Last night, all manner of mundane driving was on the menu, but I knew our long-term Acura NSX would bring small moments of joy so I signed it out without hesitation. It was the right move. The steering in this car is just fantastic -- seriously, maybe the best I've ever experienced. The way it speaks to you so lucidly and fluidly as you're cruising down the freeway is unreal.
One of my stops along the way was the grocery store, and as I glanced to my right to start backing out, I noticed this car and thought, "oh, hey, nice steel gray X3..."
But nope, that's not an X3, just somebody's E60 5 Series sedan. But from the NSX cockpit, the Bimmer sedan looks so tall. Its door handle is roughly at eye level.
And that gets at my only qualm about driving cool old cars like the NSX. They're just so short compared to today's machines. Were I to get broad-sided by this 5 Series, and survive my injuries, I still might not be smart enough to blog anymore.
Do you waste time worrying about height incompatibility when driving older sports cars, or is that just one of the concessions of being a car guy?
firstwagon says:
05:52 PM, 01/ 6/12
Worry about it? Not a chance.
It's one of the things I like about true sports cars. They should be as low to the ground as possible, not some lofty truck like people mover.
As for collisions, you can get killed in anything. Don't get into "accidents" and you're free to enjoy any car you like.
granj says:
06:04 PM, 01/ 6/12
Its not a car i would daily drive- would be a shame if some idiot with a cel phone ran into you. I try to drive mine for fun when i can really drive instead of using it for errands. Also, not a lot of protection in front,especially with no airbag.
hubblehornz66 says:
06:21 PM, 01/ 6/12
that car is bigger in the automotive world then the ones around it like that 1st generation hyundai santa fe in the mirror and i believe that bmw 5 series next to it
altimadude05 says:
06:40 PM, 01/ 6/12
The roof of my car is even with the top edge of most truck and SUV hoods. And I don't consider my car low. Then again, a Ford Taurus an Altima is not.
bodyblue says:
06:43 PM, 01/ 6/12
My 98 Stratus is the same way....it sits a foot lower than any other car of its size today.
zcalvert says:
06:44 PM, 01/ 6/12
i think the proper "car guy" perspective is that most other people drive vehicles that are infinitely larger than what they really need.
i personally feel safer being lower rather than higher to the ground...rolling over isn't my idea of fun.
rod_stewart says:
07:10 PM, 01/ 6/12
@bodyblue
Did you ever see the Saturday Night Live skit with Will Farrell screaming "I drive a Dodge Stratus! I drive a Dodge Stratus!!!"
LOL. Couldnt resist
-Rod
subytrojan says:
07:48 PM, 01/ 6/12
Here you go, Rod.
http://youtu.be/P2uUDkMYtrQ
7driver says:
09:02 PM, 01/ 6/12
Try driving a Seven. A 1st generation Miata's door handle sits at eye level. It's just one of the concessions of being a car guy. Accelerate briskly through intersections and you'll effectively cut your broadside exposure. The less time you spend in the intersection, the less likely someone will broadside you.
nsx1696 says:
09:03 PM, 01/ 6/12
Though I don't consider it a concession, it is part of owning an exotic car. Most exotic sports cars are under 50in tall. My NSX is 44in. The only car that I've parked next to that was lower is a Ford GT-40. When I picked my NSX up for a 2,100 mi drive home, My son said that was strange being eye level to the license plate on a Camry. Low just feels fast even when your not going fast. However, you need to be aware that the car is so low that suvs, large cars and trucks have trouble seeing you in their mirrors and can cut you off, so drive defensively at all times.
majin_ssj_eric says:
09:54 PM, 01/ 6/12
Pretty sure the IL NSX has a driver-side airbag...
skyggge says:
11:23 PM, 01/ 6/12
My 300zx probably wasn't quite as low as the NSX, but I got the same feeling from driving it.
morrisg2 says:
11:44 PM, 01/ 6/12
What, me worry? I spent 10 years in a 1972 240Z, 7 years in a 1991 300ZXTT, and now have a 2009 Miata I put coilovers in and dropped the ride height 1.5 inches. So, 20 years of low to the ground cars and I'm still alive. Then again, I'm not driving Southern California freeways. Freeways are a bit less frantic here in Oregon, and ooh-la-la there are lots of 2 lane twisties to explore! Still love the NSX, what a car! Wish I had one...ok, that's one for the bucket list.
billt9 says:
01:47 AM, 01/ 7/12
Not just older sports cars.
The Gallardo is 0.2" shorter than the NSX.
When I saw a Gallardo in heavy commuter traffic, the desirability goes way down, it looks so puny.
throwback says:
05:28 AM, 01/ 7/12
The one thing I remember most about my only drive in an NSX was the steering. A good manual sterring system will give you the best feel. Modern power systems are good. but unless you've driven a car with a good manual rack, you don't realize how good steering feel can be.
bodyblue says:
07:20 AM, 01/ 7/12
"Did you ever see the Saturday Night Live skit with Will Farrell "
Of course! It always make me crack up! How could it not? ;)
85se says:
08:49 AM, 01/ 7/12
I think about it, but not too much. I tell everyone that if they hear I was killed in a car accident while driving my Miata, they can rest easy knowing that I died happy. And I'm only partially joking.
hybris says:
06:37 PM, 01/ 7/12
Driving a lifted truck I worry about going over small sports cars because usually their drivers know their small and will cut you off in a heartbeat.
Besides I hate to think what running over an NSX would do the undercarriage and drivetrain bits.
church123 says:
09:31 PM, 01/ 7/12
@hybris - most of we sportscar drivers keep an eye in our rearview mirror for vehicles with a substantial mismatch in stopping abilities with our cars, and brake accordingly. When you can stop from 60-70 mph in 30-50 ft less than the average car (or even more than a lifted truck on knobbies) you have to be aware of not only what's happening in front of you, but behind you also. When I'm driving on my track tires, at 60 mph I can shed nearly 30 mph in about 1 second and reach a complete stop from 60 in about 95 ft.
I suppose its a good thing that the vast majority of people who buy these sorts of cars (or modify cars to reach these levels of performance) value their vehicles so much - and their health. I'm pretty sure if I wanted to pull an insurance scam I could get majorly rear ended in less than an hour of driving in LA.
wheelmccoy says:
12:36 PM, 01/ 8/12
@church123 - re: vehicle mismatch. +1 Insightful!
Erin - ever consider wearing a helmet when driving the NSX? :)
evantage says:
02:33 PM, 01/ 8/12
PLEASE be careful about even mentioning a helmet. Liberal jackasses will hear this and make a new law. If you are scared, dont buy a low car. Let us NSXers enjoy our low, light rockets.
onkeludo says:
04:55 AM, 01/ 9/12
"@hybris - most of we sportscar drivers keep an eye in our rearview mirror for vehicles with a substantial mismatch in stopping abilities with our cars, and brake accordingly. When you can stop from 60-70 mph in 30-50 ft less than the average car (or even more than a lifted truck on knobbies) you have to be aware of not only what's happening in front of you, but behind you also. When I'm driving on my track tires, at 60 mph I can shed nearly 30 mph in about 1 second and reach a complete stop from 60 in about 95 ft."
It helps to have been a motorcycle rider as well. They are the only vehicles I have ever owned where accelerating out of trouble is often safer than braking to avoid it.
Once when tailgated by an old F100 I had to do an evasive right-hand pass on a very narrow shoulder to avoid being the meat in a Ford and Toyota MR2 sandwich. The MR2 that had been in front of me lost a bumper cover but it would have been worse for all involved had I still occupied the space where the I6 from the pick-up ended up.
zoomzoomn says:
07:06 AM, 01/ 9/12
I worked at an acura dealer when these cars came out and have had the pleasure of logging quite a few miles in them (sadly, not in one of my own!). They are an amazing car and forever changed how a supercar would be designed to drive (read: comfortable and reliable). your comment on the steering is definitely something I share. As I remember there are two slide links up front that help maintain positive feedback while helping to eliminate unwanted kickback under load. Wonderful and simple engineering at it's best!
duck87 says:
08:27 AM, 01/ 9/12
It's something you need to be aware of not just on the NSX, but most pre-90's cars out there. Most companies started building cars more "upright" in response to the SUV plague in America, Honda even coming up with a term for it, ACE. Most modern vehicles sit you upright, whereas in older sports cars you're basically sitting on the floor like a race driver, and the floor itself is much lower to the ground.
Anyways, being aware of traffic is something that motorcycle riders have had to deal with for a very long time, especially in CA I imagine where lane splitting is legal. I'm pretty used to this kind of danger, so it doesn't bother me.
fundango says:
09:20 AM, 01/ 9/12
I love sports cars that sit low. They can be a pain in traffic, but you can feel the low CG in turns. Without it, the experience isn't complete. I can't imagine any NSX (or any sports car) owner wishing their car was raised up 5-10 inches.
@church123 -- agree. Even with just summer tires and factory Brembos on my STI, I knew I could outbrake most people on the road, so I'd be mindful of how closely the car behind me was following. The closer they followed, the more space I'd leave in front of me.
yellowmiata says:
11:58 AM, 01/ 9/12
On my motorcycle, I've had to use the shoulders to avoid being pinned between 2 pickups during a "quick" stop. Pickups, especially lifted ones, don't have great stopping distances and the drivers (as we read during the Ford Raptor's time at IL) often have varying views of respecting other vehicles' space. Most pickup drivers, if not nearly all are great & respectful, but it only takes one, especially when I'm on a motorcycle, to change my life.
So +1 to hybris regarding watching my/our 6 - absolutely necessary when on 2 wheels, recommended when on 4.
Kevin
bankerdanny says:
01:12 PM, 01/ 9/12
After mostly driving my MG for the past couple weeks (including about 8 hours round trip Saturday to visit my Father) I drove my Jetta on Sunday. It felt like I was driving a minivan. In the MG my eyline (and I'm about 6-4) is under the door handles on most sedans and middle of the door on minivans and SUV's.
csubowtie says:
03:46 PM, 01/ 9/12
I prefer to think of it like that 5 series is too big, along with most vehicles on the road.