OK, my 99 BB 6 speed arrived from LA yesterday. Finally……having bought her about 5 weeks ago!
To be honest I hadn’t planned on spending this much (or buying a targa) but a good deal came up and it being a 99 and all. And I was getting really frustrated in the hunt for a non-red, non-white, non-auto with <80k in good shape for sensible $$$$.
I missed the Fresno car that Bangski walked away from which was annoying at the time, and also the Nashville car that another Prime member had buyers remorse (maybe) about although that seller d*cked me around so much I was ready to give up anyway.
So I was on a plane to LA in short order thanks to USAir not gouging on last minute frequent flyer rates (and me having their Mastercard as well). Nearly went for the Fargo/MN 91 but couldn’t get a ticket for less than $850 or silly FF rates. So I went for the LA car
Took her out for a blast and boy was that fun, as had not done that before (long story) – but two dealers in LA had done so and both blessed it as one of the best NSXs they had seen recently. In addition, one of the dealer mechanics was a) an NSX certified Acura Master Technician and b) is the father in law of one of my customers in Ontario (LA, not Canada). And that was a complete coincidence – had lunch with said customer after shaking hands on the deal and he asked me how come I was in LA with no notice to see him. The rest is history.
Before it was shipped I had the mechanic above do TB/WP/expansion tank/rear brakes/rear deck struts/oil change/glove box and console hinges and a few other bits. As soon as he had the car up in the air and started talking I could tell he knew his stuff. I got it all done for under $1800 which was nice and saved me the hassle as I am not that close to a specialist here in St Augustine (although one of the Jacalone brothers who raced NSXs 10 years ago ahs a shop here).
Car has 67k on it, clean title, one accident back in 2001 or so but seller tells me it was minor front fender work (from previous owner, lost paperwork etc). But, two dealers (see above) both blessed it so I am OK with that and as someone else pointed out recently, Carfax only knows about reported accidents…..so all those cars out there with clean Carfaxes may be dirty anyway. Not saying I am happy about it, just saying.
Car also has Intrax springs, and Antera staggered 17/18s with Hankook Ventus and some kind of custom exhaust tips although the back box is Honda. So maybe they are factory?
Issues right now:
- Right front speaker is bad
- Missing the front lip. But then I have along rutted driveway so maybe not a bad thing....
- Need a CD magazine (forgot to order thru my new source in LA). Doh.
- Marks on lower drivers door paint, and a bad one of the edge of the front ‘grill’
- Tear in rear targa seal but doesn’t seem to leak (just got caught in a mega Florida rainstorm so I am pretty sure). And $800 is $800…..
Otherwise, seems to be in pretty good shape.
Had it shipped back by DAS Autoshippers, will post a separate thread with advice for future shippers. Not that bad an experience but learnt a lot – it was the part I focused least on.
Overall, loving it so far, although at 100mph+ it gets real loud (wind) real quick, maybe needs new door seals?
Off to C&C in JAX tomorrow if the weather holds up, pics to follow
Thanks for reading!
- - - Updated - - -
Unloading
Those tips...
Not cleaned up yet
After the above mentioned rainstorm
To be honest I hadn’t planned on spending this much (or buying a targa) but a good deal came up and it being a 99 and all. And I was getting really frustrated in the hunt for a non-red, non-white, non-auto with <80k in good shape for sensible $$$$.
I missed the Fresno car that Bangski walked away from which was annoying at the time, and also the Nashville car that another Prime member had buyers remorse (maybe) about although that seller d*cked me around so much I was ready to give up anyway.
So I was on a plane to LA in short order thanks to USAir not gouging on last minute frequent flyer rates (and me having their Mastercard as well). Nearly went for the Fargo/MN 91 but couldn’t get a ticket for less than $850 or silly FF rates. So I went for the LA car
Took her out for a blast and boy was that fun, as had not done that before (long story) – but two dealers in LA had done so and both blessed it as one of the best NSXs they had seen recently. In addition, one of the dealer mechanics was a) an NSX certified Acura Master Technician and b) is the father in law of one of my customers in Ontario (LA, not Canada). And that was a complete coincidence – had lunch with said customer after shaking hands on the deal and he asked me how come I was in LA with no notice to see him. The rest is history.
Before it was shipped I had the mechanic above do TB/WP/expansion tank/rear brakes/rear deck struts/oil change/glove box and console hinges and a few other bits. As soon as he had the car up in the air and started talking I could tell he knew his stuff. I got it all done for under $1800 which was nice and saved me the hassle as I am not that close to a specialist here in St Augustine (although one of the Jacalone brothers who raced NSXs 10 years ago ahs a shop here).
Car has 67k on it, clean title, one accident back in 2001 or so but seller tells me it was minor front fender work (from previous owner, lost paperwork etc). But, two dealers (see above) both blessed it so I am OK with that and as someone else pointed out recently, Carfax only knows about reported accidents…..so all those cars out there with clean Carfaxes may be dirty anyway. Not saying I am happy about it, just saying.
Car also has Intrax springs, and Antera staggered 17/18s with Hankook Ventus and some kind of custom exhaust tips although the back box is Honda. So maybe they are factory?
Issues right now:
- Right front speaker is bad
- Missing the front lip. But then I have along rutted driveway so maybe not a bad thing....
- Need a CD magazine (forgot to order thru my new source in LA). Doh.
- Marks on lower drivers door paint, and a bad one of the edge of the front ‘grill’
- Tear in rear targa seal but doesn’t seem to leak (just got caught in a mega Florida rainstorm so I am pretty sure). And $800 is $800…..
Otherwise, seems to be in pretty good shape.
Had it shipped back by DAS Autoshippers, will post a separate thread with advice for future shippers. Not that bad an experience but learnt a lot – it was the part I focused least on.
Overall, loving it so far, although at 100mph+ it gets real loud (wind) real quick, maybe needs new door seals?
Off to C&C in JAX tomorrow if the weather holds up, pics to follow
Thanks for reading!
- - - Updated - - -
Unloading
Those tips...
Not cleaned up yet
After the above mentioned rainstorm
