Quote:
Originally Posted by masraum
It sounds like you don't know much about miatas. Ive had a 911 and three miatas (no 914). I feel pretty qualified to talk about miatas. They are very solidly put together/built. You say the 914 will hold its value, and assuming rust doesn't eat the thing, that's probably true. Miatas do hold their value, pretty well too. The ther thing that you mention is having to eat the operating costs, which for an old 914 and the price of parts for porsches culd be healthy. Miatas are extremely reliable, bulletproof is the term commonly used. Operating costs are pretty minimal for a miata.
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A lady I know has a Miata and I've done some work for her. As far as fit and finish goes there's no better way to get to know a car than by servicing, washing, polishing and detailing it.
Her car was stock. The roof was starting to fall apart and the paint was so thin it was scary.
Yes it was a reliable to a degree but compared to a 914, or anything built by Porsche it's simply not as well built.
There were some issue with her engine. For instance I had to repair a spark plug thread for her that had failed.
If I had to choose between the two cars I would always choose the Porsche. (assuming the 914 isn't rusted out)
Miatas may hold their value compared to other Japanese cars but a good 914 will have depreciated all that it's going to.
Quote:
Originally Posted by masraum
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914s are safer in a crash? Really? What makes you say that? I'd say that's absolutely wrong. The miata has the benefit of more modern crashworthiness engineering that did not exist when Tyne 914 was around.
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I guarantee you the Porsche would be more solid and safer in a crash. The Targa hoop alone would make it safer in a roll over. (assuming the 914 isn't rusted out)
The Miata benefits from newer tech so it may have better brakes etc but given a choice again I would choose the Porsche every time.
I would never consider any car that is rusted out. No matter who made it. There should always good examples around if you take the time to look.
Imagine having a crash with a SUV? Given a choice, what car would you rather be in?
The newer safety tech is about making a bad driver safer. It does very little for a competent driver.
If anything it makes it harder for a good driver. EG: How many people on the road still know how to feather the brakes in an emergency stop situation?
A good driver can stop sooner in a car without ABS as opposed to the same car with ABS... Jam and pray??? - How many older cars still have properly functioning ABS?
The idea of relying on an ABS system that may or may not be functioning properly sounds too much like a crap shoot to me.
And getting an older ABS system to work properly once it has failed can be very difficult and expensive... In my experience most people don't bother and continue driving the car with a failed system.
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As I said in my earlier post, Miatas are great cars but compared to the value and coolness of a 914 there's just no contest IMO.
OK... So a good 914 would be more expensive to buy and run but you would see that money back when it comes time to sell.
A Miata is only going to go one way in value.
EDIT: For instance, I believe it's better to spend $10,000 or $12,000 on a nice 914 rather than $7,000 for an equally nice Miata.
5 years from now which car will be worth more? Assuming you service and look after it properly.