Little something a friend of mine picked up...

[VTEC_Inside]

[Eye of the Tiger]

Is that a SHO?

[VTEC_Inside]

Is that a SHO?

Yes, thats his "beater" SHO, a '92 ATX. He also has a '95 MTX which he's trying to sell now that he has a new toy.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Need to get rid of that Camry.

[Catman]

Need to get rid of that Camry.

Yeah, embarrassing. 

[the Teuton]

Nice Miata.

[S204STi]

Pft, Accord FTL.

(Nice car!  One of the few affordable exotics that aren't going to kick your butt with repairs!)

[CALL_911]

I LOVE the NSX. I drove one briefly, but stalled it before I could do anything worth speaking about.

However, I have been in one going 120 mph. Man, that engine has some sound. 

[Onslaught]

NICE. Would love having one myself.
Are those beaded seat covers on that MX-5? If so then =FAIL

[SVT666]

How much?

[VTEC_Inside]

Camry and Miata belong to the previous owner. Guy is in his late 50s and is still very enthusiastic about driving. He drives the Miata daily in the summer, the Camry is his wifes.

I wasn't sure what to think about my buddy buying the car, but its only been 2 days and I think its one of the best things he's ever done. He's never been all that enthusiastic about driving just for drivings sake. He bought his '95 MTX SHO and has barely driven it.

Today he was pretty much sitting in the garage waiting for the rain to stop with his keys in hand. As soon as the sun cleared he fired it up and rolled it out, lol...

I don't think my gf is particularly pleased that I've been just cruising around in it with him, but meh, lol....

It has full Tein suspension, DC Sports Headers and I'm not sure about the muffler. Yet it still rides quite comfortably, and is pretty muted when cruising.

Its kinda funny actually. Even he admitted that when you are just putting around it doesn't really seem like anything particularly special, very easy to drive. Give it a little juice though and all hell breaks loose. Everything just reacts instantaneously.

He needs more time driving stick though and driving the car in general. He's shifting it under 4000rpms most of the time now which is kinda boring since the couple times he has opened it up, its just a f'in mind blowing sound and acceleration.

I'm sure eventually I'll get a chance behind the wheel, but I'll wait until he's ready for that.

Kinda scary though, it will go 200kph in 3rd :eek:

[Raza]

Open top? 

What year is it?

[VTEC_Inside]

Open top? 

What year is it?

1992. NSX-T started in 1995.

[Raza]

1992. NSX-T started in 1995.

Ah. 

It can't be all that fast though, not by today's standards.  That's one of the reasons that even though I like the NSX a lot, but I can't see myself ever buying one.  It seems like such a bad value.

[VTEC_Inside]

Ah. 

It can't be all that fast though, not by today's standards.  That's one of the reasons that even though I like the NSX a lot, but I can't see myself ever buying one.  It seems like such a bad value.

*numbers from one source, but pretty much in line with what you will find.

0-60: 5.3s
1/4: 13.8s @ 101mph

To me thats fast. Only a handful of what I would consider "regular" cars would keep up.

The value of the car was never in straight performance as it usually isn't with Honda's "sports" cars.

The NSX was the first entirely aluminum production car and it caused the likes of Ferrari, Porsche, etc.. to get off their ass and take notice. It pioneered (or damn near did) several things we take for granted today. Things like DBW throttle, titanium con-rods, etc... It was also largely hand built with one person being responsible for the assembly of each engine from start to finish.

What does suck is that Honda largely failed to capitalize on what they had. Few people realize just how special the car really was (and still is). Lots of people quick to whine about the "tiny" engine, ignoring the fact that it was just as fast if not faster than its competitors at the time.

Consider the recent article with Gordon Murray. The NSX was a large part of his inspiration in building the almighty McLaren F1. If thats not credit for just how good the NSX was, I don't know what is.

[the Teuton]

I, for one, think it's a pretty kick ass car.  I saw one back in February (a 2001 or so with the exposed headlights), and the old design still looks stunning in person.

[Raza]

*numbers from one source, but pretty much in line with what you will find.

0-60: 5.3s
1/4: 13.8s @ 101mph

To me thats fast. Only a handful of what I would consider "regular" cars would keep up.

The value of the car was never in straight performance as it usually isn't with Honda's "sports" cars.

The NSX was the first entirely aluminum production car and it caused the likes of Ferrari, Porsche, etc.. to get off their ass and take notice. It pioneered (or damn near did) several things we take for granted today. Things like DBW throttle, titanium con-rods, etc... It was also largely hand built with one person being responsible for the assembly of each engine from start to finish.

What does suck is that Honda largely failed to capitalize on what they had. Few people realize just how special the car really was (and still is). Lots of people quick to whine about the "tiny" engine, ignoring the fact that it was just as fast if not faster than its competitors at the time.

Consider the recent article with Gordon Murray. The NSX was a large part of his inspiration in building the almighty McLaren F1. If thats not credit for just how good the NSX was, I don't know what is.

I found 5.7-6.0 for the 1992 from three or four different sources. 

[the Teuton]

The original version had 260 hp (IIRC), and then they bumped it to 290 with the 3.2 liter car.

[VTEC_Inside]

I found 5.7-6.0 for the 1992 from three or four different sources. 

I just found an older Sports Car International mag that claimed they got 5.03 and 13.46 @ 105.6mph. That would be an anomaly as far as what I've seen mentioned for the car, but low 5s is definitely pretty common for a pre 1997 NSX.

1997 and after high 4s were common thanks to the extra 20hp and gear.

[VTEC_Inside]

The original version had 260 hp (IIRC), and then they bumped it to 290 with the 3.2 liter car.

270hp from the 3.0L, but you are correct, 290hp with the 3.2L that arrived in 1997.

The auto models were all 3.0L and detuned to 252hp with a 7500rpm redline instead of the 8000rpm of the stick models.

[S204STi]

Ah. 

It can't be all that fast though, not by today's standards.  That's one of the reasons that even though I like the NSX a lot, but I can't see myself ever buying one.  It seems like such a bad value.

Well, look at it this way.  You can buy one used for about the price of a stripper WRX.  It will keep up with the WRX in a straight line (actually outrun it if you give it enough room) and when you hit the twisties the Scoob will be miles away in not a whole lot of time.  To me that's a pretty good deal. Sure it's a used car, but I'm willing to bet you can find one that was owned and cared for by a dentist or some other rich type that's in perfect, garage-kept condition.

I'd love one as a 3rd car.

[VTEC_Inside]

Sure it's a used car, but I'm willing to bet you can find one that was owned and cared for by a dentist or some other rich type that's in perfect, garage-kept condition.

I'd love one as a 3rd car.

That's pretty much what happened, except replace dentist with chiropractor. I mean this guy didn't want us to come get it until he had the one wheel speed sensor replaced. He also bought a replacement trim bit for the top of the windshield that had shrunk a bit.

I'll have more pictures of it soon but it really is in immaculate shape for a 17yr old car.

[Catman]

NICE. Would love having one myself.
Are those beaded seat covers on that MX-5? If so then =FAIL

Those are beaded covers alright.   

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Nice ride! I like that year (styling wise) more than the exposed headlight versions. Same with the older Miatas.

[Onslaught]

Nice ride! I like that year (styling wise) more than the exposed headlight versions. Same with the older Miatas.

I agree. I can't stand the fixed headlamp NSX.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I agree. I can't stand the fixed headlamp NSX.

I think I could stand one.

[Rupert]

Neato!

I like how long it took everyone to actually start talking about the subject of the thread.

[565]

*numbers from one source, but pretty much in line with what you will find.

0-60: 5.3s
1/4: 13.8s @ 101mph

To me thats fast. Only a handful of what I would consider "regular" cars would keep up.

Honestly the 101mph trap speed says it all.  The NSX launches well because of the weight over the rear tires, but that 101mph trap speed is pretty commonplace by today's standards.  I agree with Raza, the NSX wasn't even that fast when it came out (for it's price), and it's certainly not that fast in today's world.  Cars are actually shockingly fast today.  There are far far more than a handful of affordable cars with trap speeds around 100mph.  In fact the V6 versions of the biggest volume passenger car sellers, the Accord and Camry trap around that.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/car_shopping/quickest_cars_0_60_mph/the_quickest_cars_of_2009_20_000_to_25_000_feature

Mazda 6 s
Base Price: $24,800
98 mph trap

Mitsubishi Eclipse GT
Base Price: $24,844
100 mph trap

Toyota Camry V-6
Base Price: $24,935
99 mph trap

Chevrolet Cobalt SS Sedan
Base Price: $24,095
102 mph trap

Mazdaspeed 3
Base Price: $23,410
101 mph trap


http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/car_shopping/quickest_cars_0_60_mph/the_quickest_cars_of_2009_25_000_to_30_000_feature

Nissan Altima Sedan / Coupe
Base Price: sedan / coupe $25,875 / $27,585
100 mph trap

Dodge Caliber SRT4
Base Price: $25,470
101 trap

Honda Accord V-6 Manual Coupe
Base Price: $29,625
102 mph trap

Ford Mustang GT
Base Price: $28,005
103 mph trap

Subaru Impreza WRX
Base Price: $25,690
102 mph trap.


On the way home from work today I must have passed about 15 V6 Camrys and Accords.  Any one of those would give an early run NSX a good run for its money from a roll, even more so now that those NSX's are getting on 17-19 years old.

[VTEC_Inside]

Honestly the 101mph trap speed says it all.  The NSX launches well because of the weight over the rear tires, but that 101mph trap speed is pretty commonplace by today's standards.  I agree with Raza, the NSX wasn't even that fast when it came out (for it's price), and it's certainly not that fast in today's world.  Cars are actually shockingly fast today.  There are far far more than a handful of affordable cars with trap speeds around 100mph.  In fact the V6 versions of the biggest volume passenger car sellers, the Accord and Camry trap around that.

.....

On the way home from work today I must have passed about 15 V6 Camrys and Accords.  Any one of those would give an early run NSX a good run for its money from a roll, even more so now that those NSX's are getting on 17-19 years old.

I'll agree that its not that fast in a straight line by todays standards. The fact that all but three of the cars in your list are FWD is pretty shocking indeed considering the numbers.

However, I have to disagree that it wasn't when it was released. When it came out it outdid a 348, 355, and is still faster around a track than some cars with 100hp+ advantage.

I think the ultimate point is being missed here though. If the goal was a drag car he could have bought one for a lot cheaper. Whether or not any of those cars could keep up is irrelevant to the driving experience provided by the NSX, not to mention the build quality and exclusivity.

[Onslaught]

The NSX was fast for it's time. And it isn't slow now if you ask me. It has almost super car looks without the headaches. I think it's a great car. And I'm not a Honda fan.