Which to buy: Frog Eye; TR3a; 981 Boxster?
Discussion
Apologies for the Porsche...
I have a BMW X1 for dogs and general lugging duties. Like it a lot. Have had an X1 for 10 years, albeit this is the 2nd one.
Also a 981 Cayman 2.7 PDK. Love it, had it 10 years.
So, keeping those two for sure.
I drove modern convertibles for 15yrs until the Cayman. Now I hanker for a fun convertible for sunny days (3 per year).
I'm favouring a 1959 Frog Eye Sprite, have watched the reviews, it's my birth year, and I want to be able to fiddle with it as I used to do with simple 70s/80s cars back in the day. I used to take engine/gearboxes out, take them to bits, etc.
We had a 1975 Midget rubber bumper in the late 80's, only car I've ever made money on!
I think £15-20k would get a nice Frog Eye. Don't need concours, just something rust free or, if possible, original.
Or... there's the TR3a. Perhaps a tad more power than the Sprite. Just like the look of them
£20-25k into one should see me right.
Or..... a Boxster 981, but why? I already have the Cayman for driving performance fun and a soft top is always compromised with the roof down. I'd stick to the 2.7 - do like lower powered performance cars for the ability to use most of their power, unlike a GT4 or 718 GTS 4.0 say. Again £20-25k should find an early one with some spec.
I had a 2012 TTS briefly and recall an A1 1.3 courtesy car when in for service. What fun revving the hell out of it.
That's why a 43bhp Frog Eye doesn't scare me. It's just for cruising around enjoying real classic motoring.
Any views, pros, cons, etc welcome.
Or... other suggestions for models I haven't considered. Thanks.
I have a BMW X1 for dogs and general lugging duties. Like it a lot. Have had an X1 for 10 years, albeit this is the 2nd one.
Also a 981 Cayman 2.7 PDK. Love it, had it 10 years.
So, keeping those two for sure.
I drove modern convertibles for 15yrs until the Cayman. Now I hanker for a fun convertible for sunny days (3 per year).
I'm favouring a 1959 Frog Eye Sprite, have watched the reviews, it's my birth year, and I want to be able to fiddle with it as I used to do with simple 70s/80s cars back in the day. I used to take engine/gearboxes out, take them to bits, etc.
We had a 1975 Midget rubber bumper in the late 80's, only car I've ever made money on!
I think £15-20k would get a nice Frog Eye. Don't need concours, just something rust free or, if possible, original.
Or... there's the TR3a. Perhaps a tad more power than the Sprite. Just like the look of them
£20-25k into one should see me right.
Or..... a Boxster 981, but why? I already have the Cayman for driving performance fun and a soft top is always compromised with the roof down. I'd stick to the 2.7 - do like lower powered performance cars for the ability to use most of their power, unlike a GT4 or 718 GTS 4.0 say. Again £20-25k should find an early one with some spec.
I had a 2012 TTS briefly and recall an A1 1.3 courtesy car when in for service. What fun revving the hell out of it.
That's why a 43bhp Frog Eye doesn't scare me. It's just for cruising around enjoying real classic motoring.
Any views, pros, cons, etc welcome.
Or... other suggestions for models I haven't considered. Thanks.
TR3a every time. Looks the business, quick enough to keep up with modern traffic, surprisingly comfortable especially for the "more mature" driver and very easy to work on if you like messing around with it. Loads of choice of some very nice cars at your budget, and values seem to have bottomed out. Excellent parts availability.
Frogeye much the same, except very slow by modern standards and tight inside.
Boxster 9081 - Naaa. Just another modern Porsche. Great at what it does but not what you want for cruising around on sunny days.
Frogeye much the same, except very slow by modern standards and tight inside.
Boxster 9081 - Naaa. Just another modern Porsche. Great at what it does but not what you want for cruising around on sunny days.
bennno said:
Mx5 mk1
I did think about this, but it's not different enough for it to be one you turn back to look at after parking up.I find I do that with my Cayman, a future classic, but funnily enough not the X1!
I watched this yesterday. The TR3 does look good in black...
https://youtu.be/cez2iIgw7JU
I ve got a modified MGB roadster and a 981 Spyder. Unlike what people are suggesting above, I m bored of what the MGB offers and am trying to sell it as I always default to the 981 on sunny days. Edited to say - it also isn’t any good to drive. Rubbish, actually. Can’t imagine a frogeye or TR3 will be better.
Edited by Billy_Whizzzz on Thursday 29th January 17:18
DJMC said:
I did think about this, but it's not different enough for it to be one you turn back to look at after parking up.
I find I do that with my Cayman, a future classic, but funnily enough not the X1!
I watched this yesterday. The TR3 does look good in black...
https://youtu.be/cez2iIgw7JU
If you do decide to go for a TR3 make sure you get one that's been through Neil's workshop, with his suspension upgrades etc, because it'll be far, far better car than otherwise. I speak from experience.I find I do that with my Cayman, a future classic, but funnily enough not the X1!
I watched this yesterday. The TR3 does look good in black...
https://youtu.be/cez2iIgw7JU
TR3a would be my choice.
With the Boxster, they are great and really useable cars, really refined with the roof down, no really noticeable scuttle shake, so as great to drive as the Cayman (I've had both).
The Boxster really benefits from the sports exhaust, I had the manual but would choose the PDK, it is 10BHP less powerful than the Cayman and with the 6 speed manual it just felt too underpowered, the Cayman always felt just right with the PDK.
Also the standard audio system is a travesty, so get one with Bose.
All the other options are just personal taste.
With the Boxster, they are great and really useable cars, really refined with the roof down, no really noticeable scuttle shake, so as great to drive as the Cayman (I've had both).
The Boxster really benefits from the sports exhaust, I had the manual but would choose the PDK, it is 10BHP less powerful than the Cayman and with the 6 speed manual it just felt too underpowered, the Cayman always felt just right with the PDK.
Also the standard audio system is a travesty, so get one with Bose.
All the other options are just personal taste.
venster70 said:
TR3a would be my choice.
With the Boxster, they are great and really useable cars, really refined with the roof down, no really noticeable scuttle shake, so as great to drive as the Cayman (I've had both).
The Boxster really benefits from the sports exhaust, I had the manual but would choose the PDK, it is 10BHP less powerful than the Cayman and with the 6 speed manual it just felt too underpowered, the Cayman always felt just right with the PDK.
Also the standard audio system is a travesty, so get one with Bose.
All the other options are just personal taste.
I've driven a few 981 Boxsters, hated the sports exhaust droning at 70mph.With the Boxster, they are great and really useable cars, really refined with the roof down, no really noticeable scuttle shake, so as great to drive as the Cayman (I've had both).
The Boxster really benefits from the sports exhaust, I had the manual but would choose the PDK, it is 10BHP less powerful than the Cayman and with the 6 speed manual it just felt too underpowered, the Cayman always felt just right with the PDK.
Also the standard audio system is a travesty, so get one with Bose.
All the other options are just personal taste.
I had thought of swapping the Cayman for a Boxster but I made a conscious decision to buy the fixed roof 10yrs ago so why change now? The Cayman looks better and after 15yrs of daily driver convertible I was fed up with a red head or looking a prat in 80 degree heat with the roof up for a/c.
Plus, my Cayman is sorted. Dead battery the only issue at 6yrs. Never used a drop of oil over 70k miles. I'd regret selling it.
Why not have a Cayman and a Boxster? That's an interesting dilemma. Would it just depend on the weather which one to take out?
Seems a little boring and stupid.
A fun classic would probably get used on local B roads, the Cayman on longer recreational "get there quick" runs, and the X1 for everything else.
DJMC said:
bennno said:
Mx5 mk1
I did think about this, but it's not different enough for it to be one you turn back to look at after parking up.I find I do that with my Cayman, a future classic, but funnily enough not the X1!
I watched this yesterday. The TR3 does look good in black...
https://youtu.be/cez2iIgw7JU
We had a visit to the Lakeland Motor Museum this week...they've got a gorgeous red TR5 in there - definitely got me thinking. I like the look of the TR6's too. But, both are just a bit too old for me. I'd go the Boxster route tbh. I've had a few and still regret getting rid of my 2010 base engine, PDK, Bose/Sports Chrono spec in lovely condition. I've had Caymans too, and not sure the convertible does actually compromise the car at all.
The 981 Boxster is the first iteration I've liked and catches the eye much more than an MX5.
It's not really compromised, bar poor rear luggage space, but I'd hate to get a bad one, as we did with our Macan S, if I had disposed of the Cayman as excessive. A good one could be the solution but it's a lottery what you find out there.
It's not really compromised, bar poor rear luggage space, but I'd hate to get a bad one, as we did with our Macan S, if I had disposed of the Cayman as excessive. A good one could be the solution but it's a lottery what you find out there.
Baffled why anyone would have a cayman over the Boxster. Boxsters look so much better (Caymans of each generation have never looked right) and of course have the versatility of roof down driving without any compromises when the roof is up.
Also - you’ll get tired of a frogeye or TR in terms of what they are like to drive.
Also - you’ll get tired of a frogeye or TR in terms of what they are like to drive.
DJMC said:
The 981 Boxster is the first iteration I've liked and catches the eye much more than an MX5.
It's not really compromised, bar poor rear luggage space, but I'd hate to get a bad one, as we did with our Macan S, if I had disposed of the Cayman as excessive. A good one could be the solution but it's a lottery what you find out there.
My old car, passed Porsche inspection with flying colours after I had condensers and exhaust bolts replaced.It's not really compromised, bar poor rear luggage space, but I'd hate to get a bad one, as we did with our Macan S, if I had disposed of the Cayman as excessive. A good one could be the solution but it's a lottery what you find out there.
No compromised luggage, it’s got front and rear ‘boots’
https://www.northway.co.uk/used/porsche/boxster/27...
bennno said:
My old car, passed Porsche inspection with flying colours after I had condensers and exhaust bolts replaced.
No compromised luggage, it s got front and rear boots
https://www.northway.co.uk/used/porsche/boxster/27...
The Cayman's rear deck is useful for laying out wedding attire, coats, etc. or extra bags on a road trip.No compromised luggage, it s got front and rear boots
https://www.northway.co.uk/used/porsche/boxster/27...
Anyhow... I'd choose a 2.7 manual over anything bigger. Did you try a 3.4 like I did before choosing the smaller engine?
It's more noise at lower speed vs. losing your license.
Looks great, same colour as my Cayman.
I chose PDK for daily driving monotony in motorway queues but now I'm retired that's not so vital. I do remember a courtesy 981 manual and how stiff the clutch was to depress!
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