Test Drive: Bentley Continental Supersports

[VCheng]

LOL! This is the first time in my life that I have ever heard of a Bentley's interior being so "bland" that the reviewer didn't even bother to take pictures!

No lyrical waxing of how supple the leather is, or how tight and uniform the stitches are or how glossy and matching the wood grain is!

After all, you have to add a few choice cowhides and few planks of an unpronounceable exotic wood to charge four times for a shortened Phaeton platform, take off two doors and massage the engine a bit.

You now have my attention sir!

[BackToCivicFaiez]

I always hated this car....it looks like a buffalo....grass eating animal....

[salman_ksa]

LOL! This is the first time in my life that I have ever heard of a Bentley's interior being so "bland" that the reviewer didn't even bother to take pictures!

That's because he is spoiled by the Brookland.

[saad02]

nyce

[kahmed79]

That's because he is spoiled by the Brookland.

You've got that right!

[kahmed79]

I always hated this car....it looks like a buffalo....grass eating animal....

That's one beautiful buffalo then!

[kahmed79]

LOL! This is the first time in my life that I have ever heard of a Bentley's interior being so "bland" that the reviewer didn't even bother to take pictures!

No lyrical waxing of how supple the leather is, or how tight and uniform the stitches are or how glossy and matching the wood grain is!

After all, you have to add a few choice cowhides and few planks of an unpronounceable exotic wood to charge four times for a shortened Phaeton platform, take off two doors and massage the engine a bit.

You now have my attention sir!

As much as I appreciate exotic and luxury car interiors I focus my reviews on the driving experience. Also, as Salman noted, i've been a tad spoiled by cars like the Brooklands, Jag XJ, Spyker C8, etc, :). I still appreciate the fine things such as wood matching, contrast stitching, alcantara headlining, etc, etc.

Btw, glad to have your attention :D.

[VCheng]

As much as I appreciate exotic and luxury car interiors I focus my reviews on the driving experience. Also, as Salman noted, i've been a tad spoiled by cars like the Brooklands, Jag XJ, Spyker C8, etc, :). I still appreciate the fine things such as wood matching, contrast stitching, alcantara headlining, etc, etc.

Btw, glad to have your attention :D.

Thank you for your comments. I am pleased to able to talk cars with you.

IMO, the totality of the experience of an exotic or luxury car is much more that its driving dynamics only. Since we are talking in this thread on a version of the Bentley Continental, let me attempt to illustrate my point.

There is not a lot of difference between a VW Phaeton W12L and the Bentley Continental platform from a technical standpoint. However, the driving experience is quite different, and the total ownership experience is more different still. (On a much more plebian level, a simliarly analogous pairs would be Dodge Grand Caravan / VW Routan or Toyota Camry XLE V6 / Lexus ES350.)

Since you have driven a far greater variety of exotics and luxury cars than anyone I know, I would love to know your thoughts on what I am trying to describe, and how that could possibly be included in your future reviews (which I am enjoying tremoendously - thank you for that by the way) as a request.

Most of the magazines nowaday are little more than glorified press releases. I recently gave up on reading Car&Driver after practically growing up with it. Your reviews offer me hope of finding honest impressions on cars that I happen to be interested in.

(I don't mean to hijack this thread. We can create a suitable new thread if you so wish.)

PS: I had the chance to talk a little bit about this with Brock Yates a while ago. I'd love to compare your thoughts with his if I could.

[kahmed79]

Thank you for your comments. I am pleased to able to talk cars with you.

IMO, the totality of the experience of an exotic or luxury car is much more that its driving dynamics only. Since we are talking in this thread on a version of the Bentley Continental, let me attempt to illustrate my point.

There is not a lot of difference between a VW Phaeton W12L and the Bentley Continental platform from a technical standpoint. However, the driving experience is quite different, and the total ownership experience is more different still. (On a much more plebian level, a simliarly analogous pairs would be Dodge Grand Caravan / VW Routan or Toyota Camry XLE V6 / Lexus ES350.)

Since you have driven a far greater variety of exotics and luxury cars than anyone I know, I would love to know your thoughts on what I am trying to describe, and how that could possibly be included in your future reviews (which I am enjoying tremoendously - thank you for that by the way) as a request.

Most of the magazines nowaday are little more than glorified press releases. I recently gave up on reading Car&Driver after practically growing up with it. Your reviews offer me hope of finding honest impressions on cars that I happen to be interested in.

(I don't mean to hijack this thread. We can create a suitable new thread if you so wish.)

PS: I had the chance to talk a little bit about this with Brock Yates a while ago. I'd love to compare your thoughts with his if I could.

First off, it's good to see another true car enthusiast here on PW. I really enjoy discussing cars with people that know what they're talking about.

Your point about driving dynamics only being part of the entire experience when driving exotic/luxury cars is valid. Eventhough I focus mainly on the dynamics of the car I still talk about other things that are worth mentioning. With the Supersports I just felt that the interior was too much of a let down and I wanted to make that point loud and clear and it seemed to have worked.

With cars like the Jag XJ worth less than three times the price of the Supersports how the heck did it end up with an interior that is much better than the Supersports interior? When a car costs $273,000, there is absolutely no excuse for a lousy interior. The Supersports deserves an interior that looks at least half as good as the Mulsanne or Brooklands interior. I'll agree with you that the ownership experience of a Phaeton vs. Conti GT would be vastly different but I don't believe that the driving experience is different enough. Sure the Phaeton won't be as fast or have as good of dynamics as the Conti GT but the bottom line is that both cars would leave you cold after driving them. Now, i've never had the chance to drive a Phaeton but I can guarantee you that it won't be as exciting as a Supersports. And if the Supersports failed to excite me than I doubt the Phaeton would even register a blip.

Before I start sounding arrogant I just want to say that I still appreciate the little details in every car that I drive. Here are some from recent memory:

The condensation forming on the Jag XJ's metal air vents.The "squish" heard from the Aston Vanquish' transmission hydraulics on each up shift. The way the Maserati Gran Sport revs by itself on a cold morning when you first start it up. The impossible-to-describe way the Ferrari 599 tach moves in perfect increments with the way the engine sounds. To me, all of these things make cars exciting to drive. They give cars a soul, something that elevates them from simply being a machine.

Speaking of car mags, Car and Driver is probably near the end of all the mags IMO, although R&T isn't much better. Automobile, another mag based in my hometown of Ann Arbor, is probably the best domestic mag. Now, the mag that I enjoy the most by far is EVO, i've got every single issue besides issue 1. CAR is another great Brit mag and they have some interesting articles. Basically, no domestic mag is going to come close to the British mags any time soon.

If you want clear, honest, and well written articles then just read anything by Chris Harris, Jethro Bovingdon, Georg Kacher, Ian Kuah, John Barker, or Richard Meaden.

It sure is fun talking to someone that's as crazy about cars as myself :D.

[VCheng]

First off, it's good to see another true car enthusiast here on PW. I really enjoy discussing cars with people that know what they're talking about.

The feeling is mutual!

Your point about driving dynamics only being part of the entire experience when driving exotic/luxury cars is valid. Eventhough I focus mainly on the dynamics of the car I still talk about other things that are worth mentioning. With the Supersports I just felt that the interior was too much of a let down and I wanted to make that point loud and clear and it seemed to have worked.

Oh I got the point loud and clear enough to make my post above. What is funny is how some of these aspects get whitewashed over by the mainstream media just because of the marque's history or cache or whatever. Your refreshing honesty struck a chord with me.

With cars like the Jag XJ worth less than three times the price of the Supersports how the heck did it end up with an interior that is much better than the Supersports interior? When a car costs $273,000, there is absolutely no excuse for a lousy interior. The Supersports deserves an interior that looks at least half as good as the Mulsanne or Brooklands interior. I'll agree with you that the ownership experience of a Phaeton vs. Conti GT would be vastly different but I don't believe that the driving experience is different enough. Sure the Phaeton won't be as fast or have as good of dynamics as the Conti GT but the bottom line is that both cars would leave you cold after driving them. Now, i've never had the chance to drive a Phaeton but I can guarantee you that it won't be as exciting as a Supersports. And if the Supersports failed to excite me than I doubt the Phaeton would even register a blip.

I had a Phaeton (the 4.2 V8 LWB though, not the W12L) so that's why I used that as an example. It is very hard not to get jealous of your driving experience, but I have driven my fair share and then some too.

Just curious: What have you spent your own money on, given your knowledge of what the very best cars are like? I would suspect that since it is your own hard earned money (different than a dealer's test vehicle, or a press junket) and you know better, you would be inclined to match those characteristics with an eye for value for money too.

Not to show off, please check out some of my threads for some details on my cars and don't hesitate to speak your mind on what an idiot I am.

Before I start sounding arrogant I just want to say that I still appreciate the little details in every car that I drive. Here are some from recent memory:

The condensation forming on the Jag XJ's metal air vents.The "squish" heard from the Aston Vanquish' transmission hydraulics on each up shift. The way the Maserati Gran Sport revs by itself on a cold morning when you first start it up. The impossible-to-describe way the Ferrari 599 tach moves in perfect increments with the way the engine sounds. To me, all of these things make cars exciting to drive. They give cars a soul, something that elevates them from simply being a machine.

That, sir, is sheer poetry! :sniff:

Speaking of car mags, Car and Driver is probably near the end of all the mags IMO, although R&T isn't much better. Automobile, another mag based in my hometown of Ann Arbor, is probably the best domestic mag. Now, the mag that I enjoy the most by far is EVO, i've got every single issue besides issue 1. CAR is another great Brit mag and they have some interesting articles. Basically, no domestic mag is going to come close to the British mags any time soon.

If you want clear, honest, and well written articles then just read anything by Chris Harris, Jethro Bovingdon, Georg Kacher, Ian Kuah, John Barker, or Richard Meaden.

I agree with you largely, but I think that quite a lot of the role played by the enthusiast car mags has been, for quite some time now, and will be, moving online. There, the good content runs the risk of being diluted in its impact and reach by the sheer volume out there.

It sure is fun talking to someone that's as crazy about cars as myself

Ditto. And I look forward to more discussions.

[kahmed79]

The feeling is mutual!

Oh I got the point loud and clear enough to make my post above. What is funny is how some of these aspects get whitewashed over by the mainstream media just because of the marque's history or cache or whatever. Your refreshing honesty struck a chord with me.

I had a Phaeton (the 4.2 V8 LWB though, not the W12L) so that's why I used that as an example. It is very hard not to get jealous of your driving experience, but I have driven my fair share and then some too.

Just curious: What have you spent your own money on, given your knowledge of what the very best cars are like? I would suspect that since it is your own hard earned money (different than a dealer's test vehicle, or a press junket) and you know better, you would be inclined to match those characteristics with an eye for value for money too.

Not to show off, please check out some of my threads for some details on my cars and don't hesitate to speak your mind on what an idiot I am.

That, sir, is sheer poetry! :sniff:

I agree with you largely, but I think that quite a lot of the role played by the enthusiast car mags has been, for quite some time now, and will be, moving online. There, the good content runs the risk of being diluted in its impact and reach by the sheer volume out there.

Ditto. And I look forward to more discussions.

Yeah it's funny how much the press overlooks or just states over and over. I never go into the history of the cars, people who read my reviews can find that stuff elsewhere. For example, when a mag reviews a Lotus they always mention Colin Chapman or his obsession with "adding lightness". Reading that kind of stuff over and over makes me sick to my stomach. I'm more interested in stuff like the visible glass fibres inside the trunk of a Lotus Exige or the sharp edges off the carbon fibre trim on a Ferrari 599 that will cut you if you'r not careful.

Please post your impressions of the Phaeton LWB as i've never driven the car. I have to say that with the Phaeton you get a lot for your money, especially if it's pre-owned. And I commend you on not blindly going the S-Class, 7-series, A8 route. Although the A8 and Phaeton are pretty much the same car.

I currently have a 2000 Honda Accord sedan with the 5-speed manual trans. I can't say enough about Honda's reliability and the car is actually pretty decent to drive, the key being the manual transmission. In the past i've had a 1993 Honda Civic 5-speed and two 1990 Eagle Talon TSi's (Turbo AWD).

If my budget allowed, I would definitely go for the following cars.

AMG CLK63 Black Series
AMG C63
Porsche 997 GT3 RS (No brainer)
Ford GT
Morgan Aero 8
Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale
Aston Martin Vanquish
Noble M12
Acura NSX
Lotus Evora

All of these cars, with the exception of the Ford GT and Ferrari 360 CS, can be bought used for less than $100K. And IMO, these cars are worth every penny for the amount joy they bring to the driver.

I have checked out a little bit of your threads, will do so in more detail soon. You've got a nice collection of cars there sir! However, I do have a strong opinion on Corvette's...and it's not favorable :P.

[fahad992]

Nice car love benley and nice snaps too

[VCheng]

Yeah it's funny how much the press overlooks or just states over and over. I never go into the history of the cars, people who read my reviews can find that stuff elsewhere. For example, when a mag reviews a Lotus they always mention Colin Chapman or his obsession with "adding lightness". Reading that kind of stuff over and over makes me sick to my stomach. I'm more interested in stuff like the visible glass fibres inside the trunk of a Lotus Exige or the sharp edges off the carbon fibre trim on a Ferrari 599 that will cut you if you'r not careful.

I agree with you here 100%. I would go a step further and look for information on long term issues like reliability, servicing and durability too. One of the reasons I did not get a Porsche 911 was the lack of servicing information or the tools to do it. I do not, as a matter of principle, like to be held hostage by a lack of knowledge. Thus, in my decisions, availability of factory service manuals and tools is a big factor. None of this sort of information is easily available.

Please post your impressions of the Phaeton LWB as i've never driven the car. I have to say that with the Phaeton you get a lot for your money, especially if it's pre-owned. And I commend you on not blindly going the S-Class, 7-series, A8 route. Although the A8 and Phaeton are pretty much the same car.

The Phaeton was a great car, and it is quite different than the A8L, which my brother currently has, so I can compare them back to back. The big VW has a much heavier feel. I kept it for a few months before moving on to the Lexus LS. Small issues like the ABS warning light or the Low Battery warning light for no reason always lead to sneaking doubts about its reliability. In the snow though, I cannot think of a better sedan than the Phaeton.

I currently have a 2000 Honda Accord sedan with the 5-speed manual trans. I can't say enough about Honda's reliability and the car is actually pretty decent to drive, the key being the manual transmission. In the past i've had a 1993 Honda Civic 5-speed and two 1990 Eagle Talon TSi's (Turbo AWD).

Good, solid choices. The only thing I have against the Accord is the front wheel driving dynamics, otherwsie it offers a lot. It is indeed suprising how much the personality of a car changes with an honest to goodness three pedal manual stick shift.

If my budget allowed, I would definitely go for the following cars.

AMG CLK63 Black Series
AMG C63
Porsche 997 GT3 RS (No brainer)
Ford GT
Morgan Aero 8
Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale
Aston Martin Vanquish
Noble M12
Acura NSX
Lotus Evora

All of these cars, with the exception of the Ford GT and Ferrari 360 CS, can be bought used for less than $100K. And IMO, these cars are worth every penny for the amount joy they bring to the driver.

Good fleet, but some overlap, and not a long comfortable highway cruiser (well maybe the Vanquish) or a foul weather off road capable beast in the lot? At least your bias for high performance shows through clearly.

I have checked out a little bit of your threads, will do so in more detail soon. You've got a nice collection of cars there sir! However, I do have a strong opinion on Corvette's...and it's not favorable :P.

Corvettes do elicit strong opinions, positive and negative. My remarks above regarding servicing as a factor in my decisions led me to the Corvette , but now I am looking to replace it soon. I do have the factory service manuals, and I can hook it up to my Genisys scan tool to take care of any issues that might crop up.

I'd love to hear your opinions about the Vette. Let me just say here that a tall busty American blonde may not be a chic little European sophisticate, but she sure knows how to show you a really good time!

[kahmed79]

I agree with you here 100%. I would go a step further and look for information on long term issues like reliability, servicing and durability too. One of the reasons I did not get a Porsche 911 was the lack of servicing information or the tools to do it. I do not, as a matter of principle, like to be held hostage by a lack of knowledge. Thus, in my decisions, availability of factory service manuals and tools is a big factor. None of this sort of information is easily available.

The Phaeton was a great car, and it is quite different than the A8L, which my brother currently has, so I can compare them back to back. The big VW has a much heavier feel. I kept it for a few months before moving on to the Lexus LS. Small issues like the ABS warning light or the Low Battery warning light for no reason always lead to sneaking doubts about its reliability. In the snow though, I cannot think of a better sedan than the Phaeton.

Good, solid choices. The only thing I have against the Accord is the front wheel driving dynamics, otherwsie it offers a lot. It is indeed suprising how much the personality of a car changes with an honest to goodness three pedal manual stick shift.

Good fleet, but some overlap, and not a long comfortable highway cruiser (well maybe the Vanquish) or a foul weather off road capable beast in the lot? At least your bias for high performance shows through clearly.

Corvettes do elicit strong opinions, positive and negative. My remarks above regarding servicing as a factor in my decisions led me to the Corvette , but now I am looking to replace it soon. I do have the factory service manuals, and I can hook it up to my Genisys scan tool to take care of any issues that might crop up.

I'd love to hear your opinions about the Vette. Let me just say here that a tall busty American blonde may not be a chic little European sophisticate, but she sure knows how to show you a really good time!

You've got a good reason to pick a 'Vette then. I just find them to a bit bland. There's no doubt that the performance is there but there's no character. I drove a 600+hp Callaway Z06 prototype last year in CA and although it was a blast to drive that thing in the mountain roads I just think that a GT3, Stradale, or Ford GT would be more involving and exciting to drive. I've also driven a Callaway B2K and C5 Z06. The C5 was damn fast but then again it lacked character. I have to say though, for the money you can't get a faster car but too me it's not just about going fast. I would gladly spend $50K on a late model Acura NSX then any 'Vette. The 'Vette would obliterate the NSX in terms of performance but the NSX driver would be having a lot more fun driving the car. Btw, have you driven an NSX?

The probs with the Phaeton don't surprise me one bit. Just imagine how many other problems would've come up if you still had the car now. The LS430 is a safe bet in terms of reliability and the car is silky smooth. It does fell like an appliance though.

Yeah the FWD dynamics of the Accord sure is a problem. If I had to replace it with something else right now then it would be a BMW 330i sedan (E46) with a manual trans or the first-gen Lexus IS300 with a manual.

I like all sorts of cars but I really enjoy high-performance cars. If I had to pick a highway cruiser than it would have to be the Jaguar XJ L, Porsche Panamera, or Maserati Quattroporte. In a few years, I would change my selection to the typical 7, S, A8 :D.

I really have to commend you on the manual trans in the IS, FJ, and 'Vette. The driving enthusiast in you shows loud and clear! I really liked the FJ when I drove it, it's got a lot of cool litte details.

[BMW7Series]

gr8 sir.. u seems like pakistani jeremy clarkson

[VCheng]

You've got a good reason to pick a 'Vette then. I just find them to a bit bland. There's no doubt that the performance is there but there's no character. I drove a 600+hp Callaway Z06 prototype last year in CA and although it was a blast to drive that thing in the mountain roads I just think that a GT3, Stradale, or Ford GT would be more involving and exciting to drive. I've also driven a Callaway B2K and C5 Z06. The C5 was damn fast but then again it lacked character. I have to say though, for the money you can't get a faster car but too me it's not just about going fast. I would gladly spend $50K on a late model Acura NSX then any 'Vette. The 'Vette would obliterate the NSX in terms of performance but the NSX driver would be having a lot more fun driving the car. Btw, have you driven an NSX?

I do not necessarily diasgree with your comments about the Vette but at least you now understand my rationale better. I have been on the lookout for buying an NSX, but most of them out there for sale have been flogged to within an inch of their lives or buggered otherwise. I wish I could buy one new now and I'd o that in a heartbeat.

The probs with the Phaeton don't surprise me one bit. Just imagine how many other problems would've come up if you still had the car now. The LS430 is a safe bet in terms of reliability and the car is silky smooth. It does fell like an appliance though.

The Phaeton was a great drive but it did not inspire any confidence about its long term reliability.

I must chide you for using that cliched term "appliance" when describing a Toyota/Lexus car. For the reasons that I bought the LS430, there is no other finer car that meets my needs better. I think it is the best long distance highway cruiser in the world, bar none.

Yeah the FWD dynamics of the Accord sure is a problem. If I had to replace it with something else right now then it would be a BMW 330i sedan (E46) with a manual trans or the first-gen Lexus IS300 with a manual.

Good choices, but the only thing that turned me off the first generation IS300 was the dashboard material , design and finish. If I wanted to stay with Honda, their best car is probably the V6 Accord Coupe 6 speed manual. For a front driver, that chassis is very well sorted out.

I like all sorts of cars but I really enjoy high-performance cars. If I had to pick a highway cruiser than it would have to be the Jaguar XJ L, Porsche Panamera, or Maserati Quattroporte. In a few years, I would change my selection to the typical 7, S, A8 :D.

Good choices, but would you really spend your own money on the XJ, Panamera or the Maserati, given high servicing costs and depreciation, unless you are buying used?

The big German trio are seducing for sure, but never without an extended warranty, and then I'd sell them well before that expires. I think that in the Oxford Dictionary, there should be a picture of a 750 Li, S550 or an A8 out of warranty cover under the heading MONEY PIT.

I really have to commend you on the manual trans in the IS, FJ, and 'Vette. The driving enthusiast in you shows loud and clear! I really liked the FJ when I drove it, it's got a lot of cool litte details.

Thank you for liking my choices. I have a nice spread of vehicles right now, and I do enjoy the options this particular set of six gives me.

Let's see what replaces these one by one.

[kahmed79]

I do not necessarily diasgree with your comments about the Vette but at least you now understand my rationale better. I have been on the lookout for buying an NSX, but most of them out there for sale have been flogged to within an inch of their lives or buggered otherwise. I wish I could buy one new now and I'd o that in a heartbeat.

The Phaeton was a great drive but it did not inspire any confidence about its long term reliability.

I must chide you for using that cliched term "appliance" when describing a Toyota/Lexus car. For the reasons that I bought the LS430, there is no other finer car that meets my needs better. I think it is the best long distance highway cruiser in the world, bar none.

Good choices, but the only thing that turned me off the first generation IS300 was the dashboard material , design and finish. If I wanted to stay with Honda, their best car is probably the V6 Accord Coupe 6 speed manual. For a front driver, that chassis is very well sorted out.

Good choices, but would you really spend your own money on the XJ, Panamera or the Maserati, given high servicing costs and depreciation, unless you are buying used?

The big German trio are seducing for sure, but never without an extended warranty, and then I'd sell them well before that expires. I think that in the Oxford Dictionary, there should be a picture of a 750 Li, S550 or an A8 out of warranty cover under the heading MONEY PIT.

Thank you for liking my choices. I have a nice spread of vehicles right now, and I do enjoy the options this particular set of six gives me.

Let's see what replaces these one by one.

You should be able to find a decent NSX but it will take some time. One test drive is all that will take to convert you :).

The term "appliance" is cliched, no doubt, but one that aptly describes Toyota/Lexus products for the most part.

I haven't driven the V6 Accord with a 6-speed...will have to try it out. I also really like the Civic Si Sedan. It's an incredibly balanced car and some say that it's the closest thing to an E30 M3!

I would never spend money on a brand new exotic or luxury car. I've always believed in letting someone else take the initial depreciation hit. These cars take some massive hits in the beginning. For example, the AMG SL65 Black series is around $300K brand new but with around 4K miles the price drops to $260! It's the same story with the CLK63 Black series, although the CLK63 is a much nicer car. The GT3 and GT3 RS actually hold their value quite well.

For your next sports car, would you consider something like a Lotus Exige or is that too hardcore?

[kahmed79]

gr8 sir.. u seems like pakistani jeremy clarkson

LOL! I've heard that before :P.

[VCheng]

You should be able to find a decent NSX but it will take some time. One test drive is all that will take to convert you :).

The term "appliance" is cliched, no doubt, but one that aptly describes Toyota/Lexus products for the most part.

I haven't driven the V6 Accord with a 6-speed...will have to try it out. I also really like the Civic Si Sedan. It's an incredibly balanced car and some say that it's the closest thing to an E30 M3!

I would never spend money on a brand new exotic or luxury car. I've always believed in letting someone else take the initial depreciation hit. These cars take some massive hits in the beginning. For example, the AMG SL65 Black series is around $300K brand new but with around 4K miles the price drops to $260! It's the same story with the CLK63 Black series, although the CLK63 is a much nicer car. The GT3 and GT3 RS actually hold their value quite well.

For your next sports car, would you consider something like a Lotus Exige or is that too hardcore?

You simply must drive a V-6 stick shift Honda, preferably the Accord Coupe.

I hear you about the massive depreciation and how to take advantage if one can.

I do have my eye on the Evora.

[kahmed79]

You simply must drive a V-6 stick shift Honda, preferably the Accord Coupe.

I hear you about the massive depreciation and how to take advantage if one can.

I do have my eye on the Evora.

Evora...yeah now you're talking :). It reminds me so much of the NSX, not just in the layout but even the way it drives. It's too bad that the Evora shifter will never be as sweet as the one in the NSX. How about a used Aston V8 Vantage? It's about the same price as a new Evora.