One of the surest bets for finding a high-mileage supercar that remains a desirable piece as a collectors item is an Acura NSX. Most high-mileage exotics have a serious sense of risk attached to them, but not the NSX: this is a car that remains desirable even with big numbers of the odometer, owing to its legendary Honda/Acura reliability. The NSX shown here on craigslist has 166,000 miles on the clock and is said to come with extensive documentation; the seller is asking $89,891.
This is a one-owner car, so I’m assuming the author of the listing is the person who bought it new in 1990. The paint still presents quite well and the iconic black roof always gives the canopy of the NSX the appearance of being hinged and opening up like the cockpit of a jet fighter. The seller reports the NSX remains highly original, save for new tires and a fresh battery, and that it’s been a California car since new.
While I do think an NSX deserves all the money, even in high-mileage form, I’m struggling a bit with the ask on this one. $90,000 will buy you an early NSX with lower miles, so you’re hoping that this one looks as good in person as it does in photos. The claimed extensive maintenance history is also a key differentiator for any serious NSX buyer, as while the Acura is superbly reliable for a sports car, you still want to buy one with the big-ticket belt service done. The interior presents surprisingly well, with the light-colored leather looking like it belongs in a car with half the mileage.
The NSX is a wonderful design with a high-revving, mid-engined VTEC mill right behind your head. Combine that with a classic Honda manual gearbox (that I’m assuming still provides buttery shift action) and a profile that is undoubtedly that of a limited-production sports car and you begin to understand the appeal – and why the seller is confident enough to ask $90,000 for a vehicle with mileage approaching 200,000. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Pat L. for the find.
I was fortunate enough to have one of these over a weekend back in the early 90’s. For a guy in his mid 20’s back when these were relatively new It was definitely stroking my ego. Drove nice and felt like a Honda but it didn’t hold a candle to my Porsche 911 in terms of engagement and feel. 90K is way too much for a Honda with a 170K miles. Later on in my career I did work on a 99 NSX with the larger V6 and that car impressed me much more. However if given the choice between the new NSX and the original. Hands down it would be the original.
OK, I get it. It’s a NSX. But in the real world of buying used cars, I remember people getting rid of their cars because they had close to or over 100,000 miles on them. Without having a major service by a reputable company documented (even though it is a Honda), I am afraid the next owner would be staring a major service in the eye soon. That alone should justify a much lower asking price.
You may want to click on the Craigslist link. The owner has a thick folder of receipts for the car.
This seems right up Tyler Hoover of Hoovie’s Garage alleyway for next car purchase
He will just break it and limp it over to the Wizard to fix it. Then sell it as usual. While being upside down on the cost of repair. Tyler Hoover is a broken record in the car hobby world as is Tavarish.
Amen, brother.
I was a Honda field rep when these cars came out. The GM at our store in Fairfield, Ca. let me take one for a spin. I hit the accelerator in second gear and was up to 90 mph in nothing flat! These are great cars- if you can afford one. They are also fairly expensive to maintain…
I owned one for over 10 years and 50k miles. The only major expense was rear tire replacement due to factory suspension settings. Everything else was routine maintenance that was not out of the ordinary. Very minor repairs in that time frame as well.
Other than the Vettes of the 1950s and 1960s, I would prefer this car over the other Vettes. I have owned Honda cars since 1979 and based on my experiences, I would take the Honda over just about any other car, even those more expensive.
I planned on buying an NSX when the money came down on them, but it never did, and I suspect never will. Sometimes the good Lord just says NO.
Lovely looking car. I’ve always been interested in the Honda (Acura) NSX. I remember when I first saw one. I thought it was the best looking car offered by Acura. I was disappointed when it was discontinued in the USA. $89k would be way too expensive for me, however rare it may be. I’d be willing to pay $30k for the car.
Always wanted one of these or a Lotus Esprit. Used to be you could find an NSX for around $40K, sometimes less. This one at $90K (the price of a new C8 Corvette…my buddy in Atlanta just bought one for $92K list despite the $25-30K premium so many dealers were asking) seems well over-priced at 170K miles no matter the extensive maintenance records. IMO of course.
He’s probably not serious about selling it, but would take that amount.
One thing that made these cars so unique among Japanese cars of the 90s, is that they were styled beautifully! It’s a look that never gets old. It makes the newer NSX look like a younger ugly step-sister.
OK giving this guy his 15 minutes of fame is ridicules! As there are many with respectable mileage for less. Let us remember this is not a 05-06 ford GT! Not even close owning both!
I had the exact same car back in 1995 – after selling my ’84 308GTSI. It was a 91 – red/ivory. Fun car…and 10X’s the car from a performance and handling standpoint than my 308. Paid $29k and sold it for $29k three years later. Switched to 911’s shortly thereafter and never looked back……
I’ve got 252k on mine, so wouldn’t be concerned about the mileage. I purchased with 234k and it was in need of a clutch and had oil leaks all over. I dropped the rear sub frame-engine assembly to get better access. I own a machine shop so I have access to measuring equipment. So
while I had covers off to replace seals and gaskets I measured journals, cam lobs and oil pump clearances and the results were still within the production tolerances listed in the Acura Service Manual.
I also saw a on the Hagerty Auction site a 1991 with 163,000 miles with some “items that need attention” that sold for $89,880. Maybe this owner saw that also and based his price accordingly.
My cousin had one in ’91. Drove the heck out of it, but maintained it well. When he finally sold it the odometer read 298,000 and it still ran like a one year old car. No rust, some faded paint, driver seat recovered with original material. Got $29K for it. Amazing solid car and value. And for me to say that takes a lot! I do not like foreign cars.
Always liked these, but I got into boats and no time or cash for a toy car then:-(
now they are way out of my league price wise, oh well ….
for a fun read about NSX trials and tribulations, look up The NSX Files on the web
The leather seats are not cracked or split after all those miles? Either honda used much better leather than Mitsubishi(3000GT) or the driver’s seat at least has been recovered.
Odd no gas struts are used front & back – or are they?