Hello NSX Primers,
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I finally got some time to post a review of my recent NSX purchase. I purchased Zanardi #16 from the AE Collection in December 2011.
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History and Why:<O</O
I am avid Honda fanatic. I currently own an Honda S2000 CR. I have followed Honda since the 80s in F1 and the late 90s in CART. Watching Senna in the McLaren-Honda years and Zanardi, Vasser, and Montoya in the CART era were the highlights for me. The turbo V6s in F1 and turbo V8s in CART, producing over 1000hp+, were the heyday of man and machine. Loved every minute of watching Honda’s dedication to not just win, but dominate. No one could touch Honda.
I have been looking for an NSX for quite sometime. Knowing the history behind Senna’s development of the NSX’s chassis, and his relationship to Honda, as well as Zanardi’s influence and relationship with Honda, I knew I wanted a Zanardi NSX. They only built 50 of these cars for the US market, and I never thought I would ever have a chance to find one in good condition, let alone being able to afford one, seeing how the Zanardi fetches a good premium.
Purchase:
<O</OWith the help of the “Official Zanardi Thread”, I found two Zanardi’s close by in Socal in the past year. The FJ car I just missed on. The AE car was very interesting. Having read about the issues to #16 on prime, I wasn’t enthusiastic about it. But seeing how there are only 50 built, I had to go take a look.
<O</OWhen I saw the car at AE, it was in excellent condition for a car with 94k miles with one original owner. AE spent 7 diligent months restoring the car to factory specs. It did have a new paint job, but was done to OEM standards. They spent months looking for Zanardi specific parts for the interior and exterior.
<O</OAfter taking a lengthy test drive, I immediately fell in love with it. The motor is just so silky smooth and the induction noise resonates throughout the cabin. The manual steering was a revelation and when paired with a quick shifting gearbox provided a sense of driving euphoria! The chassis just felt so tight and rigid; in no small part to the hardtop and Zanardi (Type S) suspension.
<O</OAE took the car the local Acura dealership car to do a PDI, and the car passed with flying colors. One of the longest tenure Acura NSX mechanic did the PDI and was impressed with the condition for a car with 94k miles on it, having seen many other NSXs. AE took care of all the serviceable 90k items, aligned the car with Zanardi specific settings. They applied a full frontal clear bra and did a 3 stage detail on the inside, engine and exterior. The car basically looked like it came off the factory floor! They really went above and beyond, so I have to thank AE for a job well done.
<O</OAfter inspecting and driving the car, I was sold, but the car wasn’t technically for sale. I had to do some convincing. I think at the end, AE saw that I was really enthusiastic about the car, and finally we were able to reach a deal. I never thought I would be able to find a Zanardi in such great condition and for that I feel very blessed.
<O</OSince then, I have driven about 1000 miles on it, and the car has been flawless. #16 finally has a good home, I hope to keep it for a very long time.
<O</OI just want to thank prime and all the NSX owners who helped maintain this forum as a vibrant community of ideas and information. I am happy to be part of the NSX family.
<O</Ofiesty
<O>
</O
<O
</OI finally got some time to post a review of my recent NSX purchase. I purchased Zanardi #16 from the AE Collection in December 2011.
<O
</OHistory and Why:<O
</OI am avid Honda fanatic. I currently own an Honda S2000 CR. I have followed Honda since the 80s in F1 and the late 90s in CART. Watching Senna in the McLaren-Honda years and Zanardi, Vasser, and Montoya in the CART era were the highlights for me. The turbo V6s in F1 and turbo V8s in CART, producing over 1000hp+, were the heyday of man and machine. Loved every minute of watching Honda’s dedication to not just win, but dominate. No one could touch Honda.
I have been looking for an NSX for quite sometime. Knowing the history behind Senna’s development of the NSX’s chassis, and his relationship to Honda, as well as Zanardi’s influence and relationship with Honda, I knew I wanted a Zanardi NSX. They only built 50 of these cars for the US market, and I never thought I would ever have a chance to find one in good condition, let alone being able to afford one, seeing how the Zanardi fetches a good premium.
Purchase:
<O
</OWith the help of the “Official Zanardi Thread”, I found two Zanardi’s close by in Socal in the past year. The FJ car I just missed on. The AE car was very interesting. Having read about the issues to #16 on prime, I wasn’t enthusiastic about it. But seeing how there are only 50 built, I had to go take a look.<O
</OWhen I saw the car at AE, it was in excellent condition for a car with 94k miles with one original owner. AE spent 7 diligent months restoring the car to factory specs. It did have a new paint job, but was done to OEM standards. They spent months looking for Zanardi specific parts for the interior and exterior. <O
</OAfter taking a lengthy test drive, I immediately fell in love with it. The motor is just so silky smooth and the induction noise resonates throughout the cabin. The manual steering was a revelation and when paired with a quick shifting gearbox provided a sense of driving euphoria! The chassis just felt so tight and rigid; in no small part to the hardtop and Zanardi (Type S) suspension. <O
</OAE took the car the local Acura dealership car to do a PDI, and the car passed with flying colors. One of the longest tenure Acura NSX mechanic did the PDI and was impressed with the condition for a car with 94k miles on it, having seen many other NSXs. AE took care of all the serviceable 90k items, aligned the car with Zanardi specific settings. They applied a full frontal clear bra and did a 3 stage detail on the inside, engine and exterior. The car basically looked like it came off the factory floor! They really went above and beyond, so I have to thank AE for a job well done.<O
</OAfter inspecting and driving the car, I was sold, but the car wasn’t technically for sale. I had to do some convincing. I think at the end, AE saw that I was really enthusiastic about the car, and finally we were able to reach a deal. I never thought I would be able to find a Zanardi in such great condition and for that I feel very blessed. <O
</OSince then, I have driven about 1000 miles on it, and the car has been flawless. #16 finally has a good home, I hope to keep it for a very long time.<O
</OI just want to thank prime and all the NSX owners who helped maintain this forum as a vibrant community of ideas and information. I am happy to be part of the NSX family.<O
</Ofiesty<O
>
</O
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