I'm opening this up to you guys

[Raza]

Ah so you are partial to drop tops...

The NSX is an awesome car, I'm not sure how you can say that. What used, closed roof, sports car would you rather pay $30-40K for and depend on to get you to work every day?

(Doesn't exist)


The NSX is an exotic and will cost a lot to purchase, maintain, and repair.  Why would you get an NSX when it was surpassed by more normal cars like the C5 or C6 Corvette, Boxster, Lotus Elise, and its own cousin, the S2000 ran it close?  All of them would be a lot cheaper to purchase and run.  And that brings me back to my original conclusion; you'd have to be a Honda (or NSX) fanatic, to choose it. 

[Raza]

nooooooooooo

Okay, unless you really, really, really, love the NSX for some reason.  They cost too much to buy (prices have been going up) and there's nothing it can offer you that an Elise or Boxster for the same or less money can't. 

[68_427]

Hardtop is more pure.

Don't care.  I'm having a hard time thinking of a car that comes in both coupe and convertible/targa that I wouldn't take the open roof version over the coupe.

[Rupert]

The BMW isn't an economy car. The gas mileage blows.

LOL, I guess your sister screwed you, then, with that tiny engine. In the end, I'm man enough to put my money where my mouth is and buy the cool old car I want. You don't even have your own car.

[Lebowski]

Me personally in those events I would rent a U Haul van or some cheapo rental car. The economics of that pay off.

I would never do that (rent a car in my home town). It's not an economic issue it's just an inconvenience. If I thought I needed a 4 seater I'd own a 4 seater. 

[sportyaccordy]

(Doesn't exist)


The NSX is an exotic and will cost a lot to purchase, maintain, and repair.  Why would you get an NSX when it was surpassed by more normal cars like the C5 or C6 Corvette, Boxster, Lotus Elise, and its own cousin, the S2000 ran it close?  All of them would be a lot cheaper to purchase and run.  And that brings me back to my original conclusion; you'd have to be a Honda (or NSX) fanatic, to choose it. 

The NSX won't cost a lot to purchase, maintain, or repair; at least no more than a C5, newish Boxster, etc. Each of those cars lacks something the NSX has (C5/C6= not as good handlers; Boxster = nowhere near as reliable; Elise = nowhere near as daily drivable, S2000= significantly slower).

NSX has Honda's reliability, enough power, sublime, textbook handling and DD usability + refinement. None of the cars on your list have that combo.

[sportyaccordy]

I would never do that (rent a car in my home town). It's not an economic issue it's just an inconvenience. If I thought I needed a 4 seater I'd own a 4 seater. 

Was it you or rotor who bought the 4Runner last year? I could have swore that was you.

[68_427]

The NSX won't cost a lot to purchase, maintain, or repair; at least no more than a C5, newish Boxster, etc. Each of those cars lacks something the NSX has (C5/C6= not as good handlers; Boxster = nowhere near as reliable; Elise = nowhere near as daily drivable, S2000= significantly slower).

NSX has Honda's reliability, enough power, sublime, textbook handling and DD usability + refinement. None of the cars on your list have that combo.

NSX parts are very expensive, and yes they do break.  Also a Z06 will embarrass a NSX.

[sportyaccordy]

NSX parts are very expensive, and yes they do break.  Also a Z06 will embarrass a NSX.

The aluminum body is tricky and parts are more costly, but not more costly than say those on a Boxster. And yes the Z06 is faster but an NSX is still a low 13 second car. Thats quite a step up from a GLI or even a Boxster/S2000.

[68_427]

The aluminum body is tricky and parts are more costly, but not more costly than say those on a Boxster. And yes the Z06 is faster but an NSX is still a low 13 second car. Thats quite a step up from a GLI or even a Boxster/S2000.

I'll agree with that, but I've read about some driveline issues like axles going.  Hard to argue with the sound however.

http://www.youtube.com/user/oscardriver#p/u/10/PCAL41XyHZs

[Raza]

The NSX won't cost a lot to purchase, maintain, or repair; at least no more than a C5, newish Boxster, etc. Each of those cars lacks something the NSX has (C5/C6= not as good handlers; Boxster = nowhere near as reliable; Elise = nowhere near as daily drivable, S2000= significantly slower).

NSX has Honda's reliability, enough power, sublime, textbook handling and DD usability + refinement. None of the cars on your list have that combo.

NSXs have gone up in price significantly in the last few years and it's still an exotic.  The engine might be plenty reliable, but other things that need to be replaced/repair/etc. are going to cost a hell of a lot of money.  There was an NSX owner on C&D back in the day, and I remember him telling me that a tune up for one out of warranty was something like $2,000.  I doubt it's much more reliable than a Boxster, and it's not like the C6 is a Crown Vic in the handling department. 

And as for the S2000?

Let's say realistically, I can afford to buy and run a mid 90s model, just from a quick look at Autotrader.  That model runs about 5.2 (5.5 on the high end) seconds to 60.  S2000?  I remember something around 5.5 (5.8 on the high end).  Not really a huge real world difference.  In 1997, an NSX ran 8:38 on the Nurburgring.  In 2000, an S2000 ran 8:39. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_N%C3%BCrburgring_Nordschleife_lap_times)

Look, I'm not saying the NSX is a bad car and I'm not even saying that I wouldn't love to have one, for many of the reasons you already stated.  But at current market prices, the value isn't there for me. 

[68_427]

What about a S2000 and TL Type-S (6 speed) mad tyte JDM vtak combo

[Raza]

What about a S2000 and TL Type-S (6 speed) mad tyte JDM vtak combo

I've driven a couple of TL-Ss (including a recent, but before they were too hideous to look at) 6 speed manual model.  Nothing worth writing home about. 

[sportyaccordy]

Have to pay to play.

Another interesting option is the Z4 3.0 hardtop. Pricey but rare + practical + cool.

Here's my long list.

NSX
04-08 TSX
E46 330i ZHP
E90 330i
E46 M3
128i
G35
370Z
Cayman S
996 Carrera

[Raza]

Have to pay to play.

Another interesting option is the Z4 3.0 hardtop. Pricey but rare + practical + cool.

That's one of the few cases where I'd take the coupe over the roadster.  Awesome looking car.  

EDIT:  Also, "pay to play" is a poor excuse for buying a car that's not a good value. 

[68_427]

I've driven a couple of TL-Ss (including a recent, but before they were too hideous to look at) 6 speed manual model.  Nothing worth writing home about. 

That's somewhat disappointing.

[Lebowski]

Was it you or rotor who bought the 4Runner last year? I could have swore that was you.

It was me.

[sportyaccordy]

That's one of the few cases where I'd take the coupe over the roadster.  Awesome looking car. 

EDIT:  Also, "pay to play" is a poor excuse for buying a car that's not a good value. 

For $30K, what do the other cars have that the NSX doesn't?

[SVT666]

15 fewer years and a warranty.

[Lebowski]

For $30K, what do the other cars have that the NSX doesn't?

I think you're wrong in your assumption that it's going to be cheap to own and operate and maintain. Yes Honda has a reputation for reliability, yes the NSX has a reputation as reliable and low maintenance compared to similar exotics. But any way you slice it a mid-90s NSX is still a 15 y/o high end sports car - it's not going to be a cheap car to own. It's not something I'd want as my daily driver today. It's not, IMO, going to be more reliable than a significantly newer Boxster.

It's a great looking and historically significant car to be sure, but IMO the only advantages of a 15 y/o NSX compared to a late model C6 or Boxster are 100% subjective (yes you'll get a few style points).

[sportyaccordy]

IL just added an NSX to their long term test fleet so we will see. They also had a C5 Z06 so some comparisons can be made there.

[Raza]

IL just added an NSX to their long term test fleet so we will see. They also had a C5 Z06 so some comparisons can be made there.

That certainly will be something to follow, and I will.  Already, though, the previous owner's maintenance costs are very promising. 

[Rich]

Well the trunk is leaking already... so we'll see

[68_427]

IL just added an NSX to their long term test fleet so we will see. They also had a C5 Z06 so some comparisons can be made there.

They really loved the Z06.