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NSX Pitfalls ?

Nev

New Member
Joined
19 June 2002
Messages
4
Location
Ireland
Hi guys ,

I'm new to this forum and this probably has been asked before but I would appreciate any help you could give.

I currently drive a 1998 Integra R and would never think of parting with it but for the fact that I have come across a 1996 NSX-T. So far I've done alot of research on servicing and parts cost , the fact that some rigidity is lost because of the T. The car has 37k miles on it at the moment. As you can appreciate , anyone who knows anything about cars would aspire to NSX ownership and as in my case as this is my dream car Im very tempted but I do have the budget of a Type R owner. While I would bear the cost of expensive clutch and t/belt changes I was wondering about any pitfalls associated with owning an NSX.

Are they as durable as other Honda/Acura models , re 20k miles per year without problems ? I don't plan to take the car to the track but I do plan to drive it as a main car and so would easily clock up 20k miles in a year.

Also , in relation to the NSX-T specifically - any problems with leaks ?

Many thanks again

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Eugene
 
You may wish to repost this question under the "General NSX Discussion" forum on this site. The area you have posted to deals pretty specifically with the operation of the WEBSITE not the CAR.

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'91 Black/Black
 
I almost bought a Type-R for a beater car but the dealer wanted more than list so I got a fully loaded Dinan M3 S3 instead. Type-R vs. NSX, no contest, NSX. The Type-R is probably one of the best handling front drivers in existence, but it's a front driver (duh!). The NSX is a much better car, though unlike the Type-R, you can't throw your road bike in the back. Reliability is rock solid. If you pick a good specimen and have it inspected by a qualified mech, I don't think you'll have any regrets. Plus, NSXs don't get stolen nearly so regularly as Type-Rs. BTW, email Ken Sax for a more detailed comparison. He's very knowledgeable about both.
 
Thanks, Number9. I do know a bit about both, since I own one of each, and take both of them to the track; the ITR is my daily driver. However, it doesn't sound like the question is about which is the "better" car. Clearly, the performance of the NSX is far superior to the ITR. On the other hand, the ITR has other attributes that make it a more versatile vehicle (like a back seat, plus better traction in rain and snow).

Nev, it appears that you have reviewed much of the information on these forums, as you have already anticipated that the occasional repair (clutch) and scheduled maintenance (timing belt and water pump) on the NSX is likely to be more expensive than on the ITR.

To address the specific questions you have raised:

Originally posted by Nev:
Are they as durable as other Honda/Acura models , re 20k miles per year without problems ? I don't plan to take the car to the track but I do plan to drive it as a main car and so would easily clock up 20k miles in a year.

You can easily drive 30K kilometers (20K miles) per year (year
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) without unexpected problems. However, you will replace tires at a much more rapid rate than on your ITR. The OEM tires, with Honda's recommended alignment settings, will give you terrific handling, but you will find yourself replacing rear tires every 5K to 15K kilometers (3-10K miles), and front tires every 15K to 30K km (10-20K miles).

Obviously, other things on the car can go wrong, just as they can on the ITR, but it's quite uncommon to hear of an NSX that has frequent, expensive problems. (There is one fellow here who is an exception, but he is indeed quite the exception.)

That '95 will probably require replacement of the engine hatch struts and trunk lid struts soon if they have not recently been done. They seem to last around 5-6 years before losing their oomph and failing to hold up their end of the bargain. Figure about USD100 per pair for replacement.

Originally posted by Nev:
Also , in relation to the NSX-T specifically - any problems with leaks ?

Leaks? No. Squeaks? Yes - but they are easy to address; click here and scroll down to where it says, "Why Does The T-Top Squeak?"

No other common problems for the '95 come to mind. Go for it, and enjoy it!
 
Many thanks NSXTASY and Number 9. It's always great to have help when you're entering unchartered territory. As you can well imagine there aren't too many NSX's in Ireland and there is only one dealer in Belfast.

All in all I would go for the NSX in a heartbeat. In fact , if money was no object I'd buy a new one. I wasn't really pushed as regards changing the Integra until I saw the NSX. I've driven BMWs and Subarus and they really don't put the Integra in the shade at all. In fact the R is a far , far better balanced car than any of them. The NSX though is good enough for me not to even test drive , for me to be impressed. But unfortunately I'm that age (34) where wisdom gives way to youth on important things. I know I would be dropping back 2 years to a '96 car but I would be halfing my mileage. That in itself wouldn't deter me but the running costs are substantial so I have to let the head rule the heart as much as I can. Just as a taste , my insurance will be $2,500 , annual road tax $1,000 , 2 rear tyres $1,000 per year , possible clutch replacement at some stage $3,000 , t/belt change $1,500.

I'm going to see the car tomorrow but I'll leave the cheque book behind as I know Ill be tempted too much to buy it on the spot. Ill let you know how I get on.

Oh , one last question , do the doors have plastic inserts or are they all aluminium ?

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Eugene

[This message has been edited by Nev (edited 20 June 2002).]
 
Originally posted by Nev:
2 rear tyres $1,000 per year , possible clutch replacement at some stage $3,000

At 20K miles per year, you'll be buying a lot more tires than two rears. Probably more like four rears and two fronts, maybe more. Figure $1500 per year for tires, at least, maybe more. But the clutch replacement figure sounds high; here they're typically around $2200 or so.

Originally posted by Nev:
do the doors have plastic inserts or are they all aluminium?

The outer body panel is all aluminum. On the interior panel, the gathered portion and arm rest are leather, the rest is plastic.
 
fyi, i know ken likes to go "by the book" on everything but there are MUCH cheaper alternatives for tires that many of us are using without issues at all.

i put around 20,000 miles a year on the car as well, and generally go thru 1 set of fronts per year and 2 sets rear, and purchase from tire track or tires.com (whoever is cheaper that week) and go with Michelin or Kuhmos at just over $100 per tire generally. so thats well under $1000 for tires for the entire year. i have no idea though if or how expensive it is for net tire dealers to ship to ireland.
 
Thanks robr. In Ireland tires 16" and above or anything non standard is woefully expensive. For instance on my ITR which has 195/55/15's I pay around $133 per tire so God knows what 17's for the NSX will be.

All in all though they will have to be budgeted for. You guys don't know how lucky you are in the States when it comes to cars. Everything here costs the earth. In fact a new NSX would cost $150,000. Then we have to pay over $3 per gallon for gas.

BTW , what kind of mileage long haul travelling between 60mph and 70mph would you expect ?



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Eugene
 
SoCal , how would the S2000 rate against the NSX ? I can source a new S2000 for the same money as a 1996 NSX ? Insurance here for both would be the same.

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Eugene
 
Just made the trip from Austin to Dallas/Fort Worth, around 150 miles each way, give or take. Got 25 mpg, but that included some driving around town, and the average speed on the highway was probably a bit higher. YMMV
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Originally posted by Nev:
In Ireland tires 16" and above or anything non standard is woefully expensive. For instance on my ITR which has 195/55/15's I pay around $133 per tire so God knows what 17's for the NSX will be.

Maybe not that much more than here. The OEM tires on the ITR (Bridgestone RE010, which should sound familiar to NSX owners) cost $158 each at the Tire Rack, the most popular Internet tire seller in the States.

Originally posted by Nev:
BTW , what kind of mileage long haul travelling between 60mph and 70mph would you expect ?

For mostly long-distance traveling, you can expect 24-28 mpg. I drove 450 miles on one tank at 80 mph without stopping and filled it with 16 gallons. Of course, if you're in Ireland and you drive 450 miles without stopping, you'll be underwater.
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Originally posted by Nev:
how would the S2000 rate against the NSX ? I can source a new S2000 for the same money as a 1996 NSX ? Insurance here for both would be the same.

Before our German friend chimes in, you might want to check out these topics:
http://www.nsxprime.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000508.html
http://www.nsxprime.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/002957.html
http://www.nsxprime.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/004835.html
 
I am fortunate enough to have both and would make the following observations: The S2000
feels much lighter (ie, less stable) at high speeds or at the limits of cornering. I was actually quite unnerved when I first hit my favorite on-ramp hard. The NSX feels torquier
in the midrange and its V-Tech point occurs sooner and is more pronounced. The S has good brakes, at least as good as the NSX. They are both tight, precise driving machines
but the NSX will always be my favorite.
 
Originally posted by JimK:
I am fortunate enough to have both and would make the following observations: The S2000
feels much lighter (ie, less stable) at high speeds or at the limits of cornering. I was actually quite unnerved when I first hit my favorite on-ramp hard. The NSX feels torquier
in the midrange and its V-Tech point occurs sooner and is more pronounced. The S has good brakes, at least as good as the NSX. They are both tight, precise driving machines
but the NSX will always be my favorite.
Amen. However, I disagree with you about the NSX brakes being better than the S2000. The Stook stops BETTER than the NSX IMHO. Maybe it's due to the lighter curb weight of the S. (~2700lbs. vs. 2970lbs. Zanardi NSX). Also the little roadster gets more nods from chicks than the NSX, esp. the cute-looking ones that aren't into cars.
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I guess most chicks don't dig the NSX. But if I only have one car to keep, I'd take the NSX.
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[This message has been edited by Zanardi 50 (edited 01 July 2002).]
 
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