Earlier this year I was heading home from work and I heard a shrieking. My first thought was a Ferrari but it was a white NSX. It came up beside me, slowed beside me so I got a good look at it. I think it looks better in person than in photos and it sounded better than a McLaren or R8.
I think some of you who are complaining about the price/performance value is forgetting that the original was also stupid expensive compared to other cars in the same envelope. With maybe the exception of the Supra, that NSX is now worth up to quadruple more than those models. Honda has never really chased cheap horsepower, so I'm not really surprised they didn't do it here either. That said, I would have rather they focused on developing a lighter, more driver-focused chassis over techno-wizardry, but that's not what that market range (or maybe any range) responds to these days.
Oh, and just to add to the subjectivity in this thread I'll say I think the new R8 has been fugilified as well. So I'll say that I'd rather have this Acura mid-engine supercar I can't afford over that other Audi mid-engine supercar I can't afford. 
In reply to Matt B:
+1.
I would say what will make the Acura standout over the Ford (although I like the Ford better) is you can buy them.
Remember the Ford is an extremely numbers limited vehicle.
And it isn't like the old NSX did that badly even though shortly after it was released a half the price RX-7 gave it a run for it's money. The NSX has never been about being #1 in all performance category's except being #1 in all performance categories at 100k miles. Because let's face it, most cars in this range won't be running at 50k miles much less a 100k and for the old NSX, that is still a daily driver reliable $35k car.
Matt B wrote: Oh, and just to add to the subjectivity in this thread I'll say I think the new R8 has been fugilified as well. So I'll say that I'd rather have this Acura mid-engine supercar I can't afford over that other Audi mid-engine supercar I can't afford.
I just wish the R8 owners would put enough miles on them to blow that VAG V8 and we can afford them to start doing LS swaps....
I've gotta say, all these responses sound exactly like reviews of the first NSX...too pricey, derivative styling, not enough oats for the money. Well played, Honda. The littlest supercar.
The thing with this car is that the original was part of a slew of cars that bucked trends. People would say that Japanese cars then "had no soul" or were copies of other cars. Meanwhile this was a car that everyone copied, along with other cars in the lineup. It was a groundbreaking vehicle and along with cars like the FD Rx7, MK4 Supra, GTR, etc it set standards for performance and design.
Now with this current NSX it's ironically an American car and pretty much setting no trends and nobody will copy it because everyones been doing a supercar like this lately many before this car even came out.
The reason why it's "irony" that it's american is when the car became all electronic and "fake", what Americans like to claim about Jap cars, it also become a wholly American vehicle.
Japanese cars were far better and more interesting when they were built and designed in Japan.
In reply to kanaric:
Ok, almost everyone on here would buy the Ford GT over the new NSX, but since Ford has turned it into a version of trying to get a job on the board of directors, that takes it out of contention. So what would you buy?
Maclaren fax machine? Yeah that would be great if you weren't going to drive it anywhere because getting it serviced is impossible.
Ferrari? Same issues plus fire.
Audi? Please, kaboom.
Lamborghini? Audi issues plus Maclaren issues. Great combination.
Porsche 911? Ok here is a real threat, but comparatively they are common, this one could be a real choice.
Nissan GTR? OK there Brian Spillner. I am sorry FF didn't win the academy award. This is a possibility.
So the 911, GTR and the NSX are the only two real cars in this category. Some would argue the Vette but that would purely be based on performance numbers and this class is about so much more than that.
So between those three cars which would you pick? I like the NSXs odds.
I'm glad to see the i8 reference here. I never saw this coming, but when the i8 came out it totally killed my anticipation for the NSX. On the surface that doesn't make sense but as was said, "this car is a fancy gadget for technophiles first and a performance car second, much like the i8" and in that context my interest is piqued more by the i8 being a very unusual mix of attributes and basically inhabiting a niche of one. The NSX is trying to play in a much more competitive sandbox and so even though it performs objectively better than the i8 in performance stats, it ends up being compared to things that it pales in comparison to.
I think the MAIN thing that killed my enthusiasm for the NSX was the endless delays. If the same car had come out WAAY back when it was first teased/discussed (it's been 9 years since Honda said they were going to do it) it would have been a bombshell. The rest of the supercar industry has moved forward so much in the ensuing time that a vision of the future from 2007 now seems at least several years behind the curve.
It begs an ironic comparison to the original NSX. It lived a long life and performed well against newer competitors and was given reams of slack in terms of absolute numbers because of its 'advanced age'. The r35 GTR is entering a similar phase right now. If the 2016 NSX was the 2012 NSX we'd all be saying it's held up incredibly well and we can't wait for the next update.
It's too little BECAUSE it's too late.
In reply to Vigo:
Dude, this is the 5 version, they just didn't sell the middle 3.
wheelsmithy wrote: I've gotta say, all these responses sound exactly like reviews of the first NSX...too pricey, derivative styling, not enough oats for the money. Well played, Honda. The littlest supercar.
"The littlest supercar" that weighs 4k lbs.
The similarities between the original NSX and this NSX end at the limited paper performance for the price.
The original was leaps and bounds above everything else on QUALITY. I still think it is one of the best engineered and assembled cars, ever. People bought them "because it's a Honda."
People have been buying Hondas and Acuras since then, "because they're Hondas." But is that sterling reputation (and price premium) still warranted? Seems like the gap has closed on innovation and quality since the 80's and 90's.
I just got back from a Chump race at NCM, and there was a supercar driving experience program or something on-premise. I watched folks lined up all weekend to beat a rented 458 like it owed them money, all weekend, in 90 degree heat...
Sadly I think Honda is sort of too far behind in the hybrid game to put out anything top-of-class in the hybrid exotic bracket. But if you think about it, the NSX is the lowest cost hybrid exotic if you don't consider the i8 to be in the same category. And I kinda don't, because if you say an NSX only makes as much power as a current mid-level Corvette, well the i8 only makes as much power as a base model corvette from 19 years ago. 
Their new Accord hybrid is at least very current and performs well in its role but that system is totally unsuited for a performance car. At least the Lexus LF hybrid will simulate gears and rev the engine to 6000+. I'm not saying the NSX doesn't work with what it has because everyone says it does, but it's relegated to 'just another' hybrid exotic on the technology front instead of being out in front.
Tyler H wrote: People have been buying Hondas and Acuras since then, "because they're Hondas." But is that sterling reputation (and price premium) still warranted? Seems like the gap has closed on innovation and quality since the 80's and 90's.
After working for them for 10+ years, I will say "No". I worked for them for 10 years and I have zero desire to buy a honda product. Not just because their product line is overpriced, or stale but their quality is just not there compared to Honda of the 90's.
Interesting to look back on the NC NSX.
Just under 3k total units produced globally.
It seemed like people with more racing experience liked it more than other reviewers.
People dragged it for being a hybrid, but since it's launch all of it's competitors have launched hybrid versions of their own.
The engine was developed/produced in partnership with Cosworth.
Hm.
I don't see a lot of cars in this category where I live, but I do see a few, and I drive around the country a lot. I have never actually seen one of these NSXs on the road, or at a cars and coffee event or anything. Kind of surprising, and I completely forgot about these as a result. They don't seem to get the instagram influencer attention either, for better or worse. Interesting.
I saw one earlier this year at a cars and coffee. It was a white Type S model. Stunning, yet subtle in person. I think it is aging quite nicely.
CrustyRedXpress said:Interesting to look back on the NC NSX.
Just under 3k total units produced globally.
It seemed like people with more racing experience liked it more than other reviewers.
People dragged it for being a hybrid, but since it's launch all of it's competitors have launched hybrid versions of their own.
The engine was developed/produced in partnership with Cosworth.
Hm.
We've also since learned that it comes with a block-integrated dry sump system where the pump assembly costs around $20k 😵
In reply to GameboyRMH :
Lol-post link!
I believe you, but couldn't find it.
It was a pretty weird decision by Honda Motor Company to outsource the...motor. OTOH, cosworth!
Some math I probably spent too much time on just for funsies.
I'm not entirely sure what all of this means or if it's worth knowing, but it was a fun exercise for my brain, at least.
I recall at one point these were being discounted fairly heavily, like around $25,000. I'm not in that market, but it seemed like a good car at that price point and time.
Having had the opportunity to drive one of these, to this day it was the most complete combination I have experienced. Hands down. The Mc Cleran is a close second. That was fun also.
Being an instructor at an autocross has it's perks. Yes!
In reply to CrustyRedXpress :
Took some searching but I found it. Now down to the low low price of $17.9k!
https://www.hondaacuraonline.com/oem-parts/acura-pump-assembly-oil-1510058ga01
Now that we're on the far side of these, it's a shame that they were only ever bought by dealers trying to speculate on the car. There's a hundred of these on auto trader right now with less than 1000 miles, priced from $150-$350(!)k depending on just how desirable the dealer thinks their version is.
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