Again +1 on everyone's comments here. Robert is so right and remembers what I had to put in very well.
Now as to what DocJohn has to say - take head. It's not just a purchase price - cause when you buy an older car and start putting miles on it - maintenance really doesn't end! There is always something. It is impossible to get it all unless you just want to dump around 10k in a nice older one.
For example - take me - on top of the 34k that I now have in my 91 - there is the issue of whether or not your stereo is really performing up to snuff - now let's be honest here - and I'm ok....with my stock stereo - but it is by no means "state of the art" - ok. Oh and my AC vent in the center console has a little delam going on - and everytime I get in the car - well it's there staring at me. Now what do you think it would cost to get that sorted out new? Only 250 bucks. The radio - well lets see now we're off and running down another road of center console upgrades and new stereos that really do have a super sound and a good CD player. How bout that AC unit ....mmmmm....just because it works now doesn't mean it's going 18 years and 100k miles untouched - ooooohhh no. Mines fine right now but....
Then as one starts putting the miles on you have just regular maintenance on ball joints and just other things that die along the way or need replacement. When you get yourself into a nice car like this - no one but the "turkey" lets it go - down hill - but if you want one for 20k you will surely find em. It's all relative. If you really want to save yourself any headaches then the newer NSX you buy the better off you'll be and the more miles you can put on without a lot of things that may die due to age and miles.
So my good buddy and local Atlanta resident Bethemortgage, just purchased his NSX and it's an 04 - now I won't say exactly what he paid - cause that's his deal but in the 40s ok...my point here is this - these cars are coming down in price and right now you can get some kick ass deals on late model cars and guys I've been doing some thinking and it seems to me that if I had it to do over again I would say that paying an additonal 10k+ or so over what I paid for mine to get a low mile late model 04 just might be a better deal.
So don't think of this as just how much is it gonna cost me to get in to a car that is nice but what is the best deal for any owner - what kind of owner are you. Do you get tired of doing things on your car - like keeping an eye on maintenance - thinking ahead about systems upgrades like the ABS system in the early models? I'll tell you as you start that you might as well ask yourself another question - how many miles am I gonna put on my car every year. What do I intend to do with this car - drive the poo out of it - and if you are - then I'll tell you this right now - buy the latest model with the least miles for the most money you can afford and you will be happier.
One can discuss the merits of the 3.0 vs 3.2 all day long; coupe vs targa top all day long - track car or daily or weekend fun toy - what's it gonna be. But in the end you have to live with the car you buy and the purchase price is the tip of the iceburg. It's just a starting place.
The only thing I might do myself is after a while, a few years, sell mine and buy a later model. That's right. That's what I'm thinking - already. Now I'm older, have more cash, have not so much time, and I can pretty much decide how I want to spend to a point. A low mile 2004 is no longer worth 60k - don't let anyone tell you that. It just isn't - not today - not in todays economics - not when house values have fallen 20% over the last year or so. Don't kid yourselves - they aren't worth in the high 50s either. They are now down into the 40s. Are they just out there for the pickin - no but no one that really understands how to buy gets lucky, right now. Not unless someone else has done some leg work for them and they just stumble in - Ask Bethemortgage how easy it was to find his. NOT....but it is findable and with patience it can be found. That's the key to all this stuff - patience.
Now as to the last question - how much fun are these cars to drive- are you kidding......man have you looked at this web site AT ALL - have you seen how many ways you can find out stuff about these cars - how many threads there are dedicated to the fun and enjoyment of the NSX - are you CRAZY. OF COURSE THEY ARE FUN TO DRIVE! No one of us would be waisting all this time talking about em; figuring on them; worrrying over them; trying to make them even faster and cooler by personalizing them if they weren't just about the best damn secret of a super car that ever was - now would we. SO I ask you - what the heck do you think all this is about man!! It's about a super car - fast and fun as they come and good looking and you never see yourself going the other way in them - I mean man - I'm about to implode here with that one. Whew...now....
So do some homework and read some- take it easy dude and all will come crystal clear over time. How's that. Eveyone on board here as I mumble off into the sunset talking to myself.....geez ...is this a fun car....
Oy
Adios - my fingers are turning white - gotta go!:wink:
