- Joined
- 29 March 2015
- Messages
- 202
The initial reviews of the NSX 2.0 range from luke-warm to good but not great. In other words, none of the reviews are outright terrible, nor outright stellar; rather, they are generally middle of the road to good, but every reviewer thus far has identified subjective shortcomings which prevent a stellar final grade.
The criticisms identified by the reviewers are, generally speaking, inconsequential to me. Equally important, the positive attributes noted by several of the reviewers are critically important to me. Thus, I am undaunted by the luke-warm reviews to date.
The number one criticism identified by the reviewers appears to be numb handling/steering. This is entirely irrelevant to me. Most of the reviewers are frequent track drivers who seek a particular type of feel for optimal track driving – they like go-karts that they can push, slide, and drift around turns – they enjoy losing traction in order to push the limits of the car. I will not track the NSX, nor push the limits of the car’s handling on surface streets. I have no desire to drift, slide or otherwise explore the limits of traction – I will cry “uncle” well before the limits of the car are reached. Moreover, I have no problem accepting the “assistance” of an advanced handling system that both improves handling (at my driving ability) and prevents loss of control. Many people have similar complaints about the GT-R . . . . “it drives itself” . . . . “its too easy to drive fast.” Personally, I love that about the GT-R . . . I love that the GT-R is easy to drive fast. Easy is just fine with me. I am looking for a daily driver with exceptional performance. I don’t need to work the car during my daily driving. It sounds like the new NSX will also be easy to drive fast as a daily driver. IMHO, that is a positive attribute. Lastly, most of the reviewers noted considerably more “feel” and less “numbness” in track mode (I don’t understand why these same reviewers spent so much energy criticizing the steering feel during other modes when the Track mode provided far greater feel).
The NSX’s weight is also a common complaint. Additional weight which results in inferior performance is obviously a negative attribute. However, increased weight which accomplishes other important objectives without excessively diminishing performance is a different story. One has to look at the reasons for the additional weight, and the results achieved by virtue of the weight. If the additional weight is necessary to achieve certain performance objectives, and the performance benefits achieved by the additional weight outweigh [pun intended] any diminishment in performance arising from the additional weight, the additional weight is a net net positive attribute. In the case of the NSX, Acura did not add weight for superfluous [again, pun intended] reasons. Rather, Acura was required to add weight in order to implement state of the art technology intended to greatly improve the performance of the NSX. The increased performance achieved by the additional weight far exceeds any diminishment in performance resulting from the additional weight. In other words, the NSX is faster, and performs far better, as a 3,800 pound car with the advanced technology than it would as a 3,400 pound car without the advanced technology. Moreover, as explained in the prior paragraph, the advanced technology improves the driving experience (for non-track drivers seeking easy fast daily driving), which also justifies the additional weight. My GT-R weighs a tad more than the NSX 2.0, and I have no problem with the weight. Notwithstanding the weight, my GT-R handles incredibly well – again, I cry “uncle” well before the limits of the GT-R are reached. Neither the NSX, nor the GT-R, are go-karts. If you want a go-kart for track driving, there are better options available.
Tires are easy to replace.
On the positive side, every reviewer has observed that the NSX has instantaneous acceleration and is lightening fast. This is critically important to me. As noted above, I will daily drive the NSX. Thus, I will encounter countless stoplights, and numerous standstill starts, every day. Having the ability to quickly accelerate from a standstill is vitally important to me. I will push the NSX 0-60 far, far more often than any other performance metric (e.g., 60-130, quarter mile, g-force, skid, etc.). Therefore, the NSX’s instantaneous, lightening quick acceleration matches up perfectly with my personal performance objectives.
Obviously, the foregoing observations are entirely subjective and predicated on my individual driving habits and performance objectives. If I were a frequent track driver, I might feel differently about the NSX. Acura set out to create an advanced, state of the art, lightening fast daily driver for the common man. IMHO, they achieved their goal. There may be slightly better options for advanced track driving, but there are not many better options for easy, fast, daily street driving.
The criticisms identified by the reviewers are, generally speaking, inconsequential to me. Equally important, the positive attributes noted by several of the reviewers are critically important to me. Thus, I am undaunted by the luke-warm reviews to date.
The number one criticism identified by the reviewers appears to be numb handling/steering. This is entirely irrelevant to me. Most of the reviewers are frequent track drivers who seek a particular type of feel for optimal track driving – they like go-karts that they can push, slide, and drift around turns – they enjoy losing traction in order to push the limits of the car. I will not track the NSX, nor push the limits of the car’s handling on surface streets. I have no desire to drift, slide or otherwise explore the limits of traction – I will cry “uncle” well before the limits of the car are reached. Moreover, I have no problem accepting the “assistance” of an advanced handling system that both improves handling (at my driving ability) and prevents loss of control. Many people have similar complaints about the GT-R . . . . “it drives itself” . . . . “its too easy to drive fast.” Personally, I love that about the GT-R . . . I love that the GT-R is easy to drive fast. Easy is just fine with me. I am looking for a daily driver with exceptional performance. I don’t need to work the car during my daily driving. It sounds like the new NSX will also be easy to drive fast as a daily driver. IMHO, that is a positive attribute. Lastly, most of the reviewers noted considerably more “feel” and less “numbness” in track mode (I don’t understand why these same reviewers spent so much energy criticizing the steering feel during other modes when the Track mode provided far greater feel).
The NSX’s weight is also a common complaint. Additional weight which results in inferior performance is obviously a negative attribute. However, increased weight which accomplishes other important objectives without excessively diminishing performance is a different story. One has to look at the reasons for the additional weight, and the results achieved by virtue of the weight. If the additional weight is necessary to achieve certain performance objectives, and the performance benefits achieved by the additional weight outweigh [pun intended] any diminishment in performance arising from the additional weight, the additional weight is a net net positive attribute. In the case of the NSX, Acura did not add weight for superfluous [again, pun intended] reasons. Rather, Acura was required to add weight in order to implement state of the art technology intended to greatly improve the performance of the NSX. The increased performance achieved by the additional weight far exceeds any diminishment in performance resulting from the additional weight. In other words, the NSX is faster, and performs far better, as a 3,800 pound car with the advanced technology than it would as a 3,400 pound car without the advanced technology. Moreover, as explained in the prior paragraph, the advanced technology improves the driving experience (for non-track drivers seeking easy fast daily driving), which also justifies the additional weight. My GT-R weighs a tad more than the NSX 2.0, and I have no problem with the weight. Notwithstanding the weight, my GT-R handles incredibly well – again, I cry “uncle” well before the limits of the GT-R are reached. Neither the NSX, nor the GT-R, are go-karts. If you want a go-kart for track driving, there are better options available.
Tires are easy to replace.
On the positive side, every reviewer has observed that the NSX has instantaneous acceleration and is lightening fast. This is critically important to me. As noted above, I will daily drive the NSX. Thus, I will encounter countless stoplights, and numerous standstill starts, every day. Having the ability to quickly accelerate from a standstill is vitally important to me. I will push the NSX 0-60 far, far more often than any other performance metric (e.g., 60-130, quarter mile, g-force, skid, etc.). Therefore, the NSX’s instantaneous, lightening quick acceleration matches up perfectly with my personal performance objectives.
Obviously, the foregoing observations are entirely subjective and predicated on my individual driving habits and performance objectives. If I were a frequent track driver, I might feel differently about the NSX. Acura set out to create an advanced, state of the art, lightening fast daily driver for the common man. IMHO, they achieved their goal. There may be slightly better options for advanced track driving, but there are not many better options for easy, fast, daily street driving.
