Owner Selling Old And New Acura NSX: Which Would You Buy?

It's more than a black or white decision.

With some sports cars – say, the Porsche 911 or Chevrolet Corvette, for example – choosing which version can be the most difficult part. Not so much for the Acura NSX, which has only been produced in two essential iterations, and with few derivatives or substantial options to speak of. That leaves anyone looking to pick up an example of Honda's supercar with one choice to make, above all else: old or new?

That's the choice bidders will face next month at LA's famous Petersen Automotive Museum, where RM Sotheby's will be holding its next auction.

Among the tempting lots on the docket for the Petersen sale are two examples of the NSX, consigned by the same owner.

In one corner, we have a rather pristine black-on-black '91 NSX – a splendid example of the original, made in its first year of production, still retained by its original owner, and showing just 6,000 miles from new. It packs a 3.0-liter naturally aspirated V6 with VTEC, mounted amidships in a world-first aluminum monocoque chassis, sending 270 hp to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission, with superb handling balance honed by the legendary Ayrton Senna.

In the other, its modern successor: a 2017 NSX, the 223th of 581 examples made (also in its first year of production), in Casino White Pearl with a black interior. That same single owner has only put 2,700 miles on it since taking delivery last year. At its heart is a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, paired to a trio of electric motors to send 573 hp (more than twice the original's output) to all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic.

The auctioneer estimates the '91 model to fetch around $90-110k, and the new one about $125-150k when the gavel drops on December 8. For your money, which would you choose?

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Acura In Trouble Because Infiniti Is Now Selling More Cars

Infiniti wisely expanded and updated its lineup. Acura did not. This is the result.

This isn’t the first time we’ve said Acura is in desperate need of exciting and, for that matter, competitive product. We’re not alone in our thinking and Acura has to realize the NSX alone isn’t good enough. And now it’s learning the hard way. The Truth About Cars did the math and discovered that Infiniti is set to take Acura’s place as America’s second-best-selling Japanese luxury brand this year. Lexus, of course, remains at number one.

Infiniti, to its full credit, achieved record US sales last year and is now experiencing a sales increase faster than any other car brand sold in the US, exception being "niche-market luxury contenders." All told, Infiniti achieved a 22 percent year-over-year sales increase, and new product, specifically the QX30 compact crossover, has played a huge role. Heck, it even outsold its direct Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz competition in February and March. Other key players in the Infiniti lineup, including the Q60 and Q70, have also made their contributions. Acura, however, is down seven percent so far this year in sales, while Infiniti is up by 19 percent.

Only the RDX and MDX crossovers can be credited with keeping Acura afloat. Furthermore, Acura doesn’t even offer competitors to the Infiniti QX30, QX70 and QX80. While Infiniti has consistently been adding new product done right, Acura depends on the aforementioned crossovers, as well as the upcoming facelifted 2018 TLX sedan. The previous generation Honda Civic-based Acura ILX and RLX large sedan are nearly irrelevant in their respective segments. In other words, Acura is being kept afloat with the RDX and MDX while Infiniti has done due diligence and is now beginning to reap the benefits.

View the original article here

Acura In Trouble Because Infiniti Is Now Selling More Cars

Infiniti wisely expanded and updated its lineup. Acura did not. This is the result.

This isn’t the first time we’ve said Acura is in desperate need of exciting and, for that matter, competitive product. We’re not alone in our thinking and Acura has to realize the NSX alone isn’t good enough. And now it’s learning the hard way. The Truth About Cars did the math and discovered that Infiniti is set to take Acura’s place as America’s second-best-selling Japanese luxury brand this year. Lexus, of course, remains at number one.

Infiniti, to its full credit, achieved record US sales last year and is now experiencing a sales increase faster than any other car brand sold in the US, exception being "niche-market luxury contenders." All told, Infiniti achieved a 22 percent year-over-year sales increase, and new product, specifically the QX30 compact crossover, has played a huge role. Heck, it even outsold its direct Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz competition in February and March. Other key players in the Infiniti lineup, including the Q60 and Q70, have also made their contributions. Acura, however, is down seven percent so far this year in sales, while Infiniti is up by 19 percent.

Only the RDX and MDX crossovers can be credited with keeping Acura afloat. Furthermore, Acura doesn’t even offer competitors to the Infiniti QX30, QX70 and QX80. While Infiniti has consistently been adding new product done right, Acura depends on the aforementioned crossovers, as well as the upcoming facelifted 2018 TLX sedan. The previous generation Honda Civic-based Acura ILX and RLX large sedan are nearly irrelevant in their respective segments. In other words, Acura is being kept afloat with the RDX and MDX while Infiniti has done due diligence and is now beginning to reap the benefits.

View the original article here