Cliff notes: I captured the NSX multimedia presentation from the 1995 video game The Need For Speed, written by Road & Track Magazine's Douglas Kott. This game inspired me to buy a NSX, a dream I recently realised. Given it's age, this game is now abandonware.
Right click & save:
http://www.nsxprime.com/photopost/data/500/15506TNFS_Acura_NSX_Multimedia.avi
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In 1995, aged 13, I thought life could get no better when I was given the computer game The Need For Speed for Christmas. This game was the first of many released under The Need For Speed title, yet unlike later versions, the original focussed on realistic cars, environments and gameplay - as far as 1995 PC technology allowed.
The game offered players the chance to race a handful of exotics (Ferrari 512TR, Lamborghini Diablo, Corvette ZR-1, Porsche 911, Mazda RX7, Toyota Supra, Dodge Viper and Acura NSX) through traffic on alpine, coastal and city roads, with the added challenge of trying to evade the police who offered offenders an "all expenses paid county vacation" if they caught you.
Aside from the racing, an interactive multimedia presentation by Road & Track Magazine briefed players on the specifications and virtues of each car available. The Ferrari offered "Italian style, beauty, speed, comfort and exclusivity" whilst the Lamborghini's engine sound? "Think of a dozen trombones".
I decided right then and there that one day, I had to own one of these cars.
The Ferrari and Lamborghini are all very nice, but I realised that even if I could afford them, I wouldn't get to enjoy them much. Later on I had a friend with a 911 turbo (993) and whilst it was hellishly fast, a fantastic performer by almost any standard, it was hot, cramped, seemed dated and didn't make me drool.
The Viper and Corvette ZR-1 are both extremely rare and consequently expensive here in Australia. I think the Viper is absolutely georgous and looks a lot of fun (and next time I'm in the US, I'm planning on renting one for a day), but both these cars seem to be more about brawn than brains. Maybe it gets the job done, but it's not how I work, so it's just not "me".
The same can't be said for the RX-7, but just like the girl your mate thinks is hot and you don't look twice at, for some reason I didn't see the attraction in the styling.
This leaves just the Supra and the NSX. I've had great experiences owning a Toyota MR2, so whilst the Supra keeps it in the Toyota family, it's a completely different concept. Yes it's a lightning bolt in a straight line, yet in most ways it would have been be a step sideways and backwards rather than a step up. To me it's a very hot hatch, good value & fun for awhile, but after 11 years of waiting I was looking for more than quick thrills.
Fortunately, given that none of the others fit the bill, The NSX is the natural successor to the MR2 and has all the things I've come to love in cars: Wedge-shape (I'm a sucker for it!), mid-engined, n/a power, thrilling sound, 2 seats - and dependable too. It's the total package, the one car that ticks all my boxes. As we all know, it's a unique car in that it's a technological showpiece where somehow the bean-counters lost out to the marketing people in the design. Perversely, it's also one of the few exotic cars where the marker's name actually reduces the value of the car. If Ferrari had built the NSX, it would sell for far more, yet it would still be the same car. To me, that sounded like everything I asked for - at a bargain price - God bless those marketing people!
So I took the plunge on a NSX earlier this year, and 4 months later I when I return to the car parked somewhere, still can't believe it's mine. At the moment that's because it's in a workshop with the interior stripped out and I therefore don't recognize it, but that's another story :biggrin:
I hope this long-winded post helps remind everyone why they love this car so much - that it's stood head and shoulders above cars of it's day, the total package, with the Japanese heritage and marketing tool aspirations giving us a car that's designed better, built better and yet far less costly than anything comparable. Then there's all the other stuff about it having unmatched "real world accessible" performance, easy to drive, designed with the help of Senna, and used as the basis for the McLaren F1. But you know that!
Right click & save:
http://www.nsxprime.com/photopost/data/500/15506TNFS_Acura_NSX_Multimedia.avi
--------
In 1995, aged 13, I thought life could get no better when I was given the computer game The Need For Speed for Christmas. This game was the first of many released under The Need For Speed title, yet unlike later versions, the original focussed on realistic cars, environments and gameplay - as far as 1995 PC technology allowed.
The game offered players the chance to race a handful of exotics (Ferrari 512TR, Lamborghini Diablo, Corvette ZR-1, Porsche 911, Mazda RX7, Toyota Supra, Dodge Viper and Acura NSX) through traffic on alpine, coastal and city roads, with the added challenge of trying to evade the police who offered offenders an "all expenses paid county vacation" if they caught you.
Aside from the racing, an interactive multimedia presentation by Road & Track Magazine briefed players on the specifications and virtues of each car available. The Ferrari offered "Italian style, beauty, speed, comfort and exclusivity" whilst the Lamborghini's engine sound? "Think of a dozen trombones".
I decided right then and there that one day, I had to own one of these cars.
The Ferrari and Lamborghini are all very nice, but I realised that even if I could afford them, I wouldn't get to enjoy them much. Later on I had a friend with a 911 turbo (993) and whilst it was hellishly fast, a fantastic performer by almost any standard, it was hot, cramped, seemed dated and didn't make me drool.
The Viper and Corvette ZR-1 are both extremely rare and consequently expensive here in Australia. I think the Viper is absolutely georgous and looks a lot of fun (and next time I'm in the US, I'm planning on renting one for a day), but both these cars seem to be more about brawn than brains. Maybe it gets the job done, but it's not how I work, so it's just not "me".
The same can't be said for the RX-7, but just like the girl your mate thinks is hot and you don't look twice at, for some reason I didn't see the attraction in the styling.
This leaves just the Supra and the NSX. I've had great experiences owning a Toyota MR2, so whilst the Supra keeps it in the Toyota family, it's a completely different concept. Yes it's a lightning bolt in a straight line, yet in most ways it would have been be a step sideways and backwards rather than a step up. To me it's a very hot hatch, good value & fun for awhile, but after 11 years of waiting I was looking for more than quick thrills.
Fortunately, given that none of the others fit the bill, The NSX is the natural successor to the MR2 and has all the things I've come to love in cars: Wedge-shape (I'm a sucker for it!), mid-engined, n/a power, thrilling sound, 2 seats - and dependable too. It's the total package, the one car that ticks all my boxes. As we all know, it's a unique car in that it's a technological showpiece where somehow the bean-counters lost out to the marketing people in the design. Perversely, it's also one of the few exotic cars where the marker's name actually reduces the value of the car. If Ferrari had built the NSX, it would sell for far more, yet it would still be the same car. To me, that sounded like everything I asked for - at a bargain price - God bless those marketing people!
So I took the plunge on a NSX earlier this year, and 4 months later I when I return to the car parked somewhere, still can't believe it's mine. At the moment that's because it's in a workshop with the interior stripped out and I therefore don't recognize it, but that's another story :biggrin:
I hope this long-winded post helps remind everyone why they love this car so much - that it's stood head and shoulders above cars of it's day, the total package, with the Japanese heritage and marketing tool aspirations giving us a car that's designed better, built better and yet far less costly than anything comparable. Then there's all the other stuff about it having unmatched "real world accessible" performance, easy to drive, designed with the help of Senna, and used as the basis for the McLaren F1. But you know that!
