The Acura NSX is a largely forgotten supercar nowadays. It doesn’t sell well at all. In fact, the Honda version of the NSX was pulled out of the Australian market in 2019 after only three new cars were sold in 2019 and zero were sold in 2020. In the past three years, only 1258 have been sold. In just two years of 2017 and 2018, Audi sold 1744 R8 models in North America. The NSX is cheaper as it starts at $157,500,00 ($159,495,00 with destination charges). The Audi R8 starts at $169,000 which is almost $10,000 more than the NSX.
The Audi R8 is slower to 60 than the NSX, it doesn’t look as good and neither is it as economical. Yet that sold way more than the poor NSX. Why? The NSX didn’t sell well because it’s not as prestigious as its rivals. For a bit more than an NSX, you can have a McLaren or an Audi. Even as Aston Martin. Acura may be a luxury brand but it’s not on the same level as the European brands. In other markets such as Europe and Australia, this is sold as a Honda, and Honda is just a normal car brand as we all know.
Ok, how about a great value Japanese supercar that slices the competition like a samurai? Well, the NSX has to compete with the much cheaper GTR for that. A car that is faster, cheaper, and more practical. It handles just as well and looks just as good. The GTR itself isn’t selling too well either. Well the NSX is a very unique car then, at least it will stand out. Of course, that’s true, the NSX will stand out a lot. Everyone will stare at it. However, you can get the same experience in the also very rare and cheaper C7 Corvette ZR1 and that car is also far faster than the NSX. Plus the ZR1 will probably attract much more attention.
It seems like the NSX really does fall short of its rivals. Its badge isn’t as prestigious, it’s not the best value Japanese supercar, it gets attention from people but not as much as the cars like the Corvette ZR1. It’s also depreciating a lot too in value since nobody wants one. However, on the flip side, the old NSX is rapidly rising in value. It seems the NSX is just like a movie sequel to an awesome film. Good, but it will always be in the shadow of the original. It seems the NSX rides its ancestor’s history as its Unique Selling Point. It’s like Acura/Honda is trying to use a checklist that worked in the early 1990s to work today. Times have moved on and competition is tougher. They cannot just make a supercar that’s more usable than the rest and has a bit more technology. Nowadays, a lot of people want a lot more wow factor from a supercar since there are so many cheaper cars that are plainly fast and usable.
Yet why are we telling you to buy an NSX? Well, let’s have a look and see why the NSX is a top purchase.
Is The NSX a Good Car To Buy?
Believe it or not, but the Acura NSX is a great car. It may have its issues such as interior quality, the badge, etc but it’s not all that bad. The NSX has actually got a lot of technology. It is powered by a 3.5 liter V6 and three electric motors. Therefore, it features a similar technology base to the likes of the Porsche 918 and the McLaren P1. Two cars that cost somewhat ten times that of an NSX.
It’s not like the NSX is slow either. It hits 60 in 2.9 seconds which is around 0.2 seconds slower than the McLaren P1, a car that costs over $1 million. It has 573hp too and 476 lb-ft of torque which is a decent amount too. The electric motor pushes out around 73hp and 70 lb-ft of torque. The 3.5 twin-turbo V6 pushes out 500hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. the petrol-engine then is quite powerful, somewhat similar performance to the latest G80 M3. the electric motor though should have been more powerful, and it could have been.
Acura/Honda really could have pushed more power out of the electric motors. They could have gotten at least 100hp 120hp out of those motors and the NSX could have easily been a 600hp+ supercar. Same with torque they could have easily gotten more torque out of this thing. At least 500+ in all honesty. The performance figures on the NSX are not bad by any means, they are figures you would expect from a supercar. However, you just know they could have squeezed a lot more power out of the NSX. Maybe if Honda had launched the NSX this year instead of in 2016 it would have been more powerful.
However, maybe the NSX has enough power. Maybe even more power would have been wasted? If the NSX had even more power then maybe it would have not been the car it is today. The NSX was made to rival the likes of the McLaren 570s and the Porsche 911 Turbo S. Reason why is because that sector of the supercar market is the one with the most sales and popularity. The “entry-level” sector of the supercar world is very competitive and very popular amongst consumers.
If the NSX was more powerful then Acura/Honda may have had to increase the price. If this car had around 650hp and 550 lb-ft of torque or so that would be great. However, it would then be treading on the toes of the likes of the Ferrari 488 and the Lamborghini Huracan and the NSX really does not fit in within that category. It just hasn’t got the name at all and the name is a huge selling point. People would much rather a Ferrari over an Acura as a Ferrari is a Ferrari regardless of the model. the Acura is an Acura, hence why you are always having to explain what it is and the importance of the NSX. If it’s sold under the Honda name then things get even worse.
Though imagine if it had more power and it was still just as expensive or cheaper than it already is. Well yes, that would be quite good, however, it would still suffer against the major competition. The GTR is an example of this. It has way more power than any other car priced at its price point yet fewer and fewer people are buying it each year.
The reason why is because the GTR doesn’t have the greatest build-quality. It’s a bit plasticky and dull. The NSX, on the other hand, looks great inside but things like the infotainment system and the paddle-shifters quickly let it down. Though it is set out very nicely and organized just like any other Acura.
The handling is precise, acceleration phenomenal and at a top speed of 191 mph, it’s also very fast. But again that top speed could have been increased to at least over 200 mph since sedans nowadays are hitting that. Though Acura/Honda has sacrificed top speed for gains elsewhere. It’s a very comfortable car and it’s also great on gas. It can be run on electric-only and it can easily be used every day despite it being a 2-door two-seater mid-engined supercar.
It’s a great car and it can be used every day. Though, it’s just not as good as the old NSX. The old NSX changed the supercar world forever as it was the first-ever properly reliable, comfortable, and usable supercar. Honda tried to replicate this with the new NSX but the issue was that was never the plan in the first place. The NSX in 2008 was meant to be a front-engined V10 GT then it turned into a V8 mid-engined supercar and finally into what it is today. It took Acura/Honda around 8 to 9 years to develop the new NSX and to call it a success is a lie. Its a brilliant car, very unusual but it will always be overlooked by its rivals since nowadays there is just so much more choice than there was in the nighties.
Featured image credits via: cnet.com