S2000 vs 87 911 Targa

[stevej37]

A quick look at ebay: 2000-2009 S2000...33 for sale
1980-1989 911...81 for sale
Sure, there were a lot more 911's imported, but I don't think the S2000 is nearly as plentiful for comparative years.
If you compare the same years, there are 269 911's for sale right now and that's just ebay.

[Tremelune]

He'll never get his car back, and from the sound of things, it's modified perfectly to taste.

[aschen]

S2000 are pretty great cars I think. I have known many people that have had them and they all loved them and they all had great luck with reliability. Id like to have one some day but they are getting more expensive by the day for a nice one.

Oil pumping porsches will always be my true love. But if I wanted to focus on track days and performance driveing I would go with a modern car. There is a great thread here about a gentleman's struggle to keep up with the s2000s in STR trim for scca autocross, in a 3.2 I believe.

Personally, with my heavy bias, I say the king of relatively low priced impractical roadsters is the elise. The poor man's 73 RS as I always say.

[SweetWaterSurprise]

Originally Posted by Eli W

You could sell your P car to SweetWater and it would be gone for good.

You are right about that. Once I get a hold of a car I almost NEVER let them go. Been contacted a few times by the previous owner of my 911 about buying it back. Just not gonna happen.

[BKLYNTARGA]

Wow, thank you all for your responses, so many great points and different perspectives to digest. Although I have not made my final decision, one thing is very clear, I have met some really great people here and probably a few life long friends - Porsche or No Porsche!

Will let you know my final decision in a few days, thanks again.

[86911cab]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I have an '86 911 Cab that I will never part with. It is a member of the family and will be handed down after I can no longer drive.
With that being said, The M4 is clearly the more powerful car. At first it left the S2000. Later the driver backed off. Could not see any fishtailing out of the M4 but you could see (and hear) the S2000 breaking loose. The M4 impresses me and will more than likely replace my 2015 435I. But... Torn between a new M4 and a New Porsche Macan GTS.

[NYNick]

Paul,
I'd let you store the Targa in my 3 car garage, but it already has 2 Porsches, a BMW and a Toyota in it.
The wife's car sits outside.

I do like the 'temporary' storage suggestion. The Targa will sell anytime. Give it the summer owning both, and see how you feel in the fall.
Nick

[Eli W]

86Cab

, I owned a 2016 M3 for a shot time and it was a great car but just a little too over the top for me as a daily driver. Also, BMW added a competition pack I think mid year after I got my M3, I think was mostly a tuning upgrade handling to the car but it is supposed to give the car even better feel.

If you are looking at two doors, the M2 would be a great choice it has less power than the M3,M4 but on the track it is only a few tenths of second slower. The M3 felt amazing but almost surgical, insane power but with all the tech going on it was still under control. It was hard to have fun driving on surface streets when 0-60 goes by in a flash and 100 is not far behind, and then car just settles down and is ready for more.

Sorry my mistake the M2 is faster.

http://www.motortrend.com/news/bmw-m2-versus-m4-sibling-rivalry/

[nixtfy]

You will quickly discover the car you prefer over the next year. Depends on where you do most of your driving. If it is around town you might miss the torque and the amount of effort to drive the s2000. Have you considered the BMW z3 coupe

I have owned 3 911 g bodies. The latest is an 1988 targa with an 84 turbo motor. I also have a 1997 M3 4 door ( 1 of 22 estoril/Modena). In past years I would drive each car about 1,500 miles per year. Since purchasing the 911 targa in February of 2016 I have put on 4,500 miles and the M3 500 miles.
The M3 has sentimental value and is presently going up in value. I would sell it, but cannot find a adequate 4 seater to replace it.
Good luck in your decision.

[wayner]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Interesting.

Micheal Shumaker refered to our local track as a mini nurburgring

Here is an S2000 on that track for comparison

[stevej37]

If only Porsche would have put a Honda shifter and transmission in their cars! Would be a dream come true. Those who have driven a manual shifting S2000 or Prelude would know what I mean.

[kent olsen]

No helmet and hands outside, that would get attention over here in the U.S.

[bw993]

Hands down, the six speed in the S2000 is the best manual tranny that I have ever driven. Short act and close gears, with a teflon precise engagement. It was better than the 6 speed tranny in my 2014 Cayman S.

[shoooo32]

As a SC targa and 2003 s2000 owner, I'm fairly qualified to comment on your current situation, OP. Both cars are amazing to drive and I'm fortunate to be able to have room for both (and a 128i daily driver). The s2000 is lower mileage and completely stock like yours and in 6 years and 20k miles, it's been flawless. Tires, fluids, filters and a battery. No hassles, cheap parts and a 9k rpm redline. What more can a boy ask for?

Well, it's not a Porsche. And much like your targa, mine is well sorted and modified for my taste. It would take years and tens of thousands of dollars to get another car to the level I have this one. If I had to chose between them, I'd sell the s2k in a hot second. It's so much easier to replace than the targa and while it is an amazing car, the connection I have with the Porsche runs much deeper.

Don't get me wrong, if you have the means you should keep both, and I'd store the s2k and drive the Carrera as the Honda will take to storage much better than the 911.

[stevej37]

Just a short push or pull and it finds the spot with no effort. Comparing it to the 911...a fine tuned control to a tractor shifter.

[wayner]

I have an old 59 pickup truck.

Guys keep pestering me to put a v8 and a modern transmission into it.

Are you kidding me? Stomp to start (key alone wont do it), and 3 in the tree are part of the challenge of driving it well!

My 911 has its own rituals, and I love the ceremony involved in extracting its pleasures.

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by Eli W

Well as far as value goes on the S2000, there is a big problem. The thing is the S2000's are bullet proof, having one with crazy low miles is not going to get you as much value.

A ratty S2000 is $10k.
A unicorn is $25k.
That's a very large difference.

Originally Posted by Tremelune

You'll be able to find a good deal on a clean S2000 for decades. You'll never get your 911 back.

A mint unmolested S2000 is not exactly easy to find.
A mint unmolested 911 is a dime a dozen.

Originally Posted by Tremelune

He'll never get his car back, and from the sound of things, it's modified perfectly to taste.

The same can be said of any car you sell.

Originally Posted by shoooo32

As a SC targa and 2003 s2000 owner, I'm fairly qualified to comment on your current situation, OP. Both cars are amazing to drive and I'm fortunate to be able to have room for both (and a 128i daily driver).

What do you drive in the winter?

[DaveE]

There's nothing about a Honda that excites me, but then I've been a Porsche guy all my life. To each their own. Still, like some have said, if you sell the Porsche it's still climbing in value. If you want one back be ready to pay.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Eli W]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

A ratty S2000 is $10k.
A unicorn is $25k.
That's a very large difference.

On that point the fact is 90% of the ratty ones are going to run and drive as well as the 25k Unicorn. A ratty air cooled 911, that has not had a lot of love?

Well it won't even work.

All that being said if I lived in the City and had to use a car at all, an early 911 would not be my first choice.

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by DaveE

There's nothing about a Honda that excites me, but then I've been a Porsche guy all my life. To each their own. Still, like some have said, if you sell the Porsche it's still climbing in value. If you want one back be ready to pay.

One could also posit that the 911 has already peaked and the S2000 is just beginning its climb.