Here’s Why the Original Acura NSX Is Shooting Up in Value

CHECK OUT THIS NSX FOR SALE ON CARS & BIDS!

The original Acura NSX is shooting up in value -- and today I'm reviewing an early NSX to show you why it's getting so desirable. First I'll show you around this 1994 NSX, and I'll show you all of its quirks and features. Then I'll drive the original Honda NSX to show you what makes it such a joy on the road.

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DOUGSCORE CHART:

[kimber]

So a fun story about the NSX. I worked as an engineer at the Honda Anna Engine Plant in Ohio back in the late 90's. They had an employee improvement plan where as you made suggestions for improvement, you got points if that improvement was implemented. At the end of the year you could spend your points on gifts, etc. One prize was a weekend with the NSX (we had one at our factory parked outside with other fleet vehicles). My supervisor won the NSX for a weekend and he took me out in it over a lunch break. We tore up the back roads for a half hour. It was an amazing experience!

[dlpwr]

Garage "How many Skylines do you want in the background?"
Doug "Yes."

[FuzzRatOD]

This era NSX design is still striking after 30 years. Clean, simple yet evocative lines.

[joelloughead]

Universally acclaimed as one of the most beautiful car designs of all time: 7/10.

[JoshBrinson]

The O.G. NSX still looks good, even almost 30 years later.

[mattallred]

Oh, to be a Japanese businessman in the 1990s driving to work in an NSX, listening to cassette tapes

[yosuik]

Hi Doug, the "Half Antenna" button wasn't only for aesthetic purposes. It was so you don't damage the antenna when you drive your NSX inside buildings with low ceilings or low roof parking areas, a common thing in Japan. Also because the antenna was something like 50 cm long at full length.

[autonewstv]

*my dream car from my teenage years become unattainable to my adult self*

[dmgd]

Pop up headlights on a car for me as a kid were the coolest thing ever and still are

[jamesyu]

Great review Doug! As an NSX owner I never noticed that the AC recirc buttons were profiled as a "bloated NSX" cool to point out the quirk.

A few corrections: the original NSX has 270 HP not 250, and you said that this is somewhat of an ordinary engine. I would say that is in fact an extraordinary engine; it was Honda's first VTEC "yo" in a production car, it also has titanium connecting rods and an 8, 000 rpm redline. Honda was at it's peak in F1 racing during that era and they wanted to show off with the NSX. So, that's not your everyday minivan V6.

The wheels are 15" in front as you said, but they are 16" in the rear. It was purposely double staggered to make room for a dead pedal and to make the pedal placement proper (unlike it's Italian competition) and to make a low sleek hood-line. Those little wheels are super light since they are forged. By the way from the factory they came with bespoke super soft and sticky Yokohamas and a what many would consider a "track alignment" so grip was incredible even with the relatively small contact patches.

This is also the 30th anniversary of the NSX. Unfortunately it's during covid so Honda could not have a big celebration of it's cost-no-object, hand built, 90's flagship vehicle this year. And yes the ignition key is cool too, it's heavy as you mentioned, but it's also made of Monel alloy which does not react to sweat. One final design aspect to point out--the whole chassis and body is aluminum, a first for production cars, and its a semi-monocoque design, not your typical uni-body.

So the NSX is special, and people like me who wanted one in high school can finally attain one. That's really why the prices are steadily rising.

[drytoon]

Excellent review, Doug, as usual. I just wanted to add a few points that I think are important and worth to be mentioned: Honda is still manufacturing and providing ALL PARTS for the NSX cars up to date, no matter which year it's been built. Moreover, later models parts are compatible with earlier ones, they are fully interchangeable. You can even change earlier popping lights to late fixed ones or vice versa.

The blank button on the console of the model you reviewed is for the headlights height setting which curiously was an option.

The NSX was the first mass production car that had a full aluminum chassis.

Last fact/feature: the engine was the first in the world to have titanium rods to improve the revs

[andrewengland]

Still can’t believe how bold and daring Honda was back in the day.

[eleano]

Nah Doug. The half button is so you can pull into a low ceiling garage without the antenna hitting the ceiling. Super common in Japanese cars.

[gawkingwatches]

Horsepower was 270 in the 3.0L manual, when equipped with the automatic transmission it was 252 hp. The 3.2L with the manual had 290 hp.

[iunnor]

Acura makes a modern day NSX.
Everyone: Dang, i really miss the original NSX..

[tomokokishi]

Doug is a type of guy who shoots a video of the early NSX without mentioning Senna's name at all.

[goodboy]

Can we just take a moment and just think how cool those popup headlights look

[jonasschiefer]

Honda: not really know for sports car
Also Honda: made the engine for the most successful F1 car of all time

[fantasyguru]

Never seen an NSX in that color probably was never made available for the NA market. Such a stunning, yet simple, design. I'll end up owning one of these before I cease to exist.

[adamthompson]

How dare my dream car from my teenage years become unattainable to my adult self!