wackura

Which is an all around better car; the NSX or the s2000?

Street Spirit

Mmm-hmm.

https://acurazine.com/forums/member-cars-sale-49/fs-2007-335i-coupe-6-speed-location-chicago-burb%2A%2Asold%2A%2A-394281/



I guess you're liking the 3 more than you thought you would?

GreenMonster

I would pick a 993 over the NSX, but that's me... I've got a fetish for aircooled vehicles

If I was serious about buying either, I would probably have to drive both...

GreenMonster

I'm too cheap to actually pull the trigger on anything, but I do like to daydream too...

I like living vicariously thru a lot of the guys here that seem to have gone thru a bunch of cars since I joined AZ...

Crazy Bimmer

Im still not buying anything to replace the 335i anytime soon. I dont have the time to enjoy a 2nd car lately.

Yes, the Mazda3 has impressed me quite a bit. For the money its really hard to beat.

Mokos23

you got to change your profile from "euro car snob" to "mazda car snob"

Ken1997TL

S2000 for sure

MAYBE a BMW 128

phil2

I take back what I said in my previous post about the elise. I would not recommend one to you since you wouldn't be able to fit your fat sluts in it.

iTimmy

I don't understand why people still go gaga over the C5 Z06 when the base C6 is everything that car was and more, and can be found for very attractive prices. I actually like the C6, though not enough to buy one, as where I never really liked the C5. If the C6 had a better transmission and interior it would be hard, if not impossible to beat when price if factored in.

Back to the OP's question, I think it really depends what you want from a car, if you don't want something to work on and just want to enjoy it the Japanese cars are the clear choice. Or if you want more of a show car, old school american muscle, or something that sounds bad ass and is lightning quick in a straight line, modern muscle cars or do you want something esoteric and eccentric, old euro cars. Or a better yet a real cool project, build a monster Miata, with an aluminum blocked 5.0, it will be way under budget, will easily have 350hp in a light package that would be a blast to drive, japanese chassis, american muscle and super rare. There are tons of choices, but I would lean towards something light for a weekend car. There is a 05 elise in autoweek, with 5k miles for $33k, also looks like a good deal.

As much as I love P-cars, they get real expensive, real quick to keep in pristine order, and high priced maintenance is not something I ever want to deal with. I have a friend with a 86 911 turbo, it has 18k original miles on it, and while it is a beautiful car to look at it, it is not so great to drive by modern standards and god for bid you did start driving it would probably need tons of oil leaks fixed due to its age and lack of driving.

Costco

08+ C6s have triple cone synchros compared to double cones in older models.... with that said my list would pretty much have a C6 (I don't really like the hardtop look of the C5 Z06), NSX, S2000, Miata of any gen, Elise, or anything that can go topless, comes in manual, is RWD and preferably has only 2 seats and/or is trackable. Maybe even an Integra Type-R since during the week it'll sit in the garage for fear of thieves.

I actually like the C5 hatchback bodystyle a little more, just a shame they couldn't make it a hatchback like the regular C5. The profile of the the C6 isn't very flattering at the rear


For some strange reason I just have an urge to put an LSx + 6-speed from Tremec in an older muscle car.... maybe like a junker V6 model so no one will miss it or scream blasphemy. I really like 69 Mustangs, split bumper 70-73 Camaros, Firebird Formulas of the same years, along with the 442s and Buick GS's. Or a coke bottle Stingray with t-tops.

s2ka

All around... that's tough to define.

Basically the NSX was 3X the price of an S2000 when purchased new, so it is a more powerful and more complex vehicle. If you've driven NSX's before you know that they are excellent cars. But they were on the market for 15 years so there was a lot of variation from the 1990 to 2005 models. Picking up an early model with a lot of miles could cost you a lot in maintenance and upgrades.

In terms of "fun factor" the S2000 is right there with the NSX, and you can get a brand new one with full warranty for the price of a beat-up NSX. There are few vehicles more fun than an S2000 with with a few strategic mods... exhaust for a great sound, coilovers to adjust ride height/damping, and shorter rear end gears for extra punch. Drop the top, find a twisty road, enjoy the best 6 speed tranny on the planet and rev out the award-winning engine.

A lot of the NSX owners also own S2000's because they are such fun cars. Both are a bit tame in completely stock form, but come to life quickly with a few tweeks.

wackura

Do so many people realy have the space in there driveway for two cars that serve such a similar purpose?

iTimmy

^^^ It's shocking how many do, much like the P-car guys who have a 911 or two and keep a Boxster around just because.

JediMindTricks

same here.

synth19

IMHO, the NSX has everything you can ask for:

1. Reliability
2. Exotic looks
3. mod friendly
4. cool community
5. rare and exclusive
6. performance
7. "fun factor"

Only a couple of major service things such as a water pump, timing belt, and clutch.... other then that.... car is pretty much a DD with normal maintenance. There are plenty of NSX's out there with 100-150k miles! Try doing all of the above with a P-car.

Mokos23

i guess the only downsize is expensive insurance?

iTimmy

Not for $35k, you are going to be stuck with a car that has high miles, was abused or neglected and is in need of some of those expensive repairs, otherwise I more or less agree.

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

NSX or Porsche.

synth19

I respectfully disagree. You can find a low mileage 91-93 for around 30-35k. And this is with up-to-date maintenance.

synth19

Not really, for the NSX, my insurance only went up around $300/ 6 months when I added her.

black label

Rnengade Hybrids LS1 V8 swap takes care of many of your reliability issues.

phil2

charliemike

Swapping in a LS1? Really?

Damn

iTimmy

The cheapest one I saw, looking quickly, was $38.9k which while isn't hugely over budget, is still over budget.

Your insurance went up $300, bi-annually when you got the NSX, that is a noticeable increase, probably not a deal breaker through. When I went from a 07 G35 to a 08 S2000 my insurance went up $60 annually. Your annual increase is nearly 50% of my total annual premium. If someone is trying to do something with a budget, an exotic, even a reliable one, is not the answer.

Don't get me wrong, I like the NSX, just not at $35k, at $45-50k I think it becomes more appealing because the cars are newer, in better condition, etc...

synth19

^ If you search long enough, you CAN find an NSX @ my price range. They do come around, but you have to be patient.

synth19

here is just ONE example of a '93, asking only 34.5k:

http://nsxprime.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107079

Just one example, there are several on prime that fit my criteria. The above car has low miles, appears to be in great condition, and maintenance is up-to-date. For cars this old, I would consider something in the 60-70k mileage range. That is "low" for me.

neuronbob

.....and so did my insurance once I bought my S2000.

GreenMonster

That totally kills the allure of an aircooled porsche... I like the looks, but I love the fact that there's no radiator. If I wanted a chevy v8, i'd just buy a used base model 05 C6...

Costco

My brother's friend had a red 91 targa and now has a black 91 hardtop. Both were under 120k miles when he got em and he paid less than $30k for each one. Both were in immaculate condition really, and not to mention he tracks/autoxes them once in a while.

iTimmy

I hardly think any car with over 100k miles is "low miles," but that's just me

Costco

mole hill -> mountain dude

IMO its subjective, or at least should be.... 100k miles on a chassis on a car from the 60's or 70's is pretty low. 100k miles on a 1999 is average to me, and 100k miles on a 2006 is really high.

The guy flogs the crap out of his NSXs... he said it himself, he redlines it at least once everytime he takes the car out, still runs like a champ.

The point was an good-condition NSX is easily attainable for less than $35k

iTimmy

My point, is that there is a lot more to a car the its engine, as a car is used it wears, plain and simple, everything in it wears. From the seats, to the suspension to the power window switches everything loses the feeling it had when new, and that is not my cup of tea. I've only had one car with over a 100k miles on it and it was a wore out bag of shit, the idea of buying a car with over a 100k miles for $30k just doesn't seem like a wise move to me. For a weekend fun car I want something that feels the part, not just looks it. All cars start requiring repairs over 100k miles, some just more then others, I hate dealing with that sort of stuff.

We all are looking for something different in a car, who's right? Got me, but I have no plans on purchasing a car with even close to 100k miles on it ever, let alone any time soon. I spent too much time in the repair business and am probably jaded, but fixing a car is not something I like dealing with. But we are all different, some people like working on cars.

edit - not trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill, just having a discussion about weekend drivers and what I would want out of one. I think all of the regulars in car talk are more or less friends, or at the very least friendly and enjoy engaging in conversations discussing our opinions.

teranfon

Haven't heard of them, but I honestly think it's a conversion I wouldn't do. I would undoubtedly bitch and moan about the maintenance, but I would perform the servicing myself and would probably even enjoy it. I just think an LS1 conversion would take away the character of a Grand Tourer the car was intended have.

Terry

GreenMonster

That's why I always dream about buying an old p-car, but realistically the more practical choice is a 4-5 y/o low mileage s2k...

There seem to be a few high mileage (over 100K) AP1 s2k's out there forsale for around $12K or so... I wonder how the upkeep on those are...

nokiaman

I've been wanting to get a small cheap weekend car to work on on my free time.

Lotus Elan S4
75' Alfa Romeo 2000 GT Veloce
'73 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7

On the more expensive side:

S2k
993

Yumcha

Acura NSX. Hands-down.



And lemme guess, Jesal...you secretly want a new car again...bad.

Trackruner228

iTrader: (1)

I knew a guy who said a porsche 911 would be chaper than an A4 convertable. He said the reason was is people who buy cars like that almost never wreck them. That they take such good care of them they almost never have to make claims.

Yumcha

Naw...he's buying the M3. He can't help himself.

GreenMonster

A 73 RS isn't on the expensive side ?? They only go about $175-250K in decent condition

http://www.finecars.cc/en/detail/car...tml?no_cache=1

black label

Well, it's cheap compared to the even rarer RSR.

Back to the 928 LS1 swap. To many it does kill the car, but to many it makes it better. It's just like the E type Jags out there with a Ford 351, it's no longer a classic, but it's closer to being a reliable daily driver.

Renegade Hybrids are doing a lot of interesting stuff to older Porsches. LS1's in 924,928,944, Subaru turbo 4's and ford 302's into 914's.