Honda NSX: Spotted
The first machine to bring supercar performance to the people, and now, perhaps, to you as well
It would be a terrible cliché, one quite frowned upon in motoring journalism circles, if I were to begin this article by saying that every so often a car comes along that simply rips up the rulebook, and back in 1990 the original Honda NSX was one of those, but I'm afraid it seems I just have.
It is true, though. You see prior to the NSX, supercars were difficult buggers, with recalcitrant gearboxes and awkward driving positions and intractable powertrains. If you could see out of one you were lucky, and you were indeed blessed if you could complete a whole journey without needing the AA. However wonderful some of them looked - and some of them looked very wonderful indeed - the truth is that today you could probably drive much faster on nearly all roads in a modern Vauxhall Astra diesel, and much more reliably too.
What set the aluminium NSX apart was that it was easy to drive and easy to see out of and wonderfully docile around town. It was also in most respects unburstable, which meant that it was a pleasure to own, as well as a delight to drive fast. Indeed, if I were now the sort to resort to the motoring journalism book of clichés twice in one piece, I would at this point be dropping the name of a certain highly successful and unfortunately now departed Brazilian Formula One driver, who will be forever associated with the development of this car. But as I'm not that sort, I'll move on.
Suffice it to say that if you push on, you'll find it super-responsive in its marvellous high-revving V6 VTEC engine and its sweet gearbox (you could have an automatic one, if you prefer). It was thrillingly quick and handled beautifully, and, for the discerning, it was rammed full of exquisite engineering details. It was a grown-up and graceful supercar, and such was its brilliance it made every other manufacturer up their game.
Once upon a time you could buy a used one for small change, but prices are now on the up - you'll need over £50k for a good one, and the reasonable mileage and full service history example we've found in our classifieds is nudging £60k. However, it's red, original and has a fine provenance, and what you'd get is a delightful and thoroughly usable supercar, a sound investment and a chunk of history that you could use every day, and derive enormous pleasure from while doing so.
SPECIFICATION - HONDA NSX
Engine: 2,977cc V6
Transmission: 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 274@7,300rpm
Torque (lb ft): 210@6,500rpm
First registered: 1991
Recorded mileage: 57,576
Price new: £55,500
Yours for: £59,000
See the original advert here.
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Mark Pearson
More insightful, from Chris Harris (compare how Chris gives a balanced opinion based on driving the car, rather than just repeating cliches):
https://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-spottedyky...
Harry takes one for a spin - I never knew how good their induction noise was until I watched this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfCh5zZvlpU
Interesting titbit; the NSX came with either manual unassisted steering, or one of the earliest electric PAS setups - I don't believe any had hydraulic PAS.
Ultimately the regular NSX is a car I respect and am happy to see, but I don't lust after one. Now, the NSX Type R, that I would love, after reading Bulgin rave over it - but they're basically unobtanium. I saw an NA1 Type R outside a hotel in Marunouchi in January, couldn't believe my eyes, very cool.
Why would you buy a cayman for £5k when you can buy a mk1 mx5 and turbo it to 250bhp for £3.5k
k off. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcbNq62UHjU
Decent manuals have risen considerably since before the launch of the New NSX, particularly if they don't have minicab mileages (of which they are more than capable if looked after)
NA2 cars, with their 3.2l engine & 6speed gearbox, whether in pop-up or facelift guise, are very restricted in number (they sold around a dozen each year in the UK) , and hence command weighty prices.
Why would you buy a cayman for £5k when you can buy a mk1 mx5 and turbo it to 250bhp for £3.5k
Decent manuals have risen considerably since before the launch of the New NSX, particularly if they don't have minicab mileages (of which they are more than capable if looked after)
NA2 cars, with their 3.2l engine & 6speed gearbox, whether in pop-up or facelift guise, are very restricted in number (they sold around a dozen each year in the UK) , and hence command weighty prices.
Am I correct in thinking, that only the early automatics had PAS, the manual had no assistance until the revised models much later?
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