NSX 3.0 Manual - Running Costs

NSX 3.0 Manual - Running Costs

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Discussion

KingRichard

Original Poster:

10,144 posts

233 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
I'm going to go and test drive one of these later in the week, and want to get a feel for annual running costs. I know they are probably the most sensible supercar choice, but part of me still views it as a supercar that is getting on for 20 years old and to be wary of eye watering bills.

As far as I understand it, servicing is around £500 a pop, but what are the intervals, and how much is a major service?

The only other things I can pick up on through a search on PH is that clutches get sizzled fairly frequently and can be north of £1000 to put right and that the belts need doing every 60k miles. What is the cost of a belt swap?

Can all this be looked after by a Honda Main Dealer now, or is it better to send out to a specialist these days?

I've been looking at buying a few different cars for different things. I need a daily driver, a long distance machine and a sports car. This seems to do all three for 2/3 of the price of the others combined, along with the savings on road tax and insurance. Looking at the stats, it seems a hugely capable car that I've too long overlooked because of my snobby attitude to Japanese cars.

I must have been crazy to consider a Merc CL, a classic Mustang AND a TVR eek

Thanks in advance and all that smile

Sagacitas

290 posts

217 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
There are a number of NSX owners on here so one of them is likely to be along soon to give you an answer.

I, unfortunately, am not an NSX owner but I have been dreaming of owning one for a lot of years. smile

Suggest you also take a look at the UK owners clud at http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/

Richard

BTW - which one are you going to look at?

trackdemon

12,201 posts

262 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
Servicing is standard Honda hourly rates, I pay <£200 for a main dealer interim service with a decent loan car.

Clutch: Like any clutch, lasts as long as you make it last.... abuse can destroy in less than 3k miles. On the other hand, I had mine looked at 2 years ago whilst having some other work done and was told it wasn't worth changing it had so much left. 60k+ easily acheivable, worst case its IRO £1k to replace.

Belts: I had my belts done whilst the engine was changed so dont know the individual cost, but its a 60k interval. COntact Nortonway Honda for a quote (and any other running costs questions)

Everything main dealer. A few dealers were trained in NSX' and also have the specialist equipment to service & repair, those have now reduced to a handful therefore they tend to see a lot of NSX'. My car goes to Nortonway Honda, which would probably be your best bet unless you fancy a drive into West London for Chiswick Honda. Interim services can be carried out at 'normal' Honda dealers.

The NSX is pretty much the perfect car for what you've listed, with the added bonus of rarity and low running costs. When you do test drive, try to make it for a decent amount of time - it's a car that takes a little while to get under your skin but the fact so few owners sell tells its own story; its simply a fantastic road car.

KingRichard

Original Poster:

10,144 posts

233 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
Sagacitas said:
There are a number of NSX owners on here so one of them is likely to be along soon to give you an answer.

I, unfortunately, am not an NSX owner but I have been dreaming of owning one for a lot of years. smile

Suggest you also take a look at the UK owners clud at http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/

Richard

BTW - which one are you going to look at?
I'm waiting for a couple to get back to me at the moment smile

KingRichard

Original Poster:

10,144 posts

233 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
trackdemon said:
Servicing is standard Honda hourly rates, I pay <£200 for a main dealer interim service with a decent loan car.

Clutch: Like any clutch, lasts as long as you make it last.... abuse can destroy in less than 3k miles. On the other hand, I had mine looked at 2 years ago whilst having some other work done and was told it wasn't worth changing it had so much left. 60k+ easily acheivable, worst case its IRO £1k to replace.

Belts: I had my belts done whilst the engine was changed so dont know the individual cost, but its a 60k interval. COntact Nortonway Honda for a quote (and any other running costs questions)

Everything main dealer. A few dealers were trained in NSX' and also have the specialist equipment to service & repair, those have now reduced to a handful therefore they tend to see a lot of NSX'. My car goes to Nortonway Honda, which would probably be your best bet unless you fancy a drive into West London for Chiswick Honda. Interim services can be carried out at 'normal' Honda dealers.

The NSX is pretty much the perfect car for what you've listed, with the added bonus of rarity and low running costs. When you do test drive, try to make it for a decent amount of time - it's a car that takes a little while to get under your skin but the fact so few owners sell tells its own story; its simply a fantastic road car.
Thanks for the info... I've been watching lots of NSX Videos. Sound lovely don't they? I've never seen one running in the flesh before cool

I'll check out the owners forums too. Just need to get a coffee on the go smile

KingRichard

Original Poster:

10,144 posts

233 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
Just spoken to my insurance broker too thumbup

ferrisbueller

29,363 posts

228 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
Richard,

TD has covered the main aspects above. Service intervals are 12 months or 6k on an earlier car IIRC, later cars are 9k. Annual service is £300 for me (based on <9k miles per year). Larger services such as belt changes are more expensive but in my experience in line with a Prelude I used to run.

Hidden costs would include the valve clearances every 3 years which comes in at around £400 due to the labour involved. They are well known for their appetite for tyres but they're a relatively modest size and a set will set you back <£400 - I budget for a set every 5000 miles. Mine also has an appetite for brake pads but these can be sourced and replaced for <£100 a set.

Honda UK parts are relatively expensive. It is much cheaper to source them from USA i.e. half price.

I also take my car to Norton Way, I would not take it anywhere else now - Bryan, the Service Manager, has worked with NSX since their introduction.

Let us know if you have any specific questions. The most stressful thing with NSXs is trying to find one.

FB

KingRichard

Original Poster:

10,144 posts

233 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
Ok. This is awesome. I'm 26 and my insurance broker has just come back with an annual quote of...

Anyone like to take a guess at the premium? Any driver 30+ with the exception of myself, fully comp. I have 3 points SP30 and a couple of non-fault claims in the last few years.

Go on. Have a guess biggrin

KingRichard

Original Poster:

10,144 posts

233 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
ferrisbueller said:
Richard,

TD has covered the main aspects above. Service intervals are 12 months or 6k on an earlier car IIRC, later cars are 9k. Annual service is £300 for me (based on <9k miles per year). Larger services such as belt changes are more expensive but in my experience in line with a Prelude I used to run.

Hidden costs would include the valve clearances every 3 years which comes in at around £400 due to the labour involved. They are well known for their appetite for tyres but they're a relatively modest size and a set will set you back <£400 - I budget for a set every 5000 miles. Mine also has an appetite for brake pads but these can be sourced and replaced for <£100 a set.

Honda UK parts are relatively expensive. It is much cheaper to source them from USA i.e. half price.

I also take my car to Norton Way, I would not take it anywhere else now - Bryan, the Service Manager, has worked with NSX since their introduction.

Let us know if you have any specific questions. The most stressful thing with NSXs is trying to find one.

FB
Where is Norton Way Honda? Oh, and when you refer to parts from USA, do you mean the Accura parts? Do you have to pay import duty and stuff on parts?

Cheers smile

ferrisbueller

29,363 posts

228 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
KingRichard said:
Ok. This is awesome. I'm 26 and my insurance broker has just come back with an annual quote of...

Anyone like to take a guess at the premium? Any driver 30+ with the exception of myself, fully comp. I have 3 points SP30 and a couple of non-fault claims in the last few years.

Go on. Have a guess biggrin
<£600

ferrisbueller

29,363 posts

228 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
KingRichard said:
ferrisbueller said:
Richard,

TD has covered the main aspects above. Service intervals are 12 months or 6k on an earlier car IIRC, later cars are 9k. Annual service is £300 for me (based on <9k miles per year). Larger services such as belt changes are more expensive but in my experience in line with a Prelude I used to run.

Hidden costs would include the valve clearances every 3 years which comes in at around £400 due to the labour involved. They are well known for their appetite for tyres but they're a relatively modest size and a set will set you back <£400 - I budget for a set every 5000 miles. Mine also has an appetite for brake pads but these can be sourced and replaced for <£100 a set.

Honda UK parts are relatively expensive. It is much cheaper to source them from USA i.e. half price.

I also take my car to Norton Way, I would not take it anywhere else now - Bryan, the Service Manager, has worked with NSX since their introduction.

Let us know if you have any specific questions. The most stressful thing with NSXs is trying to find one.

FB
Where is Norton Way Honda? Oh, and when you refer to parts from USA, do you mean the Accura parts? Do you have to pay import duty and stuff on parts?

Cheers smile
Norton Way is in Letchworth, just off the A1, about half an hour North of London.

Acura parts are much cheaper but the range of aftermarket choices is much wider as well. Even after tax the parts are still cheaper and Norton Way have been happy to fit anything I've supplied.

As an idea of relative value, have a look at http://www.scienceofspeed.com/ and http://daliracing.com/

Sagacitas

290 posts

217 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
Norton Way Honda is in Letchworth.

You really must take one for a test drive - but only do that if you are really ready to buy one. I have taken 2 for test drives and my life has been more miserable since - the car is addictive (the sound, the look, the view over the bonnet, the handling, etc etc etc). But I will have one some day. smile

Richard

ferrisbueller

29,363 posts

228 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
PS. Apologies, been calling you Richard and just looked at your profile - sorry, David

KingRichard

Original Poster:

10,144 posts

233 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
ferrisbueller said:
KingRichard said:
Ok. This is awesome. I'm 26 and my insurance broker has just come back with an annual quote of...

Anyone like to take a guess at the premium? Any driver 30+ with the exception of myself, fully comp. I have 3 points SP30 and a couple of non-fault claims in the last few years.

Go on. Have a guess biggrin
<£600
Close. £700.00 cool

My 318is costs £650.00 to insure and that sure as hell can't dance at 170mph hehe

Maybe that's why... scratchchin

KingRichard

Original Poster:

10,144 posts

233 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
ferrisbueller said:
PS. Apologies, been calling you Richard and just looked at your profile - sorry, David
Don't worry... I've got used to it on here laugh

I too, am a fan of Ferris cool

KingRichard

Original Poster:

10,144 posts

233 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
Sagacitas said:
Norton Way Honda is in Letchworth.

You really must take one for a test drive - but only do that if you are really ready to buy one. I have taken 2 for test drives and my life has been more miserable since - the car is addictive (the sound, the look, the view over the bonnet, the handling, etc etc etc). But I will have one some day. smile

Richard
Well...

Here's the thing, what's the best one to get? My hearts telling me to get an early 3.0 manual, that I can then spend a bit of time getting used to and tweaking. I've seen one on youtube with a spoon exhaust and OHMYGOD ears

However, is it more sensible to spend a little more and get a slightly later one? What's the SP chaps? smile

ferrisbueller

29,363 posts

228 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
KingRichard said:
Sagacitas said:
Norton Way Honda is in Letchworth.

You really must take one for a test drive - but only do that if you are really ready to buy one. I have taken 2 for test drives and my life has been more miserable since - the car is addictive (the sound, the look, the view over the bonnet, the handling, etc etc etc). But I will have one some day. smile

Richard
Well...

Here's the thing, what's the best one to get? My hearts telling me to get an early 3.0 manual, that I can then spend a bit of time getting used to and tweaking. I've seen one on youtube with a spoon exhaust and OHMYGOD ears

However, is it more sensible to spend a little more and get a slightly later one? What's the SP chaps? smile
IMO. 3.2 6 speed. They're also the hardest to find but if you're patient they are out there.

ETA Turn it up

Edited by ferrisbueller on Tuesday 19th August 13:00

trackdemon

12,201 posts

262 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
KingRichard said:
Sagacitas said:
Norton Way Honda is in Letchworth.

You really must take one for a test drive - but only do that if you are really ready to buy one. I have taken 2 for test drives and my life has been more miserable since - the car is addictive (the sound, the look, the view over the bonnet, the handling, etc etc etc). But I will have one some day. smile

Richard
Well...

Here's the thing, what's the best one to get? My hearts telling me to get an early 3.0 manual, that I can then spend a bit of time getting used to and tweaking. I've seen one on youtube with a spoon exhaust and OHMYGOD ears

However, is it more sensible to spend a little more and get a slightly later one? What's the SP chaps? smile
First thing to do is make sure you get a manual, its one of the most joyful parts of driving the NSX. Performance difference 3.2 vs 3.0 is not great (my car was within 2mph of a 3.2 @ VMAX). I guess it comes down to budget, how you rate mileage vs condition, if you prefer the early popup lights or the later bubble lamps...... and availability!

There's been quite a lot of talk about how cost effective they are to run, but not much about the driving experience: IMHO its one of the best road car chassis' I've ever experienced, its got just the right amount of compliance vs control & the damping is awesome. The engine is a joy to use, as is the gearchange (which is truly world class). The driving position is superb too, which naturally makes it a better drivers car straight away. As most will mention too, its also sounds fantastic @ 6k rpm+ wink

trackdemon

12,201 posts

262 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
Something worth reading to whet your appetite wink Seems Gordon Murray rates the NSX 'quite highly'.....

http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dggtsppm_6cgtnsc...

KingRichard

Original Poster:

10,144 posts

233 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
trackdemon said:
First thing to do is make sure you get a manual, its one of the most joyful parts of driving the NSX. Performance difference 3.2 vs 3.0 is not great (my car was within 2mph of a 3.2 @ VMAX). I guess it comes down to budget, how you rate mileage vs condition, if you prefer the early popup lights or the later bubble lamps...... and availability!

There's been quite a lot of talk about how cost effective they are to run, but not much about the driving experience: IMHO its one of the best road car chassis' I've ever experienced, its got just the right amount of compliance vs control & the damping is awesome. The engine is a joy to use, as is the gearchange (which is truly world class). The driving position is superb too, which naturally makes it a better drivers car straight away. As most will mention too, its also sounds fantastic @ 6k rpm+ wink
You mention the driving position... this is a bugbear for me in many cars. I'm a short arse - 5'7" with a long body and short legs. My BMW is a real pain in the arse, not being able to adust the reach on the steering wheel means I have to sit up close and then my headroom is limited.

How tall are you if you don't mind me asking? smile