GTP Cool Wall: Acura/Honda NSX

[Eric.]

Why?

First result on Google Images for the search phrase "ricer".

 

[Tornado]

The RX-7 molests an NSX around the corners, and that's end of story. It's been proven too...

Also, the RULES stated that the cars were not allowed any major modifications....the most they could do was modify the airbox and removing the cat on the exhaust, the rest of it was suspension work. Same deal with all the other cars.

Um.... yeah. In addition to the stuff niky mentioned about how minor modifications like airbox and cat changes benefit turbo cars more, the fact that the race cars were given suspension changes kind precludes any ability to use the RX-7's various racing victories to claim that stock RX-7s could outhandle stock NSXs.

 

[Ardius]

I don't know about the US, but aren't Hondas driven by geezers in the UK?

Nope, thats just a generalisation. I don't normally see loads of Hondas around here, but most of the time the people who drive Civics and Accords are no different to those who drive anything else on the road. In other words, ranging from young people, old people, boy racers, families, etc etc. The only car I ever saw driven by purely old people is the Prelude. But thats one car in a range of Civic, Integra, Accord, S2000, NSX.....these are not uncool cars.

First result on Google Images for the search phrase "ricer".

This is a better reason to think Hondas are uncool, but only if you also consider the rest of the manufacturers uncool too. Which I don't, ricers can't make Mazda uncool.

Vauxhall is the dullest and cheapest company around, possibly the most uncool major manufacturer. But does that stop the VX220 being cool? I don't think so.
I think people here are having a hard time distinguishing from brand recognition and simple looks. Considering the average person wouldn't even know of an NSX, they wouldn't assume its a Honda - they would assume its some Lamborghini or something.

 

[Jim Prower]

I think we all know the real reason someone would think a car uncool for the badge is because they think that a cool car should not and will not have a badge shared with cars for poor people.

Bit shallow if you ask me.

 

[JCE]

Thanks Eric, I threw up in my mouth.

 

[LeGeNd-1]

The most misunderstood, underrated, and overrated car in the world in my opinion. The NSX is truly an enigma. But who cares? It goes round corners well, tricky to handle, looks the part, sounds spine-tinglingly good, and it's made by Honda - which will surprise a lot of people when they find out (could be a good or bad thing). It is a very unique and special car for me. The Senna connection is just a bonus to what is an already great car.

On the other hand, it's down on power and a bit slow on the straights. Plus it's overpriced, even after all these years. And it's in production for too long without any major changes. But again, who cares? This is a car that will put a smile on your face if you're a true driver.

It deserves nothing less: instant S-Z.

 

[Paulie]

Mafs, 12hr races don't count for much at all, you look at qualifying results for this year's race and you'll see many a irregularities. I read a mag article last year talking about the Evos that compete in 12hrs, they've got a good 60-70kw over stock and completely custom suspension setup as well as other mods. Then there's the fact a HSV Wagon of all things demolished many a sports cars in qualifying, simply down to driver skill and which car had more money behind it.
No comment on the NSX vs RX-7 battle. I don't know if these old videos count for much, but the NSX was clearly fastest here if it wasn't all staged. (Glad to see the 3000GT in there actually, I really like them things).


Edit: Oh, and I always figured that the reason the NSX never was turbocharged was because it could easily reach (and secretly surpass in some variants I'm sure) the Japanese Gentleman's Agreement of horsepower with its V-Tec V6. Since NSX stood for New Sports-car eXperimental I also doubt it was designed just to be exotic. It was done to exercise their engineering capability, and they created one of the most famously handling cars in history.

 

[astrosdude91]

Wow that's something right out of Gran Turismo 4!

 

[JCE]

Mafs, 12hr races don't count for much at all, you look at qualifying results for this year's race and you'll see many a irregularities. I read a mag article last year talking about the Evos that compete in 12hrs, they've got a good 60-70kw over stock and completely custom suspension setup as well as other mods. Then there's the fact a HSV Wagon of all things demolished many a sports cars in qualifying, simply down to driver skill and which car had more money behind it.
No comment on the NSX vs RX-7 battle. I don't know if these old videos count for much, but the NSX was clearly fastest here if it wasn't all staged. (Glad to see the 3000GT in there actually, I really like them things).


Edit: Oh, and I always figured that the reason the NSX never was turbocharged was because it could easily reach (and secretly surpass in some variants I'm sure) the Japanese Gentleman's Agreement of horsepower with its V-Tec V6. Since NSX stood for New Sports-car eXperimental I also doubt it was designed just to be exotic. It was done to exercise their engineering capability, and they created one of the most famously handling cars in history.

Glad to see my GTO hold it's own for most of the race. But good god that EVO was fast as hell. At the end I saw him do a major brake way early...the NSX went by him not even trying. I smell something...

Still, good to see the GT-R and Supra crushed around a track by a car heavier (GTO).

 

[C-ZETA]

Sub Zero. No question. Just the classic Japan sportscar (well, mostly). And the NSX Type R 2002 was just unbelievable.

 

[niky]

Glad to see my GTO hold it's own for most of the race. But good god that EVO was fast as hell. At the end I saw him do a major brake way early...the NSX went by him not even trying. I smell something...

Yeah. His tires.

The Evo III RS, aside from having no ABS (and majorly flat-spotting and overheating his tires while running wide at turn one on the second lap), had skinnier tires than the NSX-R. The NSX has better weight balance and is easier on tires... which makes it great in street car stock-to-stock comparisons like this.

You'll note that in the reverse qualifying grid start, also, that they gave the NSX-R a huuuuge handicap over the next fastest qualifiers, the RX7 and the Supra. The Evo was first on the grid, and the NSX-R was where 13th or 15th would have been if they had that many cars! So while the Evo was running comfortably in first the whole time, the NSX-R had to put in some blistering laps just to get behind it. The Evo looked like it was going slowly through the turn because the NSX was going just that much faster. I think if the RX-7 driver had more luck, he'd have been right behind the NSX.

Still, good to see the GT-R and Supra crushed around a track by a car heavier (GTO).

That big heavy hunk of machinery is either gentler on tires than the WRX or its stock tires are very good, because it's commendable really, that such a heavy car managed to stay in contention till the end. I'd expect it to have wound up near the back, like the GT-R and Supra... the GT-R is notorious for using up tires and brakes quickly on track, so it's no surprise to see it so far back after five laps. If the battle had been shorter, it would have been a different story.

 

[a6m5]

the GT-R is notorious for using up tires and brakes quickly on track, so it's no surprise to see it so far back after five laps. If the battle had been shorter, it would have been a different story.

The driver's Mr. Drift King himself.

 

[niky]

The driver's Mr. Drift King himself.

Unfortunately, drifting only exacerbates the tire problem.

 

[JCE]

But fun to watch!