Ever let an NSX fan that you don't know, drive your car?

[Cap'n Carl]

I stopped at a Batteries Plus yesterday, and asked the 20 something behind the counter if they took old motorcycle batteries back for recycling. Without ever making eye contact with me, because he was locked on my NSX, he said "we only take returns if people give us rides in NSXs". I laughed, we talked cars for a minute, he gushed about the NSX a little, and I left.
An hour or so later I was driving by again and decided to take a risk. I poked my head in the door and asked him, "wanna drive it?". He just looked stunned, probably thought I was joking. So I said, "can you leave work for 5 minutes? You can take it around the block". He practically ran around the counter, yelled "Taking a break!" to his boss, and we did a square mile, 4 right turns. He started out respectfully driving it like an old man, so I told him to wring it out a little, which he then did. He thanked me profusely, declared that he would own one some day, and I left.
I know, he might have cracked up my car, and I'd have to go to prison for attempted murder; but it sure made his day, more likely made his whole month, and I feel good about it.
So how do you feel about letting people drive your NSX?

 

[TURBO2GO]

I didn't let the guy drive but I did let a sears automotive employee go for a ride. He was almost crying. I am not kidding. He ran outside soon as he saw the car and we chatted, and I asked if he wanted to go around the block. He would not stop talking and thanking me afterwards.

To me that is what it's about. I remember being a teenager and working at an auto parts store part time. I was in love with this guy's M5. He gave me a ride around the parking lot and I never forgot it because my car was a piece of shit. Really made my day. That's what this guy said too "you made my whole year man, thanks a lot".

I also always goose it driving past school bus stops and all the boys point and jump up and down because they are usually staring the whole time. It makes them happy so why not. I was at school buses too and I always stared at cool cars. Cool thing you did to let him drive. Very brave.

 

[Stephen@NCAutoUSA]

I let my old boss drive but then he stalled out 3 times.

 

[scorp965]

Eh, once, similar experience to Stephan.

 

[RedWings]

That was really cool of you Cap'n Carl...

Have had a few Primers, a few close friends, and the folks at SOS drive my car...
Very few people have asked to drive it, threw the keys to a co-worker and he threw them back "nope, I'd want one..."

Several little ones at car shows have taken it for a careful "seat drive", great photo op for cool parents
Always amusing and its good for a few laughs...

 

[Senninha]

I was going to one of our regular meets and picked up a close friend who was joining me ... he was speechless as I walked to the passenger side and passed him the keys ... he still talks about it to this day.

We are only looking after these cars for the next generation so why not share the enjoyment whilst in our car is my view.

 

[heySkippy]

I have.

 

[scottg]

I had an autoelectrician come out to do some work on my car and let him take a drive to test the warning light issue was fixed. He did me a good deal on the bill and went home very happy having driven one of his all time favourite cars. I have always thought this is a way to cultivate enthusiasts and future owners just need to ensure they have insurabce cover and keep your hands on the parking brake!

 

[jond]

I haven't but before I bought my NSX I did TONS of research making sure it's what I wanted over a Z06, Porsche, M3, RX7, etc, etc.
During my research I meet the NSX club in DC for lunch and a drive around some back roads. I was just going to follow in my ITR. One of the guys there was beyond cool and offered to let me drive his NSX.
I couldn't believe it. I remember thinking how low to the ground it was, and how everyone around us were staring at the car. Extremely cool experience.

 

[FF Drifter]

I let people drive it. I was at Pohanka Acura for an oil change and the service rep commented that he had never written up the car before. We talked about the car for a while and he lamented that he'll probably never get to drive one as the NSX was taken into the garage. When the car came back after the oil change, I told him he should probably take it around the block for a few minutes to make sure everything was up to spec. He lit up and was all smiles coming back.

Another time, at the same dealership, one of the kids who moves cars around in the lot noticed it had just started raining and my car wasn't under the roof overhang. He hopped in the NSX and drove it in reverse a few yards and I laughed and called him out because I knew he did it really only to drive the NSX. He said he didn't want the car to get wet, but then I pointed out that obviously I'd have to drive the car back out into the rain eventually haha

 

[rbilder]

Very cool I haven't let anybody else drive mine yet.

But I have let quite a few sit in it and taken a few for a ride.

I know how they GRIN :biggrin: from ear to ear just being able to sit in the driver's seat.

If I didn't know them well, I would probably ride with them (like somebody mentioned earlier, to allow me to be close to the e-brake :smile: )

We need to raise up NSX enthusiasts to keep our values high.

 

[arista5]

Anyone who has driven either of mine got a lecture long enough to almost talk them out of it (only two or three people though and i knew them all, and also knew they could handle a stick)

 

[neonshaun]

When I first got the car, I took it in to get the tires replaced/aligned. Everyone at the shop was loving the car - the guy doing the alignment came in to the waiting area and asked if he could take it for a drive to make sure it didn't drift side to side. I said sure. He was a big dude, so he hopped in and a bunch of the mechanics came out to watch him pull away. I hear it blast up and down the street a few times - he came back smiling, and said the car was awesome, but he couldn't fit in the seats! He said the bolsters were too narrow and he had to sit up hovering off the backrest.

 

[SFNSXguy]

You guys aren't brave.... Let me tell you what brave is: I let keN SaX drive my car on the track (Sears Point, Infineon, Sonoma Raceway - whatever it's called this week). I'm not sure, but I may have done the same thing at Laguna Seca - can't remember. You guys are pikers.
By the way, I wasn't even in the car at the time - just tossed him the keys.

 

[Matt Knight]

I let a good friend drive my X when I first got it. He had owned Porsche's in the past and I was comfortable with him driving the car.

He had a blast; I was scarred for life (I can still smell the burning rubber).

Since then, friends are always welcome to enjoy my car from the passenger seat.

 

[PHOEN$X]

I went to a local S2ki tech day last year, and the guys were really friendly and helpful with some routine maintenance on my car. In return, I let anyone who wanted to drive my NSX take it for a spin. I made many friends that day.

You know what's weird though. I've been dying to drive a FRS/BRZ, and I've hit up several people at local car shows asking if anyone was interested in swapping keys with my NSX for a drive. So far, not one person has taken me up on my offer.

 

[Cap'n Carl]

I went to a local S2ki tech day last year, and the guys were really friendly and helpful with some routine maintenance on my car. In return, I let anyone who wanted to drive my NSX take it for a spin. I made many friends that day.

You know what's weird though. I've been dying to drive a FRS/BRZ, and I've hit up several people at local car shows asking if anyone was interested in swapping keys with my NSX for a drive. So far, not one person has taken me up on my offer.

That's funny, Phoen$x! They were definitely getting the better part of that offer, yet they turned it down.

 

[nsx24]

I have let a few other car guys drive the "X", the first one was a friend who was die hard mustang fan and he just had bought a new Cobra Mustang, so one day after hearing enough bragging about the mustangs handling and power I threw him the keys and off we went. 9 years later he still tells me what a fun car it was to drive. Another one was a step-brother in law who is a die hard Honda guy, as long as I have known him he has had some type of modded Honda or Acura, so just last year I handed the keys to him and off we went, 45 minutes later he was still grinning ear to ear.
Its not about the horsepower or the TQ, its the all around refinement the car is. I can tell you nothing sounds better than a mid engine car with headers and exhaust.:biggrin:

 

[CL65 Captain]

I did it to get laid. I took one of our female First Officers with me to a track weekend. She started with ~ 2:00 lap times and by the end of the weekend she was running 1:24s at Putnam Park which is only ~ 4 seconds of my laps.



<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HZnRQFe4cJs?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[myw]

I did it to get laid. I took one of our female First Officers with me to a track weekend. She started with ~ 2:00 lap times and by the end of the weekend she was running 1:24s at Putnam Park which is only ~ 4 seconds of my laps.

View attachment 97330

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HZnRQFe4cJs?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Pics?

 

[CL65 Captain]

As myw now knows, all the pics I have of her are NSFW. :biggrin:

 

[curtsr]

Pics?

Besides the one that he posted? :wink:

When I was S/C I would let virtually anyone that expressed an interest drive my NSX (NSX). Converts are essential to resale value.

When my youngest was 15 with a learners permit I made him drive me home. I had just had rotator surgery and I picked him up at a friends house, right arm in a sling. I tossed him the keys and told him that he had to drive home. He had never driven a manual, let alone a S/C beast with an RPS clutch. The look on his face while the keys were airborne was priceless! He was so much in shock that he didn't even have the presence of mind to ask why I couldn't drive home since I drove there to get him. That's an advantage of having been stationed in Japan and driving RHD cars- shifting with your left by crossing over is easy.

Since I've gone turbo no one but me, Cody (natch) and Brian at Source One have driven my NSX. Just too much and too fast for the uninitiated and sometimes even too much for the initiated...

 

[MexiRicer]

Never let a complete stranger drive my car but I have let a few close friends drive it that already own and drive stick shift cars. Have taken a bunch of friends and family for spins in it though.

 

[myw]

what was that? i was just finishing up having a smoke :biggrin:

As myw now knows, all the pics I have of her are NSFW. :biggrin:

 

[neilsx]

That was a very generous offer Cap'n Carl!

Most people I've offered sadly don't know how to operate the third pedal.