V8 Esprit or NSX?
Discussion
RobM77 said:
nervous said:
RobM77 said:
EDLT said:
I've only ever seen one NSX, two Esprits and hundreds of Porsches...
Buying either, you'll atleast show imagination.
Buying either, you'll atleast show imagination.
Isn't choosing a car just about buying your favourite one? If I lived on an island where everybody loved Caterhams I'd still have a Caterham!
Except the 26th inhabitant of course, who's still at home trying to find a manufacturer beginning with Z 
Bloody horrible place. Went there for an interview once, in my subsequent years I have become extremely glad I didnt get it.
He's quite right, I work in Knutsford and there's more Porsches than Mondeos. 
There is also a couple of NSXs fwiw.
I've driven a facelift NSX-R and would sell my gran for one if I didn't think she'd object. Fabulous car and MY GOD what a sound track. I've also had a mate whose had a couple Espirits, great cars but he was always complaining about something on them.
There is also a couple of NSXs fwiw.
I've driven a facelift NSX-R and would sell my gran for one if I didn't think she'd object. Fabulous car and MY GOD what a sound track. I've also had a mate whose had a couple Espirits, great cars but he was always complaining about something on them.
BagOfOldRats said:
From what I've heard, Senna drove the car for a few laps round a track in Japan for Honda and basically gave them a few 'pointers' on how to improve it...........
agreed, Senna also did the same thing for the 4th Gen prelude. The fact that senna alone had a 'input' would not sway me in a decision to buy. I have seen a GT1 Espirt and been inside one and it was totally amazing. I would go for the lotus over the NSX.
L100NYY said:
I've got a real hankering for an NSX now 
You and me both!!!...the one 'affordable' car I REALLY want* but don't think I'll ever get...mainly because I think by the time my salary gets where it needs to be, there may be a third member of the family using up any and all spare money...and by the time third (and fourth?!?) aren't costing money all the NSX's will be classics and cost a fortune either to buy or run...
- And probably the only real-world car I'd sell my 'teg to get...
Edited by havoc on Friday 18th January 22:52
Dr Imran T said:
BagOfOldRats said:
From what I've heard, Senna drove the car for a few laps round a track in Japan for Honda and basically gave them a few 'pointers' on how to improve it...........
agreed, Senna also did the same thing for the 4th Gen prelude. Was I close?
Gazboy said:
An NSX would rip a 350Z a new arsehole, it's significantly faster- Trackdemon exceeded the 350Z's top speed by 5mph in the confines of Bruntingthorpe- how many miles does a 350Z need to hit 155? 3 miles? 4 miles?
Drive the Esprit first, you may love it, or like me you may absolutely loath the experiance, but it's not a car that can be assesed on paper.
Agreed - mine hit 161 compared to 153 of 350Z (admittedly convertible)Drive the Esprit first, you may love it, or like me you may absolutely loath the experiance, but it's not a car that can be assesed on paper.
jackal said:
close call... mate of mine just sold his nsx and ive owned an esprit before
imo if you buy an esprit over an NSX then you are buying it for handling, adjustability and steering feel (and of course the whole esprit looks and image thing) because the build, the gearbox and the engine character are shocking alongside the NSX
in which case: Dont go near a V8. Get yourself an S4S or better still one of the 63 S300's if you can find one. They even more tactile to drive and the best epsrits by far.
From contemporary reviews the NSX outhandles the Espiritimo if you buy an esprit over an NSX then you are buying it for handling, adjustability and steering feel (and of course the whole esprit looks and image thing) because the build, the gearbox and the engine character are shocking alongside the NSX
in which case: Dont go near a V8. Get yourself an S4S or better still one of the 63 S300's if you can find one. They even more tactile to drive and the best epsrits by far.
NoelWatson said:
From contemporary reviews the NSX outhandles the Espirit
define handling ? for out and out best possible usage of the available contact patch... the NSX probably wins by a country mile I give you that and thats probably what teh magazines were banging on about. Esprits on cct's for example are woefully slow.
but handling for me means that the car handles in the way that you want it to !!! And that includes lots of communication through the wheel, power on oversteer, huge adjustability and lots of progressive behaviour at the limit with a nice big window in which to sit. By that definition the esprit comfortably eclipses the NSX.
Edited by jackal on Saturday 19th January 21:16
jackal said:
NoelWatson said:
From contemporary reviews the NSX outhandles the Espirit
define handling ? for out and out best possible usage of the available contact patch... the NSX probably wins by a country mile I give you that and thats probably what teh magazines were banging on about. Esprits on cct's for example are woefully slow.
but handling for me means that the car handles in the way that you want it to !!! And that includes lots of communication through the wheel, power on oversteer, huge adjustability and lots of progressive behaviour at the limit with a nice big window in which to sit. By that definition the esprit comfortably eclipses the NSX.
Edited by jackal on Saturday 19th January 21:16
http://www.lotusespritworld.com/ERoadtests/Perform...
and the Car handling test 1997
http://groups.google.co.uk/group/rec.autos.makers....
Chainguy said:
Esprit. All day long.
The NSX is a fine car, but it's a compromised car. Look into it's history of development. Ayrton had a big hand in it, and the changes he wanted made (specifically more power) never happened, Honda never had the balls, and they had a fall out with him when he told them it would never compete in the class it aspired to
Any links to this? Never heard this before. The NSX is a fine car, but it's a compromised car. Look into it's history of development. Ayrton had a big hand in it, and the changes he wanted made (specifically more power) never happened, Honda never had the balls, and they had a fall out with him when he told them it would never compete in the class it aspired to
ferrisbueller said:
Having said all that, the standard NSX wouldn't be great on track. If track and very occasional use is your game then the GT3 is possibly the best choice, again IMO.
Mr Bueller,I also drive a 2004 LBB - there can't be that many of us in the country. I don't think the NSX is all that bad round the track. It beat the Diablo, Cerb and the 911 in the 1997 handling test
I attended a track day a few years ago in my Caterham and was given five or six laps driving an NSX. From the off I was comfortable on the limit in the car, which is a rare thing indeed in a heavy road car with servo brakes and power steering. Even compared with my Caterham, I found the handling sublime - beautifully poised and the transition from not sliding to sliding was very gentle and easy to control, and the envelope of 'the limit' was as big and playful as it was easy to access. Sadly I haven't driven an Esprit on track, although from driving one on the road (a V8 SE) it did promise a lot in the way of balance and feedback - fantastic. I love them both!
NoelWatson said:
Chainguy said:
Esprit. All day long.
The NSX is a fine car, but it's a compromised car. Look into it's history of development. Ayrton had a big hand in it, and the changes he wanted made (specifically more power) never happened, Honda never had the balls, and they had a fall out with him when he told them it would never compete in the class it aspired to
Any links to this? Never heard this before. The NSX is a fine car, but it's a compromised car. Look into it's history of development. Ayrton had a big hand in it, and the changes he wanted made (specifically more power) never happened, Honda never had the balls, and they had a fall out with him when he told them it would never compete in the class it aspired to
The second time was from a guy I worked beside in another job, who claimed his best mate was quite senior in the world of F1 mechanics. Through other stuff he used to talk about, I've no reason to believe that wasn't the case.
Noteworthy, is that the 2nd time I heard it was unprompted i.e. he stated it before I passed the opinion onto him I heard years before.
Who knows, maybe it's rumour and conjecture, but like I say, I did hear it twice from people whose opinion I respected, so that gives it gravitas for me.
My word, its just like hearing it straight from the mouth of Soichiro Honda himself 
My best made who's dad worked for a consultancy that worked for a company that makes Lycra trunks said Hulk Hogan wears special pants that make him super strong and able to reach through the TV and piledrive anyone who says Pro Wrestling isnt real.
Pistonheads: pub bottom talk matters.
My best made who's dad worked for a consultancy that worked for a company that makes Lycra trunks said Hulk Hogan wears special pants that make him super strong and able to reach through the TV and piledrive anyone who says Pro Wrestling isnt real.
Pistonheads: pub bottom talk matters.
Edited by Wadeski on Sunday 20th January 03:10
NoelWatson said:
ferrisbueller said:
Having said all that, the standard NSX wouldn't be great on track. If track and very occasional use is your game then the GT3 is possibly the best choice, again IMO.
Mr Bueller,I also drive a 2004 LBB - there can't be that many of us in the country. I don't think the NSX is all that bad round the track. It beat the Diablo, Cerb and the 911 in the 1997 handling test
Indeed, Autocar ranked it as highly as 5th in 2003, post facelift, in their annual test, which the NSX won outright in 1991 and 1992 (The Esprit S4S won in 1995). However, my own personal feeling is that the brakes wouldn't be up for a prolonged punishing (something that can possibly be rectified with about £700 worth of disc, pad and line upgrades), steering is a little slow and it would see off a set of tyres in short order.
For the money you and I have invested in our cars then a lightly breathed on 996 GT3 would probably be a better track tool IMO. The NSX is road biased car that makes a good fist of track work, but with compromises - a rule that applies to many cars; weight being the primary issue. If it were me looking for a car for tracking, depending on budget, I'd go for a sorted 968CS or an Exige.
ferrisbueller said:
NoelWatson said:
ferrisbueller said:
Having said all that, the standard NSX wouldn't be great on track. If track and very occasional use is your game then the GT3 is possibly the best choice, again IMO.
Mr Bueller,I also drive a 2004 LBB - there can't be that many of us in the country. I don't think the NSX is all that bad round the track. It beat the Diablo, Cerb and the 911 in the 1997 handling test
Indeed, Autocar ranked it as highly as 5th in 2003, post facelift, in their annual test, which the NSX won outright in 1991 and 1992 (The Esprit S4S won in 1995). However, my own personal feeling is that the brakes wouldn't be up for a prolonged punishing (something that can possibly be rectified with about £700 worth of disc, pad and line upgrades), steering is a little slow and it would see off a set of tyres in short order.
For the money you and I have invested in our cars then a lightly breathed on 996 GT3 would probably be a better track tool IMO. The NSX is road biased car that makes a good fist of track work, but with compromises - a rule that applies to many cars; weight being the primary issue. If it were me looking for a car for tracking, depending on budget, I'd go for a sorted 968CS or an Exige.
Dakkon said:
I wanted to thank everyone for their replies and all things considered I think I will be looking for a 3.2 Manual NSX, I don't have the space to house two cars currently, so I have to consider reliability.
If I could I would have a 2000 quid barge and a Cerbera
If I could I would have a 2000 quid barge and a Cerbera
good luck! I've dreamt of owning one of those ever since I drove one about 3 or 4 years ago. They're fantastic cars!! Dakkon said:
I wanted to thank everyone for their replies and all things considered I think I will be looking for a 3.2 Manual NSX, I don't have the space to house two cars currently, so I have to consider reliability.
If I could I would have a 2000 quid barge and a Cerbera
If you are set on the NSX it may be worth joining the nsxcb forum (if you haven't done so already) and also having a chat with Ivan at Chiswick Honda who sells quite a few each year.If I could I would have a 2000 quid barge and a Cerbera
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