I drove Bondurant C5's on the track for several days. I prefer my NSX way way over the C5.
redshift said:What about me ... I was honestly trying to be helpful by pointing you to the search feature (there is SO much good info there comparing corvettes to NSXs), but I'll do my best to sum up the differences in my opinion:
I drove a C5 when I was pseudo-considering it - it was between NSX, C5 and M3.
The C5 interior was truly horrid. It was one large plastic chunk with terrible outward visibility. The worst thing was probably the bench-like seating! I didn't get a chance to get acquainted with the gadgets... sorry I have no opinion on that (I'm sure the C5 is superior in this regard). The NSX has wonderful driver positioning and a simple yet elegant all "leather" interior (gauges and stereo head-unit do appear dated).
The acceleration was pretty comparable to the NSX. I really liked the torquey feeling of the C5, but I also really liked the exhilaration of the 8K red line of the NSX. Shifting is so much more fluid in the NSX. 1/4 mile times are very similar (in magazines) - I've seen the NSX with much faster times than the C5s and I've seen C5s with better times. 150 mph in the C5 was scary - it was too loose and rattling - this lowered my perception of quality and comfort at high speeds. In the NSX I felt very comfortable and in control at 150 (I was in a coupe) - no rattling or strange noises - very predictable ride. *I drove the cars on a very safe and long stretch of highway.
Handling is difficult to quantify since I wasn't really pushing either car to their limits. The C5 feels very soft and floaty. You definitely don't feel connected and there is little to no feedback from the steering wheel - the rear end kicks loose too easily. The NSX is very darty and go-kart like with amazing feedback and you really feel connected with the road (and the car). The weight ratio due to the mid-engine design is very evident in the "feel" of the car. The C5 just feels "heavy" in comparison.
Of course, all the above was just my opinion of back-to-back driving of a C5 and NSX 3.0... I since have bought my own NSX. There is NO comparison in my mind between the two.
There are other emotional and intangible qualities of the NSX that I just cannot remember... some of them include:
- hand-built mid-engine exotic
- all aluminum construction
- F1 inspired
- Benchmark for the mclaren F1
- very rare (dream car status)
- engineering marvel
- All around BALANCE (if you just want really fast 1/4 mile times get a Viper instead)
- Honda's race history (corvette has a nice legacy too)
- Ayrton Senna involved in chassis tune
The list goes on, but these are just a few things I can remember off the top of my head :biggrin:
Here's an interesting review of the NSX and C5 by one of the masters, MARIO ANDRETTI!
RPM217 said:April, I've said it many times before, happy to repeat it for you. I had a 2000 C5 Convertible, leased it for 39 months, I did enjoy the car, loved the HUD, and the bells and whistles, it had, liked the V8 rumble, the torque, but, at the end of the lease, I couldn't wait to get out of the car. Had always like the NSX, leased a 02 at a great rate when the 03's were coming in the door, my lease is up in Feb of 06, and I'm trying to figure out whether to buy it off lease and wait for the "new" HSC/NSX to come out, or just turn it in, the problem is I do love the car, don't want the lease to end. As I've said many times before, the Vette is brute force, the NSX is pure finesse. If it's bells and whistles you want stay away, you won't be happy, hell, there's not even an outside temperature display, the seats don't slide back when you remove the key, and many other things that you have come to take for granted on the vette, however if you want to "drive" a car, stay away from the automatic, and take the NSX for a spin, when you get back into the vette, you'll know one way or the other what you want, for me, it's the NSX
pdt287 said:enough talk about the cars, just post some pics of yourself redhead
DocL said:One last thing for you to consider. Where are you going to get an NSX serviced?
pdt287 said:have you already been told that insurance will double? the reason i ask is because the insurance on my 04 nsx was cheaper than my 04 corvette .
pdt287 said:one thing about the corvette is that everyone and there brother owns one. the vette was fast but the handling in the nsx is unexplainable. another huge factor is resale. my vette msrp was 56,500. i bought it on employee discount from my dads friend who is a chevy dealer for 48,500. i put 3800 miles on it in a year and the most i could sell it for was 40500. it was yellow too which brings more money. so after the tax and depreciation it cost me 11,000 to drive that vette for a year and i bought it right. that is disgusting. lease an nsx for two years and its cheaper. there is no comparing these two vehicles. i would get rid of the vette yesterday and get the nsx today. plus now with the nsx not being made any more that will even help resale better.
ryan
alabamaredhead said:You're right Ryan about the resale value...I've taken a whoopin' each time i've gotten rid of my vettes...BAD woopin'....You think even an automatic NSX would retain it's value? I don't want a 6 speed...
I'm trying to decide if I could get used to my car NOT telling me when it's time to change the oil, or how much air is in my tires..all that jazz
NSXDreamer2 said:Since you manage you financial well enough to consider a new nsx, and you are into cars. You should have no problem getting some "boy toys" do all that for you. Oh, a husband or Boy friend who cares about you and have the same interest in cars will wax and wash your nsx too. ok, now you got the WHISTLEs!!! :biggrin:
AH BUT I'M A INDEPENDENT WOMAN...BOY TOYS ARE ONLY GOOD FOR ONE THING..OTHERWISE, I PREFER TO TAKE CARE OF MY OWN WASHING, PUTTING AIR IN THE TIRES, GAS TOO. :biggrin: (as long as the car tells me when) hahahaha
You're right, I could find a used one for so much less and keep the vette too....how about that? I think that's what I should do seriously, that way, when I want BELLS and WHISTLES I can drive the vette and if I want a supurb handling ride (as you all say it is) then I could drive my NSX and when I need a 4x4 I'll use my 04 HUMMER...Now talk about bells and whistles....The H2 is full of them. I'm spoiled to bells and whistles. :wink: :wink:
soon2B said:^^^^ lol hahahaaaaaaa!
satan_srv said:if you want bells and whistles...the nsx is not the car for you. It hasn't really been updated on the inside much in 15 years. The reason why you buy an nsx can't really be captured in pcs of spec sheets, it has to be driven.