Donnie Barnes wrote:
Richard Casto wrote:
Emmett Willis wrote:
Not to mention the NSX has to be the hottest looking car of the modern era.
Ditto!
Mid-engine, Honda, what else can you ask for! If only they would depreciate faster!!
Good looking, I'll give it. It's just always seemed less than impressive in the performance department. Is there much you can do to it to get more HP easily? Seems like with limited production there probably isn't much in the aftermarket to help it...I'm asking here, I don't know much about them.
--Donnie
Donnie,
I am not that knowledgeable myself. I think the entire NSX concept was to provide super car styling and performance along with all of the good things that come with a Honda (engineering, ergonomics, reliability, build quality, reasonable price, etc.). I think there are three things that you can pick on the car. First, it is long over do for a new model. Because it was such a ground breaking car for it’s time, this has allowed it to hold on for so long (which is both good and bad). I think it introduced variable valve timing (VTEC) to the world (in production form). I also don’t know what other production cars had an all aluminum body as well at that time. Second, it didn’t set the world on fire with the level of power that it produced. But this fell in line with Honda’s philosophy. They felt (and still do) that they can make do with a smaller displacement engine via superior engineering. S2000 is example of that today. Also I think that Honda wants you to be wowed by the overall package and to focus less on the lack of brute force power. Still, many would like to see a V8 (or V10) in the NSX. Current rumor is that the NSX replacement (2008 or so) will be a V10 and will address this complaint. Third, the car just doesn’t have the pedigree of something like a Porsche or Ferrari (the market segment it was in). I can see that argument, but then again, I think it being a Honda is a great pedigree to have.
I have never driven or even ridden in one, but would love to do so. I always think in the back of my mind that when they price drops enough that I will pick up one some day. If someone in the club has one and and reads this.... "Give me a ride sometime".
Regarding power improvements, I think the car received slight displacement (and power) increases over the years. But otherwise the basic engine remained the same. I believe that the normal Honda tweaks work (ECU, intake and exhaust) as well as the standard power tweaks (super/turbo charger, etc.) I believe that like most Honda engines, the basic design is pretty stout and can be developed to deliver more power reliably. I do agree that because of the limited availablilty (and cost) that there is a limited market for bolt on parts. But I believe they exist and you just have to search harder to find them. Comptech
http://www.comptechusa.com/ is the first that comes to mind. They offer a supercharger kit as well as other bolt on parts (engine, suspension, etc.) Their dyno charts show that adding their air box, header, exhaust and super charger takes wheel HP from 258 to 367 (@7800 RPM) for a 2000 model NSX.
Richard
_________________
Richard Casto
1972 Porsche 914
2013 Honda Fit Sport
2015 Honda Fit EX
http://motorsport.zyyz.comMoney can't buy happiness, but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia.
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