and 91s out there as daily drivers?

[ajchang]

I was just wondering how many NSX owners drove their '91 (or any other year for that matter) as daily drivers. I'm thinking that it may just be okay to drive it through the streets of downtown Houston, but I'm a bit concerned about those parking garage ramps.

Also, for those daily drivers, how often have you had to get new tires and what has been the average cost? I'm trying to get a good picture of the maintenance costs and upkeep requirements for this car before I finally get it. Thanks!!!

 

[rcarlos]

The NSX bottoms out easily because it is low to the ground and has a long wheelbase. It goes up my parking ramp but I have never seen how close the spoiler is to be scraped.
Some ramps scare me as they have an abrupt change of slope that is going to damage the spoiler or leave you high-sided.
As for cost of tires, it varies. I spend 10 cents per kilometer for OEM tires. You might be able to get by spending half that.

 

[comptechnsx]

ajchang,

my 91 is driven almost daily. but watch out for those inclines to garages and parking lots. my wife has cracked two rm front lips, so don't even test them. now i have a comptech/wings west front and it is great!!
good luck and take the plunge.

 

[bobyang]

ajchang,

My '91 is my daily driver and my only car. I do get a lot of scrapes from teh front spoiler, but I just try to take it real slow and live with the inevitable.

One approach to take is to get slightly cheaper, harder tires to get more wear out of them. I'm currently using Dunlop SP8000s which are under $100 a pop. May not be the best performing tire, but it lasts a little longer...

 

[nsx4fun]

I have a'92 which is an almost daily driver, but I have only owned it for 2 years. By almost, I mean, I don't drive it if the roads are wet, or there is a threat of rain, but I own 5 cars so I have the luxury of making that choice. As for ramps, I occasionally scrap the plastic spoiler, but you learn what angles are bad and places to avoid. I have to go over the curb in front of my driveway at an angle to keep from scraping (let one tire hit first before the nose gets tagged so it lifts the front end).

Fritz

 

[burbel]

I've driven my 1992 in Houston before, with around a 1.5" drop, and had one problem, but it was because I was not familiar with the roads.

If you just take it easy you'll be fine, esp. with a stock ride height NSX. If you scratch the plastic front strip, it's no big deal, to me at least.

Worst case, if you were to demolish the thing (not easy to do, I haven't), it's like a $100 part.

JMO, YMMV... As for tires, I got 45 thousand miles front and rear on some Michelin Pilot Sports. Loved those tires. That was with the stock 1991 settings.

 

[Michigan NSX]

My NSX ('91 - 114k miles) is a daily driver (except in rainy weather) about 8 months of the year. It is stored during winter.

I don't have a problem scraping the front spoiler and my car has been lowered (Eibach pro-kit springs). I don't use parking garages or encounter a lot of steep driveways in my normal routine of travel, though.

I put on a set of Kumho Ecsta Supra Tires (215/40/17 front, 255/35/18 rear) last summer and have been very pleased with the wear I have gotten from them. They cost me around $500.00 for the set of 4.

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'91 Black/Black

[This message has been edited by Michigan NSX (edited 19 April 2002).]

 

[Nsxotic]

My 91 was my everyday daily driver for 3 years as is now my 2001. I bought the car to drive. Granted I work 7 days a week and live only 11 miles from work so I'm not putting huge miles on the car, but it is my only car.

 

[NA1 #2853]

drive mine back and forth to work everyday, sun/rain/snow. yokohama nexus(rear)/intermediates (front) not so nice in the snow, but traction control makes them managable in the snow. Lowered 1.5" with the wings kits. once in a blue moon i scrape the front bumper, but i paint the lip once a year right before the Hot Import Nights car show to hide the battle scars. I'd say it is as nice and easy to daily commute as my integra used to be.

-Ray

 

[comptechnsx]

MICHIGAN NSX,

I use the same kumho tires and have been very satisfied as well, find them to be the best bang for the buck. have been using them for a few years now on my rx7 tt and nsx.

 

[vgcollector]

I'm looking to purchase a 91 or 92 NSX as a daily driver. I did have one question for you guys on this:

How easy is the car to drive without the power steering option for these early model NSX's? I have never driven a car without power steering, so I have no idea what the effort is like. I really don't think I'd mind it because if that's the price I have to pay to drive an NSX, then so be it...was just curious.

 

[Jimbo]

I drive my car year round, except I won't drive it if I know it's going to rain or in snow.

IMO, the NSX is certainly reliable enough to be driven every day but other than the weather issues above, I avoid driving the NSX to shopping malls, problem neighborhoods and places where I know parking or security is going to be a problem.

With regard to manual steering...

I've owned NSXs with both power and manual steering. I liked both. Manual steering can require a bit of extra muscle when parking or during tight slow speed manuevers.

-Jim

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1992 NSX Red/Blk 5 spd #0330
1991 NSX Blk/Blk Auto #3070 (Sold)
1974 Vette 454 4 spd Wht/Blk
Looking for 76-79 Honda Accords

 

[Ether]

My 92 is my only car, and I drive it anywhere, every single day. I will have to say this is the best car ever in my opinion, I don't need to tow anything, or need a lot of cargo space (except for the girls in the passenger seat). Reliability is unmatched, besides regular service, nothing has gone wrong. The steering on the car is excellent, I have no complaints about it at all. As for tires, I just replaced my two rear tires yesterday ONLY because I ran over a couple of nails, they punctured the sidewalls. I had 16,000 miles on my Pirelli P7000's, my fronts are still being used too! I replaced the rears with more P7000's (good tires). If I remember correctly, they cost me around $800 for 4 with NSXCA Discount Tire Wholesale price. By the way, Mark Basch did my alignment too. Hope this helps, I know you definately wont regret your decision to buy a NSX.

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1992 NSX Red-Black 5-Speed

 

[Michigan NSX]

Originally posted by vgcollector:

How easy is the car to drive without the power steering option for these early model NSX's? I have never driven a car without power steering, so I have no idea what the effort is like.

I sold my '93 MR2 Turbo (with power steering) and bought a '91 NSX. I noticed no difference and it wasn't until I dug in to these forums that I realized I didn't have power steering! The car steers just fine.

 

[ajchang]

Thanks everyone for such great input and advice!!! Seems like there shouldn't be any problems with me driving the car to work everyday huh? (Total of about 40 miles to and from...)

Syonara, you raise another good point about the tires. The streets of Houston, especially the ones around Rice University, are horrible. What size are your tires? I know that you can warranty tires (17" or smaller) at Discount Tire Company. Tires damaged by ANYTHING (nails, potholes, etc) will be replaced free of charge. I've had those warranties on the tires for my BMW and it's saved me so much money already (three tires at least--each $178--because of potholes and nails from construction areas).

 

[Michigan NSX]

Originally posted by comptechnsx:
MICHIGAN NSX,

I use the same kumho tires and have been very satisfied as well, find them to be the best bang for the buck. have been using them for a few years now on my rx7 tt and nsx.

Same sizes too? If so - cool

! I was hoping they would last a while - glad to hear of your experience.


P.S. Nice Avatar you chose there

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'91 Black/Black

[This message has been edited by Michigan NSX (edited 20 April 2002).]

 

[Ether]

Originally posted by ajchang:

Syonara, you raise another good point about the tires. The streets of Houston, especially the ones around Rice University, are horrible. What size are your tires? I know that you can warranty tires (17" or smaller) at Discount Tire Company. Tires damaged by ANYTHING (nails, potholes, etc) will be replaced free of charge.

[/B]

My fronts are 215/40/17,
My rears are 275/35/18
Good point about the warranty, I didn't bother the first time around, but I did get it for the 2 rear tires I bought on Friday.
I bought my tires at Big-O this time because it was the closest tire shop from my work (where my tires were quickly running out of air). They call it "Road Hazzard" warranty, and I think they offer it on all of their tire sales. I didn't know that Discount only has it on selected tires, thats good info for the future.

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1992 NSX Red-Black 5-Speed

 

[Forums Nazi]

Originally posted by ajchang:
I was just wondering how many NSX owners drove their '91 (or any other year for that matter) as daily drivers.

This has been discussed before.

http://www.nsxprime.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000553.html
http://www.nsxprime.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000663.html
http://www.nsxprime.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001391.html

http://www.nsxprime.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/003820.html

http://www.nsxprime.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/003906.html

[This message has been edited by Forums Nazi (edited 22 April 2002).]