What to get: NSX, 355, or Esprit V8

[StallionX]

they are all head turners.. as long as they are washed and in great shape.. when my car is dirty it gets 1/2 the looks as it when it's clean..

[StallionX]

Actually.. I like pop up headlights more than the fixed ones.. just my opinion though.. too bad pop ups are all gone now..

[EspritMike]

Originally Posted by Tristar Racing

How much can a used GT3 be had for? Im not even sure what year they started with those. The thought of a car like that without the turbo lag makes me smile.

low-70s to low 80s seems to be the going rate for low mile, no stories Certified Pre-Owned 2004 GT3s. First year in the US was 2004.

I was faced with a similar decision. I sold two Esprits (nice S4s and a ratty '86 HCi) and really, really wanted a 355. Even had my eye on a '95 black/black Berlinetta with a ton of service history for $65k. In the end, I just couldn't handle the unknown this time around and wanted no hassle ownership so I got the GT3.

[StallionX]

yeah but porsches are a DIME a DOZEN

every time you fire up the ferrari you literally have an erection.. if you don't then F-YOU!!!

[bli8]

Originally Posted by Stephen

Correct.

I am selling both my GT3 and F355 Spider, both around $75K. GT3 has ceramic brakes that will make your eyeballs pop out when you slam on the brakes, F355 will make bystanders' eye balls pop out. Totally different cars. Thinking of a 360 CS or another P car.... and need room in the garage.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by StallionX

yeah but porsches are a DIME a DOZEN

every time you fire up the ferrari you literally have an erection.. if you don't then F-YOU!!!

I'd rather have the dime a dozen and have a good car. Never understood why exclusivity and wow factor (impressing others) is so important; but to each their own.

I would highly recommend a GT3 based on my experiences with the 996 and 997 cars. I have never driven one (GT3), but it can only be more of a good thing and is ready to drive to the track! Kind of like our beloved little Exises (new word to combine Elise and Exige).

[StallionX]

Originally Posted by Stephen

I'd rather have the dime a dozen and have a good car. Never understood why exclusivity and wow factor (impressing others) is so important; but to each their own.

I would highly recommend a GT3 based on my experiences with the 996 and 997 cars. I have never driven one (GT3), but it can only be more of a good thing and is ready to drive to the track! Kind of like our beloved little Exises (new word to combine Elise and Exige).

wow factor(impressing others) has NOTHING to do with the feeling a ferrari 355 or Lotus Esprit/elise will give ya...

A car lover usually adores a car for Wayyyy more than it being reliable.. It's that feeling you get when looking at it, it's thinking about the car.. and the feeling of getting in the car and turning the key.. the thrill..

The nsx is very cool car.. and there is excitement getting in the car.. but if you have driven an elise/esprit/ferrari then go to the nsx I can ASSURE you that you will notice something different.

That something is character, personality.. an unquantifiable quality that makes people shell out 100k-1 million for one of these cars..

Sure there are reliable cars out there.. but if that was the case why would ANYONE want a lamborghini/lotus/ferrari when they could just get a corvette and be done with it?

[bli8]

Originally Posted by Stephen

I'd rather have the dime a dozen and have a good car. Never understood why exclusivity and wow factor (impressing others) is so important; but to each their own.

I would highly recommend a GT3 based on my experiences with the 996 and 997 cars. I have never driven one (GT3), but it can only be more of a good thing and is ready to drive to the track! Kind of like our beloved little Exises (new word to combine Elise and Exige).

So you have an '08 GT3 on order? Good for you! As to the wow factor, every time I hear my F355's V8 through the Tubi exhaust, I go wow! Every time I look at the classic lines of the car, I go wow. Trust me, if I had the garage space, I'd keep this car. Yes, belts needed to be changed every 8 to 10 years or so and my recent clutch and throw out bearing cost $4K but the car really isn't that expensive to buy, just more expensive than most to maintain. Also considering my one year full coverage insurance on the car is only $475, yes, it costs less than the Lotus. Go figure, I guess people don't crash older Ferraris as new Lotuses.

[PhlypSide]

Originally Posted by StallionX

.....Sure there are reliable cars out there.. but if that was the case why would ANYONE want a lamborghini/lotus/ferrari when they could just get a corvette and be done with it?

For reliability Toyota Powered Lotus > any other Lotus
For reliability Toyota > GM (ironic because some GM's like the 80s Nova 90s Prizms, and the 2000s Vibe are Toyotas).

Ferrari and Lambo? Should not even be thinking of buying them if you're going to blink at the $10-12K you're going to spend every 15K miles or so.

Suprisingly affordable to buy (e.g. 80s-90s entry level Ferraris), but very expen$ive to maintain.

[JimK]

Originally Posted by PhlypSide

Not a stab at anyone in particular, but why does everyone seem to say the NSX is "dated"?

Does it matter? Is newer always better?

Besides with comparatively vast array of aftermarket tweaks you can do to the NSX it can be refreshed pretty effectively. I like the 01+ fixed headlight models as they look adequately "refreshed" from the factory to me.

+1: actually the fixed headlights came in '02 though.

[Vampyre]

Originally Posted by StallionX

yeah but porsches are a DIME a DOZEN

every time you fire up the ferrari you literally have an erection.. if you don't then F-YOU!!!

Wow you must be lucky to be in a city loaded with Porsches, that has to be very cool.

[exarkun1178]

Originally Posted by Vampyre

Wow you must be lucky to be in a city loaded with Porsches, that has to be very cool.

are you kidding? on my way to work today, about 4 miles, passed 4. 2 boxers, 2 911's. i live in a small shore town, cant imagine how many more must be in bigger towns/ cities

their everywhere. and most people dont know the differnce between a 911 tt or the gt3 hell even base 911. they all look the same.( to most)

[StallionX]

Originally Posted by exarkun1178

are you kidding? on my way to work today, about 4 miles, passed 4. 2 boxers, 2 911's. i live in a small shore town, cant imagine how many more must be in bigger towns/ cities

their everywhere. and most people dont know the differnce between a 911 tt or the gt3 hell even base 911. they all look the same.( to most)

Yes, he has to be kidding.. People buy porsches like tic tacs now a days..

I'ts funny because I see carrera's (about 90k) daily and even a few turbo's a week at least which are 120-140k cars but I RARELY see Esprit's/ Ferrari's/ Lamborghini's/ Ford GT's which are in that same pricerange..

It is interesting indeed..

[shawncweed]

Notes…

Once again I am impressed the depth of the valuable and insightful comments…it really makes me rethink some things. My chief impressions:

1. First, The 911 GT3 posted is gorgeous. What a masterful piece of engineering and aesthetics. I read another article last night about the 2007 model and it seems about a perfect blend of driving and racing machine around…The 106k msrp…which really mean 120+k is a stumbling block for me, and most I imagine…which of course only adds to its allure.

2. I was also impressed by the gentlemen who wrote who still commutes around day in and day out in his TR6. That is passion, and what these types of cars are all about. I loved my TR6 and enjoyed every minute I was behind the wheel…and I always learned to forgive it when it would leave me stranded in some tiny North Carolinian hamlet, covered with oil and holding some part I knew no one for 200 miles had…but I always seemed to get out of jam and love looking back on those experiences. Now, as I am older and have less time on my hands I want the passion without the novelty of getting stuck somewhere. I think all the cars discussed over the last few days have an order of magnitude better reliability rating than my TR6 ever had. From what I gleaned form the posts none of the cars mentioned seemed to have any real disastrous maintenance issues…other than costs. And the Ferrari guys made good points…Yes, they are expensive for major services, but they don’t need them all the time and the cars themselves seem pretty reliable…same with the Esprit and NSX.

3. I love the idea of a motorcycle and looked at getting a Ducatic Classic Sport, but my wife nixed it on the spot…had a nasty accident years ago and it is off the table…but man, that bike looks and sounds great…reminds me of 1976 at Laguna Seca

3. Looks aren’t everything, but they definitely count. When I came back from Iraq in 2003 I wanted to get a sports car badly and test drove the Boxster, Z4 and the S2000 (ust like what was laid out in Car and Driver). Neither the Boxster or Z4 left me yearning…they were nice, but I really didn’t feel compelled to either of them. Particularly the Z4, whose looks to me are odd, not ugly, but unusual, and I didn’t like the idea of having to convince myself I like the looks of my car every time I went out to put the key in it. The S2000 isn’t exotic looking, but it is nicely proportioned and reminded me of a modern TR6. That, and the electricity I felt when driving it, really hooked me. I am puzzled by those who say looks don’t matter…it is like getting a wife because she has a strong back and good teeth. I think the Ferrari is the best looking, followed by the Esprit (minus the wing), followed by the NSX…I think out Elise is a work of art and from certain angles, like the standing right in front, is among the best looking cars I have seen. It seems a little out of proportion from the side, as if the wheel base is too short…but overall it is quite a fetching ride.

So…my latest read is…NSX loses a bit of ground in the passion department…and the Ferrari and Esprit gain…But it is hard to tell without driving them. My concern now, based on reading everyone’s notes are the Esprit’s ergonomics. The Elise is small, but nicely laid out with plenty of room for me even with the top on (I am 5 foot, 10)…It sounds as if the Esprit may fit oddly…I definitely look forward to the tests when I get back in 8 short weeks…

Thanks again.

S

[Imolas54]

if you base your decision on a test drive, the ferrari will win every time. No other street car sounds like a ferrari, especially w/ a tubi and decat, it's a dated machine but still turns heads...

if you base your decision on money, the NSX is best bang for the buck, still turns some heads and it's still a wonderful piece of machine (i've owned 2 myself)

The lotus falls in between the two, so i say either go all the way (F355) or not (NSX).

[Moto44]

Originally Posted by Imolas54

No other street car sounds like a ferrari.

Agreed. Driving the 355 is music to the ears in a way that the others can't compete.

[SillyPuppy]

I have to second bli8's note: my insurance also (pleasant surprise!) went down when I swapped out the '05 Elise for a '97 F355.

Orrie

[lotuson74]

Let me get back to helping you with a decision here!
Stallion has a point - The car is rare & has increadable road presance. What he talks about the feeling it gives you is true and hard to put into words.
No matter what anyone tells you - the Esprit V8 is not that expensive to maintain (but a lack of maintenance OR improper driving will get expensive)

I also want to address some comments here about the Esprit's handeling not being as good or fun as the Elise/Exige. It is just as good and connected in fact and feel. If one does not feel as good, it is due to improper allignment or the bad stock Dunlop tires. You also need to have the 03.5's spring/shocks.

For: gmendoza, I had my 03.5 alligned at Glenn's allignment in Costa Mesa then I slightly changed the rear toe (can't remember which way ) I also added 10mm spacers to the rear wheels with longer bolts and used Michelin PS2 tiers (same size as stock in the front but 295's in the rear) Do the allignment first then (I think I toed the rear "out" slightly from where Glenns shop had it) then the spacers & tires. - You will be happy with the result! Also, I just ordered a Snow Performance water/methanol injection system for my 04 (will now be capable of 800 hp. on pump fuel - I will probably wait to do the bottom end and posi before I try to go that high, If I can resist the urge!)

[lotuson74]

Originally Posted by Moto44

Agreed. Driving the 355 is music to the ears in a way that the others can't compete.

You have never heard a 06 BMW M5 V10 with Dinan exhaust - Everybit as good as ANY Ferrari/Lambo. even with Tubi!!!!!!!!!!

[lotuson74]

I just noticed - you are 5'10" You will probably fit the Esprit great if you are say 190 to 210 lbs.?