NSX
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From: San Antonio, Texas
NSX
I'm considering giving the S back to my brother who will in turn take over the payments and purchasing a NSX as a replacement. I have been looking at the prices on NSXtrader.com and they seem reasonable. As far as financing and the insurance goes, it's well within my limits as I live rent free at home and really have no other outstanding bills. Not sure on the time frame but maybe within the next 6 months or so. With that said I'm looking for some input from you car experts (Ricky yours especially,) considering this will be my daily driver.
Right now I'm looking at a 1994 and want to know the general consensus on the reliability/maintenance costs. Luckily my good friend is a tech at the local Honda dealership and does all the work on the S, so hopefully he will continue to do so.
All comments are welcome, thanks in advance.
Right now I'm looking at a 1994 and want to know the general consensus on the reliability/maintenance costs. Luckily my good friend is a tech at the local Honda dealership and does all the work on the S, so hopefully he will continue to do so.
All comments are welcome, thanks in advance.
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From: San Antonio, TX.
A couple of things....
The 5-speed has insanely tall gearing. A friend of mine has a '91 that he had 1st through 4th redone so that it's a much closer ratio. It REALLY woke the car up a lot in acceleration. There's no need to be able to get to 80-85mph in 2nd gear... I think now 2nd tops out around 65mph for him and it's MUCH quicker.
As far as handling goes, I didn't like the natural tendency for understeer in the car. A nice set of Koni yellows, sway bars, good tires, and an alignment will probably help a lot with that.
Mid-engine layouts are a very unnatural balance to me... I can *easily* handle a 455whp C5 Z06 at the limits on an AutoCross, but for some reason an MR2 or an NSX just baffles me at the limits. It's probably because I have so little seat time in mid-engine cars that I just haven't ever had the chance to get used to it. Those that drive that layout regularly do love them, however.
The other thing to keep in mind -- a '94 NSX is now an almost-14-year-old car. It's going to have 14-year-old car problems.... Plastic Honda radiator tanks will have probably or will soon probably leak, the electrical portion of the ignition switch may fail at some point, window regulators and power door locks may go out on you, oil leaks will crop up, the A/C system seals and/or compressor may develop issues, the evaporator may corrode/fatigue and start leaking freon, the master cylinder may need replacing at some point, the leather seats may need to be re-done, etc, etc.... Just watch out for these and other common failure points for all older Hondas, really.
It's going to be a little more maintenance and parts are definitely a lot more expensive than those for a Civic or Accord. With that said, they are beautiful cars with an intoxicating intake sound right behind your head. If you pick one up, I have a friend of mine that would probably be interested in selling off his Tubee(sp?) exhaust.... Supposedly that's the maker of the exhaust for some Ferraris, too... Not sure. I just know it's an expensive, nice-sounding system.
Good luck!
Ricky
The 5-speed has insanely tall gearing. A friend of mine has a '91 that he had 1st through 4th redone so that it's a much closer ratio. It REALLY woke the car up a lot in acceleration. There's no need to be able to get to 80-85mph in 2nd gear... I think now 2nd tops out around 65mph for him and it's MUCH quicker.
As far as handling goes, I didn't like the natural tendency for understeer in the car. A nice set of Koni yellows, sway bars, good tires, and an alignment will probably help a lot with that.
Mid-engine layouts are a very unnatural balance to me... I can *easily* handle a 455whp C5 Z06 at the limits on an AutoCross, but for some reason an MR2 or an NSX just baffles me at the limits. It's probably because I have so little seat time in mid-engine cars that I just haven't ever had the chance to get used to it. Those that drive that layout regularly do love them, however.
The other thing to keep in mind -- a '94 NSX is now an almost-14-year-old car. It's going to have 14-year-old car problems.... Plastic Honda radiator tanks will have probably or will soon probably leak, the electrical portion of the ignition switch may fail at some point, window regulators and power door locks may go out on you, oil leaks will crop up, the A/C system seals and/or compressor may develop issues, the evaporator may corrode/fatigue and start leaking freon, the master cylinder may need replacing at some point, the leather seats may need to be re-done, etc, etc.... Just watch out for these and other common failure points for all older Hondas, really.
It's going to be a little more maintenance and parts are definitely a lot more expensive than those for a Civic or Accord. With that said, they are beautiful cars with an intoxicating intake sound right behind your head. If you pick one up, I have a friend of mine that would probably be interested in selling off his Tubee(sp?) exhaust.... Supposedly that's the maker of the exhaust for some Ferraris, too... Not sure. I just know it's an expensive, nice-sounding system.
Good luck!
Ricky
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