• Protip: Profile posts are public! Use Conversations to message other members privately. Everyone can see the content of a profile post.

Another 100K survivor

Joined
28 January 2002
Messages
1,661
Location
Saskatchewan, Canada
I know it won't come as a surprise to any forum regulars but yet another NSX (mine - a 91) passed the 100K mark this week (I only mention it because someone was taking a poll earlier this year).

The first 85K+ miles were mostly highway in So Cal; the ones around 90K included time on the PIR road course; and the last 8K (since Nov) were as a daily driver in everything from snow and ice at -30F to rain and heat at +90F.

Outside of the usual 90K service and a new clutch around the same time, it has been mechanically bullit-proof; still runs like it was new; and overall has been a wonderful ownership experience.

------------------
91 Blk/Blk
 
Heck...I BOUGHT mine with over 100k on the clock. Oh, and I never considered it a "survivor". I would expect the NSX engine to last at least 200k with just regular maintenance (oil changes and tune-ups).

------------------
'91 Black/Black
 
main_logo1.jpg
 
Originally posted by NSX2398:
I know it won't come as a surprise to any forum regulars but yet another NSX (mine - a 91) passed the 100K mark this week (I only mention it because someone was taking a poll earlier this year).

The first 85K+ miles were mostly highway in So Cal; the ones around 90K included time on the PIR road course; and the last 8K (since Nov) were as a daily driver in everything from snow and ice at -30F to rain and heat at +90F.

Outside of the usual 90K service and a new clutch around the same time, it has been mechanically bullit-proof; still runs like it was new; and overall has been a wonderful ownership experience.


Haven't you noticed that you're NOT in the Corvette Forum, where a 100k + miles C-5 without problems is the exception rather than the rules?
rolleyes.gif
tongue.gif
(j/k)

[This message has been edited by Zanardi 50 (edited 28 June 2002).]
 
Congratulations on the milestone 2398! Hopefully you will have another 100k miles of trouble-free motoring.

I would like to ask one question about driving the NSX in less than ideal weather conditions. I am in Dallas right now and I do not know where I will be living in the next year(looking for a new job). Thus, I am a bit hesitant to purchase an NSX at this juncture because I may live in the cold and will have to buy a beater which I dont want to do.

Thanks for any replies from 2398 or anyone else on this subject.
 
Originally posted by Edwardo:
I am in Dallas right now and I do not know where I will be living in the next year(looking for a new job). Thus, I am a bit hesitant to purchase an NSX at this juncture because I may live in the cold and will have to buy a beater which I dont want to do.

The NSX is not a great car in the snow. Yes, it's possible to put winter tires on it, but its ground clearance (even stock) is still pretty low. Most of us who live in colder climes have another car that we use in the winter.
 
Here you go:


nsxsurvivor.jpg



I still have a while before I join that club!
smile.gif


------------------
1993 White NSX, 70K miles and running STRONG!
 
Thus, I am a bit hesitant to purchase an NSX at this juncture because I may live in the cold and will have to buy a beater which I dont want to do.

Thanks for any replies from 2398 or anyone else on this subject.[/B]

I was going to point you to the article I wrote ("NSX as a Winter Beater") that was featured on the NSXSC site a month or so ago but it seems to have disappeared since they re-did the site. It covered the pros/cons and documented my experiences/experiments.

Starting Jan 15, I drove my NSX daily in snow/ice conditions up to about 4" deep with absolutely no problems. The only special prep was to mount 60 Series (which give you an extra 3/4" clearance vs 50 Series) Michelin Arctic Alpins. If your car has been lowered, you'll probably want to put it back to OEM height. Believe it or not, the official NSX ground clearance spec is greater than for my Acura 1.6EL Sedan !! (Acura Canada's version of an upscale Civic)

You'll encounter many well-intentioned nay-sayers but from personal experience I know that with proper prep, the car is more than capable.


------------------
91 Blk/Blk
 
Originally posted by nsxtasy:
2398,

What do you do when the snow is deeper than 4 inches?

Actually, with the 60 series tires, the clearance is more than 4 inches (closer to 6 if I recall correctly) but I presume you're really asking what I'd do if it was higher than the bottom of the chin spoiler.

As I'm sure you're aware (living in Chicago), it's really only an issue on the residential streets until enough people have driven down them to create a packed driving lane. Any major or collector streets rapidly get packed down well before the plows get out so I'd just work from home for a few hours before venturing out.

Prior to the NSX, I drove a Mercury Mystique and Ford Probe GT and in those 10 years, I can't recall ever not being able to get to work or getting stuck due to heavy snowfall... and neither of those had any more ground clearance than the NSX and neither had a limited slip differential or the newer generation snow tires although both were front wheel drive.

------------------
91 Blk/Blk
 
Still, I wouldn't want to go out in snow or ice in my NSX.

One other thing - I pay only a small fraction of my insurance on the NSX during the winter, since I can turn off the liability and collision coverages.
 
NSX2398, interesting that you are surprised about making the 100k.if they are still around look at the the dyno pulls from the last nsxpo.besides the hp and torque they show the year and miles.I saw several in the 180k area for milage and the dynos were good.you should have years of driving pleasure ahead! enjoy and when your kids done with it he/she can pass it on to your grand children
wink.gif

David
 
2398,

Thanks for getting back with me on my question. That is a great article. I think it is amazing that the NSX's TCS can handle ice and light snow so well(and your tires). I guess I will not refrain from buying an NSX for fear I may soon live in an intemperate climate.

Thanks again for the assistance 2398!
 
NSX2398 said:
Prior to the NSX, I drove a Mercury Mystique and Ford Probe GT and in those 10 years, I can't recall ever not being able to get to work or getting stuck due to heavy snowfall... and neither of those had any more ground clearance than the NSX and neither had a limited slip differential or the newer generation snow tires although both were front wheel drive.

------------------
91 Blk/Blk

NSX 2398:

I was just doing some random searching on this website and came across your post. I'm currently facing the driveway and ground clearance problems many others have faced. I saw that you mentioned you drove a Ford Probe GT and it didn't "have any more ground clearance than the NSX". I'm currently driving a 1996 Ford Probe GT (on a side note, I'm not a huge fan of Ford, but I've loved driving the Probe) and I have no problems with my driveway even though it is sloped. Just wondering if your claim is accurate, i.e. if my Probe has no problems with my driveway, then the NSX wouldn't either. I think I might be okay but I'm just trying to cover all of my bases.

If any others read this post, I'm just wondering, will I have more problems with the curb at the end of my driveway, or will entering the garage be an issue (i.e. where the driveway slope ends and the garage floor flattens out). Obviously it depends on each individual situation, but I'm sure, in general, people have had more problems with one rather than the other. Based on what I've been reading, it seems the curb is the biggest problem, but I've also seen posts talking about having to enter their garage at an angle.
 
I think you might be mis-interpreting what I was referring to when I was talking about ground clearance. I was really talking about the depth of snow you can drive through on a street. I think what you're referring to is more accurately referred to in the 4x4 world as 'angle of attack' which is basically the change in angle of the road surface that the vehicle can tolerate without scraping.

So although two cars can have the same ground clearance, it's really how the front fascia (ahead of the front wheels) is designed that determine if you're going to scape on driveways or not. Many sports cars have a front fascia which extends almost horizontally from the front tires forward to minimize the effects of lift at high speeds, and that lack of an upswept "under nose" is what will give you problems on driveway approaches.

I don't have a very steep driveway and yet I can't back straight out onto the street without scraping .. but I never do that anyway. My house fronts onto a straight street and I always do a 90 degree turn into the driveway and never have a problem. Likewise, I always turn RIGHT into mall parking lots or businesses .. never LEFT across a lane(s) of traffic and then straight into the driveway. And if the driveway approach looks steep, go out of your way to hit it at the shallowest angle you can.

And in case you missed it earlier, don't buy an NSX with a lowered suspension if you're going to lose sleep over what I just said. Some of the aftermarket front lips can cause you extra grief as well in that they can lower your angle of attach even further.

I haven't found it unmanagable with a stock car .. but I don't live in San Fran either. Good luck

ps. Actually, I'm not a big Ford fan either but the 93+ Probe GT was a great performance bargain for a front driver for its time .. and several car magazines agreed. The Mystique, on the other hand, was marginal but I had to have a daily driver while I was looking for the NSX
 
NetViper said:
Here you go:


nsxsurvivor.jpg

Very cool.

I should be there by the end of the year. I just can't stop driving it.

I like other cars, but I just have to wait until I can have them all! :biggrin:
 
Back
Top