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I currently have a 5,000 square ft apartment building for sale . I have someone interested in buying it . When it is sold I plan on buying another car .I have it narrowed down to 3 choices . A 1979 – 1993 corvette convertible . A 1983 – 1992 Ford Mustang conv. or a late 90s early 2,000 Porache Boxter I would love any imput . Living in a rural area I might have trouble finding someone to work on the boxter
If you go Boxster make sure it had the IMS bearing replaced already.
If it were me I’d look (again) at the Honda S2000. Cool car, not common, loads of fun. Try to find one that some boy racer has never messed with. They’re out there.Fox-body Mustangs I never loved, though some people do love them and they make a pretty stout hotrod. If I had one, though, I’d probably use it as a donor for a Cobra kit.The late C3 Corvettes (’75-’82) never thrilled me either.The C4 Corvette, though (1984-1996), seems like a good time, and I think it’s under-valued. Especially the Merc-engined ones. (Those ZR-1s go for under $20k these days; I think they’ll appreciate–but even if they don’t, I doubt they’ll go down much more).For fun (rather than financial speculation) I’d buy a clapped-out mid-’80s Vette (with that stooopid 4+3 transmission) for $2800 and drop an LS3 & proper Tremec 6-speed in it: 2900 lbs and 400HP out of the crate, all for about $10-$15,000 (plus some totally enjoyable and non-frustrating wrench time). But, like I say, that’s just me.Make it fun for you!As a former Boxster owner, I could not recommend that car. I bought into the hype and regretted it very much. I think Porsche designs its cars for auto magazine testers who don’t have to actually live with them. They have fantastic performance that does you absolutely no good except at the track, but they have lots of annoying issues, and they’re really expensive for parts and labor.
1) The IMS to which Ed refers can grenade the engine … this seems to happen in about 10% of Boxsters in that age group. A new engine can be five figures. Porsche redesigned the IMS no less than 4 times and never fixed it. Finally in the last couple of generations, they simply eliminated the IMS altogether. And this “fine” company does absolutely nothing for its hapless owners. They might give you “goodwill” and pay a fraction of the cost, if the service manager likes you, you’ve bought 8 previous 911’s, and it’s a Tuesday, but the goodwill program is totally random like that. There are various cottage industry fixes for this problem, to which Ed alludes. I would suggest looking at the web site for Flat-6 Innovations, they have worked on this problem the most. I guess if that work has been done, the engine should be okay, but the IMS fix could cost a couple of thousand dollars …2) The 2.5L engine is extremely low on torque. Once you get it going, oh, it moves just fine, but from a stop sign you must rev it way up and be careful with the clutch or you get stalled out. Then, thanks to Porsche “brilliance,” you must train your LEFT hand to turn the ignition ALL THE WAY OFF, then all the way back on or it won’t start again … while you are in the middle of an intersection. Not part of the way. ALL the way. Turn back part way and nothing happens but people honk at you. Believe me, this is not intuitive at all. Placing the ignition on the left may be “cute” and related to racing, but in a passenger car on the street it’s really stupid. Maybe it’s better if you’re left handed, or if ALL your cars are Porsches? Dunno, but it was really, really irritating.3) If you are tall, you may think your headroom is all right, but don’t stop there — tilt your head back to see where your head would end up if rear-ended. I am 6-4 and on my Boxster, I realized after purchase that my head was going to smack against the unpadded steel rollbar in a rearend collision. Not a pretty sight. This is brought to you by Porsche engineering that simply made the seatback too short — the top of the seatback is several inches below your head. They corrected this in later models.4) When you back up and make a sharp turn during cold weather (like backing out of a parking space at a mall in mid-winter, ask me how I know), the Boxster will make a sound that will make you feel like there is a sniper about 3′ away from you. Seriously, it’s extremely loud and sounds exactly like a gunshot. It’s harmless, really, just try convincing your wife of that after you both pee in your pants. It is caused by the wheels turning so far that they don’t turn, they drag across the pavement. The rubber sticks until it finally lets go with a BANG!!!5) As for service, I had my Boxster in Kansas City, which is hardly rural. The dealer didn’t know his @$$ from a hole in the ground (they overfilled my oil on the first oil change and it spilled out all over the floor of my garage). I found an indie to change the oil thereafter and all was well until I asked them to change out brake pads. It took four (4) trips for them to get it right. Good luck with service in a rural area.johnsimion2016-01-08 00:21:00
This is akin to asking someone where the best pizza is. Or is thin crust better than deep dish? (The answer to the latter is yes, by the way!
)That said…
I’m with Ed on the Honda S2000. Honda reliability in a true sports car.
I would consider going further up the Honda food chain. Step up to a used Acura NSX. One of the Speedster guys just sold his Speedster and bought a low mileage NSX. As I recall, the price was shockingly reasonable. I can introduce you up if you’d like to speak with him. In addition to his own experience, he had assistance with his search and purchase from one of the foremost NSX experts in the USA.
Ditto all the comments above on the Boxster. Although I do know people who are happy with them as daily drivers. But one of those friends warned me about being over 6′ also. if you are, you will need a late model Boxster, I think 2012 or later.
I’d also consider a Porsche 914. Even the snobby Porsche crowd is starting to give the humble 914 the respect it deserves. My bro-in-law has had two (actually still does, but one is now just a roller, and the other is a carrier, completely disassembled).
Now, back to the pizza… Bunny’s in South Orange NJ. My hang out in college in the late 1970s. Still there, and hasn’t changed. On me the next time you are in NJ!
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
Ha!
Just noticed a typo in your initial post Greg. But it might not be wrong!
Porache instead of Porsche.
Pronounced “Poor Ache”
Definition: The feeling Porsche owners have when they visit their service department!
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
Great crowd here. Greg asks us to vote on one of three cars.
We ignore him and attempt to make his decision more difficult.
Well played
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
Ok here’s my vote. Even though I have a Cobra replica, I’m still pretty much a Chevy guy when it comes to vintage cars so I vote for the Corvette — no matter what year you choose. Also, for what it’s worth I have found that older Chevy parts are much more easily obtained and way cheaper that Ford parts. Plus I think the Corvette will hold it’s value better. So there you have it!!
Sam
I only like one vette…the 63 Split rear window. Since its not on the list
then my vote is for the Boxster.Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackI also agree with the S2000, as well as a Miata, but (a), neither was on Greg’s list, and (b), neither would be feasible if Greg is much over 6′ (and my TDR would not work for me, either, if I couldn’t have lowered the seats and cranked the back waaaay back). Given Greg’s list, any Corvette sounds like both a good choice and a safe one, too. I’ve driven Vettes and like the way they drive, but I’ve never owned one … personally I don’t like the styling … too wide … but I know I’m in the minority on this.
It really is a question that only you can answer. But, were it me, I’d steer clear of the Mustang. I drive my cars and hate (as in HATE) rust which is inevitable on the Ford as well as the Porsche [:-)]! And if you don’t think Porsche parts and repair are costly, make a few phone calls and ask how much to tune up a Boxster. Read and re-read johnsimion’s comments above until you rule out the Porsche. (I once owned a 911)
So, that leaves only the Corvette. I too would look carefully at a Honda S2000. The Honda is a fine car with more modern and effective rust preventive measures during manufacture than the Mustang.
Of the choices you allow, I’d buy the Vette (and I don’t really like Corvettes). Royal2016-01-08 17:10:46Go for the 25th Anniversay Corvette in the Silver Body, black trim version – the 79 to 81’s are duds! The 82 “Collector’s Edition” gives you the first instance of a rear (hatchback) lift window if that turns you on too.
Tom Vilardi
BCW Model 52
South Orange NJSince I have a 1981 Corvette for sale, that is what I recommend. But the 1979-82 Corvette is not a true convertible. The best buy is probably a C4 corvette 1992 or newer with the “new” LT1 engine. Although I am not fond of the design.
1986 British Coach Works Type 52 (Sammy)
Chevy 2.8 V6, 5 speed
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