Just a young boy wanting an NSX

[Addaco]

Hello, everyone I am an 18-year-old boy as a senior in high school and have always dreamed about owning an NSX since elementary school. It wasn't until recently that I found out there was a website with many others who enjoyed the same. I want to fulfill my dream so badly to own an NSX, but it is kind of hard to do so when you are 18 and work a minimum-wage job and low funds. I can tell a lot of people love the NSX now, so if there are any links or anyone in general who wants to sell me one please reach out to me. If there are any tips from the NSX owners for me, let me know and hopefully, I can become like you. (maybe when the minimum wage goes up in California). Forgot to mention I wanted first gen

 

[Wild Turkey]

Welcome to Prime and it's great to see that the timeless design even appeals to younger folks. It's critical that the younger generation picks up the torch as we @Old Guy s can't continue this forever.

One thing you will notice while perusing the threads here on Prime is that NSX ownership can be QUITE a challenging and expensive process. Few were made and many were crashed, raced, or became museum specimens/garage queens (or lost in a lake for 20 years). They have also become expensive to own.

It took me more than a decade to find my way to be able to acquire one, and there are MANY similar stories. An excellent story here of a 20 year quest:

Longest member without an NSX - finally gets one!

I don't know where to start. I am shaking..... I have been a member here a long time. I joined October 2003. Only took me 20 years to buy the car Maybe @Lud can find my original screen name. Love affair like most of you started a long time ago. Owned all the Hondas, hatchbacks, wagons, crx...

www.nsxprime.com

I wish you all the best in your quest and I hope I get to see you posting your "I joined Prime way back in 2024, and I FINALLY got it!" thread. Unfortunately, the window will not be open forever as parts support will wind down at some point and some have already moved on from their NSX's for this reason. But I'm sure other cars (and/or other generations of NSX's) will excite you as well.

Best,

 

[docjohn]

Lol.....WT you are being too kind...being young and having dreams are normal, but asking for leads on a sale when you are 18 and working a minimum wage job is.......classic troll/AI bot street....

 

[Addaco]

Lol.....WT you are being too kind...being young and having dreams are normal, but asking for leads on a sale when you are 18 and working a minimum wage job is.......classic troll/AI bot street....

It’s very funny that you say that but I’m not a troll man I work at Pizza Hut and genuinely want an NSX and jus bc I want some insight on sales dosent mean I’m a troll lol. I’m just new to all of this and wanted to try my shot

 

[Addaco]

Welcome to Prime and it's great to see that the timeless design even appeals to younger folks. It's critical that the younger generation picks up the torch as we @Old Guy s can't continue this forever. Unfortunately, the window will not be open forever as parts support will certainly wind down at some point. Some have already moved on from their NSX for this reason.

One thing you will probably pick up on fairly quickly while perusing the threads here on Prime is that NSX ownership can be QUITE a process. Now that you can no longer just stroll in to your local Acura dealer and order one, getting one can be a definite challenge. They are not inexpensive, nor prolific, as you noted. They only made 19,000, and most of them in '91 & '92. Fewer than that came to North America, and a significant portion of those were either written off in accidents, turned into race cars, or became museum specimens/garage queens (or lost in a lake for 20 years).

It took me more than a decade to find my way to be able to acquire one, and several more years to find the actual year and specification I had dreamed about. (Unfortunately, I lost my original Prime account somewhere in there, probably because I never posted anything; I just got the account to view the pictures.) There are MANY similar stories. An excellent story here of a 20 year quest:

Longest member without an NSX - finally gets one!

I don't know where to start. I am shaking..... I have been a member here a long time. I joined October 2003. Only took me 20 years to buy the car Maybe @Lud can find my original screen name. Love affair like most of you started a long time ago. Owned all the Hondas, hatchbacks, wagons, crx...

www.nsxprime.com

I wish you all the best in your quest and I hope I get to see you posting your "I joined Prime way back in 2024, and I FINALLY got it!" thread. But I'm sure other cars (and/or other generations of NSX's) will excite you as well. If they ever figure out a lightweight battery, I'm sure many, if not most, will jump to this experience.

Best,

Thank you so much for your story I hope I can eventually fulfill my quest. hopefully it doesn’t take me a decade lol

 

[esqu1re]

You could do it on minimum wage if you didn't have other expenses (i.e., live at home). I saved up for a handful of years and then went on a deployment to get mine. But, I have other obligations. Good luck.

 

[Addaco]

You could do it on minimum wage if you didn't have other expenses (i.e., live at home). I saved up for a handful of years and then went on a deployment to get mine. But, I have other obligations. Good luck.

Yes most definitely I’m currently saving right now thanks

 

[vivanshah]

Beyond saving, you need to focus on setting yourself up for a stable non-minimum wage career. Find something you're passionate about or at least interested in that is also a healthy career choice and focus on school, training, experience, whatever it takes. The long term dream may be an NSX, but the way to get there is to specifically NOT fixate on that as your end goal.

 

[Addaco]

Beyond saving, you need to focus on setting yourself up for a stable non-minimum wage career. Find something you're passionate about or at least interested in that is also a healthy career choice and focus on school, training, experience, whatever it takes. The long term dream may be an NSX, but the way to get there is to specifically NOT fixate on that as your end goal.

Most definitely I am working towards my career and I’m most definitely not just fixated on my dream car, however, it is one of my main goals to achieve after obtaining my financial goals

 

[jrho]

I think a lot of us can relate to when we set our sights on our dream car when we were young. Heck I remember seeing the NSX as my dream car when I was in elementary.

OP, I would largely agree with most of the points mentioned by others already. It's one thing to be able to buy an NSX, it's another thing to be able to keep up with expenses owning the car (gas, insurance, maintenance, etc.). Having a goal in mind and working towards achieving it is a great motivator but you have to accept the reality that life happens. I remember graduating university and after paying off my student loans, I had just enough money to buy a market value NSX at the time. I had just started working in my career and figured it would probably be better to invest in a place to live than a car. I made plenty of sacrifices throughout my 20s and I was able to get into NSX ownership in my early 30s. Things sometimes take time but that makes it all the more worth it when they realize.

I would highly recommend going to a local event and try to get a ridealong or if you're lucky enough an opportunity to drive an NSX. I've had so many of my friends have a dream car but never drove it and it typically turns into a textbook example of don't meet your heroes. Lucky for me but unlucky for my bank account, I feel in love even more with the NSX when I had my first driving experience and that lit the desire even more. Good luck!

 

[vh_supra26]

The odds are stacked against you but don't give up. When I was 16 years old in high school I worked 20 hrs a week on the weekends for two years and saved enough to buy my dream car (MK4) at the time. I graduate from college in May and hope to get an NSX as a present to myself. Hang in here kid.

 

[Stkpikr]

The odds are stacked against you but don't give up. When I was 16 years old in high school I worked 20 hrs a week on the weekends for two years and saved enough to buy my dream car (MK4) at the time. I graduate from college in May and hope to get an NSX as a present to myself. Hang in here kid.

I also was in a position where the odds were stacked against me. I was also working minimum wage jobs, had a large mortgage but I was old! I had suffered economic reverses and was starting at the bottom again. Did I mention I was old? I was working in receiving at a retail store cleaning scuff marks off wood floors and working at a tax preparation franchise at night. When the NC1 came out, I was working for the Census @$14/hour. I really loved NSX 2nd generation, having owned a NA1 (1991)during better times, which I sold to help pay for my daughter's wedding in 2014 . I bought a model NC1 and put it in front of my computer as I taught myself how to trade stocks. I looked at that model everyday. In 2020, I got my 2018 Casino White Pearl NC1. It CAN happen, just drive yourself as focused as you can. I told my kids, the bigger the dream, the key is to work at it everyday. I am doing much better financially, having turned my life around in what I consider to be a minor miracle. Good luck and never give up.

 

[FlopShot]

Most definitely I am working towards my career and I’m most definitely not just fixated on my dream car, however, it is one of my main goals to achieve after obtaining my financial goals

A car like an NSX is a material luxury. It should be very very low on your priority list, considering it would take you $50k just to get into a salvaged car, and not even talking about ongoing maintenance costs. I was over 50yrs old when I finally was in a place where I had enough discretionary funds to purchase and maintain an NSX (and another old sports car I've always wanted). If you use your money wisely when you are young, then you will have access to those discretionary funds much earlier... I'm speaking from experience as person who wasted away all my money when I was younger on stupid material goods. Buying a house/condo/real estate should be much higher on your list, that same $50k gets you into $250k home that will build equity. Sell that $250k house in a few years for $300k and wham... you have your "free" NSX.

 

[Addaco]

A car like an NSX is a material luxury. It should be very very low on your priority list, considering it would take you $50k just to get into a salvaged car, and not even talking about ongoing maintenance costs. I was over 50yrs old when I finally was in a place where I had enough discretionary funds to purchase and maintain an NSX (and another old sports car I've always wanted). If you use your money wisely when you are young, then you will have access to those discretionary funds much earlier... I'm speaking from experience as person who wasted away all my money when I was younger on stupid material goods. Buying a house/condo/real estate should be much higher on your list, that same $50k gets you into $250k home that will build equity. Sell that $250k house in a few years for $300k and wham... you have your "free" NSX.

Thank you so much for the great advice telling from all the helpful replies to my post I can tell the NSX is a luxury good that needs to be obtain through handwork I will save my money when I’m young and work twords my career before being broke with only an nsx

 

[Addaco]

I also was in a position where the odds were stacked against me. I was also working minimum wage jobs, had a large mortgage but I was old! I had suffered economic reverses and was starting at the bottom again. Did I mention I was old? I was working in receiving at a retail store cleaning scuff marks off wood floors and working at a tax preparation franchise at night. When the NC1 came out, I was working for the Census @$14/hour. I really loved NSX 2nd generation, having owned a NA1 (1991)during better times, which I sold to help pay for my daughter's wedding in 2014 . I bought a model NC1 and put it in front of my computer as I taught myself how to trade stocks. I looked at that model everyday. In 2020, I got my 2018 Casino White Pearl NC1. It CAN happen, just drive yourself as focused as you can. I told my kids, the bigger the dream, the key is to work at it everyday. I am doing much better financially, having turned my life around in what I consider to be a minor miracle. Good luck and never give up.

Thank you so much for your life story it was very motivating an NSX will be something I want to achieve in the future

 

[natcc99]

Hello
You have a goal and that's fantastic! I don't think I had a clear goal when I was your age.
Use that goal to drive your motivation. There are many successful people out there who wished for their dream car and they eventually got it because they stayed focused and determined.

I will quickly mirror what the others have said and don't make it your end goal. Instead, make it an award. You talked about building a career. Great! Do that first to build your own foundation and then, as a reward, get your dream car. It will be a gift to yourself for all the hard work. Yes, it will take time, but be patient.

Here is another advice:

If you can, try not to spend your salary on purchasing your dream. Allow me to explain, use your salary for everyday living expenses...rent/mortgage, food, etc. Save up money and invest it somehow. Make the money work for you and have it grow. There are many ways to invest money; you'll have to do your research on that. At a young age, you have the advantage of taking some risks in investment; which could have faster rewards. Make sure you mix up your investments so that one can cover the other in case the risky one crashes. In conclusion, use the investment money to purchase your dream car, not your salary. This way, you don't eat into your living expenses.

By doing it this way, you won't have to adjust your living style. You'll be happier and have a better buffer to maintain and enjoy your dream car.

Keep your goal, don't lose focus. Have fun along the way and share your joy when you do make that purchase. We are all rooting for you.

 

[vh_supra26]

Keep in mind that autos are going to be cheaper and maybe wait for this recession that everyone keeps talking about, supposedly it's going to be worse than 08.

 

[Addaco]

Hello
You have a goal and that's fantastic! I don't think I had a clear goal when I was your age.
Use that goal to drive your motivation. There are many successful people out there who wished for their dream car and they eventually got it because they stayed focused and determined.

I will quickly mirror what the others have said and don't make it your end goal. Instead, make it an award. You talked about building a career. Great! Do that first to build your own foundation and then, as a reward, get your dream car. It will be a gift to yourself for all the hard work. Yes, it will take time, but be patient.

Here is another advice:

If you can, try not to spend your salary on purchasing your dream. Allow me to explain, use your salary for everyday living expenses...rent/mortgage, food, etc. Save up money and invest it somehow. Make the money work for you and have it grow. There are many ways to invest money; you'll have to do your research on that. At a young age, you have the advantage of taking some risks in investment; which could have faster rewards. Make sure you mix up your investments so that one can cover the other in case the risky one crashes. In conclusion, use the investment money to purchase your dream car, not your salary. This way, you don't eat into your living expenses.

By doing it this way, you won't have to adjust your living style. You'll be happier and have a better buffer to maintain and enjoy your dream car.

Keep your goal, don't lose focus. Have fun along the way and share your joy when you do make that purchase. We are all rooting

Thank you so much for the time and consideration you put into this message it really helped me with a clear sense of what I’m going to work for and thank you all in all

 

[docjohn]

You could talk to your parents ..I have conversations with both my teenagers that span many of the topics discussed by random nice people on the interwebs..

 

[Addaco]

Yes I have but is there anything wrong with sharing my dream of owning an NSX to those who have already obtained theirs, my parents are aware of my goals and they have talked to me but why can’t I expand my knowledge a bit more with those who have also experienced their journey of an NSX I’ve gotten such good insight from all the kind people

 

[docjohn]

because that's not the point. It doesn't matter whether its an nsx or a bmw....or whatever. Its a 50-80k used old car...There will always be used nsx FS....Life is more about the journey...stop fixating on the destination. Very wealthy self made folks never fixated on what money or success could get them, they pursued ideas and businesses that they were passionate about. The stuff will come..

 

[Honcho]

Yes I have but is there anything wrong with sharing my dream of owning an NSX to those who have already obtained theirs, my parents are aware of my goals and they have talked to me but why can’t I expand my knowledge a bit more with those who have also experienced their journey of an NSX I’ve gotten such good insight from all the kind people

It doesn't hurt to dream and we are here to answer questions for sure. Keep in mind there are probably going to be a lot of life steps that need to happen before you can realistically get into one of these cars. The sale price is just the price of entry. Maintaining the NSX as they age past 30 years costs a lot of money. The TB service alone now is pushing past $5,000. The NSX (even the 2005 ones) is now a classic car and classic car ownership is expensive.

I got my first NSX when I was 30, graduated from law school, working at a law firm in New York and where I already had bought a home. It was still probably too soon.

 

[Addaco]

Thank you so much I understand the changes in time may cause for a higher maintenance and this car sure is pricy but it is my dream car and I’ll work towards it as much I can but it won’t be my first priority

 

[DRIFTER]

I purchased mine at 19. But I was buying and selling cars long before that. My family owned a used car dealership. So I was buying them cheap at dealer cost and flipping them for profit. I had several trade skills under my belt at that point, and had just sold my Corvette for a relatively good profit. The NSX at the time was still in the mid 40k’s. This November I will have owned my 1992 for 21 years. I have managed to purchase my first home, get married, have kids, and make some really good real estate investments all while keeping the car and I tell you it hasn’t been easy. There were days I ate Pb&J because that’s all I could swing at the time. So if you want it bad enough don’t let anybody tell you it can’t be done. But I will tell you this it won’t be easy. Even harder in today’s economy.

All that aside, an aging sports car should be super low on your list of investments. Save your jelly beans and learn a trade skill so you can’t be outsourced to an AI program.

 

[drew]

Let's say an NSX just showed up in your garage tonight for free. You still gonna deliver pizza? The NSX sure won't allow you to take on other opportunities such as schooling, business start-up, and learning. An NSX without the ability to comfortably keep it will make enjoying one impossible. It would be a liability and you would rue the day you got it.

One just can't take the NSX to any shop to get it fixed as parts are becoming scarce...it is now an antique. You'll need your own house with a shop and have a spare car to drive while awaiting parts. It will also rob you of you time and money that is generally needed to develop opportunities. Toys are a lot of fun, but they are distracting.

"People miss opportunity because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work" --Henry Ford

Dreams give you direction and purpose. My dreams drove me to where I am today, plenty of painful setbacks for sure, but failure is temporary and success teaches one nothing.

"Nothing is as real as a dream. The world can change around you, but your dream will not. Your life may change, but your dream doesn't have to." --Tom Clancy

Your teens and twenties is the time to develop valuable knowledge and abilities without a lot of obligations to others. Not only does this tend to make money, but it also makes life worth living. The NSX is just a tangible reward along the way. Currently, your brain is on fire: It is so easy to learn and do anything you put your mind to. It gets really hard by age 35 and by 45 you're on the downhill slide.

As with others: I'll state you MUST go to college, you only have to graduate if nothing better shows up along the way (sure the odds of something like the next Google or MSFT is unlikely, but that doesn't mean not to look for it). Learn as much as you can and do as well as you can: especially with classes that you do not care about. The actual education is about 5th down the list on things that you gain from higher education. You are there to network, find allies, look for opportunities, and most importantly prove self-discipline. The last one is the most important: can you find your class, show up on time, do things well even if you don't want to do them, and turn in projects on "unimportant/boring" subjects? This is why it is so important to get into the best college one can as the education is all the same, but the education isn't the most important part.

Freakonomics states: that money is so much more valuable when you are young and broke. They are correct of course, but they advocate not saving when you are young. The problem is that Levitt wrote a best seller that required near zero upfront capital. For somebody like me that is just a problem solver: The option of having money when opportunity arises is invaluable, as it doesn't knock twice or wait around. Figure out what type of person you are and work for it.

Marshall Brain also has a lot to say on this topic.

You need to have your skills, ability, and some money ready to go when the opportunity arises. There will be no warning and it will be quick, and it will be a slough. Don't confuse the fake urgency of a get-rich scheme and/or something that doesn't scale well.

Getting your toy car before you get everything else is putting the cart before the horse. Owning something optional that you cannot easily keep is not fun. Your stuff owns you and cars are one heck of a taskmaster. Driving a car you don't care about is liberating.

Jay-Z is right.

EDIT: Addressing the cost of college. If one cannot easily* get into a highly selective college [ie Ivy League, MIT, Standford, UCLA, USC, and a couple of others] then it unlikely to be worth it. I recommend going into debt exactly $0 via the non-selective community college route. The education is the same and the money you save will give a fair competitive advantage to a highly selective college. I had more fun at a community college too. Going into debt for a third-tier college is not a good decision MHO.

Real Estate: Yes, almost always buy real estate. Some 90% of my total net worth and earnings is from real estate. The extreme vast majority of high net-worth individuals were put there with real estate; it is just very mundane, mostly boring, and, therefore, it doesn't hit the news. However, real estate is a democratic game that everybody can play...the only gatekeeper is a downpayment.

*Easily = cheaply or the cost is no issue