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On the road, the Acura commands attention
Acura's NSX has had 10 years to prove itself, so what do its owners think?
It took a while to track a few down, because there aren't many.
Mark Rodrigues of California, a two-time Formula Mazda Champion and current factory team manager, is one of the rare owners of the 2003 NSX model. When asked why that particular car, he gladly answered: "It has so many great facets it is hard to put into one line."
What he has done to his car implies that he has picked up the ball where Acura dropped it, by improving its handling and dynamics. "I have added a lowering kit and adjustable shocks — this small change really woke up the car — and unless I encounter a Champ Car driver on Mulholland (Mulholland Dr. in Los Angeles) I have everybody beat!"
Doug Hayashi, owner and former NSX racer from Newport Coast, Calif., put it this way: "The Acura NSX is a true exotic, but without the maintenance hassles that are sometimes attributed to high-end sports cars.
"The ergonomics of the seating position, shifter and short front hood make it seem like you are in a race car for the street," he added. "Excellent handling makes it exciting to drive both on the street and at the racetrack."
But this was how he described his 1992 NSX . Would he buy a 2003?
"The 2003 NSX is nice, but, uh ... Acura has not kept up with the horsepower and styling wars," he said. "I can't say that I would buy an NSX today, given the choices that are available.
"You cannot make the NSX sound like a Ferrari F355 or 360," said Hayashi. "Believe me, I have seen 20 different variations of NSX muffler systems that have tried to emulate the wail of a Ferrari, and it can't be done."
What would change his mind? "If Acura would come out with a 400-horsepower NSX with big brakes and that sounds like an F355, then it would be a contender against the other exotics in that price range," he said.
With this in mind, I spent a couple of days with the 2003 NSX to see whether indeed it is a modern-day sports car.
I asked myself what the true definition of the term "sports car" is, and whether it has changed over the years. Is it the speed, handling and performance of a vehicle on the track or on the road? Is it the horsepower or torque? The sight, sound and smell of the car? Is it the large price tag they all seem to have?
I come from the old school of sports car enthusiasts: seems the harder the car is to drive, the more it is a true sports car. But is this just because I can't grasp all the new technology that has evolved in the automotive industry? How can anything be fun to drive if beads of sweat and sore muscles are not the aftermath of a quick highway jaunt?
I gazed at the 2003 Acura NSX. It had all the makings of a real sports car: 290 hp in a V6, 24-valve DOHC VTEC engine that produced 224 lb.-ft. of torque. It's a stunning metallic blue colour with matching soft leather interior — oh so sleek.
The interior proved fairly accessible. When I slid into the driver's seat, I was remarkably comfortable. The seats hugged my contour, a feature I welcome during high-speed cornering.
As for start-up, I was sorely disappointed in the lack of a growl. I caught myself straining to hear in traffic if the engine was indeed running.
But my disappointment turned to joy as the engine came to life at higher rpm — a high-pitched purr at 5000, and a redline at 8000. With no whine of a turbo or supercharger, it wasn't the sound of the car that grabbed the attention of the crowd — it was its looks, with most of those enthralled being in the 16-to-25 age group.
Available in both a four-speed automatic and a six-speed manual, the car can be as utilitarian as a Honda when running errands in city traffic. Cockpit space is limited, yet the golf bag shaped trunk, though humourous, is ample compared to its competition. But on the open road, its true nature is revealed — this is no Civic.
Acceleration has always been a strong point for the NSX — even at low rpms the car has superb pick-up. Again and again I catch myself looking at the speedometer, shocked to see the speed at which I am travelling. Why does it feel so slow when I am indeed driving at more than the officer would allow? It must be the exquisite handling this car has, which is what it has been famous for since its birth. The NSX shifts are short and precise, pedal placements making footwork virtually effortless.
Alex Zanardi, CART racing champion in 1997 and 1998, put it best: "What I like most about the NSX is its balance," he said. "It's got tremendous performance potential but at the same time, it doesn't exact a penalty in comfort and convenience."
On the highway I find myself in the middle of a group of highly accessorized Hondas. Even without decals and picnic-table-style wings, I fit in. They slow down and circle me like prey. Until the thumbs-up signal is given and they roar off with their coffee can exhausts.
I wonder if any of them remember Ayrton Senna and his McLaren-Honda. It was during the design and early production phases of this car that he won three F1 drivers' championships and his Honda-powered McLaren won four constructors' championships.
Soichiro Honda took his finest engineers and asked them to build a super car — a sports car to compete with the likes of the Ferrari 348, Porsche 911, Lotus Esprit and Corvette. A true race fan himself, Honda knew that much that can be learned on the track can aid in the development of a sports car. In keeping with what a racing engine should be, the block, heads and pistons of the NSX are made of aluminum alloys for lightweight durability. The craftsmanship of this car is in true Japanese spirit, yet what has changed since the car's inception in late 1990?
I ask Mark Rodrigues if he believes the NSX is a true sports car. "Yes! It is a true driver's car. I think the 10-plus years of this design proves that. With the feedback that the car gives back, it makes the driver feel like he or she is a better driver than they actually are."
Even after more than 10 years of production he adds: "There isn't a better gear box out there."
But the question remains: Is the Acura NSX — the most expensive automotive export from Japan — worth its $140,000 price tag?
As I stepped out of the car with my hair in place, makeup intact and no sign of sweat or strain, I realized my definition of a sports car may be harsh.
Although it lacks the smell of fine Italian leather, the growl of a Porsche Turbo and the history of many other true exotics, the NSX still leaves me with a smile on my face.
But I'll still wait for the 50 per cent off sale before I park it in my driveway.
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