When you evaluate older cars, you need to know how fresh the suspension bushings are. James mentioned this NSX has different carrier bushings in the rear suspension. I'd say the others have also been replaced, given how well it responded to being hustled along a bit. People almost universally wait for rubber bushings to fail, or at least to be very obviously cracked and failing, before even considering replacement. That's a big mistake, if you care about truly proper handling. And you CANNOT tell by looking at them. Dead bushings often look perfectly fine. Figure ten years or 75k miles, at the outside, whichever comes first. I speak from a lot of experience. Unfortunately, enthusiasts very often install polyurethane replacements. Soon after, having screwed up a great car, they sell it. The vast majority of owners, i.e those NOT building a pure track car, should definitely use OEM-type replacements. I've just wasted my time. Few will read this, fewer still will actually listen. Such is life.
Micheal I 200% agree I had a honda civic fn2 fully polybushed it then became unbearable as a daily hence sold. I picked up another swapped out tired bushes for OEM it's a dream to drive and own . Lessons learnt
Yup...and the classic day in Suzuka IIRC there was this, the Accord and him driving his McLaren. He departs last and crosses the line first to show how fast an F1 car is. Great memories
🚗💨 You really should check your reality pulse mate. The Honda NSX is ingenious! It’s the benchmark Ferrari and McLaren studied and copied to make their cars better.
I think this car is the best looking car of the generation. Love it, especially the back end. I would love to own one but never will. These will get more expensive. With the Tomaso Pantera and Ferrari Testarossa, Lamborghini Diablo, this car will always be remembered. But this one is my personal 'just out of reach dream-car'.
The NSX styling has aged very well IMO, much better than the 348. And it's a better car in every measurable way than the 348. So much so that Ferrari was shamed into canning the 348 early and bringing the 355 project forward a lot, and even then they didn't quite match the NSX.
When you drive older cars you are comparing the drive to modern cars, you need to put yourself back in 1990s. This was the first Supercar you could daily use. Today we have cars with 600 plus hp but they just full of computers and numb and fake noise and this and that. The rear is cool
Well, I was really getting upset with all the put-downs on this magnificent car. Then, you took it back and you gained my thumbs up. I've been driving my 1991 for twenty years now, and each and every time it is still a thrill. I like the manual steering and I love the sound through the gears right behind me. The only thing wrong is that I cannot not go a hundred miles an hour whenever I'm in it!
I like your review of this Honda. Jay, my favorite part of your review is discussing how well the car revs and wants to be driven hard. That's my favorite part about the NSX. It wants to be pushed and rewards you when you do.
A 90 degree angle can lower the centre of gravity of the engine in relation to the 60 degree, as it makes it less tall; wich translates to making it possible to place the engine lower in the car.
@@Mexxx65 The engine is not mounted above the rear axle, where do you get that from? It sits as low as feasible between the cockpit bulkhead and the rear axle. The boot sits above the rear axle.
All the Honda C-series engines were 90* designs. Honda probably stuck with this for the NSX as a cost-saving measure, as the block is related tot he Legend V6s. The later J-series were 60* V6 designs.
Actually, the rear end of the NSX is my favorite view of the car. It was an underrated car, and it went toe to toe and even beat exotic cars of the day. Plus it had the Senna influence to back it 🙇🏻
90 Deg V6 was done to lower the CoG. Also the steering wheel has a slow steering ratio I think for two reason. 1. slower ratio reduces driver effort it takes for turning on that manual rack. 2 to give you better highspeed control. Remember this was developed with a track like the Nurburgring in mind. Their promotional videos back in 1990 basically are basically the NSX driving on the Nurburgring and Suzuka.
The steering being a little slower around the straight ahead is what enables the car to be such an effortless grand tourer. I've driven from the UK to the south of France & Italy in my car several times and it is a pleasure - you step out feeling fresher than any other car I've tried that with, certainly better than our BMW. Maintaining a high speed cruise you don't want a car that fidgets and tramlines on motorways; the steering is relaxed and easy going. However once you get onto the Route Napoleon you find that all the steering feel you need is right there once you have a few degrees of steering lock on.
The reason an NSX costs as much as a Ferrari of same era is because it is basically as reliable and easy to maintain as a Honda Civic while offering super car looks and performance (90's supercar performance).
One of the many cars that I've never driven, but one of the very few that I wish I could. I really like the idea of the NSX - light, low, nimble and not with an excess of power. I even like the looks and whenever I've seen one in the metal, amazed at the seemingly tiny size of it.
The base car is good, shed 70kg (easy ), put some jdm shorter gears, an aftermarket header ( +30hp ), a rear solid pillow bushing and a type S geometry and the car is suddenly twice as fast and twice more enjoyable ! I live your reviews but being a long term NSX owner i must point out some of your saying that are total non-sense ( to me at least ). There is no shudder at low revs, the engine mounts are shattered. "Cheap and nasty compared to a ferrari " hum ? Have you seen the inside of a 80/90's Ferrari ? the fit and finishing isn't even on the same galaxy such it is shit on the italian car. Defeats the point because it is the same price as a Ferrari ? well a lot of nsx are 500.000km, i know no Ferrari above 200kkm... that's the point you can use it. Ride wise I drove most 80/90's ferrari mid engine cars none are more confortable than my NSX. I did 1000km days with my wife in it without any complaints, in the 348 she would stand it 300km. It steers very well, the suspension geometry inspired Gordon Murray on the F1, it is just that it has some compliance pivot and a lot of bumpsteer control. Meaning it will keep a certain toe and camber through a bumpy corner. A NSX-r did 8min03 in 92 on the Nurburgring with period tyres, with modern compound it would be 7min30 roughly so equivalent to a 500/600ish horsepower moderne Ferrari or Porsche, bad steering ? meh no.
Hadrien LF I totally agree I have a 94 and it’s running perfectly. It’s an event every time I drive it; what do I mean by that? First just the thought of driving it makes my heart go racing and everywhere I take the car all eyes are staring 😃👍🏼 it’s a dream come true to drive the NSX... thank you Honda and congrats to all who have one🙏🏽👊🏽
@@KarmaticEvolution I was making a point ahah, but it is noticeably quicker, 274hp and 1360kg and then 300hp and 1290kg. Plus the short gears make it feel alive on small roads.
I've driven several early cars, power isn't jaw dropping but the handling is soooo confidence inspiring. Would love to have an early version in my garage some day, Sebring silver for sure.
@@hadrienlf23 Nice! The 300k (mile) club is not as exclusive as most people think with NSXs. I'll be there probably next year (287,000 miles at the moment). Parts-wise you do get to flip a coin though. Heads: It cross references to another Honda and is super cheap Tails: it's bespoke to the NSX and you're now in Porsche parts money territory. (with a middle ground of it doesn't cross reference, but an aftermarket supplier makes a better version for less than the OE part).
Can't agree with you on the back-end. The built-in spoiler, two exhausts and the long breaklights with the triangular extremities are really unique in my opinion.
The main reason for the 90 degree bank angle is to lower the height of the engine, which made the the low silhouette of the car possible. Its a three throw split crankshaft, where each throw is split by 10 degrees to get an even 120 degree firing order ...
A friend of mine has one of the two NSX press release cars. One of the two was driven by Ayrton Senna at Silverstone. Much to his frustration, he hasn't been able to find out whether it was his car and Honda couldn't tell him either.
Drove one in Japan (90 model, no power steering) with lowered springs, and an exhaust. It was fantastic. Gears were a bit long, but other than that no complaints. Meet your heros.
I own one - the ride in my standard car is magnificent, so not sure on what's going on with that one. The steering is also the best of any car I have driven, it never feels like you mention just off dead centre. The redline in mine was also limited when I bought it, this was due to oil gumming up the oilways in the head, causing the VTEC to not operate properly and the limiter to cut in early (7200rpm in mine). The fix was removal of the engine and heads, followed by a complete clean up. The length of the rear is long because of a few reasons: high-speed stability (favoured over drag coefficient), boot space (it had to have more than it's supercar rivals) and the wider VTEC heads called for a wider block than the original non-vtec prototype. Oh, and yes, the engine is rough as arseholes at idle - it all pays off with a blip of the throttle, though.
A few years ago ('15) I was talking to my brother about the NSX, "get some of your retirement money out and enjoy it". I did, the twin to the one here. Have the NSX phone, looks like a old home wall phone.
I always remember the first time I saw one of these. It was red and pulled up at a pedestrian crossing I was about to use in central London... I couldn't stop staring at it. I thought, what's this new Ferrari I'm seeing... Wait! That's a Honda!?
Appreciate the honest review. Like others have said I don't think the NSX you reviewed is in the best shape; low rpm vibrations, 7600rpm redline, notchy shifter, ratty interior, stiff ride probably worn out suspension. Also I wonder if the car has power steering; most NSX owners with no power steering complain about how heavy steering is at low speed.
Jay I think the car you have driven must of had some suspension modification or tired bushings.. you are welcome to take my 91 NSX for a test drive... it has some upgrade which won’t disappoint...it will be different to the one you drove.
@@Fastvoice The rev limiter is cutting in slightly earlier at an indicated 7800 rpm on the tachometer but as the NSX makes its peak power at 7300 rpm i have left this alone.
The bit where he says it defeats the point of being cheaper than a Ferrari of it's day....I don't agree with. Ferrari always (or nearly so) keep their value an go up, an Honda built a car cheaper but with the same sort of excitement, an did that so WELL, that they eventually started to hold value an, indeed, go stratospheric. I think they succeeded in what the point actually was. My 2 quid. Other than that, I really like Jay's assessment of a legendary car. He doesn't embellish or go fan-boy on it, merely telling it like it is without the associated over-hyped praise this car has become known for. Of course, I still to this day would absolutely love to have the chance to own a 1st-gen NSX, however the collectors market is far too outside my budget to allow.
@@Gnomosfortheoffice alot of the original reviewers were biased against it . Such as tiff needell. They claimed it was too perfect that it lacked soul etc.. they preferred cars with oil leaks, offset pedals quirky reliability. I guess it " enhanced" the driving experience. But Gordon Murray loved it and the nsx became his new benchmark for the Mclaren f1. He owned one for 7 years.
@@manuelaguirre1062 So true. That's how Brits review cars. When an Alfa Romeo or a Jag or an Aston Martin completely falls apart after 500 miles it's 'charming' and 'quirky'. When a Japanese or an American car has a bit of plastic in the interior then it's 'cheap' and 'horrible quality'.
Because it has less room in it, no rear seats or the lack of power steering and four wheel drive?. Where a 911 of this era fails is lack of a tow bar unlike the earlier model, I dont know if the NSX could be bought with a tow bar if it can then would agree may have some advantage as the lack of towing is what limits a 911
This car is one of the most beautiful cars ever made. Timeless. This car is also one of the most important cars ever made. It literally made Ferrari and the like start over from scratch. And Honda makes...the best engines in the world.
whilst I love this car this rethoric is bollox..the car barely took any sales from Ferrari . Ferrari didn't replace the 348 until 1994 and even then it was a revised 348 chassis and engine. So if the nsx was so groundbreaking, what ground did it break in the supercar market? I think this statement originated with Gordon Murray but I've yet to meet a person who can quantify it.
@@dagnut I didn't say it took sales from Ferrari. Read more carefully what is being said. The 355 is Ferrari's response to the NSX, not the 348, and yes Gordon Murray said the NSX became the new benchmark in supercars. It also inspired the Mclaren F1. In fact, he wanted Honda to build the motor for the F1 but Honda declined. What more 'quantification' do you need? I can provide more
@@Element_y how is revising your current model after 4 years of the NSX " starting over from scratch " ? wtf are you talking about? all the Gordon Murray stuff is completely blown out of context, go and read what he actually said not what Honda fanboys say on forums. he said of all the supercars he drove whilst designing the F1, NSX had the most neutral balance. You can hear what he has to say about it recently on a podcast with Chris Harris. The F1 owes nothing to the NSX its just honda forum bullshit. the NSX is a great car but its been given this mystical groundbreaking tag it doesn't deserve. so if Honda make " the best engines in the world " and McLaren were engine partners in F1 with them at the time, how come they didn't supply the engine for the road car ? so instead of repeating rethoric you've read on forums, why don't you actually provide something tangible?
@@dagnut "the F1 owes nothing to the NSX it's just Honda forum bullshit' First of all, I've never been in a Honda forum Secondly, from his own words: "The moment I drove the 'little' NSX, all the benchmark cars-Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini-I had been using as references in the development of my car vanished from my mind," said Murray. "Of course the car we would create, the McLaren F1, needed to be faster than the NSX, but the NSX's ride quality and handling would become our new design target." He also copied the NSX's aluminum suspension and drive by wire throttle for the F1 Just one of several examples to debunk your claim that the Mclaren F1 took nothing from the NSX. You're just another ignoramus
@@dagnut "if Honda make the best engines in the world ...how come they didn't supply the engine for the road car?" I already discussed that, above, if you bothered to read. They wanted Honda to build the engine for the F1 and Honda declined. Yikes this isn't looking good for you.
Jay, you said it s not as confortable as a Ferrari. First you need to realize that like someone else said in the comments, the suspension bushings might not be stock or new. Amd the NSX is supposed to be a sports car. Many Ferraris are more of a Grand Tourer, therefore more confortable.
Jay, I think the car you drove had some issues that needed to be addressed through maintenance. Sounds like maybe a motor or transmission mount could be failing, though the 90* V6 was never as smooth as the 60* V6 that followed it. I also think this car needed new dampers. It should also be noted that the original Yokohama tires that were specific to this car are long discontinued.
Yokohama still make NSX-sized Advan Neova's though ;) and even for up-sized wheels (in 17+18). It's one of the very few tyre manufacturers that provide these specific sizes (front and rear are different !). And yeah that car has a lot of issues: no VTEC - engine is in safe mode (cut off at 7.6K), this is not good at all.
Why the 90 degree V6 James.. I believe Honda just trying to be too smart, per normal! Their F1 racing engine of the day was a 90 degree V6, Honda just paying homage to their F1 success.
Some say the 90 Vee was to increase torque, others say to create more space for the intake plenum etcetc. I believe i've read that it was to lower the height of the V6. Brian Longs NSX book has the reference i think.
The C30A engine was based on the same block as the rest of the C-series family. That engine family powered many of the Legend and Accords in the late 80and and early 90s. Honda switched to a 60* V6 in the J series, and is still found in many current Hondas.
F40 aside, are any 90s Ferraris as iconic as the NSX. I might be wrong but I can’t think of another car that is as big a 90s icon. I love them so much I’d swap an Alfa for it, which would be terrible news for my local mechanic’s mortgage.
I had a 91 'Acura' NSX. Regrettably having to use the past tense. Mistake getting rid of it. Honestly, I think you got a bit of a dud. I'm betting it has been driven hard. Its exhaust note sounds a bit off. The steering definitely didn't have play on center. It did redline at 8K. The 5-speed has been referred to as one of the best manuals ever made...like a rifle bolt. The interior definitely looks better in black. I more find it peculiar how you kept referencing Ferriaris of the time and actually saying really good things about them. We are talking 348. Not a great Ferrari. Ferrari is what it is these days because of the NSX. The NSX was everything the Ferrari's weren't back in the day and it undercut it in price. They were reliable, fairly easy to work on, performed as well, comfortable, enough storage space for a weekend. Ferraris you wouldn't really say the same about. Oh, and I would definitely need to disagree with you on the looks but each person is titled to their own opinion on aesthetics. It was Pininfarina designed. Senna tweaked. And referenced by Gordon Murray as one of the benchmarks used for the F1.
@@Razmatazuk Yeah it was a surprisingly really negative review overall. I get cars get built up to things greater than maybe they actually are and times have moved on. Handling has gotten better while still managing more compliant suspensions. Acceleration and other metrics have gotten better. People fault the NSX for lack of drama which is fine. But he harped on things that I have NEVER heard a journalist or youtuber say. He harped on things it always gets praise over. Was just odd. I never thought the suspension was too hard or crashy either. Definitely more compliant and like a GT than the two S2000s I have had. The pre-targa NSXs had a pretty stiff structure though where they could dial up the stiffness a bit rather than softening it for a flexing structure. We can thank Ayrton for that. His biggest complaint was lack of stiffness and Honda went back to the drawing board.
@@Razmatazuk The only manual I have ever driven that is equal or maybe a slightly better, and I'm splitting hairs, is the S2000's 6 speed. Basically 10 years on from the NSX's, though.
I agree. I'm currently looking for a set of aftermarket wheels for my Civic Type R (FN2) The car comes standard with 18s, but I'm downsizing to 17s as I don't like a tiny looking sidewall.
@@mrdayumfine109 hi I have the same car as you it would be good to know if you change it to 17s with the thickest sidewall if it improves the ride? Apparently when people had 19ns on it it'd made it really bad
I owned a stock circuit blue 2000 3.2 6 Speed from 2008 -2016. Yes the steering rack is a bit slow on tight corners but other than that on good tyres the car rode and handled well, you just have to remember it's mid engined and doesn't take kindly to lifting off the throttle mid corner. The engine on the reviewed car sounds off to me, should be able to redline it easily. The is a definite kick in power when the VTEC kicks in and the induction roar even from a stock engine is a joy. Surprised that Jay didn't mention that. In the 8 years I had mine nothing broke, just had annual servicing and new tyres plus a battery. The rear of the car is long but that in part is due to the large boot, which was built to hold two sets of golf clubs, as Honda aimed this car at the US market. Personally I loved it. Where are you now W2 NSX.
One of the reasons why this car is legendary is because they named it as the supercar you could use everyday day. You're either JDM or you're not really, J now a lucky Ferrari man, maybe a bit badge snobby....sorry just kidding it 🤣🤣and you're probably persuaded more with the romantic old Ferraris which we all love but we know would never be as reliable as this car. The back-end is what made it and NSX when you play computer games in the 90s you knew you were driving a JDM supercar👍 and the fact that Senna drove it to help with the set-up makes it legendary again plus Jezza and another journalists took on the track and said they were great to drive I might probably out handle most of other cars from that era👍 I think you should get one of the new NSX on the British roads cos I think you only drove it in the States I think it's a very underestimated car👍
@@che7wins614 I own both a '95 NSX and an '04 S2000. The S2000 was my "gateway drug" to the NSX. They are very different cars. When you drive them back to back you really feel the major differences. The NSX feels much bigger but it isn't. The NSX feels much quicker but it isn't. The S2000 is much more nimble feeling as it has much quicker steering. The S is definitely the car you take when you go to the grocery store and the NSX is the car you take when you want to drive across a state!
I am not sure what is wrong with the NSX you drive, but mine gives me a very comfortable ride through the bumpy roads, actually it absorbs bumps better than my Audi A4 with the 18in wheels, even my friends agree it's right quality is very comfortable but when we push it while cornering, it doesn't roll at all. I think that's the magic about the NSX. On the power steering, I am surprised when nobody complain the lack of power steering on some other Euro supercar, you complain on this JDM legend, I found it's a little unfair to be honest. The lack of power steering, gives a very direct and best feel on the steering after all, I do prefer without it. Nice video though...
I think you totally forgot this car is 30+ year old design. Your review is not period correct and missed the mark completely. You totally forgot that this car set a new standard for super cars in the early 90s.
I think the host needs to drive the nsx type r, I believe his opinion would most definitely change especially with the last n.a versions, hope he has one on the show one day
Ferrari uped their game after this car in terms of interior, reliability etc. Senna wanted a bit stiffer and more powerful. They kept it like this, for the road even though its still stiff. Handling was designed and tuned by Senna. We might not like it since we are not at his level. 90 degree V6 has a huge torque advantage also compared to a 60 degree one.
@I Ok. Thx for letting me know. Have you thought, maybe he could have done multiple sessions to fine tune. Or you are thinking he was lazy enough to do just one session and gave his verdict.
Well, I was waiting on you to get there and you did. They can feel fairly mundane until you ask them to dance, then you get the full experience. Having put a "few" miles on a similarly vintage NSX you're spot on with the steering at casual speeds. I know of at least one owner in the 'States that has swapped in an S2000 rack (with some ado) to get a more direct feel. I can't say I've noted the low RPM vibration or harsh ride you noted though. It's been a hot minute since I've had the factory dampers on the car, but I recall it being a pretty plush ride at least on the typical roads here.
@@powerst33r The biggest complaint with the OE NSX rack is that it's "slow". To compensate for not having any power assist for the first few years, the slower rack reduced effort at parking speeds. That gets interpreted as a lack of 'feel' at casual road speed because you have to move the wheel more to get the car to turn (relative to say an S2000 or modern McLaren with much quicker power-assisted racks). You can do a little with caster (generally you just want to max it out for the camber-gain under compression) and toe (fractional toe-out in front improves turn-in response but does give impression of a little dead-zone on-center at times) but it won't fix the gear ratio in the rack. All of the rack connections to the knuckle have effectively no compliance in them. The rack mounting bushings are rubber. I swapped mine out for polyurethane because the rubber had degraded. I can't say I noticed a ton of difference, but it definitely didn't make anything worse. Personally I like the steering feel in my '92. It's lazy when you're cruising or commuting, but wakes up when you push the car....which is how it should be in my opinion.
There's a certain CAdence to the way you TALK. You EMPhasize certain syllables and WORDS in a very RELIABLE pattern. I find it both SOOTHING and informative.
9:45 That means the car was most likely an auto car when it left the factory and has been manual swapped (obviously lol). The auto cars had 250hp rather than the 276hp and the redline was reduced from 8,000rpm to 7,600rpm.
@@nakoma5 Don't believe so, the steering rack ratio is still too slow. If you watch some of the best motoring videos with Tsuchiya's NA2R he's still having to turn quite a bit.
Like many manual racks, they really start to communicate when you load the front end. Much of the numbness on center can be addressed with the NA2 16" front wheels. The NSX's front suspension geometry was extremely complicated and overthought. It's a very unusual design.
I think you guys should definitely go look in prime to see complaints about the ratio of the oem rack. I track mine from time to time and can honestly tell you that the ratio is a huge problem on tracks with tighter corners, in combination with the narrow front tire sizes.
Watch the the 1992 inaugural targa Tasmania. A fella called Greg Crick won in brand new NSX just beating Dennie Hulme in a E34 M5 not long before the legendary kiwi driver sadly passed away and the late great Jack Brabham came either 3rd or 4th in another NSX both Hulme and Brabham were knocking on a bit with Crick being much younger though still a professional racer but to see 2 legends hustling really hustling modern machinary with all skill and balls of someone half they're age was a privilege. It was fantastic to watch and the NSX was every bit the supercar it still is, I became an NSX fan and an M5 fan instantly as for the legends driving them that goes without saying
I've been very fortunate in having driven the facelift 3.2 TypeR model, many years ago. This car sums up the "more than the sum of its parts" cliche. Nothing stands out on its own, but it was fabulous to drive, direct, responsive, crisp, and went very well considering the "276hp". We had an FD RX7 later and both still stand as the best drivers cars I've had the fortune to pedal. My mates 996 GT3 runs them close mind. Lottery win, I'd be looking for a 3.2 TypeR in a heart beat.
Get I do think Hondas mission was to build a really fast and fun. car that was cheaper than a Ferrari. The money wasn’t something that came into the equation because it was just obvious that it would be cheaper than a Ferrari and the modern day nsx is a super car in all rights and Honda have every right to charge nearly as much as a Ferrari
I remember reading that Honda lost money on every nsx. The price was originally about 60 k and they quickly escalated upto 89 k. Not many were sold after about 3 yrs.
Always loved these. To think you could get one of these for reasonable money in early 2000's . Bet that is not the case now- hindsight is a wonderful thing.
When I first got my 1991 NSX, I was pretty disappointed. The steering was numb around center and once you turned in it was too aggressive and oointy. The rear seemed to be fighting itself. A more aggressive wheel and tyre setup made it even worse. I had it aligned twice, without much improvement. The second time I asked for the numbers and it seems to me tgat the stock numbers in the most common systems used by shops must be incorrect. Either that, or it only works with everything else being stock. Most modern high performance tyres have way more directional stability than an early 90s tyre, and the rather aggressive stock numbers should be dialed back a lot. I finally did the alignment myself on a proper racing setup ramp with corner weights and strings, and with my own numbers I can honestly say it is the best car I’ve ever driven. My money is on Ben’s car having an imperfect alignment. Tell him to take it to String Theory. He will make it handle perfectly.
As for styling I've always thought they were a bit weird too. Especially compared to an FD RX7 since they both look similar in many ways. But I think they really look great with a subtle body kit / mods and wheels. And I usually like leaving cars OEM or OEM+ but I feel like a few choice modifications really helps these along.
What epic great looking INDIVIDUAL car, cars had character unlike today maybe that's how we become old. Unfortunately emissions charges have throttled NA cars , small engine petrol engines / electric now
Compared to euro exotics of the day nsx made all seem kinda rubbish in performance comparisons honda ticked alot of boxes while other makers their only sports function was looking fast outside a fancy upmarket restaurant smh anyway I know what I'd of preferred in a heartbeat
This car is proof that the NSX was way ahead of its time. No other cars, other than a few other Japanese models were comparable to the NSX in 1991. The US only dominated in the 1960s.
It was relatively expensive but it was 30% cheaper than the Ferrari 348 which the NSX outpreformed in every measurable way. Not to mention that it's the least expensive and most reliable supercar to own 'till this day.
@@BlitzkriegRap that is exactly the point! The NSX is one of very few "supercars" that you can own and actually have a shot at normal maintenance costs. Also, taken care of and not driven as an everyday car in terms of miles you have a good shot at not losing a dime on resale.
I owned a '96 3.0 NSX-T. I wonder if something is not quite right with your NSX; the ride shouldn't be hard and the steering should be sharp. The back looks better with the higher NSX-R spoiler, although the front was Gordon Murray's inspiration for the McLaren F1! Talking about the NSX-R, I *urge* you to watch DriveTribe's RUclips video on the Honda NSX-R. Jethro Bovingdon stated he'd have one over a Ferrari F40 everyday of the week
Great Video sir, you have driven so many cars, which are so sublime that it is hard not be alittle harsh with an early Honda and it's capabilities. How does the s2000 compare with its older brother? i can't help to want to feel them apart. I am positive that the Honda NSX will maybe feel more special, but a bit experimental, where an s2000 may feel more fun to rev about with its FR layout. I would love to drive an NSX eventually.
I've owned my 1991 NSX since 2008. I had an hour long test drive of the S2000 and it disappointed me, the drive and build is not comparable, and my mk1 MX5 (Miata) was more fun.
A friend of a friend years ago told me the NSX wasn't as good as his MR2 Turbo, & since a few other people have told me he was right & all of them knew what they were talking about so i didn't argue because i couldn't.
The back end is what makes this car great, in my opinion. Very unique.
Yes, it's Hondas "long tail".
probelm is when is thing come out... Ferrari was about the same price.. and v6 out of accord is not that interstinmg.. and vtec leak is a thing...
There’s probably a reason why it’s unique.. it just doesn’t look that great from the rear
@@2702simmo Well to each their own. I used to own a Cerebra. Best car I've ever owned.
Whittle Moore they’re silky fast, I went in one for the first time recently. Lovely looking too
When you evaluate older cars, you need to know how fresh the suspension bushings are. James mentioned this NSX has different carrier bushings in the rear suspension. I'd say the others have also been replaced, given how well it responded to being hustled along a bit.
People almost universally wait for rubber bushings to fail, or at least to be very obviously cracked and failing, before even considering replacement. That's a big mistake, if you care about truly proper handling. And you CANNOT tell by looking at them. Dead bushings often look perfectly fine. Figure ten years or 75k miles, at the outside, whichever comes first. I speak from a lot of experience.
Unfortunately, enthusiasts very often install polyurethane replacements. Soon after, having screwed up a great car, they sell it. The vast majority of owners, i.e those NOT building a pure track car, should definitely use OEM-type replacements.
I've just wasted my time. Few will read this, fewer still will actually listen. Such is life.
I totally agree. OEM, especially on suspension, brakes and engine components.
No, you haven't wasted your time. Some of us still have the ability to read and learn. Sincerely, thank you.
Micheal I 200% agree I had a honda civic fn2 fully polybushed it then became unbearable as a daily hence sold.
I picked up another swapped out tired bushes for OEM it's a dream to drive and own . Lessons learnt
I read it and listened 🙂 Thanks for the advice!
Couldn't you switch out the poly bushings for OEM ones?
My dream car. I think it looks superb from all angles, internally and externally.
The back end of the car is amazing don't know what this dude is talking about!
Your right to get a big trunk like that is awesome in a rear engine car
People are like that when the talk about cars on the "tv" 😂
Legendary
It wasn't built as a supermarket
In my opinion this Nsx is a masterpiece in car engineering and a in design.
no, it's not just your opinion, man. It's reality. Objectively. period.
Even Gordon Murray said so.
When I see this car the first thing that comes into my head is Ayrton Senna great car
Yup...and the classic day in Suzuka IIRC there was this, the Accord and him driving his McLaren. He departs last and crosses the line first to show how fast an F1 car is. Great memories
Same here. His input into designing the car made this the ultimate super car.
🚗💨 You really should check your reality pulse mate. The Honda NSX is ingenious!
It’s the benchmark Ferrari and McLaren studied and copied to make their cars better.
I think this car is the best looking car of the generation. Love it, especially the back end. I would love to own one but never will. These will get more expensive. With the Tomaso Pantera and Ferrari Testarossa, Lamborghini Diablo, this car will always be remembered.
But this one is my personal 'just out of reach dream-car'.
DeTomaso. Lovely-looking car.
The NSX styling has aged very well IMO, much better than the 348. And it's a better car in every measurable way than the 348. So much so that Ferrari was shamed into canning the 348 early and bringing the 355 project forward a lot, and even then they didn't quite match the NSX.
yep, this car was £40,000 when i lasted looked at the price a few years ago, now it is £80,000. nearly the same price as the nsx 2016.
When you drive older cars you are comparing the drive to modern cars, you need to put yourself back in 1990s.
This was the first Supercar you could daily use.
Today we have cars with 600 plus hp but they just full of computers and numb and fake noise and this and that. The rear is cool
The point is to compare it to modern cars otherwise it would be a classic car review
Not a supercar at all. Not even close. It's just a *sports car* with an MR layout, just like the Toyota MR2 or Lotus Elise.
@@MDDeGrande1994 ehm no. Can't belief you typed that.
@@TheAdatto Uhhh yeah
Well, I was really getting upset with all the put-downs on this magnificent car. Then, you took it back and you gained my thumbs up. I've been driving my 1991 for twenty years now, and each and every time it is still a thrill. I like the manual steering and I love the sound through the gears right behind me. The only thing wrong is that I cannot not go a hundred miles an hour whenever I'm in it!
I like your review of this Honda.
Jay, my favorite part of your review is discussing how well the car revs and wants to be driven hard. That's my favorite part about the NSX. It wants to be pushed and rewards you when you do.
A 90 degree angle can lower the centre of gravity of the engine in relation to the 60 degree, as it makes it less tall; wich translates to making it possible to place the engine lower in the car.
longitudinal V6, possibly..but the NSX was Transverse and mounted rather highish above the rear axle.
Mac Sixtyfive
When he is saying 90 degrees I think he is talking about angle between cylinder banks not degrees of tilt of the whole engine.
don't made the car faster than gt-r... which pretty sure not that good of weight transfer just used 4wd to solved that.
@@Mexxx65 The engine is not mounted above the rear axle, where do you get that from? It sits as low as feasible between the cockpit bulkhead and the rear axle. The boot sits above the rear axle.
All the Honda C-series engines were 90* designs. Honda probably stuck with this for the NSX as a cost-saving measure, as the block is related tot he Legend V6s. The later J-series were 60* V6 designs.
Actually, the rear end of the NSX is my favorite view of the car. It was an underrated car, and it went toe to toe and even beat exotic cars of the day. Plus it had the Senna influence to back it 🙇🏻
90 Deg V6 was done to lower the CoG. Also the steering wheel has a slow steering ratio I think for two reason. 1. slower ratio reduces driver effort it takes for turning on that manual rack. 2 to give you better highspeed control. Remember this was developed with a track like the Nurburgring in mind. Their promotional videos back in 1990 basically are basically the NSX driving on the Nurburgring and Suzuka.
interesting, I didn't know about the reason of the 90° V6. By any chance, do you recall the reference for this ?
Without the 90 deg bank angle it wouldn’t be possible to have DOHC VTEC
The steering being a little slower around the straight ahead is what enables the car to be such an effortless grand tourer. I've driven from the UK to the south of France & Italy in my car several times and it is a pleasure - you step out feeling fresher than any other car I've tried that with, certainly better than our BMW. Maintaining a high speed cruise you don't want a car that fidgets and tramlines on motorways; the steering is relaxed and easy going. However once you get onto the Route Napoleon you find that all the steering feel you need is right there once you have a few degrees of steering lock on.
The reason an NSX costs as much as a Ferrari of same era is because it is basically as reliable and easy to maintain as a Honda Civic while offering super car looks and performance (90's supercar performance).
And it’s made with aluminum which is unheard of at the time.
The NSX is one of the most beautiful cars ever made! The design from front to back is one of the best designs.
One of the many cars that I've never driven, but one of the very few that I wish I could. I really like the idea of the NSX - light, low, nimble and not with an excess of power. I even like the looks and whenever I've seen one in the metal, amazed at the seemingly tiny size of it.
Same here
I particularly like the backend of the nsx. To each his own
The base car is good, shed 70kg (easy ), put some jdm shorter gears, an aftermarket header ( +30hp ), a rear solid pillow bushing and a type S geometry and the car is suddenly twice as fast and twice more enjoyable !
I live your reviews but being a long term NSX owner i must point out some of your saying that are total non-sense ( to me at least ).
There is no shudder at low revs, the engine mounts are shattered.
"Cheap and nasty compared to a ferrari " hum ? Have you seen the inside of a 80/90's Ferrari ? the fit and finishing isn't even on the same galaxy such it is shit on the italian car.
Defeats the point because it is the same price as a Ferrari ? well a lot of nsx are 500.000km, i know no Ferrari above 200kkm... that's the point you can use it.
Ride wise I drove most 80/90's ferrari mid engine cars none are more confortable than my NSX. I did 1000km days with my wife in it without any complaints, in the 348 she would stand it 300km.
It steers very well, the suspension geometry inspired Gordon Murray on the F1, it is just that it has some compliance pivot and a lot of bumpsteer control. Meaning it will keep a certain toe and camber through a bumpy corner. A NSX-r did 8min03 in 92 on the Nurburgring with period tyres, with modern compound it would be 7min30 roughly so equivalent to a 500/600ish horsepower moderne Ferrari or Porsche, bad steering ? meh no.
Hadrien LF I totally agree I have a 94 and it’s running perfectly. It’s an event every time I drive it; what do I mean by that? First just the thought of driving it makes my heart go racing and everywhere I take the car all eyes are staring 😃👍🏼 it’s a dream come true to drive the NSX... thank you Honda and congrats to all who have one🙏🏽👊🏽
Great points but TWICE as fast?
In fairness he did say he didn't remember the shudder in the other NSX he drove and that he would mention it to the owner to check it out!
@@KarmaticEvolution I was making a point ahah, but it is noticeably quicker, 274hp and 1360kg and then 300hp and 1290kg. Plus the short gears make it feel alive on small roads.
With you on this, Jay lost some credibility for me after this review. 91 NSX owner here, as well as 2011 997 gts, spd. With you on the above Hadrien
Mr Wolf in “Pulp Fiction” also drives one- in grey😎🤚🏻
Grey to remain inconspicuous.
@@michaelisaacson9735 its actually sebring silver.
I have a 91 and it is the greatest car I have ever owned.
Me too
Great car you have, I remember looking for them when they were about 20k, Is it true the chassis doesnt rust?
@@NickWalenda yes, the chassis is made of aluminum which can’t rust
@@surry99 And the jack
Own my '91 since '15. A joy to drive, never thought I would have the one.
The first NSX is a masterpiece, mechanically and aesthetically! Want one :)
I've driven several early cars, power isn't jaw dropping but the handling is soooo confidence inspiring. Would love to have an early version in my garage some day, Sebring silver for sure.
I would own this over any ferrari and if it the engine break I would be able to actually fix it.
Truth is..unlike any other Honda, NSX (NA-1/2) parts are prohibitively expensive, engine and/or bodyparts.
The engine won't break mine is 500.000km...
@@hadrienlf23 Nice! The 300k (mile) club is not as exclusive as most people think with NSXs. I'll be there probably next year (287,000 miles at the moment). Parts-wise you do get to flip a coin though. Heads: It cross references to another Honda and is super cheap Tails: it's bespoke to the NSX and you're now in Porsche parts money territory. (with a middle ground of it doesn't cross reference, but an aftermarket supplier makes a better version for less than the OE part).
@Newblood A mildly built J series + boost is another option if you somehow grenade the C30/C32 (takes some doing)
I guess I'm cheap then! 😁😁
Can't agree with you on the back-end. The built-in spoiler, two exhausts and the long breaklights with the triangular extremities are really unique in my opinion.
The main reason for the 90 degree bank angle is to lower the height of the engine, which made the the low silhouette of the car possible. Its a three throw split crankshaft, where each throw is split by 10 degrees to get an even 120 degree firing order ...
Yea I was thinking that.
Yep, think this is correct re: 90 degree angle lowering engine height, the reference i believe i've read in Brian Long's NSX book.
A friend of mine has one of the two NSX press release cars. One of the two was driven by Ayrton Senna at Silverstone. Much to his frustration, he hasn't been able to find out whether it was his car and Honda couldn't tell him either.
Drove one in Japan (90 model, no power steering) with lowered springs, and an exhaust. It was fantastic. Gears were a bit long, but other than that no complaints. Meet your heros.
The owner's manual, shift out of third at 112mph or you will over rev the engine. Yes, it does have tall gearing.
I don't think I could ever sell my NSX...
Sooner or later they all go to a new care taker. It's likely my daughter will sell mine.
I own one - the ride in my standard car is magnificent, so not sure on what's going on with that one. The steering is also the best of any car I have driven, it never feels like you mention just off dead centre. The redline in mine was also limited when I bought it, this was due to oil gumming up the oilways in the head, causing the VTEC to not operate properly and the limiter to cut in early (7200rpm in mine). The fix was removal of the engine and heads, followed by a complete clean up. The length of the rear is long because of a few reasons: high-speed stability (favoured over drag coefficient), boot space (it had to have more than it's supercar rivals) and the wider VTEC heads called for a wider block than the original non-vtec prototype. Oh, and yes, the engine is rough as arseholes at idle - it all pays off with a blip of the throttle, though.
Oh man I've been waiting for one of these beauties
Same here 🥰
Me too
A few years ago ('15) I was talking to my brother about the NSX, "get some of your retirement money out and enjoy it". I did, the twin to the one here. Have the NSX phone, looks like a old home wall phone.
I always remember the first time I saw one of these. It was red and pulled up at a pedestrian crossing I was about to use in central London... I couldn't stop staring at it. I thought, what's this new Ferrari I'm seeing... Wait! That's a Honda!?
The "coming alive when driving hard" is probably because they tuned it to be that way. Still would love to have one.
This is a beautiful car, I love the design, not sure why you don't like the backend, this car looks like a Ferrari, beautiful seats
Appreciate the honest review. Like others have said I don't think the NSX you reviewed is in the best shape; low rpm vibrations, 7600rpm redline, notchy shifter, ratty interior, stiff ride probably worn out suspension. Also I wonder if the car has power steering; most NSX owners with no power steering complain about how heavy steering is at low speed.
Power steering wasn't introduced until 1994. Otherwise I agree with your comments
Jay
I think the car you have driven must of had some suspension modification or tired bushings.. you are welcome to take my 91 NSX for a test drive... it has some upgrade which won’t disappoint...it will be different to the one you drove.
My car is completely oem and mint. It has only covered 57 k miles has a full and comprehensive service history 👍
@@s_s_s_cars Then why can't he rev up to 8000 rpm which would be normal for a manual version? (I had one too)
@@Fastvoice The rev limiter is cutting in slightly earlier at an indicated 7800 rpm on the tachometer but as the NSX makes its peak power at 7300 rpm i have left this alone.
The bit where he says it defeats the point of being cheaper than a Ferrari of it's day....I don't agree with. Ferrari always (or nearly so) keep their value an go up, an Honda built a car cheaper but with the same sort of excitement, an did that so WELL, that they eventually started to hold value an, indeed, go stratospheric. I think they succeeded in what the point actually was. My 2 quid.
Other than that, I really like Jay's assessment of a legendary car. He doesn't embellish or go fan-boy on it, merely telling it like it is without the associated over-hyped praise this car has become known for. Of course, I still to this day would absolutely love to have the chance to own a 1st-gen NSX, however the collectors market is far too outside my budget to allow.
Its clear that he didn't like car before the video even started. It shows
@@Gnomosfortheoffice alot of the original reviewers were biased against it . Such as tiff needell. They claimed it was too perfect that it lacked soul etc.. they preferred cars with oil leaks, offset pedals quirky reliability. I guess it " enhanced" the driving experience. But Gordon Murray loved it and the nsx became his new benchmark for the Mclaren f1. He owned one for 7 years.
@@manuelaguirre1062 So true. That's how Brits review cars. When an Alfa Romeo or a Jag or an Aston Martin completely falls apart after 500 miles it's 'charming' and 'quirky'. When a Japanese or an American car has a bit of plastic in the interior then it's 'cheap' and 'horrible quality'.
@@Gnomosfortheoffice what good is a fancy leather interior if the cars electrics are crap. To each his own i guess.
Unpopular opinion. This is a better everyday supercar than the equivalent 911
Because it has less room in it, no rear seats or the lack of power steering and four wheel drive?. Where a 911 of this era fails is lack of a tow bar unlike the earlier model, I dont know if the NSX could be bought with a tow bar if it can then would agree may have some advantage as the lack of towing is what limits a 911
@@edword7195 hey if you want more seats and power steering buy a ford galaxy?
That wasn't an unpopular opinion. It very much sent everyone back to the drawing board for more refinement.
This car is one of the most beautiful cars ever made. Timeless. This car is also one of the most important cars ever made.
It literally made Ferrari and the like start over from scratch.
And Honda makes...the best engines in the world.
whilst I love this car this rethoric is bollox..the car barely took any sales from Ferrari . Ferrari didn't replace the 348 until 1994 and even then it was a revised 348 chassis and engine. So if the nsx was so groundbreaking, what ground did it break in the supercar market?
I think this statement originated with Gordon Murray but I've yet to meet a person who can quantify it.
@@dagnut I didn't say it took sales from Ferrari. Read more carefully what is being said. The 355 is Ferrari's response to the NSX, not the 348, and yes Gordon Murray said the NSX became the new benchmark in supercars. It also inspired the Mclaren F1. In fact, he wanted Honda to build the motor for the F1 but Honda declined. What more 'quantification' do you need? I can provide more
@@Element_y how is revising your current model after 4 years of the NSX " starting over from scratch " ? wtf are you talking about?
all the Gordon Murray stuff is completely blown out of context, go and read what he actually said not what Honda fanboys say on forums.
he said of all the supercars he drove whilst designing the F1, NSX had the most neutral balance. You can hear what he has to say about it recently on a podcast with Chris Harris.
The F1 owes nothing to the NSX its just honda forum bullshit.
the NSX is a great car but its been given this mystical groundbreaking tag it doesn't deserve.
so if Honda make " the best engines in the world " and McLaren were engine partners in F1 with them at the time, how come they didn't supply the engine for the road car ?
so instead of repeating rethoric you've read on forums, why don't you actually provide something tangible?
@@dagnut "the F1 owes nothing to the NSX it's just Honda forum bullshit'
First of all, I've never been in a Honda forum
Secondly, from his own words:
"The moment I drove the 'little' NSX, all the benchmark cars-Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini-I had been using as references in the development of my car vanished from my mind," said Murray. "Of course the car we would create, the McLaren F1, needed to be faster than the NSX, but the NSX's ride quality and handling would become our new design target."
He also copied the NSX's aluminum suspension and drive by wire throttle for the F1
Just one of several examples to debunk your claim that the Mclaren F1 took nothing from the NSX.
You're just another ignoramus
@@dagnut "if Honda make the best engines in the world ...how come they didn't supply the engine for the road car?"
I already discussed that, above, if you bothered to read.
They wanted Honda to build the engine for the F1 and Honda declined.
Yikes this isn't looking good for you.
Jay, you said it s not as confortable as a Ferrari. First you need to realize that like someone else said in the comments, the suspension bushings might not be stock or new. Amd the NSX is supposed to be a sports car. Many Ferraris are more of a Grand Tourer, therefore more confortable.
I've been in a mk 1 driven hard , and it was unforgettable mind bending experience.
Jay, I think the car you drove had some issues that needed to be addressed through maintenance. Sounds like maybe a motor or transmission mount could be failing, though the 90* V6 was never as smooth as the 60* V6 that followed it. I also think this car needed new dampers. It should also be noted that the original Yokohama tires that were specific to this car are long discontinued.
Yokohama still make NSX-sized Advan Neova's though ;) and even for up-sized wheels (in 17+18). It's one of the very few tyre manufacturers that provide these specific sizes (front and rear are different !).
And yeah that car has a lot of issues: no VTEC - engine is in safe mode (cut off at 7.6K), this is not good at all.
The rear always makes me think of playing Gran Turismo 2. It’s iconic even if not beautiful.
Very jealous of you. My all time dream car. I hope one day I might be lucky enough to afford an NSX.
Why the 90 degree V6 James..
I believe Honda just trying to be too smart, per normal! Their F1 racing engine of the day was a 90 degree V6, Honda just paying homage to their F1 success.
Some say the 90 Vee was to increase torque, others say to create more space for the intake plenum etcetc. I believe i've read that it was to lower the height of the V6. Brian Longs NSX book has the reference i think.
it all about angle...
It’s just right...
The C30A engine was based on the same block as the rest of the C-series family. That engine family powered many of the Legend and Accords in the late 80and and early 90s. Honda switched to a 60* V6 in the J series, and is still found in many current Hondas.
Had mine for 25 years, ONLY to hear you give "backhanded compliments" LOL
Yes, it bruised me a bit. #00085 '91, bought '15
F40 aside, are any 90s Ferraris as iconic as the NSX. I might be wrong but I can’t think of another car that is as big a 90s icon.
I love them so much I’d swap an Alfa for it, which would be terrible news for my local mechanic’s mortgage.
They have a great stance, especially the later cars.
I had a 91 'Acura' NSX. Regrettably having to use the past tense. Mistake getting rid of it. Honestly, I think you got a bit of a dud. I'm betting it has been driven hard. Its exhaust note sounds a bit off. The steering definitely didn't have play on center. It did redline at 8K. The 5-speed has been referred to as one of the best manuals ever made...like a rifle bolt. The interior definitely looks better in black. I more find it peculiar how you kept referencing Ferriaris of the time and actually saying really good things about them. We are talking 348. Not a great Ferrari. Ferrari is what it is these days because of the NSX. The NSX was everything the Ferrari's weren't back in the day and it undercut it in price. They were reliable, fairly easy to work on, performed as well, comfortable, enough storage space for a weekend. Ferraris you wouldn't really say the same about. Oh, and I would definitely need to disagree with you on the looks but each person is titled to their own opinion on aesthetics. It was Pininfarina designed. Senna tweaked. And referenced by Gordon Murray as one of the benchmarks used for the F1.
I was surprised by his comment on the gearbox too. I've heard (though sadly never driven an NSX) it is the best gear change feel there is
@@Razmatazuk Yeah it was a surprisingly really negative review overall. I get cars get built up to things greater than maybe they actually are and times have moved on. Handling has gotten better while still managing more compliant suspensions. Acceleration and other metrics have gotten better. People fault the NSX for lack of drama which is fine. But he harped on things that I have NEVER heard a journalist or youtuber say. He harped on things it always gets praise over. Was just odd.
I never thought the suspension was too hard or crashy either. Definitely more compliant and like a GT than the two S2000s I have had. The pre-targa NSXs had a pretty stiff structure though where they could dial up the stiffness a bit rather than softening it for a flexing structure. We can thank Ayrton for that. His biggest complaint was lack of stiffness and Honda went back to the drawing board.
@@Razmatazuk The only manual I have ever driven that is equal or maybe a slightly better, and I'm splitting hairs, is the S2000's 6 speed. Basically 10 years on from the NSX's, though.
@@Razmatazuk at lower speeds and rpm's you cant really appreciate. Once u start driving hard, the gearshift is great especially if u rev match etc..
The wheels and tyre size are just perfect. Not a fan of low profile tyres and huge wheels.
I agree.
I'm currently looking for a set of aftermarket wheels for my Civic Type R (FN2)
The car comes standard with 18s, but I'm downsizing to 17s as I don't like a tiny looking sidewall.
@@mrdayumfine109 hi I have the same car as you it would be good to know if you change it to 17s with the thickest sidewall if it improves the ride? Apparently when people had 19ns on it it'd made it really bad
I really like these...they are fantastic!
I was 20 and i bought myself brandnew Vtec .
This was the untouchebel car,That age.
My favourite japanese car. There is a guy near my city with the best NA1 NSX I've seen. Tasteful mods inspired by the 1995. Le Mans winning NSX.
I have a red 1996 Supercharged NSX-T. Love it. It was designed in California and hand built in Japan. Perfect combination.
I owned a stock circuit blue 2000 3.2 6 Speed from 2008 -2016. Yes the steering rack is a bit slow on tight corners but other than that on good tyres the car rode and handled well, you just have to remember it's mid engined and doesn't take kindly to lifting off the throttle mid corner. The engine on the reviewed car sounds off to me, should be able to redline it easily. The is a definite kick in power when the VTEC kicks in and the induction roar even from a stock engine is a joy. Surprised that Jay didn't mention that. In the 8 years I had mine nothing broke, just had annual servicing and new tyres plus a battery. The rear of the car is long but that in part is due to the large boot, which was built to hold two sets of golf clubs, as Honda aimed this car at the US market. Personally I loved it. Where are you now W2 NSX.
Drive a Lotus Evora GT and you'll see where the soul of the NSX went to :-)
Watched the video; proceeded to search NSX in the local car classifieds. Always loved these
A true legend!
One of the reasons why this car is legendary is because they named it as the supercar you could use everyday day. You're either JDM or you're not really, J now a lucky Ferrari man, maybe a bit badge snobby....sorry just kidding it 🤣🤣and you're probably persuaded more with the romantic old Ferraris which we all love but we know would never be as reliable as this car. The back-end is what made it and NSX when you play computer games in the 90s you knew you were driving a JDM supercar👍 and the fact that Senna drove it to help with the set-up makes it legendary again plus Jezza and another journalists took on the track and said they were great to drive I might probably out handle most of other cars from that era👍 I think you should get one of the new NSX on the British roads cos I think you only drove it in the States I think it's a very underestimated car👍
Bang on about the badge influence.
As an S2000 owner and an NSX dreamer, I'd sure like your take on the differences, pros and cons between these two Honda classics.
Me too, would like a comparison between the two.
@@che7wins614 I own both a '95 NSX and an '04 S2000. The S2000 was my "gateway drug" to the NSX. They are very different cars. When you drive them back to back you really feel the major differences. The NSX feels much bigger but it isn't. The NSX feels much quicker but it isn't. The S2000 is much more nimble feeling as it has much quicker steering. The S is definitely the car you take when you go to the grocery store and the NSX is the car you take when you want to drive across a state!
I am not sure what is wrong with the NSX you drive, but mine gives me a very comfortable ride through the bumpy roads, actually it absorbs bumps better than my Audi A4 with the 18in wheels, even my friends agree it's right quality is very comfortable but when we push it while cornering, it doesn't roll at all.
I think that's the magic about the NSX.
On the power steering, I am surprised when nobody complain the lack of power steering on some other Euro supercar, you complain on this JDM legend, I found it's a little unfair to be honest.
The lack of power steering, gives a very direct and best feel on the steering after all, I do prefer without it.
Nice video though...
I think you totally forgot this car is 30+ year old design. Your review is not period correct and missed the mark completely. You totally forgot that this car set a new standard for super cars in the early 90s.
I think the host needs to drive the nsx type r, I believe his opinion would most definitely change especially with the last n.a versions, hope he has one on the show one day
Ferrari uped their game after this car in terms of interior, reliability etc. Senna wanted a bit stiffer and more powerful. They kept it like this, for the road even though its still stiff. Handling was designed and tuned by Senna. We might not like it since we are not at his level. 90 degree V6 has a huge torque advantage also compared to a 60 degree one.
@I Ok. Thx for letting me know. Have you thought, maybe he could have done multiple sessions to fine tune. Or you are thinking he was lazy enough to do just one session and gave his verdict.
This bloke cannot talk ,he drives like victor meldrew!!!
I was swiping my credit card at “pop-up headlights”😋
Get yourself an NA Miata/MX5, you can get one of those with cash :)
i love this car.. would be so keen for a review one day
Well, I was waiting on you to get there and you did. They can feel fairly mundane until you ask them to dance, then you get the full experience. Having put a "few" miles on a similarly vintage NSX you're spot on with the steering at casual speeds. I know of at least one owner in the 'States that has swapped in an S2000 rack (with some ado) to get a more direct feel. I can't say I've noted the low RPM vibration or harsh ride you noted though. It's been a hot minute since I've had the factory dampers on the car, but I recall it being a pretty plush ride at least on the typical roads here.
Will it be better to increase the castor, change the amount of toe-in or swap the steering bush to a harder version?
@@powerst33r The biggest complaint with the OE NSX rack is that it's "slow". To compensate for not having any power assist for the first few years, the slower rack reduced effort at parking speeds. That gets interpreted as a lack of 'feel' at casual road speed because you have to move the wheel more to get the car to turn (relative to say an S2000 or modern McLaren with much quicker power-assisted racks). You can do a little with caster (generally you just want to max it out for the camber-gain under compression) and toe (fractional toe-out in front improves turn-in response but does give impression of a little dead-zone on-center at times) but it won't fix the gear ratio in the rack. All of the rack connections to the knuckle have effectively no compliance in them. The rack mounting bushings are rubber. I swapped mine out for polyurethane because the rubber had degraded. I can't say I noticed a ton of difference, but it definitely didn't make anything worse. Personally I like the steering feel in my '92. It's lazy when you're cruising or commuting, but wakes up when you push the car....which is how it should be in my opinion.
I like your style, man ! Nice review
There's a certain CAdence to the way you TALK. You EMPhasize certain syllables and WORDS in a very RELIABLE pattern. I find it both SOOTHING and informative.
I'm glad somebody actually likes it lol
9:45 That means the car was most likely an auto car when it left the factory and has been manual swapped (obviously lol). The auto cars had 250hp rather than the 276hp and the redline was reduced from 8,000rpm to 7,600rpm.
I’m glad you talked about the steering. It really is one of the biggest letdowns of the car, people barely mention it in videos.
I think the Type R fixed that.
@@nakoma5 Don't believe so, the steering rack ratio is still too slow. If you watch some of the best motoring videos with Tsuchiya's NA2R he's still having to turn quite a bit.
Like many manual racks, they really start to communicate when you load the front end. Much of the numbness on center can be addressed with the NA2 16" front wheels. The NSX's front suspension geometry was extremely complicated and overthought. It's a very unusual design.
@@bensonyoung6957 You certainly don't hear any race car driver complain about it when pushing the car to its limits.
I think you guys should definitely go look in prime to see complaints about the ratio of the oem rack. I track mine from time to time and can honestly tell you that the ratio is a huge problem on tracks with tighter corners, in combination with the narrow front tire sizes.
Watch the the 1992 inaugural targa Tasmania. A fella called Greg Crick won in brand new NSX just beating Dennie Hulme in a E34 M5 not long before the legendary kiwi driver sadly passed away and the late great Jack Brabham came either 3rd or 4th in another NSX both Hulme and Brabham were knocking on a bit with Crick being much younger though still a professional racer but to see 2 legends hustling really hustling modern machinary with all skill and balls of someone half they're age was a privilege. It was fantastic to watch and the NSX was every bit the supercar it still is, I became an NSX fan and an M5 fan instantly as for the legends driving them that goes without saying
This is a classic car ,Senna had a hand developing this car,Unique stunning car.
I've been very fortunate in having driven the facelift 3.2 TypeR model, many years ago. This car sums up the "more than the sum of its parts" cliche. Nothing stands out on its own, but it was fabulous to drive, direct, responsive, crisp, and went very well considering the "276hp". We had an FD RX7 later and both still stand as the best drivers cars I've had the fortune to pedal. My mates 996 GT3 runs them close mind. Lottery win, I'd be looking for a 3.2 TypeR in a heart beat.
It's a blast. Would kill for the opportunity to drive one.
Come to New Zealand when the borders open, might be able to help you there ;)
@@toadblurt1225 that would be fantastic! I appreciate the thought!
Get I do think Hondas mission was to build a really fast and fun. car that was cheaper than a Ferrari. The money wasn’t something that came into the equation because it was just obvious that it would be cheaper than a Ferrari and the modern day nsx is a super car in all rights and Honda have every right to charge nearly as much as a Ferrari
I remember reading that Honda lost money on every nsx. The price was originally about 60 k and they quickly escalated upto 89 k. Not many were sold after about 3 yrs.
Ha ha loving the breakfast at Milliways reference
...which itself was a reference to Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass (though I didn't know that at the time).
One of my dream cars. The back-end is one of its main beauty in my opinion. Im an ass guy and I droll on NSX back-end.
Always loved these. To think you could get one of these for reasonable money in early 2000's . Bet that is not the case now- hindsight is a wonderful thing.
When I first got my 1991 NSX, I was pretty disappointed. The steering was numb around center and once you turned in it was too aggressive and oointy. The rear seemed to be fighting itself. A more aggressive wheel and tyre setup made it even worse. I had it aligned twice, without much improvement. The second time I asked for the numbers and it seems to me tgat the stock numbers in the most common systems used by shops must be incorrect. Either that, or it only works with everything else being stock. Most modern high performance tyres have way more directional stability than an early 90s tyre, and the rather aggressive stock numbers should be dialed back a lot.
I finally did the alignment myself on a proper racing setup ramp with corner weights and strings, and with my own numbers I can honestly say it is the best car I’ve ever driven.
My money is on Ben’s car having an imperfect alignment. Tell him to take it to String Theory. He will make it handle perfectly.
It was riding on AD08Rs which are pretty firm. I'll pass on the advice to him
JayEmm on Cars Same as on mine, actually. Great tyres! He seems to me on a more stock size, so he cam probably be closer to a stock alignment.
The looks of the early model remind me of a Flymo hover mower!
the unicorn of my dreams
I'm not a Honda fanboy or anything, but this and the DC2 are both beautiful cars. Don't agree with you on the looks, but nice video as usual!
Honestly one of the best automotive journalist on RUclips 💯💯 very nice selection of cars very good content !!
Kind of strange to have someone be rather bullish on the NA1 NSX. He really liked the AP1 S2000. Weird
Maybe because expectations or the condition of that respective car.
@@andipajeroking I don't get what you mean. Expectations of the S2000 were higher than the expectations of the NSX?
@@toniwonkanobi No, i was refering to the NSX. Maybe because he had higher expectations or the car condition was bad, or maybe both.
As for styling I've always thought they were a bit weird too. Especially compared to an FD RX7 since they both look similar in many ways. But I think they really look great with a subtle body kit / mods and wheels. And I usually like leaving cars OEM or OEM+ but I feel like a few choice modifications really helps these along.
Why would you moan about the interior leather colour which was chosen by a buyer nearly thirty years ago. You’re not reviewing a new car you plank 🙄
Harsh.
@@richbiles230872 it was a bit in hind sight.
What epic great looking INDIVIDUAL car, cars had character unlike today maybe that's how we become old.
Unfortunately emissions charges have throttled NA cars , small engine petrol engines / electric now
Who else feel the vids a little too short?
Should try driving the legendary NSX type R!
I have a friend who is a contrarian, always like to go against the popular point of views on everything he sees.
Man that sounds good even with that exhaust
Compared to euro exotics of the day nsx made all seem kinda rubbish in performance comparisons honda ticked alot of boxes while other makers their only sports function was looking fast outside a fancy upmarket restaurant smh anyway I know what I'd of preferred in a heartbeat
Except the 911's. Not all cars were Ferrari's.
This car is proof that the NSX was way ahead of its time. No other cars, other than a few other Japanese models were comparable to the NSX in 1991. The US only dominated in the 1960s.
Wasn't the NSX enormously expensive when new? I thought I remember reviews of the time loving the car but not the price tag?
It was relatively expensive but it was 30% cheaper than the Ferrari 348 which the NSX outpreformed in every measurable way. Not to mention that it's the least expensive and most reliable supercar to own 'till this day.
@@BlitzkriegRap that is exactly the point! The NSX is one of very few "supercars" that you can own and actually have a shot at normal maintenance costs. Also, taken care of and not driven as an everyday car in terms of miles you have a good shot at not losing a dime on resale.
@I some owners added superchargers or turbos and then itll be quicker
90 degree V6 has a lower centre of gravity because the bank angle is wider
I owned a '96 3.0 NSX-T. I wonder if something is not quite right with your NSX; the ride shouldn't be hard and the steering should be sharp. The back looks better with the higher NSX-R spoiler, although the front was Gordon Murray's inspiration for the McLaren F1! Talking about the NSX-R, I *urge* you to watch DriveTribe's RUclips video on the Honda NSX-R. Jethro Bovingdon stated he'd have one over a Ferrari F40 everyday of the week
Great Video sir, you have driven so many cars, which are so sublime that it is hard not be alittle harsh with an early Honda and it's capabilities. How does the s2000 compare with its older brother? i can't help to want to feel them apart. I am positive that the Honda NSX will maybe feel more special, but a bit experimental, where an s2000 may feel more fun to rev about with its FR layout. I would love to drive an NSX eventually.
I've owned my 1991 NSX since 2008. I had an hour long test drive of the S2000 and it disappointed me, the drive and build is not comparable, and my mk1 MX5 (Miata) was more fun.
A friend of a friend years ago told me the NSX wasn't as good as his MR2 Turbo, & since a few other people have told me he was right & all of them knew what they were talking about so i didn't argue because i couldn't.
For me the NSX is the best JDM car ever produced.
I actually think the rear is wonderful. Had one 24 years ago and looking at buying another :)