think if you're the kind of person who wants their car to look perfect, an Elise would be a poor choice because they often don't even look perfect as they leave the factory. It's a car to be driven, not polished. Been there and done this. IMO:
Had an mx-5 and fancied a change.
Test drove a S2000. Amazing engine fitted to a flawed car. It's too heavy which means it feels a little wheezy (it isn't, you've got to thrash it and it goes well), steering is odd feeling and the ride is way too hard. Huge running costs (top band tax, scooby level insurance, drinks fuel as you thrap it everywhere). On the plus side it's very well made, comfy and feels like a more plush MX-5. However dispite being slower, the MX-5 was nicer to drive more of the time and in all honesty, after driving the S2k and owning the MX-5, I just couldn't justify swapping.
I bought the Elise at this point. You will not own a better car to drive... when it works. Which mine did occasionally. Sadly most of the times I drove it, something broke, fell off, or made alarming noises. A brilliant, brilliant car when it works. Mine rarely did.
I had planned to drive the boxster also on the same day as the S2k and Elise, but never got there. I ended up chopping in the Elise for a Cayman (boxster coupe) and haven't regretted it for a second. Really characterful engine, comfy like an S2k, but has that vibe of an Elise about it's handling and feel. It's nowhere near as communicative as a Lotus, but it's a better all round package IMO.
FWIW, I've had 2 MX-5's also. You really will struggle to fault one.
Never really got to the Z4, just didn't really appeal.
Had an mx-5 and fancied a change.
Test drove a S2000. Amazing engine fitted to a flawed car. It's too heavy which means it feels a little wheezy (it isn't, you've got to thrash it and it goes well), steering is odd feeling and the ride is way too hard. Huge running costs (top band tax, scooby level insurance, drinks fuel as you thrap it everywhere). On the plus side it's very well made, comfy and feels like a more plush MX-5. However dispite being slower, the MX-5 was nicer to drive more of the time and in all honesty, after driving the S2k and owning the MX-5, I just couldn't justify swapping.
I bought the Elise at this point. You will not own a better car to drive... when it works. Which mine did occasionally. Sadly most of the times I drove it, something broke, fell off, or made alarming noises. A brilliant, brilliant car when it works. Mine rarely did.
I had planned to drive the boxster also on the same day as the S2k and Elise, but never got there. I ended up chopping in the Elise for a Cayman (boxster coupe) and haven't regretted it for a second. Really characterful engine, comfy like an S2k, but has that vibe of an Elise about it's handling and feel. It's nowhere near as communicative as a Lotus, but it's a better all round package IMO.
FWIW, I've had 2 MX-5's also. You really will struggle to fault one.
Never really got to the Z4, just didn't really appeal.
CaptainSlow said:
I keep looking at Boxsters now as the prices are so attractive. I guess the mpg and running costs (tyres etc) are the things that are putting me off.
I read this all the time. Running costs are what you make them. I've got the 2.7 Cayman, which is all you need in this day and age. It loves to rev, makes a great noise and is more than quick enough. Tax is £250. Insurance is £550. MPG is averaging 27mpg (will get 30+ on a run). Tyres aren't expensive if you clever about it. The standard, sensible wheels (17") come up for sale all the time on ebay for £500-£700 a set, usually inc tyres. Not only does it ride better on the 17's, it's more fun also. I sold a set of 18's with tyres for £700 and replaced them with a set of 17's for £600. So essentially I made £100 when I changed my tyres... Ok admittedly I won't make anything on the next change, but if I snag another set for £600-700 and sell mine for £400-500 then it's only going to cost me a few hundred quid to change...
Servicing is every 2 years. Haggle! I got my 4th year major service with MOT from a OPC for £500. So that's £225 a year.
It's one of the cheapest sports cars I've run!
juansolo said:
Been there and done this. IMO:
Had an mx-5 and fancied a change.
Test drove a S2000. Amazing engine fitted to a flawed car. It's too heavy which means it feels a little wheezy (it isn't, you've got to thrash it and it goes well), steering is odd feeling and the ride is way too hard. Huge running costs (top band tax, scooby level insurance, drinks fuel as you thrap it everywhere). On the plus side it's very well made, comfy and feels like a more plush MX-5. However dispite being slower, the MX-5 was nicer to drive more of the time and in all honesty, after driving the S2k and owning the MX-5, I just couldn't justify swapping.
I bought the Elise at this point. You will not own a better car to drive... when it works. Which mine did occasionally. Sadly most of the times I drove it, something broke, fell off, or made alarming noises. A brilliant, brilliant car when it works. Mine rarely did.
I had planned to drive the boxster also on the same day as the S2k and Elise, but never got there. I ended up chopping in the Elise for a Cayman (boxster coupe) and haven't regretted it for a second. Really characterful engine, comfy like an S2k, but has that vibe of an Elise about it's handling and feel. It's nowhere near as communicative as a Lotus, but it's a better all round package IMO.
FWIW, I've had 2 MX-5's also. You really will struggle to fault one.
Never really got to the Z4, just didn't really appeal.
Read all that with interest. I had an S2000 for 4 years and the performance isn't wheezy at all. In fact it'll eat an mx5 for breakfast without even touching the vtec zone. The car has a 50/50 weight distribution and handles brilliantly. It's a stuff ride because it's an uncompromising sports car whereas the mx5 is an entry level all rounder.Had an mx-5 and fancied a change.
Test drove a S2000. Amazing engine fitted to a flawed car. It's too heavy which means it feels a little wheezy (it isn't, you've got to thrash it and it goes well), steering is odd feeling and the ride is way too hard. Huge running costs (top band tax, scooby level insurance, drinks fuel as you thrap it everywhere). On the plus side it's very well made, comfy and feels like a more plush MX-5. However dispite being slower, the MX-5 was nicer to drive more of the time and in all honesty, after driving the S2k and owning the MX-5, I just couldn't justify swapping.
I bought the Elise at this point. You will not own a better car to drive... when it works. Which mine did occasionally. Sadly most of the times I drove it, something broke, fell off, or made alarming noises. A brilliant, brilliant car when it works. Mine rarely did.
I had planned to drive the boxster also on the same day as the S2k and Elise, but never got there. I ended up chopping in the Elise for a Cayman (boxster coupe) and haven't regretted it for a second. Really characterful engine, comfy like an S2k, but has that vibe of an Elise about it's handling and feel. It's nowhere near as communicative as a Lotus, but it's a better all round package IMO.
FWIW, I've had 2 MX-5's also. You really will struggle to fault one.
Never really got to the Z4, just didn't really appeal.
The chap who bought my S2000 was moving up from an mx5 and he couldn't get over its performance just from the test drive.
If your buying a true performance car costs are involved. Tax for anything pre 06 ISN'T top bracket. The car will regularly return over 30mpg without caining it (and you wouldn't need to be caining it if you want to replicate mx5 acceleration. Servicing is approx £100 unless it's a major service which is between £300-400 and the car regularly came top of the jd power survey due to ownership satisfaction.
As a used buy for £8k or whatever he's looking at I'd be looking at all the cars on his list including an S2000 but EXCLUDING the mx5 unless it's a compromised performance car that he's after.
Simple as that
elementad said:
It's a stuff ride because it's an uncompromising sports car whereas the mx5 is an entry level all rounder.
Sorry but that's just not true, at least in my opinion. To start with it feels stiffer than a Boxster or an Elise, both of which are vastly better handling cars. Personally I rate the (mk2) MX5 as a better handling car out of the box, too. You're right that the engine is in a different league though.Given the choice between a standard MX5 and a standard S2000, I'd struggle to make a decision but probably end up taking the MX5.
I said it feels wheezy (but isn't). I know fully what that engine is capable of doing in a lighter package, in an S2k it's an amazing powerplant stunted by a heavy car. It is a fast car, no doubt. I wasn't comparing it to an MX-5, which it's obviously faster than (I wasn't aware his choice was down to which was fastest). What I was commenting on was that compared to what it goes like when you thrash it, it' feels a bit, well, tame when you don't. I actually have the same problem with the Elise R that has a much more blatant VTEC/VVT zone.
I know this might offend the S2kists, but I'm simply reflecting my experience without bias. I have no affinity particularly to any car that blinkers me to the point that I can't be critical about it. The porker does not ride particularly brilliantly on big wheels for example. But even on bigger wheels, it's less harsh than the S2k. The Elise arses both categorically on both ride and handling. So cars don't need to be jarring to be sports cars.
I know this might offend the S2kists, but I'm simply reflecting my experience without bias. I have no affinity particularly to any car that blinkers me to the point that I can't be critical about it. The porker does not ride particularly brilliantly on big wheels for example. But even on bigger wheels, it's less harsh than the S2k. The Elise arses both categorically on both ride and handling. So cars don't need to be jarring to be sports cars.
Edited by juansolo on Thursday 29th December 20:57
Just a suggestion, and I know it's not a 2 seater, but have you thought about a Mazda RX8 Prodrive?
Here is a 2006 with 28k on the clock for a shade under £6k:
http://goo.gl/A5cT8
RWD, 230BHP, 50:50 weight distribution, beautifully made, comfy, suicide doors, xenon headlights, leather seats, superb interior etc. Lovely looking cars IMHO.
Pettitt racing do a supercharger for it which adds 80-100 bhp! Mind you it's £5k!
Just a thought.
Here is a 2006 with 28k on the clock for a shade under £6k:
http://goo.gl/A5cT8
RWD, 230BHP, 50:50 weight distribution, beautifully made, comfy, suicide doors, xenon headlights, leather seats, superb interior etc. Lovely looking cars IMHO.
Pettitt racing do a supercharger for it which adds 80-100 bhp! Mind you it's £5k!
Just a thought.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff