When you evaluate older cars, you need to know how fresh the suspension bushings are. James mentioned this NSX has different carrier bushings in the rear suspension. I'd say the others have also been replaced, given how well it responded to being hustled along a bit. People almost universally wait for rubber bushings to fail, or at least to be very obviously cracked and failing, before even considering replacement. That's a big mistake, if you care about truly proper handling. And you CANNOT tell by looking at them. Dead bushings often look perfectly fine. Figure ten years or 75k miles, at the outside, whichever comes first. I speak from a lot of experience. Unfortunately, enthusiasts very often install polyurethane replacements. Soon after, having screwed up a great car, they sell it. The vast majority of owners, i.e those NOT building a pure track car, should definitely use OEM-type replacements. I've just wasted my time. Few will read this, fewer still will actually listen. Such is life.
Micheal I 200% agree I had a honda civic fn2 fully polybushed it then became unbearable as a daily hence sold. I picked up another swapped out tired bushes for OEM it's a dream to drive and own . Lessons learnt
When you drive older cars you are comparing the drive to modern cars, you need to put yourself back in 1990s. This was the first Supercar you could daily use. Today we have cars with 600 plus hp but they just full of computers and numb and fake noise and this and that. The rear is cool
🚗💨 You really should check your reality pulse mate. The Honda NSX is ingenious! It’s the benchmark Ferrari and McLaren studied and copied to make their cars better.
Yup...and the classic day in Suzuka IIRC there was this, the Accord and him driving his McLaren. He departs last and crosses the line first to show how fast an F1 car is. Great memories
A 90 degree angle can lower the centre of gravity of the engine in relation to the 60 degree, as it makes it less tall; wich translates to making it possible to place the engine lower in the car.
@@Mexxx65 The engine is not mounted above the rear axle, where do you get that from? It sits as low as feasible between the cockpit bulkhead and the rear axle. The boot sits above the rear axle.
All the Honda C-series engines were 90* designs. Honda probably stuck with this for the NSX as a cost-saving measure, as the block is related tot he Legend V6s. The later J-series were 60* V6 designs.
The reason an NSX costs as much as a Ferrari of same era is because it is basically as reliable and easy to maintain as a Honda Civic while offering super car looks and performance (90's supercar performance).
Actually, the rear end of the NSX is my favorite view of the car. It was an underrated car, and it went toe to toe and even beat exotic cars of the day. Plus it had the Senna influence to back it 🙇🏻
90 Deg V6 was done to lower the CoG. Also the steering wheel has a slow steering ratio I think for two reason. 1. slower ratio reduces driver effort it takes for turning on that manual rack. 2 to give you better highspeed control. Remember this was developed with a track like the Nurburgring in mind. Their promotional videos back in 1990 basically are basically the NSX driving on the Nurburgring and Suzuka.
The steering being a little slower around the straight ahead is what enables the car to be such an effortless grand tourer. I've driven from the UK to the south of France & Italy in my car several times and it is a pleasure - you step out feeling fresher than any other car I've tried that with, certainly better than our BMW. Maintaining a high speed cruise you don't want a car that fidgets and tramlines on motorways; the steering is relaxed and easy going. However once you get onto the Route Napoleon you find that all the steering feel you need is right there once you have a few degrees of steering lock on.
@@hadrienlf23 Nice! The 300k (mile) club is not as exclusive as most people think with NSXs. I'll be there probably next year (287,000 miles at the moment). Parts-wise you do get to flip a coin though. Heads: It cross references to another Honda and is super cheap Tails: it's bespoke to the NSX and you're now in Porsche parts money territory. (with a middle ground of it doesn't cross reference, but an aftermarket supplier makes a better version for less than the OE part).
Well, I was really getting upset with all the put-downs on this magnificent car. Then, you took it back and you gained my thumbs up. I've been driving my 1991 for twenty years now, and each and every time it is still a thrill. I like the manual steering and I love the sound through the gears right behind me. The only thing wrong is that I cannot not go a hundred miles an hour whenever I'm in it!
One of the many cars that I've never driven, but one of the very few that I wish I could. I really like the idea of the NSX - light, low, nimble and not with an excess of power. I even like the looks and whenever I've seen one in the metal, amazed at the seemingly tiny size of it.
I think you totally forgot this car is 30+ year old design. Your review is not period correct and missed the mark completely. You totally forgot that this car set a new standard for super cars in the early 90s.
Jay I think the car you have driven must of had some suspension modification or tired bushings.. you are welcome to take my 91 NSX for a test drive... it has some upgrade which won’t disappoint...it will be different to the one you drove.
@@Fastvoice The rev limiter is cutting in slightly earlier at an indicated 7800 rpm on the tachometer but as the NSX makes its peak power at 7300 rpm i have left this alone.
Can't agree with you on the back-end. The built-in spoiler, two exhausts and the long breaklights with the triangular extremities are really unique in my opinion.
Because it has less room in it, no rear seats or the lack of power steering and four wheel drive?. Where a 911 of this era fails is lack of a tow bar unlike the earlier model, I dont know if the NSX could be bought with a tow bar if it can then would agree may have some advantage as the lack of towing is what limits a 911
A friend of mine has one of the two NSX press release cars. One of the two was driven by Ayrton Senna at Silverstone. Much to his frustration, he hasn't been able to find out whether it was his car and Honda couldn't tell him either.
I took this car to the Le Mans Classic in 2018 and it performed brilliantly. I really rate the engine, handling, refinement, quality of construction and as James mentioned the performance always surprises me after a long time between drives. One of my favourite cars in my collection 😍😍
@I yeah he told Honda it was fragile and they went back to the drawing board and improved it. I think Senna also tested it at the nurburgring. Bobby Rahal also helped in its development.
The bit where he says it defeats the point of being cheaper than a Ferrari of it's day....I don't agree with. Ferrari always (or nearly so) keep their value an go up, an Honda built a car cheaper but with the same sort of excitement, an did that so WELL, that they eventually started to hold value an, indeed, go stratospheric. I think they succeeded in what the point actually was. My 2 quid. Other than that, I really like Jay's assessment of a legendary car. He doesn't embellish or go fan-boy on it, merely telling it like it is without the associated over-hyped praise this car has become known for. Of course, I still to this day would absolutely love to have the chance to own a 1st-gen NSX, however the collectors market is far too outside my budget to allow.
@@Gnomosfortheoffice alot of the original reviewers were biased against it . Such as tiff needell. They claimed it was too perfect that it lacked soul etc.. they preferred cars with oil leaks, offset pedals quirky reliability. I guess it " enhanced" the driving experience. But Gordon Murray loved it and the nsx became his new benchmark for the Mclaren f1. He owned one for 7 years.
@@manuelaguirre1062 So true. That's how Brits review cars. When an Alfa Romeo or a Jag or an Aston Martin completely falls apart after 500 miles it's 'charming' and 'quirky'. When a Japanese or an American car has a bit of plastic in the interior then it's 'cheap' and 'horrible quality'.
Why the 90 degree V6 James.. I believe Honda just trying to be too smart, per normal! Their F1 racing engine of the day was a 90 degree V6, Honda just paying homage to their F1 success.
Some say the 90 Vee was to increase torque, others say to create more space for the intake plenum etcetc. I believe i've read that it was to lower the height of the V6. Brian Longs NSX book has the reference i think.
The C30A engine was based on the same block as the rest of the C-series family. That engine family powered many of the Legend and Accords in the late 80and and early 90s. Honda switched to a 60* V6 in the J series, and is still found in many current Hondas.
I agree. I'm currently looking for a set of aftermarket wheels for my Civic Type R (FN2) The car comes standard with 18s, but I'm downsizing to 17s as I don't like a tiny looking sidewall.
@@mrdayumfine109 hi I have the same car as you it would be good to know if you change it to 17s with the thickest sidewall if it improves the ride? Apparently when people had 19ns on it it'd made it really bad
Appreciate the honest review. Like others have said I don't think the NSX you reviewed is in the best shape; low rpm vibrations, 7600rpm redline, notchy shifter, ratty interior, stiff ride probably worn out suspension. Also I wonder if the car has power steering; most NSX owners with no power steering complain about how heavy steering is at low speed.
A few years ago ('15) I was talking to my brother about the NSX, "get some of your retirement money out and enjoy it". I did, the twin to the one here. Have the NSX phone, looks like a old home wall phone.
I own one - the ride in my standard car is magnificent, so not sure on what's going on with that one. The steering is also the best of any car I have driven, it never feels like you mention just off dead centre. The redline in mine was also limited when I bought it, this was due to oil gumming up the oilways in the head, causing the VTEC to not operate properly and the limiter to cut in early (7200rpm in mine). The fix was removal of the engine and heads, followed by a complete clean up. The length of the rear is long because of a few reasons: high-speed stability (favoured over drag coefficient), boot space (it had to have more than it's supercar rivals) and the wider VTEC heads called for a wider block than the original non-vtec prototype. Oh, and yes, the engine is rough as arseholes at idle - it all pays off with a blip of the throttle, though.
Ferrari uped their game after this car in terms of interior, reliability etc. Senna wanted a bit stiffer and more powerful. They kept it like this, for the road even though its still stiff. Handling was designed and tuned by Senna. We might not like it since we are not at his level. 90 degree V6 has a huge torque advantage also compared to a 60 degree one.
@I Ok. Thx for letting me know. Have you thought, maybe he could have done multiple sessions to fine tune. Or you are thinking he was lazy enough to do just one session and gave his verdict.
Drove one in Japan (90 model, no power steering) with lowered springs, and an exhaust. It was fantastic. Gears were a bit long, but other than that no complaints. Meet your heros.
F40 aside, are any 90s Ferraris as iconic as the NSX. I might be wrong but I can’t think of another car that is as big a 90s icon. I love them so much I’d swap an Alfa for it, which would be terrible news for my local mechanic’s mortgage.
Get I do think Hondas mission was to build a really fast and fun. car that was cheaper than a Ferrari. The money wasn’t something that came into the equation because it was just obvious that it would be cheaper than a Ferrari and the modern day nsx is a super car in all rights and Honda have every right to charge nearly as much as a Ferrari
I remember reading that Honda lost money on every nsx. The price was originally about 60 k and they quickly escalated upto 89 k. Not many were sold after about 3 yrs.
Jay, I think the car you drove had some issues that needed to be addressed through maintenance. Sounds like maybe a motor or transmission mount could be failing, though the 90* V6 was never as smooth as the 60* V6 that followed it. I also think this car needed new dampers. It should also be noted that the original Yokohama tires that were specific to this car are long discontinued.
Yokohama still make NSX-sized Advan Neova's though ;) and even for up-sized wheels (in 17+18). It's one of the very few tyre manufacturers that provide these specific sizes (front and rear are different !). And yeah that car has a lot of issues: no VTEC - engine is in safe mode (cut off at 7.6K), this is not good at all.
Jay, you said it s not as confortable as a Ferrari. First you need to realize that like someone else said in the comments, the suspension bushings might not be stock or new. Amd the NSX is supposed to be a sports car. Many Ferraris are more of a Grand Tourer, therefore more confortable.
This, is one of a kind. Ferrari built several supercar models. Honda only one, and is the only Japanese supercar. It beat the Ferrari it was intended to beat. It is more practical and reliable than your usual supercar. For all of the reasons above, NSX is greater than almost any Ferrari. I would put it on the same podium with the F40, success wise.
Are you blind?! This is still by far the best looking car to come out of Japan circa 1990. Every other Japanese sports car has dated horribly - Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo, Supra Mk 4, Mitsubishi 3000 GT/GTO all look very dated now.
I am not sure what is wrong with the NSX you drive, but mine gives me a very comfortable ride through the bumpy roads, actually it absorbs bumps better than my Audi A4 with the 18in wheels, even my friends agree it's right quality is very comfortable but when we push it while cornering, it doesn't roll at all. I think that's the magic about the NSX. On the power steering, I am surprised when nobody complain the lack of power steering on some other Euro supercar, you complain on this JDM legend, I found it's a little unfair to be honest. The lack of power steering, gives a very direct and best feel on the steering after all, I do prefer without it. Nice video though...
One of the reasons why this car is legendary is because they named it as the supercar you could use everyday day. You're either JDM or you're not really, J now a lucky Ferrari man, maybe a bit badge snobby....sorry just kidding it 🤣🤣and you're probably persuaded more with the romantic old Ferraris which we all love but we know would never be as reliable as this car. The back-end is what made it and NSX when you play computer games in the 90s you knew you were driving a JDM supercar👍 and the fact that Senna drove it to help with the set-up makes it legendary again plus Jezza and another journalists took on the track and said they were great to drive I might probably out handle most of other cars from that era👍 I think you should get one of the new NSX on the British roads cos I think you only drove it in the States I think it's a very underestimated car👍
This car is proof that the NSX was way ahead of its time. No other cars, other than a few other Japanese models were comparable to the NSX in 1991. The US only dominated in the 1960s.
I owned a stock circuit blue 2000 3.2 6 Speed from 2008 -2016. Yes the steering rack is a bit slow on tight corners but other than that on good tyres the car rode and handled well, you just have to remember it's mid engined and doesn't take kindly to lifting off the throttle mid corner. The engine on the reviewed car sounds off to me, should be able to redline it easily. The is a definite kick in power when the VTEC kicks in and the induction roar even from a stock engine is a joy. Surprised that Jay didn't mention that. In the 8 years I had mine nothing broke, just had annual servicing and new tyres plus a battery. The rear of the car is long but that in part is due to the large boot, which was built to hold two sets of golf clubs, as Honda aimed this car at the US market. Personally I loved it. Where are you now W2 NSX.
This NSX was one of the best handling car in his era. Do you think Ayrton Senna made a mistake with helping develop this car? I dont think so... :D Just think about how much time this car spends on roads to these days.... ,
Jay, we love you and value your opinions, even if don't agree. But for saying the rear of the NSX isn't nice, I think you should close your channel for 3 days and think about what you've done.
When I first got my 1991 NSX, I was pretty disappointed. The steering was numb around center and once you turned in it was too aggressive and oointy. The rear seemed to be fighting itself. A more aggressive wheel and tyre setup made it even worse. I had it aligned twice, without much improvement. The second time I asked for the numbers and it seems to me tgat the stock numbers in the most common systems used by shops must be incorrect. Either that, or it only works with everything else being stock. Most modern high performance tyres have way more directional stability than an early 90s tyre, and the rather aggressive stock numbers should be dialed back a lot. I finally did the alignment myself on a proper racing setup ramp with corner weights and strings, and with my own numbers I can honestly say it is the best car I’ve ever driven. My money is on Ben’s car having an imperfect alignment. Tell him to take it to String Theory. He will make it handle perfectly.
You have to pay good money to get a good condition NSX. What you are paying for is quality and reliability. You may pay the same for the Ferrari, but can you afford to maintain it and drive it as much as an NSX?
There's a certain CAdence to the way you TALK. You EMPhasize certain syllables and WORDS in a very RELIABLE pattern. I find it both SOOTHING and informative.
- Engine topping at 7.6K is not normal: it means you have no VTEC. Not enough oil pressure is probably the root problem, but it could be a more severe problem. It needs to be looked at. - Loose steering is also not normal at all. Doing that wobble on a well maintained NSX would drive you out of the road. - Harsh ride is due to dead suspension bushings. Very common on older cars, especially sport cars with such a sensitive suspension setup. FWIW an NSX with newer bushings ride a bit too soft. - Rear end was upgraded in 2001 (along with the headlights going bug eyed..) and closes up nicely the rounded rectangle shape of the rear. Retrofitting that rear end on earlier NSX is easy and common. - Honda went for that engine geometry due to room constraints: the engine is not a dry sump so it sits a bit high, also it's transverse, and they had even more issues when adding VTEC (late in the car development process) so they had to tilt the engine back a bit so it could fit at all. That V6 geometry also was inherited from their other V6 engines at the time which were all 90 degrees. It works, revs up over 8K RPM thanks to VTEC and titanium connecting rods - it was also designed by F1 engineers at the time, one may think they knew what they were doing...
9:45 That means the car was most likely an auto car when it left the factory and has been manual swapped (obviously lol). The auto cars had 250hp rather than the 276hp and the redline was reduced from 8,000rpm to 7,600rpm.
You need to understand, in the 80's when this vehicle was designed, cocaine had a big influence - which prolly explains the white interior and rear styling, need that nice flat deck to do those lines from. This is one of my favorite vehicles to drive though, manual steering, gearbox, visibility, and engine note are why I never parted with mine. Screw that timing belt job though, what a PITA.
This car was developed to be driven hard, like "Ayrton Senna" hard! If you drive it at 30mi/h, it is rubbish. Do a review on a racetrack and you'll understand what I mean. =)
A friend of a friend years ago told me the NSX wasn't as good as his MR2 Turbo, & since a few other people have told me he was right & all of them knew what they were talking about so i didn't argue because i couldn't.
Same as a top end Seiko that costs more than a GMT/Submariner. Exoticars are almost always about provenance and as good as the NSX is....the parents ain't got the history of her European peers.
Brand snobbery. Some people cant justifying paying top dollar for japanese car no matter how well engineered. The european stuff is sold at a higher price point. It should be better, but not necessarily. Toyota is more reliable than euro stuff.
What epic great looking INDIVIDUAL car, cars had character unlike today maybe that's how we become old. Unfortunately emissions charges have throttled NA cars , small engine petrol engines / electric now
I've been very fortunate in having driven the facelift 3.2 TypeR model, many years ago. This car sums up the "more than the sum of its parts" cliche. Nothing stands out on its own, but it was fabulous to drive, direct, responsive, crisp, and went very well considering the "276hp". We had an FD RX7 later and both still stand as the best drivers cars I've had the fortune to pedal. My mates 996 GT3 runs them close mind. Lottery win, I'd be looking for a 3.2 TypeR in a heart beat.
The reason the NSX is more expensive to buy now than an old Ferrari is that the old Ferraris were unreliable heaps of shit and the NSX was total the opposite, and the back end of the NSX is the prettiest part of the car in my humble opinion.
As an owner I think the steering numbness either side of dead centre is concerning and suggests maintenance issues. Harsh vibrations at low revs, and a hard ride should not be the case on a well maintained one. Also, the 90 degree V was to reduce the engine height. Power steering was default for autos and an option for manual cars a few years after the debut. Most people didn't bother to get the power steering installed in manuals and the rack ratio is preferable to that of the power steering rack. The manual rack is considered more precise - the NSX was noted for it's handling and steering performance so again it's unusual to hear that this example doesn't demonstrate this. The engine should rev to 8300rpm unless it is a auto-converted-manual which if the ECU is not modified properly will max out at about 7500rpm. Cam profiles and valve springs are also different between auto (252hp) and manual configured motors which have 276hp. Fun tip: Drive for a few metres up the road before planting your boot at 3300rpm in first gear until 80kmh and put a smile on your face. Cheers
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When you evaluate older cars, you need to know how fresh the suspension bushings are. James mentioned this NSX has different carrier bushings in the rear suspension. I'd say the others have also been replaced, given how well it responded to being hustled along a bit.
People almost universally wait for rubber bushings to fail, or at least to be very obviously cracked and failing, before even considering replacement. That's a big mistake, if you care about truly proper handling. And you CANNOT tell by looking at them. Dead bushings often look perfectly fine. Figure ten years or 75k miles, at the outside, whichever comes first. I speak from a lot of experience.
Unfortunately, enthusiasts very often install polyurethane replacements. Soon after, having screwed up a great car, they sell it. The vast majority of owners, i.e those NOT building a pure track car, should definitely use OEM-type replacements.
I've just wasted my time. Few will read this, fewer still will actually listen. Such is life.
I totally agree. OEM, especially on suspension, brakes and engine components.
No, you haven't wasted your time. Some of us still have the ability to read and learn. Sincerely, thank you.
Micheal I 200% agree I had a honda civic fn2 fully polybushed it then became unbearable as a daily hence sold.
I picked up another swapped out tired bushes for OEM it's a dream to drive and own . Lessons learnt
I read it and listened 🙂 Thanks for the advice!
Couldn't you switch out the poly bushings for OEM ones?
My dream car. I think it looks superb from all angles, internally and externally.
In my opinion this Nsx is a masterpiece in car engineering and a in design.
no, it's not just your opinion, man. It's reality. Objectively. period.
Even Gordon Murray said so.
The back end of the car is amazing don't know what this dude is talking about!
Your right to get a big trunk like that is awesome in a rear engine car
When you drive older cars you are comparing the drive to modern cars, you need to put yourself back in 1990s.
This was the first Supercar you could daily use.
Today we have cars with 600 plus hp but they just full of computers and numb and fake noise and this and that. The rear is cool
The point is to compare it to modern cars otherwise it would be a classic car review
Not a supercar at all. Not even close. It's just a *sports car* with an MR layout, just like the Toyota MR2 or Lotus Elise.
@@MDDeGrande1994 ehm no. Can't belief you typed that.
@@TheAdatto Uhhh yeah
🚗💨 You really should check your reality pulse mate. The Honda NSX is ingenious!
It’s the benchmark Ferrari and McLaren studied and copied to make their cars better.
When I see this car the first thing that comes into my head is Ayrton Senna great car
Yup...and the classic day in Suzuka IIRC there was this, the Accord and him driving his McLaren. He departs last and crosses the line first to show how fast an F1 car is. Great memories
Same here. His input into designing the car made this the ultimate super car.
A 90 degree angle can lower the centre of gravity of the engine in relation to the 60 degree, as it makes it less tall; wich translates to making it possible to place the engine lower in the car.
longitudinal V6, possibly..but the NSX was Transverse and mounted rather highish above the rear axle.
Mac Sixtyfive
When he is saying 90 degrees I think he is talking about angle between cylinder banks not degrees of tilt of the whole engine.
don't made the car faster than gt-r... which pretty sure not that good of weight transfer just used 4wd to solved that.
@@Mexxx65 The engine is not mounted above the rear axle, where do you get that from? It sits as low as feasible between the cockpit bulkhead and the rear axle. The boot sits above the rear axle.
All the Honda C-series engines were 90* designs. Honda probably stuck with this for the NSX as a cost-saving measure, as the block is related tot he Legend V6s. The later J-series were 60* V6 designs.
I have a 91 and it is the greatest car I have ever owned.
Me too
Great car you have, I remember looking for them when they were about 20k, Is it true the chassis doesnt rust?
@@NickWalenda yes, the chassis is made of aluminum which can’t rust
@@surry99 And the jack
Own my '91 since '15. A joy to drive, never thought I would have the one.
The reason an NSX costs as much as a Ferrari of same era is because it is basically as reliable and easy to maintain as a Honda Civic while offering super car looks and performance (90's supercar performance).
And it’s made with aluminum which is unheard of at the time.
Actually, the rear end of the NSX is my favorite view of the car. It was an underrated car, and it went toe to toe and even beat exotic cars of the day. Plus it had the Senna influence to back it 🙇🏻
Mr Wolf in “Pulp Fiction” also drives one- in grey😎🤚🏻
Grey to remain inconspicuous.
@@michaelisaacson9735 its actually sebring silver.
90 Deg V6 was done to lower the CoG. Also the steering wheel has a slow steering ratio I think for two reason. 1. slower ratio reduces driver effort it takes for turning on that manual rack. 2 to give you better highspeed control. Remember this was developed with a track like the Nurburgring in mind. Their promotional videos back in 1990 basically are basically the NSX driving on the Nurburgring and Suzuka.
interesting, I didn't know about the reason of the 90° V6. By any chance, do you recall the reference for this ?
Without the 90 deg bank angle it wouldn’t be possible to have DOHC VTEC
The steering being a little slower around the straight ahead is what enables the car to be such an effortless grand tourer. I've driven from the UK to the south of France & Italy in my car several times and it is a pleasure - you step out feeling fresher than any other car I've tried that with, certainly better than our BMW. Maintaining a high speed cruise you don't want a car that fidgets and tramlines on motorways; the steering is relaxed and easy going. However once you get onto the Route Napoleon you find that all the steering feel you need is right there once you have a few degrees of steering lock on.
I would own this over any ferrari and if it the engine break I would be able to actually fix it.
Truth is..unlike any other Honda, NSX (NA-1/2) parts are prohibitively expensive, engine and/or bodyparts.
The engine won't break mine is 500.000km...
@@hadrienlf23 Nice! The 300k (mile) club is not as exclusive as most people think with NSXs. I'll be there probably next year (287,000 miles at the moment). Parts-wise you do get to flip a coin though. Heads: It cross references to another Honda and is super cheap Tails: it's bespoke to the NSX and you're now in Porsche parts money territory. (with a middle ground of it doesn't cross reference, but an aftermarket supplier makes a better version for less than the OE part).
@Newblood A mildly built J series + boost is another option if you somehow grenade the C30/C32 (takes some doing)
I guess I'm cheap then! 😁😁
Well, I was really getting upset with all the put-downs on this magnificent car. Then, you took it back and you gained my thumbs up. I've been driving my 1991 for twenty years now, and each and every time it is still a thrill. I like the manual steering and I love the sound through the gears right behind me. The only thing wrong is that I cannot not go a hundred miles an hour whenever I'm in it!
The NSX is one of the most beautiful cars ever made! The design from front to back is one of the best designs.
I particularly like the backend of the nsx. To each his own
One of the many cars that I've never driven, but one of the very few that I wish I could. I really like the idea of the NSX - light, low, nimble and not with an excess of power. I even like the looks and whenever I've seen one in the metal, amazed at the seemingly tiny size of it.
Same here
I think you totally forgot this car is 30+ year old design. Your review is not period correct and missed the mark completely. You totally forgot that this car set a new standard for super cars in the early 90s.
Jay
I think the car you have driven must of had some suspension modification or tired bushings.. you are welcome to take my 91 NSX for a test drive... it has some upgrade which won’t disappoint...it will be different to the one you drove.
My car is completely oem and mint. It has only covered 57 k miles has a full and comprehensive service history 👍
@@s_s_s_cars Then why can't he rev up to 8000 rpm which would be normal for a manual version? (I had one too)
@@Fastvoice The rev limiter is cutting in slightly earlier at an indicated 7800 rpm on the tachometer but as the NSX makes its peak power at 7300 rpm i have left this alone.
The first NSX is a masterpiece, mechanically and aesthetically! Want one :)
I don't think I could ever sell my NSX...
Sooner or later they all go to a new care taker. It's likely my daughter will sell mine.
Can't agree with you on the back-end. The built-in spoiler, two exhausts and the long breaklights with the triangular extremities are really unique in my opinion.
Unpopular opinion. This is a better everyday supercar than the equivalent 911
Because it has less room in it, no rear seats or the lack of power steering and four wheel drive?. Where a 911 of this era fails is lack of a tow bar unlike the earlier model, I dont know if the NSX could be bought with a tow bar if it can then would agree may have some advantage as the lack of towing is what limits a 911
@@edword7195 hey if you want more seats and power steering buy a ford galaxy?
That wasn't an unpopular opinion. It very much sent everyone back to the drawing board for more refinement.
A friend of mine has one of the two NSX press release cars. One of the two was driven by Ayrton Senna at Silverstone. Much to his frustration, he hasn't been able to find out whether it was his car and Honda couldn't tell him either.
This bloke cannot talk ,he drives like victor meldrew!!!
The NSX, one of the best handling cars of its time, developed with the help of Aryton Senna, not good enough for Jay
I took this car to the Le Mans Classic in 2018 and it performed brilliantly. I really rate the engine, handling, refinement, quality of construction and as James mentioned the performance always surprises me after a long time between drives. One of my favourite cars in my collection 😍😍
@I yeah he told Honda it was fragile and they went back to the drawing board and improved it. I think Senna also tested it at the nurburgring. Bobby Rahal also helped in its development.
The bit where he says it defeats the point of being cheaper than a Ferrari of it's day....I don't agree with. Ferrari always (or nearly so) keep their value an go up, an Honda built a car cheaper but with the same sort of excitement, an did that so WELL, that they eventually started to hold value an, indeed, go stratospheric. I think they succeeded in what the point actually was. My 2 quid.
Other than that, I really like Jay's assessment of a legendary car. He doesn't embellish or go fan-boy on it, merely telling it like it is without the associated over-hyped praise this car has become known for. Of course, I still to this day would absolutely love to have the chance to own a 1st-gen NSX, however the collectors market is far too outside my budget to allow.
Its clear that he didn't like car before the video even started. It shows
@@Gnomosfortheoffice alot of the original reviewers were biased against it . Such as tiff needell. They claimed it was too perfect that it lacked soul etc.. they preferred cars with oil leaks, offset pedals quirky reliability. I guess it " enhanced" the driving experience. But Gordon Murray loved it and the nsx became his new benchmark for the Mclaren f1. He owned one for 7 years.
@@manuelaguirre1062 So true. That's how Brits review cars. When an Alfa Romeo or a Jag or an Aston Martin completely falls apart after 500 miles it's 'charming' and 'quirky'. When a Japanese or an American car has a bit of plastic in the interior then it's 'cheap' and 'horrible quality'.
@@Gnomosfortheoffice what good is a fancy leather interior if the cars electrics are crap. To each his own i guess.
Why the 90 degree V6 James..
I believe Honda just trying to be too smart, per normal! Their F1 racing engine of the day was a 90 degree V6, Honda just paying homage to their F1 success.
Some say the 90 Vee was to increase torque, others say to create more space for the intake plenum etcetc. I believe i've read that it was to lower the height of the V6. Brian Longs NSX book has the reference i think.
it all about angle...
It’s just right...
The C30A engine was based on the same block as the rest of the C-series family. That engine family powered many of the Legend and Accords in the late 80and and early 90s. Honda switched to a 60* V6 in the J series, and is still found in many current Hondas.
The wheels and tyre size are just perfect. Not a fan of low profile tyres and huge wheels.
I agree.
I'm currently looking for a set of aftermarket wheels for my Civic Type R (FN2)
The car comes standard with 18s, but I'm downsizing to 17s as I don't like a tiny looking sidewall.
@@mrdayumfine109 hi I have the same car as you it would be good to know if you change it to 17s with the thickest sidewall if it improves the ride? Apparently when people had 19ns on it it'd made it really bad
Appreciate the honest review. Like others have said I don't think the NSX you reviewed is in the best shape; low rpm vibrations, 7600rpm redline, notchy shifter, ratty interior, stiff ride probably worn out suspension. Also I wonder if the car has power steering; most NSX owners with no power steering complain about how heavy steering is at low speed.
Power steering wasn't introduced until 1994. Otherwise I agree with your comments
Oh man I've been waiting for one of these beauties
Same here 🥰
Me too
A few years ago ('15) I was talking to my brother about the NSX, "get some of your retirement money out and enjoy it". I did, the twin to the one here. Have the NSX phone, looks like a old home wall phone.
I own one - the ride in my standard car is magnificent, so not sure on what's going on with that one. The steering is also the best of any car I have driven, it never feels like you mention just off dead centre. The redline in mine was also limited when I bought it, this was due to oil gumming up the oilways in the head, causing the VTEC to not operate properly and the limiter to cut in early (7200rpm in mine). The fix was removal of the engine and heads, followed by a complete clean up. The length of the rear is long because of a few reasons: high-speed stability (favoured over drag coefficient), boot space (it had to have more than it's supercar rivals) and the wider VTEC heads called for a wider block than the original non-vtec prototype. Oh, and yes, the engine is rough as arseholes at idle - it all pays off with a blip of the throttle, though.
The "coming alive when driving hard" is probably because they tuned it to be that way. Still would love to have one.
This is a beautiful car, I love the design, not sure why you don't like the backend, this car looks like a Ferrari, beautiful seats
Ferrari uped their game after this car in terms of interior, reliability etc. Senna wanted a bit stiffer and more powerful. They kept it like this, for the road even though its still stiff. Handling was designed and tuned by Senna. We might not like it since we are not at his level. 90 degree V6 has a huge torque advantage also compared to a 60 degree one.
@I Ok. Thx for letting me know. Have you thought, maybe he could have done multiple sessions to fine tune. Or you are thinking he was lazy enough to do just one session and gave his verdict.
Drove one in Japan (90 model, no power steering) with lowered springs, and an exhaust. It was fantastic. Gears were a bit long, but other than that no complaints. Meet your heros.
The owner's manual, shift out of third at 112mph or you will over rev the engine. Yes, it does have tall gearing.
Kind of strange to have someone be rather bullish on the NA1 NSX. He really liked the AP1 S2000. Weird
Maybe because expectations or the condition of that respective car.
@@andipajeroking I don't get what you mean. Expectations of the S2000 were higher than the expectations of the NSX?
@@toniwonkanobi No, i was refering to the NSX. Maybe because he had higher expectations or the car condition was bad, or maybe both.
F40 aside, are any 90s Ferraris as iconic as the NSX. I might be wrong but I can’t think of another car that is as big a 90s icon.
I love them so much I’d swap an Alfa for it, which would be terrible news for my local mechanic’s mortgage.
Get I do think Hondas mission was to build a really fast and fun. car that was cheaper than a Ferrari. The money wasn’t something that came into the equation because it was just obvious that it would be cheaper than a Ferrari and the modern day nsx is a super car in all rights and Honda have every right to charge nearly as much as a Ferrari
I remember reading that Honda lost money on every nsx. The price was originally about 60 k and they quickly escalated upto 89 k. Not many were sold after about 3 yrs.
Jay, I think the car you drove had some issues that needed to be addressed through maintenance. Sounds like maybe a motor or transmission mount could be failing, though the 90* V6 was never as smooth as the 60* V6 that followed it. I also think this car needed new dampers. It should also be noted that the original Yokohama tires that were specific to this car are long discontinued.
Yokohama still make NSX-sized Advan Neova's though ;) and even for up-sized wheels (in 17+18). It's one of the very few tyre manufacturers that provide these specific sizes (front and rear are different !).
And yeah that car has a lot of issues: no VTEC - engine is in safe mode (cut off at 7.6K), this is not good at all.
Jay, you said it s not as confortable as a Ferrari. First you need to realize that like someone else said in the comments, the suspension bushings might not be stock or new. Amd the NSX is supposed to be a sports car. Many Ferraris are more of a Grand Tourer, therefore more confortable.
This, is one of a kind. Ferrari built several supercar models. Honda only one, and is the only Japanese supercar. It beat the Ferrari it was intended to beat. It is more practical and reliable than your usual supercar. For all of the reasons above, NSX is greater than almost any Ferrari. I would put it on the same podium with the F40, success wise.
Very jealous of you. My all time dream car. I hope one day I might be lucky enough to afford an NSX.
Are you blind?! This is still by far the best looking car to come out of Japan circa 1990.
Every other Japanese sports car has dated horribly - Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo, Supra Mk 4, Mitsubishi 3000 GT/GTO all look very dated now.
1982 datsun 280ZX still looks great..
the unicorn of my dreams
I am not sure what is wrong with the NSX you drive, but mine gives me a very comfortable ride through the bumpy roads, actually it absorbs bumps better than my Audi A4 with the 18in wheels, even my friends agree it's right quality is very comfortable but when we push it while cornering, it doesn't roll at all.
I think that's the magic about the NSX.
On the power steering, I am surprised when nobody complain the lack of power steering on some other Euro supercar, you complain on this JDM legend, I found it's a little unfair to be honest.
The lack of power steering, gives a very direct and best feel on the steering after all, I do prefer without it.
Nice video though...
Had mine for 25 years, ONLY to hear you give "backhanded compliments" LOL
Yes, it bruised me a bit. #00085 '91, bought '15
One of the reasons why this car is legendary is because they named it as the supercar you could use everyday day. You're either JDM or you're not really, J now a lucky Ferrari man, maybe a bit badge snobby....sorry just kidding it 🤣🤣and you're probably persuaded more with the romantic old Ferraris which we all love but we know would never be as reliable as this car. The back-end is what made it and NSX when you play computer games in the 90s you knew you were driving a JDM supercar👍 and the fact that Senna drove it to help with the set-up makes it legendary again plus Jezza and another journalists took on the track and said they were great to drive I might probably out handle most of other cars from that era👍 I think you should get one of the new NSX on the British roads cos I think you only drove it in the States I think it's a very underestimated car👍
Bang on about the badge influence.
I was swiping my credit card at “pop-up headlights”😋
Get yourself an NA Miata/MX5, you can get one of those with cash :)
I have a friend who is a contrarian, always like to go against the popular point of views on everything he sees.
The Honda NSX, Lotus Evora, and 1st gen Audi R8. Better than their rivals.
The rear always makes me think of playing Gran Turismo 2. It’s iconic even if not beautiful.
They have a great stance, especially the later cars.
I was 20 and i bought myself brandnew Vtec .
This was the untouchebel car,That age.
Ha ha loving the breakfast at Milliways reference
...which itself was a reference to Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass (though I didn't know that at the time).
I've been in a mk 1 driven hard , and it was unforgettable mind bending experience.
Why would you moan about the interior leather colour which was chosen by a buyer nearly thirty years ago. You’re not reviewing a new car you plank 🙄
Harsh.
@@richbiles230872 it was a bit in hind sight.
90 degree V6 has a lower centre of gravity because the bank angle is wider
This car is proof that the NSX was way ahead of its time. No other cars, other than a few other Japanese models were comparable to the NSX in 1991. The US only dominated in the 1960s.
I owned a stock circuit blue 2000 3.2 6 Speed from 2008 -2016. Yes the steering rack is a bit slow on tight corners but other than that on good tyres the car rode and handled well, you just have to remember it's mid engined and doesn't take kindly to lifting off the throttle mid corner. The engine on the reviewed car sounds off to me, should be able to redline it easily. The is a definite kick in power when the VTEC kicks in and the induction roar even from a stock engine is a joy. Surprised that Jay didn't mention that. In the 8 years I had mine nothing broke, just had annual servicing and new tyres plus a battery. The rear of the car is long but that in part is due to the large boot, which was built to hold two sets of golf clubs, as Honda aimed this car at the US market. Personally I loved it. Where are you now W2 NSX.
Drive a Lotus Evora GT and you'll see where the soul of the NSX went to :-)
This NSX was one of the best handling car in his era. Do you think Ayrton Senna made a mistake with helping develop this car? I dont think so... :D Just think about how much time this car spends on roads to these days.... ,
NSX is the best car!
Jay, we love you and value your opinions, even if don't agree. But for saying the rear of the NSX isn't nice, I think you should close your channel for 3 days and think about what you've done.
When I first got my 1991 NSX, I was pretty disappointed. The steering was numb around center and once you turned in it was too aggressive and oointy. The rear seemed to be fighting itself. A more aggressive wheel and tyre setup made it even worse. I had it aligned twice, without much improvement. The second time I asked for the numbers and it seems to me tgat the stock numbers in the most common systems used by shops must be incorrect. Either that, or it only works with everything else being stock. Most modern high performance tyres have way more directional stability than an early 90s tyre, and the rather aggressive stock numbers should be dialed back a lot.
I finally did the alignment myself on a proper racing setup ramp with corner weights and strings, and with my own numbers I can honestly say it is the best car I’ve ever driven.
My money is on Ben’s car having an imperfect alignment. Tell him to take it to String Theory. He will make it handle perfectly.
It was riding on AD08Rs which are pretty firm. I'll pass on the advice to him
JayEmm on Cars Same as on mine, actually. Great tyres! He seems to me on a more stock size, so he cam probably be closer to a stock alignment.
I really like these...they are fantastic!
You have to pay good money to get a good condition NSX. What you are paying for is quality and reliability. You may pay the same for the Ferrari, but can you afford to maintain it and drive it as much as an NSX?
There's a certain CAdence to the way you TALK. You EMPhasize certain syllables and WORDS in a very RELIABLE pattern. I find it both SOOTHING and informative.
I'm glad somebody actually likes it lol
The looks of the early model remind me of a Flymo hover mower!
- Engine topping at 7.6K is not normal: it means you have no VTEC. Not enough oil pressure is probably the root problem, but it could be a more severe problem. It needs to be looked at.
- Loose steering is also not normal at all. Doing that wobble on a well maintained NSX would drive you out of the road.
- Harsh ride is due to dead suspension bushings. Very common on older cars, especially sport cars with such a sensitive suspension setup. FWIW an NSX with newer bushings ride a bit too soft.
- Rear end was upgraded in 2001 (along with the headlights going bug eyed..) and closes up nicely the rounded rectangle shape of the rear. Retrofitting that rear end on earlier NSX is easy and common.
- Honda went for that engine geometry due to room constraints: the engine is not a dry sump so it sits a bit high, also it's transverse, and they had even more issues when adding VTEC (late in the car development process) so they had to tilt the engine back a bit so it could fit at all. That V6 geometry also was inherited from their other V6 engines at the time which were all 90 degrees. It works, revs up over 8K RPM thanks to VTEC and titanium connecting rods - it was also designed by F1 engineers at the time, one may think they knew what they were doing...
i love this car.. would be so keen for a review one day
9:45 That means the car was most likely an auto car when it left the factory and has been manual swapped (obviously lol). The auto cars had 250hp rather than the 276hp and the redline was reduced from 8,000rpm to 7,600rpm.
Amazing, the first review of an NSX without a mention of Senna. His involvement was hyped anyway so maybe it is just as well.
Honda's F1 connection with the car at the time, and not a bad one as time has said!
90degree is for packaging reasons.....coz for a smooth v6 with a no flying crank it needs to be at 120degree
for a 90s car it is still a good looking car
This is a classic car ,Senna had a hand developing this car,Unique stunning car.
One of my dream cars. The back-end is one of its main beauty in my opinion. Im an ass guy and I droll on NSX back-end.
Watched the video; proceeded to search NSX in the local car classifieds. Always loved these
Should try driving the legendary NSX type R!
It's a blast. Would kill for the opportunity to drive one.
Come to New Zealand when the borders open, might be able to help you there ;)
@@toadblurt1225 that would be fantastic! I appreciate the thought!
I'm not a Honda fanboy or anything, but this and the DC2 are both beautiful cars. Don't agree with you on the looks, but nice video as usual!
I don’t care if someone already said it - Jay Emm & Emm
I have a red 1996 Supercharged NSX-T. Love it. It was designed in California and hand built in Japan. Perfect combination.
I see an NSX, I click the video.
You need to understand, in the 80's when this vehicle was designed, cocaine had a big influence - which prolly explains the white interior and rear styling, need that nice flat deck to do those lines from. This is one of my favorite vehicles to drive though, manual steering, gearbox, visibility, and engine note are why I never parted with mine. Screw that timing belt job though, what a PITA.
This car was developed to be driven hard, like "Ayrton Senna" hard! If you drive it at 30mi/h, it is rubbish. Do a review on a racetrack and you'll understand what I mean. =)
I think any car at 30 m/h would be rubbish lol :P I could walk faster than that
@@toadblurt1225 better?
@@L3aRn2Th1nK Yes, you could be if you practiced :D
A friend of a friend years ago told me the NSX wasn't as good as his MR2 Turbo, & since a few other people have told me he was right & all of them knew what they were talking about so i didn't argue because i couldn't.
For me the NSX is the best JDM car ever produced.
Honestly one of the best automotive journalist on TH-cam 💯💯 very nice selection of cars very good content !!
Everybody said that they were great.... so why did so few ever get sold?
Overpriced
Same can be said of the latest model
Vanity? Paying that much most people would prefer a porshe badge perhaps?
Same as a top end Seiko that costs more than a GMT/Submariner.
Exoticars are almost always about provenance and as good as the NSX is....the parents ain't got the history of her European peers.
Brand snobbery. Some people cant justifying paying top dollar for japanese car no matter how well engineered. The european stuff is sold at a higher price point. It should be better, but not necessarily. Toyota is more reliable than euro stuff.
@@manuelaguirre1062 I agree with you on that. But that's how it goes.
Sorry but you are totally lost when it comes to NSX’s looks. She is a timeless beauty.
I actually think the rear is wonderful. Had one 24 years ago and looking at buying another :)
It’s not a pretty rear, I agree, nice VR46 sticker, thanks.
What epic great looking INDIVIDUAL car, cars had character unlike today maybe that's how we become old.
Unfortunately emissions charges have throttled NA cars , small engine petrol engines / electric now
90 is most harmonious
I've been very fortunate in having driven the facelift 3.2 TypeR model, many years ago. This car sums up the "more than the sum of its parts" cliche. Nothing stands out on its own, but it was fabulous to drive, direct, responsive, crisp, and went very well considering the "276hp". We had an FD RX7 later and both still stand as the best drivers cars I've had the fortune to pedal. My mates 996 GT3 runs them close mind. Lottery win, I'd be looking for a 3.2 TypeR in a heart beat.
Man that sounds good even with that exhaust
The reason the NSX is more expensive to buy now than an old Ferrari is that the old Ferraris were unreliable heaps of shit and the NSX was total the opposite, and the back end of the NSX is the prettiest part of the car in my humble opinion.
As an owner I think the steering numbness either side of dead centre is concerning and suggests maintenance issues. Harsh vibrations at low revs, and a hard ride should not be the case on a well maintained one. Also, the 90 degree V was to reduce the engine height. Power steering was default for autos and an option for manual cars a few years after the debut. Most people didn't bother to get the power steering installed in manuals and the rack ratio is preferable to that of the power steering rack. The manual rack is considered more precise - the NSX was noted for it's handling and steering performance so again it's unusual to hear that this example doesn't demonstrate this. The engine should rev to 8300rpm unless it is a auto-converted-manual which if the ECU is not modified properly will max out at about 7500rpm. Cam profiles and valve springs are also different between auto (252hp) and manual configured motors which have 276hp.
Fun tip: Drive for a few metres up the road before planting your boot at 3300rpm in first gear until 80kmh and put a smile on your face.
Cheers
Living a dream here pal.
The looks are fantastic imho