Do you think the NSX would have been made today?

[Marvin Lee]

I was wondering because at the time of it's creation (early 90's)the Japanese sports car market was headed toward "The Skys the limit pricing".

The RX-7, 300zx was about $42K. The Supra and the 3000GT VR-4 hit the $50K. The 3000GT-VR-4 Spyder was over $60K.

NOW everyone seems to have a magic pricing cut off point at $35K (the new 350Z, the next rumored RX-7, Supra) and that is for the top of the line model. If done today I wonder if the S2000 would have been as expensive as Honda dared to go.

 

[hondaholic]

I often wonder how a program like the the nsx was approved by Honda, the worlds most conservative car company. I do think that the nsx was supposed to show-off Honda's technology prowess and their success in F1. A part of me thinks that Honda is waiting until they top F1 again before they launch a new model.

 

[Auraraptor]

Originally posted by hondaholic:
I often wonder how a program like the the nsx was approved by Honda, the worlds most conservative car company.

I thought Kia was

 

[cpmoran]

Originally posted by hondaholic:
I often wonder how a program like the the nsx was approved by Honda, the worlds most conservative car company. I do think that the nsx was supposed to show-off Honda's technology prowess and their success in F1. A part of me thinks that Honda is waiting until they top F1 again before they launch a new model.

I think you are right if BAR even challenges the red cars this will be cause for a new nsx..

 

[bayareansx1999]

does the economy being in a recession have anything to do with this?

 

[NeoNSX]

> does the economy being in a recession have anything to do with this?

that would certainly be a consideration... does anyone know where to get Honda's 2001-2002 financial report (if they got one) coz i can't read japanese. would be interesting to know the company's growth.

 

[Wadasan]

Intriguing thred Mr. Lee
Ur ? no
I'm sure all of us remeber an interesting trend that took place back n the ealy 90's. Guy's who owned Sports Cars where ethier keeping them, selling them, or trading them n for a new Gen S car the SUV. Honda n its great success and wisdom had a Flag Ship sports car and has relyed on there R & D team to develop the next Gen sports car. I think its debatable, but today's sports cars have changed n many ways from the birth of the NSX. The factors involved now arent about; price $80k on up, prestige Ferrai-Lambo-Louts-Etc..., 0-60 n less than 4.0, Top speed n excess of 200Mph. I see today's sport car consumer looking for the most bang 4 his buck. 350Z is where the trend may b right now but there always b a market 4 80k or more sports cars.
Later,
Wadasan

 

[NSXocto]

I hate the corvette. Looks good but has no feel.. numb.

I would say the corvette C6 is not only giving Ferrari guys reason to cry. But could single handedly make the guys at Honda say no to the next NSX. For the money you can't touch the preformance.

If they did a mid-engineer corvette and got rid of the dead feeling. I'd have one. Under $50k and can beat a Ferrari 360 at 3 times the price. Honda has no where to go to win that equation.

 

[Jonathan]

Originally posted by NSXocto:


I would say the corvette C6 is not only giving Ferrari guys reason to cry. But could single handedly make the guys at Honda say no to the next NSX. For the money you can't touch the preformance.

If they did a mid-engineer corvette and got rid of the dead feeling. I'd have one. Under $50k and can beat a Ferrari 360 at 3 times the price. Honda has no where to go to win that equation.

I suppose the question seems to more more like 'Would they [Honda] try?'

I wouldn't put anything past the engineers at Honda, who I am quite sure could make a $50K muscle car to beat the Vette if they cared to do so. Would Chevy make an 2.0 liter, 4 cylinder roadster that put out 240HP, not likely. And by the same note, I doubt we will ever see a car that comes out gunning for the Vette or Viper.

If Honda decides to set their targets on the 360, and the car comes in at $100K, it would make more sense to me than wasting their time on a Vette killer.



[This message has been edited by Jonathan (edited 13 October 2002).]

 

[NSXocto]

That's my point. Beating the 360 use to be the target. But now that 360 guys I know are wondering if they should have bought the vette and saved all those extra bucks (there's a guy on F-chat wondering right now).

My point is the target is upside-down right now. There already is a car that beats the 360 and its at the below $50k price point. How can a Honda engineer sit down and say we are going to put up a 360 contender...when the 360 is not the top of sports car world right now?

price and preformance is king in much cheaper car. what do you do?

 

[Jimbo]

For those who say the Vette is "dead", I can only assume they haven't driven a Z06.

One can criticize a number of things on the Vette and the Z06, but value and performance aren't two of them.

With the C6, Chevrolet is really going to address many of the niggling quality and interior issues. From all accounts, power is going up, weight is going to be reduced and the design is heading in a much more "European" direction.

Now most of the die-hard Vette enthusiasts think they're not going to like this new direction, but they'll eventually get on-board.

As far as a mid-engine is concerned, it's not in the cards for the C6, but I'm not so sure it's needed from a handling perspective. It would certainly make the car much more expensive and probably heavier.

The Z06 is already lighter than the NSX and the C6 should be even more so.

-Jim

------------------
1992 NSX Red/Blk 5 spd #0330
1991 NSX Blk/Blk Auto #3070 (Sold)
1974 Vette 454 4 spd Wht/Blk
1976 Honda Accord 5 spd, 3 door Blue/Blue
1977 Honda Accord - Custom - Under Construction
1986 Chevy Suburban
http://homepage.mac.com/jimanders/PhotoAlbum1.html

 

[Jonathan]

I am sure this is one of those threads that could go on forever, but while the Z06 is impressive, I just can't imagine people with a 360 wishing they had gone the way of the Vette.

My main gripe about the 360 is because of my size (driver position isn't quite right), but I just don't like they way the Vettes feel at all. Somehow it reminds me a lot of a speed boat, which to me is not good, to others I suppose it may be.

 

[Jimbo]

360 owners wishing they bought a Vette?

No, but then again, there's probably not too many 360 owners who wished they bought a NSX either.

-Jim

------------------
1992 NSX Red/Blk 5 spd #0330
1991 NSX Blk/Blk Auto #3070 (Sold)
1974 Vette 454 4 spd Wht/Blk
1976 Honda Accord 5 spd, 3 door Blue/Blue
1977 Honda Accord - Custom - Under Construction
1986 Chevy Suburban
http://homepage.mac.com/jimanders/PhotoAlbum1.html

 

[Jonathan]

Originally posted by NSXocto:

That's my point. Beating the 360 use to be the target. But now that 360 guys I know are wondering if they should have bought the vette and saved all those extra bucks (there's a guy on F-chat wondering right now).

I was mostly referencing the above comment.

I doubt they are wishing they bought an NSX either

I still think that somewhere between the Vette and the 360 lies the potential for a new NSX, with price, performance, fit, and finish on the 360 side of the spectrum.

 

[MvM]

My .02

I (finally) bought a NSX because that's the car I wanted to have. I did look at a 911 and briefly looked at a 328 but in the end it was the NSX that I allways wanted to have. As for the Corvette, that car doesn't really seem to count in Europe.
I think most people who buy a Corvette, a NSX, Porsche or Ferrari buy the car they always wanted to have, unless you simply have so much money it doesn't really matter what you buy (I certainly don't).

I also think Honda made the NSX because Soichiru wanted Honda to. Since he passed away it seems Honda has been falling off to sleep for a long time, only recently to wake up (a little) again. Now they are catching up again but it will take time. Another thing is that Honda or any other company would be able to make a car like the NSX or Vette or Porsche if they really wanted to. It's just off being willing to spend the money and work to build one.

I most certainly hope Honda will bring out a new NSX which will look like an evolved NSX, not a completely new and diffent model. I also hope it will still be expensive and will have performance similar to a 360 or 911 Turbo.

 

[gheba_nsx]

Regarding Honda economical data, they are doing quite well in this wrecked period:

And about Corvettes in Europe (at least Switzerland), a C5 is as expensive and as exotic as an NSX here. New price is like 15k$ difference and used an early C5 costs more than a 1991-1993 NSX.

Do you think that with FIAT going *BAD* will GM (which is taking more and more ocntrol of the italian manufacturer) have some Ferrari/Alfa Romeo/Lancia influence in the next C6? If they do in the look department it will be really a good car!

 

[NetViper]

Originally posted by Jimbo:
With the C6, Chevrolet is really going to address many of the niggling quality and interior issues. From all accounts, power is going up, weight is going to be reduced and the design is heading in a much more "European" direction.

The interior quality of the Corvette has been an issue for the C4 and C5.. They have NEVER addresses it. I find it hard to beleive they will this time.

 

[Jimbo]

I sat in a new Z06 yesterday.

While I preferred the interior of my NSX, I didn't find the interior of the Z06 to be shabby either.

In any case, Dave Hill, the project leader for Corvette has publically stated that interior design and fit and finish is a major priority for the C6. Audi was mentioned as a target.

-Jim

------------------
1992 NSX Red/Blk 5 spd #0330
1991 NSX Blk/Blk Auto #3070 (Sold)
1974 Vette 454 4 spd Wht/Blk
1976 Honda Accord 5 spd, 3 door Blue/Blue
1977 Honda Accord - Custom - Under Construction
1986 Chevy Suburban
http://homepage.mac.com/jimanders/PhotoAlbum1.html