Ultra pretentious question!!!!!

[parisifal]

Ok, I don't post much (not at all actually) as I have only recently came back into the joy of headphones

from a 2 years hiatus. In that mean time I went into another pursuit, cars. I recently bought an Ipod Mini and a 4G 40gb for more "long distance" stuff. Going to invest in another pair of HD600 as I enjoyed them when I had them, of course a small amp will also be paired, one of Shellbrooks (Drew) item is being contemplated. But anyways, that's not the real question.

Last year (2004) I got myself a BMW M3 (yes brand new) to do some work around Nurburgring and Hockenheim, it was good for what it is. I plan to return to the US sometimes within the next several months. Now I have decided to get rid of the M3 and move on to something else, but I have come to an impass.

Here is the problem...I REALLY REALLY LIKE THE ACURA NSX.

(1) Acura NSX = (1) 4Runner, (1) Miata M, (1) Mr2 Turbo and enough money left to campaig the latter two cars for the year 2005 and put them on some nice tracks in the US.

So the question here is should i get one car I really want and can use as a capable track car but with many other compromises. Or should I get a full complement of vehicles to serve different purposes (I intend to Baja, Rally and Road.) Again, I can't believe how hard this decision is, I love to Baja and Rally as my first real racing experience was sliding an Rx7 through dirt covered backroads. But I also enjoy road racing quite a bit. The NSX is a great tool for that since the tracks but it is nowhere near an off road vehicle.

So guys give me your honest opinion, I'm sure many of you will be amuse by such a ridiculous question, but fire away.

 

[wallijonn]

I've heard that the M3 is a better car than the M4 and that they are hard to come by. By this reasoning you should keep the M3 as a Collectable.

For rallying why not just get a Subaru WRX?

I can't help you with the NSX, though.

Heck, I'd probably be happy with the Honda2000.

 

[meithkiller]

I'm a firm believer in multiple vehicles for multiple tasks. My wife and I own a station wagon for hauling things around, a convertible for summer top-down cruising, and two fun cars that I autocross, drag race, and hit the occasional open track event with.

With the cars you mentioned, the MR2 and Miata will both be loads of fun, and the 4Runner would make a nice tow vehicle. An NSX would be a very impractical daily driver anyways.

-Keith

 

[damitamit]

whats a M4?

I say keep the M3, and then get another car for rallying. ( or is the M3 worth more than a NSX?)

Which is faster btw? I would think an NSX, but I havent really researched it so i dont know!

 

[GoRedwings19]

For the NSX price range also consider a Nissan Skyline GTR-34 Vspec 2

 

[HiGHFLYiN9]

I say get what you really want (NSX), you may never have the opportunity to buy one again. As they say it is better to regret something you have done than something you haven't done. However if you frequent the tracks you'll find out very quickly that the parts for the NSX are pretty expensive, i think the flywheel alone goes for $1500.

 

[gsferrari]

I have two friends with the Honda NSX. One is based in Hong Kong and the other is in the UK. Both of them have their own fabrication facilities and they told me that, without access to a foundry, maintaining the NSX is a HUGE problem because parts are scarce and VERY VERY expensive.

 

[GoRedwings19]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsferrari I have two friends with the Honda NSX. One is based in Hong Kong and the other is in the UK. Both of them have their own fabrication facilities and they told me that, without access to a foundry, maintaining the NSX is a HUGE problem because parts are scarce and VERY VERY expensive.

Not too mention the bodywork is aluminium. Do you know any cheap aluminium repair shops?

 

[mjg]

the best flywheels used in race cars, like tilden always cost 1500 bux and up. That isn't specifec to NSX. It's still a japenese import, they are modable. The question is wether you will do custom work, or buy over priced parts made of carbon fiber.

 

[parisifal]

Well I just got in contact with the folks at Mazdaspeed today (a friend from my rx7 days) and I hope I will get competition status from them. If that is the case I will be going with the Miata and maybe an FC Rx7 since I can buy parts alot cheaper through that system.

I have been road racing here in Germany for awhile so I have a few pictures and videos to back up my claim but I'm still crossing my fingers for getting into the racing development program.

 

[RYCeT]

You'll need to contact tuberoller.

 

[Tuberoller]

Are you serious about the Baja part of your post? Even the amatuer classes at baja events are full of highly skilled semi-pro drivers. A competetive vehicle(truck,bike,buggy or car) is extremely expensive and even a used buggy is gonna set you back upwards of $40,000. If you have the means to purchase and support a full-on race truck in one of the lower classes you might get away with spending $120,000 just for the vehicle as built by one of the west coast shops plus another $100,000 for spares. Note that off-road vehicles have to have nearly every part replaced after every race. You might wanna try the regional off-road races but even those require stupid expensive vehicles and prep even at the entry level. Off-road racing in the states is huge business and the racers are the best in the world.

As far as racing an NSX,I hope you mean timed club race events or "track days",because the NSX,in any form,is just not competetive against the Porsches and Corvettes they race against. Porsche has incredible factory support that keeps the club level racers on par with the Corvettes but the Vettes are just plain faster. A new 911 GT3 costs $200,000 minus spares but factory support keeps prices for spares nearly as cheap as the Corvettes. Racers can not only buy a factory built race car but they can buy every single spare and have the car serviced by the Porsche North American racing division. The Corvettes cost about $44,000 new when purchased at racer net(the new Z06 should cost around $50,000 racer net) but require another $30,000 in prep work before they are race worthy. I've yet to see an NSX even place in the top 10 when racing against the likes of the Vettes and Porsches.

I have no idea about your skill level but if I was looking to roll in and learn a few things,I would start my racing life in a Miata,Neon,Sentra or Mini. Those cars are all very fast and can be made raceworthy for about $30,000 rolling. There are hundreds of them for sale and most sanctioning bodies have rules that keep even the older cars competetive. You can buy a nice used race Miata for $20,000 with all the spares you need,minus tires. If I was serious about winning,I'd buy a new Neon SRT-4 from Dodge's race division,race prep it and beat the snot out of it. Spares are dirt cheap and most racers buy the cars two at a time. There is nothing faster in the compact classes and even the factory supported BMW,Mini,Subaru and Nissan teams cannot beat the privateer Neons.

So,my suggestion is that you pass on off-road racing,(especially Baja),pass on the NSX(if you're serious about winning at all) and get a compact racer and have some fun. I made the mistake of going big and spent huge bucks on car(2005 Porsche GT3 Cup) that I can't race now. When I get myself healthy again,I'm gonna get a Chevy Cobalt(or two) and race every chance I get.

 

[Tuberoller]

I meant to add that my younger brother has an NSX that is very quick and the advice you got about parts expense is right on. The shifter knob for that car is $383.00. I'll add that his car has been very reliable even though he added a supercharger and the only thing he has needed to replace is the clutch, at $3700 a pop.

 

[wallijonn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by parisifal I will be going with the Miata...

I STRONGLY suggest that you take it out for a 1 hour test drive. You may find the bucket seats are not the most comfortable for long distance driving. The newer seats are higher than my '90 seats.

I once drove 14 hours between Dallas, TX and Phoneix, AZ. I had to take a 15 to 30 minute break every hour. I padded the seat with 1" of foam - otherwise it is murder on my back. I'm 5'7". If you're over 6' you may have problems. The Miata seats are very narrow.

I wish I could put the Honda Del-Sol seats in my Miata.

You can shoe horn a V8 into the Miata for about $8000 out the door. I'd rather go that way than turbo this, muffler that, brakes the other thing. When my 1.6 goes I'll be putting in a V8.

 

[Erik S.]

Just wondering what the price of a brand new NSX is in the US these days?

(sorry for possible hi-jack)