First drive and why i bought my car
Hand over and first drive 1 October;
Following 8 weeks of loving devotion by my local Honda dealership, I was presented with my NSX. I received a box containing paperwork and correspondence relating to the car from new. Photos taken by the mechanics during the car's restoration were added. A photo celebrating the previous handover featuring the new owner the Honda sales manager an f1 Honda car and my NSX is the highlight. Photos with me the car and the team will be added to the file at a later date. My NSX is shown sandwiched between two silver auto NA1s.
Weirdly, the new secretary at my local Honda remembers my NSX being sold and shipped to Ireland when new. She had been working for Honda Portsmouth in 1991.
I am the third owner. The car has 128000 miles on the clock. Its Red and UK registered in 1991. No mods.
Before I get to the "my first impressions of driving the NSX" here is some background on why I bought an NSX;
The official reason for buying this modern classic is that I needed a better investment than my ISA.
I discovered that that Senna had been involved in the NSXs development reinforcing my desire. The NSX investment was further supported by the youtube video "you need to buy an Acura NSX right now" from the After/Drive team.
Unofficially, I had developed an obsession. What followed was 6 months of watching every NSX video and reading all the reviews.
During this time I discovered Plans Performance in guildford. PP appeared to have the lions share of NSXs for sale. I spent a fab couple of hours with Graham at Plans looking at the NSX both Coupe and T. I asked all the usual questions about performance and ownership. Graham agreed that of the current crop of modern classics the NA1, an OEM example, would make a great investment. So the search began.
I was at this time the owner of an Audi A7 sport back Quattro (six weeks). I knew that I couldn't afford to own both this fine car and an NSX. My reasoning was that the A7 was a depreciating asset! No investment there! So, much to my wife's incredulity and annoyance (she's an audi snob) I sold the A7, paid back the loan and bought a cheap Subaru forester. I then sold that for a profit. After which I bought the 2007 legend at a very cheap price. I have to declare that I hadn't revealed my investment intentions to my wife.
If I were to buy an NSX who would service it. PP was too far for regular contact. Coincidently, my local Honda dealership had an auto NSX for sale. I paid them a visit and discovered a nest of NSX fanatics. What luck! Paul the owner of the garage was importing the auto from Japan. What I didn't know was that Paul was the proud owner of a 17Km 1991 red NSX. It took pride of place in the showroom. The lead mechanic Phil had spent 100s of hours polishing every part of this beauty. Paul had no intention of driving it. Pure investment. What a shame.
It was this meeting and my subsequent conversations with Phil that led to the phone call. Paul had bought two further NSXs another auto and a UK registered manual. I did the deal on the Red manual.
So what has it cost me £.
£29K plus £120 for a suitable cover.
Emotionally;
Probably my marriage.
I eventually declared my intentions to invest in a car to my wife. In fact I had agreed to buy one. This resulted in my wife stating that she would never have anything to do with the car.
And so I plan my road trips alone.
Conclusion;
I was not prepared to allow anything/one stand in my way. I have never been selfish. And yet, the NSX has me under its spell. (a better option than some 24 year old blonde. Not that Im telling my wife that).
Enough of the confessional.
One hour first drive.
A town, the forest roads and the motorway.
Strange but true. Up until the point of starting my new NSX had never driven on. I chose not to take all the advice and drive man and auto.I just knew it was the right car.
I started her up and crept my way though a large gap in the other cars on the dealers forecourt. I had always been amazed at how small the NSX looks and yet I crept through this 20' gap as though it were 5'. Visibility was all that it had claimed to be. My "F16 cockpit" reverberated with the sound of Hondas great V6.
I had slipped as gracefully as any 5' 11' guy weighing 16 stone 8 can into the leather drivers seat. So bloody low! Yet comfortable.
I turned left out of the garage. (Right leads to a water splash!) and headed out. No power steering. I had forgotten as was rather surprised at the strength needed.
The engine roared a little as i blipped the throttle, i grinned and a bond was formed.
The first gear took some getting used to. The gearbox is a dream. Smooth, as good as any I had used. The result, I believe,of a car that had been driven regularly and not stored.
Over the cattle grids and past the ponies. I imagined that all including those ponies turned to admire the NSX. I opened the drivers side window and enjoyed the forest air warmed by a day of sunshine. The late afternoon with a low sun added to the pleasure. A 40 MPH limit kept me in check as I headed for the mway. I have to say that the gearing is such that 5 gears are perfect for this engine. My wife's Audi TT is 5 also. I hate it as I always search for a sixth. This, in the 5 hours that I have driven the NSX, has not once crossed my mind.
I had within the first two miles of corners begun to understand why this car is so revered. I had by now both windows down to appreciate the burble of the VTECH. So by chance I discovered that driving with the windows open wasn't uncomfortable, even on the mway. I concluded that the height of the car had something to do with this. I eventually drove with the passenger window down and created the perfect air flow. I have to admit that the cleaning fluid used by the Honda team smelt pretty awful. Like vomit. Mental note to buy air freshener. i encountered light traffic on the main A road to the mway and this gave me a chance to use all the gears. Lovely.
Footnote;
The New Forest is the centre of the world when it comes to classic and super cars. I attended a local annual Italian street market. To promote the market the organisers had invited local Ferrari owners have to park their cars in the high street along side the market stalls. This has for the past 2 years transformed the market. We had 40 of the worlds finest Ferraris on display. Next year I will "crash" the market. I bet the NSX gets the most attention.
The motorway drive was awesome. My first idea of real recognition is when a big Honda racing bike passed me. I could see him glancing in his mirrors. He then slowed and turned to look back. Astonishingly, he gave me the thumbs up and sped off. This is why I bought this car! My love for Honda.
Homeward bound as the sun began to dip and the headlights on. A special feeling as I saw the reflection omg car in the rear panel of a large van stationary ahead of me at the level crossing.
Is there a downside to this car. No, not from this drivers point of view. What would I change. The radio ariel! I did switch the radio on at the level crossing. Having a hideous metal ariel rise out of the most beautiful shape was painful. I switched the radio off. I need someone to tell me how I can fit a shark fin style ariel on the roof. Never again will I offend my beautiful car with that awful eyesore.
She is under her new cover. All my neighbours have been asking. Not one has seen her. I have subsequently done a 4 hour trip around hampshie. Mway A32 A31. I climbed out fresh a s a daisy. What a car!
Thanks
Mark
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