The NSX was the wake-up call to all the traditional supercar manufacturers out there back in the day: "Oh, a supercar should just work and be capable of being a daily driver? We didn't know that..." lol. The likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, McClaren are much better cars due to this wake-up call from Japan.
Not really. The metrics for what deems one to be a supercar, the NSX didn't have. Gotta remember, you had 300zxTT, 3000GTs, RX7s and Supras on the market. The NSX looked good from every angle. I remember seeing an NSX at the local Acura dealership. They couldn't give that car away.
I like that they kept the basic body design for so long. When I worked at an Acura dealer in 06 we got a new yellow one in. There were people who thought it was stupid because it hasn't changed in so long, and I thought it was cool for exactly that reason.
why would you not shut the hood fully for your display of this fine auto? I know the early ones had a problem that is refered to as a 'faulty snap ring' I'd take one of these over any Ferrari in a heart beat.
Grimes is actually a pretty good technician. I thought I was the only one that actually repairs the electronic in cars. It pretty refreshing to see an auto technician actually repair at component level and change capacitors when they leak and go high ESR then just replace the radio which likely will have same issues. This way repairing the radio it actually stand a chance in lasting a few years more. Glad to see this. Being a master technician and electronic engineer it is very rare to see a very good auto technician that actually does proper diagnostic work and actually fixes the issue rather then throw parts at something like most do. I had technicians were use to work at wonder what an oscilloscope was and why you need one? Till one day repair a ECU on a Porsche where a mosfet was shorted and found a corroded harness in rear that also cause can bus not to work and three dealers could not fix it and over 3k later the customer spend as they threw parts at. I fix it within a couple hours and only $350 bucks. I was hired there to rebuild transmissions and engines when shop need one done. I ended up also doing most the diagnostic work that other technicians were paid to do and was there full time at that point.
Most mechanics today are parts changers. They don’t teach component level repairs at auto tech school. Component level takes more time than the flat rate book allows and mechanics can’t make the money if they chase component problems. It’s all about money.
@@fw1421 Yep most these pay to play schools barely teach the basics unfortunately. I seen some technicians that could not even do a motor swap as the school they when to had them rebuilt a motor but not actually pull it out of the car? They definitely don’t teach electronics and just show how to do basic wire harness repairs. At the end of the day it is about book time and them making money throwing parts instead of troubleshooting. It is a shame as they do customers a huge disservice and charge them for stuff that wasn’t an issue. It reminds me of the customer with a bad CVT transmission on a Nissan Rogue but they charge him $1600 for a computer and programming that it didn’t need. I ended up finding a junkyard one in good condition as his had bad damage and rebuild it. He ended up taking legal recourse to the original shop that swapped the computer out. The reason he came to us was because I repaired his BMW M5 he had before and asked if could look at his wife Nissan for him as other shop never fixed it and claimed it needed to be adapted and that it be fine and let they charged him for programming?
Good help is hard to find. The good ones want to learn and figure shit out; the bad ones just keep throwing parts at the car until something sticks. And then the car's back in the shop next week, because it wasn't diagnosed properly. It gets tiring that people are becoming less and less responsible for their work. My return rate is maybe one a year, but I'm absolutely gutted when it happens.
My friend's dad bought one of these new. He kept it long enough to qualify for Acura's "refurbishment program". For $18k they would take your NSX away for two months, completely disassemble it, and reassemble it replacing any worn or faulty parts. You basically got a "new" NSX.
@@jamesjames7601 It shouldn’t really be thought of as a “big boy Supercar” like a Ferrari or Lamborghini or McLaren or something like that. It’s really a “junior Supercar”, it has much more in common with something like a Lotus Elise or ALFA Romeo 4C, Porsche Cayman, etc.
@@stoneylonesome4062 When this car came out, it did provide supercar performance with Honda reliability. It was a game changer. You are mentioning cars that came out 20 plus years later and owe a lot to the NSX for pushing what could be done.
@@stoneylonesome4062 Not sure I agree fully - it is a bit too big/heavy for that. Also, the original design is a lot older. I'd say It depends on which Ferrari you mean. It matches the Ferrari 348 pretty well, and surpassed most Porsche 964 of the time.
@@stoneylonesome4062 It was designed to compete with the Ferrari mid engined V8's of the time, and was more than a match for the 328 and 348. Sure by modern standards, it's not fast - but 30 years ago it sure was.
The MR2 is more visceral and engaging imo the NSX and Porsches are absolute scalpels and amazing at what they do. The imperfections of the MR2 make them a blast but they won't perform as well no matter what you do. Even when they raced the SW20 and MRS they only did so well albeit the MRS did really good. That being said even as an Mr2 but I'm looking at adding a Porsche to the collection this year haha. @markasread4349
@markasread4349 I own both as well, the MR2 turbo feels faster due to gearing differences despite actually being slower. Handling is actually pretty similar, with the NSX feeling a tad bit more nimble than the MR2 despite being around 200lbs+ heavier. Both have been a total joy to own.
One of the prettiest of all super cars for sure. Always thought that back end and wrap-around tail light was one of the coolest looking back-ends ever on a car.
There are a few of them in my city, and I’ll drive by one or see one in a parking lot a few times a year. I always seem to have forgotten how small they are, and how low to the ground. They’re much more like a Lotus Elise, ALFA Romeo 4C, or Porsche Cayman, than a “big” Supercar like a Lamborghini, Ferrari, McLaren, Audi R8, etc.
@@stoneylonesome4062 Oooo - that's really neat. I only ever saw one in person once in Toronto, and that was 20+ years ago. Yeah, they're not huge, and that's kinda the charm of them - nice personal sorta car.
@@stoneylonesome4062 At the time of launch (1990) the direct competitors to he Honda NSX were the Lotus Esprit, Ferrari 328/348, Lamborghini Jalpa and Porsche 964 - all 'junior' high end mid-engined (with the exception of the 911) sports cars. The cars that you reference are junior sports cars that were introduced later - to much later - than when the NSX was introduced. However it's notable that the NSX remained in production for a relatively long time (circa 15 years) with little 'stylistic' changes for a high-end sports car. So needless to say, it was a wonderful design that introduced 'ease of use', reliability and longevity to that 'class' of car.
One of my favorite videos of all time is of Ayrton Senna driving one of these bad boys around Suzuka, but it's centered around his brake, clutch, and accelerator control. I really want to drive one someday.
I was a freshman in college in 1991 when that car debuted. It was an instant hit with my generation (x). We just couldn’t afford one back then. I was expecting to see WOLF on the license plate.
@@peterjohnson9438 many nsx owners have had multiple nsxs. It's because people sell them and then miss having one. There are many owners who refuse to ever sell them.
@peterjohnson9438 I guess some people think that they constantly have to have more and more and are never satisfied. It is definitely not a way I personally choose to live. I won't be selling mine. Lol
I'm 44, so old enough to clearly remember this cars introduction. And it's been my dream car, bar none, ever since. Give me one car, it'd be a 1997 NSX with the 3.2 litre engine and six speed manual. In yellow. Dream car.
So many of these early NSX's have high mileage because they were reliable and owners drove the heck out of them. That is very unusual for a typical "supercar" and tells you how special the NSX is. Nice to see.
My old neighbor had one about 10 years ago. I liked the car a lot more than him. I love the acuras from this era. Much more luxurious than the modern ones and better build quality IMO
I was eighteen when this car was made. I remember being in awe when these came out. The money a used NSX fetches is ASTRONOMICAL! The thing that really hooked me in was they were "affordable" dream cars.... obtainable for a hard working avg joe...
in 2005 i bought a 1992 NSX. just wow. timeless design. loved it. 6 speed manual, hugged the road like a go kart. redid the interior, gutted it out and installed Dynomat, recarpeted the interior
Bought the twin of this car in '15K, 22nd one in the US. The original owner paid 20K over MSRP, 83K. A lot of money now, a boatload in '91. Have the NSX phone, looks like a home wall phone. Car has a aluminum jack.
I wasn't just a honda issue it was a manufacturing issue with one of the main capacitor manufacturers. Lot's of PC motherboards had to be recapped because of it.
@@BitWalker Yes, I am aware of that. Honda doesn't manufactured the majority of the components used in their vehicles, they sub contract. Thanks for mentioning it.
It definitely tells me he a good technician and not a part swapper. I thought I was the only rare few that actually does that. It refreshing to see to be honest. Over the years I seen other master technicians just throw parts instead of actually troubleshooting and repairing the issue to component level. I had one Lexus that ECU needed new capacitors and traces repaired but was at 3 other shop and no one could figure it out and one shop that throw random parts like injectors and throttle body at it old parts were fine and actually reinstalled them as was OEM as new parts were cheap aftermarket junk and fixed the ECU and resolved the no crank at times, or running rough issues. Runs perfect now.
When the original Legend came out i had a serious case of lust for one. Bought a used pne many years later. Been a Honda car guy ever since 89 when i got my first CRX. NSX is a dream.
The last time I had a brake bleed down was on an 05 Dodge Ram 1500 and it wasn't the master cylinder, nor air in the system, nor calipers. It was the ABS block itself. Somehow, it was internally bypassing. Removed the electronics part (which are vin tied to the truck) and swapped in a used solenoid block from a junk yard to repair the truck.
I LOVED selling these things. I drove one of the first ones delivered to Colorado when they came out. It was all black, with black tinted windows. the only problem for me is that they're not good for guys over 6 ft with a torso. It had plenty of leg room, just didn't want to hit too many big bumps to bang my head on the roof. The first one I sold, they guy wanted it unique and EXPENSIVE. EVERYTHING on it was custom. We had the seat reupholstered with high end leather, a top of the line security system, delicate hand painted, discrete pin striping, and the wheels were gold plated, to name just a few things he did. When it was delivered it was an $80,000 car with the extras added. He paid for all the extras cash, and only financed about 20% of the rest of the car. He could've paid cash for it all, but had some reasons for the financing. They were great fun to drive and great to look at. Acura hasn't built a nicer looking car since, including the revamped version.
I had a new 85 corvette 4 speed with overdrive. It drove well and was comfortable except for ingress/egress. a few years later a friend bought a NSX. Very comfortable ride, somewhat easier to get in/out of
I absolutely love these. I'm not a sports car guy but these are so beautiful, such great lines and such a pragmatic car. The interior is Honda, nothing over the top, nothing so luxurious. It's a seemingly simple car.
Wonderful video, Wizard! I thoroughly enjoyed the look around this gorgeous NSX! They’re phenomenal cars and it’s such a joy every time I see one. Keep up the great work!
Also for the NSX abs system you can upgrade it to the modern abs units using factory parts. There’s a company that supplies them. You can also rebuild the pumps, there’s a DIY video on RUclips if you look it up for acura legends or Honda preludes very similar systems
My very 1st car, manual 1990 Civic coupe hatchback, red too, had no abs, no power nothing, rear drums, carburetor, no tachometer! But did have a headlights BEAM adjustment from the cabin. Missed that car a lot, sold over 500K on ODO....
I can't remember the last time I saw one. I've only seen a handful to begin with. From everything I've read about the NSX is that it was very well made and highly reliable like just about any Honda. Prices on those first generation ones are really going to the moon now.
Identical color combo to mine, which I've had almost 16yrs now. And it IS very reliable and fairly cheap to run, though some parts can be quite expensive and hard to get now. I live in an area where euro exotics are a dime a dozen, but the NSX still gets a LOT of attention.
To think that one can still take these to a dealership to be worked on is just amazing. Only 18,000 or so were made from 1991-1998 and the MSRP was around $62,000. Back when Honda made reliable and well built cars-John in Texas
I owned a 91 NSX for eight years and later bought a 92 red NSX in 2008 that I currently own to this day. Only 36K miles. So sweet to drive. Had the JDM short gears and NSX-R final drive installed when I had the clutch replaced. Car is more drivable in town with the shorter gearing. The manual steering is awesome with excellent feedback. You always know what the front tires are doing. Wouldn't sell it for any other sports car. And it's nearly tripled in value since I bought it. I'll cherish and continue driving this car as long as I can.
When i bought my nsx i also had a corvette gran sport . The cars were very similar in size , the NSX was quite a bit lower. The Nsx did not feel underpowered after driving the lt4 vette which had quite a bit more horsepower
I've seen one of these back in 1991 inside the Acura showroom. It was a black on black leather interior. I believed the two tones interior are newly added for the Acura line of cars for the NSX/Legend/Integra.
The radiator color was the first thing that jumped out at me. I learned the hard way what a brownish yellow radiator means with my 1990 Miata….imminent failure.
Beautiful cars. After the success of the Datsun 240z, Acura came out with a car to compete with the best out of Europe at half the cost and great reliability
LOVE the NSX, and I'm not a "tuner guy". One of, if not THE best Japanese sports car ever made. Not fast by today's standards, but absolute butter to drive, with everything coming together perfectly. So good! Thanks, Mr. and Mrs. Wizard! ✌️❤️🙂🇨🇦
There are 2 or 3 in my city, and every time I drive by one, or see one in a parking lot, I always seem to have forgotten how small & low to the ground the Honda NSX was. It has much more in common with a “baby Supercar” like a Lotus Elan, ALFA Romeo 4C, or Porsche Cayman, than it does with a larger one like a Lamborghini, Ferrari, et cetera
Great to see the NSX in the shop. Don't bother fixing the ABS as it was the first generation from Honda and they upgraded I think in 2004 to a lighter, smaller and a way better unit. Check SOS. Science of Speed's replacement kit.
The NSX is timeless...on my bucket list...as well as a 4th Gen Prelude...Im pretty sure i'll get the Prelude before an NSX lol Also...imho the NSX was Pininfarnia's best design
love the na1 nsx - i just did the ap1 s2000 abs upgrade on my 1990 jdm na1, the original abs system was leaking and the pump clicking pedal fade. s2000 pump 3.9kg vs nsx 10kg. wiring harness kit from helix auto works 95% plug and play. brake line kit from mita, highly recommend it. brake system now feels modern! took me a day to install
One of my favourite cars, they were never appreciated when they came out new. It’s only now in the later years they have received the recognition they deserve as great driving cars.
The colour of the radiator's plastic indicates that the radiator has been in place for a very long time - and would not be surprised if its the car's original unit. Had the radiator been fitted to a post 2010 VW/AUDI or BMW, the radiator would be have been replaced at least 3 times - as the plastics on the German brands are of diabolically poor quality.
@@georgebettiol8338 Yes German engineering at its finest. Replaced 100’s of radiators especially for BMW and other plastic components in cooling system as all become brittle. BMW can’t even get timing guides done properly as become brittle as well plastic breaks into pieces and engine jump timing and been a problem since late 90’s till now. Such a common problem I know the S63 and N63 engines and can disassemble one and put back together blindfolded and remember most the torque specs by heart at that point. Also rod bearing, oil chain tension and valve guide seals are an issue with those motors. A NSX is one of the best built cars as far as I am concerned.
The Honda NSX is one of the greatest cars ever made, the only good reason to sell this one would be to buy a late production facelifted car with a 6sp manual and 3.2l engine, which are mega money now
I had a 91 Cadillac Fleetwood where the front passenger brake wouldn't engage even with a new caliper. Turns out an ABS pump wasn't working properly and somehow was blocking most of the brake fluid from getting to that caliper. You could stop but with a lot of effort. I had a Cadillac specialist with a Cadillac only junkyard diagnose it. After a installing a used ABS pump they had and reprogram, the brakes worked fine. Sounds similar to the issue on this customers car.
It's actually not an ABS system, it's an ALB system. The best thing you can do is upgrade it to the later model system, it's a simple upgrade. Spending time fixing the ALB system is a waste of time.
I should have bought one 15 years ago for 25k. A little surprised to not hear that the NSX was first production car with all aluminum unit body n chassis. I believe the linkage at the shift rod base suggests an automatic transmission? If manual trans it would be a 5spd. Goes to show how dedicated Acura was with weight distribution and center of gravity parameters by placing battery there. 😎
There is a pretty amazing time there where if I had just stretched a tiny bit on my finances the coulda shoulda woulda list is enough to put someone into a deep depression. This car The 914/6 was quite affordable 930’s were in range Dino was not considered a real Ferrari and prices reflected that The ones that hurt more still are things you owned and foolishly sold off because you got bored and wanted something different moving from the future icon to a car that is ordinary and forgettable. I sold my 71 TR6 because I couldn’t find one of the locking pins to secure one side of the top. No internet it was going to be a little work but I look back now and instantly think of a half dozen ways to get it working without the part. I got 90 Ford ranger a disposable truck. Bad choice I replaced my Corrado with a geo metro 4 door!! I won’t even mention the embarrassing reason behind that one I’ve bought sold and rebought and sold and now own again a Pontiac G8 GT. Not the same car different ones progressively less nice than the previous one. Started with a demo car with nearly no miles kept for 25,000 the one I have now is over 230k. Although it’s pristine interior and doesn’t burn even a half quart every 15k miles. Which is surprising to me. Some else share their regrets and cars that they could have afforded at one point but are now not ever coming down to your affordable level again… neither will you likely move up with out loto
@@somenygaard Ha, ah yes, I hitchhiked to Dallas from Detroit in 1980 n bought a 72 TR6 w overdrive for $2K. Another great one to have held onto was my 76' Celica GT Fastback that I,did again buy in Dallas n took back to Detroit. Sold my 88' 300zx Turbo manual. AARrrgghh! You are right,we tend to get bored,see the cars a transportation only and sell them. I have however kept my 94' 300ZX na manual for 20 yrs now and is ready to break 100K miles.
@@somenygaardI passed on a 2nd gen high mileage Viper in the mid 2010s for 17k. Could have easily doubled my money today. I also own a G8 GT that I consider selling all the time just because the value has increased so much.
Grimes is not just an excellent mechanic. He is also well versed in electrical circuits and understands how electronics work. A true geek. I bet he is also pretty good with computers and not just car computers.
Yes. The Acura Marque didn’t exist in Japan as far as I know. Honda simply marketed certain models as Luxury Hondas. Same with Toyota and Lexus. Kinda funny how Mazda did the opposite. The Original NA Miata was marketed in Japan as the “Eunos Roadster”, Eunos being Mazdas domestic luxury marque. Kinda odd to sell it under a luxury marque, though, I think the RX-Series (which was sold under their other domestic luxury marque, “Efini”), is more of a Grand Tourer than the Roadster/Miata.
Now wait a doggone second ! I thought you didn't get a thrill fom the NSX in a previous video....? Okay, if you have reconsidered, okay. I'm biased, former Acura Salesperson in the 'golden age' of Acura. Now we are in the overkill electronics age of Acura. Prefer the mechanically-oriented, 'fine Swiss watch' orientation of years' past. Thank you for featuring an automotive masterpiece, which had its driving characteristics directly influenced by Ayrton Senna and Bobby Rahal during vehicle design period. I think it was one of the first cars with a 4-channel ABS...
Is it mentioned here that the NSX was a product of a special Honda factory and that the whole car’s construction was in aluminium ,with the only major structural steel being a tubular section,under dash section ,supporting the steering column and other components?This car incorporates sophisticated front suspension bump absorption features way ahead of the Europeans of the time.NSX was probably the inspiration ,the standard,of that greatest of driver’s cars,the McLaren F1.
Nice car, but not a typical Japanese vehicle. The OEM tires for example, last roughly 10K miles because of the soft compound. These are becoming collectible for unmodified examples.
Says the tires are still good at 15:29 but you can see a crack going the whole way around the circumference. That doesn't look like it is part of the tire design.
That's actually just an excess rubber strip from when the tire was produced and released from the tire mould. I have the same strips on the new tires on my car. Many tires have it and if the car is rarely driven, they don't come off. It just looks like a Crack the way the light is hitting it.
Is that blue car next to the NSX an Alfa Giulia? If so we DEFINITIVELY need a video on that one. PLEASEEEEE NSX: my dream car when I was 20... But far out of my reach...
Great video. The HVAC control module is also known for capacitor failure/leakage. If the AC and blower fan setting is working correctly, it’s probably already had cap repair/replacement
I remember when they first came out on Route 17 in New Jersey. I think it was a Ramsey dealership. They had a silver one out there. It sat there for the longest time because it was so expensive.
Owned a 1993. I drive my cars. Put 130,000 miles on it. Zero repairs except a $20.00 muffler bracket. These things eat rear tires like crazy was only downside. 6,000 miles a set typically. But what a car.
When is the last time I’ve seen one? A few minutes ago. In my driveway. The ABS systems are notorious for failing. It’s an old car. You can “exercise it” to keep it going but eventually it’ll need replacement. Owners go with the ‘01+ ABS system but those might be discontinued. A new alternative is an S2000 conversion kit but it comes with the loss of the TCS system. Might want to change the 23 coolant hoses while the radiator is out, if it hasn’t been done in the last 7-10 years.
If I ever win the lottery... I'm buying one, painting it Midnight Purple Pearl and blast Gran Turismo 1's car manufacture theme. And then...I can die....a happy man.
I believe the middle of the car would be where the driver sits. The trunk is the back of a car. Please take a measuring tape and check where the engine is placed
The NSX was the wake-up call to all the traditional supercar manufacturers out there back in the day: "Oh, a supercar should just work and be capable of being a daily driver? We didn't know that..." lol. The likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, McClaren are much better cars due to this wake-up call from Japan.
Is it really a supercar if its not coming in sideways on fire, with the wing falling off??
Agreed. Then Ford took it up a notch in 2005.
Not really. The metrics for what deems one to be a supercar, the NSX didn't have. Gotta remember, you had 300zxTT, 3000GTs, RX7s and Supras on the market. The NSX looked good from every angle. I remember seeing an NSX at the local Acura dealership. They couldn't give that car away.
I gotta say, you’ve built up a hell of a team of guys Wizard; very knowledgeable, and intelligent young men.
🤑🤑🤑
Yes I wish I knew every shop I went to had this much talent inside.
👴
I love these things. They just have that look of something that you want to touch and gawk at. One of the coldest sports cars of the 90s.
the body design such a timeless look, that body will look good in any era i think.
I like that they kept the basic body design for so long.
When I worked at an Acura dealer in 06 we got a new yellow one in.
There were people who thought it was stupid because it hasn't changed in so long, and I thought it was cool for exactly that reason.
why would you not shut the hood fully for your display of this fine auto?
I know the early ones had a problem that is refered to as a 'faulty snap ring'
I'd take one of these over any Ferrari in a heart beat.
@@hellsoul0 Agree. Especially when car makers are not allowed to make retractable headlights available anymore due to regulations.
Grimes is actually a pretty good technician. I thought I was the only one that actually repairs the electronic in cars. It pretty refreshing to see an auto technician actually repair at component level and change capacitors when they leak and go high ESR then just replace the radio which likely will have same issues. This way repairing the radio it actually stand a chance in lasting a few years more. Glad to see this.
Being a master technician and electronic engineer it is very rare to see a very good auto technician that actually does proper diagnostic work and actually fixes the issue rather then throw parts at something like most do. I had technicians were use to work at wonder what an oscilloscope was and why you need one? Till one day repair a ECU on a Porsche where a mosfet was shorted and found a corroded harness in rear that also cause can bus not to work and three dealers could not fix it and over 3k later the customer spend as they threw parts at. I fix it within a couple hours and only $350 bucks. I was hired there to rebuild transmissions and engines when shop need one done. I ended up also doing most the diagnostic work that other technicians were paid to do and was there full time at that point.
Common problem in the Boxster I believe,water leak down from the soft top system.
Most mechanics today are parts changers. They don’t teach component level repairs at auto tech school. Component level takes more time than the flat rate book allows and mechanics can’t make the money if they chase component problems. It’s all about money.
@@Pete-z6e Yes very common issue I learned over the years. One of my favorite cars otherwise besides the older Mercedes AMG despite the common issues.
@@fw1421 Yep most these pay to play schools barely teach the basics unfortunately. I seen some technicians that could not even do a motor swap as the school they when to had them rebuilt a motor but not actually pull it out of the car? They definitely don’t teach electronics and just show how to do basic wire harness repairs. At the end of the day it is about book time and them making money throwing parts instead of troubleshooting. It is a shame as they do customers a huge disservice and charge them for stuff that wasn’t an issue.
It reminds me of the customer with a bad CVT transmission on a Nissan Rogue but they charge him $1600 for a computer and programming that it didn’t need. I ended up finding a junkyard one in good condition as his had bad damage and rebuild it. He ended up taking legal recourse to the original shop that swapped the computer out. The reason he came to us was because I repaired his BMW M5 he had before and asked if could look at his wife Nissan for him as other shop never fixed it and claimed it needed to be adapted and that it be fine and let they charged him for programming?
Good help is hard to find. The good ones want to learn and figure shit out; the bad ones just keep throwing parts at the car until something sticks. And then the car's back in the shop next week, because it wasn't diagnosed properly. It gets tiring that people are becoming less and less responsible for their work. My return rate is maybe one a year, but I'm absolutely gutted when it happens.
My friend's dad bought one of these new. He kept it long enough to qualify for Acura's "refurbishment program". For $18k they would take your NSX away for two months, completely disassemble it, and reassemble it replacing any worn or faulty parts. You basically got a "new" NSX.
I didn’t know that they did that,pretty cool 😎
@@Whateva67 yeah, although I asked my friend if he remembers how much it cost and neither of us are sure about the $18k part.
All the SUPER car performance with the manners of a Honda Accord… just wonderful.
Ehhh I don't know about the performance part but it's definitely an amazing car
@@jamesjames7601 It shouldn’t really be thought of as a “big boy Supercar” like a Ferrari or Lamborghini or McLaren or something like that. It’s really a “junior Supercar”, it has much more in common with something like a Lotus Elise or ALFA Romeo 4C, Porsche Cayman, etc.
@@stoneylonesome4062 When this car came out, it did provide supercar performance with Honda reliability. It was a game changer. You are mentioning cars that came out 20 plus years later and owe a lot to the NSX for pushing what could be done.
@@stoneylonesome4062 Not sure I agree fully - it is a bit too big/heavy for that. Also, the original design is a lot older.
I'd say It depends on which Ferrari you mean. It matches the Ferrari 348 pretty well, and surpassed most Porsche 964 of the time.
@@stoneylonesome4062 It was designed to compete with the Ferrari mid engined V8's of the time, and was more than a match for the 328 and 348. Sure by modern standards, it's not fast - but 30 years ago it sure was.
My old neighbor has a black one. He also has an MR2.
He got the MR2 to mitigate mileage on the NSX, but he swaps them daily.
The MR2 is more visceral and engaging imo the NSX and Porsches are absolute scalpels and amazing at what they do. The imperfections of the MR2 make them a blast but they won't perform as well no matter what you do. Even when they raced the SW20 and MRS they only did so well albeit the MRS did really good. That being said even as an Mr2 but I'm looking at adding a Porsche to the collection this year haha. @markasread4349
@markasread4349 I own both as well, the MR2 turbo feels faster due to gearing differences despite actually being slower. Handling is actually pretty similar, with the NSX feeling a tad bit more nimble than the MR2 despite being around 200lbs+ heavier. Both have been a total joy to own.
One of the prettiest of all super cars for sure. Always thought that back end and wrap-around tail light was one of the coolest looking back-ends ever on a car.
There are a few of them in my city, and I’ll drive by one or see one in a parking lot a few times a year. I always seem to have forgotten how small they are, and how low to the ground. They’re much more like a Lotus Elise, ALFA Romeo 4C, or Porsche Cayman, than a “big” Supercar like a Lamborghini, Ferrari, McLaren, Audi R8, etc.
@@stoneylonesome4062 Oooo - that's really neat. I only ever saw one in person once in Toronto, and that was 20+ years ago. Yeah, they're not huge, and that's kinda the charm of them - nice personal sorta car.
@@stoneylonesome4062 At the time of launch (1990) the direct competitors to he Honda NSX were the Lotus Esprit, Ferrari 328/348, Lamborghini Jalpa and Porsche 964 - all 'junior' high end mid-engined (with the exception of the 911) sports cars. The cars that you reference are junior sports cars that were introduced later - to much later - than when the NSX was introduced. However it's notable that the NSX remained in production for a relatively long time (circa 15 years) with little 'stylistic' changes for a high-end sports car. So needless to say, it was a wonderful design that introduced 'ease of use', reliability and longevity to that 'class' of car.
It's iconic the video of Senna testing this car, with moccasins and white socks.
🇧🇷
Those are old-school driving mocs with the nubbins on the sole. I love those shoes to drive with!
One of my favorite videos of all time is of Ayrton Senna driving one of these bad boys around Suzuka, but it's centered around his brake, clutch, and accelerator control. I really want to drive one someday.
Senna is actually responsible for the chassis redesign when Honda brought him the prototype to test
🇧🇷🇺🇲
It was a 200hp I-4 DOHC VTEC in the back of the car in the video. It wasn't equipped w/ the V6 yet.
I was a freshman in college in 1991 when that car debuted. It was an instant hit with my generation (x). We just couldn’t afford one back then. I was expecting to see WOLF on the license plate.
100 percent
Thats 30 minutes away, ill be there in 10
@@Haulinbassracing Just because you are a character doesn’t mean you have character.
Pulp fiction.
Why is he wearing a tuxedo at 9AM
My wife and I have owned 5 first gen NSX’s. Great car for its time.
Still have mine, lots of fun at the track with coilovers and more extras.
Are you collectors or bad drivers?
@@peterjohnson9438 many nsx owners have had multiple nsxs. It's because people sell them and then miss having one. There are many owners who refuse to ever sell them.
@@user-ek5nl1jc4b I get that, but.. **FIVE**?
@peterjohnson9438 I guess some people think that they constantly have to have more and more and are never satisfied. It is definitely not a way I personally choose to live. I won't be selling mine. Lol
I'm 44, so old enough to clearly remember this cars introduction. And it's been my dream car, bar none, ever since. Give me one car, it'd be a 1997 NSX with the 3.2 litre engine and six speed manual. In yellow.
Dream car.
I’m fortunate to have purchased my ‘02 back in 2012, before prices got insane.
One of the all time most beautiful cars. The first gen nsx
So many of these early NSX's have high mileage because they were reliable and owners drove the heck out of them. That is very unusual for a typical "supercar" and tells you how special the NSX is. Nice to see.
I remember the first time I saw an NSX, back in the day. What was THAT?!
A special car then. Even more special now. Take good care of it. ❤️
My old neighbor had one about 10 years ago. I liked the car a lot more than him. I love the acuras from this era. Much more luxurious than the modern ones and better build quality IMO
Damn, Grimes also knowledgeable about electronics. Impressive 🤔
I was eighteen when this car was made. I remember being in awe when these came out. The money a used NSX fetches is ASTRONOMICAL! The thing that really hooked me in was they were "affordable" dream cars.... obtainable for a hard working avg joe...
We NEED a acura legend video now! This NSX has all the same issues of most legends!
in 2005 i bought a 1992 NSX. just wow. timeless design. loved it. 6 speed manual, hugged the road like a go kart. redid the interior, gutted it out and installed Dynomat, recarpeted the interior
That car likely had a 5 speed, not 6. The 6 speed was introduced in 1997, and the 6 speed conversions were very uncommon back then
Bought the twin of this car in '15K, 22nd one in the US. The original owner paid 20K over MSRP, 83K. A lot of money now, a boatload in '91. Have the NSX phone, looks like a home wall phone. Car has a aluminum jack.
In 91, the NSX was $60K and a mid-level Integra (LS) was $12K
Aluminum body and frame
Playing San Andreas right now, and the Infernus is the games version of the NSX. Its the fastest car and you can almost feel the VTEC hahaha
Still my dream to one day own a Honda NSX like this one! LOVE the styling on them!
I love the early NSX's, the pop-ups and the mandatory Hardtop with a manual 5-Speed bro! 🤌🏼
Good catch regarding the "known to fail" capacitors in this era of Honda and replacing the "green", in failure mode, radiator.
I wasn't just a honda issue it was a manufacturing issue with one of the main capacitor manufacturers. Lot's of PC motherboards had to be recapped because of it.
@@BitWalker Yes, I am aware of that. Honda doesn't manufactured the majority of the components used in their vehicles, they sub contract. Thanks for mentioning it.
I didn't know Grimes had the ability to repair the internals of a radio
Luckily this was an easy spot. Waiting on a replacement ribbon cable and it should be good to go!
The boy has game/chops.
That is a fantastic skill you have!
It definitely tells me he a good technician and not a part swapper. I thought I was the only rare few that actually does that. It refreshing to see to be honest. Over the years I seen other master technicians just throw parts instead of actually troubleshooting and repairing the issue to component level. I had one Lexus that ECU needed new capacitors and traces repaired but was at 3 other shop and no one could figure it out and one shop that throw random parts like injectors and throttle body at it old parts were fine and actually reinstalled them as was OEM as new parts were cheap aftermarket junk and fixed the ECU and resolved the no crank at times, or running rough issues. Runs perfect now.
Board level diagnostics, before the throw it away production model.
When the original Legend came out i had a serious case of lust for one. Bought a used pne many years later. Been a Honda car guy ever since 89 when i got my first CRX. NSX is a dream.
The last time I had a brake bleed down was on an 05 Dodge Ram 1500 and it wasn't the master cylinder, nor air in the system, nor calipers. It was the ABS block itself. Somehow, it was internally bypassing. Removed the electronics part (which are vin tied to the truck) and swapped in a used solenoid block from a junk yard to repair the truck.
Yep, that's always a possibility, something in the solenoid block.
Well from the fluid leaking down the booster I’d say the matter is a safe assumption
@@GrimesGarage That wasn't my situation thought. I had no visual leaks.
I LOVED selling these things. I drove one of the first ones delivered to Colorado when they came out. It was all black, with black tinted windows. the only problem for me is that they're not good for guys over 6 ft with a torso. It had plenty of leg room, just didn't want to hit too many big bumps to bang my head on the roof. The first one I sold, they guy wanted it unique and EXPENSIVE. EVERYTHING on it was custom. We had the seat reupholstered with high end leather, a top of the line security system, delicate hand painted, discrete pin striping, and the wheels were gold plated, to name just a few things he did. When it was delivered it was an $80,000 car with the extras added. He paid for all the extras cash, and only financed about 20% of the rest of the car. He could've paid cash for it all, but had some reasons for the financing. They were great fun to drive and great to look at. Acura hasn't built a nicer looking car since, including the revamped version.
GRIMES!!! Thanks Wizard. Only been able to see this from a distance. Interesting to see how they were designed and worked.
I had a new 85 corvette 4 speed with overdrive. It drove well and was comfortable except for ingress/egress. a few years later a friend bought a NSX. Very comfortable ride, somewhat easier to get in/out of
I absolutely love these. I'm not a sports car guy but these are so beautiful, such great lines and such a pragmatic car. The interior is Honda, nothing over the top, nothing so luxurious. It's a seemingly simple car.
Wonderful video, Wizard! I thoroughly enjoyed the look around this gorgeous NSX! They’re phenomenal cars and it’s such a joy every time I see one. Keep up the great work!
Also for the NSX abs system you can upgrade it to the modern abs units using factory parts. There’s a company that supplies them. You can also rebuild the pumps, there’s a DIY video on RUclips if you look it up for acura legends or Honda preludes very similar systems
My very 1st car, manual 1990 Civic coupe hatchback, red too, had no abs, no power nothing, rear drums, carburetor, no tachometer! But did have a headlights BEAM adjustment from the cabin. Missed that car a lot, sold over 500K on ODO....
I love the first generation NSX, my Acura is red with black top hand built in the NSX factory. They are hand built and numbered.
I can't remember the last time I saw one. I've only seen a handful to begin with. From everything I've read about the NSX is that it was very well made and highly reliable like just about any Honda. Prices on those first generation ones are really going to the moon now.
Identical color combo to mine, which I've had almost 16yrs now. And it IS very reliable and fairly cheap to run, though some parts can be quite expensive and hard to get now. I live in an area where euro exotics are a dime a dozen, but the NSX still gets a LOT of attention.
To think that one can still take these to a dealership to be worked on is just amazing. Only 18,000 or so were made from 1991-1998 and the MSRP was around $62,000. Back when Honda made reliable and well built cars-John in Texas
The NSX is indeed a dream car for me. And I'm 99% confident it will remain a dream.
I owned a 91 NSX for eight years and later bought a 92 red NSX in 2008 that I currently own to this day. Only 36K miles. So sweet to drive. Had the JDM short gears and NSX-R final drive installed when I had the clutch replaced. Car is more drivable in town with the shorter gearing. The manual steering is awesome with excellent feedback. You always know what the front tires are doing. Wouldn't sell it for any other sports car. And it's nearly tripled in value since I bought it. I'll cherish and continue driving this car as long as I can.
It’s been a dream car for decades. Didn’t know it had a V6 though.
The only one of the japanese legends that doesnt dissapoint when you feel and touch it for the first time
When i bought my nsx i also had a corvette gran sport . The cars were very similar in size , the NSX was quite a bit lower. The Nsx did not feel underpowered after driving the lt4 vette which had quite a bit more horsepower
yet another dream car of mine.
absolutely LOVE these cars, they look so awesome, specially with the pop-up headlights
Come on Mrs. Wizard the air vent are on the door ! Gotta point out those oddities. 😮
I've seen one of these back in 1991 inside the Acura showroom. It was a black on black leather interior.
I believed the two tones interior are newly added for the Acura line of cars for the NSX/Legend/Integra.
The radiator color was the first thing that jumped out at me. I learned the hard way what a brownish yellow radiator means with my 1990 Miata….imminent failure.
Beautiful cars. After the success of the Datsun 240z, Acura came out with a car to compete with the best out of Europe at half the cost and great reliability
LOVE the NSX, and I'm not a "tuner guy". One of, if not THE best Japanese sports car ever made. Not fast by today's standards, but absolute butter to drive, with everything coming together perfectly. So good! Thanks, Mr. and Mrs. Wizard! ✌️❤️🙂🇨🇦
Acura NSX! Yeah! That’s the pedestal of 90’s sport cars. 🚗
There are 2 or 3 in my city, and every time I drive by one, or see one in a parking lot, I always seem to have forgotten how small & low to the ground the Honda NSX was. It has much more in common with a “baby Supercar” like a Lotus Elan, ALFA Romeo 4C, or Porsche Cayman, than it does with a larger one like a Lamborghini, Ferrari, et cetera
It was crazy the differences in horsepower between the auto and manuals.
Great to see the NSX in the shop. Don't bother fixing the ABS as it was the first generation from Honda and they upgraded I think in 2004 to a lighter, smaller and a way better unit. Check SOS. Science of Speed's replacement kit.
The first gen NSX was among the most beautiful cars ever made, IMHO.
I still love the Acura NSX
The NSX is timeless...on my bucket list...as well as a 4th Gen Prelude...Im pretty sure i'll get the Prelude before an NSX lol Also...imho the NSX was Pininfarnia's best design
Have both in my collection !!! 😁
@@danhillsgrove3925 you rock!!
love the na1 nsx - i just did the ap1 s2000 abs upgrade on my 1990 jdm na1, the original abs system was leaking and the pump clicking pedal fade. s2000 pump 3.9kg vs nsx 10kg. wiring harness kit from helix auto works 95% plug and play. brake line kit from mita, highly recommend it. brake system now feels modern! took me a day to install
FY1 NA1 refers to the 3.0 engine, not the pop-up headlights. There are NA2 pop-up cars and NA1 bubble headlight cars
@Harmonic14 yeah no shit. FYI the nsx community is sooooo pedantic about how the term na1 is used 🙄 cringe
Ayrton Senna had one of those. It was considered a super car!
His car is now up for sale
Now up for sale
One of my favourite cars, they were never appreciated when they came out new. It’s only now in the later years they have received the recognition they deserve as great driving cars.
The Honda NSX[Acura NSX in the U.S.] inspired Gordon Murray(read: McLaren F1 super car).
That radiator has seen better days..
Plastics becomes brittle and eventually will spring a leak, so definitely good that it being replaced.
The colour of the radiator's plastic indicates that the radiator has been in place for a very long time - and would not be surprised if its the car's original unit. Had the radiator been fitted to a post 2010 VW/AUDI or BMW, the radiator would be have been replaced at least 3 times - as the plastics on the German brands are of diabolically poor quality.
@@georgebettiol8338 Yes German engineering at its finest. Replaced 100’s of radiators especially for BMW and other plastic components in cooling system as all become brittle. BMW can’t even get timing guides done properly as become brittle as well plastic breaks into pieces and engine jump timing and been a problem since late 90’s till now. Such a common problem I know the S63 and N63 engines and can disassemble one and put back together blindfolded and remember most the torque specs by heart at that point. Also rod bearing, oil chain tension and valve guide seals are an issue with those motors.
A NSX is one of the best built cars as far as I am concerned.
The Honda NSX is one of the greatest cars ever made, the only good reason to sell this one would be to buy a late production facelifted car with a 6sp manual and 3.2l engine, which are mega money now
I had a 91 Cadillac Fleetwood where the front passenger brake wouldn't engage even with a new caliper. Turns out an ABS pump wasn't working properly and somehow was blocking most of the brake fluid from getting to that caliper. You could stop but with a lot of effort. I had a Cadillac specialist with a Cadillac only junkyard diagnose it. After a installing a used ABS pump they had and reprogram, the brakes worked fine. Sounds similar to the issue on this customers car.
This car is designed perfectly. Still looks sexy today& probably always will. Timeless design& those pop up lights
NSX were all badged Honda here in Brexitstan. Always a seriously cool car. With a T-top, you can see them on sale for 90k and up.
I didn't expect to see mechanics do board repair! Awesome!
Back in the day I wanted one. But my driving record didn't allow it to happen.
My dream car , i was 19 when they first came out. And the advertising for them was a old man in italy mistaking one for a Ferrari lol
Nice ride. I love Miss's Wizard parts builds. Very cool 😎
Senna's DNA is in that beautifully crafted machine. ✊
It's actually not an ABS system, it's an ALB system. The best thing you can do is upgrade it to the later model system, it's a simple upgrade. Spending time fixing the ALB system is a waste of time.
I was under the impression that the ‘01+ system have been discontinued by Honda?
@@dmanatanNo idea. I thought I had heard that, but then more became available. Hard to know. You can an S2000 ABS unit.
Pulp Fiction. "I drive really fast, so try to keep up."
"It's thirty minutes away, I'll be there in ten."
' if I get it back any different than I gave it monster Joe will be disposing two bodies"
I should have bought one 15 years ago for 25k. A little surprised to not hear that the NSX was first production car with all aluminum unit body n chassis. I believe the linkage at the shift rod base suggests an automatic transmission? If manual trans it would be a 5spd. Goes to show how dedicated Acura was with weight distribution and center of gravity parameters by placing battery there. 😎
There is a pretty amazing time there where if I had just stretched a tiny bit on my finances the coulda shoulda woulda list is enough to put someone into a deep depression.
This car
The 914/6 was quite affordable
930’s were in range
Dino was not considered a real Ferrari and prices reflected that
The ones that hurt more still are things you owned and foolishly sold off because you got bored and wanted something different moving from the future icon to a car that is ordinary and forgettable.
I sold my 71 TR6 because I couldn’t find one of the locking pins to secure one side of the top. No internet it was going to be a little work but I look back now and instantly think of a half dozen ways to get it working without the part. I got 90 Ford ranger a disposable truck. Bad choice
I replaced my Corrado with a geo metro 4 door!! I won’t even mention the embarrassing reason behind that one
I’ve bought sold and rebought and sold and now own again a Pontiac G8 GT. Not the same car different ones progressively less nice than the previous one. Started with a demo car with nearly no miles kept for 25,000 the one I have now is over 230k. Although it’s pristine interior and doesn’t burn even a half quart every 15k miles. Which is surprising to me.
Some else share their regrets and cars that they could have afforded at one point but are now not ever coming down to your affordable level again… neither will you likely move up with out loto
@@somenygaard Ha, ah yes, I hitchhiked to Dallas from Detroit in 1980 n bought a 72 TR6 w overdrive for $2K. Another great one to have held onto was my 76' Celica GT Fastback that I,did again buy in Dallas n took back to Detroit. Sold my 88' 300zx Turbo manual. AARrrgghh! You are right,we tend to get bored,see the cars a transportation only and sell them. I have however kept my 94' 300ZX na manual for 20 yrs now and is ready to break 100K miles.
@@somenygaardI passed on a 2nd gen high mileage Viper in the mid 2010s for 17k. Could have easily doubled my money today. I also own a G8 GT that I consider selling all the time just because the value has increased so much.
I think about how will these complex works of art be kept existing in the world as we age. Nice vid beautiful Acura.
Grimes is not just an excellent mechanic. He is also well versed in electrical circuits and understands how electronics work. A true geek. I bet he is also pretty good with computers and not just car computers.
In Japan the NSX is badged as a Honda. Cool car
Also in Europe.
Yes. The Acura Marque didn’t exist in Japan as far as I know. Honda simply marketed certain models as Luxury Hondas. Same with Toyota and Lexus. Kinda funny how Mazda did the opposite. The Original NA Miata was marketed in Japan as the “Eunos Roadster”, Eunos being Mazdas domestic luxury marque. Kinda odd to sell it under a luxury marque, though, I think the RX-Series (which was sold under their other domestic luxury marque, “Efini”), is more of a Grand Tourer than the Roadster/Miata.
Everywhere outside of N. America the NSX was badged as a Honda, which means it was badged as such in Australia and NZ.
Now wait a doggone second ! I thought you didn't get a thrill fom the NSX in a previous video....? Okay, if you have reconsidered, okay. I'm biased, former Acura Salesperson in the 'golden age' of Acura. Now we are in the overkill electronics age of Acura. Prefer the mechanically-oriented, 'fine Swiss watch' orientation of years' past. Thank you for featuring an automotive masterpiece, which had its driving characteristics directly influenced by Ayrton Senna and Bobby Rahal during vehicle design period. I think it was one of the first cars with a 4-channel ABS...
Is it mentioned here that the NSX was a product of a special Honda factory and that the whole car’s construction was in aluminium ,with the only major structural steel being a tubular section,under dash section ,supporting the steering column and other components?This car incorporates sophisticated front suspension bump absorption features way ahead of the Europeans of the time.NSX was probably the inspiration ,the standard,of that greatest of driver’s cars,the McLaren F1.
Once in a blue moon an automaker gets it just right, & when you see it you have to have one. That's the Acura NSX
Nice car, but not a typical Japanese vehicle. The OEM tires for example, last roughly 10K miles because of the soft compound. These are becoming collectible for unmodified examples.
They are all highly collectible at this point, including the modified ones. Really rough versions are still demanding high prices.
Says the tires are still good at 15:29 but you can see a crack going the whole way around the circumference. That doesn't look like it is part of the tire design.
That's actually just an excess rubber strip from when the tire was produced and released from the tire mould. I have the same strips on the new tires on my car. Many tires have it and if the car is rarely driven, they don't come off. It just looks like a Crack the way the light is hitting it.
Is that blue car next to the NSX an Alfa Giulia? If so we DEFINITIVELY need a video on that one. PLEASEEEEE
NSX: my dream car when I was 20... But far out of my reach...
One of my all time favorite cars.
At car shows, I ask kids the same thing about the engine location on mine. They must be 5 or under though! Also, No ABS on a 91!
No muffler Newton strikes again!!!
I hate to think what these fetch nowadays, frigging love these
Thank you for the video, i just saw an NSX today, and it suffered from many of the issue you're mentioning here.
Great video. The HVAC control module is also known for capacitor failure/leakage. If the AC and blower fan setting is working correctly, it’s probably already had cap repair/replacement
I remember when they first came out on Route 17 in New Jersey. I think it was a Ramsey dealership. They had a silver one out there. It sat there for the longest time because it was so expensive.
Interesting Solution: The Radiator is warming up the Spare Tire :D So the Rubber is aging very well.
The NSX was peak everything
Wow, y'all are working inside the actual radio. Nice!
Owned a 1993. I drive my cars. Put 130,000 miles on it. Zero repairs except a $20.00 muffler bracket. These things eat rear tires like crazy was only downside. 6,000 miles a set typically. But what a car.
I've seen 2 of these in the last 20 years!
Matter of fact, I've seen more DeLoreans than these beauties!
Grimes is a super man. Very few people work on electronics like that anymore.
When is the last time I’ve seen one? A few minutes ago. In my driveway. The ABS systems are notorious for failing. It’s an old car. You can “exercise it” to keep it going but eventually it’ll need replacement. Owners go with the ‘01+ ABS system but those might be discontinued. A new alternative is an S2000 conversion kit but it comes with the loss of the TCS system. Might want to change the 23 coolant hoses while the radiator is out, if it hasn’t been done in the last 7-10 years.
If I ever win the lottery...
I'm buying one, painting it Midnight Purple Pearl and blast Gran Turismo 1's car manufacture theme.
And then...I can die....a happy man.
I believe the middle of the car would be where the driver sits. The trunk is the back of a car. Please take a measuring tape and check where the engine is placed