END of the Honda NSX

[BJ_M]

Honda announced end of production this year for the NSX ....

Those that have owned them know how good this car is - and they will still continue to build 1 a day untill the end of the year..

To bad they could not sell the NSX-R in the USA .. but still hell of a car ..

[rallynavvie]

Meh, I never liked them. They look great, and they drive really well on dry pavement, but for the $70-80k for a new one there are other cars I'd get that would walk on it. They're also not a very nice car to have in the winter here and I want something I can drive all year round because I like to drive all year round. They hold their resale value pretty well though, I saw one with 60k miles (I think a MY95) going for $35k here a few years ago.

[BJ_M]

it was not the top end performance (though with a R version and/or the turbo package they had no problem in that dept.) , it was the overall balance, performance + reliability in a very lightweight all alum. car (including suspension and the whole body.

It is a 14 year old car - and to hold its own for 14 years for any model (only the 911 really) is pretty good ..

I drove a couple now and then and they were really great...


also to wind that v6 up to 9000 rpm (with chip, 8000 with out) is one sweet engine ... honda does build a great engine ...

[BJ_M]

btw -- there is a new NSX HSC coming out to replace this one ... 600hp V10 has been mentioned ...

[Noahtuck]

I'm not a big honda buff.. although they do seem to make some pretty nice cars, like toyota, ect. that most would not think those companys would make a nice car like this...

But why

To bad they could not sell the NSX-R in the USA .. but still hell of a car ..

could they not sell them in the U.S. ?? you can buy way better and way faster import car's than those.........
I have no clue ?? that is why i am asking.

Meh, I never liked them. They look great, and they drive really well on dry pavement, but for the $70-80k for a new one there are other cars I'd get that would walk on it. They're also not a very nice car to have in the winter here and I want something I can drive all year round because I like to drive all year round. They hold their resale value pretty well though, I saw one with 60k miles (I think a MY95) going for $35k here a few years ago.

Well, it would stand to reason if someone could afford that much for a car... they should be able to afford a winter car and winter storage for something like that 8)

[hech54]

I drove one once too....very nice car but I couldn't put it through it paces though. Now on the other hand....the Toyota Supra Twin Turbo I was able to put through it's paces....HOLY SHIT....what an amazing car that was/is. The best way to describe it....The Neverending Gas Pedal.

I hate to see the NSX go just like I hated to see the Supra go. I could never afford either of them but now the dream is completely shattered.

[Faustus]

No wonder why they ended it. Can't make money off a car with the steering on the wrong side!

[BJ_M]

Noahtuck - the NSX was always sold in the US and Canada , but the NSX-R was only sold in japan

[rallynavvie]

We always get shanked on fast models of imports here in the US. Hell, we even get shanked when it comes to the fast models of our own motor companies like the Ford Cosworth line or the RS200. But everyone gets the Mustang and the GT.

What did you mean by having a model run for 14 years? There are lots of model lines out there that have lasted that long. My Impreza is of a line that has lasted 14 years now. Did you mean supercar model lines?

The car was spectacular when it came out and for a few years after, but then it just never evolved that much beyond its parentage. They added some new tech to it but the design has looked pretty much the same since the beginning. I think they could have done something radical to the design and they'd have become a lot more popular. Or perhaps this "end" is a way to drive up sales and then they'll re-release it in a few years.

[BJ_M]

it cant be to drive up sales as they are only making 150 more , which are already sold ..

they will be coming out in 2007 or 08 with a new supercar w/ prob. a detuned F1 engine. They are accually 15 years old , not 14, my mistake.

The Impreza has had 4 design/mech changes (at least), i hope they finally got rid of that mushy gearbox .. since they were introduced in 1994.

I drove a 22B on a track in japan and it was a whole diff. car than the wrx's i drove here.. I have not driven a NA sti though ...

[smearbrick1]

Sort of like the Civic Type-R. It's not completely clear as to why they wouldn't sell the Civic Type-R in the US (they sold the Integra Type-R, but not the JDM GSR just the USDM GSR). Of course, even if they did sell USDM version of these Type-R cars, they wouldn't match the JDM specs. Usually, because of emission standards and such, their engines produce more horsepower than their USDM counterparts.

Interesting though: If you want to import a Civic Type-R (or any JDM car), from what I've read, they must be imported as salvage (the engine is shipped in a separate container from the car) and the car has to be reassembled and inspected to verify it meets emission standards before it will even be street legal. Now, like I said, I don't know if that is true for every car... but some of JDM stuff I've read about.

[Noahtuck]

Noahtuck - the NSX was always sold in the US and Canada , but the NSX-R was only sold in japan

See i was wondering if there was something about them that they were not allowed to be sold or imported into the states because you said this,

To bad they could not sell the NSX-R in the USA .. but still hell of a car.

wondered of there is something about them that makes them not legal to drive here or something ?

[BJ_M]

the NSX-R didnt meet pollution requirements i think, just like the skyline and other jap high performance models

there is a company that will import them for you and do all the changes (for about 50 grand + the price of the car) , but now people that did it found out they have to be re-inspected every so many years and not cheap .. some are really pissed off .. in some cases you have to get your car crash tested - so you would have to buy at least 3 and keep 1 to drive (if passed) . and if they dont pass - they are crushed and you are out $$$ ..


There are many very high perfomance japan models not sold in north america

[BJ_M]

you notice also that that model doesnt have a airbag, but does have a great steering wheel .. that would be a big problem ... (the normal NSX do have airbags)

[thevoelk]

What about Acura? Do they have a Type-R NSX or just a regular NSX 9even though I highly doubt there is anything regular about any NSX)?

Slightly off topic:
My dad and I had to go through the same BS when he had his BMW M5 imported from Germany and my Honda Accord SiR ('96 for his if I remember right), all the inspection cost almost half again as much as the car. The dealer told him that the M5 was never going to sold in the US due to pollution requirements, emissions, performance, etc, and then the next year BMW announced the following year they had toned down the M5 and met the US requirements to import them. Never quite understood what the deal was with my car, it didn't cost too much more than a comparable 1995 Accord. The performance of that car was great (for a 16 year old kid anyway), too bad it didn't last long.

[rallynavvie]

The Acura is just the rebadged Honda. Remember Honda came up with the brilliant idea of rebadging their regular cars under another name because of the negative views a lot of people had over Japanese cars back in the 70s/80s. They sometimes had nicer trim but were otherwise the same models. Idiots here in the States wouldn't drive a "Honda" NSX, but they would buy the Acura NSX. You can jingle keys in the face of a lot of American car buyers in order to get them to buy a car, I swear

[jackal70058]

I only drive the American cars.

[BJ_M]

I only drive the American cars.

there is no such thing as an "American car" -- in fact some toyotas have more American content than fords , etc ..

all the new gm series are made in Korea, and you would be shocked on how many American cars are actually built in Mexico and Canada ..

[BJ_M]

What about Acura? Do they have a Type-R NSX or just a regular NSX 9even though I highly doubt there is anything regular about any NSX)?

Slightly off topic:
My dad and I had to go through the same BS when he had his BMW M5 imported from Germany and my Honda Accord SiR ('96 for his if I remember right), all the inspection cost almost half again as much as the car. The dealer told him that the M5 was never going to sold in the US due to pollution requirements, emissions, performance, etc, and then the next year BMW announced the following year they had toned down the M5 and met the US requirements to import them. Never quite understood what the deal was with my car, it didn't cost too much more than a comparable 1995 Accord. The performance of that car was great (for a 16 year old kid anyway), too bad it didn't last long.

he should have got a E30 M3 instead, really a better car in many ways .. specially a EVO or supersport or one of the modifieds ...
You could have bought a USA M3, taken to the M3 conversion people in SC and they would install the special diff, chip, bushings, springs, tires and cored cat to change the 195hp us model to the 238hp German model (really more like 275hp). I also had to change the intake tube because at high vac (8000rpm) it would collapse partially and block air flow. Any - it would have been cheaper than bringng a E28 (M5) over from germany , which was a 528 w/ a 636c engine is all (not as heavy duty). The M3 used the M1 engine less 2 cyl. .. best driving all around car for fun ive owned .. in fact in my garage still (and im not going to say what the other model there is to see if rallyboy notices (its only got 10,000km on it) or what else ive got parked in there :

[MOVIEGEEK]

I always thought the NSX was a cool design but underpowered and overpriced,I'll take a Dodge Viper anyday.

BTW...nice M1 BJ_M,is your bike(cruiser) a red BMW as well?

[rallynavvie]

What, the M1? You mentioned it in your post there.

[SquirrelDip]

... and overpriced ...

I agree with it's current pricing but didn't this car start out at about $50K US??

[thevoelk]

BJ_M,
I think my dad bought that car because it wasn't supposed to be available in the US, kind of a head-turner to an enthusiast. Not being rude, you didn't answer my question though. Is the Acura NSX going away also (I do realize Acura is just a Honda in disguise).

[BJ_M]

yes - the acura name is only used in the usa ... it is a honda nsx everywhere else in the world ... so yes, it is going away ...

[BJ_M]

... and overpriced ...

I agree with it's current pricing but didn't this car start out at about $50K US??

yep , 49,000$ i think

[smearbrick1]

You could pay an import company to import a JDM spec car, or you could buy a whole car salvage (much cheaper, and you don't have to go through the whole inspection and titling thing.) Swap parts from the JDM car into it's American equivalent... find a Joe's Garage that doesn't give two shits about emissions and have it inspected. You can even convert it to right hand drive if that's your thing. For me, I'm more of a "swap the bigger engine in and forget about all the other crap" kind of guy.

I ran a open 2 3/4" exhaust (headers to muffler) with no problem from my inspection mechanic. With the Catalytic converter open like it was (it was actually a performance cat, but it might as well been a straight pipe) I imagine it wouldn't have passed emissions anywhere else.

[shelbyGT]

Wow, could have fooled me, I thought they stopped making these long ago. They are nice looking, but every car needs to be remodeled every now and then. Even porsche's get subtle changes.
Looks like they are getting discontinued for a reason:

Total sales were 18,000 in 15 years, which is considerably less than mid-engined Ferraris managed. Unusually for a Japanese product, the NSX looked increasingly old-fashioned as its European rival continually improved: Ferrari went through four generations while the NSX was in production (348, 355, 360, 430).

It's a good car probably, as Honda's/Acura's are. But really... you gotta spice it up a tad.

And any car built around an f1 engine should easily hit 9,000. (F50 is capable of 10,000 but governed at 8,500 due to noise, McLaren F1 at 8,5000 as well... etc). F1 cars redline at 18,000.

Oh, and the S2000 (also a Honda) redlines at 9,000 as well. Which, in my opinion, is crappy because you have to get it up there to get the performance out of it, not enough lower end power/torgue.

[hech54]

I only drive the American cars.

That's pretty funny...you must drive a car made in the 50's.....

[shelbyGT]

I only drive the American cars.

That's pretty funny...you must drive a car made in the 50's.....

I wish I was, actually 1960's would be better.

[hech54]

What about Acura? Do they have a Type-R NSX or just a regular NSX 9even though I highly doubt there is anything regular about any NSX)?

Slightly off topic:
My dad and I had to go through the same BS when he had his BMW M5 imported from Germany and my Honda Accord SiR ('96 for his if I remember right), all the inspection cost almost half again as much as the car. The dealer told him that the M5 was never going to sold in the US due to pollution requirements, emissions, performance, etc, and then the next year BMW announced the following year they had toned down the M5 and met the US requirements to import them. Never quite understood what the deal was with my car, it didn't cost too much more than a comparable 1995 Accord. The performance of that car was great (for a 16 year old kid anyway), too bad it didn't last long.

he should have got a E30 M3 instead, really a better car in many ways .. specially a EVO or supersport or one of the modifieds ...
You could have bought a USA M3, taken to the M3 conversion people in SC and they would install the special diff, chip, bushings, springs, tires and cored cat to change the 195hp us model to the 238hp German model (really more like 275hp). I also had to change the intake tube because at high vac (8000rpm) it would collapse partially and block air flow. Any - it would have been cheaper than bringng a E28 (M5) over from germany , which was a 528 w/ a 636c engine is all (not as heavy duty). The M3 used the M1 engine less 2 cyl. .. best driving all around car for fun ive owned .. in fact in my garage still (and im not going to say what the other model there is to see if rallyboy notices (its only got 10,000km on it) or what else ive got parked in there :

I saw one of those 12cyl Beamers the other day. Freaking awesome looking car but I hear they were not the greatest to drive..
What was the name/number of that one?....I forget.