| Author |
Message |
Bill Stevens (Pig4bill)
New member
Username: Pig4bill
Post Number: 2
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 09, 2002 - 1:32 am: | |
The only way to know for sure is to drive one yourself. To me, the NSX is very boring to drive. No bottom-end torque. Porsches are much more interesting, let alone a Ferrari. |
Modified348ts (Modman)
Junior Member
Username: Modman
Post Number: 135
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 09, 2002 - 1:22 am: | |
Mongrel, true that but you gotta agree there is only so much that is worth putting in a car before it gets wasted, know what I mean. I wouldn't want a Pinto or Pacer in my driveway just because it handles great or does 4 sec. in a 1/4 mile and I can't agree completely about the Mustang can do anything a NSX or Ferrari could such as styling and sound for being stock but I know what you are trying to say and I hope you know what I'm trying to say also.. peace... |
Mongrel (Mongrel)
New member
Username: Mongrel
Post Number: 8
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 09, 2002 - 12:29 am: | |
Modman,
Sacramento is a great city, and I don't think Justin Lane (they guy who sold me the Mustang) is a typical resident.
A company called Griggs Racing (http://www.griggsracing.com/index.html) specializes in preparing Mustangs for road racing events. A Mustang can do anything an NSX or 355/360 can. It's a matter of will, money, and tolerance of the car's poor build quality. |
magoo (Magoo)
Intermediate Member
Username: Magoo
Post Number: 2317
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 09, 2002 - 12:18 am: | |
Mark, Yes the maintenance will make up for the depreciation gap but it still won't be a Ferrari as you said. Just agreeing with you, BRGDS, |
Mark Lambert (Mlambert890)
New member
Username: Mlambert890
Post Number: 4
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 09, 2002 - 12:09 am: | |
The NSX is great and is probably about as exotic as you can get and still have a reliable, well mannered, daily driver for under $100k.
It isn't a Ferrari though. A Ferrari is what it is; there is a magic there that no car can match, imho.
I love my NSX, but if I had the means (meaning I could truly afford to own a pure toy car), I certainly would not hesitate one second before buying either a Testa or F355.
The depreciation argument is interesting, but I think the purchase price is inconsquential, honestly. The two things that I see as the big hurdles are the maintenance costs on the Ferrari and the insurance. Driven an equal number of miles, the maintenance will make up for the depreciation gap. |
martin J weiner,M.D. (Mw360)
Member
Username: Mw360
Post Number: 367
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 7:54 pm: | |
Had a NSX,355,and now a 360.Comparing the NSX to either of the F cars is like comparing a pussycat to a bengal tiger.The NSX is a great daily driver,trouble free with the smoothest gearbox around.BUT it doesn't(didn't) get my adrenaline pouring out like the F's do.Also imho the design is getting long in tooth.Next iteration 8 cyl?Agree with Harlan they do depreciate significantly.In fact one can usually buy a new NSX for 10K plus off sticker price. |
Harlan Mott (Hmott3)
Junior Member
Username: Hmott3
Post Number: 97
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 6:27 pm: | |
Craig,
You may get 80% of the fun and in the end maybe even for 33% of the price but I doubt it. I love the nsx, and honestly it may be a better car for you than a 355. Now with that said let me explain why I don't think your 1/3 price holds up in the long run. I agree it may cost 2/3 of the price for the initial purchase but not 1/3 overall. I'm going to make a bunch of assumptions that maybe can't really don't hold but I think you will see my point.
Assuming you would spend 90k on a 96 355gtb or 60k on a 98 nsx today. If you keep the car for 5 years you can expect to get probably 30k for the nsx (using today�s 8 year old car prices) with a loss of 30k. You can probably expect to get 60k (using 348 prices) for your 355 with a loss of 30k. I know it may not work out this way exactly, but I think its probably pretty close. Ferrari's don't seem to depreciate like normal cars so in the end you may actually fair better in the long run than with the nsx. |
Brad Beutlich (Brad)
New member
Username: Brad
Post Number: 16
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 6:12 pm: | |
I own a 96 NSX and I think it's a great car. IMHO, you can't beat this car for quality of build, reliability, drivability, comfort and looks. I do wish it were a little faster but that's what the extra $50K for a 355, or $100K for a 360 will get you. An NSX and any Ferrari are very different. I believe that a collector should own one of each. IMHO, if you have the money, go for the 355 or 360, if you don't, spend your money on a 95 or later NSX, they are trading right about the price of a fine late 308 or a high mile early 328. |
Tino (Bboxer)
Junior Member
Username: Bboxer
Post Number: 70
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 6:03 pm: | |
Craig, there a few 97+ NSX coupes around. I believe a dealer in CT has a near-new 2000. You can also get the Zanardi version which also has a rigid roof and stiffer suspension. A few of those exist including a Comptech (SC'd) prepared one presently at a Florida dealer. Check www.nsxprime.com (market)for details. I don't think my NSX gives me as much excitement as my 360 but IMO, as a daily driver (if you're not an SUV guy), nothing beats it...except for a 996TT maybe. |
Craig Mako (Mako88)
New member
Username: Mako88
Post Number: 2
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 5:28 pm: | |
Thanks for all the info and posts guys, I figured I'd get good information here.
I think I'm coming to the conclusion that a 97+ NSX is probably going offer 75% of the sports car thrill of a 355 or 360 for about 33% of the price. Hell, Tubi even makes a great exhaust for the NSX now, so maybe I can get it closer to 80% lol!
The only thing I worry about is that 97+ NSXs are only available in less-rigid Targa models with power assisted steering. The 355 and 360 have boosted steering as well, but from what I've heard it's not as numb-feeling as the NSX's electrically-powered unit.
Other than those concerns it seems like the NSX really does live up to the knock that I've seen journalists give it occaisionally, which is that it's "the best Ferrari 308 ever made". (meaning that it's low-powered and out of touch with modern styling).
Personally the 308/328/348 cars still look great to me, even after all these years.
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Randy (Schatten)
Member
Username: Schatten
Post Number: 267
Registered: 4-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 12:54 pm: | |
the 1/4 mile times worries me, but I'm sure both cars can do it. I'd rather vouch for some dollars spent at a driver education event at the local road course.
but regarding the comparisons - keep in mind, with the NSX a few grand to make the car faster is a bit more than a few grand. the parts are not cheap to modify it - just check out www.comptechusa.com and you'll see that the supercharger is ~$10K.
another good resource is to read Doug's 355 and NSX impressions (as well as his S2000) on www.nsxfiles.com - lots of stories about breakdowns and mods. |
Modified348ts (Modman)
Junior Member
Username: Modman
Post Number: 130
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 4:31 am: | |
Hey Mongrel, there are a lot of dipshits out here in Sacramento, sorry to hear your story. If you are doing 1/4 mile times then yes it's OK but there are still faster cars. On a track with lots of curves, I can't see the Mustang handling well if it comes down to overall track times. But still it's good cheap thrills if you're into 1/4 mile drags and maintenance is cheaper too. |
Modified348ts (Modman)
Junior Member
Username: Modman
Post Number: 129
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 4:20 am: | |
Oh, by the way I put 12k the first year I had my car and so far put 16k miles on it. I don't drive it as much as I use to since I work for the most part and have other cars that also need to be driven. But if I had only 2 cars and one a Ferrari, I'd drive the Ferrari as much as I could and won't be chicken •••• about break downs, if it breaks, it breaks. In your lifetime would you spend all that money you saved for just to drive the damn car just a few miles a year. Why buy one then? you might just lose a limb or even die tomorrow. Enjoy what you've been wishing for. like most would do is get what's hot for you and not someone elses opinion. |
Mongrel (Mongrel)
New member
Username: Mongrel
Post Number: 7
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 4:12 am: | |
I have owned both an F355 Spider and a supercharged NSX. I documented my impressions/opinions on my home page:
http://www.enkahoi.com
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Modified348ts (Modman)
Junior Member
Username: Modman
Post Number: 128
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 4:07 am: | |
Drive em all and find out yourself, everyones opinion is different. Some people hate Japanese cars and some love em to death, what do you like a car for and which comes first. Is it power? It seems so for most people from reading but can you Truly handle the vehicle and will be using it mostly for track sessions?, if not then who gives a **it about "Big" power difference. You want power, buy a cheap import and beef it up! Ask most of us here, why did we buy a Ferrari? In my opinion in order, styling, sounds, handling, then power for it's time it was made.. Keep the power monsters on the track, not on the street. I see too many pebble brain people trying to race on the roads and don't even know how to drive their own cars close to even being driven properly and it pisses me off every time when they cause accidents or near accidents to other drivers who actually drive properly. The next time I see one I'll get the license plate and call it in, I see too many kids out here that need to learn respect for other drivers. Peace out... |
James Dixon (Omnadren250)
Junior Member
Username: Omnadren250
Post Number: 140
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 3:55 am: | |
Craig,
You are going to get mixed repsonses from this question.
I have driven many NSX's and my father used to own a 355. The Ferraris will be more fun to drive, will sound better, and are more pimpy. But they are not better in giving "the same day to day thrills". I say this because "day to day thrills" and "fun" do not go together when owning a Ferrari. You will be able to drive the NSX everyday, for as long as you want and as far as you want. It will be as reliable as a honda civic, and will require the same maintenence (gas, oil, tires and the occasional timing belt).
Regardless of what people will say on here, you cannot drive your Ferrari everyday. And for the guys on here that do tell you they drive their Ferrari every day, they are probably putting no more than 5,000 miles per year. Even if you wanted to, you wouldn't be able to drive your Ferrari everyday, as it will most likely be in the shop waiting for cracked headers to be replaced (3 months for my dads car) or brake pads (1 month).
The NSX can be made quite fast with a comptech supercharger, and will probably still be more reliable than a Ferrari. If you are concerned with the initial purchase difference between a F car and an NSX, just wait until you see the difference in price on servicing.
The only problem the NSX has ever had was a snap ring problem that occured on cars made from 1990-1992. But if you are looking at cars in the 355 price range, you are most likly looking at the 97 and up NSXs which won't have any problems.
P.S
Everything I have stated in my post can be backed up by personal experience. I did not post anything to start a flame war. Just the facts.
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Craig Mako (Mako88)
New member
Username: Mako88
Post Number: 1
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 3:42 am: | |
Hi all, long time lurker, first time poster.
I wanted to ask the board's collective opinion of the following question:
Is the NSX anywhere close in giving the same day to day thrills and fun that a F355 or 360 is?
I ask because the price difference is massive, about 2.5X higher for a used late-model F355 or 360 versus the same model year/mileage NSX.
I understand of course the NSX loses the HP battle versus the F-cars, but less than $5K in mods will have it turning 12.7 to 13.0 second 1/4 mile times, as well as being competitive on the track.
Thanks for any help, I appreciate all opinions. |
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