What used sports car should I buy?

The dilemma

Janene has a 2005 Toyota RAV4 but, owing to a move to a job with a company car, it doesn't get driven much anymore. With no need for practical daily wheels, she's keen to replace the Toyota with something fun for the weekends. She was thinking of a used Mazda MX-5 but is tempted by the Porsche Boxsters she's seeing around for similar money in seemingly decent nick.

The budget

$25,000

The shortlist

The Mazda and Porsche are both two-seat convertibles with a distinct driving bent. And, as Janene has found, both are possibilities in this realm of the used market.

But there are key differences between the pair that need to be mulled over very seriously. While it's possible to make a serious argument in favour of each, it's just as true that the wrong call could lead to disappointment or heartache.

A classic case of horses for courses, then, and we can help Janene get her priorities straight here. We can also recommend a third possibility that skewers the MX-5 and Boxster by occupying the vast middle ground that separates them.

2005-15 Mazda MX5, from $9400*

This Mazda's agile handling, light weight and willing 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine make it a real hoot on twisting backroads.

Its soft-top roof might be bereft of power assistance but is quick and easy to use. Hardtop versions offer the prospect of power operation and added security without a big weight penalty owing to their composite roof shell.

It's sharp buying in this price range - an example as late as 2012 with a sub-50,000km odometer isn't a pipedream - and its prosaic drivetrain, modest footwear and restrained fuel use mean it's not a costly car to run.

But don't expect it to be especially quick, make exotic sounds or be especially quiet or pampering on the open road. Bigger bods might find the two-seat cabin a bit of a squeeze.

Read Drive's Mazda MX-5 reviews:

Used-car review: Mazda MX-5

2003-09 Nissan 350Z Roadster, from $10,000*

This Nissan has an aggressive street presence, gutsy 3.5-litre V6 and responsive handling.

Its cabin has more than sufficient space for larger folk, is luxuriously specified and ensconced by a power-folding fabric roof.

Buyers can expect good returns in this budget range - like the Mazda, getting one with a sub-50,000km odometer is a possibility, though it will be closer to a 2006/07 build - and it has a reputation for being generally robust and dependable.

But a Zed will use more fuel and cost more to service than an MX-5, and its big tyres will also hit the hip-pocket harder than its rival's comparatively puny rolling stock.
Its V6 is buzzy and agricultural sounding, and its ride can be testing on poor surfaces, especially more firmly set up Track models.

Read Drive's Nissan 350Z reviews:

Used-car reviews: Nissan 350Z

1997-2005 Porsche Boxster, from $13,800*

This Porsche has this group's most sonically satisfying engine and most hunkered-down, confidence-inspiring handling.

Its mid-engine design packs a roomy cabin (with power-folding fabric roof) and twin boots (front and back), so it couldn't be easier to live with.

Getting a tidy one with as few as 50,000km on the dial is a possibility in this price range.

The tidiest Boxsters, though, are likely to be entry-level 2.5-litre models from 1997-99, and they're not that quick. For the extra potency of a 1999-on 2.7-litre model, or a 3.2-litre S, you'll need to absorb a higher price or odometer reading.

It's an older design than its rivals and that means some sacrifices. It's the only car here, for example, without stability control.

Service and upkeep will also ask for more of a financial commitment than mainstream alternatives, and there are hot spots that need to be checked off in a pre-purchase inspection or you could really pay to put them right.

Read Drive's Porsche Boxster reviews:

Used-car review: Porsche Boxster

Drive recommends

The Mazda is a path to driving and open-air pleasure beset by remarkably few lows of significance. It's not all things to all sports-car drivers but there's also nothing to stop it winning here.

The Porsche goes the other way. If maximising the driving and emotional satisfaction is all that matters it won't disappoint but you will need more cash, commitment and careful sifting to avoid the traps.

The Nissan? If the MX-5 just doesn't ring your bell and you're just not sure you ready for the commitment of owning a thoroughbred, it's the perfect halfway house.

* Values are estimates provided by Redbook based on an example averaging up to 20,000km per annum and in a well-maintained condition relevant to its age.