Keep my NA MX5 or trade in for near mint Porsche 944

[DouglasWicker]

As the title says, what would you do?
I have owned my MX5 since September, it's a lovely one from Japan. A lovely blue with around 90k miles and an LSD. Almost completely rust free and very smart. I haven't owned it throughout a summer yet therefore haven't had the top down too much!

I also have the opportunity to buy an exceptional 944 lux for an amount similar to what I paid for the MX5. This has very low mileage with sub 40k on the clock.
What are they like to run? What's there reliability like compared to an MX5? If it was my only car, I'd be commuting on busy B roads for ~30 miles a day. Has anyone owned a 944 before, or even both?

I am also tempted to buy it with the deposit I have saved for my first house so I can have both

[davek_964]

944 is a lot older / more classic than an MX5.

It will very likely break far more often, and cost much more to fix when it does. I'd stick with the MX5 personally.

[steve-5snwi]

The 944’s value will be in its mileage and condition, if you use it everyday you will be destroying its value, it won’t be cheap to run either. If you can afford the 944 and use it purely as a weekend car then go for it but for an everyday car stick with the Mazda.

[DouglasWicker]

davek_964 said:

944 is a lot older / more classic than an MX5.

It will very likely break far more often, and cost much more to fix when it does. I'd stick with the MX5 personally.

Yeah there's 7 years between them. I can't imagine it'd be much less reliable considering it's condition and the recent work it's had done. Expensive however, no doubt.

[DouglasWicker]

steve-5snwi said:

The 944’s value will be in its mileage and condition, if you use it everyday you will be destroying its value, it won’t be cheap to run either. If you can afford the 944 and use it purely as a weekend car then go for it but for an everyday car stick with the Mazda.

Hmm a driveable investment I hear you say? haha yeah no I know, it's the same old really. Will I be able to convince certain "close" relatives that another car is a good idea

[Jamescrs]

As an MX-5 owner myself (NB) I was thinking what would I do and I was torn on it upto the point when you said it will be a daily driver in which case to me there is no debate on it I'd be keeping the MX-5. I'm using mine daily too at the moment albeit only a temporary thing until I buy another car and its been faultless, starts every time and I don't worry about it, that seems to be the consensus on all the owners groups too.

For me the Porsche would be far less reliable for daily use and dare I say it by the time it's been used as a daily car the value of it is going to drop dramatically too, though you may not be bothered about that. For me the Porsche would be a sunny day weekend car only.

[CedricN]

I dont see why the 944 should be unrelibable, many people I know daily drive them wihtout problems. As long as its a well maintained and reguarily driven one. I wouldnt buy a mint condition and low milage one to put through daily use though, a bit of a waste, but thats just my opinion.

[Pincherrn]

I own a Mk1 Mx5 and a Porsche 996. I was looking at a 944 before getting my 996. As much as I love the Mx5 if I had the chance to get a good Porsche 944 for the same price I would jump at it. Most people you speak to who have had 944s absolutely love them. Very underrated and the prices are starting to go silly. If your Mx5 is worth as much as a good 944 then maybe you should keep it but the value will not increase. A 944 is not as expensive to run as you would imagine. A low mileage Porsche is not always a good thing, they like to be driven. 944s are pretty robust and can do massive mileages. What sort of prices are we talking here as 944 prices are all over the place. Both have the same inherent problem - Rust. Only you can decide really but for me the 944 is an appreciating classic and the Mx5 is becoming one.

[DouglasWicker]

Thanks for all the help. It seems like both have great arguments for reliability, I have heard lots of good things about the 8v 4 cylinder in the 944. Much more reliable than the motors in the 944s and turbo variants.

I'm no expert on Porsche. Say I manage to fund it as a 3-day a week car alongside the MX5. Whats the likelihood of getting a return on a 944 after a year or two? The lux's seem to vary in cost, i've seen them on the market for anything between £2k right up to £15k for seemingly similar condition/spec.

[stevemcs]

I assume you will be paying strong money for the 944, if you use it daily its USP of low mileage will go out of the window. As someones already mentioned if you want to go for a 944 buy one that has a few miles under its belt and isn't that pristine that you won't be fearful of damaging it.

[MrBrightSi]

With the way mx5's are rusting and the fact so many are now in the cheaper end of the market with no reason for good upkeep mk1's are going to become rare in good nick. If your NA is good condition and you're willing to fight rust when it shows hang onto it, look at all the other cars from the late 80's early 90's that were 10 a penny 5 years ago and selling for pittance and now are worth thousands.

I always looked at the mx5 as the mk1/2 escort, they are/were plentiful but rust and commonality claimed them to near extinction

[counterofbeans]

DouglasWicker said:

As the title says, what would you do?
I have owned my MX5 since September, it's a lovely one from Japan. A lovely blue with around 90k miles and an LSD. Almost completely rust free and very smart. I haven't owned it throughout a summer yet therefore haven't had the top down too much!

I also have the opportunity to buy an exceptional 944 lux for an amount similar to what I paid for the MX5. This has very low mileage with sub 40k on the clock.
What are they like to run? What's there reliability like compared to an MX5? If it was my only car, I'd be commuting on busy B roads for ~30 miles a day. Has anyone owned a 944 before, or even both?

I am also tempted to buy it with the deposit I have saved for my first house so I can have both

Can I have the 944 if you decide not to?

[IAmTupperware]

For every argument there is a counter argument!

stevemcs said:

I assume you will be paying strong money for the 944, if you use it daily its USP of low mileage will go out of the window. As someones already mentioned if you want to go for a 944 buy one that has a few miles under its belt and isn't that pristine that you won't be fearful of damaging it.

I don't know enough about the value of 944s but it seems to be very competitive compared to all the 944s on Pistonheads (less than half the price of most lux's!)

MrBrightSi said:

With the way mx5's are rusting and the fact so many are now in the cheaper end of the market with no reason for good upkeep mk1's are going to become rare in good nick. If your NA is good condition and you're willing to fight rust when it shows hang onto it, look at all the other cars from the late 80's early 90's that were 10 a penny 5 years ago and selling for pittance and now are worth thousands.

I always looked at the mx5 as the mk1/2 escort, they are/were plentiful but rust and commonality claimed them to near extinction

This has been in the back of my mind as well! It is really nice and completely stock (bar soft top). This is really making me want to fight for both

counterofbeans said:

Can I have the 944 if you decide not to?

Hence why i'm not sharing a link...