NSXs in the workplace....strange thing happened today.

[Meeyatch1]

So I am used to people not knowing what my NSX is, as I live in Indiana where every sports car MUST be either a Corvette or a Ferrari according to most people I encounter. Well, a pretty refreshing thing happened today that followed up a surprise last week too.

I just started a new job and one of the ladies that works there came up to me and said, 'Is that your white NSX out there,' to which I confirmed it was, and asked how she knew what it was. 'Well, my husband used to have one. They are wonderful cars'. I was stunned someone knew what it was, and was even more surprised that she and her husand had owned a Sebring Silver one. Then I go out to the parking lot and find a note on my car that says, 'Not that I am hitting on you, but your car is H.O.T.T.!!'.

Today I go in to work and another co-worker sees my laptop background is my car and he says, 'I used to have a car like that,' and I am stunned. Another one? Sure enough, he used to have a '98 NSX-T with a Comptech Supercharger and I-Forged wheels and some other mods. 'Best car ever made,' he said. Again, I agreed.

I had to ponder how unusual it is to have 2 people in my same department (sales) who owned NSXs and loved them. Both sold because they had kids. I told them both that the easier solution would be to do what I did and just buy another car. LOL!!

So how many of you have had people either comment on your NSX, or also have owned one. For Indiana, this was highly unusual.

P.S. -- On the way home I stopped at a grocery store and had a total stranger in a new 3-Series stop me and say, 'That's an NSX right? The best car ever made'. I was so proud of my baby NSX. :redface:

 

[docjohn]

where the hell have you been lately:redface:

 

[BATMANs]

Was there a man in a black suit and cave standing somewhere in that dream of urs?

 

[LJZ]

Mitch, I am an expat Torontonian living in Farmington Hills, MI. I have a Formula Red /94 totally stock w/approx 29,000 miles on it. The reactions to this car are pretty interesting (discounting of course the knuckleheads that immediately issue the challenge as soon as they see a red sports car the looks like a Ferrari -- kind of like a bull seeing the matador's cape -- these guys I do my very best to ignore).

Most of the general population has no idea what it is -- they figure Ferrari or similar other exotic and are rather surprised to learn that its a Honda. On the other hand, aside from owners and former owners, there is a small group that recognize the car and actually know a fair amount about it. Other than the usual suspects (i.e. guys like me who have been reading Car and Driver, Motor Trend, Car (the British mag), etc. since they were 10 years old), there are those folks who surprise you with their knowledge. Two quick examples come to mind. A month or so ago I was exiting the local auto parts store one afternoon and getting back into the NSX when a kid came walking through the parking lot and approached -- as he did he said "sick car man"! Now, being a shade north of 50 I was initially not sure what to make of this until he started talking to me and further complemented the car. It dawned on me that the word "sick" in today's teenager parlance means something along the lines of "nice" of "great". At any rate, this kid knew all about the car as evidenced by the questions he was asking -- among other things, he wanted to know if it had the 3.0 litre or 3.2! Then there was the kid at the local bicycle shop who as I walked in asked me if I had the NSX parked in front -- all he could see from his work station was the passenger door. He too knew a fair amount about the car. I wonder if this derives from playing video games where the NSX appears?

In any event, I like to fly under the radar -- just as well IMHO that most people don't recognize the car!

On another note, when I lived in Toronto (Bayview/Sheppard area), Barrie was a town -- guessing now it is more like a suburb of Toronto.

Best,
Jeff

 

[tbromley]

Interesting Meeyatch - I can truthfully say that will most likely never happen to me. But every once in a while I find someone that knows what it is. That's always cool.

 

[mickeylex]

Great story, Mitch. And good to see new posts from you on Prime. :smile:

 

[SaleenS7Rs]

I only thought there was a black one around my area. I had a women come up to me in CVS and said "is that your silver NSX out there?" I said "yeah why?" She begins to explain her husband owns a red one. She also said she believes there is a yellow one in blue bell possibly but that was a year ago. I was shocked! I thought it was just me and one other guy. Everybody else said yeah I only saw yours around here ever or they know of the black one also. I guess these other two cars dont see the road to much. I remember when I was 16 or 17 and there was only two a red and silver one which are both sold now and gone from this area.

 

[clr1024]

Small world sometimes when it comes to the NSX. I am used to most people not knowing what the car is, by name or by seeing it, if that makes sense.

Not at work but interesting coincidence non the less. I started dating my current GF about a year and half ago, and in the begining we were talking about cars on the phone and she casually asked what kind of car I drove, not in a gold digging way just curiousity. Anyway I just said I had a couple Acura's and left it at that, she pressed so I said a Legend and an NSX, figuring she wouldn't know what it is or think I must of meant RSX (Several people have tried to correct me when I say I drive an NSX...they say you mean RSX...pretty sure I know what car I drive) Anyway turns out not only does she know what it is but her brother owns one, she has driven his and one of her former coworkers has one. Small world at times.

 

[ForceFed]

There are enough in the seattle area and even 5 I know of in Bellingham (pretty small town) so surprisingly a lot of locals know about them. All are pretty impressed with the cars and even the most hardcore muscle car die hards give me props on the car which is pretty cool.

Had a guy on a Harley (hardcore biker looking guy) flag me down while I was yielding before getting on the freeway, gives me the roll the windows down sign, asks me "is that thing rear wheel drive", said yes, "thats badass" lol.

I think because we have a Japanese muscle car with RWD it gets a lot more respect from a diverse group of people.

 

[Aluminsx]

I only thought there was a black one around my area. I had a women come up to me in CVS and said "is that your silver NSX out there?" I said "yeah why?" She begins to explain her husband owns a red one. She also said she believes there is a yellow one in blue bell possibly but that was a year ago. I was shocked! I thought it was just me and one other guy. Everybody else said yeah I only saw yours around here ever or they know of the black one also. I guess these other two cars dont see the road to much. I remember when I was 16 or 17 and there was only two a red and silver one which are both sold now and gone from this area.

I bought the yellow one you're talking about (unless there are two of them). It now lives in New York. With three other yellow ones within 40 miles (that I know about)

 

[Meeyatch1]

where the hell have you been lately:redface:

Due to a confidentiality agreement, I cannot say.

 

[Meeyatch1]

...On another note, when I lived in Toronto (Bayview/Sheppard area), Barrie was a town -- guessing now it is more like a suburb of Toronto.

Best,
Jeff

Yes, Barrie is growing quickly. A little over a month ago I was driving on Dunlop Street going through downtown and saw a Berlina Black NSX parked off next to Pizza Pizza and it was filthy dirty. I have only ever seen 2 or 3 NSXs in Barrie, and one belonged to the owner of Acura Of Barrie.

 

[Meeyatch1]

Great story, Mitch. And good to see new posts from you on Prime. :smile:

Thank you very much. I should have some other interesting stuff to post soon.

 

[Hksdrager7]

Some one should make a skit with batman pulling up in his batmobile and "say nice car" to the guy driving the nsx.

 

[nsxtasy]

Good luck with the new job, Mitch. And don't be such a stranger!

 

[goldNSX]

Looks like you have nice and friendly co-workers at your new job. :wink:

 

[zhaninsx]

In the three months I have owned my stock 98-T (previous car was a Boxster), I have realized that the NSX is something special, even more than the P car. Here's a summary of various incidents (all positive) that have happened while it has been in my ownership:

- My wife and I stopped off at a number of rest stops on the drive back from CA (where we bought the car) to Seattle. On each occasion, at least one person, usually more, would come up and talk to us about the car. A few had owned one before, others had always desired one, others still didn't know what it was but were curious. All were amazed that the car was 12 years old but looked brand new. There was never a negative comment about it being Japanese.

- On the second day back in Seattle, I was pulled over for not having the permit displayed in the correct window (CA puts it in the front, WA wants it in the back). After correcting the issue, the police woman said "Beautiful car" before letting me go with a smile.

- The sales guy who sits in the office next to mine immediately wanted to see the car as soon as he heard I'd gotten one. Down we go to the parking lot and spend 15 minutes showing off the car and opening the engine hood cover etc. His neighbor had owned one a while ago and he just adored the thing. You could tell he was ever so slightly jealous.

- My wife thinks its fun to look out the window while driving around town and in parking lots etc and seeing the reaction on people's faces when we pass by in the NSX. Most of the time its the wide open jaw drop, sustained for several seconds, usually from guys but sometimes from a few women as well. Now and again we get the full body turn as we go by, combined with the jaw drop. They are always more fun to observe.

- We were at a party at a friends house a month or so back and I was forced into telling an acquaintance what car I'd bought (I don't normally like telling people, even when I owned the P-car). Word spread like wildwire and within a few minutes EVERYONE in the party was outside just gawping at the car.

- A few of my neighbors, some of them elderly, happened to be passing when I was out washing the NSX one weekend afternoon. All stopped to admire the car. None knew what it was and all were astounded by the fact that it was (a) an Acura, and (b) not new. My favorite quote was "that looks like its from the future".

- A friend of my wife told her son (aged 12) that I'd bought an NSX. He apparently pleaded and begged for her to ask me if I'd drop him off at his new middle school on the first day back after summer recess. It is the car of choice for Gran Turismo.

My point here is that we should think ourselves lucky to own a car that appears to be near universally admired and respected, from kids to octogenarians alike. The fact that its a well built car that maintains its value is a bonus. I didn't think a car like this existed, let alone I would get to park one in my garage each night.

Kevin

 

[s2art]

The NSX is definitely a special car. I was filling gas about a month ago, and a gentleman walked up to me and said, "...that's a real beauty, I've always wanted one..." It made me think back to how many times I said that exact thing to myself, whenever I saw an NSX...

 

[jonas1jp]

I have never met a former owner in Indiana. I've met kids at a gas station that knew what it was, but even that was very rare. It got to the point where I would cringe when people started walking toward me, because I knew the word 'Corvette' was coming in the ensuing conversation.

 

[4AU4LIFE]

There are a few people at my work that know the car is mine when I drive it. For others that I hear asking whose red car is that, I don't even bother letting them know it is mine. At times I have actually said it was the GM of the dealership so I wouldn't have 1k questions about it or get the usual 'Wow, you must be making a bunch of money' type of comment. Better to just stay low and avoid all that.
For those that do know it is mine, I'm happy to talk about it with them though but I don't flaunt(sp?) it.

 

[argon_nsx]

A girl made out with my NSX (red lipstick) at a gas station one day. It was my first NSX... my father and brother flew out to Arizona and were in the process of driving it back for me... I was finishing up graduate school. They went in for water and come out to the windows covered in lipstick kisses and the message "I love you NSX" and a drawn heart plus her name on the drivers side window. That was pretty funny. I also had a guy ask me if he could have sex with it at the beach one day.

I don't drive my current widebody NSX and stop anywhere long enough to get much reaction... mostly it's ppl trying to catch up and record me driving, which is really dangerous b/c they usually end up almost hitting me. My wife laughs b/c anytime we drive the car through our neighborhood, where there is a lot of landscapers working on projects, they whip out cell cameras to take pics. So she'll joke about if she is prepped enough to ride in the NSX and have her photo taken or not.

 

[goldNSX]

They went in for water and come out to the windows covered in lipstick kisses and the message "I love you NSX" and a drawn heart plus her name on the drivers side window.

What about her phone number?

 

[docjohn]

Hey mitch HBD......

 

[s2kNSX]

Last week i went to a steak house that has valet service and they where about 5 guys waiting to park the cars...you shoulda seen the reaction on their faces...the main guy goes "we see more aston martins and bentleys then we do NSX...i ma park it right in front"....naturally you can imagine the pride on my face.

 

[MIZZOUNNC]

In the three months I have owned my stock 98-T (previous car was a Boxster), I have realized that the NSX is something special, even more than the P car. Here's a summary of various incidents (all positive) that have happened while it has been in my ownership:

- My wife and I stopped off at a number of rest stops on the drive back from CA (where we bought the car) to Seattle. On each occasion, at least one person, usually more, would come up and talk to us about the car. A few had owned one before, others had always desired one, others still didn't know what it was but were curious. All were amazed that the car was 12 years old but looked brand new. There was never a negative comment about it being Japanese.

- On the second day back in Seattle, I was pulled over for not having the permit displayed in the correct window (CA puts it in the front, WA wants it in the back). After correcting the issue, the police woman said "Beautiful car" before letting me go with a smile.

- The sales guy who sits in the office next to mine immediately wanted to see the car as soon as he heard I'd gotten one. Down we go to the parking lot and spend 15 minutes showing off the car and opening the engine hood cover etc. His neighbor had owned one a while ago and he just adored the thing. You could tell he was ever so slightly jealous.

- My wife thinks its fun to look out the window while driving around town and in parking lots etc and seeing the reaction on people's faces when we pass by in the NSX. Most of the time its the wide open jaw drop, sustained for several seconds, usually from guys but sometimes from a few women as well. Now and again we get the full body turn as we go by, combined with the jaw drop. They are always more fun to observe.

- We were at a party at a friends house a month or so back and I was forced into telling an acquaintance what car I'd bought (I don't normally like telling people, even when I owned the P-car). Word spread like wildwire and within a few minutes EVERYONE in the party was outside just gawping at the car.

- A few of my neighbors, some of them elderly, happened to be passing when I was out washing the NSX one weekend afternoon. All stopped to admire the car. None knew what it was and all were astounded by the fact that it was (a) an Acura, and (b) not new. My favorite quote was "that looks like its from the future".

- A friend of my wife told her son (aged 12) that I'd bought an NSX. He apparently pleaded and begged for her to ask me if I'd drop him off at his new middle school on the first day back after summer recess. It is the car of choice for Gran Turismo.

My point here is that we should think ourselves lucky to own a car that appears to be near universally admired and respected, from kids to octogenarians alike. The fact that its a well built car that maintains its value is a bonus. I didn't think a car like this existed, let alone I would get to park one in my garage each night.

Kevin

Excellent encounters..... I think all of us remember them in one form or another. Last Friday, driving US1 into Raleigh NC, I have the cruise control on...set at 65mph. Was the only time I can remember in the NSX to use the CC. In my rear view mirror comes a Porsche. He probably had about a 15-20mph closure rate. When he gets about 30 yards behind, he matched my speed. He slowly eases past, I lower the window and wave and he returns it. He's driving a 911 Carrera GTS. He then spends about another 30 seconds ahead of mine and then I see a "thumbs up" come out the driver's window, which I return. He gave a good hard look at a car 15 years his elder. His speed picked back up and he drove on.