My 1992 Acura NSX
Odometer (Legend Coupe):Â 528,171
Odometer (Legend Sedan):Â 144,362
Odometer (ILX):Â 62,287
Odometer (NSX):Â 97,482
Guess it’s time to let this cat out of the bag. I’ve been hoarding Acuras for years now. My secret toy obsession is a Formula Red 1992 NSX that I bought for my 30th birthday exactly two years ago, on December 17, 2011.
During the first generation NSX’s production run from 1991 through 2005, there were only about 8,000 cars made. My NSX is one of 421 in its color & transmission configuration for the year. The NSX is an iconic car that showed the world that an exotic sportscar didn’t have to be unreliable. It’s powered by a 270-horsepower 3.0 V6 engine with VTEC, which puts the power to the pavement via a 5-speed manual transmission.
When I picked up my NSX up just two weeks before my 30th birthday, it had 80,440 miles on the odometer. It came with full service records back to new, all the manuals, a dealership sales brochure, and 4 keys including the original titanium key that was issued with all new NSXs of that era. Talk about a perfect find! I was in heaven for the entire 12-hour drive home to Phoenix. The car grabbed more attention than I knew what to do with.
Over the last couple of years, I’ve taken the NSX on a number of fun adventures. The driving experience is unlike any of the other dozens of Acuras I’ve had the privilege of being behind the wheel of. I can best describe it as “raw.” The NSX has no power steering. No cupholders. No “frilly” unnecessary luxuries. It is the most connected car to the road and to the driver of any I’ve driven. In any other vehicle, a key ingredient in a pleasurable drive is a rockin’ sound system. Not in the NSX. The Bose stereo is nice, but I’d rather leave the audio turned off entirely. Hearing the car’s mid-mounted V6 rev to the redline from behind the jet-inspired cockpit is an intoxicating feeling that brings endless grins. It makes you want to push the car’s limits again and again.
Come reminisce with me as I take you on some of those trips through the many pictures that follow, in chronological order. You’ll probably see some NSX pictures from time to time on the blog as I continue my Acura travels in 2014 and beyond.
November 2011 – This is a photo from the original San Jose, CA Craigslist ad
December 17, 2011 – The traditional key handoff picture. The man handing me the key was the 3rd owner. He’d owned the NSX for about 14 years.
First ride, caught on video:
Just before driving away to bring my baby home to Arizona
First arrival in Scottsdale and meeting its stable-mates, the 1994 Legend coupe and sedan
December 31, 2011 – My brother’s place in St. George, Utah after adding the 2002-05 model year, 17″ NSX wheels and ditching the OEM 15″ / 16″ staggered setup, which I still have in storage.
January 22, 2012 – Driveway photoshoot in Scottsdale, Arizona with my friends Branson and Matt, along with the two Legends
February 23, 2012 – Car show at Arizona State University
February 25, 2012 – Scenic drive up Interstate 17 in Arizona
February 28, 2012 – “Supercar Saturday” drive in Arizona with over 100 exotics & sportscars
March 2, 2012 – Saguaro Lake, Arizona with my friend Matt’s 2012 Nissan 370Z Sport 6MT
March 4, 2012 – Mount Lemmon Cruise, in Tucson Arizona with Matt and my friend Josh in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
More from Mount Lemmon
March 3, 2012 – Cars & Coffee meet-up in Scottsdale, Arizona with fellow local NSXers
March 31, 2012 – NSX Meet in Tempe, Arizona
April 2012 – Photoshoot in Tempe, Arizona. Pictures by John Bazay.
April 2012 – Hurricane, Utah Easter Car Show with my friend Branson and his dad Don
Great day at the car show. Lots of fun comments about the “squirrel wheel” (spare tire) in the front compartment.
My grandma “Doce” getting some seat time in the NSX at the car show:
April 2012 – St. George, Utah, on the dyno machine at H&S Performance. Numbers: 242 horsepower, 179 foot-pounds of torque.
Dyno video:
April 2012 – Vermillion Cliffs Scenic Drive, Highway 89A, in Northern Arizona on the way back to Phoenix with Matt and his 370Z.
May 2012 –Â Photoshoot in Tempe, Arizona with a 1979 Porsche 928 belonging to my friend Scott Utter
June 30, 2012 – Logan Canyon, northern Utah with my friends Ryan (Honda S2000) and Tyler (Honda Prelude 4WS).
More with the 3 great Hondas
July 2012 – Canyons east of Salt Lake City, Utah, taken by my friend Branson
September 2012 – NSX Meet in Tempe, Arizona
October 2012 – Supercar Saturday event – Jerome, Arizona. Below is a screen capture from a YouTube video.
Skip to 8:05.
More from Supercar Saturday in Prescott, Arizona
October 14, 2012 – Coronado Trail Scenic Byway in Eastern Arizona. This is Highway 191 – the “Curviest Highway in America.”
Superior, Arizona, crossing a bridge on US-60
Just south of Eagar, Arizona at the north end of Highway 191
Eating up some twisties on the Coronado Trail
No place I’d rather be!
December 2012 – Scottsdale, Arizona, at home with the 2013 ILX
January 2013 – NSX Meet in Chandler, Arizona at Science of Speed
More from the Science of Speed meet
Last picture from Science of Speed
February 2013 – Scottsdale, Arizona – checking out an ultra-rare “Imola Orange Pearl” 2002 NSX for sale. This one even had the orange interior.
February 2013 – Parked at work on a Friday, and this blue Corvette Z06 owner decided to copy my parking style.
April 13, 2013 – Supercar Saturday (Scottsdale to Payson, Arizona).
Skip to 1:12 in the video below to see me.
April 28, 2013 – At home in Scottsdale, Arizona with my friend Matt’s 2013 Nissan 370Z Sport 6MT
July 4, 2013 – Cache Valley Cruise-In Car Show (Logan, Utah) with my brother and his 1968 Chevy II Nova SS
Two very mean cars with two very different missions
V6 versus V8
Photo in Grandma’s backyard, Logan, Utah
Logan Canyon scenic drive to Tony Grove up Highway 89 with Ryan (Honda S2000), and Tyler (Honda Prelude 4WS)
July 27, 2013 – Cedar City, Utah with my friend Chanc and his two Acuras (1999 Integra GS-R and 2006 TSX)
August 30, 2013 – Scottsdale, Arizona during a visit from my friend Ben
October 27, 2013 – Desert Center, CA en route to a Legend forum meet-up in Santa Monica
At the Santa Monica meet with these great friends
Santa Monica Place
Mini NSX meet at my house – November 2013
December 7, 2013
Cars & Coffee meet-up in Scottsdale, Arizona with my friends Joe, Michael, and Kelvin
And that’s a wrap! Until the next adventure…
drivetofive 
December 17, 2013 at 11:50 am
Wow, that’s a while for that particular cat to be stored in that bag! 😀
A very fine collection of vehicles. That NSX has got to be a fun car. You should bring it out this way next time you come visit. 🙂
December 17, 2013 at 10:18 pm
I know – I think I probably suffocated that cat by leaving it in the bag so long. Truth is, I didn’t want the NSX stuff to overshadow the very important coverage of my ILX experience since the ILX was just getting off the ground after its launch. I still plan on focusing the blog on my ILX travels primarily. As for an NSX trip to CO, you actually just barely missed out on a really great annual NSXPO (like the Legend equivalent, NALM) in Denver in 2012. Huge turnout. Check out the pictures: http://www.nsxprime.com/forum/showthread.php/166114-Nsxpo-ride-the-rockies-photos
December 18, 2013 at 7:03 pm
Wow, looks like that would have been a great one to attend! If I’m not mistaken, from the pics they took a ride into Rocky Mountain National Park, which is always pretty fun.
Still, the NSX is still on the short list of super rare weekend toys I’d love to have. I’d need a house with an actual garage before I get one, though. I’m nervous enough parking the BMW and Audi on the street, haha.
December 17, 2013 at 8:49 pm
The stable is certainly one to be envious of! Glad to see you have been putting on some mileage on the NSX
December 17, 2013 at 10:23 pm
Marc, you’re right, I am definitely enjoying the NSX plenty. It’s too fun to NOT drive. Though I admit I am a teeny bit hesitant to see it cross 100,000 miles in the near future. The nice thing is that it’s just a 3.0 Honda V6. Maintenance has been easier than the Legend! Just a couple of hoses, oil changes, etc. Runs great and I’d trust it to 500k just like the Legend.
December 17, 2013 at 8:51 pm
Really wanting to start my own mini Acura museum/ garage. I’d like to have a NSX and pair of Legends myself. Those 17″ wheels from the ’05 NSX look a lot bigger then only 17″s. Just goes to show how small (flat and wide) the NSX is. They look so good on it, too. Reminds me of the ’04-’05 TSX wheels and the ’07 Civic Type-R FN2’s (3 door Hatch) 18″s.
December 17, 2013 at 10:24 pm
Hey Dillon, interestingly enough I had those 17″ wheels before I even had the NSX! I knew I was going to be upgrading the stock 15″ / 16″ 5-spoke staggered setup, so when I saw the 17’s listed for sale on the NSX Prime I scooped them up. They really do update the car quite a bit. Other than those wheels I’ve really left the car pretty much alone. Stock is best. We should definitely open up a combined Acura museum/garage someday. I’m totally in for that idea.
December 18, 2013 at 10:06 pm
Sounds good to me!
December 18, 2013 at 5:38 am
So. Of the four odometers, how many of those combined miles are ones YOU have driven?? I know you have it calculated and recorded somewhere. It’s a good thing I won’t need a car next month when I am down there because I would have a tough time choosing which one to borrow. Haha! I will stick to foot traffic, thanks. By the way, I am almost to 119,000 in Hi Ho these days.
December 18, 2013 at 6:33 am
Great question! Of the 832,302 combined miles, I’ve driven 524,846 of them (63%). Look forward to having you visit in a few weeks! Let’s ditch Hi Ho in 2014 and get you into an Acura RL.
December 23, 2013 at 6:32 am
So many miles! If you averaged 60 MPH, how many hours I have been spent behind the wheels? I would do the math but the calculator here at Grandma Mc’s died.
December 18, 2013 at 11:35 am
So many good pictures and stories. Even if my car is in a couple of the pictures, probably my favorite is the parking terrace shot with the GS and the LS flanking the NSX. The other parking terrace shot is good too, as its nice to see the owner of the cars too!
December 18, 2013 at 12:38 pm
Yeah I think of all the pics in here (which are many!) my fave pic is probably that same one – the head-on shot of the 3 cars side by side. That was taken 2 months before I got the ILX, or else I probably would have included it in the photoshoot. We will definitely get together for some drives again in 2014. I’m going to email you my list of potential destinations right now.
December 18, 2013 at 5:34 pm
Was looking at NSXs when I bought the ’75 bronco. The NSXs I was looking at were almost twice the amount of the bronco. Someday I hope to own one. Imola orange FTW
December 18, 2013 at 6:20 pm
Dave, I agree with you, that Imola is STUNNING! Unfortunately it’s also one of the rarest NSX colors in existence. It was only offered in 2002-2005 and there were a total of 49 cars. http://www.nsxprime.com/wiki/Production_Numbers
December 18, 2013 at 7:48 pm
One day…
December 18, 2013 at 8:43 pm
Haha, Josh, that was my motto for MANY years. I joined the NSX Prime forums in 2006 after lusting for awhile, and then it took 5 more years until I was ready to actually join the club. Just rest assured that you’re welcome to get your NSX fix anytime you need to – just get down here to AZ!
December 18, 2013 at 10:31 pm
Maybe once the RDX is paid off. The prices are starting to up already! Once the new one comes out I’m thinking the prices will go up even more… Guess we’ll have to wait & see. What’s a good year to get? I’m thinking the “T” models for me…
December 19, 2013 at 6:27 am
Well, there are a couple of important model updates to keep in mind. The car launched in 1991 with a 3.0 liter, 270-horse V6. In 1994 it got new wheels, and in 1995 a Targa top. In 1997 it went to a 3.2 liter, 290 horsepower motor.. In 2002 it got a cosmetic facelift with fixed headlights and new front & rear fascias. I’d say a 94-01 Targa would fit your needs nicely. Personally I don’t mind the pop-up headlights as I feel like they are true to the way the car designers originally intended it to be. http://www.nsxprime.com/wiki/Changes_by_Year
December 19, 2013 at 5:38 pm
I also like the “pop up” headlights on the NSX. not a huge fan of the stationary lamps. I was thinkng the 97 in spa yellow…
December 18, 2013 at 9:25 pm
Tyson, glad you let the NSX come out and play on the blog! Looks like you’ve had some really fun drives in it. I’m a full supporter of your wheel upgrade. Sometime when we meet again in PHX, I’d like to see that Legend 4dr…I see it hiding in the background from time to time on here. 🙂 Looking forward to following more adventures in the NSX!
December 18, 2013 at 9:41 pm
Jason, this post was a long time in the making! I’ve definitely had some great times with the NSX, and there are more to come. Let’s make it a point to pull the Legend GS sedan out of hibernation the next time you’re here. It looks almost identical to the coupe inside, but it sure rides nice with a fraction of the miles!
December 19, 2013 at 10:55 am
What a collection! The parking garage shots were the best ones you sent me. There is something about that sedan that gets to me and makes me want one but all the 6MT sedans left are not my preferred color choice. The NSX is a looker and I want to park a red one next to my red Prelude 4WS….now!
December 19, 2013 at 11:20 am
Hey Chris, thanks! I would love to do a red Prelude + red NSX photoshoot sometime. People have always said (and I agree) that the 3rd generation Prelude is like a baby NSX. You are correct about the rarity of the 6-speed Legend sedans. A few good ones are still out there!
December 19, 2013 at 5:33 pm
I am a big fan of those new wheels. Pictures you took on December 31,2011 and after with the new wheels: WOW!!! Need I say more? SPECTACULAR car. A car that looks like a Ferrari with the reliability of an ACURA? INCREDIBLE
December 19, 2013 at 7:00 pm
Carlos, I agree the new wheels made a huge change to the overall look of the car. People can’t believe that it’s a 1992. I had the option of color-matching the roof like the later-model NSXs when I had a little bit of other paint work done, but I’m really glad I left it gloss black. It retained the jet fighter cockpit look. I hope you and your TSX are doing well out there in FL!