Scotty Dosent Know

Hey Rennlist been lurking on here for a while but this is my first post!

I am having a hard time choosing what will be my next "fun" car. The two cars I am considering are either a 964 C2 or an NA1 NSX. Having been born in 1980 these are 2 cars that were dream cars for me growing up. Im finally at a place in my life where I can get one.....but just one lol

I know tons about the NSX but am still learning about the 964. I have always loved the iconic Porsche body style and to me the 964 looks fantastic. I just can not get into 993's. My max budget is $35K which I think should buy me a pretty nice version of either car.


Getting my license in 1996 I have been into Hondas and RX7's. I have owned some fast ones (400whp Hondas and 7's) so I am not afraid to build motors, turbo kits, suspension etc. I know tons about the NSX/Honda and repairs do not scare me as I think I can handle the majority my self. I have never worked on or ridden in a 964. Seems like a totally different ball game being oil/air cooled etc. ......my brother in law is a Porsche mechanic though so thats a plus LOL


Which ever car I choose will not be a daily driver, more of a weekend car that I modify (cannot leave anything stock). Both cars seem to have good aftermarket support. This will be my fun car and the car my wife and I to take on spirited road trips up the windy coast/Mtn. roads we have here in Washington.

I guess my question is this, how do you guys feel the two cars compare? Why should I choose the 964 over the NSX? What does the 964 do "better"?

Scotty Dosent Know

Hopefully this is the right section for this post

And because we all like pictures

BLACK-BETTY

Could these sway your decision?

Captain Ahab Jr.

The NSX is light years ahead of a 964 in technology and handling, it was the bench mark Gordon Murray used when designing the McLaren F1.

I'd still go for a 964 anyday over a NSX but then like most people on here I like the unique character of a 911.

You may not so I'd try before you buy.

VR6-er

For me the NSX is boring. But I haven't driven one.

BigMikeATL

964 - Iconic
NSX - Just a fancy Honda

I'm a bit older than you and was a serious car enthusiast when the NSX came out. I immediately dismissed it when I saw it had a V6 and it's weak performance.

njansenv

Dismissed the weak performance? But it basically matches the 964....

I'd drive them both: they'll be completely different driving experiences. Even the seating position and view will be very different.

I'd say that it is hard to go wrong with either. Both have good reputations for reliability, and both are near the bottom of the depreciation curve and poised to start going up in value. For some, a Honda will never have enough 'soul'. For others, a 911 looks frumpy next to an NSX.

YMMV.

BigMikeATL

If you're going to build a car to look like a super car, it should perform like one.

I just did a wiki on it. I can't believe they made that turd for 15 years. i thought it was like a 5 year production car. I guess i really did dismiss it.

David A

An aircooled 911 is a piece of Porsche history. An NSX is a great sports car.

pmohr993

first off, good luck with what ever you choose! i surfed the sites for 5 years narrowing down what i wanted, i choose the 993 (hence the user name). then i decided to get more serious and drove one, it didn't blow me away. then my brother got a 964 after he owned a 996. i couldn't get over the look of his car in person. it was the iconic sports car i grew up wanting to own some day. a few months ago i got a second chance to buy a car i had to pass on a year earlier. it has been a dream come true. i would highly recommend driving a 964 a couple of times to get a feel for the car. without supercharger or turbo, it is not going to blow most "sporty" cars of today away, but the drive is like no other. it is raw, but there is a peaceful calm to driving it. i drove mine 12 straight from indiana to maryland with no radio, and i never got tired of it. even now that i fixed the radio (code input problem) i rarely turn it on. i will say after owning a 2 seater (350z) it is nice to have a back seat for the kids to sit in. by the way, the kids have picked up the porsche bug, they love the car.

911Jetta

great post pmorh993! I agree with so much of what you say.

Both cars are icons for their manufactures, the 911 just has a longer history as we all know. It's such an epic car, but detractors can easily point to it's many flaws and dismiss it all the same, while revelling in their "favourite" brand. On paper the NSX should be the ultimate sports car, but like most things in life, it's not that straight forward. A former boss had one, and it never really interested me. I'm glad Honda made it, as the world needs all the sports cars it can get. I see them at cars and coffee (never at the track) and I sometimes forget to take a closer look. They are great cars, but it's just not at the center of my attraction template. I thoroughly look at all 911s, I just can't explain it. So I know I've made the right choice for me.

One should take a 911 for a long drive before deciding if they really want to purchase one. It's so different from anything else, it might not be there cup of tea. But to those that connect with it, it's the most amazing experience and forms a bond with you that you never want to be without.


This is all so true that I had to break it up a bit, as each sentence is so right (at least in my case).

Very, very true. It's raw and direct, but so easy to drive with complete control all day. It's the only car I've ever driven that when I get home from a 5 hour trip in the mountains and pull into the garage I don't want to get out...I sometimes want to sneak out for a couple more miles.

I haven't listened to the radio in 6 years of daily driving. Even the kids don't ask me to turn on the radio... very rare in a world of minivans with TVs for everyone inside.

That's what ultimately allowed me to get the car instead of a M3 or R32! Thank gawd!

I've even taken my son to the Porsche Museum and often Porsche engineering examples as a way to foster my son's budding math and engineering interests.

S7AR

My cousin owned a NA1. Having driven the NA1 I will tell you it is amazing for its age. The looks you get driving is something else, honda or not. Also, you get the Honda reliability, if you want more power supercharge it.

The downside of owning one is the aluminum body. Some girl tapped the rear end of the NSX and it was a HUGE bill.

The 964 is, well a Porsche. No matter the age its a Porsche. I also find that the 964 is the best looking Porsche. I am also looking for a 964 but I guess my 240Z will do for now.

GermanCarSpecialists

Despite the love you and I have for our 964s, it will walk all over a C2 or C4. Trust me. Rest is assured, I agree with you.

VR6-er

I have a 997 turbo, my 964 is way more fun. The 997 is just too much for a public road, you cant floor it as it gets to jail speed too quick.

Scotty Dosent Know

Thanks guys I didnt expect so many replies

I agree with this, I believe on paper that the NSX is the "superior" car but quirkiness and character go a long way in the driving experience. The NSX has been described as being cold or lacking character by some. I am a subscriber to the magazine "Sports & Exotic Car" and I drool every time they feature a 60's MGB GT. Those cars are not the best at, well, anything but I have ridden in a few and they put a smile on my face! I have ridden in many cars more "impressive" that didnt make me grin like those do. A car doesnt have to be the "best" to be great.

This sounds like a pretty close minded statement to me, the car was built to be a Ferrari 348 competitor and it was. The 348 only has 0.4 more liters of displacement. All aluminum body, all aluminum V6, VTEC, titalnium connecting rods, 280hp.....it was a pretty "exotic" car back in 1990 when it came out. I would not consider it an exotic car now but neither is the Porsche. Weighing in under 3k lbs and with 280hp it was also faster than the 964.

I think I really need to find some one to let me drive a 964, like you said I think both will offer a completely different driving experience. As far as an investment stand point I think you are right, I think both models are set to either just plateau or even rise in value.

I think the 911 does look a little frumpy next to the NSX but since Porsche kept that same basic shape for so long the look IMO is classic and timeless. I love how both cars look but for different reasons lol


I am not really looking for either car to blow me away power wise so that's "okay". I have a fast car right now that I will be keeping....probably not a car that would get much lover here though LOL

How was the car comfort wise on that long of a trip? My wife and I LOVE to drive. At least 2-4 times a week we find our selves just driving around, we are both car people. On the weekends we love to drive over the mountain passes or down the coast or take a weekend up to Vancouver BC. I want the car I get to be comfortable on long drives, reliable so it will make it there and back but also be able to be fun on a windy road. We have no kids yet so back seat is not a concern LOL

Well put. I lived in SC for 2 years and wished I made it up to NC more, I liked it so much more up there. There was not much of a car scene at all in Charleston, I went to cars and coffee there a few times and was kind of disappointed.

Out here you do see a few NSX's at the track but I think Porsche's greatly out number them. I think the mentality of a Porsche owner is different than most NSX owners. They seem (at least IMO) to drive their cars more rather than just buff them in a garage. All of my cars wear their mileage like a badge of pride. There is nothing impressive to me about a low mileage car. A car with 200K miles that is so well maintained it could be mistaken for having 50k is impressive to me. I love to drive though lol I know NSX are super reliable but Porsche's seem to get driven more.....would be nice to have other enthusiasts to meet/go on drives with. That's part of the fun.

I know if I want more power the NSX is easy to get it from....you can turbo/supercharge them pretty easily. Is it just as easy to modify the 964? I will just have to do more research. Im not really looking to modify the car I gets motor because I would like to have a nice N/A car to drive. Most likely only mod suspension/wheels/exhaust, little things.



Thanks guys I really appreciate any ones input. I know posting on a Porsche Forum it will be more one sided but that's what I want, if that make sense? You can see my join date is 2010 so wanting a 964 is not just an idea that I got yesterday.....been lurking and reading off and on.