'99 coupe or '97+ NSX - can't decide..
 

So I'm in the market for one of these cars and I can't really decide between the two. I know there'll be some bias on this forum, but since I don't know everything about the 996's, I'm hoping some owners could educate me. The specs on these 2 cars are very similar.

'97 and up model NSXs have a 3.2L engine pumping about 290HP/224TQ. Does 0-60 in 4.5 and mid 13s quarter mile. We all know the car has superb handling.

All I know about the 996 911s is the '99 model has a 3.4L engine pumping 296HP/258TQ. Not sure the acceleration numbers. Has good handling too, but the rear engine placement worries me. I just read there's some problem with a "Rear Main Seal"??

Both cars are 3000lbs. So..my question is...what is the performance potential of the 3.4L engine? Should I hold out and buy a 2002 996 instead since it got bumped up to 3.6L 320HP?

Thanks for any info you guys/gals can provide me.

Jarod,

Have you driven the two cars? The difference is night and day. IMHO, if you want a true GT car, the NSX is far more comfortable, calmer, easier to drive every day. It also feels longer, will get more attention going down the street.

If you want a car that lets you know it's a sports car, the Porsche is it. RMS is a known problem but there are many of us on this forum who've never been stricken with it. I'm on my second 996 with 40K miles between them and no such leaks yet. Even if it happens, it isn't really that expensive to fix.


They'll both be fast if you're talking about straight line acceleration.

def. going have to not agree with that. Ridden in a nsx and my dad and brother have had many 996's. The porsche is way more comfortable and is easy to drive, when my dad had a GT3 my would drive it around town. Also, porsche is more reilable than a nsx.

I've driven both 94 NSX and 02 C2 extensively. Hope my comparison isn't too far off from what your are looking at. If I were you, I'd go with the NSX. It's a great car that looks and drives great. Only down side to NSX is lack of torque. 996 has a lot more torque than NSX. NSX is a lot of fun to drive but slightly slower since it relies on VTEC to make power. Under 4k, NSX drives like an Accord in acceleration. But the handling is pretty good, better than 996. NSX seats are very secure and the sitting position makes you feel like batman! I honestly think 996 is more practical but NSX makes me a superhero. 996 has small back seats and better shaped trunk. I always check if I have a cape on when driving NSX! NSX is not as safe as 996 if you crash it though since there is no side airbag and car sits much lower. If you AX or mainly street drive, NSX is better.

I've always said this and I'll say it again. A car is a like a suit. It should fit your personality, looks and purpose. It's projects an image of you. If you are young (and I think you are from seeing you in f chat), I think NSX will get you lots of looks and lots of performance. It's one of few Japanese cars that I wish I have. Shop around on nsxprime for a clean one. The fun starts here!

Hey J, how's your S2000 holding up? Well, you know what I drive you so you know what my choice would be. I remember you saying that one of the more frustrating little details about your S was not having the torque down low to get adequate acceleration while driving around without having to really rev high. Well, you know how VTEC works.

I love the NSX, considered one for a long time, but in the end felt the styling was just a bit too dated for me. I feel every model Carrera ages well, 70s, 80s, but the NSX looks like an 80s-90s exotic, which is great if you liked that look the best. It was tough for me because it's an exciting prospect, driving around a low, mid-engined sports car, that at the same time is relatively practical and reliable. But in the end, it was the styling and the pedigree that did it for me.

I was concerned about the RR layout at first as well, but it just takes some getting used to as you start to push the car harder and harder. (You should probably take it easy on 9 with a 911 your first time. =) Just teasing.)

You can't go wrong either way. Both awesome, absolutely beautiful cars. Most people here would probably say hold out for the 3.6, I probably would too, but it was out of my price range. And most people didn't really like that the 911 looked a lot like the Boxster, but I'm the opposite. I quite like the headlights on 996s, and think they're actually a step forward from the ovals of the 993 and 997, although the body shape of the 997 is more impressive. If you can afford it, you might want to consider a Cayman because of how sweet they look (def. more exotic than a 911), and the MR layout would probably feel much more neutral and balanced (can't say for sure, haven't driven one). But I like the rear seat area of my 911, use it pretty much everyday for stuff.

Good luck with your decision, and whatever it is, lookin forward to seein it at SR!

[quote=SilverBlue]Jarod,

Have you driven the two cars? The difference is night and day. IMHO, if you want a true GT car, the NSX is far more comfortable, calmer, easier to drive every day. It also feels longer, will get more attention going down the street.
[quote]

Maybe if you're comparing a stock one. . . . hilarious But who's still stock here??? :p

-Eli

Aside from the Arctic Silver cupholder I bought from you Eli, my 996 is stock hilarious

And the NSX I'm talking about is stock. model year 2000 or so. It's a friend's. Sure goes over bumps more smoothly than my 996...

Thanks for the info everyone. To address some of the questions...

I haven't test driven the 996 yet. Only porsche I've test driven is the new Cayman which is amazing BTW! I've never heard of anyone referring to an NSX as a GT car though. I think it's a sports car. In regards to the RMS issue, most likely the car I'll buy will be out of warranty by then. How much is the bill to repair/fix it if I have that problem?

I love this line:
"I honestly think 996 is more practical but NSX makes me a superhero." :D I'm young, but not really. I'm no longer in my 20s. :( I love the looks of the NSX and I'm sure I'll get more looks in it which is great, but I also don't want to associate with the ricer crowd either. When I bought the S2K in '04 there actually wasn't that many on the road. Now every wang, chang, and chun has one. hilarious It's like they all upgraded to it from their preludes and integras. That's my worry for the NSX. As they get cheaper more younger kids/punks/ricers will start owning them too.

Kelvin, the s2k is doing good. Bringing it in this monday. I do feel a bit tired of the whole "waiting for vtec" to kick in. You don't feel anything until 3,000rpms, and then there's a plateau of power until 6,000rpms when vtec kicks in and the car changes into "steel combat mode" as one automotive journalist wrote. I agree with you on the headlights on the 996, I like them better than the oval ones too. I believe in evolution, not retro designs (except for maybe the GT40). :p

No one really mentioned about the mod potential of these engines though.

Let's assume you dump the following amounts of money on engine performance alone: 10k, 15k, 20k for either the 3.4L or the 3.6L engine. What kind of gains can I expect? I'll probably also be removing the rear seats anyways. I have no kids and no adult can possibly fit in the back. And when I start feeling more comfortable with the car and perhaps tracking it, I'll probably start on a car diet and strip some of the interior. I have no problems with that since this wouldn't be a daily driver anyways. I have an accord for that. Plus I'm used to cars with lots of noise inside. In the s, you hear wind, road, and engine.

RMS fix done by the dealer is around 1200 I think, with a 2-year warranty.

After driving around in a 996 for a while now, I can tell you that the relatively large inside cabin, low center console (the thing with the shifter on it), and 2+2 layout definitely makes it feel less "sporty" than say, a low, wide sports car with deep, bucket seats, and your head peeking through a smallish side window. I came from a 3000GT to the Porsche and I have to say that it definitely felt more sporty just to sit in it, (the 3000GT), the dash wraps around you, the center shift tunnel is high, like the NSX, and the whole thing felt like a cockpit. The porsche feels a bit more like an empty race car, but just with the interior lined with leather, a stereo and carbon fiber.

Where the Porsche does it for me is the driving feel, the car goes exactly where you point it, as you've probably experienced with the Cayman, it's pretty fast (for me), and also the lux/prestige factor.

But the NSX definitely has more of the "superhero" factor. Sitting in it definetly reminded me of the 3000GT in the low-ness, although I haven't driven one so I can't speak of its engine. As far as mod-ability, there are quite pricey options for the Porsche, like supercharging (i.e. Kirby), and definitely turbo upgrades for the TT, but for the street, I'm sure exhaust, header and intake upgrades would satisfy you 99% of the time, esp. coming up from a 4 cylinder.

Do you remember that purplish NSX with a sort of JGTC look to it at SR a couple weeks back? I think that look is definitely ricerish but I love it. Well, not the decals, but the aerokit. I think an NSX modded out to have a race-car sounding engine and JGTC looks is pure sex. But a complete 180 from the lux and subtle factors of a Porsche. If modding is your thing, the NSX probably is the way to go, as there are plenty of options for the C30A and C32B to increase the torque and power. Aaaah, I love the position you're in.

Still, you have the S, you have an Accord. Are you sure you wan't another Honda?

Dont' worry give it a few months, you'll look like this...... Yah, that is your cup holder there before I pulled it and the stock radio unit to make way for the Pioneer Z1 system. :D

-Eli

[quote=FastForwardwheels]I'm still stock.....oh wait...maybe not hilarious

Isn't there quite a price gap between a 99 996 and a 97+ NSX? I thought the 97+ NSXs were all still very pricey and perhaps closer to what a 02 996 might fetch.

"It's 30 minutes away. I'll be there in 10."

Yah, HURRY...... I CAN'T WAIT FOREVER!!!! hilarious

What's that about? hilarious

-Eli

Winston Wolf!