I wouldn't bee too scared of the car, however, here's what I think it will take to get the car on the road and up to a level which would make you proud.
Purchase:
$33,000 - It's a sellers market, I don't think you'd get in too far under that
$350 - PPI including compression and leak down test.
$4,290 - Governments 13%; Death and taxes. The only way you can avoid the latter is through the former.
$37,640 - assuming it needs nothing for a safety or E-test
Required maintenance
~$1,700 - Timing belt/water pump parts (inc tax)
$800 - TB/WP labour, should include valve gaskets and valve adjustment.
$600 - Coolant hoses (inc tax) http://shop.teknotik.com/cooling/oem-honda-nsx-full-hose-kit.html
$800 - installation of hoses, there is 23 of them!
~$1,000 - Tires - I really don't recommend that you drive on 13 year old tires
$100 - Oil change
$5,000 - Assuming that there are no surprises (cam plugs, LMA's etc)
Appearance items:
$400 - bumper adjustment. Hopefully this is just fiddling with it until everything in the front end lines up, and there haven't been any accidents.
~$1,000 - paint work. Touch up, including the nasty spiderweb on the front bumper
$800 - full paint correction and detail. Hopefully, they'll be able to get the engine bay cleaned up during this time as well.
$2,200 in appearance improvements
Future:
$175 - new floor mats (including tax) http://shop.teknotik.com/oem-honda-nsx-zanardi-floor-mats.html
$1200 - reupholster seats. I assume you wouldn't want the base level kit from leatherseats.com ($900), and will want full leather etc.
$400 - front signal markers http://www.oemacuraparts.com/auto-parts/1991/acura/nsx/nsx-trim/5-speed-manual-engine/electrical-exhaust-heater-fuel-cat/front-combination-light-scat
$1,775
So a quick run - down on your out of pocket costs within the first year of ownership, assuming it needs no further repairs:
$37,640 - Purchase - Assuming it needs nothing for a safety or E-test
$5,000 - Required maintenance - Assuming that there are no surprises (cam plugs, LMA's etc)
$2,200 - Appearance improvements
$1,775 - Future upgrades?
$46,615 total including all upgrades
$44,840 without "Future upgrades"
As I said, don't be afraid of this car (pending a mechanical inspection of course) but go in with your eyes open and you should be fine!
Good luck, and let us know how it works out!
