I don't own a Ferrari or an NSX. I used to think I would eventually own an Ferrari, but now I don't think I want one. I would much rather have an NSX.
I am a subscribed member of FerrariChat. I appreciate the Ferrari mystique and the beauty of most of their designs. I have gone to- and photographed exactly two of their events, and had the images featured in The Ferraris of Chicagoland calendars and in Pilota magazine. I've met some nice folks in person and online.
Over the years, my Ferrari-owning fantasy has been dimmed. No matter what kind you get, you have to expect to spend or put aside at least $5,000 for maintenance per year, even if you barely drive it. The older cars need everything replaced, and the newer cars need their Major Service every 15,000 miles. I think you would have to be delusional to expect to get 100,000 miles from a Ferrari. The list of "things to watch out for" when shopping used Ferraris can fill a book. Can a Ferrari be used as a daily driver? Only if you have a LOT of money to burn, a short commute, no salted roads, it's not too hot, and you have a spare car, - oh god, why risk it? Their cost-to-own-per-mile has to be about the highest of any car.
By comparison, I admire the NSX design and form, and the reliability it achieves while looking so good. I don't think any NSX owner doubts their car can get well over 100,000 miles. it seems the NSX "list of things to watch out for" contains only a few things: Snap Ring, slow windows. Visors. Um, not much else. Can an NSX be used as a daily driver? Of course! They are so much more practical.
I don't think the NSX has the "mystique" that Ferrari has, and that's probably good. When I look at a Ferrari, I can feel the "mystique." A lot of that feeling is that "Wow, somebody can afford to keep that thing running. It must be nice for them." I think that if Ferraris were more reliable or less of a headache to maintain, some of the mystique would not be there.
.
