lol... you all must be getting sick of these threads and wish I'd settle on a car by now, but I'm pretty sure this'll be the last of the pile, at least for a while because I'm moving on thursday and will have some sort of reality check in the process until that first paycheck comes about a month from then...

So in addition to driving s2000's (enjoying the revs but wondering where the torque is) and battling with looking up the unfortunately named and cult-hoarded M coupe (websites have no idea how to categorize it: is it a z3? is it a coupe? What's a z3 coupe if the z3 is the roadster on the 3 series? does that make it an M...3? NO, that's another car... oh we'll let the bidders figure it out), I've also been looking at HIGH mileage NSXs.

The NSX is something of a pipe dream compared to the other two, but with the car in its final model year and the earliest ones pushing 16 years old despite very few being near 100k miles, depreciation has brought the aluminum beauty within reach, I think.... had no issues until tonight when someone said that the honda reliability assumption doesn't apply to the nsx. Now that might seem logical, given the NSX's pedigree, age, and low volumes, but I seem to recall various used-car guides suggesting that it actually was by far the cheapest of any big-buck supercar to own, insurance levels even being par for new accords, and mileage not doing the damage that it would to other high-performance cars, making age less of a worry.....

Anyone got the real info on japan's f40?
lemme know

9/6/2005 2:36:48 AM

it's no f40

9/6/2005 4:54:28 AM

ok... so I guess that's two votes for the m coupe, including u and ahmet

9/6/2005 5:14:44 AM

I've heard the early ones have problems with air conditioners and shit... I think the "reliability doesn't apply" thing is relative. It's still a Honda.

9/6/2005 9:20:14 AM

M coupe.

9/6/2005 9:33:56 AM

M coupe

9/6/2005 9:35:33 AM

NSX.

9/6/2005 9:41:56 AM

M Coupe. Especially if you get the 321hp version.

9/6/2005 10:11:15 AM

M Coupe

9/6/2005 10:20:08 AM

M Coupe

9/6/2005 10:28:32 AM

So you're planning on using whatever car you choose as a daily driver... all of these cars (M-Coupe/NSX/S2000) are just barely practical for that use...

S2000 - the most practical of the 3 listed, also the easiest to find, least expensive, and probably most comfortable

M-Coupe - fun, but harsh ride, hard to find, M-Specific parts are big $$

NSX - kinda rare but probably the most unique car in the list, haven't driven one to give an opinion though.

........................

Given the use as a daily driver, I say go for the S2000

9/6/2005 11:01:24 AM

^

9/6/2005 11:04:24 AM

m-coupe having a harsh ride?


have you been driving a Buick all your life?




and i cant imagine the NSX to be any softer.

[Edited on September 6, 2005 at 11:23 AM. Reason : mow]

9/6/2005 11:21:03 AM

Honda Civic

9/6/2005 11:24:12 AM

I'd go for the NSX. Such a lovely car.

Only bad things I've heard about them are that its very expensive to replace the clutch (thought I guess if you're pretty good mechanically you can do it yourself) and that they eat up tires (though I thought I heard about some fix for that you can retrofit).

Thats it, I say go for it.

9/6/2005 11:42:28 AM

you are being absolutely foolish to buy ANY of these cars as a DD, especially as a first car in a new job.

you are going to get raped on the loan, the insurance and the upkeep (if you buy used).

9/6/2005 12:00:46 PM

6x^
I guess it depends on what you means as practical. The s2k and nsx have about the same storage space, but the nsx is much bigger in interior room and visibility. mileage ought to be similar, and earlier nsx's are supposedly much softer riding than the later cars where they were trying to wring out max performance to try to compensate for the hp/$ deficiency relative to the nsx's peers. Although the s2k's I drove did ride very nicely.

^Noen, I have to at least thank you for being honest. but why are these poor DD's?
Is it just because they're all so small? I don't want to be the 10th person I know to buy an m3... I realize its a great car and only slightly less practical than my own car, but dammit... if I can, why wouldn't I buy something like this? eh, whatever... I guess my gf has been able to have her miata largely b/c of my access to larger vehicles when necessary... but the extremely occasional need to be able to pick up a television or couch is that's hardly a reason not to buy an nsx if you can (A little starry eyed right now)

I've heard good things about insuring nsxs. I'll post my progressive quote in a minute...

holy crap rates are all over the place. the lowest is geico...$238

[Edited on September 6, 2005 at 12:41 PM. Reason : .]

9/6/2005 12:16:47 PM

I don't think the S2000 is more practical than an M coupe. It might be cheaper to operate and insure though.

I think the NSX is pointless unless you're just trying to show off or something. The M Coupe is rare enough anyways and I'd say it's probably faster as well. The S2000 is going to be fun but a lot slower.


I'm telling you:



But seriously, why don't you go drive all of the cars you're considering and then buy the one you like the most?

[Edited on September 6, 2005 at 1:28 PM. Reason : I would keep on test driving until you've found exactly what you want.]

9/6/2005 1:23:32 PM

why even ask TWW

buy what you want

9/6/2005 2:36:37 PM

fuck the haters, get an NSX

9/6/2005 2:49:17 PM

go for the "show-off" car with zero advantages and high mileage.

[Edited on September 6, 2005 at 3:00 PM. Reason : ]

9/6/2005 2:51:39 PM

i smell jealousy

[Edited on September 6, 2005 at 2:53 PM. Reason : s]

9/6/2005 2:51:50 PM

For the m coupe, yes.

9/6/2005 2:55:24 PM

get your own then

9/6/2005 2:56:25 PM

$

9/6/2005 2:57:53 PM

change your priorities and youll have $

9/6/2005 3:01:07 PM

which priorities are you talking about?

School = #1
Work = #2
Taking care of things I have = #3
Hobbies = #4

Leftover funding = $0.

[Edited on September 6, 2005 at 3:08 PM. Reason : M coupe > NSX.]

9/6/2005 3:06:23 PM

m-coupe isnt too harsh

9/6/2005 5:02:56 PM

If money weren't an issue (since I haven't priced any of these cars recently) I'd probably go for the NSX just because it's pretty rare and makes everybody look twice. You made it sound like you'd only be able to afford a higher mileage NSX, which most people will say isn't a good idea...but damn, its a Honda, it'll probably be alright. Hell, my car has almost 180K on it now and GM built it, the honda should be good for some miles.

I once saw somebody say the oil pumps were shitty on NSX's or had some sort of chronic problem, but I have absolutly no clue how true that is.

9/6/2005 5:14:03 PM

NSX

9/6/2005 5:27:24 PM

A friend of mine who finished grad school a few years back bought a 91 or 92 NSX. He loves the thing except for one thing.....the atrocious gearing. He said it's a lot like a damn motorcylce. 1st gear runs up to 8x mph, and 2nd gear is just as bad. Sure that sounds cool and all, but he said he can't get into the VTEC part of the power band in 2nd or 3rd unless he's REALLY breaking the law, pretty making the car not that fun to drive around unless it's dark outside. He said a set of JDM gears in the back would make it more liveable though. Gorgeous car though

9/6/2005 5:39:20 PM

Doesn't underPSI have an NSX? Perhaps he can weigh in on the topic.

9/6/2005 5:42:15 PM

I don't even think the NSX is that great of a car especially considering the money, but it's way cooler than the other ones he's considering.

9/6/2005 5:45:59 PM

GET THE NSX

YOU POSTED THIS THREAD

AND I SAW AN NSX ON THE ROAD

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ABOUT A DECADE

(NO JOKE)

9/6/2005 5:50:12 PM

that BMW is ugly as hell anyway, and why buy a honda that I can see every day when you can buy a Honda that you will see every month maybe

9/6/2005 5:52:45 PM

M Coupe

9/6/2005 6:01:41 PM

jesus christ



you're more indecisive than a woman

9/6/2005 7:11:53 PM

s2000 isnt even in the same category as an m coupe or nsx. dont but the car you see every day. You basically have two things too look at here.

1) Do you want something exotic and fun to drive.

2) Do you want a beastly little car that will have you grinning everytime you get out of it?

9/6/2005 7:49:10 PM

if you're buying it only because of the "exoticness" without doing your homework first, then you're going to get screwed on insurance, upkeep, and other "exotic" problems.

For instance, on my car, all of the internals are all found in a trooper, and therefore 99% of the "important" parts are easy to come by (straight off a GM in most cases)

However, body parts are currently very hard to come by. According to a guy at the last VX meet I went to, plastic cladding pieces are on a 9-week wait and the used market doesn't exist.

I love some of the looks I get in my "exotic" but to be honest, if I ever have a wreck I'm going to wish I drove a taurus when it comes time to fix it.

9/6/2005 7:55:52 PM

Quote :

"that BMW is ugly as hell anyway, and why buy a honda that I can see every day when you can buy a Honda that you will see every month maybe"

I see an NSX a day.

9/6/2005 8:35:58 PM

Quote :

"Doesn't underPSI have an NSX? "

yes. red '94. 35,647 miles.

Quote :

"Perhaps he can weigh in on the topic."

ok.

all bmw's, to me, are garbage. horrible overall reliablility history. plus, the car is fucking ugly. a wannabe station wagon on steriods. ive never driven one so i can't comment on how they handle. i have driven an M3 so i know its got ample power.

an nsx is an nsx. the car handles so well it can make a horrible driver look like a pro. people love 'em, people hate 'em, as with any car. i haven't had one problem with mine but i guess you have to drive it to have problems.

the s2000 is fun and nimble but definitely couldnt own one long without a supercharger. the lack of low-end just fucking sucks.



if you can get an nsx, then get one. the ride is stiff, but it actually is a comfortable stiff. fun car. you'll love it.

9/6/2005 10:26:41 PM

As long as you get an NSX out of the "Snap Ring Range" or one that has had the reacall done your pretty much home free. As long as you are mechanically able enough to change basic stuff that gets old on a 10+ year old car such as belts hoses etc. then you are golden. But seriously is there really an argument?? Just look at a picture of an NSX compared to an M Coupe and I think you will have your answer. Not to mention one would drive circles around the other on a real track.

9/6/2005 11:43:11 PM

^^damn. that's pretty decisive. Sounds damn good to me. Btw, how long have you had your nsx? how many miles when you bought it, and when? would you mind telling me (via PM) about what ballpark you would expect to pay for a car of the same condition? I imagine could afford more than what I've shopped for, but I'm wary of pushing the limit, you know? I have no idea if I'm gonna wrap it around a tree the first week and will need 10-15 grand to fix the damn thing.

Everyone who has driven an nsx says about the same thing. "you won't feel like you're missing any power" and "you'll feel like a driving god" and "you'll never go anywhere without being noticed its such a great looking car." Powerful statements I've never heard of the other two cars.

To address q's about the disparity of performance across the cars I've chosen, understand that I'm trying to maximize the thrill of driving, not specifically a performance range per dollar. An s2000 is all about driving connection and fun despite hardly being a rocket.

For example, unless you're doing a high-rev launch, the acceleration difference between my LS v8 and an s2000 is noticeable but nowhere near the gulf suggested by the fun levels to be had driving each car down the same string of road. stealthy/benign speed strikes me as being like numb sex.

Also, I'm a damn klutz. Driving that s2000 made me feel like a pro it was so easy to drive. I'd heard they were tricky on the limit and was very happy to find that I wasn't anywhere near it while driving near my personal comfort envelope. I'm no schumacher and all the better for it.

I can only imagine an nsx, which is basically just more of the same from the average critic's report, will be ecstacy on wheels.

The m coupe is a little left field here. It's much more of a torque monster compared to either the nsx or s2k, but I wonder if it'd really feel better overall. also, I dig the visibility offered by the japanese cars in this comparo. I can't remember ever liking looking down a long hood, regardless of how far away the front wheels are (promising good balance). I would consider the looks issue almost a wash between the m coupe and nsx. A lot of people hate the m coupe, I really love it. I would keep that car spotless and would always be walking into things because I'd be walking backwards when leaving it, I really think I'd love looking at it every day. I filled my camera with 2048x???? pics the other day in crabtree's parking deck.

I've ignored tons of fun and "cheap" cars, some of which are in my price range new. A 2006 wrx is a good example, which has the 2.5 from the newest forester and not the older 2.0L turbo. turbo lag solved. strong contender, can't argue with 4wd, and the body isn't anywhere near as small as any of the cars I've been suggesting. If I end up trading in my LS to get the new car (I don't think so...) then the sedan/wagon body gives up only a little in practicality, if anything. But it isn't what I want. I haven't stayed up late thinking about the wrx the way I did that little s2k. Now I haven't driven one, mind.... So who knows... I'll probably have to drive one before I buy anything, but I assure you, I'm expecting it to be a formality after I find a suitable nsx, s2k, or m coupe.

btw... fucking awesome thread, I'm really appreciating the honest, relatively flame-free forum going on here.

And ahmet, good stuff last night talkin about the m coupe. Almost got be convinced there, but all those 944ts and 968s pics had me thinkin about 928s....




[Edited on September 6, 2005 at 11:53 PM. Reason : dammit. I'll come back and write more...]

9/6/2005 11:47:56 PM

M coupe is fugly people, seriously this thing is ugly as hell

9/6/2005 11:48:56 PM

NSX vs M Coupe, Id go NSX without a doubt.

9/7/2005 3:08:44 AM

^^thats a scam

9/7/2005 10:21:58 AM

you guys are nuts, M coupes are awesome as hell. and yes, you want torque, especially in a daily driver

9/7/2005 10:28:47 AM

GG ON MAKING UP YOUR MIND

9/7/2005 10:31:55 AM

Just buy one of each and then sell the ones that you don't like.

Set em up.

9/7/2005 10:33:23 AM

2

9/7/2005 10:37:38 AM