Does Honda need cachet to sell more NSXs?

[cmarsh90]

At a track event this weekend I was talking to one of the instructors about the NSX, and we agreed that Honda as a brand lacks the cachet that it seems is needed to sell a higher to high end sportscar. For instance Porsche and Ferrari both evoke images of decades of racing cars of all sorts. Even Corvette has a successful racing program currently (as well as a long history in this country). And Viper has a successful racing history as well. But when people think Honda/Acura they think of dependable quality cars that have low to decent power and very good gas mileage. Images of high end sports cars and successful race cars are rarely if ever associated with Honda (by most people). However, the reality is that Honda has a long F1 history, including a very very successful stint with McLaren in the late 80s and early 90s winning I believe 3 consecutive championships. In addition production based Hondas of all kinds (including the NSX) have been very successful around the world.

So what could Honda do to gain this cachet, and would it improve sales of the NSX?

Would simply making the NSX price competitive with the Corvette and sticking a V8 in it make it sell better?

The instructor mentioned above told me that he has an 8 car garage, which house among others a C5 corvette, a 360 Modena, and a Porsche 993 911 Turbo S. After he took a spin in the NSX he exclaimed "I'm an NSX fan", but he doesn't own one, would he if it had cachet?

 

[mlambert890]

Dodge has proven that no matter how miserable your reputation is, performance talks.

The NSX was doing just fine on initial release, but was a victim of a rapidly changing world economic situation and a paradigm shift in buyers needs.

Today, the NSX is suffering because Honda has essentially ignored it since 1997. If the NSX were EXACTLY the car it was today, except was making 400-450+ hp, Honda would be fine and they'd sell a hell of a lot more than 200.

Think about it... If the NSX was currently outperforming the Z06, F360 and 911TT it would be hailed as a bargain even at $90k. It's a lot more exotic than any Vette or 911 and has the sexy midengine look. The NSX would once again be the "Japanese Ferrari" rather than a once ran...

 

[NetViper]

I think it is funny that nearly ALL of us share the same opinion... the car is great.. just give it 400HP... and we will all be happy...
Surely someone at HONDA thinks the same thing??? they can't be that clueless, can they??

 

[Zuerst]

For instance Porsche and Ferrari both evoke images of decades of racing cars of all sorts...

Porsches only evoke images of frogs to me...

Except for the new Carrera GT.

 

[cmarsh90]

Well I agree that if the NSX had 400hp it would be great (and in fact the SCed NSXs that do are awesome cars).

But, the Porsche 911 Carrera is priced similarly to the NSX, has similar HP, and similar performance numbers, and Porsche sells a ton more of them, why?

 

[nsxtacey]

Well I agree that if the NSX had 400hp it would be great (and in fact the SCed NSXs that do are awesome cars).

But, the Porsche 911 Carrera is priced similarly to the NSX, has similar HP, and similar performance numbers, and Porsche sells a ton more of them, why?

For one thing, porsche has been mainly in sports car market for a few decades. The name Honda is associated w/ accord/civics. I assumed they are tried to create a new image when they came out with the Acura line. Similiarly, lexus has not come out w/ a super sports car. Certaintly the new SC430 at 65k comes close but is still no match for the 80k market if it were 80k. They're supposely will come out with a super sport car but looking at the success of the nsx, they have always been reluctant to say for certain. Now cadillac is coming out with the XLR priced around 80k, we'll see how it does.