How many become victims of that philosophy. Remember, by his own admit OP's well only goes so deep, let's not misinform him. I would say this forum is more realist than biased, and many of whom can afford a later style Nsx can also afford a 360. There's a reason why our rebuttal to the Ferrari boys is to tout the Nsx as the "smart man's Ferrari"
Going from a ferrari 360 back to an nsx?
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How many become victims of that philosophy. Remember, by his own admit OP's well only goes so deep, let's not misinform him. I would say this forum is more realist than biased, and many of whom can afford a later style Nsx can also afford a 360. There's a reason why our rebuttal to the Ferrari boys is to tout the Nsx as the "smart man's Ferrari"
And all targas look and sound weak and cheap with all the squeaking and rattling, regardless of the make and model...... 
You just made my point. Yes we are biased and for some of us it's based on experience. Those that have owned both have told him the pros and cons of Ferrari ownership. The OP sounds like a big boy who can take the information given to make an informed decision. If he can afford the additional costs and he truly wants to experience one of his dream cars, he should. He can always come back. Most do.
I'm not sure what philosphy you are talking about. I have a passion for the NSX. However, though several people who have owned Ferraris and NSXs have told me about the costs associated with Ferrari ownership, if I could afford it I would own one. I don't know of one former or current Ferrari owner who is ashamed of their ownership no matter how good or bad their experience. And using scales of economies, the same could be said of someone who owns an S2000 or Integra and they are considering an NSX. The cost of ownership on an NSX is significantly higher than those cars. We own our NSXs because we can accept the additional cost and we want to own our dream car.
I was going to buy a 360 prior to my first nsx. I searched and found a nice 6 speed. test drove it and went through all the pre buy questions and internal thought process. Since it was at a dealer i didnt feel obligated to put a deposit right away on such a big investment without "sleeping on it". The next day i was reading through ferrarichat and other boards and starting to doubt my decision. I dont have unlimited funds. Yes i have my house and toys (4 cars, quad, boat, and more) but i realized if i buy the ferrari and had one of those problem cars (not all of them are) then i would be in a hole i dont want to be in.
A big part that got me was why do ferrari owners "High 5" each other when a car reaches 50k miles or more? My NSX may not be a ferrari or as another thread described them as being like an indian casino vs vegas. But its reliable, exotic, and has held its value way better than any ferrari in my range (no Ezno, F40/F50 here...)
My uncle had a 08 430 and the car had 8k miles on it after 4 years of ownership. well the F1 module went... and when it went it wiped the clutch. 14k later he was able to get the car back from the dealer. Made my decision to look at them a lot easier than owning one... Plus whenever i go to a cars/coffee or cruise or whatever I am typically the ONLY NSX next to a half dozen or more Lambos or Ferraris....sad when someone owns such a prestigious car and when at a car gathering talking to other people and mention they have the ferrari over there and have to explain which one....
A big part that got me was why do ferrari owners "High 5" each other when a car reaches 50k miles or more? My NSX may not be a ferrari or as another thread described them as being like an indian casino vs vegas. But its reliable, exotic, and has held its value way better than any ferrari in my range (no Ezno, F40/F50 here...)
My uncle had a 08 430 and the car had 8k miles on it after 4 years of ownership. well the F1 module went... and when it went it wiped the clutch. 14k later he was able to get the car back from the dealer. Made my decision to look at them a lot easier than owning one... Plus whenever i go to a cars/coffee or cruise or whatever I am typically the ONLY NSX next to a half dozen or more Lambos or Ferraris....sad when someone owns such a prestigious car and when at a car gathering talking to other people and mention they have the ferrari over there and have to explain which one....
There are clearly a lot of us who could afford to buy a 360, but less that can afford to maintain it and even less than want to actually try. 
That's said, i sure do love the 360 Spyder.
That's said, i sure do love the 360 Spyder.
"......indian casino vs vegas......"
LOL!!!!
LOL!!!!
i too have thought about a 360.i think it's a beautiful car,more classic in some ways than the 458,which is mean as hell looking but to me doesn't flow as well.i had pretty much figured that maintenance on a 360 would be bad ,as it has a timing belt.well,i thought,the 430 doen't have a timing belt,but i bet there's some other expensive stuff that gets you.this post shows one example of that expensive stuff.430's are out of my range to purchase anyway,but that stopped me thinking about them.
i did search a couple years ago for 430's on autotrader after seeing a top gear which raved about them.i looked countrywide for less than $100k, and one car came up.or,to be correct, about 2/3 of a car.it was a wrecked 430 from the firewall back for about $70k.it wasn't clear if the engine,which was off to the side lying on the ground,was included.if you have a huge amount of money and can get a new ferrari every 2 years,or don't worry about $15k maintenance hits,why not have ferraris?but for the vast majority of us,the financial aspect makes it a risky choice,
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here was the direct quote from steveny..
Great response and example. I agree
- - - Updated - - -
I have recently been battling the decision to buy another car. 360, Gallardo, R8, 911 etc. I wanted something exotic that I can drive a little and resell.
After going over all the above cars and really looking at maintenance and "what if" costs I have decided to buy another NSX. Targa this time since my coupe is getting less and less drivable on the street and I want something I can just cruise around in.
I guess I won't understand until I own one what the big deal is. The 360 is cool much like the other cars on my list but when you see they are not super reliable and are very expensive to own it takes all the "status" away for me. I like responsible cars that won't let me down and won't break me. You see how my list quickly went back to the NSX.
Just wanted to share some insight from a 430 Scud owner in case some of you are wondering the true maintenance cost so far. I know its not the 360 but it may give you an idea of cost of ownership.
430 Scuderia
"No maintenance issues at all. No engine out services are required. The carbon ceramic brakes should never need replacement unless the car is tracked regularly. Brake replacement could be as much as 30K. Rule number one is do not track the car, then they last the life of the car. The annual service, which includes checking everything and replacing all fluids is about $1200.00. I do not know how much the wheels are but they will not be inexpensive. The lug nuts are titanium to reduce weight. The tire are also not inexpensive as they are a version made to increase the performance of the car. The Scud tires are standard on the Scud. They are an option on the McLaren MP4-12C. Ferrari says there should be no need for any so-called major services. The 360 was the first production Ferrari that does not require an engine out service. The 430 impoved it even further.
I can find out from Ferrari the cost of a replacement wheel and tires if you need more accurate information. I do know the headlamp replacement is $8000.00, but that is due to the carbon fiber case in which they reside. Mine were replaced under warranty because the lens became discolored from the inside.
I have around 4500 miles and the car has been absolutely perfect."
So maintenance doesn't sound too bad, but there's always the unlucky ones.
430 Scuderia
"No maintenance issues at all. No engine out services are required. The carbon ceramic brakes should never need replacement unless the car is tracked regularly. Brake replacement could be as much as 30K. Rule number one is do not track the car, then they last the life of the car. The annual service, which includes checking everything and replacing all fluids is about $1200.00. I do not know how much the wheels are but they will not be inexpensive. The lug nuts are titanium to reduce weight. The tire are also not inexpensive as they are a version made to increase the performance of the car. The Scud tires are standard on the Scud. They are an option on the McLaren MP4-12C. Ferrari says there should be no need for any so-called major services. The 360 was the first production Ferrari that does not require an engine out service. The 430 impoved it even further.
I can find out from Ferrari the cost of a replacement wheel and tires if you need more accurate information. I do know the headlamp replacement is $8000.00, but that is due to the carbon fiber case in which they reside. Mine were replaced under warranty because the lens became discolored from the inside.
I have around 4500 miles and the car has been absolutely perfect."
So maintenance doesn't sound too bad, but there's always the unlucky ones.
4500 miles and the car better be perfect. :biggrin:
Here is info on maintaining an F40 from the same owner of the Scuderia:
"I have done one major on the F40 and it will not need another in its lifetime. That was a number of years ago and ran about 22K. It is now just all of the little things that need attention. Of course it is difficult to get parts. Regular service is annual fluid change and upkeep due to age. Now there are also transporter costs as it is not driven to where it is serviced."
"They do not really have a factory refresh. My friend and his shop takes care of mine and he has refreshed pretty much everything. The last thing done was the interior, which is still original and looks like new. Ferrari has the Clasiche department that will completely recertify the car. I will be doing that at some point. Today, that cost ranges from $5000.00 to $7000.00."
Batmans- All his cars are perfect, always covered, detailed in a climate controlled garage. His NSX, F40, Scuderia, Porsche and soon to be 458 Speciale will be showroom condition.
F40 15000 miles
NSX has 14000 mile original 1996 owner and previous 1991 original owner.
Scuderia 4500 miles
Porsche Turbo I don't know the mileage I didn't look but it looked brand new as well
"I have done one major on the F40 and it will not need another in its lifetime. That was a number of years ago and ran about 22K. It is now just all of the little things that need attention. Of course it is difficult to get parts. Regular service is annual fluid change and upkeep due to age. Now there are also transporter costs as it is not driven to where it is serviced."
"They do not really have a factory refresh. My friend and his shop takes care of mine and he has refreshed pretty much everything. The last thing done was the interior, which is still original and looks like new. Ferrari has the Clasiche department that will completely recertify the car. I will be doing that at some point. Today, that cost ranges from $5000.00 to $7000.00."
Batmans- All his cars are perfect, always covered, detailed in a climate controlled garage. His NSX, F40, Scuderia, Porsche and soon to be 458 Speciale will be showroom condition.
F40 15000 miles
NSX has 14000 mile original 1996 owner and previous 1991 original owner.
Scuderia 4500 miles
Porsche Turbo I don't know the mileage I didn't look but it looked brand new as well
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Can't tell how far we are yet into beat dead horse mode but back to your original request:
Tho none of these are specifically related to a 360 (Do they have to be?):
1) My prior post above includes links by Prime member "DeHaldaswerth" detailing his selling an NSX, regretting, and seeking another. He eventually found a Zanardi NSX. Most interesting: he's owned but then sold numerous fantastic cars including a 458 and 430 and Gallardo. The only one he's apparently sold then gotten back into (and will likely hold onto for the long haul) is the NSX...
Technically the next 2 aren't selling/regretting examples but I think they kind of relate...
2 & 3) I wanted to buy a local '92 GPW at asking price (this one) last Nov/Dec. The seller is a collector and owns and/or has owned 8 Ferrari's, a Lambo, and a Maserati. He got pre-seller's remorse and decided to keep it as he liked the NSX too much. In his words about the cars he's owned over the years: "all neat, some better than others (the Maserati was an engineering nightmare - absolute junk); but none were the total package of the NSX. My friend in Atlantic City has an R8, Ford GT, Lotus V8 turbo, five 911s, a Panamera, four Ferraris, and a Lambo. He bought a 2005 NSX last year at my urging and drives it the most; adores it."
4) In 2006 I befriended a seller in Phoenix, a land developer - he was considering selling his '92 Berlina Black with 22k miles only because his Ford GT was coming back from service and he needed room in his garage. The Ford got totalled by his mechanic's shop so he held onto the NSX. He had every means to get into another Ford GT or Ferrari or R8 or whatever he wanted but the NSX severely decreased his interest other cars.
I think the many responses here have given similar good food for thought for your original request. Only you are going to be able to decide to take the plunge or not, regardless of any pro or con opinion or factoid in this thread. And all the talk of NSX "cost of acquiring & maintenance" is completely unavoidable with an NSX. Not feeling biased when I say this: the NSX is the total balanced package of performance, appearance, excitement/civility, rawness/comfort, exclusivity/understatement, cost of ownership, reliability/high-mileage-ability, and depreciation/appreciation. It's a point of pride to have all those things together with reasonably low costs of entry and maintenance/ownership, possibly better all-around than any other performance car ever (dare I say it). If any one of those things were lacking severely, especially if cost of ownership were high or reliability was just average or poor, then NSX would lose that understated aura and be just another regular performance car. Poor man's Ferrari, smart man's Ferrari, whatever. Like the Fifth Gear tribute to the NSX says..."when you see someone in a NSX, you know he knows exactly what he's doing," lol!
Good luck! I love car ownership adventure threads like this. It'd be way boring if the entire world favored NSX's. Variety is the spice of life...
(edit):
The first post from DeHaldaswerth's thread says it all, hilarious. If I read his thread & sig file correctly, he has 3 NSX's - the silver 03, the white widebody project, and the Zanardi?
Tho none of these are specifically related to a 360 (Do they have to be?):
1) My prior post above includes links by Prime member "DeHaldaswerth" detailing his selling an NSX, regretting, and seeking another. He eventually found a Zanardi NSX. Most interesting: he's owned but then sold numerous fantastic cars including a 458 and 430 and Gallardo. The only one he's apparently sold then gotten back into (and will likely hold onto for the long haul) is the NSX...
Technically the next 2 aren't selling/regretting examples but I think they kind of relate...
2 & 3) I wanted to buy a local '92 GPW at asking price (this one) last Nov/Dec. The seller is a collector and owns and/or has owned 8 Ferrari's, a Lambo, and a Maserati. He got pre-seller's remorse and decided to keep it as he liked the NSX too much. In his words about the cars he's owned over the years: "all neat, some better than others (the Maserati was an engineering nightmare - absolute junk); but none were the total package of the NSX. My friend in Atlantic City has an R8, Ford GT, Lotus V8 turbo, five 911s, a Panamera, four Ferraris, and a Lambo. He bought a 2005 NSX last year at my urging and drives it the most; adores it."
4) In 2006 I befriended a seller in Phoenix, a land developer - he was considering selling his '92 Berlina Black with 22k miles only because his Ford GT was coming back from service and he needed room in his garage. The Ford got totalled by his mechanic's shop so he held onto the NSX. He had every means to get into another Ford GT or Ferrari or R8 or whatever he wanted but the NSX severely decreased his interest other cars.
I think the many responses here have given similar good food for thought for your original request. Only you are going to be able to decide to take the plunge or not, regardless of any pro or con opinion or factoid in this thread. And all the talk of NSX "cost of acquiring & maintenance" is completely unavoidable with an NSX. Not feeling biased when I say this: the NSX is the total balanced package of performance, appearance, excitement/civility, rawness/comfort, exclusivity/understatement, cost of ownership, reliability/high-mileage-ability, and depreciation/appreciation. It's a point of pride to have all those things together with reasonably low costs of entry and maintenance/ownership, possibly better all-around than any other performance car ever (dare I say it). If any one of those things were lacking severely, especially if cost of ownership were high or reliability was just average or poor, then NSX would lose that understated aura and be just another regular performance car. Poor man's Ferrari, smart man's Ferrari, whatever. Like the Fifth Gear tribute to the NSX says..."when you see someone in a NSX, you know he knows exactly what he's doing," lol!
Good luck! I love car ownership adventure threads like this. It'd be way boring if the entire world favored NSX's. Variety is the spice of life...
(edit):
The first post from DeHaldaswerth's thread says it all, hilarious. If I read his thread & sig file correctly, he has 3 NSX's - the silver 03, the white widebody project, and the Zanardi?
It's probably been about nine years since my last post, but better late than never. I was looking through some of my old rantings on Prime, and it brought back so many pleasant memories.
As a certified car junkie, I've had the pleasure of owning many, many really great cars. I occasionally write reviews of my exploits on other forums, and regularly find myself making comparisons to my beloved 2001 NSX Coupe. Despite many oaths to the contrary, I sold that car some years back, and I have regretted it ever since. (When I look at the cars in my old profile, it makes me smile; so many cars have come and gone since then!)
I found a really special 03 Targa awhile back, low mileage and probably cleaner than the day it rolled out of the showroom. I bought it on the spot, and have been reliving the NSX greatness ever since. In fact, you'd probably laugh if I told you the cars that get left in the garage in favor of taking the NSX up the canyon. Here are two of them:
So, I guess what I'm saying is what you already know: the NSX is an incredible car, and there is nothing else out there quite like it. It's nice to be back!
BTW, if anyone knows of a super low mileage 91-2001 Coupe, I'm ready to add it to the stable. Right Now. No, I won't trade the Targa
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You Need To Buy An Acura NSX Right Now -- AFTER/DRIVE
Video discussion on need to buy older NSX NOW!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il3Z5adYs_Q
Video discussion on need to buy older NSX NOW!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il3Z5adYs_Q
Come to think of it, I think I have equal, if not slightly more power to weight ratio as the F40.
WOOOTT!
WOOOTT!
Just go rent one for the weekend and see if you like it enough to purchase. A well sorted 360 that is up to date with services is going to run you int the $80s. Soooooo if you are take a loan out for the balance of what you need to purchase a 360 and cite the reason for not jumping to a 430 is money, how will you afford an unexpected $8000 repair bill on the 360? Not trying to be smug, but it doesn't sound to me like you can afford to own a 360 right now.
All good discussion at this thread. I threw some offers out to those in the want to buy section about interest in my car, I'm not ready to fully throw it out there, but if someone throws a number at me that i can't resist, I may have to let it go. I was surprised at what I could actually get for mine with the miles it had on it, I was thinking I would get $5000 less. But an interesting thing happen after I took my "for sale" photos, I looked at them and realized that I am going to have a hard time letting the car go... it really has been a great ownership experience. Even with letting my nsx go, I am not ready to pull the trigger on a 360, there's alot of up front costs with making sure you get a good one (as with any exotic type car).
Some random thoughts.... it's interesting to see the differences in forums. The guys on Fchat see the 360 as a great starter f car and quite a reliable one at that. Sure there's going to be some bad eggs, but I'd dare bet there's more positive 360 cars out there that don't nickel and dime their owners than those that do.
Some random thoughts.... it's interesting to see the differences in forums. The guys on Fchat see the 360 as a great starter f car and quite a reliable one at that. Sure there's going to be some bad eggs, but I'd dare bet there's more positive 360 cars out there that don't nickel and dime their owners than those that do.
OP, why not fly to Las Vegas and drive one around LVMS for an afternoon with Exotics Racing? You can directly compare it to the GTR which they have on site as well. Sadly, no NSX. But this would be easily the best $1000 you could spend in helping you decide yeah or nay.
Have you seen the condition of some of those cars? I am not sure driving a beaten up 360 is a good way to experience the car for the first time.
agreed, I was there two weeks ago and I can definitely see them not taking care of the cars as they should. I did see a 430 but no 360 on premise. But unless youre buying the car to track it rending one from ExoticsRacing probably isnt your best option. you dont get a real feel for what its like on the street.
call my friends rob or matt at Gotham Dream Cars and rent a 360 for a day or two (make a trip out of whichever location you choose) and see what its really like. This wont give you the cost of ownership answers but it will give you a true feel for the car itself.
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I'm pretty sure their 360 burned to the ground somewhere in Malibu... Plus they do not rent manual cars.
lol i forgot about that.... that 360 went out in style. they were talking about it last week when we were in vegas. Didnt realize they only had one with all their locations. i am almost positive rob bought one for miami.
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