GTP Cool Wall: Acura/Honda NSX

  • Thread starter TheBook
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Acura/Honda NSX

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    114
  • Poll closed .
Toronado
If the NSX isn't a supercar because the F40 is a supercar, than the Lamborghini Diablo isn't a supercar either.
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Why not?

Easy to separate an NSX from either of the other 2 - it has a 6 cyl engine developing less than 300bhp and it's produced in fairly large numbers at a price that is somewhat within range of the meerly rich.

The other 2 have very similar power, performance and price points that require you to be seriously rich. The major difference I see is the length of time the Diablo was in production for, meaning there are a few more of them around.
 
Stotty
Why not?

Easy to separate an NSX from either of the other 2 - it has a 6 cyl engine developing less than 300bhp and it's produced in fairly large numbers at a price that is somewhat within range of the meerly rich.

The other 2 have very similar power, performance and price points that require you to be seriously rich. The major difference I see is the length of time the Diablo was in production for, meaning there are a few more of them around.
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The Diablo also had a top speed in the supercar territory. The NSX not so much
 
I don't know anybody really who knows what an NSX is, let alone who makes it (again, not counting car people I know, because they're gonna know). If you go "show someone a picture" of an NSX and tell them its an Acura, if they make that Japanese connection they're going to be thinking four cylinder.


I think this video speaks well enough for making the NSX a supercar.

 
Not sure what the video proves other than the most track orientated NSX is still slower than both the lambo's... one of which is a proper Supercar.
 
Stotty
Why not?
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Because you are justifying it by numbers and only by numbers. "The NSX can't be a supercar, because it doesn't produce the same numbers as *insert car of choice* does."

By that logic, since the F40 produces supercar numbers, the Diablo cannot be a supercar because it doesn't come near to performing Ferrari F40 numbers. This is even more prevalent based on your post that specifically named the McLaren F1, Bugatti EB110, F40 and XJ220. All of those were on a completely different level than the Diablo was. They all performed better and they all cost considerably more. So if you are going to throw numbers at me as your only justification, if they are supercars than the Diablo is not.
 
The NSX's chassis was definitely supercar quality in every way. The car's only let down was it's engine, it just didn't have enough power. It could have handled another 100 horses easily, or even more. That's the only thing it really needed to still be a competitor today.
 
I'll use numbers as they are more tangible... there's obviously another linked question of 'can a Honda really be considered a Supercar when it has no history of producing cars in this bracket'? Even Zonda took many years to be taken seriouly, and their early cars were monumentally good.

Regarding the numbers; A Diablo had power of between 492 bhp (the early 5.7l) and 595bhp... a match for the F40's 478.
 
I personally don't call the NSX a supercar, it's just a relatively extreme example of the crazy sports cars from Japan in the 90s. It had higher goals and better performance than the others, but that's still what it was.
 
GT_Prologue5
It's cool. A nice coupe-convertible, a reliable, everyday MR sports car, and one of the few cars of it's time with a manumatic. It's not sub-zero because it doesn't have amazing power, but its shape is crisp, clean, and is worthy of a museum.
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Justin
290HP isn't even close to supercar range even in the early 90's. Hell the C4 Corvette was making 375 in 1990.
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You both fail on bringing up power in a NSX topic.

The greatest thing about the NSX is that it never needed even 400Hp to take on anything. According to the everyone's famous benchmark track (the Nur.) the original Type R has a lap time within 5 seconds of a newer V8 Vantage, DBS, CTS-V, R8, EB110 SS (US-Spec; a car one of you called a supercar), 997 CS, & a 'C6 Vette. This is an 18 year old car that newer versions of the exact competitors the NSX had, could only beat the Honda by 5 seconds or less.

The 2nd gen. NSX-R is even more impressive, running a time equivalent of the 360 CS (it's biggest rival), and just seconds short of a F430, and 4 seconds short of a Ford GT.

On handling-biased track, the NSX-R is one of the highest competitors to overcome. Just looking at the times at Sugo, every car above the NSX-R is within 4 seconds, excluding the GT-R, cars including 3 Lambos, 997 GT3 & Turbo, F50, & a 996 GT2. 3 of these cars are also actually just under 2 seconds away.
The NSX is a car exempt from needing power to be fast.
Stotty
Not sure what the video proves other than the most track orientated NSX is still slower than both the lambo's... one of which is a proper Supercar.
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Besides the fact that the 300Hp V6 Honda is running the same time as a 500Bhp Gallardo, 420Bhp 360 CS (track oriented as well), & just a second behind a 580Bhp Murcielago?
That's pretty goddamn good for a car with a 120-280 horsepower handicap.
 
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Stotty
I'll use numbers as they are more tangible... there's obviously another linked question of 'can a Honda really be considered a Supercar when it has no history of producing cars in this bracket'?
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M1_1.jpg

XJ220_1.jpg

LFA_2.jpg

Not supercars?

Stotty
Even Zonda took many years to be taken seriouly, and their early cars were monumentally good.
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The NSX was "monumentally good" when it came out. When it came out it had technology far and away more advanced than most other cars period, and Honda created it to celebrate a successful stint in F1. Even 15 years later, right before its death, Honda still was throwing curveballs at Ferrari and Porsche.

Stotty
Regarding the numbers; A Diablo had power of between 492 bhp (the early 5.7l) and 595bhp... a match for the F40's 478.
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And, when it came out, the F40 was faster in every measurement, handled worlds better and cost considerably more. So, yeah, by your logic, the Diablo isn't a supercar because the F40 was one and it was on a completely different level.
 
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The thing is people have different definitions of supercar. To me lap-times are a minor part of it.


edit:

Nurburgring times: Enzo at 7:25.7, ZR1 at 7:26.4
Which one is not a supercar?
 
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I don't think it matters what is considered a "supercar" and what isn't. Nobody actually cares in the end.
 
Sub-Zero.

It's a fantastic handling supercar that'll keep up with Ferrari's, it looks great and it has that F1 connection. 👍
 
Boring and a bit nerdy. Uncool

edit: boring because it looks like what would happen if you took a generic Japanese car and stuck the engine in the middle. It has that wonderful shape of a midengine supercar, but lacks the flair
 
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I love it it cockpit view in gt5p is the best and is a truly stunning car regardless of its performance category.

Eric. great video.

Paris
 
The best car Honda/Acura have ever made, so it's definately cool. The only reason why, for me, it's not seriously cool, is because it's a Honda....and it only has a V6. But, it only has a V6 'cause it's a Honda. Keep in mind that the NSX came out about the same time Ford released the V6 XJ220. Coincidense? I do not think so. Although, the XJ220 STILL makes it into the sub-zero category 'cause it's a Jag and it was built in a garage and it beat a Bugatti. But this is a Honda. A cool Honda, but a Honda nonetheless.
 
This is why its sub zero.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFDHvqd0ICM

Senna + slippers + Suzuka.

It does everything a super car does as far as that debate is concerned. Just because it didn't (or doesn't) have the badge of recognition means nothing. Its an eye-catcher, has impressive performance, costs a bomb, gulps petrol, comes in silly colours...

It deserves to be named alongside the F40 & Co in my opinion. A car we may never see made again.
 
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just because an F1 driver drives it around a track in Japan, doesn't mean it's sub-zero. I mean, if Senna drove the Toyota Prius around Tsukuba, it wouldn't make the it any cooler now would it? A Honda is a Honda and, in my book, no Honda will every be in the sub-zero category.

It's for the same reason the old Volvo didn't get in my Sub-Zero list. It's great to look at, but if you're dating a supermodel and you say to her, "How about we hope in my Honda and go for a cruise," she's going to think you're poor and a complete idiot. The name "Honda" doesn't sounds as romantic and exotic as Ferrari or Lamborghini, or Alfa Romeo (I know, it's French, but it still sounds better than Honda)
 
What do you mean whatever? Just saying that completely rids you of any stature among this argument. Also, having a challenger as your avatar makes you look a bit of a cock :P


Anyways, not a supercar, but who cares, it is absolutely epic, the video of Ayrton thrashing it around Suzuka is absolutely superb, and it is one of the best things to look at.

Ice-box this and lets move on.
 
Justin
Almost everyone I know knows Acura is owned by Honda and most of them can't even change their own oil. They don't mistake it as some other car, they just say it's a Japanese car and ask if it has a 4-banger.
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We must not have the same friends. My non-car friends can't stop talking about the claimed fuel economy of the Accord V6. Do the same friends ask if that Focus over there has a V8?

Justin
People also stop and look at the Chevrolet SSR, doesn't make it cool. I would guess most of the people who stop and look at an NSX are thinking "What the hell is this?", which again doesn't equal cool.
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You read minds, too? See, now you're coming up with theoretical reasons why it's not cool.

Stotty
Regarding the numbers; A Diablo had power of between 492 bhp (the early 5.7l) and 595bhp... a match for the F40's 478.
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And yet it's nowhere near anywhere as fast as an F40.

Here's the thing: If you point at one supercar and say: "Anything slower than that is not a supercar", you're creating your own definition. A Bugatti Veyron hits 60 mph in 2.5 seconds. Does that make the Enzo, the Porsche Carerra GT, the Zonda and everything else in that category "non-supercars"?

The fact that the Mclaren F1 came out in the mid-90s with acceleration and top speed far beyond anything else before it doesn't automatically make the XJ220 or the Bugatti EB110 non-supercars.

By today's reckoning, the F40 is still "average" for a supercar... which is why we still consider it one. But when it came out, the F40 and the Porsche 959 were hypercars. Performance well above and beyond supercars of their time.

Nowadays, a 959's performance is comparable to a mere 911 Turbo. And an F40 isn't any more powerful or quick than a Nissan GT-R. That doesn't change the fact that in their time, they were the top-of-the-heap amongst supercars.

You can argue the exotic angle (warning! entering motoring geek zone! Non-car people run away) because the NSX doesn't have the badge, doesn't have the exclusivity, etcetera... but many people consider it an exotic.

It has an exotic shape: check.

It has exotic speed: For its time, check. (the Countach, which went out of production just a few years before the NSX bowed in, gave similar performance numbers... with 100 horses more).

It has an exotic price-tag: check.

Those are things that non-car people can understand. To convince them of how uncool it is, you first have to explain to them that it's a Honda. Then you have to explain to them, somehow, that the NSX's exotic construction and performance were not as good as other supercars... of course... there's hardly any way to do that part completely objectively... :lol:
 
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oskierox
What do you mean whatever? Just saying that completely rids you of any stature among this argument. Also, having a challenger as your avatar makes you look a bit of a cock :P


Anyways, not a supercar, but who cares, it is absolutely epic, the video of Ayrton thrashing it around Suzuka is absolutely superb, and it is one of the best things to look at.

Ice-box this and lets move on.
Click to expand...

Not just any Challenger, the Challenger SRT10 Concept. And it makes me look like an American cock...or like Richard Hammond. And I don't care.
 
Looks like a Challenger with a hood scoop and some rims that it should never have to me...

On topic: Sub-zero. It's an NSX. It's an NSX. It's like the Evora in a way, but it does it so much better.
 

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