(Reason I put the Elise to compare to is that it costs roughly the same but probably more important is that it's regarded as "THE" car by many here, including me probably..)
Cheers,
Alex
Last saturday there was a small sports cars meeting where 4 cars covered 300 miles of small twisty roads (the cars were: Honda S2000, Honda NSX, Rover
K engined Caterham and my Locost Blade, I shall be posting a few pics soon as I don't have them with me just now).
So one of these cars was a Honda NSX and I kind of fell in love with it, so I've just had a look to its 2nd hand value.
It turns out that here in Spain you can find a '92 NSX with say 80000 miles on the clock at roughly the same price you would pay for a Rover K
engined Elise (say 3-4 years old and few miles, maybe 30000).
I'm buying none of them and anyway they're both too expensive for me but I'm very curious as to which one do you favour??
Opinions?
Honda NSX.
Nuff said.
Lotus for me
such different cars that you cannot really compare them.....................I'd add both to my collection!
Elise for me (S) too - Honda too refined.
Definitely the Elise!
C'mon guys, arguments, reasons!!
(Reason I put the Elise to compare to is that it costs roughly the same but probably more important is that it's regarded as "THE" car
by many here, including me probably..)
Cheers,
Alex
quote:
Originally posted by NS Dev
such different cars that you cannot really compare them.....................I'd add both to my collection!
Alez,
Reasons for my choice of Elise over NSX include in no particular order...
1. Looks - absolutely no contest IMHO
2. Size - the NSX is quite big isn't it?
3. Running costs - I'm assuming a 13 year old semi-supercar with 80k on the clock is going to cost more to run on tyres, servicing parts etc
(Japanese or not)
4. I've driven an Elise on the track and know how much I enjoyed it
5. Looks (did I say that already
)
6. It's a big part of the reason I'm building a kitcar as it's probably the cheapest way to get a car with similar/comparable power to
eight ration and handling (if not looks)
That do you?
Cheers
Nick
Had an Elise and loved it, only sold it as I wanted to build my own.
Elise will be easier to fix, get parts, cheaper, etc.
Rich.
NSX won't go wrong if looked after. It's a Honda.
LOTUS will spend most of its life in the garage fixing endless list of problems.
I know a guy who works for LOTUS who's job is to fix the problems on the Elise BEFORE they go out the door. Minor things like windows not
fitting or working. Leaks from the engine bay etc, etc. He wouldn't buy one!!!!
Actually I have known a few over the years as I used to live near Hethel and watch them test in the old days before GM put up a dirty great fence!!
Even so, I would still love an Elise myself. Just prefer the NSX.
Mark
Very interesting answers!
> 1. Looks - absolutely no contest IMHO
Agree, no contest. Although the NSX doesn't look bad for its age, and for nowadays it looks a lot better than say the MX-5, mostly thanks to
proportions (it's wide and low).
> 2. Size - the NSX is quite big isn't it?
Yes, it's wide and considerably heavier (around 1350 kg), but rather low and has something like 275 bhp so still good power-weight ratio.
Talking about the MX-5, I'd love to see the NSX engine inside one of those, I wonder if it would fit?
Cheers,
Alex
i'd have an nsx any day of the week.
looks just as good as an elise imho, more reliable, more performance, probably more practical if not easily as good as an elise.
probaby more refined as an everyday car, but unleash it on the track and I'm sure it wouldn't disappoint!
and as far as supercars go they are bargain prices, even if it is a lot of money, it is certainly money well spent.
Ned.
NSX anytime!! Proper engine!!
NSX!
NSX
As an NSX owner for the last 7 years, I still love the car because...
It's fast, refined, comfortable and very very reliable so suitable for everyday use.
It still turns heads.
Cheap to service, compared to my Audi A4!!!!
Cheap to run 30+ mpg when driven sensibly. Insurance sub £500.
Reportedly, Honda subsidized each car to the tune of £200K.
I've driven the Lotus and although good fun it's not in the same league as the NSX.
Cheers
Gary
Although the NSX has undoubtably got the credentials to mix it with the rest of the supercars... I always considered it 'a bit girlie'. You
can't deny it is a lovely looking car - although ageing badly now - and it's performance speaks for itself. I've sat in one -
that's about it, but the looks... I just can't get my head around the fact that it looks feminine and as such I wouldn't have one.
Performance aside... it's in the same aesthetic category as MX6, Lexus Soarer, etc... is a 'pretty' car - not a muscle-car.
As for justifying having one because it's reliable. Why on earth build a kit-car of your own? - It's never going to be so relaible you will
never have to touch it again, is it?
All IMHO of course!
The big downside is the lack of power with both cars. I think the Lotus "gets away" with it better though. The honda is pretty heavy, and
275hp in 1350kg just doesn't cut the mustard in my book! To take an extreme example, my mate's old £5000 sierra cosworth would make it look
like it was standing still!! (405hp in 1350kg)
Much as I love Honda engineering, I can't understand the use of the word supercar with reference to the NSX. Bloody good car, but not supercar.
quote:
Originally posted by Alez
quote:
Originally posted by NS Dev
such different cars that you cannot really compare them.....................I'd add both to my collection!
Are they so different? They can't be too far from each other in bhp / ton, and they should both handle very well (at least the Elise does, or so everybody says, NSX not so sure). Is the NSX not as "pure"? What do you think?
gotta be an NSX
absolutley murder an Elise, better mpg, never break..
quote:
Originally posted by NS DevThey are totally and utterly different cars!
The NSX is a GT car.
The Elise is a sportscar. Forget power to weight for a moment. Weight alone counts for a lot in terms of handling, braking etc. A nimble car is light, that is a simple fact pointed out by Colin Chapman many years ago.
Worth remebering that it was a guy called Senna that helped develop the NSX.
Nuff said.
A little bird told me that the suspension of the NSX and Mclaren F1 bare more than a passing resemblance.
I was also told that the NSX was Gordon Murray's everyday driver when he designed the F1?
Also worth considering than the NSX won EVO magazine drivers car of the decade, i think it was...
against all sorts of trick stuff, including Exige,Elise, M3 etc etc
How 'bout this:
NSX as a daily driver (hmmmm......), and the Elise for those days when you want to go a bit crazy (or completely bonkers!)
Does anyone seriously take what EVO, REVS, MAXPOWER et al say? The 20" wheel, triple engined Vauxhall Norsa (702bhp @25,000 rpm) with 6 x 4"
Chav Bling Exhaust' Mr. Wassap. Com pimp me ryde minga s'appnin' dude? Nuff sed...
I mean... come on, at least quote a real critique publication.
quote:
Originally posted by Hellfire
Does anyone seriously take what EVO, REVS, MAXPOWER et al say? The 20" wheel, triple engined Vauxhall Norsa (702bhp @25,000 rpm) with 6 x 4" Chav Bling Exhaust' Mr. Wassap. Com pimp me ryde minga s'appnin' dude? Nuff sed...
I mean... come on, at least quote a real critique publication.
NSX is triumph of technology
Elise is a triumph of pure design
Chalk and Cheese a bit like comparing a Tornado with a Spitfire
If it were my money and it had to be an NA car, it would be an M3 and a load newer than the NSX.
Whilst a "bland" car, throttle response and grin factor would be up with both.
Compare an NSX to a Esprit S4 (similar price and age) and its a tougher choice.
Jap'mobile verses English class with a dollop of reliability issues. Either would be great every day cars and both would look OK parked outside a
Kensington apartment. For quick point-to-point twisty stuff the NSX would win but as you got out of the Esprit in your tux, you'd feel better
than the guy in his Levis in the NSX.
Mainstream Jap or British built fun (applies to both Lotus's), its quite a difference.
Bit like the scooby/evo verses Escort Cossie debate.......
Think it would be the NSX, buy it now run for a few years and if all goes well sell it, buy an Elise of the same year as the begining one and blow the rest on a holiday
quote:
Originally posted by Hellfire
The 20" wheel, triple engined Vauxhall Norsa (702bhp @25,000 rpm) Nuff sed...
quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
NSX is triumph of technology
Elise is a triumph of pure design
Chalk and Cheese a bit like comparing a Tornado with a Spitfire
quote:
Originally posted by GaryM
A little bird told me that the suspension of the NSX and Mclaren F1 bare more than a passing resemblance.
quote:
Originally posted by Hellfire
Does anyone seriously take what EVO, REVS, MAXPOWER et al say? The 20" wheel, triple engined Vauxhall Norsa (702bhp @25,000 rpm) with 6 x 4" Chav Bling Exhaust' Mr. Wassap. Com pimp me ryde minga s'appnin' dude? Nuff sed...
I mean... come on, at least quote a real critique publication.
quote:
Originally posted by NS Dev
quote:
Originally posted by GaryM
A little bird told me that the suspension of the NSX and Mclaren F1 bare more than a passing resemblance.
...................yes, in both cases connecting the wheels to the rest of the car.......................
quote:
Originally posted by andyps
another is building an M3 to get round the ring in under 8 minutes.
EVO is like Maxpower? eh?
have you actually read either?
EVO is one of the most driver oriented magazines I've ever read. Ex touring car champion as a road tester, regular column from formula one test
driver, most of the old Performance Car staffers are there now.
Yearly visit to Spa, Nurburgring etc etc
Cant think of a better mag to assess proper sports cars.
So there.
quote:
Originally posted by Liam
quote:
Originally posted by andyps
another is building an M3 to get round the ring in under 8 minutes.
Hmmmm, a standard car and some driving lessons ought to do the trick!
Liam
quote:
Originally posted by Jumpy Guy
EVO is like Maxpower? eh?
have you actually read either?
EVO is one of the most driver oriented magazines I've ever read. Ex touring car champion as a road tester, regular column from formula one test driver, most of the old Performance Car staffers are there now.
Yearly visit to Spa, Nurburgring etc etc
Cant think of a better mag to assess proper sports cars.
So there.
quote:
Originally posted by GaryM
quote:
Originally posted by NS Dev
quote:
Originally posted by GaryM
A little bird told me that the suspension of the NSX and Mclaren F1 bare more than a passing resemblance.
...................yes, in both cases connecting the wheels to the rest of the car.......................
Interesting............obviously you're familar with both cars. What are the differences?
Piccie..
Rescued attachment ceterham_locost_nsx.jpg
This one is nice too..
[Edited on 16/9/05 by Alez]
Rescued attachment ceterham_locost_nsx_s2000.jpg
quote:
Originally posted by NS Dev
quote:
Originally posted by GaryM
quote:
Originally posted by NS Dev
quote:
Originally posted by GaryM
A little bird told me that the suspension of the NSX and Mclaren F1 bare more than a passing resemblance.
...................yes, in both cases connecting the wheels to the rest of the car.......................
Interesting............obviously you're familar with both cars. What are the differences?
That sounded nearly as sarky as my comment!
Ok, both cars have double wishbones front and rear.
Mclaren has carbon fibre uprights. Honda doesn't. Mclaren has short lightweight alloy dampers all round. Honda has long steel "strut-like" ones all round.
Saying that the two bear "more than a passing resemblance" is akin to saying that a locost does as well, because it uses double wishbones!
Incidentally I have a little vague familiarity with the F1 project (only very vague though!) as Mclaren used 2 Ultimas bought from my mate's company in the development of the F1. There is a chapter on the Ultima in the "official" Mclaren F1 book.
Id only buy either to drive HARD, and a lot of it on track, and an 18 year old limited production car for which panels are near impossible to find is
of no use to me.
If I wanted a rare car to collect and treasure it would be an old lotus, jaguar, porsche etc, not a 92 honda.
considering this thread is 4.5 years old, hes probably decided already.