The Trials And Tribulations Of My Pursuit Of A NSX

Joined
29 March 2015
Messages
202
My road to owning a NSX has been fraught with problems and impediments. First, approximately a year ago, my client – who owns an Acura dealership – promised to sell me his dealership’s first NSX at MSRP. To be clear, this client is not a personal friend, but rather, merely a client. Nevertheless, I felt secure that he would honor our understanding.

Several months later, my client apparently realized that he could fetch significant premiums for his first few NSXs. Thus, my client advised me that, unbeknownst to him, his dealership staff had promised their first NSX to someone else, and had several people on a list who were entitled to receive NSXs before me. I subsequently saw this purported “list” and, for reasons I will not explain here, discovered that the list was illegitimate and merely a ruse (this is not supposition). My client promised me a later allocation at some indeterminate point in the future. I declined.

Thus, I suddenly found myself out in the cold, devoid of a first allocation NSX. I immediately began contacting dealerships within my state. The vast majority of the dealerships I contacted had either already committed their first allocation, or they wanted a substantial premium for their first allocation. Nevertheless, I found an in state dealership that was willing to sell me their first NSX for MSRP. Ka-ching. I was aware that only "certified" dealerships would be permitted to sell NSXs and, therefore, I expressly asked whether this particular dealership would be certified to sell NSXs. In response to my inquiry, the dealership stated in writing that it would be a “certified” NSX dealer. Thus, I placed a deposit for a first allocation NSX at MSRP, and our communications clearly set forth the deal points.

A few months later, the dealership advised me that, notwithstanding its written assurance that it would be a “certified” NSX dealer, the dealership had changed its mind and elected not to become a certified dealership. In other words, the dealership had misrepresented its intent, and was now breaching its agreement to sell me a NSX (I will give the dealer the benefit of the doubt and assume that its misrepresentation was merely negligent, as opposed to fraudulent).

Thus, I once again found myself out in the cold, devoid of a first allocation NSX. This time, I undertook a nationwide search for a dealership willing to sell me its first allocation at MSRP. I literally contacted well over 100 dealerships across the country. My herculean efforts finally paid off and I found an out-of-state dealership willing to sell me their first NSX for MSRP. I have placed my order and, thus far, everything appears to be proceeding smoothly.

During the course of the foregoing events, I had the opportunity to speak with Acura’s designated in-house NSX specialist. He is a great guy.

While communicating with over one hundred dealers across the country, I was frequently dumbfounded, awestruck and/or horrified by what I heard. First, with very few exceptions, I knew much more about the release of the NSX than most of the “specialists” at the dealerships – I generally educated them, including about information that had previously been publicly disclosed by Acura. Second, I regularly received demonstrably false information from dealerships, including information belied by Acura's public disclosures. Third, I constantly received irreconcilably inconsistent information from dealerships on a myriad of issues -- I am not talking about minor variations, but rather, flatly inconsistent statements regarding policies and procedures (e.g., Acura has expressly prohibited dealers from accepting deposits for the NSX vs. Acura has expressly encouraged dealers to accept deposits). Fourth, the various dealerships across the country are employing wildly different procedures for the sale of NSXs. Some dealerships are literally auctioning their first allocation (and perhaps later allocations as well) to the highest bidder. Other dealerships want premiums as high as $75,000 over MSRP.

Its been a wild ride so far. Hopefully, I am now firmly situated to receive a first allocation NSX. I have placed my order with my new dealership and eagerly await further news.
 
Last edited:
Most Porsche dealerships (in my experience) are no different ↑↑↑↑↑

I have been doing business with a local Acura dealer since 1994....they have been a pleasant exception
over the years, but still have a bump in road once in a while.

Any problems have always been mutually resolved.
 
Did your dealer's allocation get released this week? I believe Acura is sequencing the release of allocations, starting in warm weather states.
 
Did your dealer's allocation get released this week? I believe Acura is sequencing the release of allocations, starting in warm weather states.

No, and I don't think "warm weather" is the deciding factor. In a separate thread, a New Jersey dealer stated that its first order has been requested and accepted by Acura. New Jersey is the antithesis of a "warm weather state." Moreover, I know someone who is first at a California dealership -- the quintessential "warm weather state" -- and his dealership has not yet been invited to submit its first order. Thus, I can only conclude that there is more at work than the regional climate.
 
Clarification, states with high visibility opportunities for the car like FL and CA.

With some of Northern NJ being little more than suburbs of NY, I can definitely see early cars going there as well.

I would believe that more info will be dripped out to us this week.
 
Superfluous
When you buy from an out of state dealer, do they ship it to a dealer closer to your home for PDI?
Or do you have to let the dealer you bought from do the PDI, and then you arrange transport to your home?
 
Superfluous
When you buy from an out of state dealer, do they ship it to a dealer closer to your home for PDI?
Or do you have to let the dealer you bought from do the PDI, and then you arrange transport to your home?

I am prepared to take delivery at the dealership from which I am buying the car (and ship it myself). Alternatively, I might try to take delivery at the manufacturing facility in Ohio (not sure if that will be possible).
 
I heard that earlier accepted /release orders will go to the bigger (high volume selling) dealers first. It makes $en$e that those who generate more sales=income get some early preferential treatment. I get that but hope it doesn't go much or any further than first batch of orders.
 
The dealership that ordered the car will deliver the car at their dealership so they get credit for the sale - to be allocated a new NSX for the next sale. Therefore the selling dealership would not have it shipped to another dealership and have it PDI'd at the other dealership. So if you bought out-of-state you will either have a great road trip home or pay to have it shipped to you.
 
Back
Top