Hi Tom,
Panel prices can be scary, particularly if bought new or priced OEM as part of an insurance claim/quote. This has seen a number of good early cars 'written off' with high repair bills. A couple of recent examples had £20k+ insurance bills but the new owners have completed them to as new finish for about 25% of this. There are also a number of places to buy undamaged panels from specialists that will be significantly more cost effective. This can be a good option as the panels unbolt quite easily after remoaval a some trim/finishing panels. This is of cource relative to the value of your NSX, so if you're looking at a later car, the chance of write off is slightly lower .... but not by much.
As for moulds etc, I thin a couple of the wide body or regular racers may have done this, but not for standard road car quality.
I would not take an NSX (or your Elise) on track without insurance. A few hundred pounds for peace of mind just has to make sense. The drive to the 'Ring is sooooo easy. Taking it on track (I haven't done this yet) without insurance, and especially if you want to push hard is a high risk strategy. One spin and and a knock of the armco and suddenly that few hundred pound track policy is great value....asuming you can still get cover. I did'nt go on track as my insurance company with whom I have track cover, does not include the 'Ring. They base this on their history of recovering customers cars to the UK at an average price of £5k for the transportation home to the UK. read that policy carefully.
Welcome to the forum and you say ownership is imminent ... have you found a car?
regards, Paul
Last edited by Senninha; 13-02-2009 at 09:01 AM.
Senninha
'Too many manufacturers today are obsessed with lap times and power outputs at the expense of emotion and fun' Colin Goodwin
S2 is signed by the NSX Project Leader Shigeru Uehara