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

[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

[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.

[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...