Man Maths: Honda NSX

NSXs weren’t perfect and could be tricky: well do I remember a road testing colleague throwing one an impressive distance into a ploughed field. They ate rear tyres too (at least one I drove did). On that European trip I remember the car starting to oversteer on the autostrada between Modena and Bologna and presuming the rear suspension had broken. Not so: the brand new tyres with which I’d left England were now already illegal. By the time I got to the ’Ring, they were literally slicks prompting me to call Honda and advise them that if it started to rain on the way home I would park it in the nearest town and tell them to send a truck to collect it. Happily the weather kept away.

But I’d forgive them anything. They are such wonderful things to drive: that howling engine, a sub 1400kg kerbweight, brilliantly damped suspension, fabulous visibility and as good a gearbox as ever graced such a car.

Today NSXs are proper money, but I can’t see anyone losing their shirt on one in the long term so long as they choose correctly. First up, forget the automatic. Not only was it a dreadful transmission it came with a detuned engine, early electric power steering and compromised suspension settings ruining pretty much every important aspect of the car. Today they cost about 80 per cent of manual versions, but to me it should be less than half. I’d not bother with the targa top either: I don’t think they look as nice and the couple I’ve driven both creaked. But a manual coupé, either early or late? You betcha.

Nice early cars seem to be priced around £75,000 with low miles 3.2-litre late cars now well into six figures. The super-rare lightweight JDM NSX-R? I’m glad you asked: the only one I found for sale is listed at £588,000.

Consider that people from Rowan Atkinson to Gordon Murray bought and became evangelical on the subject of the NSX, and two more discerning and intelligent petrolheads you could not hope to find. If I could afford it and work out what the hell I’d do with it, I’d have one in an instant. Probably early: it’d be more affordable, is prettier and I’d not miss the extra gear or performance.

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