This episode begins with host Jonny Lieberman providing a close look at what made the original Acura NSX so special. The NSX was a supercar that beat its contemporary Ferrari rival on and off the track. It was faster and more reliable – simply put, supercars today wouldn’t be what they are without the NSX.
The Lexus LFA on the other hand, is a flawed supercar. It’s fast, technologically advanced, and sounds simply amazing, but its handling doesn’t inspire confidence and uses an outdated transmission. As Lieberman points out, though, what makes supercars most special are their flaws.
It's a great point - the thing that so many people hated about the NSX was that it was... flawless. It didn't have that "character" of a supercar. But now, we can look back on it and we see that its character was exactly that. It's got a nice, easy demeanor.
And it hasn't aged a day, in my opinion. Still effortlessly beautiful.
The LF-A is one of my favorite cars around today. I love it. Can't get over how good it looks, and how ridiculous it is - from the engine, to the styling, to its engineering.
The problem is that everybody looks back at the NSX with rosier retrospect because we aren't counting its cost anymore. Back then, cost was a HUGE issue with the car. Sure it was faster than a Corvette, and had more power than a V8 Mustang, but only a select few could consider buying it... And an Acura badge wasn't worth a Ferrari badge. :(
Anyway, hell of a comparison and review. Love both cars dearly.
It makes me realize the NSX is on my bucket list. Maybe not "next" on the list, but definitely on there.
It's a great point - the thing that so many people hated about the NSX was that it was... flawless. It didn't have that "character" of a supercar. But now, we can look back on it and we see that its character was exactly that. It's got a nice, easy demeanor.
And it hasn't aged a day, in my opinion. Still effortlessly beautiful.
The LF-A is one of my favorite cars around today. I love it. Can't get over how good it looks, and how ridiculous it is - from the engine, to the styling, to its engineering.
The problem is that everybody looks back at the NSX with rosier retrospect because we aren't counting its cost anymore. Back then, cost was a HUGE issue with the car. Sure it was faster than a Corvette, and had more power than a V8 Mustang, but only a select few could consider buying it... And an Acura badge wasn't worth a Ferrari badge. :(
Anyway, hell of a comparison and review. Love both cars dearly.
It makes me realize the NSX is on my bucket list. Maybe not "next" on the list, but definitely on there.
Actually, if anything, Honda should have priced the NSX higher. As it was the NSX was a lot cheaper than a Ferrari... ALWAYS.
It did not get compared with the Vette nor the Mustang, it was instead compared with the Ferrari.
The autoporn magazines hedged their press junkets by stating that the NSX had no "pedigree"...
If Honda had priced the NSX higher then it would have been considered a TRUE supercar.. this because one of the things about Supercars is "snobbish status" and the Nouveau Riche equate money with status.
if you want an NSX I suggest to you fast. With the current state of the economy all prices are soft. Once the economy starts to move again I think that the NSX will start to get very expensive.
Prices for the 308/328 and 348 likely will not go stratospheric but the NSX is an instant classic. And as we move to hybrid, something like its engine -particularly the 3.2 versions- will become very, very wanted.
I'd personally would take an '02 with is flushed headlights and revised rear suspension which saves your rear tires from wearing out.
Hmm.. how about the 90 Legend Coupe MT6? I wonder if that will become a classic too?
TonyE wrote: I'd personally would take an '02 with is flushed headlights and revised rear suspension which saves your rear tires from wearing out.
I think you'll find the rear tyre wear is an alignment problem, not a suspension issue. The excessive toe Honda put in there to help keep the rear in check for "average drivers" sure wasn't friendly to tyre wear. Heavy right feet on the go pedal didn't help the issue any :)
As for my personal experience, I replaced the rubber on my car after 6 years ownership [about 20,000km] a little earlier than was needed by tyre wear, because I wasn't happy with wet road grip. Just last year a good friend wrote his NSX off one evening on a damp road because he was running on old and well worn rubber [and I had constantly reminded him of the issue to boot!]. How senseless is that?
Of course I come from a motorsport background, and using new rubber is a matter of course - which I carry over onto my road vehicles. :)
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