How do you preserve your car?

[Brylek]

I bought my 2004 NSX in September 2010, it had 7600 miles on it but because I drove it from Colorado Springs it had 8600 miles the following morning. At first I decided to put 400 miles on it during the remaining part of the 2010 driving season and then a 1000 per year but NSXPO 2013 happened and then I slowly quit looking on the lower left part of the gage cluster. The car is currently at 20400 miles and I'm enjoying every single day of ownership like the first one. I'm trying to drive it whenever I feel safe about it but because I plan on keeping it for a longer while I don't want anything bad happen to it.

I know there are things we simply can't avoid or predict but some we can prevent. I figured the parts of the car that will wear out the most are wheels, seats, floor mats, steering wheel, shift knob and front bumper. I don't have a spare bumper but I do have a second set of wheels that are not as perfect as those that came on the car. I now have the Downforce NSX-R seats and my silver ones are stored in my climate controlled basement. OEM floor mats are stored in the same box that my NSX-R replica mats came in, Sparco steering wheel was installed the first weekend after I brought her home and extra shift knob in perfect condition lives close by the rest of the stuff.

I wash the car as little as I can so I don't strach the paint. I try not to drive in rain but that will not keep me away from going to NSXPO or our local drives. I just had the car detailed and something magical was applied to protect the paint. Storage time is usually from Thanksgiving to late March.

Should I go see a doctor? What's your story?

Disclaimer - the car is not for sale and if I ever decide to sell the extra parts I have I will post them in our marketplace.

 

[Hass]

You've done well, drive it and enjoy it. I enjoy seeing my nsx In the garage but I enjoy driving it more. It's my stress relief, I put 4k in 3 months. I plan to add more this summer

 

[skafia]

Be sure to wrap the cowls and and lower interior trim with vinyl so that your car is super mint when it's posted for sale for me

I bought my 2004 NSX in September 2010, it had 7600 miles on it but because I drove it from Colorado Springs it had 8600 miles the following morning. At first I decided to put 400 miles on it during the remaining part of the 2010 driving season and then a 1000 per year but NSXPO 2013 happened and then I slowly quit looking on the lower left part of the gage cluster. The car is currently at 20400 miles and I'm enjoying every single day of ownership like the first one. I'm trying to drive it whenever I feel safe about it but because I plan on keeping it for a longer while I don't want anything bad happen to it.

I know there are things we simply can't avoid or predict but some we can prevent. I figured the parts of the car that will wear out the most are wheels, seats, floor mats, steering wheel, shift knob and front bumper. I don't have a spare bumper but I do have a second set of wheels that are not as perfect as those that came on the car. I now have the Downforce NSX-R seats and my silver ones are stored in my climate controlled basement. OEM floor mats are stored in the same box that my NSX-R replica mats came in, Sparco steering wheel was installed the first weekend after I brought her home and extra shift knob in perfect condition lives close by the rest of the stuff.

I wash the car as little as I can so I don't strach the paint. I try not to drive in rain but that will not keep me away from going to NSXPO or our local drives. I just had the car detailed and something magical was applied to protect the paint. Storage time is usually from Thanksgiving to late March.

Should I go see a doctor? What's your story?

Disclaimer - the car is not for sale and if I ever decide to sell the extra parts I have I will post them in our marketplace.

 

[Oyagi]

I just drive the piss out of mine. Why preserve her virtue for the next guy?

 

[blue_myriddn]

I just drive the piss out of mine. Why preserve her virtue for the next guy?

It isn't about preserving it for the next guy, it is about preserving it for myself. I too picked up another set of floor mats and have been seriously considering picking up a shift knob (I thought I was being overly crazy, but it is nice to see that others are crazy too!), simply because I like getting in to my NSX and having things be in tip top shape. I get personal enjoyment out of not seeing flaws in my car and I recognize that some things will simply wear down with time (like tan floor mats).

 

[cousindeagle]

I drive mine only with my daughter. I hope to inspire her taste in cars through the nsx

 

[95nsxtc]

wrap her,or do the full xpel treatment

 

[Oyagi]

Better yet, park it on jackstands in a hermetically sealed chamber out of direct UV.

- - - Updated - - -

It isn't about preserving it for the next guy, it is about preserving it for myself. I too picked up another set of floor mats and have been seriously considering picking up a shift knob (I thought I was being overly crazy, but it is nice to see that others are crazy too!), simply because I like getting in to my NSX and having things be in tip top shape. I get personal enjoyment out of not seeing flaws in my car and I recognize that some things will simply wear down with time (like tan floor mats).

The car will probably outlive us, so why go to such lengths? It's just a material object, enjoy it for what it was built for. Some time ago someone posted on Prime the idea that we never really own our cars, we just take care of them for the next person. Since then I've decided to not fuss over the little things and just drive her.

 

[LMR]

- - - Updated - - -



The car will probably outlive us, so why go to such lengths? It's just a material object, enjoy it for what it was built for. Some time ago someone posted on Prime the idea that we never really own our cars, we just take care of them for the next person. Since then I've decided to not fuss over the little things and just drive her.

+1 on the above.

 

[tof]

Take care of the leather. Do a lot of research about storing leather items long term. Keep the leather and vinyl interior trim clean...but I suspect you are doing that already.

Use a car cover. Even if the car is stored indoors. Make sure it is a custom fit cover out of a proper material that won't scratch the clear coat.

Apply a dressing on all the rubber body gaskets and seals, like the window seals, trunk and engine cover seals, etc, at least once a year. I find Honda Shin-Etsu grease works really well for this. Some have had good luck with plain old petroleum jelly. If you are really anal, remove things like the tail light assembly and dress all the gaskets every year or two.

Watch the time limits on scheduled service since you are putting so little mileage on the car.

Keep all your maintenance receipts. You may think you will never sell the car but you or your estate will someday and those receipts will be worth their weight in Benjamins.

- - - Updated - - -

I just drive the piss out of mine. Why preserve her virtue for the next guy?

Seems like there are two types of NSX owners, those like you who look at the car as a great driver meant to be taken to the whip whenever possible and those like me who consider my NSX to be a drivable work of engineering art, to be pampered and preserved. I completely get both points of view. And there is a little preservationist in most of the drivers just as there is a bit of road hooligan in me. Seems like as time goes by and values rise for collector cars, more and more owners tend to fall into the second group--not surprising, really. Thank goodness we have picky preservationists early in a model's history so original examples are available fifty years later. And thank goodness we have owners of much older restored or preserved high buck machines who make sure they get driven at least now and then.

 

[Yinzer]

Besides not looking at the odo, I also suggest to myself to not read the "NSX Prices...Meow" thread too often. During a recent boring work commute, I found myself thinking about two numbers: A, what $$$ would it take for me to be willing to sell my NSX, and B, what $$$ do I realistically think mine might appreciate to within the next 10 years. So far, A > B for me, and I'm not making that up.

But in case that's deviating from Paul's question...I bought my first tube of shin etsu grease this week, to keep the seals nice and happy for hopefully a long time. And if I find an extra $30k lying around, I'm going to go the Phoen$x route and buy a spare driver that will also be a rolling spare parts bin.

Paul, what was the magical application, or is that a Chicago secret?

 

[jcbadcura]

I got the Xpel clear bra on the front bumper and side mirrors for moderate paint protection.

Also had a similar but different something fancy applied to my paint last fall.

 

[Lostbuckeye]

Paul, having seen your car in person, I think you are doing it right. I drive mine on sunny weekends and at least one long trip per year, NSXPO included.

Tof, you are right, it is an engineering work of art. However, if you talk to any of the engineers that worked on it and those working on the NSX 2.0, the majority if not all of them, would say it was engineered to be driven. Yeah I could lose money if I sold it with a ton of miles but the memories of the fun and adventures I've had with this car and my son are much more valuable. And I thank all of those engineers and designers of the first NSX every time I get behind the wheel. I have a friend who is the first and only owner of his bone stock 91 NSX with over 310K miles and if you saw it you'd be hard pressed to guess its mileage. That said to each his own. Enjoy your car in whatever way makes you happiest. I'm glad there are those that want to preserve the originals for 50 years on and occasionally give them good run every once in a while.

Now back to Paul's question. Since, I drive mine, I've covered the most stone chip vulnerable parts with Xpel, I keep the car clean inside and out including the front and rear bays. I cover it in the garage. As for parts, like you I have one of the rare colored interiors. So I buy as many of the orange interior parts as I can find because a retired exec from the Honda Parts Division told me that these are most likely discontinued and the default color is black or tan. And like you, I keep my maintenance up to date. Since I drive my car, only the best people work on it. Also, any mods I put on it must be reversible and as in the case of my twin turbo kit, it has to be as close as possible to how the factory would have used and installed. Though, others may disagree with my choices and that's okay. So Paul that's what I've done to preserve mine. I'd also like to hear other owner's ideas too.

 

[Vanishing Point]

The NSX has it's entire front, lower third of sides and behind rear tires covered in Xpel Extreme. The leather is treated monthly, any vinyl pieces are treated with 303 protectant. The carpeting/mats is vacuumed as needed and the rubber gaskets throughout the car are treated with Shin-Etsu twice a year, I also apply the same grease to my hoses after cleaning them prior. The paint is washed using a foam cannon for presoaking, then hand washed using the two bucket method, then blown dry with a Master Blaster vacuum.
I only apply wax as needed, but regularly use either a sealant or Glaze as my primary protectant followed by wax. The trunk lid, front hood and door sills are also waxed or sealed. I remove the wheels to clean them and the tires. The wheels are treated with wheel wax or sealant, the tires receive 303 protectant. The fender liners are washed and treated with undercarriage spray.
I use a lift to access the undercarriage, to clean and detail the lower engine compartment, exhaust and suspension.
The NSX stays in a climate controlled building along with some other Shigeru Uehara/ Ishiro Honda inspired cars.

 

[unc0808]

I bought my 2004 NSX in September 2010, it had 7600 miles on it but because I drove it from Colorado Springs it had 8600 miles the following morning. At first I decided to put 400 miles on it during the remaining part of the 2010 driving season and then a 1000 per year but NSXPO 2013 happened and then I slowly quit looking on the lower left part of the gage cluster. The car is currently at 20400 miles and I'm enjoying every single day of ownership like the first one. I'm trying to drive it whenever I feel safe about it but because I plan on keeping it for a longer while I don't want anything bad happen to it.

I know there are things we simply can't avoid or predict but some we can prevent. I figured the parts of the car that will wear out the most are wheels, seats, floor mats, steering wheel, shift knob and front bumper. I don't have a spare bumper but I do have a second set of wheels that are not as perfect as those that came on the car. I now have the Downforce NSX-R seats and my silver ones are stored in my climate controlled basement. OEM floor mats are stored in the same box that my NSX-R replica mats came in, Sparco steering wheel was installed the first weekend after I brought her home and extra shift knob in perfect condition lives close by the rest of the stuff.

I wash the car as little as I can so I don't strach the paint. I try not to drive in rain but that will not keep me away from going to NSXPO or our local drives. I just had the car detailed and something magical was applied to protect the paint. Storage time is usually from Thanksgiving to late March.

Should I go see a doctor? What's your story?

Disclaimer - the car is not for sale and if I ever decide to sell the extra parts I have I will post them in our marketplace.

As a fello Chicagoan you know how our "Spring" has been going thus far. *rollseyes*

Basically no blue sky, no drive for me.
Shit, if it's even under 65 degrees I dont really drive it because the best way to drive it is with the targa off.
Took delivery on my 04 in March and only put less than 400miles on her so for.
I know that I will have this car for a very long time if not forever (I think) so if I dont drive it for a week or two I dont freak out. I know I have many many years to come to enjoy. Just wish it would warm up!

The car is mint so I don't worry too much about it now, but you better believe my eyes are glued to the road to avoid potholes, rocks, etc...haha
Previous owner (CA) washed it like twice in 6 years and that's pretty much how I plan to keep it going.

 

[tof]

After reading the last couple of posts I guess I'm in the middle. Driven it to Orlando (500+ miles each way) three times and try to get out on the road at least every second or third weekend and put between 5 and 30 miles on it, depending on the occasion. I don't have access to a lift for cleaning of the undercarriage. Wish I did. Right now the paint needs some correction and the front end could use a respray. But I have put a lot of new correct oem bits on it like front spoiler, wheel liners, shift knob/plate/leather cover, battery tie down, inner door vapor barriers, trunk struts, stuff like that...and good condition used parts when they are in better shape than what I have. eg: I'm on my third OEM exhaust system. I always order OEM fasteners. Nothing from the hardware store goes on the car. So I guess I'm as anal as some but not as bad as others.

Now if I could only find some mint ivory visors.

 

[NSX9]

The guys above like Ed have put it pretty well, I gave up looking at the miles long ago, the cars are engineered to be driven and some of the high mileage ones look fantastic. Your car is in amazing condition and you really look after it so drive and enjoy!
We have a Japanese owner who has had a perfect NA1 Type R with fairly low kms, who has just moved out here permanently and imported the car. He has some interesting ways of preserving it. He has a special set of driving shoes that live in the car and he swaps into those when driving. He always wears gloves so his hands dont actually touch the wheel with sweat, oils etc. However he drives the car lots and participates in any of the club runs we do. Another thing he noticed in the Honda museum is that they leave the windows down just a bit so the seals are not compressed, makes sense. Just wish I could remember to do it!

Cheers,
Scott

 

[warrenw]

I bought my car from the original owner in Chicago back in 2007. The original owner left the car 100% original. No mods, but cared for the car like his prized possession. Maintained it at the same dealer for 16 years, with all maintenance done like clockwork. No winter driving in Chicago. I basically bought a brand new 16 year old car with 29,000 miles on it.
Today I continue all that same practice, as I always think, that original owner invested all that effort, I shouldn't spoil the car and waste all that effort.
I do drive it. It is our very best highway car. 2600 miles to Denver and back to NSXPO2013. 1600 miles last year to Victoria BC. Plus a few other trips.
Then there are the track days. ( the car loves it! )
The car has averaged 2000miles a year over 24 years, (48,000miles on the odometer), and it looks like the day it was new.
With only 6 months a year of good driving here in Edmonton, the car gets a total detail every fall before the car get put away for the winter. Everything gets attention. Engine, interior, paint, etc. in the spring, I get a brand new car when the cover comes off.
I do all the maintenance myself, and whenever the car is apart, the parts get refreshed before going back on the car.
One day, I will sell the car. ( they all get sold eventually ) and I will be proud the car will be in the best shape of its life.
Maybe the next owner will continue the tradition.

 

[Lostbuckeye]

Another thing he noticed in the Honda museum is that they leave the windows down just a bit so the seals are not compressed, makes sense. Just wish I could remember to do it!

Cheers,
Scott

Speaking of windows, I leave mine down when stored in the garage with the cover on. But, as preventative maintenance, I did the Hugabuga kit on my window regulators. They already showed some wear. I just figured, that $200 for both doors now is much better than $1100 plus installation for both doors later. Plus my windows go up and down faster and smoother. I'm not sure I would go with gloves and special shoes for casual driving though. But I understand his reasoning. I have also installed clear mats over my floor and trunk mats to protect them as well.

 

[Yinzer]

This thread is making me feel guilty. The first owner I bought from says he drove all but maybe 100 of the 17,500 miles while wearing gloves. I didn't doubt it since he picked me up at the airport twice in his beater Integra while wearing nomex gloves. To this day my steering wheel looks showroom new despite the 2,400 miles I've put on with my grimy non-gloved hands.

But to hopefully contribute here: I'm reminded of the fact that he stored it in a climate controlled garage for 20 years and kept a fresh bucket of Damp-Rid in the cabin at all times. I've not had the luxury of a climate controlled garage for the past 2 winters but I've been replacing the Damp-Rid bucket every 2 months or so and I swear it keeps the cabin smelling minty showroom fresh, my cabin still smells like 1993. Also he'd open the engine glass & cover after any drive and let it cool with those open. I've followed suit with that too.

 

[mskrotzki]

I find keeping mine covered in a good layer of dirt preserves the paint underneath.

View attachment 123839

 

[tof]

I find keeping mine covered in a good layer of dirt preserves the paint underneath.

You are missing your tow hook cover.

:wink:

 

[blue_myriddn]

Speaking of windows, I leave mine down when stored in the garage with the cover on.

Interesting - does that really help?

 

[NSXonwheels]

You are missing your tow hook cover.

:wink:

thats how he "preserves" his tow hook cover, haha. Great pic mskrotski!

 

[mskrotzki]

You are missing your tow hook cover.

:wink:

Believe it or not, I've REPLACED the tow hook cover!

The picture was taken in the alley behind my house in late August on a return trip from California. I got caught in a freak summer snowstorm on Vail Pass. (That is why I run All Season tires all year around.)

In all seriousness, this high mileage car will shine up to an amazing degree.