Today was 7 days with the new car. In that week, I haven't driven the SLK at all until last night when I just moved it to the other side of the driveway. What a weird feeling it is to jump into the SLK and feel like I'm sitting up high! In the meantime, I put 400 miles on the NSX.
This NSX -- you literally 'fall in and climb out' of this thing. I have learned the NSX dismount procedure necessary to keep from wearing the seat bolster (a very common wear point on this car), consisting of a stiff left arm to the pad on the kick plate followed by a right hand to the steering wheel that pushes you up and out. I got some muscles complaining but I'll get over it.
The NSX is going in for a timing belt/water pump on Wednesday so I'll be back in my old car (or even worse, the Escort) for a day or two. Errr - otay. Lookin' forward to that!
The car is thrilling to drive and I really mean that. I know it doesn't have as much HP as a Corvette or a host of other modern cars and I don't care. I am a mature guy, I've been around the block, I've owned or at least driven a LOT of cool cars over 30+ years. I am qualified to say this car is fun, really fun, to drive around town and on the highway. It has a stock exhaust and is pretty quiet but when you get to about 5000 RPM and run to the redline at 8000 RPM it is music to behold and it is happening about 2 inches behind your right ear. Very sweet!
Storage space is abysmal. You could put a cheese sandwich in the glove box and a sun visor in the pouch behind the passenger seat. After that you have in the center a couple *really* little compartments and a small console cubby and that's it. The factory Bose stereo is only adequate by today's standards (much like my SLK) and not easily upgradeable. Whatever. Eventually I'll have an aftermarket exhaust on this car and I'll listen to the motor most of the time and be happy doing it. There is a trunk, it is small. Up front? Forget it. You could put something soft under the glass over the engine if it don't mind getting hot.
Speaking of getting hot... The targa roof stores over the engine. If I've been out driving around and want to put the top on, it's FUCKING HOT! For now I have a couple shop towels in the trunk but I think I'll get a pair of oven mitts embroidered with an NSX logo just to fuck with some of the other NSX owners online (all of whom seem to have a lot more $$$ than I do).
I get a lot of looks driving around in this car. I'm sure if I lived in Miami and cruised South Beach every night no one would give me a second glance. Here in Sarasota - where my Mercedes SLK doesn't rate a nod - the NSX gets stares. I both like this and fear this at the same time. Time will tell how I feel about it in the long run. It's a bit sucky to notice some driver next to you is staring at your car instead of paying attention to the car in front of him.
Anyway, that's my first week with my dream (used (practical (exotic))) car. It has EASILY been the best motoring week of my life after my first car a long, long time ago.