The Original Acura NSX Was Honda's Most Successful Failure - Revelations with Jason Cammisa Ep. 32
This is the story of the first-generation Acura NSX, known in the rest of the world as the Honda NSX.
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The all-aluminum NA1-chassis NSX was developed as Honda was on top of the world - it had just begun an incredible string of Formula One victories, its Accord was the best-selling car in America, and its new Acura luxury brand was a resounding success.
The NSX would be the company's flagship, demonstrating that Honda could apply its F1 know-how to a Ferrari-challenging, mid-engined supercar.
It was received with near unanimous praise from the American automotive media, but ultimately the NSX struggled to find buyers for the majority of its 15-year production run.
In this episode of "Revelations," automotive journalist Jason Cammisa takes us through the history of the original NSX and why, in retrospect, it was actually a success despite being unable to live up to its sales expectations - and how it differs from the second-generation, Ohio-engineered and -built NC1 hybrid.
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Like what you see? Watch our other series including:
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Barn Find Hunter | Tom Cotter searches the country for abandoned cars bit.ly/BarnFIndHunter
Jason Cammisa on the Icons | The definitive car review
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Revelations | Untold Stories About Automotive Legends with Jason Cammisa
bit.ly/JasonCammisaRevelations
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I was not a responsible kid back then and of course I took out a loan to buy my white 1992 nsx working as an intern in 2009. Looking back. It was the best decision I have ever made. Still gets me excited every time I start up the car.
Wait you still own it?
Still own it then?! That is awesome!!!
Legend!!!
Good on you.
@@akeillewis7515 That’s only 14 years.
Let's not forget that the NSX was also the benchmark for none other than Gordon Murray, the guy who made the McLaren F1. This speaks volumes about how good this car was to inspire such a legend.
Gordon initially went to Honda to make him an engine for the F1 but they declined so he went with BMW
Mclaren also went to Mercedes and Isuzu.
I used to work in the same building as Gordon Murray while the McLaren F1 was under development in the 90s. A red NSX was his daily driver.
@Benjamin-iz8qnno thanks
Anton senna approved and chassis tuned.
The NSX was one of the best car designs ever. 30 years later it is as contemporary as anything on the road.
One of the best looking cars ever built. I remember sitting behind one at a red-light in awe. Maybe the lsat and only time I ever saw one on the streets. I'd own one just to look at.
Timeless design. A lot of these super cars look cool, but after 10-15 years they look aged and out of date. True automotive beauty is timeless, these cars often look more beautiful the more time passes. The NSX is one of these timeless designs.
Look much better than any supercars from 1990
I live in Colombia and showed a non car person the NSX and was like "This car came out in 1990!!!" They didnt believe me. They though it was like 2010. I had to pull up Wikipedia to show then the history of the car.
I wouldn't go that far... but it is original and still great looking.
I had a '91 NSX which I loved more than most people. I didn't sell the car, I lost it to a red light runner. This is the one car I wish I could have back, but prices have really changed since then
Makes me think the NSX in Pulp Fiction was the perfect car for Wolf to drive. He was meticulous, unemotional, just needed the utility to get places quickly, cleanly and under the radar!
That was the first thing that popped into my mind, while watching this!
"It takes 30 minutes, I'll be there in 10"
Well, dunno about the under the radar bit.
that car was rarely under the radar, i love how he said he drove fast..... even with a dead body in the trunk!! lol
Crazy how he offered Jules and Vincent a ride home. How the hell was he going to take those two and Monster Joe’s daughter anywhere in a two seater?
"Revelations with Jason Cammisa" is probably my favourite thing on KZhead now.
Anything with Tom and Jason I watch, the photographer in Japan not as much. but does show me the culture and ideas that came out of Japan.
Camissa and FortNine (Motorcycles) hands down make the best stuff for YT.
I’m addicted to Camisa’s storytelling. Such deep knowledge and such fun presenting. Thanks to the whole crew for such an awesome series!
Exactly, his storytelling is soothing and enlighting at the same time. Like a bedtime story for grown auto enthusiasts
He's my "Top Gear"-replacement therapy. Storyteller, not a seller.
Me to
Cant help but feel the passion for these machines coming through. It's definitely a mark of a good journalist/presenter. Well done.
And let's not forget camisa's voice is something else it's charming and pleasant to hear , man knows how to adjust his voice alongside the atmosphere when it's time to switch in between the storytelling highlight and facts
Its an undeniable fact that the intended market for the NSX totally slept on this absolute gem, to their total loss.
Not really. It would be nice to have but it wasn’t that great. For instance, the interior in that car is literally the same as an integra
Did they really? In the end, they got what they want - another sports car from the 1990s that can be bid up to astronomical prices. In short, just another appreciating asset.
Correct in every aspect.
I remember exactly why the NSX didn't sell.. it had an MSRP of $65k, and dealers marked it up to be more than a Ferrari 355
That'll do it, every time. 🍻
Now that makes sense to me.
Price should never have come into it... The NSX was superior in every aspect to a Ferrari 355... It took until the 360 for Ferrari to catch up...
And in that regard, someone looking to spend that kind of money was looking for character and passion; neither of which the NSX possessed.
@@MrLg55555 I love the NSX and would take one instead, but the F355 had 100hp more, revved higher, and other pretty important objective areas.
No matter how many potholes life throws my way or how stuck I feel in traffic, whenever I catch sight of "Revelations" and Jason Cammisa in the same sentence, I can't help but rev up with excitement! It's like getting a full tank of fuel for my soul, and suddenly, the road ahead feels smoother, faster, and oh-so-thrilling!
I do believe you have established my mantra when I myself could not. This is exactly how I feel/felt today, I saw this and literally said, "YES!" out loud! Makes me want to sell my Z06 and chase after an NSX now. Dangit.
@@OCDRex11Z06 is an excellent car. Be prepared for receiving ALOT more attention if you get an NSX. I didn’t expect it and it’s awkward most of the time.
@@Guido.Fawkes.1 I have not priced them in a long time. Always wanted one. Was about 20 when they came out. Other than an FD, the NSX is top on my list someday. My Z06 is a C5 and I will keep it. I have an NA Miata in another state too. I love pop-up headlights. I am just a snob for them!
@@OCDRex11 Funny you mention the Miata, my friend in FL just got his latest one delivered today. It’s his 5th! They are one of the most fun cars I’ve ever driven. As for the NSX, they are on an uptick in value. Especially the earlier ones with the pop-ups. But unless you’re after a garage queen you can find one for a reasonable price. They’re not the fastest cars ever made, but they handle unbelievably well and nothing Japan has produced looks as good IMO. Just timeless. Good luck in your search friend.
@@Guido.Fawkes.1 Specs on yours please. I am fully aware of their performance. Some things you buy for beauty and nostalgia. I would have to be buying a garage queen and non-modded. Like the one in this video, I would be after a first gen (early) with pop-ups and seven spokes. That or an NSX-R which we all know won't happen, lol. I could move to Japan and scoop one! lol
"Revelations with Jason Cammisa" is probably my favourite thing on KZhead now.. Cammisa and the NSX, this is bound to be gold.
This is such a fantastic piece by Jason and the Hagerty team! To summarize: Honda did not make a mistake with the NSX itself, but instead with the way they marketed it. Love this car.
Just like the s2000. Look at the BRZ and FRS/GT86 Trio that have sold so well, you cant go anywhere without seeing one. Yet, its a rarity to see an s2000.. So Hondas theory that nobody wants the 2 door sports car with as manual is clearly incorrect. They just charge too much. Make it an affordable 2 door sports focused car, and they sell like hot cakes and establish a massive Aftermarket and Huge fan/enthusiast groups in no time flat.
This was my dream car at a 10 year old, I thought it looked amazing and futuristic, for 1994. The style still holds up 30 years later.
Is it just me who thinks the "modern" successor to the original NSX is actually the Audi R8? NA motor philosophy, relatively lightweight, great interior and functionality, but relatively unemotional?
My dream car back when i was a 8 years old was Impreza 22B WRX but I cant afford it because it was too expensive and rare to get it. Sadly, the NSX have fatal flaw which is a BORING car to drive because it was easier to drive compared to Honda S2000 where S2000 has very tricky to drive but once you master it, it has exceptional handling even on sharp corners. Sure NSX has every feature that you can have from all competitors back then, but what is the point when you make a car that so easy to drive while all people wanted to have cars that have their own identity like Lambo who wanted to tame wild bulls, Ferrari like wild galloping horses, or Dodge Viper like a wild snakes who wants to kill drivers??? I have driven NSX'91 and I dont feel anything because it was easy to drive and control, but as soon as I drive S2000 on track, it tried to throw me out of track because handling was very tricky and not as easy as NSX did due it have 50-50 weight distribution but behave like Mid-Engine (usual FR cars goes from 55-45 to 60-40 at worst).
@@nunofernandes7868weirdly ur right. Audi made that car and said they looked at their dominant Le Mans racers and tried to imbue that Le Mans spirit into their car. In the similar vein as Honda tried to bring their F1 dominance technology to a road car.
I've always thought the Audi R8 looked industrial. Cool car though for sure, always liked it since I was a kid.@@nunofernandes7868
Timeless, gorgeous design. Always wanted one. I remember a time when you could find a well-used but clean example for around $20k. Sadly I didn't have any money then.
but if you've ever listened to Jason and Derrick be honest about it they say it's boring and wouldn't own one
@@tomfurstyfield boring, but atleast it wouldn't try to kill you if you make it your daily car too, on top of being semi practical. Sure, not the qualities of a super car you're looking for, and it poses no super thrills, but maybe some people wants the friendly, safe option too
Yep. Jason flew across the country to almost buy one, but was disappointed when he test drove it. Meanwhile, hyphen said it was good, but revelled that the Type-R was even better. He even made a BTS of it.
@@tomfurstyfield But compared to what? Sure I'd love a Ferrari or Lamborghini but the maintenance and driveability headaches are real. The NSX is a reliable daily driver that also happens to be an all-time great sports car. If that's boring, then I guess I like boring. 😄
@@DeuceDeuceBravo It sounds a bit dull which is the opposite of what a sports car should be. Jason does have a Honda though, a Honda Beat so maybe that's more fun to drive?
6:30 one thing that people usually miss with the C series engine they used in the NSX was that it didnt have steel cylinder liners like in normal engines. Honda used FRM (Fiber Reinforced Metal) to decrease the friction between the piston and the cylinder, kinda how Porsche used Nikasil coated cylinders to decrease friction. The same treatment was done in the H series engines (prelude and some accord models) and the S2000. Although, they def perfected the FRM technology with the s2000.
I'm glad Gan San got a shout-out in this video. He was MUCH more responsible for the driving development of this car than Senna was
The quality of this show never ceases to amaze; the script, the color grading and audio/sfx is top tier!
Almost as good as gears and gasoline.
And the Audio! 👍🏼👌🏼
@@djbis Did you noticed one thing ?? Jason's health was not upto the mark during the filming of this video ...
They just don't miss, do they? Amazing work, Jason and team at Hagerty!
More reliable than Honda.
Jason is my favourite car nerd to listen to, he knows exactly how to pull a good story together while being educational. The NSX has always been my favourite Japanese car and one of my favourite cars of the last 30 years. I hate the heavy blobs they call cars these days. What a beauty still.
The simple elegance of the NSX is so timeless. Its purpose built, F1 inspired mid-engine design provides a driving experience other JDM cars of the period can't duplicate. Honda's bullet proof reliability in its DNA means these classics are still going strong while other supercars of the era can't be driven and enjoyed as these cars can.
And while the other car is rusting, this nsx is rust proof with aluminium
I am extremely fortunate to have a '91 NSX sitting in my garage right now. If you get the chance, just buy one. You won't regret it at all. If you aren't in a position to buy it, I hope everyone can at least get to drive one at some point- mine has 110,000 miles, and will continue to be used as intended. It's a truly wonderful machine.
I think that was honestly the problem. Hear me out when you can afford a high end sports car, the part of you that makes you indulge in your wants and selfish needs isn't going to tell you to buy a Honda. You remember the original NSX came out when Baby Boomers or some Gen X people were probably making more money and they want to indulge in their childhood fantasy of being Don Johnson, or Magnum PI so they are going to buy a Ferrari or Lambo or a Porsche.
People shouldn't be afraid of buying a higher mileage one. You'll feel less guilty about driving it, and the prices are way more reasonable. It's a 90s Honda - it'll run for ages
@@Harmonic14 Same thing with Porsches. High mileage means it hasn't been sitting for 20 years, and most likely means it had regular maintenance intervals. A Ferrari doesn't go above 27k miles, but the NSX and any Porsche can reach 300k without causing grief.
@@Harmonic14 I have a 1991 NSX with 108,000 miles. I'm pleased to say I've driven 56,000 of them in the last 15 years. It is an amazing car. Last month I drove down to the French Pyrenees for a holiday, and back home to eastern England again. It is lovely to own a 32yo car that feels so special, and performs so well, and have complete confidence in it.
@@K1ng1995it depends if you chase status or driving pleasure. If you want status this won't cut it. But if you like driving you won't care.
Honda is very often 10-20 years early with their most innovative products (80's offroad Odyssey, Transalp & original Africa Twin, Road Fox to name a few). The NSX is another example of this.
The insight, too.
The CBR 900. Lighter than all other brands 600's and how superbikes were created. The big motor sports tourers at the time were like 40-120kgs heavier.
If the AWD Civic wagon from the 80's wasn't so homely, it's basically an efficient version of an AMC Eagle or predecaessor to the modern "Compact Crossover SUV."
I've yet to see a folding third row from any minivan today that's as simple and elegant to use as the Odyssey's now 12-market-years-old magic seats.
Was the only Acura certified technician in the dealership when the first one was delivered. (First one to drive it😂) Truly an amazing piece of engineering. Hard to believe it came from the same manufacturer as the Vigor 😑 😂😂
In the UK the usual case of badge snobbery caused poor sales throughout its production life and now those same customers wish they had bought one.
People misunderstood these cars.
That's what they get for being badge fanatics
This was the car i learned how to drive manual in. I was at work and made friends with a customer and the next day he tossed me the keys and told me let her rip. LEGEND.
@@Benjamin-iz8qn no thank you i’m vegan
Until now,still, one of the most beautiful japanese car IMO
brave opinion you got there buddy
Hundred percent in my top 5!
When it came out, one car magazine wrote something like, let's see will it hold up as well as Porsche 928. I think it did. I must say, I like both.
@@TinLeadHammer 928 hasn't aged very well.
@@JohnFromAccounting I think it has.
Until now,still, one of the most beautiful japanese car IMO. "Revelations with Jason Cammisa" is probably my favourite thing on KZhead now..
The quality of information from Jason is outstanding. I could watch these for hours
Cammisa and the NSX, this is bound to be gold
What a beautiful car and what a beautiful piece of engineering The fact that this car was the car to beat when Gordon Murray designed the F1 is just insane to me
This car fits Gordon’s philosophy too.
@@pranc236didn't he drove it and said after he want to do that, but more extreme ?
@@IroquoisPlissken i believe so, Gordon loves quick and nimble cars though. The man owns small light weight cars that he cant fit into. 😂.
I see an update from Hagerty with Jason and I click like before even watching. That's how good this content is without even seeing it yet. And the track stuff with Randy always has me on the edge of my seat.
best car driving experience ever. visibility so great it felt like you were floating on the road. that vtec roar felt so efficient. i love the old nsx.
"Honda don't make mistakes." made me smile so much. As a bike fan I can't forget the story of the NR500 which was developed in the late 70's. Honda left MotoGP ten years before when they realised that 2 Strokes were the future and they were having none of that nonsense. So when they came back they wanted to use a 4 stroke. They sent the kids in the office off into a room to come up with some ideas, and they decided Oval Pistons were the way to go which should have given them lots more power, a monocoque frame to reduce weight and protect the engine and 16 inch wheels rather than the normal 18 to reduce gyroscopic force. Sadly it was a disaster by Honda standards, Takazumi Katayama win the 200Km race at Suzuka, but no MotoGP wins in two seasons. In the end they built a 2 Stroke using three of their single cylinder 125 engines strapped together to make the NSR 500cc 3 Cylinder, then a V4 cylinder and well, 23 MotoGP World titles later . . . so it was a mistake kinda?
As FortNine would put it, Honda motorcycles is boring. They play it too safe, making them vanilla. While companies like KTM and Ducati is coming out with new innovative stuff, Honda sticks to traditional. Even Suzuki had more MotoGP wins last two season than Honda. They're scared to get wild and build something new, fresh sheet of paper. There's no way MM93 is going to stay with Honda if they can't give him a rideable bike.
Spencer was incredibly fast on the 500 until it broke. The metallurgy of the day wasn't up to par. Almost all GP bikes ran with 16/18 front/rear back then, that wasn't specific to Honda or the NR. Plus, the NR750 is still a bit of a Holy Grail bike. When MotoGP went 4-stroke, one of the first things they did was penalize oval piston engines. That alone says not really a mistake.
@@DroneStrike1776 For sure now they are not risk takers, and they do need some of that 80's Honda lunacy back to give them a chance.
@@rapid13 No I don't think it was either, they learned a lot, and at the same time they won the first 3 Le Mans 24 Hour races, getting foothold in production racing which would mean 5 more titles in the Bike F1 in the 80s alone.
@@DroneStrike1776 The rules keep Honda (actually HRC) from doing anything interesting. Pair that with the severe decline in popularity of the series (true of almost all roadracing since the 2008 financial crash) and Honda doesn’t see a real need to outspend everyone like they used to. The arms race from back then isn’t exactly over, but it isn’t what it was.
I’m 67 years old. I fondly remember when this beauty came out. I lusted after this car. Even though I also lusted over the 308GT with much more desire, I knew in my practical heart this was the better car. I had nothing to prove. I was at peace with my manhood. I did not need Ferrari to prove to the world my manly prowess. Unfortunately, with kids, my pocket book was just too light at the time. Now that those days are past, I would still choose the NSX over a Ferrari. It is a no brainer. And yes, I am still confident of my manhood.
I dunno, you bring up your manhood a LOT… 😅
True...NSXs in the day were considered a "girly" sports car.
I don't need a Ferrari to make people think I am cool or well-to-do. Envy is not something I am looking for. It would be nice to own (if I had money to waste) but, I am a practical man.
😂 hell yeah man
@@Mexxx65 Only by the Ferrari cult, who have to create any excuse to justify their poor decisions. Car enthusiasts loved the NSX.
This was my Grail-car as a car nut kid growing up! Still love seeing and reading about it. Thanks for the great video!
Absolutely nailed it! Great work. I’m amazed that over two thousand people actually bought the second iteration of the NSX as you correctly pointed out that car managed to forgo everything that made the original NSX great.
The looks alone sold me literally, stopped me in my tracks when I saw one the first time up close in 1997...
Wow
Dude, I knew you would come around to show the car and company the epic respect and history lesson it deserves. 1:30 already got chills.
I get so excited when I know there’s a new videos from this man. Wow. They certainly make top tier content!
Reminds me of the old motor trend ignition and head to head videos I grew up watching. Thank you Jason Randy and the team for the best car videos on KZhead hands down
Always loved the NSX... Too bad prices have gone through the roof. I'm starting to realize It's unlikely I'll ever own one... 😥😭😭
Don't be afraid to go for a 100k+ mile one. There are cars out there with over 200k miles that are still running great
Not a huge Japanese car fan but I will admit when I see the Ontario NSX club around on the road here in Niagara I look twice. The car has aged well and is a great foundation for visual mods like wheels and other bits.
This Acura NSX is not a JDM import. Can we stop calling all Japanese cars JDM? It's dumb. Only Japanese cars made for the Japanese market are JDM's.
@@electrikoptik I'll edit my comment just so you're not upset. Don't wanna get cancelled. Sheesh.
I stumbled across this channel by a Google News feed. It is outstanding, informative, very polished, and extremely entertaining. Bravo!
Thanks, Jason and crew, for another brilliant episode. I'm almost expecting credits at the end, because your shows are so good. Keep on keepin' on, folks! ✌️❤️🙂🇨🇦
@Benjamin-iz8qn sorry, dude, I already have a religion and a god; I'm a Pastafarian, and I follow The Flying Spaghetti Monster. Sorry you wasted your time!✌️❤️🙂🇨🇦
Honda succeeded in putting the Italians on notice much like Lexus did with the Germans. Honda proved that you didn't need to sacrifice quality, and reliability for performance and character.
Well, see… that’s the problem… does it have enough character?
yeah, both Honda and Lexus innovated really well with their first entries but they failed to continue to innovate and were left behind very quickly by those competitors they put on notice
@@claudiomarangone614 I believe it does. It's as sharp as a scalpel, a willing screamer to 8K, but it can be as docile as a contemporary Accord when you want it to be.
@@claudiomarangone614 Wrong question. The right question is does it have the right character for what you are looking for? The first gen NSX is a clinical precision masterpiece on the driver's car and comes with all of the character that entails. Problem is that, as Cammisa pointed out in the video, most people looking for a sports car or super car isn't looking for that in a sports car or super car. The second gen NSX is what happens when a car has little to no character. Hence Cammisa saying that there were no mistakes in regard to the first gen NSX but they messed up in regards to the second.
@@smythiegato I think Honda and Lexus just realized that superior engineering is a lot less relevant to the hyper luxury market than they thought, and that they could never actually compete with the perceived rarity and exclusivity of the pure luxury brands. Once it became clear that the badge mattered more than what was under the hood, they decided to focus on the lower rungs of the ladder where they dominated rather than continue investing in money-losing halo cars.
So sad I missed when used examples were affordable. I’d love to park one next to my S2000, but sadly that will likely never happen.
Great video. I owned one of these (1991 black/black/manual) for almost the entirety of the 1990s. It was a cool fun car, not super fast, but really sounded great inside. People mistook it for a Ferrari all the time, and it ate rear tires pretty fast. It was very well thought out inside and out.
This video series made me sign up with Hagerty. These are some of the BEST automotive videos on the internet.
My world stops to see Jason’s truly informed shows in Hagerty- please keep killer content coming!!! It’s legendary and timeless!!!
Thank God these videos have returned after a long absence they're so great and well done thank you guys at Haggerty
I admire Jason being open to everything and a true car enthusiasts. The story behind this is fascinating... the car was just never poster worthy to me and even today I ignore it when I do happen to see one. I do have a new found respect after watching this though as clearly there was a lot of passion that went into the NSX.
Fun and insightful as always - thanks for another great show Jason! I just wish you would give some driving impressions after the drive at the end...
My recollection of the car is that the later years NSX was held back by close Japanese competitors (Supra, RX7, 300ZX) which, on paper, were close in performance but were almost 2/3 the price.
The 300zx TT was released before the NSX. The 300zx TT was also faster in a straight line most of the time.
@@freewayz32I like to think the 300zx was the car of that decade that was almost an underdog. It was designed in the late 80’s as a sports-touring car that wasn’t a complete pushover from the 90’s wave cars designed to beat it.
Now all those cars are 50k+ some even 100k
@@genericexcuse4737 When they made the "New" Z the only thing they borrowed from 300zx is rear tail lights. thats it. They should have just tried to emulate the entire 300zx turbo design, the most beautiful of all Nissan cars
@@jpslaym0936 The new Z is, by spec, a 300zx, but Nissan knew they couldn’t hold onto the past more than they already did. I wish they would call it a ZX, because that’s what it seems like, but what ZX would it be but not a 300zx, which they can’t call it.
I LOVE these videos, always on the the edge of my seat, full of emotions, these videos always speak to me in volumes (especially the Corvette ZR1) coverage and NO ONE does that better than Jason and the folks @ Hagerty. KEEP DOING what you're doing, folks. NEVER.STOP.DRIVING.
The production quality is off the charts! You guys are incredible. Please keep making great videos.
I really can't believe I'm just now finding your material. Some of the most enjoyable stuff on the tube
Amazing production 👍 The initial NS-X development was trusted to japanese racing legend Satoru Nakajima. When Senna fist tested the NS-X in Suzuka, as a pre-production unit, Ayrton told Honda to stop everything - it was all wrong, the chassis flex thing. Nakajima was clearly offended by it, as shown in the YT videos. As former team mates in the F1 1987 season at the Camel Lotus team, they came to meet again at the track in 1990, when Senna crashed into Nakajima at his home GP when trying to lap him 🤔
you guys should definitely make a video compiling all the driving segments! Love the videos, history and facts too, but one video with the engines sound would be musical!!
I still can’t believe my mom bought me an NSX when I was 18 years old back in 92. It was my daily driver for 7 years. Loved every minute of it.
this car aged very well. Compared to other cars that were out at the same time.
This is my dream car! Had a choice between the NSX or GT-R. Went with the GT-R. The dream will be a dream for a little longer
A legendary car that suits the format of this series. Back in the early 90s I wasn´t very fond of Japanese cars. It took a while for me to appreciate the engineering triumph that was the NSX. We have too few delicate and subtle sports cars these days.
This review was absolutely perfect! Thanks for the video.
Thank you for covering the NSX! I own a 2000 NSX-T and absolutely love it. To call it a mistake though is based solely on sales. It drove so much innovation that made it into other Hondas and really helped Honda become even more of a leader.
Really would love to see a Hagerty video on the 3000GT VR-4! :D
Having fell in love with it at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show, the first-gen Acura NSX is still my classic dream sports car!
...."the intakes sang a song that had only been sung in Italian". Beautiful, just beautiful. The writing is one of the best things that sets this show apart from the others.
Maaaaaan that thing sounds good winding out, especially as the revs fall off between shifts. Whew... Dream car for me. Fantastic episode as always, guys!
I got to drive a friends NSX back in 2001. Best, easiest, driving sports car I've had the pleasure of pushing down the road. It felt like Mario Cart for the street. Seeing one of these in the wild always puts a smile on my face.
I remember seeing one near an Ac dealer one day in the early 90’s. The only way I can describe what it did is that it moved liked a cross between a UFO and a hummingbird. It was amazingly fast and cornered on a dime. It blew by me and zipped around me on a ramp. It was a sharp off ramp really about a lane and a half wide. Not an issue for the NSX. It was by me and gone in a flash. I admit I was in love.
Honda guy here… Awesome car. Awesome video. Keep up the good work forever, Jason!
One of my favorite shows !! And Jason you’re the best brother at what u do! U and your whole team!
Even though the NSX was underpowered, and a bit under-exciting, it's still on my bucket list of cars to own/experience. Fantastic episode as always!
it outaccelerated the Ferrari 348, its main rival .... So it was not underpowered.
The lack of excitement thing is confusing to me given it sounds like THAT: 15:43
@@mitchell-wallisforce7859the lack of excitement might've been meant as in the car doesn't feel risky or thrilling to drive because you KNOW it won't try to kill you if you push it, it won't try to hurt you if you're not the fastest driver on Earth, and it is a "sensible" car in a way compared to other cars in it's class, if you get what I mean. In other words, a fast and pretty car, surprisingly practical too, but "boring". Still want one tho.
@@PlatinumNath It's a good car with no quirks.....I guess I can see that. Like dating the red-head with the hot temper rather than the one with the library card.
Thanks Jay. Been a while, glad to see you
Jason, you really found yourself and the perfect job. Thank you for that!
It’s all true. Bravo Jason! I was infatuated with the NSX when it was in development, combining the ethos of Honda with the passion of Senna. After a long search for a Black over Ivory example, I finally owned a ‘91 NSX from 1997-2004. As a dedicated BMW guy, this remains my favorite former car, getting lots of track miles over 7 years. A sports car that’s pure, mature, and reliable. One that deserved a better fate.
I had such a obsession with this car, I learned everything about it, I tried so hard getting one from the moment I seen a na2 nsx in person back in 05 up until like 5 years ago and now the market is silly and just no longer makes sense. She the one that got away
That windshield POV is great. Man I wish I had one.
I only got to drive an NSX briefly once, but it was an absolute delight. I'd love to have one.
I love the NSX. I was lucky enough to play with a brand new one for a night, and it was etched in my mind as a benchmark. I own a Honda S600, mostly because of that NSX.
I remember when you could get one of these in good nick for 25/30k, that price point had it near the top of my short list. Sadly, with the current prices, it's moved way down that list.
One of my favorite japanese cars, but at current prices it's just not worth it anymore at all.
Just as with countless other cars these days. The funniest thing to me is seeing all of these KZhead videos theorizing about why the values of various cars are rising, as if each car is an isolated incident. Bottom line: the old adage "they just don't make cars like they used to" has never been more appropriate than it is today.
It's insane the original NSX is now more expensive than the new one.
Sold mine for $29k in 2013. Grand Prix white / black with 70k miles. Crazy what it would go for today. I owned it for 10 years and drove it as much as possible.
VTEC really is quite awesome. I still remember hitting the revs in my 1997 Prelude. Love the original NSX. Nothing like it ever or since.
I had a 99 em1 with the b16a2. In typical B engine fashion, the thing just screamed when vtec kicked in
I vote for a longer driving segment at the end. Fantastic as always!
Hagerty and Jason just know how to make my day ❤
But Jason's health was kinda not Ok during the filming of this video .. You can compare his voice tone by watching his other relevations video ..
I remember driving an NSX after driving a BMW M3 and realized that the BMW was just a car. As amazing as the NSX was. When you drive the 911 or F355 it was even more visceral. Even if the repair bills suck on the later two, they reminded you that it’s not about the numbers
Saving this episode to watch tonight on the big screen!
Without question, one of my all-time favorite cars. When i went to my Honda dealer in mid '91 to start the process of buying my '91 Accord EX, there was a red NSX on the showroom floor. I was allowed to sit inside and i was in heaven. In my life i have only seen an NSX on the road about 5 times. Love it.
It really is amazing to get under an NSX and consider the design tools available at that time. The control arms are just one example and almost look like something we did not see until generative AI started being tasked with component design.
Jup it‘s so impressive almost like spacetech
It committed another cardinal sin: it was attainable.
I had an ‘87 Prelude w/5 speed and sunroof. Low profile, hugged the road, handled so precisely. Still miss that one.
The use of Motorweek clips for the test of those times is always very nice.
I would choose one of these over a Ferrari any day- especially a 308 or 328. It's just a better engineered car than anything Ferrari ever came up with-especially under Enzo's watch. I don't have the money to waste on expensive repairs that you get with anything European, let alone a specialty car. Japanese cars of this era are simply the best cars ever engineered and built and that's why I love them.
The reality is that plenty of people shop the badge more than the car itself. Of course this is true of many other things aside from just cars. Honda's biggest problem when it comes to a car like the NSX is likely that most people associate the brand with affordable, drama-free transportation. Not that there's anything wrong with those traits obviously. But those aren't the qualities that most owners want others to think of when it comes to the supercar parked in their garage. The Acura badge wasn't enough to overcome this.
People daily drove these and put hundreds of thousands of miles on them because the cars could take it. Everything works and is where you expect it to be. It has enough power to have fun on the road while still keeping it within safe and legal limits. The styling is subtle and doesn't scream "look at me! I'm rich!" like a Ferrari, even an old one.
How dare y'all call that car a FAILURE?! 😂
Jason doesn't like the normal NSX
because he was judging them at the time of it's release, "contemporary review" if that make sense, not the rose-tinted glasses view we have right now thanks to video games and media hell this was also the fate of the supra, which only made its maiden spotlight thanks to youtube and fast and furious with that said if you want the total "half life 1 of sportscars" then look no further than the NIssan GTR (Specifically the 2009 update) the car that caused a huge paradigm shift in sportscars and supercars in general that it can be argued that we still feel that car's impact even in today's car-centric communities
@@Marc-zi4vg yeah but the NSX was never intended to be mass produced...that car was around 70K back in 1990, that's like over a hundred grand in today's money.
@@jaysrandomnesschannel have you watched the end portion of the video? or tuned off when they start discussing about the age old debate of "what makes a sportscar, performance? or thrill? Capability or Emotion?"
Sales failure.
Some great content on this channel BUT... This series is the reason I subscribed! - Please have Jason make more of these episodes. 😀
I've never associated the word "failure" with NSX. The fact that we are still talking about it 30 years later is a testament to Honda.
I loved the Acura NSX. Somebody used to drive one to the grocery store I worked for as a teen in 1995, and I would always stop and admire it.
The 91 NSX I had was wonderful. Even with Comtech intake and stainless pipes it was always a bit slow. Even now I still miss the fun I had waking up all my neighbors each morning at 6:30 a.m. when going to work and winding it up. Pure joy.
The CTSC made them quite fast. 400 HP and 3000 lbs. is not a slow car by any means
Keep up the great work Camissa
Excellent video as always
My buddy had a first gen NSX and took me for a ride in it, I was surprised at how well it could corner! Super grippy.