RE: Spotted: Honda NSX
Discussion
I don't doubt the sheer engineering brilliance, and the deep rooted quality of the NSX. It's a Honda, and Honda always excel here. I'd also be amazed if the VTEC V6 didn't sound as good as any Ferrari, given how special Honda can make a humble four-pot sound at high revs.
The reported usability somehow turned me off it though. I kind of want a recalcitrant gearbox, heavy controls, and other quirks in a supercar. In a way, the kind of things that would drive you nuts in your daily runabout somehow add to the driving appeal of a car like this.
I haven't driven one, and can only comment based on the contemporary road tests, but cars like this are surely as much about the sense of occasion and how they make you feel, as how good they are to drive. Whether it's prejudice on my part, I'm not sure, but I just couldn't see myself turning down a Ferrari for one of these, at least if it weren't to be a car I had to rely on for daily use.
Many journalists at the time said it was a supercar that your granny could drive. These descriptions did it no favours in my view.
The reported usability somehow turned me off it though. I kind of want a recalcitrant gearbox, heavy controls, and other quirks in a supercar. In a way, the kind of things that would drive you nuts in your daily runabout somehow add to the driving appeal of a car like this.
I haven't driven one, and can only comment based on the contemporary road tests, but cars like this are surely as much about the sense of occasion and how they make you feel, as how good they are to drive. Whether it's prejudice on my part, I'm not sure, but I just couldn't see myself turning down a Ferrari for one of these, at least if it weren't to be a car I had to rely on for daily use.
Many journalists at the time said it was a supercar that your granny could drive. These descriptions did it no favours in my view.
heavyearly76 said:
Funny how most people dislike "cheap" looking Corvette interiors yet love the NSX. The NSX materials came right out of every other Japanese car at the time. Cheap, bloated looking plastic.
i still don't get these comments? it's certainly as good as any air cooled 911 & the ferrari's up until the 360 were nothing to write home about.in fact i'd say it's a much nicer place to be than any early 90's ferrari or porsche, is it just me?!
then you start thinking about the quality of all the things you don't see, where's that american thread were they dismantle an NSX's suspension to show you how cleverly designed it is?
Justayellowbadge said:
When did the revisionist 348 b
ks begin?
Road tests of the time were almost universally positive about it.
Journalists that raved about it subsequently seem to have completely forgotten their contemporary output.
Odd, and tragic, that so many slipped into dementia so young.
Very true. The 348 was well received when it came out, but this was all forgotten about when the 355 appeared and was swiftly anointed as one of the all-time greats. Obviously the 355 deserves the praise, but it shouldn't be at the expense of the earlier car.ks begin?Road tests of the time were almost universally positive about it.
Journalists that raved about it subsequently seem to have completely forgotten their contemporary output.
Odd, and tragic, that so many slipped into dementia so young.
Chris Harris said:
eliotrw said:
348 Is rubbish at all its just a load of st that motoring press stuff.
If you lift of it will spin, Like any rear wheel drive supercar then....
I believe Chris Harris once described the 348 as one of the best handling cars he'd driven in a EVO mag article too.
You believe wrongt that motoring press stuff.If you lift of it will spin, Like any rear wheel drive supercar then....
I believe Chris Harris once described the 348 as one of the best handling cars he'd driven in a EVO mag article too.
here we go............
pure NSX porn
http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2012/02/1991...
pure NSX porn
http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2012/02/1991...
Edited by LaurasOtherHalf on Tuesday 25th September 15:26
anything fast said:
I would bet some time in the near future the values of standard minted NSX's will be ahead of Ferrari 348's..
Amazing how it could eclipse the car it was meant to ape and undercut!
Not sure about that. The 348 is one that I would fancy to have a good jump in values some time soon. And if I could get my hands on a Competizione...Amazing how it could eclipse the car it was meant to ape and undercut!
LaurasOtherHalf said:
heavyearly76 said:
Funny how most people dislike "cheap" looking Corvette interiors yet love the NSX. The NSX materials came right out of every other Japanese car at the time. Cheap, bloated looking plastic.
i still don't get these comments? it's certainly as good as any air cooled 911 & the ferrari's up until the 360 were nothing to write home about.in fact i'd say it's a much nicer place to be than any early 90's ferrari or porsche, is it just me?!
then you start thinking about the quality of all the things you don't see, where's that american thread were they dismantle an NSX's suspension to show you how cleverly designed it is?
I challenge anyone to sit in a 996 911 for a hour and not end up shocked at the hard mismatched plastics thrown together to make a diaster of a dashboard. Except it's German, so presumably counts as "tough" rather than "cheap". Still a nasty thing to sit in for an hour. Much, much nicer to drive, not least because just like every other car ever you don't look at the interior when driving.
I've said it before, but criticising the dashboard of a car is something you do when you can't find anything real wrong with it.
mat205125 said:
Please don't mistake me for an Audi soft touch "imagine" type of person, but how do the Japanese make their finishings look soooooo cheap and shiny, and remove anything approaching a pleasurable tactile experience.
Japanese drivers are too busy going sideways down the Hakone Skylines to worry about even glancing at the interior. Unless they're pulling the handbrake for a turn 
BelfastBoy said:
Since the NSX and earlier Skyline GTRs etc had (allegedly) 'only' 276bhp, how did Toyota get away with the Supra, openly sold with 326bhp?
The 326bhp Twin Turbo Supra 'officially imported' and sold in the UK market - This is what you are referring to. The 276bhp 'Gentlemen's agreement' was in Japan, so refers to JDM cars only, not UKDM.As for the NSX - Pre-facelift, in red, black roof looks good too.
I've got a lot of love for many Japanese cars from the late 80's early 90's. If I won the lottery, a number of these would be in my garage, not just modern supercars.
Alas - I fear I will never be in a position to own an NSX.
'When McLaren adopted drive-by-wire technology for it's 1992 car and wanted a fast and accurate stepping motor to open and close its throttles, Honda simply adapted a motor that it was already using in the traction control system of its NSX.'
pp 121, CAR Magazine March 1997 - Going Nowhere Fast an article by LJKS on how F1 rules meant road cars were more advanced.
I'm leaning towards the NSX. I've had a Honda, my father had a C90.
As Ferraris go I wouldn't say the 348 would figure in my personal Ferrari top 10. I did giggle when someone said that the 288GTO was an evolution of the 308GTB.
Lets park the 348 with a 'My top 10 Ferraris' thread with two lines max. on why it features in our own top 10s. An article suggestion there. Perhaps it's been done before.
pp 121, CAR Magazine March 1997 - Going Nowhere Fast an article by LJKS on how F1 rules meant road cars were more advanced.
I'm leaning towards the NSX. I've had a Honda, my father had a C90.
As Ferraris go I wouldn't say the 348 would figure in my personal Ferrari top 10. I did giggle when someone said that the 288GTO was an evolution of the 308GTB.
Lets park the 348 with a 'My top 10 Ferraris' thread with two lines max. on why it features in our own top 10s. An article suggestion there. Perhaps it's been done before.
Edited by carinaman on Tuesday 25th September 15:48
Leins said:
anything fast said:
I would bet some time in the near future the values of standard minted NSX's will be ahead of Ferrari 348's..
Amazing how it could eclipse the car it was meant to ape and undercut!
Not sure about that. The 348 is one that I would fancy to have a good jump in values some time soon. And if I could get my hands on a Competizione...Amazing how it could eclipse the car it was meant to ape and undercut!
Too those fools with no taste, please buy a Clio and butcher that.. not the NSX!
melvster said:
NSX never won roadtests, really ??
Performance Car 1994, NSX v 993 v Audi RS2 v Jag XJR v Westfield thingy. NSX wins.
Performance Car 1997, NSX v Esprit v 993 v TVR Cerbera. NSX wins.
Evo Car of the Year 2002, NSX R v 575 v 996 C4S v SL55 v lower priced stuff. NSX wins.
Ah yes, but the article compares it specifically to the Ferrari 348, and:Performance Car 1994, NSX v 993 v Audi RS2 v Jag XJR v Westfield thingy. NSX wins.
Performance Car 1997, NSX v Esprit v 993 v TVR Cerbera. NSX wins.
Evo Car of the Year 2002, NSX R v 575 v 996 C4S v SL55 v lower priced stuff. NSX wins.
CAR Magazine October 1990 did a comparative test of the 348, NSX, Carrera 2 and Lotus Esprit SE - 348 wins.
Autocar July 1993 did a comparative test of a 348, NSX and a Lotus Esprit S4 and their verdict was - 348 wins.
In the early 90's (probably 92ish) even Clarkson wrote:
"Should the man who wants to spend £76,000 on a motor car buy a Ferrari 348tb? The answer is yes, yes and yes a thousand times.........if the car had been good, or even very good, that would have been enough, but the car is, in fact, a sensation; it makes a laughing stock out of the Honda NSX, and, as far as the BMW 850 is concerned, well, this is like watching one of those nature programs where a whale eats a plankton."
So, the reviews at the time are open to debate still about the merits of the NSX over the Ferrari 348, I think the NSX is a great car by the way - however I will keep my Ferrari for now.
I like the look of a 348 but have never driven one.
Could you all just have a think about why Chris Harris isn't allowed to drive new Ferraris anymore? He was banned for telling his opinion, hence all the other journos will have been 'asked to be nice' or bugger off!
The 348 has always had a bad rep compared to other fezzers.
Could you all just have a think about why Chris Harris isn't allowed to drive new Ferraris anymore? He was banned for telling his opinion, hence all the other journos will have been 'asked to be nice' or bugger off!
The 348 has always had a bad rep compared to other fezzers.
I want to post photos of 'my' NSX. Ok, ok, I mean, my dad's NSX on our recent alpine trip. Just cos I can.
I think it is beautifully proportioned car and the interior is fine, not the best but it is functional, practical and well put together (and this particular example has a spotless interior after 16 years).
I think it is beautifully proportioned car and the interior is fine, not the best but it is functional, practical and well put together (and this particular example has a spotless interior after 16 years).
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