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NSX vs 348

Joined
17 May 2003
Messages
28
Hi people,

I know this has been mentioned a few times on this forum regarding the 2 cars above. Basically I would like to hear from Ferrari owners and former Ferrari owners.

I'm looking for a weekend car, not concerned about outrageous speed/handling. Just want something that I can enjoy driving and loving it. I have a Skyline GTR that's relatively modded and a 300zx that's faster than the GTR :)

Basically, I'm looking for a supercar experience, perhaps the Ferrari one although I've been hearing more and more of the NSX which is far more practical to own.

Everybody loves the Ferrari sound (so do I), so what does the NSX sounds like? Will I experience sheer joy of motor?

Thanks in advance. So far, I'm impressed with the NSX, but the heart is on the 348 ;-)
 
The NSX was released after the 348 was and it hit Ferrari pretty hard. The NSX was said to offer just as much performance as the 348 but with a lower price tag. Nothing beats Honda reliability either.

Your best bet is to maybe talk to owners who had both. Allain if he's here has owned an NSX and has a 348 now. I think the 348 was purchased for his significant other. Run a search, I think it was discussed before.
 
There are lots of comparisons to the 348, which you can find if you do a search - including this one as well as this other one which was started by a guy who didn't know what he was doing but there is a lot of good information in the responses (in between the flames).

shiri said:
Everybody loves the Ferrari sound (so do I), so what does the NSX sounds like? Will I experience sheer joy of motor?

The NSX sounds quieter than the Ferrari - which isn't saying much. ;) But some owners put on aftermarket exhausts and headers which change the sound.

If you go to a local NSX club event, you can probably hear various varieties of NSX sound.

shiri said:
Basically, I'm looking for a supercar experience, perhaps the Ferrari one although I've been hearing more and more of the NSX which is far more practical to own.
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I'm impressed with the NSX, but the heart is on the 348 ;-)

Then get the 348, if only to get that out of your system. When you've paid enough to your mechanic and you're ready for something better, sell it and get an NSX.

Before you get the 348, though, check out prices on scheduled maintenance. :eek: You can find NSX prices for that in the Maintenance - Costs section of the FAQ.
 
Hey shiri,
I had a friend who was choosing between some similar sports cars - 911, NSX, Ferrari, and he settled on a F 328. Reliability on these cars can vary greatly so I won't address that, but he found out that the 30K service hadn't been done. He took it in for the service and... $6000!

6 grand! In fairness that included a new timing belt, but in comparison, the 30K on an NSX is basically nuthin', and a new timing belt/water pump is maybe $1500.

If you don't mind spending tons of cash on your car hobby then it sounds like an F car is the way to go. The "joy of motor" and engine sound is probably better in the Ferrari. Nothing more exotic than a Ferrari in full wail. But the NSX sounds great too, it revs higher and you can tweak the sound w/ a variety of mufflers.

For me, spending that much for routing maintenance would quickly dull the shine of owning a Ferrari. and we havent even discussed the other huge costs of repairs if anything goes wrong. Just another thing to keep in mind.
 
RyRy210 said:
http://www.nexttestdrive.net/jhillNSX.html

Straight from the other threads ken posted (in case you are lazy to look thru them).

I was jsut abotu to post the link to that story on my site too :D...

in honesty... I can't reccomend the 348. I'm sure you'll get loads of varying reports, from one end of the spectrum to the other about reliability etc. After knowing a few people who have owned both, do own both, or have also compared and contrasted the two cars when looking to buy all came up with one or two universal opinions:

The Ferrari will be regarded in a different light no matter if it's running or not. The NSX stand no comparison to the public perception of branding.

The NSX is a better driving car, more reliable , cheaper to own and hence should be more enjoyable.

The Ferrari name goes farther than the car's own merits as a driving machine.

The 348 was one of the worst modern Ferraris, when talking about overall driviing dynamics, reliability, etc.



In the end...drive them both. But be careful not to let the "supercar" or Ferrari mindset cloud your judgement. Evaluate them as driver's cars and you should be fine. Take into account the history of both. Sterotypes exist for a reason. And to add personally, I don't think the 348 sounds all that great, unless fitted with a tubi. :D
 
The NSX stand no comparison to the public perception of branding.



See, I beg to differ on that. They're just as exotic. I've seen more ferrari's actually than NSXs...your average Joe doesn't know what an NSX is really and therefore his own mind wonders. If you know your stuff, you respect both cars.
 
Brian2by2 said:
See, I beg to differ on that. They're just as exotic. I've seen more ferrari's actually than NSXs...your average Joe doesn't know what an NSX is really and therefore his own mind wonders. If you know your stuff, you respect both cars.

Of course I agree wholeheartily (sp?), but the general public has no clue. They know that "Ferrari" is on some level above most other things. In most cases they think the NSX is a Ferrari or Lamborghini...

unless you get those guys who say "Yo mang, dat onadem new Camaros?" or "Nifty Mustang Mang, got day ol vee-ate five point D'oh! in dere?" :D

maybe I'm the only one laughing...
 
unless you get those guys who say "Yo mang, dat onadem new Camaros?" or "Nifty Mustang Mang, got day ol vee-ate five point D'oh! in dere?" :D

maybe I'm the only one laughing... [/B][/QUOTE]

ROFLMAO!!!

Hey Hank I still need a refill on my propane tank :D
 
Thanks for the feedback people.

Just a question, would you keep the GTR or trade it in for the NSX?
 
I second that vote!

keep the GTR, trade in the z.

then again, i'm the one that keeps saying get the FuurrraaRRee.;)
 
348 or nsx?

The 348 might be a little faster than a 328 but the handling in the 328 is a lot more predictable, most ferrari owners and buyers will pick a 328 before a 348. The 348 is not as loved as the 328, and the lines of the 348 model will never match the 328. Early 348s should be avoided until 93 year. Now if you really want the ferrari experience you are much better with a B.B.512 or a Testarossa, theres nothing like a flat 12 ferrari engine, ferrari v8s are great engines and sound great but the flat 12 engine is the reason why to own a ferrari, the prestige, performance, sound, its like no other and the reliabilty is not a matter to worry about. I bought a 88 testarossa in october 1999 in mint condition with 9,000 miles on it now its got 31,000 miles, the car is as reliable as the 92 nsx I used to have before it. Im telling everyone that if you ever have the chance to own a ferrari then do it, you will be glad that you did. I used to have a 328 for 7 years and sold to my brother, those cars are also as reliable as anything, at least more reliable than any porsche I had including 911s , 944 turbo , 928s. Now know this a cheap ferrari its gonna cost more later on, a testarossa for $40,000 its a major no, $55,000 are 1985 model year or low $60,000 for a 86 year, for example my car with 31,000 miles the ferrari dealer told me that I could get $71,000 out of it before I did the 30,000 major service, I did the real major service with the engine out, "not the major service most dealers say they do which is to change the belts and oil and then tell you its fully serviced, including ferrari dealers also" so watch out. My major service was $12,000, including tires and a new air comp. that I bought new for $220 with a friend instead of $1,800 that the dealership asked for. It was that much money and the car had nothing wrong at all. Also the engine work was done by a ferrari formula one mechanic that was in the team this last 7 years. I drive this car daily, and if it was for sale it would be for the high 70s. The 348 is cheaper to run and the 328 a little better than 348, but for a 348 go for a testa. Good luck...
 
Last edited:
http://www.nexttestdrive.net/jhillNSX.html

The above link seemed a little bias to me, I take it that it is just one man's experience and not the norm.

I think I'm leaning towards the Ferrari because I plan to keep the car for a while (and it is a car worth keeping!). Financially, I would prefer the NSX any day, but just don't want another typical japanese car. My first preference was actually the Testarossa, but I didn't think it would be practical enough to be driven often (parking is limited/dangerous, traffic is barely flowing, petrol is damn expensive). 328 looks a little old to me though I do like the boxer!

I just have to wait and see, thanks again!
 
I am not going to argue with you, just go ahead and buy the Ferrari, and leave the NSX behind for a real NSX enthusiast. I love Ferrari, but only in addition to the NSX. After all, my NSX ran all the way up to 146,098 miles before I blew the motor by a mis-shifting incident, my mistake, or else it would have lasted longer. Try that in a Ferrari. Beside, the NSX with some updated wheels, lower, WW parts make the car look really awesome, not that it doesn't look good in stock form. However, this topic is about you, and I say: Ferrari, Ferrari, Ferrari, Ferrari....

Typical japanese car, where do you getting off saying such thing? I live in San Diego, and everytime I go to work at my hospital close to the beach, I alway see more Ferrari than NSX. I don't know if you care about this or not, performance wise, I would put my money on the NSX. Ferrari, Ferrari, Ferrari.
 
NSXSAN said:
I am not going to argue with you, just go ahead and buy the Ferrari, and leave the NSX behind for a real NSX enthusiast. I love Ferrari, but only in addition to the NSX. After all, my NSX ran all the way up to 146,098 miles before I blew the motor by a mis-shifting incident, my mistake, or else it would have lasted longer. Try that in a Ferrari. Beside, the NSX with some updated wheels, lower, WW parts make the car look really awesome, not that it doesn't look good in stock form. However, this topic is about you, and I say: Ferrari, Ferrari, Ferrari, Ferrari....

Typical japanese car, where do you getting off saying such thing? I live in San Diego, and everytime I go to work at my hospital close to the beach, I alway see more Ferrari than NSX. I don't know if you care about this or not, performance wise, I would put my money on the NSX. Ferrari, Ferrari, Ferrari.

YEah I'm gonna concede here too...it seems like trying to convince someone won't work. It's plain as day...and all the writing is on the proverbial wall. Now it's up to you to take heed of anything we say here. I hope you're happy either way, and perhaps if you choose the Ferrari you'll have a great experience with it and not get caught out like so many others do. It would be a shame either way to regret your purchase decisions...so if you're trying to get us to sell you on the NSX, then I think your mind is made up. Go Ferrari! :D
 
As for the TR... I think it's gonna be in another leauge of ownership experience if you don't get a car that's 100% sorted. Read my review... and check out as much as you can on the history of the car you look into. Those extra cylinders add noticeable amounts of quid to the already upcharged maintenance costs. Just FYI. :D
 
"I think I'm leaning towards the Ferrari because I plan to keep the car for a while (and it is a car worth keeping!). Financially, I would prefer the NSX any day, but just don't want another typical japanese car. My first preference was actually the Testarossa, but I didn't think it would be practical enough to be driven often (parking is limited/dangerous, traffic is barely flowing, petrol is damn expensive). 328 looks a little old to me though I do like the boxer!"

Just get the Ferrari Testarossa/512/512TR/512M and accept the high maintenance costs. (or fix it yourself).

I don't think you'll be happy with the NSX. It sounds like you wouldn't be happy with any of the 3x8 series Ferraris either.

Personally, I would never use the Testarossa as a daily driver. I don't even use my NSX as a daily driver. I don't think its comfortable enough. Shifting in traffic is a pain in the butt. Also, I almost got run over by a Dodge Ram 2500 once because he couldn't see my NSX in his side view mirror.
 
Sorry if my opinions seemed so disappointing to you.

I live in Tokyo, which means that there are too many streets (start and stop etc etc) and not enough highways (well there are but you have to pay through the nose to use them). I just want something to drive in the city from time to time.

Someone mentioned that driving the NSX during low speed is as interesting as an Accord, that's not what I want. Like most sports cars, Its playground is on the track and highway, something that we don't have much of here.

Yes, it seemed as though my mind is made up about the Ferrari, though the NSX is a good car. I'd be sad not to get it as I wanted to get one for a while now. I may try to ask my bro to buy one, that would be interesting.

Thanks again.
 
No problem, it's your car. After all, a Ferrari that I would seriously consider in addition to the NSX would be the 360 Modena.
 
nsx or no ferrari but a 360 modena?

Thats not possible to consider for most nsx owners or buyers, an used 360 is about $140,000, and a brand new nsx about $90,000. If you can afford the 360 then you wouldnt look to the nsx not even for a second. An used 1995 355 is in the nsx price range and it still outperforms it, any ferrari 328 model or above it is a car to consider. By the way the 328 is newer than the b.b.512, the 328 was built untill 1989, the boxer until 1984. I have owned a 328gts, nsx and now a testarossa, im in the market looking for another nsx, but a ferrari is a ferrari
 
Re: nsx or no ferrari but a 360 modena?

Testaroja said:
If you can afford the 360 then you wouldnt look to the nsx not even for a second.

Do you honestly believe that? Interesting idea, but there's a WORLD of difference between being able to afford something and wanting to buy it. Do you and the people you know really all buy the most expensive cars you can afford?!?

Plenty of decamillionaires drive around in Grand Cherokees and other non-descript vehicles. Likewise, quite a lot of NSX owners could comfortably afford to spend much more on a sports car, but are happy with what they have. This is not unique to NSX owners - it's just that when somebody likes something, they are not going to disregard it just because there is something more expensive they could buy.

Likewise, tons of people could easily afford an NSX but drive something less expensive because it's what they like, not because they couldn't afford an NSX.

Plenty of well-known people with high net worths such as Larry Ellison (Oracle) or Phil Knight (Nike) or Steve Wozniak (Apple) buy, drive and publically recommend NSXs. I'm pretty sure they could afford something a little more expensive if it caught their fancy.

P.S. I personally know 3 regular non-famous people who own both a 360 Modena and an NSX and have no plans to unload the NSX.
 
why oh why do people ask what they should buy on a public forum like this?Is there anyone(able to afford the cars in question) really going to let public opinion sway thier choices,in my case I would'nt think of it or post my dilema,why oh why do folks do this?
 
I'm looking for a weekend car, not concerned about outrageous speed/handling. Just want something that I can enjoy driving and loving it. I have a Skyline GTR that's relatively modded and a 300zx that's faster than the GTR :)

Basically, I'm looking for a supercar experience, perhaps the Ferrari one although I've been hearing more and more of the NSX which is far more practical to own.

I just want something to drive in the city from time to time.

there are some contradictioons here, you need to make up your mind on what the car is going to be used for...

But looking at the list of the cars you have, keep the GTR for everyday use and pose in the 348 at the weekend?!
 
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