The truth be known, I bet there are a lot of NC1 owners and soon to be Type S NSX owners who given the choice would prefer the car not be a hybrid. I bet if we took a poll, that a large number would say that they bought the car in spite of it being a hybrid rather then because it was a hybrid. I can’t tell you how many from the Facebook group think hybrid technology is a waste. They would have preferred the car came without that capability and resulting complexity. That is one of the major reasons why the car did not sell in larger numbers. Most car enthusiasts want ICE as their motive force and really don’t care about saving the planet. I am willing to bet that I am one of the few here that purchased because it was a hybrid. Tell me I am full of it.
I am with you. I purchased 3 primarily because it is hybrid. I like old school, ICE, Hybrid, and EV. However, if I have to pick one I will always go hybrid over others (best of both worlds). Only exception is 296GTB as there will be quite a few more variations before hybrid become extinct and the outgoing F8 looks a lot better and offer something last of its kind.
It is impossible to please everyone. If Gen 2 were ICE, I would still bought one for nostalgic reasons. Many will still complain it was too expensive, they will find something negative to say about it. Even Gen 1 I went back again knowing reliability aside anything F355 or above in manual are much more fun and emotional to drive. Take a F430 manual or 06~08 manual gallardo or 09~14 manual gallardo (59 in US and last of Italian manual super car), any of GT3 generations even 996 GT3. They are so much more fun to drive. There are a lot of great cars. New Emira for example in manual it will be exponentially more fun to drive than Gen 1 NSX.
Regarding facebook hate.
One of member's said it best: "The hate was strong with them. I think a lot of Gen 1 owners are second owners who bought when the car were $30k~$40k and so the Gen 2 was never a realistic option, so hate is better that envy. Another group of them are purists who were hoping for a conventional, light, RWD platform. Obviously some people can appreciate both generations. The typical prior owners were not really a target market for Gen 2 and they are bitter about it".
I been in community for 20 years, meet countless NSX owner and are friend with so many. Over the years I can definitely say it is one of best group of people for most part, very passionate about NSX, but definitely not most open minded group. Have a lot of friends that excel over the years and move up to many other great cars while most I know went on to have kids then minivans and never excel from prior decade or just disappears. Also some ex friends who has that want to see you do better but not better than them type of unsuccessful mentality.
Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche, Gen 2 NSX group are so different, hate is rare among them, much more open minded about other great cars and almost everyone I met continue to excel over the years vs stuck at same stage. Maybe because the threshold automatically filter out certain group of people.
