My Impulsive Honda NSX Acura NSX Purchase: A 3,500-Mile Test Drive Begins
Photography by Yoav Gilad
What had I just done? The money was sent and gone. Last time, my research had been far more thorough and my actions much less impulsive. Perhaps I need to back up a bit. A couple of months ago, I was preparing a feature where readers would choose my next daily driver. After six years with a battered Kia Sorento, I’d had enough. While other cars came and went, none felt right for the daily commute. So, I set parameters—price, drivetrain, usability—and compiled a list of about twenty-five potential candidates, mostly 2+2s aged twenty to forty years. The list included gems like an Alfa Romeo GTV, BMW 635CSi, Ferrari 308, a first-gen Mustang fastback, and the legendary Japanese supercar known in North America as the Acura NSX, and elsewhere as the Honda Nsx Acura Nsx. The post was written, the poll ready. My automotive fate was about to be placed in your hands.
Discovering the Perfect Find (or So I Thought)
Like many enthusiasts, I frequently browse Ebay, Craigslist, and specialized forums. While drafting the daily driver poll, I stumbled upon an ad on NSXprime.com for the very Acura NSX pictured here. The seller’s words immediately drew me in:
I have owned this beautiful NSX for the past eleven years. During that time I have put approximately 4,000 miles on it, thus I am thinking it is time to pass her on to a new owner that will take her out of the garage once in a while.
This car is in wonderful shape, with glossy paint and a near perfect interior. All maintenance is current, tires are brand new, it needs nothing and it’s ready to go… I have always believed that Honda got the NSX right from the start and I have avoided making any modifications from stock. The exception to this is the wheels, which are from the 2003 model, and the addition of Zanardi style floor mats. The only known issue is the stock radio… Besides, radios are usually a personal preference item… As mentioned above, I scratched the rear bumper while backing out of the garage. It was very minor, but I thought I should mention it.
The Sebring Silver 1992 Honda NSX Acura NSX parked in the seller's driveway in Atlanta, awaiting its new owner.
I was hooked by the second paragraph. The seller’s apparent honesty and detailed maintenance history inspired confidence. The price was significantly lower than comparable cars in Southern California. The only catch? The car was roughly 2,400 miles away in Atlanta, Georgia. Adding to the allure was its early production status: number sixty-five off the line in its second year (1992). I emailed immediately, got his number, and called.
Confessions of an NSX Skeptic
At this point, I must confess a few things. Before this purchase, I had only been in an NSX once—as a passenger for ten minutes, and I wasn’t impressed. Owning a Honda S2000 at the time, the NSX felt muted; you needed to be going significantly faster to get the same thrill. Given my history with law enforcement, driving something that demanded even higher speeds seemed unwise. Secondly, I had envisioned test-driving several cars after the poll, maybe gathering some amusing horror stories (“the brakes didn’t even work!”). I also wanted to document the research and buying process for others interested in vintage cars.
Driver's perspective inside the cockpit of the first-generation Acura NSX, showing the dashboard and steering wheel.
Finally, I’d never truly considered the NSX an “exotic.” When Acura/Honda launched it, the press raved about handling and chassis balance. But to my teenage self, it lacked the drama, presence, and raw horsepower of a “real” supercar like the Ferrari 348, with its side-strakes and glorious V8. The NSX had a V6. A V6! It felt like a joke. F16-inspired design? Chassis balance? It wasn’t European, and it wasn’t powerful enough in my young, uninformed view. My automotive knowledge then was as limited as my understanding of women (faster was better for both). Thus, due to prejudice and immaturity, the Acura NSX had always been an also-ran in my book.
The Cross-Country Gamble: Flying Blind
Despite these biases and minimal experience, I wired a substantial sum across the country to a man I’d never met, based on two brief phone calls and a couple of emails. “Whimsical” is generous; “idiotic” feels more accurate. Time to take the ride. Assuming everything checked out, I was the proud new owner of a Sebring Silver 1992 Acura NSX. Shipping it seemed logical, but the idea of flying out and driving it back—a 3,500-mile test drive—was too tempting to resist. The only question: who would ride shotgun? My then-new bride, despite having minimal manual transmission experience, surprisingly expressed interest. I was thrilled! Clutch replacement is fixable, right? Flights booked.
Action shot of the silver Acura NSX navigating a curve on a tree-lined road during the cross-country drive.
Atlanta Bound: Pickup Day Arrives
Weeks later, we landed in Atlanta after a non-stop red-eye from LA. It was a humid Wednesday morning; I’d managed maybe two hours of sleep after a full workday. In the interim, the seller proved to be a true gentleman, holding the car for six weeks and offering an airport pickup across town during rush hour. We graciously declined, as Petrolicious friend, noted Ferrari historian, and Atlanta local, Mr. David Seibert, had already volunteered a lift and a breakfast stop (waffles!).
Despite the waffle temptation, exhaustion led me to yogurt and muesli. David regaled us with tales of early Scuderia days and his racing experiences as we crawled through traffic. Then, nonchalantly, he mentioned, “I shouldn’t even be alive though… I had a double lung transplant.” His words hung in the air. “Me too,” I replied. It’s not something I share often. Meeting someone else who’d undergone the same rare procedure, outside of a doctor’s waiting room, was astounding. An instant bond formed. David became more than an associate; he understood.
First Encounter: Meeting the Sebring Silver NSX
We crested a lush, green hill, and there it was: the NSX, parked in the driveway of a stately brick house. I practically leaped out of the SUV before it stopped, absorbing the car’s sleek, beautiful shape. David and my wife followed more calmly. The owner greeted us warmly. After pleasantries, he explained a minor last-minute issue: a broken brake pedal plunger had kept the brake lights on, draining the battery. He’d replaced both the battery and the plunger, changed the oil, and filled the tank, ensuring we were ready to go.
Front view of a silver 1992 Acura NSX parked on a scenic road, showcasing its classic supercar design.
The moment arrived. He handed over the keys and some thoughtful NSX-related gifts—a dealership book from 1992 and a Lucite laser-etched sculpture. We tossed our bags in the surprisingly accommodating trunk, thanked David again, and climbed in.
Behind the Wheel: The Journey Begins
I gently shut the driver’s door. I was in my NSX. I’d never driven one, yet here I was, about to put nearly as many miles on it in five days as the previous owner had in eleven years. The leather groaned softly as I adjusted the seat. I scanned the low dashboard, noted the wheel arches, and fine-tuned the mirrors—rear visibility was excellent.
View from the driver's seat of the Acura NSX, looking out over the low dashboard towards the road ahead.
Key in the ignition. Turned to ‘on’—instruments and warning lights flickered alive. A further twist to ‘start’, and the V6 engine barked instantly, settling into a characteristically smooth Honda idle. Definitely not a Ferrari V8, but refined. Clutch in, selector into first gear… and we were off. The 3,500-mile test drive in my very own Honda Nsx Acura Nsx had officially begun.
The silver Honda NSX Acura NSX cruising on an open highway, embarking on its 3,500-mile cross-country trip.
Conclusion: An Impulsive Start to an Epic Drive
The wire transfer felt reckless, bypassing careful consideration for a spur-of-the-moment decision fueled by a compelling online ad and a surprisingly reasonable price. Yet, standing there in Atlanta, the keys to the Sebring Silver 1992 Acura NSX in hand, the gamble felt validated. The pickup was smooth, facilitated by a gracious seller and marked by an unexpectedly profound connection with a fellow enthusiast who shared a rare life experience. My initial skepticism about the NSX, born from youthful ignorance and a brief, underwhelming passenger ride, was now set against the reality of ownership and the daunting, exciting prospect of a cross-country shakedown. Settling into the driver’s seat, the smooth Honda V6 idling patiently, the journey truly began – not just across America, but into understanding one of Japan’s most iconic sports cars, the machine known as both Honda NSX and Acura NSX. The open road beckoned, promising adventure and discovery mile after mile.
