Dave your're the man! You didn't even mention how much better Silver would be. I'm very impressed
A good paint job is expensive. I would do things in this order:
1) change the wheels. The gold/green thing is too much for me. I would go with some stock 2002, NSX-R wheels, or some kind of more modern looking wheel. Don't go with something too weird. A classic 5/7 spoke is nice.
I agree that the 02 style looks good with a simple wheel. I have classic 5 spoke Enkei wheels on my MR2 so was looking for something a little different to that. I love the look of the 7 spoke factory 02s, but even used sets don't come cheaply, and when I could get 10 spoke Volk CE28N for roughly the same $ and save ~40lbs all up (with 17x7.5F, 17x9R), that's a pretty attractive package.
2) Change the side skirts and go to factory 2002 (downforce has these).
Yes, when Downforce brought out the factory 02 skirts, that got the ball rolling in my mind. I've ordered a conversion package from them, including skirts.
3) 02 rear valence. Right now it looks especially funny with that side skirt and the older valence.
You're not the only one to have mentioned that. But the JDM rear valance is perfectly suited for slimline aussie number plates... just the right horizontal size. I might go down that route eventually, but I'm hoping that with the higher 02 skirts, things will line up much better.
4) Change the front bumper to the stock bumper and install a nice lip. A full 02 conversion is nice, but costly. If you can afford it, go to 02. Otherwise a stock pre-02 bumper and a nice front lip should be fine and it won't cost you much.
02 front end conversion is part of the package from DF. They're able to offer discounts for a package, and combine items for shipping, which made it worthwhile to get these now too. Includes Honda OEM hood, OEM lip + DF replica lip (1 as a spare). So I've ordered everything except the RHD beam pattern headlights.
5) after all is done and you still want to spend money, change the color. Your car has already lost the resale value it would lose as it has been repainted. What color was it originaly? are the door jambs/engine bay/bonnet area painted too? If not, I would consider going back to the original color and have everything match. Its one thing to freshen up a car by repainting some of it to the factory color its another to paint it some wild color but still have the original color showing when you open the hood/engine bay/doors.
If the colour is to be changed, it makes sense to change the colour whilst installing the 02 parts because the current green paint is hideously expensive. I mean it's from a different planet. One of the reasons I'm doing the conversion is to avoid the costs of maintaining the showcar green paintjob on a car that sees a lot of driving. So to paint the new parts green would not be a cheap temporary measure as it might be for an OEM colour.
The car is green inside and out. It was originally black, but I had not been able to tell this even when taking out the dashboard and carpet. Nor had any mechanic been able to tell. It was stripped completely to the body shell only - no wires, no mechanical parts, nothing left inside or out.
The man who did the mechanical work somehow got the car back together perfectly. Unfortunately from what I hear this genius has moved to Japan and him aside I really don't trust anyone outside the factory to disassemble and reassemble an entire NSX. It's not just the cost - I currently have a mechanically perfect car and I'm very reluctant to mess with that.
I realise I might get lynched here for this, but I'm doing this for my own enjoyment, not primarly out of consideration for resale value, which probably can't be made much worse than it already is.
So what I've agreed on with the painter - the same man who did the green paintjob - is to paint 90% of the car. The exterior is to be totally stripped (doors removed and disassembled, glass, body panels, trim etc).
The engine bay will be painted black without removing the engine. There might be a little black overspray on some black insulation somewhere but to me it is a practical solution in terms of costs and the risks of completely stripping the engine bay. Behind the dash and the lower part of the front compartment will have some green remaining. Again it's a personal choice and if I ever sell the car, the next owner is more than welcome to put the discount these areas give him towards painting that last unseen 10%.
I hope all this seems reasonable. Let me know if it doesn't because I've read a lot of your posts and respect your opinion.
