Enablers, please explain to me why I'd want an RX8 R3 instead of a 996

Buy both, and switch the engines. Rotary in the 996 and the Boxer in the RX8. How can that possibly end badly?

captdownshift wrote:

BoxheadTim wrote: all I need to do now is find a 964

That's the answer.

... if I could find a decent one within my budget of low 20s max.

Even a rather nice tippy tronic one out here costs more and 964s in general are a bit thin on the ground.

Anyway, the search now includes 996s, RX8s, S2000s and Vipers. Not quite sure how the last one slithered in but it made sense after a few beers.

toss the NSX into the mix as well if you're going that far!

captdownshift wrote: toss the NSX into the mix as well if you're going that far!

If you can find one in the low 20s with less than 100k miles, I'd be happy to toss that in!

Unfortunately those are more like $40k these days.

I was figuring that they might be back on the upswing pricewise again except for higher mileage examples. What are your feelings on adding aftermarket forced induction onto a vehicle? I'm just asking because the F20C and F22s in the S2000s do take to boost (either turbo or supercharging) quite well. My biggest issue with S2000s is that I personally can't see out of them with the top up at all, otherwise I'm a fan.

I'd rather not, TBH. I've driven a couple of S2ks and for my needs I think they have enough power.

Famous last words .

My main issue with the S2k is that I just about fit in with a helmet and I was hoping for something with a little more space. OTOH I do like Miatas (I've owned 4 NAs) and the S2k does offer a little more room.

S2000 is like a super-Miata too IMO. It offers all the benefits of the Miata, but just more.

hmm doing some more thinking, S54 or E85 M coupe?

E85 M Coupe is nice. Pricey, but nice.

Clownshoes are on the radar, the E85s out of my budget. Ideally I'd like to capture something near the bottom of the depreciation curve (yeah, I know, that would rule out the RX8).