What price to pay??

[coolfunkyd]

Hi everyone, first time on the site so hope I am not wasting your time. I have always loved the NSX and are now in a position to buy one. I really wanted a manual (like most) however have seen two auto's on the internet, a 96 purple targa for 30K and a 90 had top for just over 26K both with around 60/70,000 miles on the clock. I just wanted to ask the people in the know if you think these prices are about right and also any advice you can give me. I never thought the day would come when I would be this close to buying one and want to make the right decision.

[PeterW]

If you're looking for a manual the black '91 on PistonHeads looks good value at £23,995. Just my opinion from what it says on the ad and I don't have any interest in the sale.
Peter

[coolfunkyd]

Thanks for that, really want one as original as possible though. How do you find the Targa roof on your car? Had an old CRX back in the early 90's and had a nightmare with rattles.

[Senninha]

Welcome and happy hunting. Usual thoughts .. will it be daily driver (makes auto good option), weekend toy (either box depending on how you wish to use). Always buy the best you can afford based on mechanical history and cosmetic condition. Do your homework and know potential service costs, ie have belts & w/pump been done recently, brake overhaul. Are you looking to 'refresh' an honest car in need of tlc ... several members have done this and with time and patience, and not necessarily lots of cash, end up with a really nice NSX (private sale best route here).

Couple of Black manuals for sale ownered by members here, I beleive most of the autos are dealer cars ....

regards, Paul

[nakatomitower]

My 1st post on this site, so wanted it to be a meaningful one. I'm also fortunate enough to be in a position to start looking and hopefully buying a NSX, though I've taken the harder route of looking for a manual NSX-T in red or black.........am in no rush, but hopefully there's one out there for me :-)

I can't comment on the prices (sorry as I'm very new to all this), but I did actually go and see the £30K purple Targa, at Plans Performance over in Guildford. Graham, who owns Plans P, was very helpful and gave me lots of info on the car, and would you believe even let me test drive it for a short while....what fun that was. Plans had 3 NSX's for sale recently, 2 red ones were already sold with just the purple left over, though Graham told me he had several more people coming to see the car, so no doubt it will sell. There were also several NSX's there for servicing, so it does look like Plans P know these cars.

Good luck in finding your dream car, hopefully both of us can find what we're looking for.

[Mistercorn]

I have been looking at these cars for the last year, and bought one a couple of months ago. With regards to prices they are all over the place. The problem is that there are so few cars for sale at any one time that getting comparisons on particular mileage / spec / age / colour is next to impossible. I do believe that a lot of the cars for sale are overpriced, only because a few of them have been around for many many months and haven't sold. Other cars have been on the market which have sold within days. Mileage and age do seem to have a large bearing on price, with the few facelift cars which come up being advertised for large money. I can't tell if this is a facelift or an NA1 / NA2 price difference though as the only NA2 pre-facelift which I have seen for sale in the last year is the one I bought, which was low mileage and impeccable history which also skews the price. Sorry that doesn't really help, but at least it might explain the confusion.

MC

[Nytram]

I'm just about ready to put my NSX on pistonheads

Red/ Black, 91 Manual, UK car, 35,000 miles, lots of work done by Kaz.

£34,950

PM me and I'll send the full details

Cheers Martyn

[NSX 2000]

I'm just about ready to put my NSX on pistonheads

Red/ Black, 91 Manual, UK car, 35,000 miles, lots of work done by Kaz.

£34,950

PM me and I'll send the full details

Cheers Martyn

Martyn, Really are you sure, yours is a lovely car! (or are you buying another)?

[NSX100]

Thanks for that, really want one as original as possible though. How do you find the Targa roof on your car? Had an old CRX back in the early 90's and had a nightmare with rattles.

Mine is a targa - 1999 NA2 - and one of around 6 of the pop-up versions in the country. The targa roof is absolutely flawless - you would not even know it was there except when you take it off of course (!!). The only potential issue to be aware of is that it lowers the interior headroom a tad so if you are tall it could be a problem without altering the seat cushion. I'm 6 ft 1in (185cm) and just fit comfortably. It is also heavy so you need to be careful stowing and unstowing it. With it off I find it perfectly comfortable up to about 70mph but over that it gets a bit noisy and drafty. There has been talk on this forum about comparative rigidity with the non-targa models but driving at speed on winding Scottish 'B' roads there is absolutely no evidence to me of loss of rigidity. Perhaps racing around Donnington it is possible. The ride is perfect and the issue is more likely to be caused by poor set up rather than the fundamentals of the targa roof. The purists may demur but the advantages of the targa far outweigh these purist quibbles (IMHO)! However, they are more rare so unless, like me, you are prepared to wait until the right one turns up (a long time in my case) go for the first good car you see - targa or not.

Good hunting.

[Nytram]

Martyn, Really are you sure, yours is a lovely car! (or are you buying another)?

Not 100% sure no, as it has been a very difficult decision so if it doesn't find a new home i'm not too worried, no immediate plans for another NSX just yet but you never know.

Cheers

[coolfunkyd]

A bit more than I wanted to pay however for the right car?? Will PM for more details, Thanks Martyn.

[Silver Surfer]

http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?11979-Berlina-Black-3-0L-manual-1994-(1999)-NSX-%A330-000

;)

SS

[Crockefeller]

I'm just about ready to put my NSX on pistonheads

Red/ Black, 91 Manual, UK car, 35,000 miles, lots of work done by Kaz.

£34,950

PM me and I'll send the full details

Cheers Martyn

That at seems a very fair price. I paid only a fraction less for almost identical spec 8 months ago but with a couple of small remedial jobs to do.

[PeterW]

Mine is a targa - 1999 NA2 - and one of around 6 of the pop-up versions in the country. The targa roof is absolutely flawless - you would not even know it was there except when you take it off of course (!!). The only potential issue to be aware of is that it lowers the interior headroom a tad so if you are tall it could be a problem without altering the seat cushion. I'm 6 ft 1in (185cm) and just fit comfortably. It is also heavy so you need to be careful stowing and unstowing it. With it off I find it perfectly comfortable up to about 70mph but over that it gets a bit noisy and drafty. There has been talk on this forum about comparative rigidity with the non-targa models but driving at speed on winding Scottish 'B' roads there is absolutely no evidence to me of loss of rigidity. Perhaps racing around Donnington it is possible. The ride is perfect and the issue is more likely to be caused by poor set up rather than the fundamentals of the targa roof. The purists may demur but the advantages of the targa far outweigh these purist quibbles (IMHO)! However, they are more rare so unless, like me, you are prepared to wait until the right one turns up (a long time in my case) go for the first good car you see - targa or not.

I fully agree with all of this. No rattles, whistles or leaks. I find it to be a huge amount of fun driving it with the top off. I love it. Puts a smile on my face every time.
Head room is a factor. I'm 6'2" and just fit. If I wanted to track the car, which I don't, I would not have enough head room for a helmet. But I would simply get another seat and take the padding out. ... Unless maybe they'd let me on the track with the top off!! Must haves for me when I bought were manual, Targa, no major modification, reasonably complete service history. I wasn't particularly bothered about colour and I wasn't too bothered if there were a few things to sort out.

Good luck.

Peter

[Papalazarou]

I fully agree with all of this. No rattles, whistles or leaks. I find it to be a huge amount of fun driving it with the top off. I love it. Puts a smile on my face every time.
Head room is a factor. I'm 6'2" and just fit. If I wanted to track the car, which I don't, I would not have enough head room for a helmet. But I would simply get another seat and take the padding out. ... Unless maybe they'd let me on the track with the top off!! Must haves for me when I bought were manual, Targa, no major modification, reasonably complete service history. I wasn't particularly bothered about colour and I wasn't too bothered if there were a few things to sort out.

Good luck.

Peter

I've had three targas. I currently have a targa and a coupe. They are both great cars, but there are some differences. As mentioned above, there is slightly less headroom. However, you can obviously buy or construct lower cushions to deal with this. Ask Geraint on this forum. He made his own moulded seat cushion.
On track, most places will allow you to drive roof off. There is however little difference in headroom between coupe and targa, so if you are 5ft 10+ and want to track with the roof on, you'll need to do something with your seating arrangements.
Reference ride and rigidity. As has been said many times before. The targa has a more compliant ride and is better for it on UK roads. If you want less body roll, simply add a type-r front ARB a type-s rear. Paul, correct me if I'm wrong.
There is a bit of feedback from the steering on bumpy roads, but this can be almost eliminated by some of the new chassis bars on the market. I've never had these and I'm reading between the lines of the Prime testimonials, but certainly the new love fab bars sound pretty good.
Again maybe Kaz can confirm this. But I believe they anchor straight into the chassis legs, which should create greater rigidity through the chassis legs. I know this isn't always preferable on a coupe, but certainly worth it on a targa.
There have also been talk of a t-top section being developed, which would still allow the fitment of the roof section.
However, as a standard car, it's really very good and although you will feel steering feedback on bumpy roads with the roof off. Roof on, it's 95% as stiff as a coupe.
Furthermore, it really is great to get the roof off. It's an extra dimension and very addictive.

[unclebob]

Yes I agree with Papa, mine is a 2001 Targa manual, theres definitely feedback and flex on bumpy roads compared with roof 'pon on roof off but like ive said before i dont delude myself that im a budding Ayrton Senna and i know i dont have the capabilities to drive the car to the maximum of its capabilities so the rigidity point is moot for me....roof is always off! I'm 6ft 3 and I still fit. Love the targa wouldnt swap it for a coupe. 60k on the clock, not a rattle, clunk or whistle. I love Honda. Always have. Always will.

[Papalazarou]

Yes I agree with Papa, mine is a 2001 Targa manual, theres definitely feedback and flex on bumpy roads compared with roof 'pon on roof off but like ive said before i dont delude myself that im a budding Ayrton Senna and i know i dont have the capabilities to drive the car to the maximum of its capabilities so the rigidity point is moot for me....roof is always off! I'm 6ft 3 and I still fit. Love the targa wouldnt swap it for a coupe. 60k on the clock, not a rattle, clunk or whistle. I love Honda. Always have. Always will.

No arguments there. Just fantastic build quality and dynamics. Great to have a secure coupe and a convertible in the same car.