47 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHIf you had money problems and had to get a cheaper 2nd car....
Leading reported evidence
Use miata, fun
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Used miata, fun to drive, easy to maintain and cheap parts, just don't wear metrosexual clothing (like DTMiller) while driving it.
If you had money problems and had to get a cheaper 2nd car....
Read full discussion summary
Leading evidence: 'Use miata, fun' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check battery in your sarcasm detector please' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
If you had money problems and had to get a cheaper 2nd car....
Clean '91
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
I've had my super clean '91 for 15 years, and don't drive it much.
If you had money problems and had to get a cheaper 2nd car....
Recommend skyline
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
Since you live in the UK, I'd recommend a Skyline.
If you had money problems and had to get a cheaper 2nd car....
Repair than a porsche
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
If you had money problems and had to get a cheaper 2nd car....
Coverage and how to read this overview
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
47 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T120458Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Money has been tight for me this summer. To the point I might have to get rid of my 2nd car - the 996.
The thought almost brings a tear to my eye.
I will try to keep it. But if I do have to sell, maybe keep back a 1/3 of the money and buy a cheaper 2nd fun car
So this thread is What would you buy if you had to have a cheaper 2nd car (or 1st car....)?
for example;
Keep it porsche 986?
Audi TT?
Well 996s are pretty cheap right now. So I think it might be a challenge to find a fun care that is even less money.
Maybe an older Mazda Miata or VW GTI?
Since you live in the UK, I'd recommend a Skyline. Good amount of space and good car. Saw an old episode of Weelers Dealers the other day and they got it for pretty cheap.
I'm pretty sure a $4000 Miata will be at least 2.5 times more reliable than a $10,000 boxster. But I agree a boxster could be an option and certainly a different driving experience.
I love e30s, but bullet proof they are not. At least not in the state that most are available in for a price you'd be willing to pay. To get such an example into the realm of bullet resistant is worse than considering replacing the motor in a 996.
Damn fun little cars though even when they are blowing their heater hose, the water pump eats itself, the fan clutch dies without you noticing, etc...
How much money trouble are you really in if you would still have a second "fun" car? You could buy a pretty sweet bicycle for $10k. Pinarello road bike, maybe?
Nothing to be embarrassed by in driving a Boxster. Lets do some canyon carving and see if you can keep up in the twisties with the Boxster from my stables
Check the battery in your sarcasm detector please
I'm no fan of the Boxster as I can't stand rag tops, but I fully appreciate how much better the 98x platform is than the 99x. If Porsche hadn't limited it and put the full 911 motor in it those things would be insane.
The 911 feels like it beats corners into submission compared to the grace of that mid-engine layout. Just sublime.
While the 986 wouldn't relieve OP of the potential financial burden if something goes significantly wrong, I miss my damn Boxster every day.
The stress relief of dropping the top for the ride home after a long day at work cannot be equalled by opening the sunroof and windows on my 996. I love my 996 and plan to hang onto it, but the Boxster was a fantastic car.
The sound of the 986 Boxster always bugged me. Just sounds weak and buzzing. That was the car my wife actually wanted (even though the 911 was her dream car) and I outright refused. She finally heard one go by then called me to tell me she'd take the 911 instead
Windows up + stereo off + 5-7k RPM = best stress relief in the world
There is always the Cayman
Easy to improve on the exhaust sound if you like. Yes, Porsche neutered the 986 as far as HP. Chicken****s they are. If it had the extra 60 HP of the 3.6 vs 3.2, well we all know the result....
A 986 in every stable
I have both a 996 and 986. All things being equal, the 986 is more fun to drive and being in So Cal, ragtops rule!!
Second vote for an old Miata. They are close to bulletproof, and lots of fun. I've had my super clean '91 for 15 years, and don't drive it much. But hop in with the top down and I instantly remember why I keep hanging onto it. I would be hard pressed to get more than $5,000 for it, so why sell?
Money problems wear on you. Sell the 996 and sleep well. You'll have another when the time is right.
I have to second what Southern Man wrote - do what you have to for survival, there can always be another p-car. This coming from somebody who has been p-carless for about a month and jonesing, LOL. But I still have my E350 Cab for open-air. My play car always has to be a cab, but I am considering a 2007 C4 Targa at a local dealership as well as an '04 C4S cab about 400 miles wsw of me.
+996
Or get a better job. If you're not able to get a better job, create one for yourself. If you lack any real skills, just pimp yourself out at all the Miata gatherings.
With the proceeds of the sale of the 996 would you be able to buy a new car?
If so, then in the UK there are a number of small nice fairly economical cars to choose from. Polo. Maybe a Fiat. MINI. Peugeot. Renault perhaps. Might even be a M-B in there. There could be others I'm just not current on small car offerings in the UK.
If you have to buy a used car you might be better off just hanging on to the 996 and driving it less. Use public transportation if you can.
There is the other side: Get a better job or improve your education and to help get a better job.
Instead of dumping money into another car invest in yourself.
When I was 18 I bought a 1980 Fiat Spider 2000 for $2700. It's a lot like a Miata but classic and I think they look better. It's also a tank, I still have the car and after 10 years it has kept on truckin'.
Yeah, if you're in the UK then a Alfa or a FIAT should be doable? I've owned an older Alfa Romeo Spider, FIAT Spider and my dad just imported a 1996 Twin Spark Alfa Spider. All fantastic cars to drive, cheap to get into, decently reliable and affordable to fix.
