used 911 or tuned MX5 ?

[IcedKiwi]

Learn to drive a slow car fast ... then learn to drive a fast car slow.

Well said, but I prefer to learn to drive a fast car slow...then learn to drive that same car fast

A fast car doesn't punish you for your mistakes. If you get it wrong you can just put your foot down a bit more and recover speed instantly etc - you probably won't acknowledge the error as much because has no real impact on the drive. In a low powered car you will know about it and you'll spend the next ten seconds thinking about it when it's trying to regain all the momentum you lost.

[superplum]

If it were a Porsche, I'd quite like an older 911 - from about '88 on, so including 964s, and up to 993s. The alternative that would bring a smile to my face whenever I drove it would be an e39 M5, or maybe a 540i. Mind you, I'd still quite like a GTV6 in good enough condition to be driven.

I prefer a fairly standard car for a few reasons. I'm not at all interested in changing a car to make it look different, and I reckon many cheaper modifications make a car worse to drive, both in terms of feel and actual performance (or handling). Finally, I think my preferred insurer isn't all that welcoming of modified cars, and the policy cover they offer is more important to me than modifications would be.

If I were to get an MX5 I would be tempted, though, to ask StressedDave's advice about suspension.

I’ve had an almost standard 1990 LHD 964 C4 for nearly 15 yrs now – bought as a toy. SORN’d for the winter but great fun when it’s on the road. Gareth is right about 964/993s; they’re the last of the air-cooled models and are easy to maintain or tinker with. Insurance robbed me of £216 last year. Roll-on 1st April.

[ChristianAB]

Learn to drive a slow car fast ... then learn to drive a fast car slow.

Well said, but I prefer to learn to drive a fast car slow...then learn to drive that same car fast

A fast car doesn't punish you for your mistakes. If you get it wrong you can just put your foot down a bit more and recover speed instantly etc - you probably won't acknowledge the error as much because has no real impact on the drive. In a low powered car you will know about it and you'll spend the next ten seconds thinking about it when it's trying to regain all the momentum you lost.

Depends on the type of mistakes you have in mind. A fast car is often much easier to crash...well, maybe not the latest breed of electronics over assisted cars, but you get my drift...
Also, in a slow car, you spend 10 seconds thinking about your mistakes because you have plenty of time to think, plan, predict, write it down, phone your mate for advice and then decide, all before you eventually get the chance to act. Granted, you will have no margin for error when the time to act comes, but still...let's just say I'm easily bored.

[Rolyan]

Essentially, you can outrun a Ferrari but park anywhere.

Where I come from, that's a biggie. There are places where I don't even like leaving the MX5; I wouldn't dare leave (or drive) a 911.

As an aside, I know the mk2 are dire with rust, including serious safety implications, but isn't the mk3 onwards sorted?

[Horse]

Lots of people /do/ modify their cars. Haven't you been near a McDonald's or Halfords recently?

What it does do is seriously limit your resale market, and you almost never get back the value of parts spent, never mind labour.

The comparison, I suppose, being similar to houses: spend your money on a cheap conservatory and you'll not get it back. Build a nice extension and you probably will*

* I hope

[jont-]

Lots of people /do/ modify their cars. Haven't you been near a McDonald's or Halfords recently?

What it does do is seriously limit your resale market, and you almost never get back the value of parts spent, never mind labour.

The comparison, I suppose, being similar to houses: spend your money on a cheap conservatory and you'll not get it back. Build a nice extension and you probably will*

* I hope

The conservatory on our place is so shonky I think knocking it down will add value

[Horse]

Edit: just don't get B&Q to design and install the kitchen . . .

[ChristianAB]

Essentially, you can outrun a Ferrari but park anywhere.

Where I come from, that's a biggie. There are places where I don't even like leaving the MX5; I wouldn't dare leave (or drive) a 911.

As an aside, I know the mk2 are dire with rust, including serious safety implications, but isn't the mk3 onwards sorted?

Not fully, it's not as bad as before but it's still an issue. But you can bring the car to a specialist shop that will protect it in just the right places, which is a no-brainer for me.

[Rolyan]

Essentially, you can outrun a Ferrari but park anywhere.

Where I come from, that's a biggie. There are places where I don't even like leaving the MX5; I wouldn't dare leave (or drive) a 911.

As an aside, I know the mk2 are dire with rust, including serious safety implications, but isn't the mk3 onwards sorted?

Not fully, it's not as bad as before but it's still an issue. But you can bring the car to a specialist shop that will protect it in just the right places, which is a no-brainer for me.

Me also. Took mine to a specialist near Colne, he hand scraped underneath, fully wax oiled underneath and inside all the sills, and checked for the well known and documented mk2 rust disaster.

[ChristianAB]

Ok, made up my mind and went for the mx5! I'm struggling with the non-OEM on-off clutch, but that aside, it's a hoot to drive!