Cayman 987 S 3.4 or Mazda NC 2.0 Sport Tech or..

[Barry]

Not ignoring this thread, just busy during the day.

370z yes, another that doesn't grab me and the little things like VED costs are discouraging.

E46 etc Of the ones I've driven they feel soft and "slow".

2.9 Cayman looks like the sweet spot for the Porsche, agree there, was just interested to see if 3.4 was the grenade it seems.

MX5 NC variant does appeal, especially the folding hard top Sport Techs. Cheap to run, the relative lack of pace means I'm less likely to expect speed.. which means I'll just enjoy carrying speed rather than being upset at everything humping me at the lights.

[mik]

MX5 NC variant does appeal, especially the folding hard top Sport Techs. Cheap to run, the relative lack of pace means I'm less likely to expect speed.. which means I'll just enjoy carrying speed rather than being upset at everything humping me at the lights.

I can't find the link any more, but @scotta sent me an ad earlier this year for a very clean NC with the BBR200 kit already fitted and they were only asking £6.6k. Looked really good too....

[PaulJ]

I've had two MX5's in the past, and I'm currently on my fourth Cayman, so it's a victory for Porsche. (If you need to convince 'er indoors, you can make out a reasonable case for the Cayman being a sensible 3-door hatchback).

[Barry]

MX5 NC variant does appeal, especially the folding hard top Sport Techs. Cheap to run, the relative lack of pace means I'm less likely to expect speed.. which means I'll just enjoy carrying speed rather than being upset at everything humping me at the lights.

I can't find the link any more, but @scotta sent me an ad earlier this year for a very clean NC with the BBR200 kit already fitted and they were only asking £6.6k. Looked really good too....

Again, that sounds extra appealing, keep your eyes peeled plse

Paul - no missus to speak of, and the adjacent lady friends have their own cars

[dan]

Dan seems pleased with his 124, which is the other alternative.

Yep enjoying it immensely, its great fun to drive, practical and comfortable and cheap to run and should be cheap / easy to maintain.

I stuck it on the rollers and it made 170hp and 190lb ft which is on the money, it easily overwhelms the rear tyres and has a diff, what more do you need

[mik]

Again, that sounds extra appealing, keep your eyes peeled plse

2014 car, very low mileage, BBR Super180 package (which is fannymoulds and remap - doesn't have the uprated cams that come with the Super200 package) and lowered a little.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 3220444268

Ad has only been up since 22-Mar-25 but they already dropped the price by £300 after 1 week, so they might be keen to do a deal

edit: balls - only just noticed it is CatS (although the owner has pics of the damage and repair)

[Broccers]

There is a lot of talk about 3.4 and bore scoring from people who have never owned one or their mates sister's uncle had a problem.

Done 30k in mine and it uses no oil. Guess with anything if you labour a cold engine and give it a hard time then you'll have issues.

The tax is expensive but isn't everything these days?

If you have any other questions let me know and I'll see if I can answer.

[Barry]

There is a lot of talk about 3.4 and bore scoring from people who have never owned one or their mates sister's uncle had a problem.

Done 30k in mine and it uses no oil. Guess with anything if you labour a cold engine and give it a hard time then you'll have issues.

The tax is expensive but isn't everything these days?

If you have any other questions let me know and I'll see if I can answer.

Cheers Si. I have no real specifics to ask tbh, I just wanted to understand if it was internet paranoia or an actual concern. I don't want to be worrying about a £10k rebuild on a £15k+ car essentially.

How you finding the car otherwise, you've had it a while now too, so it must be pretty decent?

[Barry]

Again, that sounds extra appealing, keep your eyes peeled plse

2014 car, very low mileage, BBR Super180 package (which is fannymoulds and remap - doesn't have the uprated cams that come with the Super200 package) and lowered a little.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 3220444268

Ad has only been up since 22-Mar-25 but they already dropped the price by £300 after 1 week, so they might be keen to do a deal

edit: balls - only just noticed it is CatS (although the owner has pics of the damage and repair)

That's not bad at all yeah, younger than most of the local standard cars I've seen, and if he's honest about the damage, that's what my Civic had tbh, and that drove perfectly straight/well for ten+ yrs in my hands.

[Broccers]

There is a lot of talk about 3.4 and bore scoring from people who have never owned one or their mates sister's uncle had a problem.

Done 30k in mine and it uses no oil. Guess with anything if you labour a cold engine and give it a hard time then you'll have issues.

The tax is expensive but isn't everything these days?

If you have any other questions let me know and I'll see if I can answer.

Cheers Si. I have no real specifics to ask tbh, I just wanted to understand if it was internet paranoia or an actual concern. I don't want to be worrying about a £10k rebuild on a £15k+ car essentially.

How you finding the car otherwise, you've had it a while now too, so it must be pretty decent?

I love it. The head unit obviously is old but Bluetooth into it with the Bose works really well. It's quick enough for older gentlemen. If you've 15k maybe see If a 981.2 is in reach and you won't have the worry on the engine.

Budget 1k a year to fix things so when you eventually get a bill after a while you'll have a fund.

Brakes all round and 2 fronts were 1k last year for example.

Major service 350 plus vat if you've a Piper cross air filter that doesn't need replacing.

As fuel is cheap nows a great time but it does av 22.

Try a boxster too, roof down is a mega bonus.

[Delphi]

*cough* Someone in the market for a Boxster, @Barry ?

[Barry]

*cough* Someone in the market for a Boxster, @Barry ?

I was avoiding Boxster as soft top is just another thing to worry about/security risk (car sits on the drive all year). But that's not to say I couldn't be tempted

[Broccers]

*cough* Someone in the market for a Boxster, @Barry ?

I was avoiding Boxster as soft top is just another thing to worry about/security risk (car sits on the drive all year). But that's not to say I couldn't be tempted

Clean, treat, worry not.

[MikeHunt]

Avoid the early nc, 3.5 or 3.75 are the best bet. Don’t discount the 1.5 nd mx5, early cars can be picked up in the 4 figures now and it’s one hell of an engine.

Compared to a cayman, you can get out of 2nd gear without being into license loosing speeds.

[mik]

Avoid the early nc, 3.5 or 3.75 are the best bet. Don’t discount the 1.5 nd mx5, early cars can be picked up in the 4 figures now and it’s one hell of an engine.

Is there a website that explains all these? I wouldn’t know an NC 3.17 from an NC 3.84b

[MikeHunt]

Avoid the early nc, 3.5 or 3.75 are the best bet. Don’t discount the 1.5 nd mx5, early cars can be picked up in the 4 figures now and it’s one hell of an engine.

Is there a website that explains all these? I wouldn’t know an NC 3.17 from an NC 3.84b

https://www.mx5parts.co.uk/mx5-eunos-mi ... model-info

[mik]

https://www.mx5parts.co.uk/mx5-eunos-mi ... model-info

Thanks for that - I do think the MX5 presents a very strong argument for a dedicated low-ish cost (to buy and run) track-car, where the fastest cars aren’t necessarily the ones having the most fun. A BBR200 equipped later-NC would be great I reckon….

[Beany]

Leftfield (aka stupid) suggestion - RX-8?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 1248352015

[Matty]

£735 tax and terrible MPG means you'll be paying a fair bit just to move around....not sure on engine reliability or if it's just internet heresay. I'm sure Mik owned one, so will be able to give pointers.

[Mito Man]

Top band VED for mild hatchback performance is bonkers.