- Joined
- 20 October 2024
- Messages
- 2
Fair price for 1991 RHD?
- Thread starter ItsDocOfPain
- Start date
Welcome to NSX Prime!
We'd need to know more about the car before providing our opinion. Year, mods, etc. Generally speaking, imported RHD NXSs have a 10-20% discount over a LHD equivalent in the U.S. Of course, there is the hassle of driving a RHD on LHD roads. Also, Japanese exporters have an uneven history of sending cars over here that have serious structural issues from crashes. The damage is so bad they can't get the car registered under the Japanese Land Inspection office wthout a major repair ($$$$$), so they do a quick repair and then export them to the US and other places. Before spending any kind of serious money on a JDM imported NSX, I'd ask for at least a basic frame measurement by a competent body shop to look for frame damage. If I'm willing to plunk down 90 grand on a NSX, I'm willing to spend 1 grand paying a good shop to check it out structurally.
Another tool you may find useful is our NSX valuation tool. It's for US-market sales, but it's the best resource by far for determining how much your NSX is worth based on actual market transactions. Find whatever the price is for a LHD model equivalent to this one and then subtract 10%. That should get you close.
We'd need to know more about the car before providing our opinion. Year, mods, etc. Generally speaking, imported RHD NXSs have a 10-20% discount over a LHD equivalent in the U.S. Of course, there is the hassle of driving a RHD on LHD roads. Also, Japanese exporters have an uneven history of sending cars over here that have serious structural issues from crashes. The damage is so bad they can't get the car registered under the Japanese Land Inspection office wthout a major repair ($$$$$), so they do a quick repair and then export them to the US and other places. Before spending any kind of serious money on a JDM imported NSX, I'd ask for at least a basic frame measurement by a competent body shop to look for frame damage. If I'm willing to plunk down 90 grand on a NSX, I'm willing to spend 1 grand paying a good shop to check it out structurally.
Another tool you may find useful is our NSX valuation tool. It's for US-market sales, but it's the best resource by far for determining how much your NSX is worth based on actual market transactions. Find whatever the price is for a LHD model equivalent to this one and then subtract 10%. That should get you close.
- Joined
- 20 October 2024
- Messages
- 2
Thank you for the thoughtful advice!
Here's another source of sale prices.
www.classic.com
And another note- production numbers in the early years were pretty big, so don't be in a big hurry to buy the first car you see. Over one third of the total NSX production for US customers was in the first year- 1991. Link to my chart with model year differences and production numbers is in my signature.
Unless you are planning to keep the car forever, remember that it will be MUCH harder to sell when you are done with it. Not many folks want RHD in the US. Maybe 1 buyer in 100 would accept a RHD car? Probably even less than that.
Acura NSX Coupe - NA1 Market - CLASSIC.COM
There are 3 Acura NSX Coupe - NA1 for sale right now - Follow the Market and get notified with new listings and sale prices.
And another note- production numbers in the early years were pretty big, so don't be in a big hurry to buy the first car you see. Over one third of the total NSX production for US customers was in the first year- 1991. Link to my chart with model year differences and production numbers is in my signature.
Unless you are planning to keep the car forever, remember that it will be MUCH harder to sell when you are done with it. Not many folks want RHD in the US. Maybe 1 buyer in 100 would accept a RHD car? Probably even less than that.
Hey there, 9+ year RHD owner here (2 in Japan, 7 here in the US).
Like Honcho said, lots of factors play into this one. You'll want to get your eyes on/hands on the car for some of the possible aforementioned issues as I wouldn't recommend buying sight unseen. Getting the chassis number and running a CarVX report (similar to carfax for the US) will help you avoid some problems. It will be subject to the same "old car" problems as your same year Acura NSX, and low mileage does not necessarily mean that the car has been well cared for or in good condition (check the inspection timelines on CarVX).
The valuation question can be contentious because everything's worth what someone is willing to pay, but you'll find that the overwhelming majority of NSXs produced for the Japanese market are automatic which already command less. There are so few examples of manual RHD NSXs in North America, there probably isn't accurate data to support a valuation talk. If you went out seeking an equivalent manual RHD NSX from Japan, you're going to pay more for that car vice an equivalent North American Acura NSX. If it's already here, the perceived undesirability of RHD may decrease the number of purchasing buyers and the car may change hands for less. That's why very few importers can get their hands on an equivalent Japan-market NSX; it's more expensive to obtain and they might even lose out when they get it here. I would expect about as much as you'd pay for any other NSX, and be delighted if you can go lower if you're wanting to purchase a Japanese market NSX.
Other thoughts: RHD in a LHD world isn't difficult, or as difficult as it's made out to be (refer to how long I've owned mine here). I often forget that I'm sitting on the right side. That's just how I drive this car. First year for Japanese market is 1990, so don't forget that year if you're seeking out these vehicles. These are also early enough to avoid the snap-ring issue.
