NSX Owner Explains Why This Car is Worth Every Penny
Considering buying an NSX, wondering what your first mods should be, or what to look out for? Watch this video first!
Honda might have a second-generation NSX out now, but to be honest, it shares no seat with the original. A true legend and halo vehicle for the brand, it shaped the outlook of Honda as a company to the outside world. Not only did its release inspire overall acclaim, but it put much more expensive counterparts in check. This car was a turning point for the brand, without a doubt. It came at the peak of Honda’s performance push in the ’90s and it hasn’t lost steam 30 years later.
The prices of first-generation NSXs are sky-rocketing and most people that buy them consider owning the car an investment. Without a doubt, the prices of these glorious sports coupes will continue to rise as they get rarer and rarer. We reported earlier this year that an extremely low mile 1994 model sold for an unprecedented $151,000. Think it’s not worth it? That’s well over the original MSRP price, which was around $112,000 when adjusted for inflation. Still not convinced? Maybe Marshall Chang on YouTube, who has owned a first-generation for over 6 years, can explain a little better.
Chang is has a beautiful 1992 Formula Red NSX, our favorite color for the car. He explains after all those years, what are the things that have stood out the most to him about owning the car. So let’s start off a bit of a list.
1. Styling
The NSX is most recognizable for this single feature: its incredible timeless styling. A low roof-line, wide hips, a long body, and a low height define the beauty that makes the NSX unforgettable. Want to make the styling better? Upgrade the stock wheels. Chang chose the clean Advan Model 5 with a 17″ front 18″ rear double-stagger. It looks perfect.
The pop-up headlights are one of the most iconic features of the NSX, but the halogen bulbs inside of the projector housings show quite a bit of age. Want a more modern look with better lighting? Upgrade those up to HID or LED that will do the job.
Want to give the rear end a more aggressive look to complement those beautiful taillights? Upgrade the rear valence to a facelifted NSX (2002+) valence to complete the rear-end.
2. Engine
Chang feels like, with the stock horsepower level of around 300 HP, the car feels a little bit slow in comparison to modern cars. Considering a 2019 Honda Accord could probably beat an NSX in a drag race, we can’t say we disagree. His solution was upping the power via Comptech Engineering supercharger. Now his NSX makes a reliable 400 to 420 HP and feels worlds different with a couple of exhaust mods to compliment it.
3. Maintenance/Reliability
Even a car as cool as an NSX isn’t worth anything if all it can do is sit in your garage broken down. Is it really possible to daily a car like this? According to Chang, it is. For the first two years of ownership, he stated he drove the car “essentially everywhere”. In his 6 years, he hasn’t encountered anything other than standard maintenance items to replace, such as brake pads and oil changes. Will this be the case for every owner? Definitely not, but it does show that the car is built to a higher standard than most.
Chang has a lot more insights in relation to the car that might be important to prospective owners, so please watch the full video. If you want to buy an NSX, now is the time. If you haven’t driven one before, find the opportunity to do so. Probably the second you step out of it, you’ll want to step back in.
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