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Gave a brief introduction in the Member Introductions forum. Bottom line -- I'm going to buy a '93-'96 NSX or a '02-'04 Maserati Coupe next summer (when I return to the US); trying to decide which one to buy (but leaning towards the Maserati after many years of planning on an NSX).

Would be extremely grateful if I could get folks' opinions on the following:

1. What year did Maserati fix the "problems" with the CC transmission?
I think I've read that prior to '04, the CC had problems (rough shifts, etc.), unless the transmission is "upgraded". Does this entail only a software upgrade and a F1 pump replacement? All the things I've read (in this forum and in reviews from '02 and '03) scare me away from '02-03 CCs that haven't been "upgraded". Justified?

2. How many miles does the clutch on a manual Coupe last? Is this a ~$2,000 replacement at an independent mechanic?
BTW, the Maserati won't be a daily driver -- Fri through Sun only.

3. Assuming I buy an '02-'04 Coupe, what are the other major repairs to expect, or preventive maintenance to perform?

4. How do you think the "head turning quotient" of '02-'04 Coupes compare to the NSXs (i.e., when driving, filling gas, parking -- what's the level of attention)?
Is it accurate to say the NSX is more "flamboyant" while the Maserati has "subdued elegance"? Any good analogies (I think someone on this forum compared a 911 to Maserati to a wife and a stripper mistress, respectively)? I know that just mentioning my '88 biTurbo causes people -- even women who neither care nor know anything about cars -- to say "oooh!" or "wow", even when I emphasize that it's an '88 and I bought it for only $2000. Amazing. And there's Vincenzo's recent post about the auction. Good stuff.
But most folks haven't even heard of the NSX.

5. Why does Cars.com seem to have one of the best lists of used Maseratis (and NSXs) for sale? Seems to be better than even Dupont Registry.

Sorry for the naive, silly newbie questions. Although I'm still officially undecided between the NSX and the Maserati, I think I've caught the Maserati bug. I haven't even joined the NSX forum.......

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Gents, thanks for the info -- it helps. Will also keep searching the forum for maintenance cost info. Glenn, was wondering about the 6 spd manual.
Seems like fixing the roughness of the '02-'03 year group CCs can be a simple software upgrade at the dealer (hopefully not expensive). But I do like the fact that the clutches on the 6 spd manuals seem to last longer.

Very good point on the NSX being a true sports car, vice a luxury coupe -- one of those things I've subconsciously known, but don't actively think about. I'm a luxury kind of guy, and Maseratis seem to give you sports car performance wrapped in a very luxurious package. And more HPs than the NSX (not sure about torque).

BTW, Glenn and Paco -- very nice pics of your cars. Wow.
I guess maybe that's why I like Maseratis. They draw attention (maybe a little too much sometimes) without being too flamboyant. Girlfriend once talked me out of getting a Lotus Espirit because it was "too much".

 

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300zxtt,

Thanks for the info; makes me less weary about the CC. Will do a search for suspension arms to get average pricing on replacement.

 

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Folks, thanks for all the info. This has been extremely helpful.

Grnd, what bushing item number or specs would you know to get if you're going to have AFM custom build them for you? Or is it obvious once you look in the service manual? Seems like a good idea to spend the extra to have bushings that will last forever.

Ron, the life span of the 6 spd manual's clutch is another reason why I've had a preference for it over the CC. 25k on the original clutch is sweet. BTW, are you the same Ron Avery from the Ron Avery Shooting Academy?

Frankie, it's this exclusivity that's drawing me to the Maserati. Although the NSX isn't as well known as Maserati, the latter seems to be more exclusive (guess it helps that in the US, modern Maseratis go back to only 2002). I too have thought about eventually owning both cars (many years down the road).

Bee, girlfriend actually shares a trait with your wife, but I won't say which one.....

 

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Ron Avery is an amazing pistol marksman who owns/runs The Practical Shooting Academy in Colorado. Met him when I had a meeting at the Secret Service training center in Maryland a few years ago. Good guy.

Wannabe, pretty cool that your CC clutch has lasted that long. Thought those things almost always had a shorter lifespan. Guess never driving in auto is paying off.

Completely different league of cars, but I remember the day when I took my '93 240SX with 102k miles on it to a very reputable indy to check the clutch, only because it was the original clutch. Mechanic said the clutch had tons of life left on it. And my 300ZX original clutch lasted for ~85k. Funny that "exoticness", power, and price are inversely proportional to clutch life.