I'm wearing fingerless gloves in my lounge .... and just off camera is a can of Special Brew.!!! no, I'm not on my way to becoming a fully fledged tramp, just run out of heating oil!! Thankfully coming later today.
You can actually daily a NSX. It's 4" narrower than a 348 and thus practical to drive. It has Honda reliability. Its outer design is years ahead of its production date. Its cabin design was inspired by a US fighter jet, that's why it has such great visibility. And for the cherry on top, the NSX was co-developed by Ayrton Senna. The only thing holding back 1st gen NSX price is its engine. If Honda went all the way and equipped it with a smaller racing V8 or V10, NSX prices would be in the stratosphere.
I’m surprised you didn’t mention that Ayrton Senna was involved with the development of the Honda NSX handling and suspension set up. That in itself is one of the reasons why it’s so sought after and it’s value are very strong.
Personally, I think this is overplayed. He was a Honda factory driver, of course he drove it. As best as I can tell, he made a few comments. It's not like he was out every weekend testing the car for months or anything like that, far from it.
@@robertbcope Thank you! Finally. Senna was my hero growing up, but his input on the NSX was propably quite limited. As far as I know there is no documentation of him doing any real development work, besides driving it for a day at Suzuka while doing promo work and commenting that it was too soft (I mean, every racing driver would say that about any road car ever made...). The true hero behind the NSX's fantastic handling is Satoru Nakajima. He was relentless in pursuing the perfect balance between sporty handling on the track and drivability on the road. Having said that, a stock NSX leaves a lot to be desired when seen through modern eyes, and will benefit a lot from a stiffer aftermarket suspension, wider rear tires and way less rear toe-in.
@@FredrikSoerlie While many no doubt overplay Senna's involvement with this car, it seems that his input did have some serious impact on Honda's engineering team as well as the final product. Like many, I was familiar with the video elsewhere on TH-cam of Senna driving the NSX around the track while still wearing his stylish expensive loafers. But after watching this video, I did a bit more research on Senna's involvement with the NSX. It turns out that he actually drove the car and spoke with the engineering team more than once. Based on his feedback, Honda's engineers stiffened the aluminum monocoque of the NSX by 50% (quite a significant difference that must have involved a lot of time and effort). It was also Senna that recommended the suspension be softened on the NSX for use as a road going car. I have personally always found Honda's philosophy as well as their engineering approach to be the company's greatest strengths. Stories such as this ties in nicely on both accounts.
An interesting analysis. There’s one other thing I’d add: the 348 doesn’t just have the NSX for competition…it has the 355. Most who can afford £60k on a 348 will probably be able to make the stretch to £70 - 75k for the 355, which has always been regarded as a far superior car.
Yup, I had a 1993 348 GTS. Friendly on limit handling, and world class steering. Awesome engine too. I only sold it due to frustrating cambelt service running costs (which costs multiples more at an indy than the 1500 you quote)...
From the US, owner of a ‘91 NSX. Bought it several years ago before prices started to go up. The car is #00085, red, 5sp with 32k miles for $32K. The only car I’ve ever purchased that’s gone up in value. Getting on the expressway and was into 3rd gear pretty deep, 85/90 mph when I looked behind me, police. Followed me at couple miles then pulled beside me and gave me a thumbs up, car guy.
The Honda was always top of my list. I entered in to a conversation with a work colleague once about super cars and confessed that the NSX was my dream car. He casually replied that his father has one 😂. He’s my new best friend.
Apart from the Senna connection, Gordon Murray said it was his benchmark for the F1. If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for us! Senna had 2, one in Portugal not sure if other was in Brazil or maybe Monaco. One was actually an auto.
I think you touched on one point but did not get to the bottom of it. Those who bought the NSX did so because they wanted THAT car. Once purchased they likely kept THAT car. Where in the Ferrari area not only do you have multiple models being available but many Ferrari owners want the latest-greatest version and will sell off what they have to move to another model when they can. I think we've seen with the failure of the new generation NSX that it was not just about the car and price. It was about THAT car at the time. As an aside, I remember the first time I saw an NSX up close. I was buying a used GS-R sedan from a private seller and then we went into the garage he had a black NSX next to the GS-R. I completely forgot about the car I was there to buy and just stared. It was like seeing a Stealth fighter for the first time. Just completely blew me away. If I had to drive one just for a day or a weekend I'd likely take the Ferrari. The sound and the experience. But if I was buying one to drive on a regular basis I'd certainly take the NSX.
I also love the NSX. The Senna connection, the rarity and build quality all contribute. A different customer new but possibly a similar market used. Both cars are so so desirable still.
At 46 years old, I have just bought a little 2004 Civic Type R. After 2 days of ownership, I am already realising how focused Honda are on the drive train and handling. It feels tighter than a drum with 101k. What an amazing company. The Senna connection to the NSX and McLaren Honda is motorsport legend.
I bought my 2005 EP3 when I was 44. Eight years later I still drive it. It’s still stock except for fitting a Fujitsubo Legalis R when the original exhaust practically fell off with rot. Magnificent little thing. I can’t let go of it. Hope you have many years of great motoring with yours. 👍🏼
Great analysis Jack. I think the Ayrton Senna effect also really added to the ‘legendary’ status of the NSX. One of my first cars was a 1990 CRX and I have hankered after an NSX ever since!
Wayne Gardner crashed one at Bathurst during practice for the 12 hour endurance race many years ago. The aluminium chassis was so rigid, it actually bent the TAFE (Technical and Further Education) chassis jig trying to straighten it. So they had to anneal the damaged area first by running an acetylene sooty flame only over the damaged area, which deposited a layer of soot on the aluminium. It can then be heated until the soot burns off, as this is a reliable method of not ending up with a puddle of aluminium on the floor.
With the Ferraris, there is an awful lot to keep up with. It's not just outright cost but the frequency of maintenance and repairs. These are old cars now and the chance of a Ferrari being neglected is just so much greater. I'll bet the turnover on the Ferraris is considerably higher with each successive owner more likely to bail with unsolved problems. Finally, lower end heavily depreciated cars really do attract buyers who can't afford them. NSX was top of the line with original owners willing to pay for the most expensive offering Acura had. 348 was near the bottom of the Ferrari lineup. There's even structural rust to consider with the higher mileage Ferraris that are no longer garage queens.
Having driven both the 348 and the NSX in anger on multiple occasions, I have to disagree quite strongly that the handling is even comparable. I mean, the Ferrari is perfectly fine. The enigne is fantastic and sounds gorgeous. The chassis is well balanced and nimble with good steering feel. But it's still a pretty basic chassis with less than perfectly welded square tubing. The amount of development work that went into the NSX chassis in comparison is on a completely different level, and just comparing them is an insult to the Honda engineers and their development driver, Satoru Nakajima. Having said that, I honestly couldn't tell the difference from just driving the cars on the road. Whenever a journalist praises the steering feel or accurate handling of a car when driving a moderate speeds on a twisty road, all they are commenting on really is alignment, tires and perhaps damper setup. It doesn't really mean anything. Even a pro racing driver would need to do some proper testing before having the data to comment on the actual chassis balance of a car. First your would need to dial in the optimal alignment, getting the tyre pressures perfect etc. It's not something your casual journalist can possibly have a real clue about from just a 15 minute test drive. I was lucky enough to get myself a 1st gen NSX ('91) before the prices skyrocketed, and my first impression was actually a huge disappointment. Granted, my expectations where high, but it was just not all that nice. The reason is simple. The stock alignment is developed for narrow 15" 90s tyres. On stock tyres, the car will slide around quite a bit, requiring a completely different alignment that if it were on modern tyres. The original numbers are a bit on the extreme side, so paired with bigger, wider, stiffer and more precise modern tyres, the car feels pretty bad compared to it's potential. Dial off some of that rear toe-in and go with more "normal" values as well as go a tiny bit toe out up front and you have yourself the best handling road car ever made. To prove my point, a friend of mine owns the best 996 GT3 I can imagine. Full Manthey suspension and setup with all the bells and whistles. It is amazing! After driving my NSX for one lap around the Nordschleife he was so excited that he literally bought an NSX online while we hade dinner at the Pistenklause :D
Fredrik, being a fellow Norwegian I´ll chime in. Drove my NSX two days on Nurburgring and two days on Spa a couple of years ago. It did not miss a beat. My friend brought his 996 gt3 Club Sport. From 100-200 km/h there was nothing at all between them. Mine bone stock engine with sports exhaust. This car is so much more than most people know. And a legend driving in hard wind. Straight as an arrow.
The other thing to consider is back in the day how may Ferraris did you see on the road in comparison to NSX's, i feel like in my mind i saw a lot more NSX's which were probably used more than the Ferrari's. There was a white one owned by a doctor at my surgery that i used to see all the time which i became a bit obsessed with, whereas i only used to see Ferrari's on TV... think Magnum PI etc so they felt a bit more relatable and attainable i guess? I almost bought a red auto but it would have to have been my only car tht i would have to use on my commute and it just didn't make sense to me unless i could keep it as a weekend car but i had nowhere to put it.
Gran Turismo definitely has a lot to do with desirability etc. I believe that the original NSX had a 3.0 litre engine mated to a 5 speed manual box; subsequent models increased that to 3.2 litre with 6 speed manual which was a definite improvement. Interesting vlog, Jack 👍.
when the nsx hit the market the build quality of ferrari was truly abysmal , really i remember being appalled by the bird dropping type welds that were suposed to keep it together , the nsx is many times better in build quality , it set a standard that forced super car manufactures to get their shit together and in reality is a far better car than any ferrari of the same era. But ferrari will always beat it in pretensions and snobbery ,wich is what this end of the market is about sad really
Perhaps one of the more telling things was your comment that 72K miles is considered hugely high mileage for the Ferrari. By comparison, some might make similar comments about a NSX with 372K miles. I suppose the way that some people value these cars comes down to how much they actually plan to drive them.
Honda,s strong point has always been their engines, they were building 50cc racing bikes in the 1950,s that screamed up to about 20 000rpm. Toyota, Datsun, Mazda, their history goes back as far as the 1920,s building cars for their domestic market.
We'll argued points, I'd have the NSX all day long as to me it's a pinnacle of engineering and design. My old boss owned a group of Honda dealerships and ran NSX's as his daily driver (MK 1 then 2) I left before he got his 3. They were ridiculously reliable, cost very little to run and handily kept going up in value. Another benefit was he could keep a bodyboard and wetsuit in the front boot so any time he fancied a surf he could do so!
I never used to "get" these, I used to think they had no soul, just clever copycat stuff. Now I am older & wiser, I understand I was being an idiot with my cliché prejudices. These things are great. You are right. (To be honest, I've reconsidered lots of views over the years and probably agree with you on stuff we have argued about in the past) Great film, really thought-provoking.
You compare the overall production numbers, But prices in the UK may also be influenced by availability of LHD vs RHD. Japanese imports of the NSX will be RHD.
Interesting video. As a 348 owner, I think you underestimated the cost of the major service. For what still remains a relatively cheap Ferrari, I still think that the major service is a big obstacle. If it is your first Ferrari, I also think the 355 is likely to win the day. The i348 perfect when you already have another more polished Ferrari model and then you are looking for something different - the rawness of the drive and the purity of the steering. As long as you buy with your eyes open, you will not be disappointed and you the best value Ferrari.
I own an NSX since a few years as well as other various cars ( 968CS, 997 3.8RS, dC2R, R26R, ... ), the NSX is the best of them all with my RS. A few mods and you can transform one into an absolute masterpiece to drive, for a 91 cars the refinement, reliability and chassis/engine technology was ahead of it's time. Mine has a lot of NSXR parts, shorter box, lightweight flywheel, 140kg weight reduction ( easy to do ) it absolutely flies and the noise with a full exhaust and headers is even better than my RS. Done lots of roadtrips, snowtrips etc... properly easy to live with, reliable to death and pretty unique specialy in Europe.
348 all day and everyday for me - I doubt many would take an NSX over it in reality. The Ferrari would put a much bigger smile on your face on a Sunday drive…
FWIW, NSX buyers are very often Honda fans who have previously had Integra Type Rs and S2000s and so forth. Obviously for a long time in North America they could not get Alfa Romeos, so that upgrade path from say a GTV or GT 3.2 that gets a foot in the door up to a 348 isn't there as much.
Most of the NSX buyers keep their NSX. 348 buyers dreams of a Ferrari but can't afford newer models, and can't justify the maintenance. That's probably why a well kept 348 is rare find.
Just a couple of minor edits - NSX cam belt every 6 years or 60,000 miles for the early models. The power steering is only in assist mod at low speed, it was designed to be a low speed aid for parking etc. If you have driven one you notice it gets heavier above 15mph - no assist. The Auto's sell for about 20% lower than the equivalent manual, altough most have never driven the later Auto (most journalists get to drive the Honda G reg "pre-production" car with an early "slow" box, and make their assessment based on that car. Senna was lucky enough to drive a number of NSX as his "company car" notably he stated his favourite daily was an Auto. While not many will venture into the maintenance of an NSX they are not "exotic" and a typical annual service at a Honda dealer will set you back around £250.
Jack, a few points: 1. That's a good general analysis and succinctly put. 2. The crazy prices are a direct result of QE, the govmnts printing money causing asset inflation (house prices rose 25% last year here in Australia) as cash that is worthless in the bank and too scared to get into the stock market finds a home. 3. Sorry to say after seeing your Ferrari adventures I go for German or Japanese any day and Honda are fine engineers (powering Red Bull ahead of Lewis this last year). I increasingly like your vids.
The Ferrari 348 in Oz is very rare (I could find only 2 for sale) and average sale price is £112,000. There are 4 Honda NSX, ranging from £58,000 - £92,000. So in Australia at least, the Ferrari 348 is more desirable.
My dad had an UK P-reg NSX (manual), although I drove it more than he ever did. It really is a super-reliable daily. Depressingly though, he sold it before prices rocketed. He bought it for £23k and sold it for £17.5k about 4 years later (90k on the clock). Today it would be worth £60k.
A big reason you didn't mention Jack is how many NSX models where actually registered in the UK. Not to mention of the cars available recently, most will probably be imports as opposed to genuine UK cars. I think a lot of the current pricing is down to rarity tbh, although I agree a pricing realignment is probably due soon. Another reason is that I think most people just assume that the servicing and parts prices on a modern classic Ferrari are massive compared to a NSX.
I completely agree with the culture reason. I'm only 24 and I remember playing Gran Turismo 5 prologue when I was around 12 or so and driving the NSX out of the Suzuka hairpin and watching the rev counter was just a memory that stuck with me. We also did have a 90's Honda, so that's probably another reason why I liked it so much, the familiarity. I think also the fact that the NSX has gotten a lot of social media exposure in recent years, like, we see so many NSX videos about how great it is, how Ayrton Senna had involvement in it etc, whereas the Ferrari, it's barely known to me. I know of the 355 and 360 well, but 348, I barely know anything about it and I'd consider myself quite a car guy too.
Excellent analysis and what a passion :-) Sure thing, all things Japanese are trendy these days, the current market of course explains this. Sadly I cannot comment on the actual cars as it is not within my reach but I do recall those days when the Japanese cars were discounted and had all options bundled to gain market share and are now everywhere, especially in the US and are more reliable, it is not a myth. In the old days ,a Mercedes was today's Japanese cars. Got myself a BMW M140, the best I will probably ever have but then I am probably old fashioned :-)
Strangely, Japanese cars still have really poor market share in Europe (e.g., Toyota group is P5 in sales with around 1/5th the sales of VW group). Perhaps attempts to grow in Europe were set back by to the diesel push by the EU from '95 onwards (most Japanese brands are bad at passenger diesels), as well as the ongoing 10% tariff etc.
The NSX was bought by people who really wanted that particular model, while the Ferrari 348 was bought by those who wanted any Ferrari. Now those latter owners can get an upgrade in the 355 and 360 while the NSX doesn’t have a direct heir so people tend not to sell which keeps the market blocked and prices high.
1990 had one delivered to my London City office for test drive Fri 5pm - Mon 9am. They sold only 70 cars a year ...Silver with black roof..couldn't swing it as a perk/company car.,.took it to Thruxton/Silverstone as a spectator and hit vmax on the A11 on the run to Snetterton! One day I will own one.Watching Senna drive one was unforgettable!
No disresepct to Ferrari 348 fans but I drove one some years ago and whilst it drove great it looked and felt like it had been assembled by a bunch of bored children. Had the feeling that they were the sort of cars that would require a restoration every few years, and I am sure this is a consideration for anyone looking at owning one. Never driven an NSX but just looking at them at car shows you can see the quality is on a completely different level. I also think the styling of the NSX has aged much better and with the current interest in Japanese sports cars prices are reflecting all this. Would happily have the NSX over a 348 personally.
Good analysis. I have always liked the look of this car since it first came out and actually walked past a 1992 model just a few days ago. I think the Japanese pulled out all the stops for this car to enable it to compete with Ferrari in the same way Toyota did with the Lexus against the S-Class. They association with Formula One success at the time must also have helped.
Fun market analysis by Number 27 TH-cam channel! Perhaps one from Japan is a good idea, possibly even a 'slightly used' one? Hankering also for the Number 27 RC market views. Because who doesn't like an orginal Sand Scorcher or the real vintage, Blazing Blazer, a man can dream! Thank you very much Jack, good and fun idea and video. I would love a Nr 27 2022 market view video on the Supra for instance, those are awesome. Or the Z, don't know if the new one is coming to Europe? Saw a great Larry Chen photoshoot video recently👍
We are very fortunate to own a 92' Berlina Black turbo manual and a 92 Silverstone automatic. We have owned them both for 14 years now.They are awesome cars.
The reason is that the Honda NSX won't leave you stranded and a Ferrari from the same period does 😜😜 I also think the NSX design aged very well, over 30 years later it still looks cool.
I enjoyed the vid. Just a couple of points; The cam-belt service periods on the NSX were extended on the later cars to 8 years. All NSX engines are basically the same apart from some minor revisions and a 200cc hike. Additionally, all NSX’s are way out of warranty. So eight years really is the standard these days for the cam-belt Another thing; although later cars has EPS. The earlier cars and the type R variants did not.
My family doesnt have Ferrari money but we have had Hondas and Acuras. Build quality, reliability, and longevity are always top notch. Love your videos, Jack. Hope the new career is going splendidly! Bret
I think your premise that the 348 is a comparable driver's car to the NSX is fundamentally flawed. Even if you and Henry Catchpole think it does handle well or have great steering, the fact is, the 348 is remembered for being a lowpoint in Ferrari history from before di Montezemolo cleaned up, whereas the NSX is remembered as the car that forced European exotics to become more useable and ergonomic, and which Gordon Murray used as his benchmark for developing the Mclaren F1 due to every other super car at the time being fundamentally flawed in some manner. It is these legacies that determine the market prices, and it's why the 348 would have been consigned to the trashbin of history if it wasn't for the name "Ferrari" being the strongest brand name in the world.
Have you have _ever_ driven a 348? I apologize if I am wrong, but I consistently find that most people rehashing such opinion have never owned or used one. Some very early 348s were apparently a bit iffy as of construction. Later ones are terrific and an absolute joy to drive. So of course is an NSX type R. And about the Montezemolo story about the 348 and the Golf GTI. It is just that - a story, that he he made up like most CEOs do. So that he could bask in the light of being the savior of the world.
Tell you what, Jack: you wanted to be a motoring journalist; Well, now you are one. Top vid - proper content. For many (most?) of us, all we're asking for is is chance to listen to someone who knows their stuff. You do. You're quite right, even factoring in restoration costs, our toys are overpriced. (I'm between 40 and 60 and my wife controls my disposable income, large or otherwise).
Over here in the USA there's an additional twist on rarity: When the NSXes started to become old used cars but not yet 'nostalgia' cars, and values were at their lowest, many of them were bought by young guys who modified the crap out of them and thrashed them hard. So now that the earliest ones are thirty years old and there is a solid nostalgia-market for them, especially among Gen-X types who may only now be able to afford something special, finding a nice, un-molested example that has some life left in it is REALLY difficult. Thank you, riceboyz! >:(
Have had my 91' NSX for 10 years here in Japan. The early models had no power steer and the ABS was not perfect so the switch to the next gen. ABS makes it safer. 30 years later the technology has completely changed so tyres, shocks, wheels need switching along with better brake pads. The engine exhaust manifolds rob the power of 20hp, probably to comply with the gentleman's agreement to keep the hp to 280hp max. I have changed out the the full system which has noticeably changed the sound and throttle response plus now I feel the torque when the intake VVIS opens and then later when the VTEC comes in. Before it was a smooth transition between these phases. People who purchase the NSX do so because they just like the car and performance but the name value plays a big part when purchasing a Ferrari, Porsche, Benz. Prices for and early model NSX here in Japan for a manual good condition, 90,000km starts at 65,000 GBP
My dream car is an nsx. Early model with pop up head lights, has to be an NSX typer as it comes in white. Would it matter if it was an import. Not at all, to own a Japanese classic that’s lived in Japan and then brought over here I think adds to its history and as you have said many times a cars story makes it more desirable. Your also very right regarding how many are for sale plus what several others have touched on. If you go out to buy an NSX you will probably look to buy and keep that car may be even pass it down to your kids (I know I would) where as the Ferrari is purchased by many people. Owned for short periods then sold on to get the next model. Quick turn around cars. I’m sure this is not the same for every Ferrari owner but it’s how the bases of Ferrari owner ship works. The dealers get you to buy a new car and your first new Ferrari does not give you much choice. You want the next model, own this one then upgrade to the next level, and keep repeating till you get to where you want. I feel this ideal is very much part of the old classic Ferrari market. A note for future videos. Look into the rarity and enormous rising costs of the Nissan skyline. R34 going for £200k, the first GTR skylines now being kept in Japan and not being sold out of the country to keep and control there motorcar history.
You should see all the R34`s now being bought and stored away by US and Japanese importers and dealers just waiting to be imported into the US and legalized under 25 year rule. :)
One thing to take into account with the NSX, is the AUTO versions had a smaller and less powerfull engine and are no where near as desirable. Hence also you cant just replace the AUTO gearbox with a manual one and end up with the full fat engine.
That's an interesting fact I didn't know - kinda explains why the autos go for a significantly lower price. One went at a UK auction a week ago for £45K
Let's face it, the 1990's Ferrari's are maintenance nightmares and with the NS-X all you have to do is service items, new brakes and tyres every now and again and that's about it.
And other thing was that the NSX was developed with the help of Ayton Senna and that makes fans of Senna crazy about them. Senna had one in Portugal and was sold for a crazy money.
The original NSX is by far my favorite Japanese car of all time! But for that money, I would probably go with a gently used Cayman GTS. A friend of mine has a 2015 Cayman GTS and it is an incredible machine! Or I could just stick with my 997.2 Carrera... but I digress.
I think you missed one thing, the NSX were at a time relatively cheap, that plus the tuner culture made it so a lot of NSXs were ruined, wrecked or whatever. It would be interesting to see the remaining numbers of each car. Also another thing missing is that the NSX has the whole Senna developed it thing, which elevates its status quite a bit, and for a long time also the people felt more "safe" with the maintenance of a Honda rather than a Ferrari.
Nice on Jack, keep the creative car content coming ...as an owner of a 240z...it has surprised me how much the youngsters love it....your POV on the console culture is interesting...fingers crossed you're right 👍
This video is awesome! The first generation of NSX 5 speed manual is the car to have, in my opinion. I think many car colectors will have the one that Senna and Nakajima helped to develope. Its a drivers car, world's first all-aluminum, monocoque body, great quality, handling, engine reliability and the that V6 sound its a joy, and it is still cheap,next to other JDM cars like the Overpriced R34 GTR,Supra A80. For me its the best JDM ever made ex aequo with LFA. I like the 348 but NSX is superior! Another thing Gordon Murray had one when he was creating the Mclaren F1, his masterpiece , and that car was his inspiration. Cheers Jack
I'd take issue with the comment on the accuracy of Ferrari power figures. They were certainly very dodgy until the mid-80s but from then on they had to be honest. So yes a 348 in good health will make an honest 300bhp, or 320 for the few later Moronic 2.7 cars. It is actually Honda that might be accused of telling porkies, as at the time it was believed that NSX engine power of 270bhp was quoted only to meet an industry agreed limit. In reality they likely made 300, and that ties in with the measured performance. But as regards current values, the poor old 348 has always laboured under the shadow of the handling of the early cars. And when the F355 came along it was as pretty as the 348 was plain, and sang like an angel compared to its rather ordinary-sounding predecessor. This has always made them relatively cheap used buys.
First off, the NSX lasted from 348 to 360. Even the NA2 Type S/R was very formidable against the 360 as a decade old design with minor upgrades. I had a 1995 NSX and is currently an owner a 2003 (Actual car used in the Fast 4/5). I also own a 2014 Ferrari California. Due to the value of my NSX, I drive the Ferrari more often. My 19 years old NSX is with 65k miles, and it never failed to start as long as the battery holds a charge. Surprisingly, my 2014 Ferrari California has been mechanically problem free with 9600 miles on the clock. Interior however, starts to developed sticky buttons and delaminated leather from the dash. There is always a fear of some sort of catastrophic break down on the Ferrari that will cost me a month worth of income.... So I decided to also own a 2019 ALFA Giulia QV as my daily to get the Ferrari Experience, and a 2006 S2000 as my weekend car. The NSX and Ferrari is a garage queen most of the time. I will keep the NSX and Ferrari for the rest of my life.
Good video! Just looked at UK figures: .. about 250 Ferrari 348s, about 300 NSX: but always loads more Ferraris for sale . NSX owners just don’t want to sell (I’ve got a bit of a car buying fetish but my NSX is the only one am not selling!!). I think it’s just an objectively better car, easy to own, lovely to drive (no power steering on mine either , that started in 1993 so early cars avoid it), and will go forever if looked after right. I also love its place in history, and engineering integrity that went into it. This car redefined the rule book for supercars, and kicked Ferrari into shape - would the 355 been as good without the NSX? A 348 is just another Ferrari, and guess the owners always looking for the next one .., whereas I’ve got all the Honda I’ll ever need :)
The NSX was the choice of the true car enthusiast, and the Ferrari bought by people with more money than sense. Now it seems like the opposite ;) The Ferrari appeals for the flat plane, dry sump V8 in the correct longitudinal configuration, in a semi space frame chassis. It has a hand-built feel. The NSX is a wonderful technical achievement, but it looks and feels very mass produced. Also despite popular opinion, the awkward truth is the older Ferrari is still a smidge faster in all categories.
Never driven a NSX but have driven a 348 a good number of times, the handling on it is superb. A car with no driver aids and in my view a very underated car
In 2000 I bought a Ferrari 328 GTS and another option was a new TVR or an used NSX or 911 for a similar price. When it came down to it badge snobbery won out. The huge problem with the NSX was nobody knew what it was and many people would assume an NSX was a similar beast to an Mitsubishi 3000GT. It turned out the Ferrari was great and for six years (and 9000 miles) it never threw an annual service bill of more than £1000 my way (thanks to a great local independent). People I knew who bought 911s spent a fortune on them. I still have a soft spot for the NSX but my finances these days mean I am totally out of the market for an expensive toy.
To me, the 348 just isn't the icon that the nsx is. i might sound weird but to the eyes of many the 348 is just another Ferrari with grates on the door (I know it sounds stupid but I sometimes see car people who can't tell the difference between a testarossa and a 348). On the other hand the NSX might just be a Honda but it's the pinacle of Honda, it came out when Senna drove an F1 with an Honda engine ... etc
Not only is this the craziest scenario for the used market, but neither of those cars are worth more than 30k USD anywhere in the world. Both of those cars represent a promise of performance that has been so far surpassed by a Mustang or Camaro, and a German LARGE SEDAN would utterly wipe the floor with both those cars. Its like the Mitsubishi 3000GT days are memorable ones. Its almost funny that any wedge shaped vehicle of that era including MR2s is worth anything other than nostalgia. The PROMISE KEEPER car that undercuts Ferraris ridiculous prices is the C8 Corvette series of cars that are making good on absurdly good performance for a price low enough that any small business person could own one. Neither of those cars represent a investment other than finding some obsessed individual with a weird hobby of collecting old junk or a racer that competes in the vintage classes and junks the car by tracking it so much. The C8 actually is what the NSX should have been in the first place, and thats a affordable SPORTS CAR that humiliates Ferrari on track. Who in their right mind in 2022 would choose a 458 over a car thats magnitudes better than EVEN FERRARI COULD HAVE DREAMED OF? Just my opinion, and i drove the NSX extensively years ago. That cars limits are so low compared to modern cars that hot hatches of today would leave those cars way behind.
I think the NSX is such a great looking car, and the 348 just feels like a half effort, especially when we live in a world with the 355. I think NSX vs 355 is a more realistic comparison, I’d have to really think then.
Newsflash... It isn't. Not so long ago in AU you could pick up a high miler Gen 1 NSX for under 60K AU (30 thousand UK pounds). The prices they are asking for them now, well the owners are on hard drugs obviously.....mugs will still cough up their asking prices though. The NSX was just a parts bin car, very similar to the venerable Fiat X1/9! It has an old Honda Legend V6 dropped in E/W. Interior not much nicer than a Prelude or Integra....Yeah its def worth their asking prices now!!!!!!
Rather than looking at total production numbers, I would be interested to learn how many were imported into the UK when new. I have always been under the impression that the Honda was always much rarer in the UK than the Ferrari. Today, of course, it is possible to import a rhd NSX from Japan but then you are looking at Japanese prices which are now much stronger for the Honda than the Ferrari.
Yes, just like the new NSX, a very expensive Honda sportscar is a hard sell unfortunately as some people can't see past the badge. They therefore didn't sell very many when it was a current model (same for the new one). Much like how a Fireblade is all the sportsbike most people need, the NSX is all the sportscar most people need, but is it the Ducati or Ferrari respectively that they *want*? Honda are very good at making vehicles that meet the needs of buyers, from the cheapest Wave scooter or cheapest Brio supermini upwards. But when it's an exotic sportscar, it's a *want* purchase and the sales pitch gets more complicated: "it does everything you would ever need an exotic sportscar to do" is not enough to win a sale I guess!
I think this is a valid point especially in Europe. I live in the Nordic countries, and not once have I seen a nsx on the road, parked somewhere, on a track day, car shows etc, so that car truly exists only in Gran Turismo’s for me. There are quite many 348s, there’s even one in a garage nearby. I wonder where all the 18.000 nsxs went, Japan/Usa?😅
I have no experience of a 348 but I can comment on why people want NSX. I am on my third. I have had one since 1997 except the period 2002-2005. I have had my current one a 1996 coupe manual since 2005. I have no intention of selling it. The reason is because it represents the epitome of technology from 1990 and the car is exquisitely engineered and built. It astounds me even now. And, because it is NOT a Ferrari. Okay the interior is a bit generic Honda but ergonomically it's fabulous. Ditto the exterior is a little odd from some angles but seeing it in the flesh is another matter entirely. It still looks great - and tiny in comparison to everything modern. It also drives sufficiently well and reliably and has enough technology to make it safe but enough analogue feel to make it entertaining. Those who say that the NSX is not a thrill to drive are wrong. The engine note itself is worth the ticket price. Allied with predictable and relatively comfy handling, it's still very good. And while it's not really very fast it's enough. So, the reason you don't see many NSX is because owner's hang on to them. What else would we buy? A new NSX perhaps? Possibly but that wasn't Japanese and servicing options for it are even worst than the Gen 1 NSX (albeit Chiswick Honda will come and get your car for you). Talking of maintenance, the NSX is inherently reliable but it is now up to 30 years old and some of the electronics do fail. And parts prices are steep - it's no longer a cheap car to own. Yes, some years will be just an oil change for £250, but others will be the engine out cam belt change for £2500 plus. And, money does need to be set aside for (usually electronic) failures. The other thing to consider is that there are very few specialists who can competently look after an NSX. They just don't exist. There are a few Honda UK dealers but most people who had experience have retired. Prospective owners need to join NSXCB.
What do you think about my belowmentioned predictions? 1) Price of second generation of Honda NSX will appreciate in similar manner. Tunres of future will swap the battery of it will better and lighter one(either solid state battery or supercapacitor battery) and engine will generate higher output with enhancements like Freevalve and improved fuels. 2) Third generation of NSX will have Nuclear diamond battery or powerplant of new sort in it and will fail because people will be discomfortable seating in it. Then the cycle will repeat.
![🔴 ฟุตบอลแชมป์กีฬา 7HD แชมเปียน คัพ 2024 [รอบรองชนะเลิศ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/zPm8ClLVhoE/mqdefault.jpg)
I'm wearing fingerless gloves in my lounge .... and just off camera is a can of Special Brew.!!! no, I'm not on my way to becoming a fully fledged tramp, just run out of heating oil!! Thankfully coming later today.
You can actually daily a NSX.
It's 4" narrower than a 348 and thus practical to drive.
It has Honda reliability.
Its outer design is years ahead of its production date.
Its cabin design was inspired by a US fighter jet, that's why it has such great visibility.
And for the cherry on top, the NSX was co-developed by Ayrton Senna.
The only thing holding back 1st gen NSX price is its engine. If Honda went all the way and equipped it with a smaller racing V8 or V10, NSX prices would be in the stratosphere.
I’m surprised you didn’t mention that Ayrton Senna was involved with the development of the Honda NSX handling and suspension set up. That in itself is one of the reasons why it’s so sought after and it’s value are very strong.
I remember that Magic would have liked a lil' more tyre but it was impossible at the time...
Personally, I think this is overplayed. He was a Honda factory driver, of course he drove it. As best as I can tell, he made a few comments. It's not like he was out every weekend testing the car for months or anything like that, far from it.
@@robertbcope yeah, you definitely have a point, a pr marketing ploy ; they just got senna to drive it round a track a few times.
@@robertbcope Thank you! Finally. Senna was my hero growing up, but his input on the NSX was propably quite limited. As far as I know there is no documentation of him doing any real development work, besides driving it for a day at Suzuka while doing promo work and commenting that it was too soft (I mean, every racing driver would say that about any road car ever made...). The true hero behind the NSX's fantastic handling is Satoru Nakajima. He was relentless in pursuing the perfect balance between sporty handling on the track and drivability on the road. Having said that, a stock NSX leaves a lot to be desired when seen through modern eyes, and will benefit a lot from a stiffer aftermarket suspension, wider rear tires and way less rear toe-in.
@@FredrikSoerlie While many no doubt overplay Senna's involvement with this car, it seems that his input did have some serious impact on Honda's engineering team as well as the final product. Like many, I was familiar with the video elsewhere on TH-cam of Senna driving the NSX around the track while still wearing his stylish expensive loafers. But after watching this video, I did a bit more research on Senna's involvement with the NSX. It turns out that he actually drove the car and spoke with the engineering team more than once. Based on his feedback, Honda's engineers stiffened the aluminum monocoque of the NSX by 50% (quite a significant difference that must have involved a lot of time and effort). It was also Senna that recommended the suspension be softened on the NSX for use as a road going car. I have personally always found Honda's philosophy as well as their engineering approach to be the company's greatest strengths. Stories such as this ties in nicely on both accounts.
An interesting analysis. There’s one other thing I’d add: the 348 doesn’t just have the NSX for competition…it has the 355. Most who can afford £60k on a 348 will probably be able to make the stretch to £70 - 75k for the 355, which has always been regarded as a far superior car.
Yup, I had a 1993 348 GTS.
Friendly on limit handling, and world class steering. Awesome engine too. I only sold it due to frustrating cambelt service running costs (which costs multiples more at an indy than the 1500 you quote)...
From the US, owner of a ‘91 NSX. Bought it several years ago before prices started to go up. The car is #00085, red, 5sp with 32k miles for $32K. The only car I’ve ever purchased that’s gone up in value. Getting on the expressway and was into 3rd gear pretty deep, 85/90 mph when I looked behind me, police. Followed me at couple miles then pulled beside me and gave me a thumbs up, car guy.
The Honda was always top of my list. I entered in to a conversation with a work colleague once about super cars and confessed that the NSX was my dream car. He casually replied that his father has one 😂. He’s my new best friend.
I think its down to build quality and reliability that the Honda is more sought after, and maybe the 348 was seen as an entry level car .
Apart from the Senna connection, Gordon Murray said it was his benchmark for the F1. If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for us! Senna had 2, one in Portugal not sure if other was in Brazil or maybe Monaco. One was actually an auto.
I think you touched on one point but did not get to the bottom of it. Those who bought the NSX did so because they wanted THAT car. Once purchased they likely kept THAT car. Where in the Ferrari area not only do you have multiple models being available but many Ferrari owners want the latest-greatest version and will sell off what they have to move to another model when they can. I think we've seen with the failure of the new generation NSX that it was not just about the car and price. It was about THAT car at the time.
As an aside, I remember the first time I saw an NSX up close. I was buying a used GS-R sedan from a private seller and then we went into the garage he had a black NSX next to the GS-R. I completely forgot about the car I was there to buy and just stared. It was like seeing a Stealth fighter for the first time. Just completely blew me away.
If I had to drive one just for a day or a weekend I'd likely take the Ferrari. The sound and the experience. But if I was buying one to drive on a regular basis I'd certainly take the NSX.
That is actually a very good point. It's not like Honda ever made 10 other mid engined sportscars.
I also love the NSX. The Senna connection, the rarity and build quality all contribute. A different customer new but possibly a similar market used. Both cars are so so desirable still.
At 46 years old, I have just bought a little 2004 Civic Type R.
After 2 days of ownership, I am already realising how focused Honda are on the drive train and handling. It feels tighter than a drum with 101k. What an amazing company.
The Senna connection to the NSX and McLaren Honda is motorsport legend.
I bought my 2005 EP3 when I was 44. Eight years later I still drive it. It’s still stock except for fitting a Fujitsubo Legalis R when the original exhaust practically fell off with rot. Magnificent little thing. I can’t let go of it. Hope you have many years of great motoring with yours. 👍🏼
Great analysis Jack. I think the Ayrton Senna effect also really added to the ‘legendary’ status of the NSX. One of
my first cars was a 1990 CRX and I have hankered after an NSX ever since!
Wayne Gardner crashed one at Bathurst during practice for the 12 hour endurance race many years ago. The aluminium chassis was so rigid, it actually bent the TAFE (Technical and Further Education) chassis jig trying to straighten it. So they had to anneal the damaged area first by running an acetylene sooty flame only over the damaged area, which deposited a layer of soot on the aluminium. It can then be heated until the soot burns off, as this is a reliable method of not ending up with a puddle of aluminium on the floor.
With the Ferraris, there is an awful lot to keep up with. It's not just outright cost but the frequency of maintenance and repairs. These are old cars now and the chance of a Ferrari being neglected is just so much greater. I'll bet the turnover on the Ferraris is considerably higher with each successive owner more likely to bail with unsolved problems. Finally, lower end heavily depreciated cars really do attract buyers who can't afford them. NSX was top of the line with original owners willing to pay for the most expensive offering Acura had. 348 was near the bottom of the Ferrari lineup. There's even structural rust to consider with the higher mileage Ferraris that are no longer garage queens.
Having driven both the 348 and the NSX in anger on multiple occasions, I have to disagree quite strongly that the handling is even comparable. I mean, the Ferrari is perfectly fine. The enigne is fantastic and sounds gorgeous. The chassis is well balanced and nimble with good steering feel. But it's still a pretty basic chassis with less than perfectly welded square tubing. The amount of development work that went into the NSX chassis in comparison is on a completely different level, and just comparing them is an insult to the Honda engineers and their development driver, Satoru Nakajima. Having said that, I honestly couldn't tell the difference from just driving the cars on the road. Whenever a journalist praises the steering feel or accurate handling of a car when driving a moderate speeds on a twisty road, all they are commenting on really is alignment, tires and perhaps damper setup. It doesn't really mean anything. Even a pro racing driver would need to do some proper testing before having the data to comment on the actual chassis balance of a car. First your would need to dial in the optimal alignment, getting the tyre pressures perfect etc. It's not something your casual journalist can possibly have a real clue about from just a 15 minute test drive.
I was lucky enough to get myself a 1st gen NSX ('91) before the prices skyrocketed, and my first impression was actually a huge disappointment. Granted, my expectations where high, but it was just not all that nice. The reason is simple. The stock alignment is developed for narrow 15" 90s tyres. On stock tyres, the car will slide around quite a bit, requiring a completely different alignment that if it were on modern tyres. The original numbers are a bit on the extreme side, so paired with bigger, wider, stiffer and more precise modern tyres, the car feels pretty bad compared to it's potential. Dial off some of that rear toe-in and go with more "normal" values as well as go a tiny bit toe out up front and you have yourself the best handling road car ever made.
To prove my point, a friend of mine owns the best 996 GT3 I can imagine. Full Manthey suspension and setup with all the bells and whistles. It is amazing! After driving my NSX for one lap around the Nordschleife he was so excited that he literally bought an NSX online while we hade dinner at the Pistenklause :D
Fredrik, being a fellow Norwegian I´ll chime in. Drove my NSX two days on Nurburgring and two days on Spa a couple of years ago. It did not miss a beat. My friend brought his 996 gt3 Club Sport. From 100-200 km/h there was nothing at all between them. Mine bone stock engine with sports exhaust. This car is so much more than most people know. And a legend driving in hard wind. Straight as an arrow.
The other thing to consider is back in the day how may Ferraris did you see on the road in comparison to NSX's, i feel like in my mind i saw a lot more NSX's which were probably used more than the Ferrari's. There was a white one owned by a doctor at my surgery that i used to see all the time which i became a bit obsessed with, whereas i only used to see Ferrari's on TV... think Magnum PI etc so they felt a bit more relatable and attainable i guess? I almost bought a red auto but it would have to have been my only car tht i would have to use on my commute and it just didn't make sense to me unless i could keep it as a weekend car but i had nowhere to put it.
Gran Turismo definitely has a lot to do with desirability etc.
I believe that the original NSX had a 3.0 litre engine mated to a 5 speed manual box; subsequent models increased that to 3.2 litre with 6 speed manual which was a definite improvement.
Interesting vlog, Jack 👍.
when the nsx hit the market the build quality of ferrari was truly abysmal , really i remember being appalled by the bird dropping type welds that were suposed to keep it together , the nsx is many times better in build quality , it set a standard that forced super car manufactures to get their shit together and in reality is a far better car than any ferrari of the same era. But ferrari will always beat it in pretensions and snobbery ,wich is what this end of the market is about sad really
Perhaps one of the more telling things was your comment that 72K miles is considered hugely high mileage for the Ferrari. By comparison, some might make similar comments about a NSX with 372K miles. I suppose the way that some people value these cars comes down to how much they actually plan to drive them.
For me it was always the Honda reliability cache over the Ferrari cache. Nice video. Keep up the good work.
Honda,s strong point has always been their engines, they were building 50cc racing bikes in the 1950,s that screamed up to about 20 000rpm.
Toyota, Datsun, Mazda, their history goes back as far as the 1920,s building cars for their domestic market.
We'll argued points, I'd have the NSX all day long as to me it's a pinnacle of engineering and design. My old boss owned a group of Honda dealerships and ran NSX's as his daily driver (MK 1 then 2) I left before he got his 3. They were ridiculously reliable, cost very little to run and handily kept going up in value. Another benefit was he could keep a bodyboard and wetsuit in the front boot so any time he fancied a surf he could do so!
I never used to "get" these, I used to think they had no soul, just clever copycat stuff. Now I am older & wiser, I understand I was being an idiot with my cliché prejudices. These things are great. You are right. (To be honest, I've reconsidered lots of views over the years and probably agree with you on stuff we have argued about in the past) Great film, really thought-provoking.
You compare the overall production numbers, But prices in the UK may also be influenced by availability of LHD vs RHD. Japanese imports of the NSX will be RHD.
Interesting video. As a 348 owner, I think you underestimated the cost of the major service. For what still remains a relatively cheap Ferrari, I still think that the major service is a big obstacle. If it is your first Ferrari, I also think the 355 is likely to win the day. The i348 perfect when you already have another more polished Ferrari model and then you are looking for something different - the rawness of the drive and the purity of the steering. As long as you buy with your eyes open, you will not be disappointed and you the best value Ferrari.
Luca Di Montozemolo had his Gerald Ratner moment when he declared the 348 was rubbish and it has impacted values ever since.
Great analysis.
Jack, love the Tamiya and Kyosho cars in the background!!
Great video thank you!
I own an NSX since a few years as well as other various cars ( 968CS, 997 3.8RS, dC2R, R26R, ... ), the NSX is the best of them all with my RS. A few mods and you can transform one into an absolute masterpiece to drive, for a 91 cars the refinement, reliability and chassis/engine technology was ahead of it's time. Mine has a lot of NSXR parts, shorter box, lightweight flywheel, 140kg weight reduction ( easy to do ) it absolutely flies and the noise with a full exhaust and headers is even better than my RS. Done lots of roadtrips, snowtrips etc... properly easy to live with, reliable to death and pretty unique specialy in Europe.
Excellent video, so much better than larger TH-cam channels
348 all day and everyday for me - I doubt many would take an NSX over it in reality. The Ferrari would put a much bigger smile on your face on a Sunday drive…
FWIW, NSX buyers are very often Honda fans who have previously had Integra Type Rs and S2000s and so forth. Obviously for a long time in North America they could not get Alfa Romeos, so that upgrade path from say a GTV or GT 3.2 that gets a foot in the door up to a 348 isn't there as much.
Most of the NSX buyers keep their NSX. 348 buyers dreams of a Ferrari but can't afford newer models, and can't justify the maintenance. That's probably why a well kept 348 is rare find.
Just a couple of minor edits - NSX cam belt every 6 years or 60,000 miles for the early models. The power steering is only in assist mod at low speed, it was designed to be a low speed aid for parking etc. If you have driven one you notice it gets heavier above 15mph - no assist.
The Auto's sell for about 20% lower than the equivalent manual, altough most have never driven the later Auto (most journalists get to drive the Honda G reg "pre-production" car with an early "slow" box, and make their assessment based on that car. Senna was lucky enough to drive a number of NSX as his "company car" notably he stated his favourite daily was an Auto.
While not many will venture into the maintenance of an NSX they are not "exotic" and a typical annual service at a Honda dealer will set you back around £250.
Jack, a few points: 1. That's a good general analysis and succinctly put. 2. The crazy prices are a direct result of QE, the govmnts printing money causing asset inflation (house prices rose 25% last year here in Australia) as cash that is worthless in the bank and too scared to get into the stock market finds a home. 3. Sorry to say after seeing your Ferrari adventures I go for German or Japanese any day and Honda are fine engineers (powering Red Bull ahead of Lewis this last year). I increasingly like your vids.
The Ferrari 348 in Oz is very rare (I could find only 2 for sale) and average sale price is £112,000. There are 4 Honda NSX, ranging from £58,000 - £92,000. So in Australia at least, the Ferrari 348 is more desirable.
Wow!! For once maybe we should import cars from you rather than you taking the m form the Uk!!
Great vid Jack, agree on GRan T generation but also 348 diluted by plenty of similar Ferraris 308, 328, 355 & 360 but there’s only 1 NSX
My dad had an UK P-reg NSX (manual), although I drove it more than he ever did. It really is a super-reliable daily. Depressingly though, he sold it before prices rocketed. He bought it for £23k and sold it for £17.5k about 4 years later (90k on the clock). Today it would be worth £60k.
A big reason you didn't mention Jack is how many NSX models where actually registered in the UK. Not to mention of the cars available recently, most will probably be imports as opposed to genuine UK cars. I think a lot of the current pricing is down to rarity tbh, although I agree a pricing realignment is probably due soon. Another reason is that I think most people just assume that the servicing and parts prices on a modern classic Ferrari are massive compared to a NSX.
I completely agree with the culture reason. I'm only 24 and I remember playing Gran Turismo 5 prologue when I was around 12 or so and driving the NSX out of the Suzuka hairpin and watching the rev counter was just a memory that stuck with me. We also did have a 90's Honda, so that's probably another reason why I liked it so much, the familiarity. I think also the fact that the NSX has gotten a lot of social media exposure in recent years, like, we see so many NSX videos about how great it is, how Ayrton Senna had involvement in it etc, whereas the Ferrari, it's barely known to me. I know of the 355 and 360 well, but 348, I barely know anything about it and I'd consider myself quite a car guy too.
Excellent analysis and what a passion :-) Sure thing, all things Japanese are trendy these days, the current market of course explains this. Sadly I cannot comment on the actual cars as it is not within my reach but I do recall those days when the Japanese cars were discounted and had all options bundled to gain market share and are now everywhere, especially in the US and are more reliable, it is not a myth. In the old days ,a Mercedes was today's Japanese cars. Got myself a BMW M140, the best I will probably ever have but then I am probably old fashioned :-)
Strangely, Japanese cars still have really poor market share in Europe (e.g., Toyota group is P5 in sales with around 1/5th the sales of VW group). Perhaps attempts to grow in Europe were set back by to the diesel push by the EU from '95 onwards (most Japanese brands are bad at passenger diesels), as well as the ongoing 10% tariff etc.
Senna helped finalise the chassis setup of the original NSX and the onboard video from Suzuka on You Tube is worth finding
I know our gas is now frighteningly expensive but I’m fortunate enough to not have to wear gloves in my living room yet!
Great video Jack !
The NSX was bought by people who really wanted that particular model, while the Ferrari 348 was bought by those who wanted any Ferrari. Now those latter owners can get an upgrade in the 355 and 360 while the NSX doesn’t have a direct heir so people tend not to sell which keeps the market blocked and prices high.
1990 had one delivered to my London City office for test drive Fri 5pm - Mon 9am. They sold only 70 cars a year ...Silver with black roof..couldn't swing it as a perk/company car.,.took it to Thruxton/Silverstone as a spectator and hit vmax on the A11 on the run to Snetterton! One day I will own one.Watching Senna drive one was unforgettable!
No disresepct to Ferrari 348 fans but I drove one some years ago and whilst it drove great it looked and felt like it had been assembled by a bunch of bored children. Had the feeling that they were the sort of cars that would require a restoration every few years, and I am sure this is a consideration for anyone looking at owning one. Never driven an NSX but just looking at them at car shows you can see the quality is on a completely different level. I also think the styling of the NSX has aged much better and with the current interest in Japanese sports cars prices are reflecting all this. Would happily have the NSX over a 348 personally.
Good analysis. I have always liked the look of this car since it first came out and actually walked past a 1992 model just a few days ago. I think the Japanese pulled out all the stops for this car to enable it to compete with Ferrari in the same way Toyota did with the Lexus against the S-Class. They association with Formula One success at the time must also have helped.
Fun market analysis by Number 27 TH-cam channel! Perhaps one from Japan is a good idea, possibly even a 'slightly used' one? Hankering also for the Number 27 RC market views. Because who doesn't like an orginal Sand Scorcher or the real vintage, Blazing Blazer, a man can dream! Thank you very much Jack, good and fun idea and video. I would love a Nr 27 2022 market view video on the Supra for instance, those are awesome. Or the Z, don't know if the new one is coming to Europe? Saw a great Larry Chen photoshoot video recently👍
We are very fortunate to own a 92' Berlina Black turbo manual and a 92 Silverstone automatic. We have owned them both for 14 years now.They are awesome cars.
The reason is that the Honda NSX won't leave you stranded and a Ferrari from the same period does 😜😜
I also think the NSX design aged very well, over 30 years later it still looks cool.
Yup, the NSX won't strand you. Rate of stranding goes up exponentially as the Ferrari ages.
Here are some experts on Ferrari ownership speaking..?
My Testarossa is reliable.
@@lebojay so is my 348.
I enjoyed the vid. Just a couple of points; The cam-belt service periods on the NSX were extended on the later cars to 8 years. All NSX engines are basically the same apart from some minor revisions and a 200cc hike. Additionally, all NSX’s are way out of warranty. So eight years really is the standard these days for the cam-belt
Another thing; although later cars has EPS. The earlier cars and the type R variants did not.
Hi Jack, I couldn't help noticing the KEF speakers. What model are they and how do you like them?
I'm going to concur with you on this one Jack, the NSX is also a lot more reliable and comfortable.
Ace one chap. Very Interesting Question raised, good answers too love it Si x
My family doesnt have Ferrari money but we have had Hondas and Acuras. Build quality, reliability, and longevity are always top notch. Love your videos, Jack. Hope the new career is going splendidly!
Bret
Thank you Bret and for continuing to watch!
I think your premise that the 348 is a comparable driver's car to the NSX is fundamentally flawed. Even if you and Henry Catchpole think it does handle well or have great steering, the fact is, the 348 is remembered for being a lowpoint in Ferrari history from before di Montezemolo cleaned up, whereas the NSX is remembered as the car that forced European exotics to become more useable and ergonomic, and which Gordon Murray used as his benchmark for developing the Mclaren F1 due to every other super car at the time being fundamentally flawed in some manner. It is these legacies that determine the market prices, and it's why the 348 would have been consigned to the trashbin of history if it wasn't for the name "Ferrari" being the strongest brand name in the world.
Have you have _ever_ driven a 348? I apologize if I am wrong, but I consistently find that most people rehashing such opinion have never owned or used one.
Some very early 348s were apparently a bit iffy as of construction. Later ones are terrific and an absolute joy to drive. So of course is an NSX type R.
And about the Montezemolo story about the 348 and the Golf GTI. It is just that - a story, that he he made up like most CEOs do. So that he could bask in the light of being the savior of the world.
Tell you what, Jack: you wanted to be a motoring journalist; Well, now you are one. Top vid - proper content. For many (most?) of us, all we're asking for is is chance to listen to someone who knows their stuff. You do. You're quite right, even factoring in restoration costs, our toys are overpriced. (I'm between 40 and 60 and my wife controls my disposable income, large or otherwise).
Hey thank you 🙏 that’s kind but I’d never consider myself a proper motoring journalist!
When I fuel up my NSX, I often get a gamer telling me how cool it is! Spot on Jack. Only 500 came to the UK…
The manual NSX didn't have power steering until 1995.
Over here in the USA there's an additional twist on rarity: When the NSXes started to become old used cars but not yet 'nostalgia' cars, and values were at their lowest, many of them were bought by young guys who modified the crap out of them and thrashed them hard. So now that the earliest ones are thirty years old and there is a solid nostalgia-market for them, especially among Gen-X types who may only now be able to afford something special, finding a nice, un-molested example that has some life left in it is REALLY difficult. Thank you, riceboyz! >:(
The NSX has been pure bliss. Buy one now! Before it's too late.
Agree with the poster saying surprised that you didn’t mention the Senna effect! That’s why I would rather have the NSX!
Have had my 91' NSX for 10 years here in Japan. The early models had no power steer and the ABS was not perfect so the switch to the next gen. ABS makes it safer. 30 years later the technology has completely changed so tyres, shocks, wheels need switching along with better brake pads. The engine exhaust manifolds rob the power of 20hp, probably to comply with the gentleman's agreement to keep the hp to 280hp max. I have changed out the the full system which has noticeably changed the sound and throttle response plus now I feel the torque when the intake VVIS opens and then later when the VTEC comes in. Before it was a smooth transition between these phases. People who purchase the NSX do so because they just like the car and performance but the name value plays a big part when purchasing a Ferrari, Porsche, Benz. Prices for and early model NSX here in Japan for a manual good condition, 90,000km starts at 65,000 GBP
My dream car is an nsx. Early model with pop up head lights, has to be an NSX typer as it comes in white. Would it matter if it was an import. Not at all, to own a Japanese classic that’s lived in Japan and then brought over here I think adds to its history and as you have said many times a cars story makes it more desirable.
Your also very right regarding how many are for sale plus what several others have touched on. If you go out to buy an NSX you will probably look to buy and keep that car may be even pass it down to your kids (I know I would) where as the Ferrari is purchased by many people. Owned for short periods then sold on to get the next model. Quick turn around cars. I’m sure this is not the same for every Ferrari owner but it’s how the bases of Ferrari owner ship works. The dealers get you to buy a new car and your first new Ferrari does not give you much choice. You want the next model, own this one then upgrade to the next level, and keep repeating till you get to where you want. I feel this ideal is very much part of the old classic Ferrari market.
A note for future videos. Look into the rarity and enormous rising costs of the Nissan skyline. R34 going for £200k, the first GTR skylines now being kept in Japan and not being sold out of the country to keep and control there motorcar history.
You should see all the R34`s now being bought and stored away by US and Japanese importers and dealers just waiting to be imported into the US and legalized under 25 year rule. :)
One thing to take into account with the NSX, is the AUTO versions had a smaller and less powerfull engine and are no where near as desirable. Hence also you cant just replace the AUTO gearbox with a manual one and end up with the full fat engine.
That's an interesting fact I didn't know - kinda explains why the autos go for a significantly lower price.
One went at a UK auction a week ago for £45K
The dollar prices are irrelevant. You should be using GBP for these comparisons.
Dollar price in the US was all I could find and no point converting to pounds when the UK prices might have been different
@@Number27 Understood, but it's only the UK prices at the time of sale that are pertinent.
Let's face it, the 1990's Ferrari's are maintenance nightmares and with the NS-X all you have to do is service items, new brakes and tyres every now and again and that's about it.
ah yes, i remember you and i talking about this beast. I hope someone reaches out to you so you can feature an NSX on the channel
great video, just out of interest, what's your thoughts on the corrado vr6?
Great driving car.. the looks don’t quite work for me personally though
And other thing was that the NSX was developed with the help of Ayton Senna and that makes fans of Senna crazy about them. Senna had one in Portugal and was sold for a crazy money.
Also, the Senna efect, one of the best F1 drivers, that helpt develop the nsx and I think that is another factor that make car guys go for the honda
Thought provoking video, I remember the 348 when it came out and it remains one of my favourite cars. So I would go for the Ferrari
The original NSX is by far my favorite Japanese car of all time! But for that money, I would probably go with a gently used Cayman GTS. A friend of mine has a 2015 Cayman GTS and it is an incredible machine! Or I could just stick with my 997.2 Carrera... but I digress.
20yrs ago somebody tries to sell me a Gen1 for 6k.. I was so stupid and waved it off with a laugh.
Nooooooooooooo!! ☹️☹️☹️☹️
I got offered a mk2 escort Rs 2000 in 1999 for £1500 and I said no 🙈
I think you missed one thing, the NSX were at a time relatively cheap, that plus the tuner culture made it so a lot of NSXs were ruined, wrecked or whatever. It would be interesting to see the remaining numbers of each car.
Also another thing missing is that the NSX has the whole Senna developed it thing, which elevates its status quite a bit, and for a long time also the people felt more "safe" with the maintenance of a Honda rather than a Ferrari.
Could the Senna association be a factor too perhaps? PS: once again, liking the Sandscorcher and Mid 🤘🏼
Nice on Jack, keep the creative car content coming ...as an owner of a 240z...it has surprised me how much the youngsters love it....your POV on the console culture is interesting...fingers crossed you're right 👍
It’s worth pointing out that the NSX changed the way Ferrari and Lamborghini made cars… it really put the wind up them.
We all would love an NSX, but I’m sure my heart would stirred more by owning a Ferrari.
This video is awesome!
The first generation of NSX 5 speed manual is the car to have, in my opinion. I think many car colectors will have the one that Senna and Nakajima helped to develope. Its a drivers car, world's first all-aluminum, monocoque body, great quality, handling, engine reliability and the that V6 sound its a joy, and it is still cheap,next to other JDM cars like the Overpriced R34 GTR,Supra A80. For me its the best JDM ever made ex aequo with LFA.
I like the 348 but NSX is superior!
Another thing Gordon Murray had one when he was creating the Mclaren F1, his masterpiece , and that car was his inspiration.
Cheers Jack
Thanks!’ And yes I do love an NSX!!
I watched Senna thrash a white NSX on the Montreal GP circuit during the F1 weekend in 1989...
I'd take issue with the comment on the accuracy of Ferrari power figures. They were certainly very dodgy until the mid-80s but from then on they had to be honest. So yes a 348 in good health will make an honest 300bhp, or 320 for the few later Moronic 2.7 cars. It is actually Honda that might be accused of telling porkies, as at the time it was believed that NSX engine power of 270bhp was quoted only to meet an industry agreed limit. In reality they likely made 300, and that ties in with the measured performance. But as regards current values, the poor old 348 has always laboured under the shadow of the handling of the early cars. And when the F355 came along it was as pretty as the 348 was plain, and sang like an angel compared to its rather ordinary-sounding predecessor. This has always made them relatively cheap used buys.
First off, the NSX lasted from 348 to 360. Even the NA2 Type S/R was very formidable against the 360 as a decade old design with minor upgrades.
I had a 1995 NSX and is currently an owner a 2003 (Actual car used in the Fast 4/5). I also own a 2014 Ferrari California. Due to the value of my NSX, I drive the Ferrari more often.
My 19 years old NSX is with 65k miles, and it never failed to start as long as the battery holds a charge. Surprisingly, my 2014 Ferrari California has been mechanically problem free with 9600 miles on the clock. Interior however, starts to developed sticky buttons and delaminated leather from the dash. There is always a fear of some sort of catastrophic break down on the Ferrari that will cost me a month worth of income.... So I decided to also own a 2019 ALFA Giulia QV as my daily to get the Ferrari Experience, and a 2006 S2000 as my weekend car. The NSX and Ferrari is a garage queen most of the time. I will keep the NSX and Ferrari for the rest of my life.
Good video! Just looked at UK figures: .. about 250 Ferrari 348s, about 300 NSX: but always loads more Ferraris for sale . NSX owners just don’t want to sell (I’ve got a bit of a car buying fetish but my NSX is the only one am not selling!!). I think it’s just an objectively better car, easy to own, lovely to drive (no power steering on mine either , that started in 1993 so early cars avoid it), and will go forever if looked after right.
I also love its place in history, and engineering integrity that went into it. This car redefined the rule book for supercars, and kicked Ferrari into shape - would the 355 been as good without the NSX?
A 348 is just another Ferrari, and guess the owners always looking for the next one .., whereas I’ve got all the Honda I’ll ever need :)
The NSX was the choice of the true car enthusiast, and the Ferrari bought by people with more money than sense. Now it seems like the opposite ;)
The Ferrari appeals for the flat plane, dry sump V8 in the correct longitudinal configuration, in a semi space frame chassis. It has a hand-built feel. The NSX is a wonderful technical achievement, but it looks and feels very mass produced.
Also despite popular opinion, the awkward truth is the older Ferrari is still a smidge faster in all categories.
Great vid, but the sound was really down for some reason. Turn ya heating on 😂
Never driven a NSX but have driven a 348 a good number of times, the handling on it is superb. A car with no driver aids and in my view a very underated car
Sweet RC cars!!! I love that Kyosho Optima Mid!!! Also a NSX lover though!
In 2000 I bought a Ferrari 328 GTS and another option was a new TVR or an used NSX or 911 for a similar price. When it came down to it badge snobbery won out. The huge problem with the NSX was nobody knew what it was and many people would assume an NSX was a similar beast to an Mitsubishi 3000GT. It turned out the Ferrari was great and for six years (and 9000 miles) it never threw an annual service bill of more than £1000 my way (thanks to a great local independent). People I knew who bought 911s spent a fortune on them. I still have a soft spot for the NSX but my finances these days mean I am totally out of the market for an expensive toy.
To me, the 348 just isn't the icon that the nsx is. i might sound weird but to the eyes of many the 348 is just another Ferrari with grates on the door (I know it sounds stupid but I sometimes see car people who can't tell the difference between a testarossa and a 348). On the other hand the NSX might just be a Honda but it's the pinacle of Honda, it came out when Senna drove an F1 with an Honda engine ... etc
Not only is this the craziest scenario for the used market, but neither of those cars are worth more than 30k USD anywhere in the world. Both of those cars represent a promise of performance that has been so far surpassed by a Mustang or Camaro, and a German LARGE SEDAN would utterly wipe the floor with both those cars. Its like the Mitsubishi 3000GT days are memorable ones. Its almost funny that any wedge shaped vehicle of that era including MR2s is worth anything other than nostalgia. The PROMISE KEEPER car that undercuts Ferraris ridiculous prices is the C8 Corvette series of cars that are making good on absurdly good performance for a price low enough that any small business person could own one. Neither of those cars represent a investment other than finding some obsessed individual with a weird hobby of collecting old junk or a racer that competes in the vintage classes and junks the car by tracking it so much. The C8 actually is what the NSX should have been in the first place, and thats a affordable SPORTS CAR that humiliates Ferrari on track. Who in their right mind in 2022 would choose a 458 over a car thats magnitudes better than EVEN FERRARI COULD HAVE DREAMED OF? Just my opinion, and i drove the NSX extensively years ago. That cars limits are so low compared to modern cars that hot hatches of today would leave those cars way behind.
I think the NSX is such a great looking car, and the 348 just feels like a half effort, especially when we live in a world with the 355. I think NSX vs 355 is a more realistic comparison, I’d have to really think then.
Newsflash...
It isn't.
Not so long ago in AU you could pick up a high miler Gen 1 NSX for under 60K AU (30 thousand UK pounds). The prices they are asking for them now, well the owners are on hard drugs obviously.....mugs will still cough up their asking prices though.
The NSX was just a parts bin car, very similar to the venerable Fiat X1/9! It has an old Honda Legend V6 dropped in E/W. Interior not much nicer than a Prelude or Integra....Yeah its def worth their asking prices now!!!!!!
Controversial opinion there!! Thanks for watching!
Rather than looking at total production numbers, I would be interested to learn how many were imported into the UK when new. I have always been under the impression that the Honda was always much rarer in the UK than the Ferrari. Today, of course, it is possible to import a rhd NSX from Japan but then you are looking at Japanese prices which are now much stronger for the Honda than the Ferrari.
Yes, just like the new NSX, a very expensive Honda sportscar is a hard sell unfortunately as some people can't see past the badge. They therefore didn't sell very many when it was a current model (same for the new one). Much like how a Fireblade is all the sportsbike most people need, the NSX is all the sportscar most people need, but is it the Ducati or Ferrari respectively that they *want*?
Honda are very good at making vehicles that meet the needs of buyers, from the cheapest Wave scooter or cheapest Brio supermini upwards. But when it's an exotic sportscar, it's a *want* purchase and the sales pitch gets more complicated: "it does everything you would ever need an exotic sportscar to do" is not enough to win a sale I guess!
there were a total of around 450 NSX (UK) spec cars registered in the UK over the 15 years
I think this is a valid point especially in Europe. I live in the Nordic countries, and not once have I seen a nsx on the road, parked somewhere, on a track day, car shows etc, so that car truly exists only in Gran Turismo’s for me. There are quite many 348s, there’s even one in a garage nearby. I wonder where all the 18.000 nsxs went, Japan/Usa?😅
NSX got a practical use and maintenance like civic for everyday use that for sure
I would say it came down to reliability and cost of ownership and I would choose the nsx all day long ✌️
Have a look on the waybackmachine for what the prices used to be... fun and painful
I have no experience of a 348 but I can comment on why people want NSX. I am on my third. I have had one since 1997 except the period 2002-2005. I have had my current one a 1996 coupe manual since 2005. I have no intention of selling it. The reason is because it represents the epitome of technology from 1990 and the car is exquisitely engineered and built. It astounds me even now. And, because it is NOT a Ferrari. Okay the interior is a bit generic Honda but ergonomically it's fabulous. Ditto the exterior is a little odd from some angles but seeing it in the flesh is another matter entirely. It still looks great - and tiny in comparison to everything modern. It also drives sufficiently well and reliably and has enough technology to make it safe but enough analogue feel to make it entertaining. Those who say that the NSX is not a thrill to drive are wrong. The engine note itself is worth the ticket price. Allied with predictable and relatively comfy handling, it's still very good. And while it's not really very fast it's enough. So, the reason you don't see many NSX is because owner's hang on to them. What else would we buy? A new NSX perhaps? Possibly but that wasn't Japanese and servicing options for it are even worst than the Gen 1 NSX (albeit Chiswick Honda will come and get your car for you). Talking of maintenance, the NSX is inherently reliable but it is now up to 30 years old and some of the electronics do fail. And parts prices are steep - it's no longer a cheap car to own. Yes, some years will be just an oil change for £250, but others will be the engine out cam belt change for £2500 plus. And, money does need to be set aside for (usually electronic) failures. The other thing to consider is that there are very few specialists who can competently look after an NSX. They just don't exist. There are a few Honda UK dealers but most people who had experience have retired. Prospective owners need to join NSXCB.
Hi Jack. Another great video. I am more of a Japanese ( and of course an an Aston Martin man ) so the NSX will always trump the Ferrari.
I enjoyed that Jack , I’ve got to say I’d take a 348 if I had the choice 😉
Asking prices are not selling prices. Recently, a very good MANUAL example sold at a UK auction for 46K.
I have always aspired to owning a Honda.
One day my dream will come true.
I’m 98 so hopefully it will be soon.
😋😄😄😄😄
What do you think about my belowmentioned predictions?
1) Price of second generation of Honda NSX will appreciate in similar manner. Tunres of future will swap the battery of it will better and lighter one(either solid state battery or supercapacitor battery) and engine will generate higher output with enhancements like Freevalve and improved fuels.
2) Third generation of NSX will have Nuclear diamond battery or powerplant of new sort in it and will fail because people will be discomfortable seating in it. Then the cycle will repeat.
No idea on points 2-3.. but don’t think the latest NSX will get the same adoration as this one. It’s just not as groundbreaking
@@Number27 Thanks for replying my comment.