I'll post this question in the NSX forum, but I thought I'd ask here first, since this is sort of an ITR vs NSX, track only use question.

For those who might remember, I asked about ITR vs E36 M3, got lots of good answers, and realized that bottom line, the ITR would be a better choice. Then, a good friend at work sends me info on a black, 95 NSX, in excellent condition, selling for $33K. In fact, mid-30s is the price range for these mid-90s models NSXs. So this got me wondering, why not get an NSX? But I have the following questions:

1. Is the same Honda reliability in play here? Is an NSX as reliable as an ITR?
2. I've been to lots of track events, but have never seen an NSX. But I've been watching JGTC on Speedvision lately, and I've followed that series for a long time, NSXs rule over there. I would think they would make for excellent track cars.

No flames please, in my need for lots more HP, I just keep going back and forth between my ITR and all these other nice cars in the same price range.

 

1. Yes (probably the best made Honda out there)
2. Cost of mods/tires/rims/maintenance --->> $$$$$$$ big dolla

Even if you want to run the car stock or basically stock - cost of operation is still going to be higher.

 

Pretty sure NSX is reliable as an ITR or possibly more reliable than ITR..

Look at the price of it when it's brand new.. it's almost 5 times more expensive than ITR..

If i had a chance to trade my R for NSX.. i would do it in heart beat.
but it's just me.

i always loved NSX but they are just too expensive brandnew

NSX = Bad *** looking and great handling car

 

Cool. And feel free to ask on the NSXprime forums as well, since those are the most active NSX forums (and some of the NSX owners there also have an ITR in their garage).

Mid thirties is very typical for a great condition '91-94 NSX, which was available only with a fixed-roof coupe. Beginning with '95, most NSXs were sold as the NSX-T, with a removable roof panel. These are less desirable for the track, since (a) they're heavier by ~200 lbs, (b) they have less structural rigidity - not poor, but not as good as the coupe, (c) some track event groups don't allow open-top or removable-roof cars to participate in their events, and (d) they cost more, with a '95 usually costing ~$6-8K more than a comparable '94.

This price sounds unusually low for a '95, though. Check the pricing section of the NSX FAQ, which is reasonably up to date.

Yes and yes. The NSX is every bit as reliable as an ITR. However, in the unlikely event that something goes wrong, it can be more expensive to fix on an NSX. Also, "consumables" are consumed at a faster rate on the NSX, with clutches ($2K to replace, parts and labor) lasting 40-60K miles and rear tires lasting 4-8K miles (front tires last 2-3 times as long).

There are three "gotchas" with the early NSXs: (a) the window regulators can fail, which can cost ~$400 per side to fix; this is preventable with the installation of a $16 part; (b) the snap ring problem which affects some NSXs in a certain range of transmission serial numbers; and (c) the timing belt and water pump is supposed to be replaced every 90K miles or 6 years, whichever comes first, but has not been replaced on many low-mileage NSXs (average mileage on NSXs is about 5K miles/year). You can read about the first two problems in the NSX FAQ.

It does. I have driven my NSX in around 60 HPDE track events, with over 8K actual track miles (out of 52K total) on mine. I've gone through lots of consumables (brake pads and tires and front brake rotors). I've had no engine problems, recently replaced the clutch for the first time, and have had virtually no other problems with it. It stands up to the track just fine.

So does my ITR, of course.

Feel free to IM me if you have anything specific that I can help out with.

 

Thanks for the information nsxtasy. Very helpful indeed. I just checked out http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/faq.htm real quick, and that seems to be the best place to start. I'll let you know if I have other questions.

 

I had the exact same question 3 years ago. I was looking at NSX's with around 100,000 miles vs. a brand new ITR with 0 miles. Both around the same price.

Its not a clear cut choice. What I did, is I called around, and asked how much it would cost to pull the motor in the NSX, and do a light rebuild(rings, bearings), and then I called around and asked how much would it be to replace the shortblock and how much to replace the whole engine. What I found is the answers to all of these questions is, damn expensive.

There are NSX owners here who will probably flame me for this, but NSX engines will not last forever. With hard use, I would be suprised to see more than 150,000-200,000 miles before it starts smoking and burning oil bad. And resale, I would think, would be very hard with a old NSX with 200,000 miles and a worn out engine.

 

Yes and no.

Mods are optional. Like the ITR, the NSX can be driven on the track bone stock and will do very well. If you want to mod it, it depends on what you want to mod. For example, brake rotors and brake pads and track tires cost virtually the same for both cars, and you can even interchange the same front brake pads and front tires between the two cars. But if you want a supercharger, yes, it will cost more for the NSX than for an ITR.

Rear tires will wear faster on the street on the NSX than on the ITR; front tires, about the same. On the track, I'm not sure, but I suspect they will be similar.

Rims can be cheaper for the NSX than the ITR. It's quite common to get a used set of stock '91-93 NSX rims for $100-200 for four. And they're very light (15.2 lbs front, 18.9 lbs rear). Perfect for the track.

Maintenance costs are mostly similar. The NSX has virtually the same maintenance schedule as the ITR, and while the cost of parts may be slightly higher, for most services the labor is about the same (and is exactly the same for the DIY-ers ). The NSX will cost more for replacing the clutch (as noted above) and for a timing belt change, but those are relatively infrequent.

Yes, but those services just don't happen. I know plenty of NSX owners with over 100K miles on their cars, and even a few with over 200K miles. They have followed the recommended maintenance schedule and their cars are running great. They have had NO serious problems except for the previously-mentioned snap ring transmission problem on one of them.

There have been a grand total of exactly ZERO NSXs reported on NSXprime (with its 3000+ members) in which a properly-maintained NSX engine has failed or required a rebuild.

fso_BamBam, if you're considering a high-mileage NSX, I would be happy to put you in touch with three different owners who have over 180K miles on their NSX, and you can find out for yourself that jond's concerns are unfounded. However, I don't recommend getting a high-mileage NSX anyway, just because the average-to-low-mileage NSXs tend to be a better value IMO (IOW, the slight price difference is worth the money).

This is not to say that there will never be any repairs needed. Particularly if a car has over 100K miles (which is a high-mileage NSX), you can expect an occasional repair once in a while, such as to the A/C or the sound system (which you can read about in the FAQ). And those repairs aren't necessarily inexpensive. But an engine or block replacement is virtually unheard of.




[Modified by nsxtasy, 5:29 PM 1/30/2003]

 

NSX

 

 

No doubt NSX if you can afford it.

 

NSX all the way...

 

Hey I too have pondered that question, I think for me it will take me another year to have the financial security I'd need to pickup and maintain an older NSX and for the way I'd use it. To answer your Q's.....
1. Yes they have incredible reliabilty, even the early NSX's were excellently built and well engineered!
2. There is a local cat with a Comptech SC'd 92 NSX and he tracks his every month, and has for the past 5 years, he says with a Koni/Comptech suspension and fresh tires and brake pads, he has had zero problems on track and that the car is the most fun to drive, I dont doubt him at all.

 

I would trade my ITR for an NSX except for the fact I don't fit in one

Check out this site (www.nsxfiles.com) If that does not make you want one, nothing will.

Since it will be a track car, think about the possibiliy of a little body damage. The ITR will not be too bad to repair, but the aluminum NSX??? Costly!!!

 

what year did the nsx come in a 6 speed?

 

Yes, it will be more costly to repair. No doubt about that.

Depending on the nature of the track events you are doing (HPDE vs competition), and your particular insurance company, the insurance may or may not cover damage incurred on the track.

'97. Same year they enlarged the engine to 3.2 liters.



[Modified by nsxtasy, 7:55 PM 1/30/2003]

 

NSX if the mileage is decent and not too high.

Man I'd love to have an NSX. I've only seen two here in Omaha before. I was at an HPDE event once in Topeka and saw a couple of black ones.

 

nsx

 

I would agree!! NSX =