what is my next car? 3 choices

[marylebone]

Hi, just wondering if you could give me some advice please:

1. NSX facelift 3.2 manual (T or coupe). All time favourite. Just wondering about the age issue: quite advanced for its time (1990) but has changed very little in 15 years while others took note back then and stepped up. Also, final ones already 5 years old (05).

2. Lancer Evo X FQ300-400. Test drove the 300, drives better than anything I've tried. Not too keen on the boy racer looks and certainly no comparison with the NSX in many ways, especially in terms of depreciation, but what a drive it is - serious competition for any car at any price.

3. SLK 55 AMG Black Series. Long time fan of the brand and always keen on very limited editions, plus huge power/torque and reduced weight - still a Merc but the BS is supposed to be AMG's track oriented version. Quite hard to find though.

Porsche is not a choice as I find maintenance too costly: had an expensive experience with a 996 C2 first gen.

Which one would you choose? Cheers

[NSX 2000]

Hi, just wondering if you could give me some advice please:

1. NSX facelift 3.2 manual (T or coupe). All time favourite. Just wondering about the age issue: quite advanced for its time (1990) but has changed very little in 15 years while others took note back then and stepped up. Also, final ones already 5 years old (05).

Last time I looked mine had only just turned 4 years old since date of first reg, but if you really want to split hairs it was probably built August/September 2005, so not even 4 and half years old.

The reasson for so little change is due to the fact it was so advanced in the first place. However over the years changes did take place but because they never changed the interior people think they didn't.

I haven't had a Porche, Evo or Merc so can't comment. But there are other owners who do or have owened the above and can compare.

HTH

Paul.

[Senninha]

Hi & Seasons Greetings,

As Paul says, there were many tweaks made over the years but for people not familiar with the NSX, many will have gonne un-noticed. Apart from the obvious facelift in 2002, the NSX had chassis, brakes, engine tweaks throughout its lifetime.

The facelift car is as complete as most cars on the roads today.

My question back to you would be to ask how you intend to use the car? As a dialy I would find the EVO tiring and thirsty but would choose it if I had a long A/B road commute. The BS have an attraction that I too am interested in but struggle with the Merc being much more than a solid mile muncher attached to a diesel auto set up. With an NSX, you can do th daily commute, you can do the long Euro trips and you can also go for fun drives and receive respect from other road users.

A nice choice but only you can really decide which best suits your driving and requirements

regards, Paul

[marylebone]

2000:
Cheers, not crucial if it's 4, 4.5 or 5 yo, the point is that a facelift NSX could be anywhere between 4-8 yo and that wouldn't be the case for the other 2 choices. I understand some changes did take place during the 15 year run, but none change the driving experience IMO (not even the increase in engine size to 3.2 or the 6-gear box), i.e. I don't think I would notice any difference between driving a 97 NA2 manual and a 05 (55) NA2 facelift. would you?

The NSX is my favourite car to look at of the three but I don't want to be blinded by desire to end up with an old car that simply cannot compete with newer cars that were conceived/designed 15+ years ahead. Don't get mad please, I'm just saying that it may be too much to ask of the NSX to still be competing with current production cars today. New NSX long time due?

Senna:
The car will not be a daily user (after the first couple of months!). Merc BS is looking good, especially CLK 63 BS but not looking to spend that much; SLK 55BS is amazing, handbuilt and track tuned by AMG in Affalterbach, just somewhat concerned about 400hp/520Nm in a light RWD car. I'm sure the Evo X, even in 300 form, would leave the other 2 behind in any dry track with a couple of twists (nevermind rain/snow) but it's just not in the same league than the others in looks/general appeal.

Cheers

[AR]

FWIW the SLK55 AMG is not faster than a 3.0 NSX, the Evo will drop the £££ faster than it's 0 -60 speed.

Perhaps because I am a big guy or perhaps because of the high numbers of smaller engine variety cars around here, but the SLK is not a car I would consider.

The EVO is a really capable car but a very financially unwise buy, like most cars, but more so the EVO. They are great value, but due to the maintenance schedule and affordability, lots have been neglected.

[marylebone]

FWIW the SLK55 AMG is not faster than a 3.0 NSX

Can't agree: we're talking 55 Black Series. 400hp and power-to-weight ratio 3.73 Kg/hp. NSX 3.0 is not comparable at 4.91. It would have to have 362hp or weigh 1,025 Kg to achieve same 3.73 ratio, or the 55BS power would have to drop to just 304hp or weight increased to 1,964 Kg to achieve the same ratio as the NSX (4.91). Not really bothered about small differences, but in this case they're quite significant. Not a huge fan of the brand, but even the "average" BMW 135i/335i (great engine) could be faster than the 3.0 NSX IMO.

the Evo will drop the £££ faster than it's 0 -60 speed.

Completely agree. It's a big downside.

Perhaps because I am a big guy or perhaps because of the high numbers of smaller engine variety cars around here, but the SLK is not a car I would consider.

Fair point: loads of SLKs all over the place and lots of them driven by ladies. This is a track-oriented BS however, with a production run of under 100 cars I believe. Merc has a huge following, so very collectable too.

The EVO is a really capable car but a very financially unwise buy, like most cars, but more so the EVO. They are great value, but due to the maintenance schedule and affordability, lots have been neglected.

Fair point too. But since it was only released in 08, it means that you could find a low mileage example with 4-5 year guarantee directly from a dealership, which I think is impossible nowadays in the case of the NSX (no longer sold via dealerships, all private sales, no guarantee... the age issue comes up again).

Cheers

[AR]

Sorry I did not read the BS series bit I was speaking from a stock SLK55AMG point. My 3.0 NSX-R had no problems at all keeping and passing the garden variety R171.

But as the AMG SLK55AMG is a tuned car perhaps a low boost CTSC lightweight NSX is a better comparison.

[marylebone]

...factory-tuned by AMG however so it is stock (long term value); my 2c would be to keep a facelift NSX stock. The BS is the most expensive of the 3 and quite hard to find but maybe worth the extra cash (what about that V8 sound!). All 3 are great cars in their own regard, that's why it's hard to choose... can't beat the Evo for price/performance/guarantee, but you have to live with the depreciation (and everything else).

[AR]

Look at the price of Brabus etc, they drop a ton of money in 5 years. NSX looks great and perfroms really well. Look at servicing frequency when comparing to the EVO.

[marylebone]

agree to a certain extent, but AMG Black Series is not like Brabus in terms of long term value (AMG is Mercedes). If it were just for the pure driving experience, Evo X beats both NSX and BS but I would certainly prefer to own either of those 2 and possibly borrow my mate's FQ300 for a weekend (it is an incredible piece of engineering and latest model "Evo X" is easier to live with than before to improve sales).

NSX looks great and performs well, no doubt about that and loads of reviews to confirm it, but maybe it is starting to get old for what I am after (even late facelifts). Also, it could attract just enough attention to make me feel uncomfortable, the BS being somewhat more discreet, but none of the 3 are really mainstream cars either.

Question now should be: would anyone consider trading an 04/05 NSX for a 55 Black Series (under 100 produced)??