Daily Driver with Soul?

[Pommygranite]

Doing the typical Carsales dreaming for a daily driver with a bit of soul.

Needs to be Auto, not ridiculous on fuel and easy-ish to live with. Budget wise it's an open book but call it sub $100k

What would you go for?

Edited by Pommygranite on Monday 28th December 04:12

[Ten Four]

I'd go for either of these personally. If its a daily it needs to be reliable and comfortable too..

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Lexus-I...



http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/Honda-NS...



I wouldn't be able to walk past the above... But I may be bias...

[Pommygranite]

Ten Four said:

I'd go for either of these personally. If its a daily it needs to be reliable and comfortable too..

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Lexus-I...



http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/Honda-NS...



I wouldn't be able to walk past the above... But I may be bias...

Both excellent choices.

Think the Lexus is incredible value.

That NSX is depreciation proof surely.

[Bibbs]

A mate has just bought a Cayman. Took it for a quick spin on the weekend, was very nice.

I'll get out in it again for a bit more spirited drive later.

Felt very small and nimble compared to the lazy armchair.

[Pommygranite]

Bibbs said:

A mate has just bought a Cayman. Took it for a quick spin on the weekend, was very nice.

I'll get out in it again for a bit more spirited drive later.

Felt very small and nimble compared to the lazy armchair.

Be keen to hear what you think. So whether it's an S or not.

[Bibbs]

Pommygranite said:

Be keen to hear what you think. So whether it's an S or not.

Think it was a normal Cayman (2010 - 987.2), but with the 'Sport' and 'Sport +' options (and chrono pack and a few other goodies too). It's with PDK, so was fine for driving about town in Auto.

Engine was quiet till it got into the power band, but then sounded very nice.

Felt very small and nimble. Loads of feel through the steering and seat.

Enough room in the front and back to throw a couple of over night bags and get away.

Will take it for a better drive later (he'd only collected it the day before, and we'd met for lunch).

We are trying to plan a few track days now, so we'll see how it handles when driven in anger.

[Pommygranite]

Bibbs said:

Pommygranite said:

Be keen to hear what you think. So whether it's an S or not.

Think it was a normal Cayman (2010 - 987.2), but with the 'Sport' and 'Sport +' options (and chrono pack and a few other goodies too). It's with PDK, so was fine for driving about town in Auto.

Engine was quiet till it got into the power band, but then sounded very nice.

Felt very small and nimble. Loads of feel through the steering and seat.

Enough room in the front and back to throw a couple of over night bags and get away.

Will take it for a better drive later (he'd only collected it the day before, and we'd met for lunch).

We are trying to plan a few track days now, so we'll see how it handles when driven in anger.

Sounds interesting - what was the PDK like?

Your next car?

[Bibbs]

Pommygranite said:

Sounds interesting - what was the PDK like?

Your next car?

Found it a little jerky coming off the throttle at low speed, but that's just me getting used to it. It was smooth on changes in 'Sport' (more so than mine in Sport).

Will give the 'Sports +' a try later (apparently it only shifts at stall/red line).

Could be tempted, will have to open it up first though.

Felt a lot more special and premium than the GTS, but there is something about more displacement that's addictive. It's why I'd like something with a bigger engine, like a Viper.

[dobly]

A manual NSX may be depreciation proof, but not sure about an automatic. You may be ok as they have may fallen to the bottom of the depreciation curve already, but not sure how desirable an automatic will prove to be long term. In Japan, of the 97 NSXs currently for sale on one large site, 60 are automatics - they don't seem to sell as quickly as manuals either.
That said, any NSX is a fine car - I have one.

[Ten Four]

dobly said:

A manual NSX may be depreciation proof, but not sure about an automatic. You may be ok as they have may fallen to the bottom of the depreciation curve already, but not sure how desirable an automatic will prove to be long term. In Japan, of the 97 NSXs currently for sale on one large site, 60 are automatics - they don't seem to sell as quickly as manuals either.
That said, any NSX is a fine car - I have one.

Manuals are ~ 20k more expensive in Aus at least. That said, for a "driver", parts are definitely available ex-Japan and USA for conversion kits if one is up to the task. I'd definitely say the autos are slowly appreciating.

[dobly]

Converting an auto to a manual won't get the same result as buying a manual - the power delivery characteristics of the engines are different with the different gearboxes - you'll end up spending more converting than if you were to go for a manual in the first place, if you are trying to match a manual.

[Ten Four]

Auto is ~ 25hp down. ECU and cams is the difference iirc.
Its all do-able but of course far easier to start with a manual