Honda NSX – Rewind Wednesday
This week our spotlight falls on what was arguably the first ‘everyday’ supercar, the Honda NSX. What made it so special and how has it aged?...
How much do they cost now?
Values of NSXs may be strengthening, but we still found a high-mileage 1996 car for a reasonable-sounding £34,000. The reason for the bargain price comes from the combination of it being a targa-roofed car with an automatic gearbox. It might look like an NSX, but it won’t give you the definitive experience.
If your budget is around £50,000, you should start to find early manual cars and a range of Japanese imports in good condition. But for the very last of the old-school NSXs, you’ll need close to £100,000. As for the rare NSX Type Rs? Well, if you need to ask, you probably can’t afford one.
Being a Honda, the oily bits are pretty reliable. Check the engine doesn’t have any leaks and that any required servicing has been carried out. More of a worry is the aluminium suspension and bodywork as it’s more fragile than steel and is pricey to fix.
Prefer something more modern?
The money you'll have to find for an NSX will buy you a host of more modern sports cars. Below we count down our top 10 – and reveal the models to avoid.
10. Lotus Evora
It might feel a bit cheap and flimsy inside, but there’s no faulting the driving experience offered by the Lotus Evora. Both the standard, naturally-aspirated car and the supercharged ‘S’ deliver scintillating performance, and with Lotus’s typically excellent chassis engineering behind it, the Evora’s also superb to drive. You might have to put up with a little more engine and road noise than some rivals, mind you.
We found: 2009 Evora, 24,000 miles, service history, £29,995
Read the full Lotus Evora review
Find a used Lotus Evora in the What Car? Classifieds
9. Mercedes-Benz SLS
Gullwing doors, striking looks, and an earth-shattering V8 soundtrack – what’s not to like about the Mercedes SLS? Well, the price for starters, and you might not be a fan of the interior, which feels too much like the lesser SLK’s. But if you can stretch to an SLS, you’ll soon forget the latter quibble once you’re out on the move, with the sledgehammer shove of the V8 propelling you along and the SLS’s vast grip catapulting you around corners.
We found: 2010 SLS, 20,000 miles, full service history, £141,850
Read the used Mercedes SLS review
Find a used Mercedes SLS in the What Car? Classifieds
8. Lotus Elise
The Evora’s little brother, the Lotus Elise has always nailed its target audience. Its ethos is as a pared-down roadster with lightness and involvement front and centre, so don’t expect much in the way of equipment. But if you want a two-seat sports car that offers the ultimate lightweight driving experience with a modicum of usability, there’s little better.
We found: 2006 S, 29,000 miles, full service history, £18,450
Read the used Lotus Elise review
Find a used Lotus Elise in the What Car? Classifieds
Best pick-up trucks 2023
The best pick-up trucks are tough and dependable working vehicles that can serve as practical family cars at the weekend. These are the best pick-ups available in the UK (plus one electric model)
