[Perfectlap]

it's very hard to beat a 2.5 for the money. IMS can typically wait until the clutch needs replacing. The 986 gear box works best with the 2.5. It's light, and with some well spent modifications you can get the car down to ~2,600 lbs. which is just a stone's throw from spec racer. When it comes to cars that will see some track or autocross on mid-engine platforms, I'm convinced that roadsters allow for the best handling. If you're actually racing then the fixed roof with roll cage is safer but its a tradeoff on handling. A roadster with a roll cage is the best of both worlds -- no more weight on top than necessary. And the 2.5 986 still looks current despite being a 23 year old design. That means its going to age well and the transmission can be serviced easily.