Because my car told me to 
Why do so many owners modify the NSX?
- Thread starter Caveman
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- 29 May 2007
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- 439
Lots of traffic on this thread. Not surprising are the comments. I too personally cannot understand the reasons to "mod". Now before I get slammed, let me first state I differentiate between "modified" and "enhanced".
I have enhanced my ride through some subtle aesthetic changes and some not so subtle performance changes. Changed items so that even the trained eye can't tell what should be there and what shouldn't. The designers at Honda should have been shot to release such a well refined automobile with such fine lines and such a CRAPPY looking set of rims. These rims make great planters these days and you can't even give them away.They also could have had a slightly lower slung car then the stock was. Enter aesthetic enhancements. I've added some nice rims that I think really offset the lines of the ride and lowered the car 30-35mm for that extra sleak look. I also got rid of the cheesy "ACURA" lettering across the center tail light. Aside from those exterior enhancements I've refined a couple of the interior items such as the shifter handle, floor mats, gauge set, etc., and will do a few more here and there. Would like to put on a new MDX steering wheel to really set things off, but then I would also need to provide some subtle design enhancement to the center console (and NO - I don't mean carbon fibre).
I've also enhanced the performance to a level or two higher with items that take away from ride quality only to put back into improved performance on the track. Coil overs, stiffer sway bars, muffler/header updates, gearing, etc.
Being as my profession is architecture everything I end up doing personally to my rides merely takes the design intent to the notch or two higher. I personally don't understand the thrill to be king of the bolt on world and think many of the rides in which this mentality is undertaken simply ruin the overall appearance of the NSX. For the past 10 years people have taken what is done to track cars to provide substantially different performance characteristics than what anyone would ever need on a public road and slap on crap after crap after crap of things that ruin the fine design.
Anyway, JMO. Remenber, one of the worlds leading automotive customisers/designers said it best when he likened his best work to being that in which those viewing didn't know what was stock and what was modified.
Tim
Hey Tim,
No slamming here. To each their own I say. What yanks my chain is guys who think the car is perfect as is when there are some very obvious flaws. Especially when those flaws are what killed the car and played a major role in limiting the experience of owning one. I remember the Corvettes from the late 70's and how they were junk. But the mere mention of how crappy they were gets the "but it's a Corvette, it's an icon, it's perfect" crowd seeing red. Same thing happens in the Porsche community, same thing happens in the Ferrari community. The "purists" go mental if you even suggest modifying the cars and usually their war cry is "You're ruining the brand". Trying to blame people who modify their NSX as the reason for getting lumped in with supposed "inferior" cars is hogwash. If anything, modified NSX's - like Peter Cunninghams Comptech NSX, Factory X Turbo or Lovefab Turbo - help to reclaim some of that glory when they go on to win competitions between other brands. I commend those guys and would gladly pay more for one of their cars than a plain jane stock 91.
Blah blah blah, heard it all before.
You don't like it, sell it, and buy another old Porsche.
You don't like it, sell it, and buy another old Porsche.
First off, I am NOT one of those guys putting the NSX on a pedestle.
But I think that your stats are a bit off there; those are more like 1995/96 numbers, not early or later cars. Early cars are low to mid 13s and later cars are very high 12s to very low 13s.
Sorry, Im just not getting your comparison to a 951 either and Ive driven, and like, them. Red has a pink one that he tries to get around Mosport. I dont think that the car is light at 3100 lbs, nor do I care that its made from aluminum, but I do care that its chassis is facking awesome, better than any car Ive ever been in (barring a F430 which is retarded), that it is MORE than the sum of its parts, and that I can take on F430s or new Z06s down the back straight, or ANYWHERE, and not be embarassed. I can then drive the car home, to work, out to dinner, to home depot, to Ohio, wherever I want, and not be worried that it will let me down. It kicks ass. Not because it runs X in the 1320, but that it does EVERYTHING well. It does some things extremely well. I cant think of anything about it that is poor. If you're counting pennies and you want the fastest car that $X will get you, look elsewhere. If you want the best car that $X will get you, it has to be very high on the list.
But I think that your stats are a bit off there; those are more like 1995/96 numbers, not early or later cars. Early cars are low to mid 13s and later cars are very high 12s to very low 13s.
Sorry, Im just not getting your comparison to a 951 either and Ive driven, and like, them. Red has a pink one that he tries to get around Mosport. I dont think that the car is light at 3100 lbs, nor do I care that its made from aluminum, but I do care that its chassis is facking awesome, better than any car Ive ever been in (barring a F430 which is retarded), that it is MORE than the sum of its parts, and that I can take on F430s or new Z06s down the back straight, or ANYWHERE, and not be embarassed. I can then drive the car home, to work, out to dinner, to home depot, to Ohio, wherever I want, and not be worried that it will let me down. It kicks ass. Not because it runs X in the 1320, but that it does EVERYTHING well. It does some things extremely well. I cant think of anything about it that is poor. If you're counting pennies and you want the fastest car that $X will get you, look elsewhere. If you want the best car that $X will get you, it has to be very high on the list.
- Joined
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You are saying a stock NSX can take on a stock C6 Z06 down the back straight and not be embarrased? Are you kidding me? The NSX would look like it was going in reverse and the Z06 would be in a time warp.
I got the performance numbers quickly off the web. I'm sure that if I posted the 951 numbers on a Porsche forum I would be told that they were off too. The reason I brought up the 951 was that here was a car produced years earlier, had similar if not better performance and yet wasn't receiving the same sort of hype that the NSX got. The fact remains though that the NSX was far short of the world beater that it was made out to be by Honda/Acura. And ultimately that is why people modify them - to get the performance that the car should have had from the factory to begin with.
- Joined
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- 439
Blah blah blah, heard it all before.
You don't like it, sell it, and buy another old Porsche.
And the reason you heard it all before is because everything I'm talking about is common knowledge in every car community - including this one. It's power deficiency is the biggest complaint anyone has against the NSX. The NSX is a nice car with decent performance but hardly a world record machine that shouldn't be modified....and back to the original post by Caveman.....a modified NSX does NOT devalue the brand. If you're happy with the car in stock form that's great but for a good number of us the fact remains that the car could have been and should have been so much better.
I remember when I got my car and mod'd it out with All-season Tyres.
Boy did I get shit on!
Trev
Boy did I get shit on!
Trev
I remember that. You got a smoother, softer ride with better traction in rain and snow. Some might say .... an improvement over stock:biggrin:
Thanks Trev, we need a bit of fun in this post.
There is NO way my NSX in stock trim can keep up even remotely close "on the straights" with a Z06, Viper, Porsche GT3, Ford GT, 430, CGT. That said, NONE of the above stated cars can out run me through all the corners.
I get blasted daily on the track at Race City Speedway on the front and rear straight aways because they double as the 1/4 mile drag strip. The front straight is the longest straight away in Canada at almost 3/4 of a mile. I can only get up to a lowly 215km/h while other cars like those above are pushing 240-250km/h. This is where the NSX falls short. Simple horsepower/torque to push the mass. It also fell short for me with the braking when I had to do threshold braking from that 215 to 140 to take corner #1. A half dozen treks around the track and you started to see/feel uncomfortable fade.
I would like to own any one of the cars I mention above if money were no object. I purhcased my NSX as it carried the best bang for the buck, was past depreciating any longer, gets looks every day I drive it, and is easy/cost effective to service. I praise Honda for providing all that in one sweet package and aside from stock wheels, and an underpowered motor, can forgive them. Ferrari and Lamborghini wouldn't be making the cars they do today without the development of the NSX. I will do one more "enhancement" to the ride this spring to increase the power of my ride to where it should have been in the first place. After that I plan on enjoying it for many years to come.
:biggrin:
Dave's car is far from stock. It has a CTSC, and numerous chasis mods. It's probably the most track capable NSX here in Canada. Very tight and nicely balanced. After driving it, I think he's done one of the best jobs at enhancing the NSX's inherent properties.
Hi Solo, please don't take this all so seriously. I modded my NSX and spent almost the equivalent to a CTSC system on the handling and braking of my car. Apparently I thought there was room for improvement, as new technologies outpaced the original design of the NSX. I just completely dissagree that a stock NSX is boring, or unworthy of the praise it has received. Like you, I've driven many of its competitors, both contemporary and modern and still find it to be one of the most exciting drives out there.
How bout a +1 for my All Seasons???
Trev
Trev
+1
BTW Trev, I expect to see some nice changes to your nsx this year! (oh blasphemy!)
Yes, they are all lined up in the garage, right next to the lift thats coming.
Can't wait to put my car up and polish the rocker panels. (Side Skirts)
Trev
Can't wait to put my car up and polish the rocker panels. (Side Skirts)
Trev
You should come out east and rip it up at Mosport. You would like this straight. It is UPHILL but my then stock NSX could get higher than what youre talking about, but importantly, the cars that you mention would get to 270kph!!! Thats good livin when youre headed toward T8, with a wall straight ahead, at that pace. No wonder Red had to buy his Captain Cool suit; his diapers got plenty hot!!!!
You shall see for yourself in about 18 months.
I had to do it. I just couldn't help it.:smile:
LOL, You are my HERO.
Hell, in 40 years, original NSXs will be harder to find than a governor who hasn't banged something on the side.
Could not have said it better. My moment as a car enthusiast was in Beverly Hills when some 50'ish man was putting luggage in a White Bently GT with 19" HRE's & Red Sparco interior and 5 point harness dropped and track prepped looked like he was dropping someone off at the airport. That man did not give one sh*t what people think about stock. I smiled like a little kid from ear to ear.
Common is the McLauren inferior because the factory puts out the GTLM? Honda puts a carbon hood on the NSX-R? or Ferrari puts a roll cage in a Challenge Straddle? Even the enzo gets revamped by Pinnafarina because the enzo was not perfect.
The factory makes the car as close as possible what they think will please most people, than its up to you to finish the job. Purists need to stop "hating" on people who have some creativity and not so easily pleased with mass produced taste. I modify every thing from old Houses to cars, restaurants, investments, hell theres barely one product out there thats perfect out of the box.
NSX was far from perfect. NSX-R is closer but even then can still use some changes.
As far as appreciation goes every thing appreciates modded or unmodded. obviously unmodded appreciates more but modded appreciates along with it. The only cars that reach a fortune is very very low mile examples. sub 10k. whether your car is all original or not if you have 80k in 10 years your car will be worth the same or less than someones with a wide body kit. maybe if you have 40k at that time than your car may be worth more than a modified car but not by much. (Modification assumptions that they are in style mods at that future time) Plus what happens if your diving that perfect car you just paid an arm a leg for because its all original and you get sideswiped? need a fender and bumper? insurance does not pay for loss of value due to small fender benders, unless you have a very seriously pricey policy. Real antique insurance that cover loss of original value because of a small fender bender is not very common.
Its like mustang's an all original numbers matching car with over 80k will sell for the same 100k as restored replica Elenor which was not even a real car. go figure.
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I will tell you what it needs: a whole lot more 996 and a whole lot less 997.
Hang out on Rennlist and you will see that the guys who blew out their 996 GT3s to get into 997 GT3s are saying a collective "whoooops".
996 GT3 best car buy right now, even through their price has risen last couple months from the bottom when the 997 came out.
The GT3 is a brilliant car. I agree that the 996 being truer to the spirit of what Porsche was trying to do than the 997. They just had so many posers buy 996s complaining that it was too rough and on the edge, they softened the 997.
Calling a stock GT3 "unmodified" though is a bit of a technicality. It is factory modified. If the NSX-R had all the factory improvements of the GT3, it may well classify to many as the perfect car.
There's the hitch. There is no perfect car. To some the stock NSX is perfect. To others it isn't.
Calling a stock GT3 "unmodified" though is a bit of a technicality. It is factory modified. If the NSX-R had all the factory improvements of the GT3, it may well classify to many as the perfect car.
There's the hitch. There is no perfect car. To some the stock NSX is perfect. To others it isn't.
Since Im a factory, does that mean that my car is stock too?
YAY! I have a stock car.
YAY! I have a stock car.
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