Automotive News, Media & Press - No more NSX

I always loved the NSX, but it was just too overpriced. Sad to see it go. Some people said that the 4th gen fbody (camaro) damaged sells because it looked so similar to the NSX.

Article (http://www.cnn.com/2005/AUTOS/07/12/acura_nsx.reut/?section=cnn_latest)


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http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/341000-341999/341498_3_full.jpg

Apparently they're building a new car to replace it based off the HSC concept from 2003.
I think they should keep the name and call the new car NSX as well.
That HSC concept had pretty much the same shape as a NSX anyway.

'bout time. Hopefully the next one will have more power and cost less.

Way overpriced and way underpowered to compete with other cars in that price range. Heck there are 4 door luxury sedans like the E55 that would hand the NSX its head on a platter.

The body style was ahead of it's time which is why it lasted as long as it did. I guess time has finally caught up to it.

I'd love to have one so I could put a LS1 in it.

An LS1 will put that car to shame.

I always loved the NSX, but it was just too overpriced. Sad to see it go. Some people said that the 4th gen fbody (camaro) damaged sells because it looked so similar to the NSX.

Article (http://www.cnn.com/2005/AUTOS/07/12/acura_nsx.reut/?section=cnn_latest)


http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/661000-661999/661908_4_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/341000-341999/341498_3_full.jpg


Just because both cars are red and black it doesn't mean they look alike. :eyes:

Those people are obviously on crack. A 4th Gen F Body looks like shit sitting next to an NSX. The F-Body might be faster in a straight line but it sure as f**k doesn't look better. I don't know who these "people" are that said this but they obviously don't know WTF they're talking about or have no taste. I mean FFS one is a boat with a long hood for it's big honkin V8 and a short deck while the other is a streamlined beauty with a short front overhang because it's a MID-ENGINED car for crying out loud.


NSX sales steadily declined because Honda barely touched the thing and failed to make significant upgrades in a crowded and highly competitive market. If any GM product had a helping hand in killing NSX sales it's OBVIOUSLY the more powerful, more affordable albeit somewhat less reliable Corvette. The NSX is known as being one of the most reliable and easy to live with sports cars but in today's world it is SEVERELY underpowered. Sports cars sell on their performance credentials, not their reliability. 290hp won't get you anywhere quick unless we're talking Lotus or Caterham. Not to mention that the price of an NSX is quite steep compared to the competition. If anything it's a damn miracle the car lasted as long as it did (especially here in the states). During the course of the NSXs lifespan we lost the dead sexy but problematic FD RX-7, the bulletproof motored but bloated and inflated Mark IV Supra, the heavy, oversized and oversophisticated 3KGT/Stealth, the Z32 300ZXTT and a few other high performance products from Japan. The sports car market wasn't exactly booming in the early 90s and unfortunately for the Big 6, the generation of sporty/sports cars they put out during that time were larger, heavier, more powerful, but unfortunately much more expensive than their predecessors which led to their untimely deaths in the U.S. The NSX was always a bit more niche than any of these products as it occupied a more expensive segment of the market which is perhaps why it survived being built in small batches. The competition just got way too good. Look at everything that has come since the NSXs debut. Two generations of Viper, the ZR-1 and two generations of Z06, the 996 Turbo, the Lotus Elise, hell even ford got in on the game with it's GT. The list goes on.

That list however does NOT include F-Bodies. I don't know what those people were smoking. People who have enough scrilla for an NSX are not going to downgrade to a cheaply made F-Body. Yes they're fast as shit, but they occupy a totally different market. NSX buyers cross shop with Corvettes.

Matt, what is FFS?

For <explitive deleted> Sake?

4th Gens look like shit next to an NSX? That's definitely YOUR opinion. :rolleyes:

And yes, it's definitely about time they did something with the NSX. Whether a major revamp, or completely ditching the car, they needed something drastic. It's the exact same damn car now as it was back in '91. Overpriced, underpowered, and an outdated design. I'm not saying it looks bad, but you can see its age big time.

The C5 runs circles around the NSX in everything except build-quality (which is relative). There was nothing about the NSX at all that could justify its ridiculous pricetag.

I'm really surprised it lasted as long as it did.

Just because both cars are red and black it doesn't mean they look alike. :eyes:

Those people are obviously on crack.

That I agree with. I also agree that NSX and F-body are not directly comparable vehicles on most levels; two totally different segments within the “performance-coupe” category.

A 4th Gen F Body looks like shit sitting next to an NSX. The F-Body might be faster in a straight line but it sure as f**k doesn't look better........I don't know who these "people" are that said this but they obviously don't know WTF they're talking about or have no taste.

This part, well, I'm on the opposite side of that opinion. Appearance is subjective. Nothing about the NSX looks appealing to me when compared to ANY generation of F-body. What’s wrong with a long hood and a big V8? What’s wrong with a larger, muscular appearance? Believe it or not, some of us LIKE the F-body look. The NSX would not have appealed to me even had it stickered for $25K. LOL, it’s funny, we both look at the same two pictures and we both see something that looks beautiful and something that looks like shit in comparison, just that it’s the opposite “something’s”. :lol: This is why it’s nice to have options in the marketplace. Not everyone likes one look, style, or segment.

Perhaps fit/finish/materials were of a higher class than F-body, or maybe even Corvette for that matter, but for the extreme difference in price, they’d better be. If I remember correctly, a recent NSX was just under the $90K mark, correct? With a 3.2L V6 and 290hp/225 ft/lbs, at about 3100-3200lbs? Yeah, I’d pass on that even if I liked the way it looked. I could find FAR better ways and/or cars to spend $90K on, if that were my budget.

Just because both cars are red and black it doesn't mean they look alike. :eyes:

Those people are obviously on crack. A 4th Gen F Body looks like shit sitting next to an NSX. The F-Body might be faster in a straight line but it sure as f**k doesn't look better. I don't know who these "people" are that said this but they obviously don't know WTF they're talking about or have no taste. I mean FFS one is a boat with a long hood for it's big honkin V8 and a short deck while the other is a streamlined beauty with a short front overhang because it's a MID-ENGINED car for crying out loud.


NSX sales steadily declined because Honda barely touched the thing and failed to make significant upgrades in a crowded and highly competitive market. If any GM product had a helping hand in killing NSX sales it's OBVIOUSLY the more powerful, more affordable albeit somewhat less reliable Corvette. The NSX is known as being one of the most reliable and easy to live with sports cars but in today's world it is SEVERELY underpowered. Sports cars sell on their performance credentials, not their reliability. 290hp won't get you anywhere quick unless we're talking Lotus or Caterham. Not to mention that the price of an NSX is quite steep compared to the competition. If anything it's a damn miracle the car lasted as long as it did (especially here in the states). During the course of the NSXs lifespan we lost the dead sexy but problematic FD RX-7, the bulletproof motored but bloated and inflated Mark IV Supra, the heavy, oversized and oversophisticated 3KGT/Stealth, the Z32 300ZXTT and a few other high performance products from Japan. The sports car market wasn't exactly booming in the early 90s and unfortunately for the Big 6, the generation of sporty/sports cars they put out during that time were larger, heavier, more powerful, but unfortunately much more expensive than their predecessors which led to their untimely deaths in the U.S. The NSX was always a bit more niche than any of these products as it occupied a more expensive segment of the market which is perhaps why it survived being built in small batches. The competition just got way too good. Look at everything that has come since the NSXs debut. Two generations of Viper, the ZR-1 and two generations of Z06, the 996 Turbo, the Lotus Elise, hell even ford got in on the game with it's GT. The list goes on.

That list however does NOT include F-Bodies. I don't know what those people were smoking. People who have enough scrilla for an NSX are not going to downgrade to a cheaply made F-Body. Yes they're fast as shit, but they occupy a totally different market. NSX buyers cross shop with Corvettes.

I agree. :) I'd never buy one(even if i had the money), but i agree.

I saw a car locally with a C5 rear end and NSX front end. It looked pretty good, actually.

I read an article in a trade journal about this. Honda stated it was too costly to perform updates on the dated chassis to conform to 2006 US vehicle standards and it wasn't the cutting edge vehicle it once was. An Acura sedan was close to the performance level of the NSX for less money. The article also stated a replacement was in the design stages but not to expect one any time soon.

I don't think 4th gens look like shit, I just don't think they compare to an NSX in the looks department (i.e. a 4th gen F-Body doesn't look as good as it does on it's own when there is an NSX next to it). Don't get me wrong when an LS1 goes by I oogle and drool. And me personally I'd take an F-Body over an NSX. But in terms of design, the 4th gen just doesn't compare. Think about it for a second. You park an NSX and an F-Body side by side, which will get more looks. Granted most people are too n00b to know what either is and what powers each but still, if we're talking strictly exterior, I think most would agree that an NSX is a much more beautiful car. A Camaro is just plain bad ass butch. A Firebird even more so. As someone else said since we're talking styling it's sll subjective. Hell that's why some people rice out Geo Metros... because they think it looks good. If an NSX is the "lady on the street" the F-Body is the "freak in the bed". They both look good, but one looks good because she's a sweet talker that'll treat you right while the other looks good because you know she knows how to work it. :jest:

Of course with a 1st gen F-Body you get the best of both worlds.

290 hp isnt that low is it? its around 10% less than an f-body but it also has 10% less weight, right? i still wouldnt get one though...and are they really that reliable compared to fbodies and vettes? i figure being one of the rarest, if not THE rarest 90's sports car due to low sales i doubt many people put enough miles on them for bad shit to happen.

what was the last year that they made the nsx? This year? I didn't realize they were still making them. Hell i forgot all about them.

290 hp isnt that low is it?

I'd say it's a pretty low power number for a modern $90K sports car. All other cars in it's segment and price range make far more power. Not to mention torque, the NSX is rated at 224 or 225 ft/lbs, which is pretty weak for a near 3200lbs sports car. Hell, my Bonneville makes more torque than that. :D

NSX have always been underpowered and overpriced. I'm happy to see them go. Hopefully Honda will replace it with a more worthwhile car.

I'd blame bad sales on not updating the car in 15 years

It's about time they "officially" killed that thing off, since it's been limping along for almost a decade. Overpriced, underpowered, overrated.

NSX's were never RX7s, Supras, 3000GTs, F-bods, Vettes, Porsches, or even Mustangs. They cost too much to be "bang for buck" rides, not refined enough to be a high-end supercar, exotic or any of the other miss-monikers people have put on it.

Not as fast as cheaper cars, not as well-crafted as comparable priced cars, it's just a wannabe Ferrari/Lambo for fanboys that don't have the scratch for one.

Hell, the "current" NSX has a "whopping" 252hp/210tq @ close to 3200lbs. Not what I would call a runner. It's for people that like to pretend they're fast and scoff at faster cars, as if they're 'too good to race', when the reality is, they feel like chodes soon after buying the underpowered exotic-wannabe and know they'll get spanked.

I smoked an 04 in my old LT1 that had just an intake and catback. It didn't even have headers and that was from a 60 roll all the way up till he gave up (3 cars behind) around 125mph. I've had better runs against modded Eclipses and they cost a tenth of a new NSX.

Sorry for anyone that has one and really loves it, but it's really a silly car when you think about price-versus-performance.

Now hopefully Honda can get on to making a decent runner for a realistic price.

290 hp isnt that low is it? its around 10% less than an f-body but it also has 10% less weight, right? i still wouldnt get one though...and are they really that reliable compared to fbodies and vettes? i figure being one of the rarest, if not THE rarest 90's sports car due to low sales i doubt many people put enough miles on them for bad shit to happen.

290hp isn't that low if we're talking about the stripped out bad boy racer 2800 lbs. JDM only NSX-R. Japan had a few lightweight models over the years (the first NSX Type-R, the NSX Type-S Zero and the last of the NSX-Rs) which checked in below 3000 lbs. but when Coupes became special order only cars in the states (Honda only sold Targas in showrooms for a while) your average NSX weighed about 3100 to 3200 lbs. We did get one lightweight special I remember and that was the Zanardi Edition of which only 50 were built but they weighed about 150 lbs. less than your standard NSX-T. In any case if you wanted an NSX with more power you had to look to tuners like Comptech. Their blowers helped push NSXs to 60 in the 4.0-4.5 second range. Honda pretty much relied on lowering curb weight to make the quickest of the NSX breed what they are.

Apparently they're building a new car to replace it based off the HSC concept from 2003.
I think they should keep the name and call the new car NSX as well.
That HSC concept had pretty much the same shape as a NSX anyway.
damn that hsc looks sick!!

http://carsmedia.ign.com/cars/image/HSC01small.jpg
http://carsmedia.ign.com/cars/image/HSCrear03small.jpg
now that looks more like a 90k exotic..

Damn, much better! But still, it's a Honda. It would bother me to know that. I'd probably put Ferrari or Lambo badges on it. The chicks would never know.

I'd say it's a pretty low power number for a modern $90K sports car. All other cars in it's segment and price range make far more power. Not to mention torque, the NSX is rated at 224 or 225 ft/lbs, which is pretty weak for a near 3200lbs sports car. Hell, my Bonneville makes more torque than that. :D

You are right about the price, just trying to give an opposing opinion to the whole low HP thing. On a sidenote my friends bonneville ssei just met a tree...on the passenger side...with me in it...the tree almost hit me, luckily it just popped the mirror into my lap and destroyed a wheel and the rear suspension on the passenger side.

the reason why it was so expensive is the cost in its body, which some of it is made from carbon-fibre. thyre performance left little to be desired, and theyre little changes over the 15 years really killed the name. theyre always known for the handling and downforced induced stability (did u get that?) and the suspension kit was designed by a pretty well known guy by the name of AYRTON SENNA but apart from its trivial jargon, it didnt offer much for the price. i was once a fan of them and its sad to see the name die (as honda arent looking at making another one) and the HSC that everyone saw isnt the next NSX for at least another 5 years. for the moment honda want to tap into the booming SUV and family car market to re-coup the revenue that honda international have lost over the past 6 years and realli establish honda as a strong name up there with nissan and toyota again.

myself, what beats a c6 vette for the price??? :)

the reason why it was so expensive is the cost in its body, which some of it is made from carbon-fibre. thyre performance left little to be desired, and theyre little changes over the 15 years really killed the name. theyre always known for the handling and downforced induced stability (did u get that?) and the suspension kit was designed by a pretty well known guy by the name of AYRTON SENNA but apart from its trivial jargon, it didnt offer much for the price. i was once a fan of them and its sad to see the name die (as honda arent looking at making another one) and the HSC that everyone saw isnt the next NSX for at least another 5 years. for the moment honda want to tap into the booming SUV and family car market to re-coup the revenue that honda international have lost over the past 6 years and realli establish honda as a strong name up there with nissan and toyota again.

myself, what beats a c6 vette for the price??? :)

The NSX is known for being the first ALUMINUM intensive production car. The body and most of it's underpinnings are made from ALUMINUM, NOT carbon fiber. That's why the car was/is so expensive. I believe the Audi A8 which utilizes Audi's ASF (Audi Space Frame) technology was the second aluminum intensive production car to hit the market although I'm not sure. Carbon fiber has been used on the JDM only NSX-R and the NSX-R GT but for the most part the car is aluminum. It's price has nothing to do with the fact that a few specials had carbon fiber panels/spoilers here or there.

Well as far as i see it. I am happy to see that piece of junk go bye-bye. 290 hp, even at 2900 lbs is horrible at a $90k price tag. Thats not even 290 to the wheels and the torque was only 225 ft-lbs. Only posers and wannabes bought this car. I have tried to race this car multiple times, and everytime i cant get a race out of them. Its almost like they know they suck(ha ha ha). Seriously though, compared to other cars like the 01-04 ZO6 (which to me was the best car for your money in those years) it wasnt even anywhere close to it in performance. The regular corvette performed better, the 03-04 cobra was a better car, the Mustang Mach 1 was a better car, performance wise. I dont wanna keep hating on it, but this car was at the top of my list of the biggest pieces of shit for the money, right next to its brother the S2000. I dont like Honda at all, but maybe this time they might finally get something right. I dont think it'll matter though, none of these Japanese cars can compare to the US made performance cars. STI's and Lancers are the only kinda fast cars. And they are still leaving something to be desired.

Well as far as i see it. I am happy to see that piece of junk go bye-bye. 290 hp, even at 2900 lbs is horrible at a $90k price tag. Thats not even 290 to the wheels and the torque was only 225 ft-lbs. Only posers and wannabes bought this car. I have tried to race this car multiple times, and everytime i cant get a race out of them. Its almost like they know they suck(ha ha ha). Seriously though, compared to other cars like the 01-04 ZO6 (which to me was the best car for your money in those years) it wasnt even anywhere close to it in performance. The regular corvette performed better, the 03-04 cobra was a better car, the Mustang Mach 1 was a better car, performance wise. I dont wanna keep hating on it, but this car was at the top of my list of the biggest pieces of shit for the money, right next to its brother the S2000. I dont like Honda at all, but maybe this time they might finally get something right. I dont think it'll matter though, none of these Japanese cars can compare to the US made performance cars. STI's and Lancers are the only kinda fast cars. And they are still leaving something to be desired.

As the years passed the competition simply became too good for the NSX to be competitive without significant upgrades. I fail to see how the car suddenly became a piece of shit though. You act like you're better than every NSX owner you come across because they refuse to be dumb enough to get into a street race with you. Maybe it's because they don't feel like they have something to prove to someone who is driving a car for a 1/3 of the price of their vehicle. Or maybe you're right and it is because they don't want to race a car that's faster in a straight line. Does it really matter? In a drag race your F-Body obviously has the upper hand. I'd like to see how much shit you talk after an NSX bitch slaps you around a road course. It's all relative really. If anything those are some of the more intelligent NSX owners I've heard of. The few people I know who own NSXs are cocky arrogant jackasses but that doesn't mean that everyone who owns one is. I fail to see how your negative opinion of a car means that everyone who owns one is a douchebag. :eyes:

"None of these Japanese cars can compare to US made performance cars"?

Yes well please show me an American car that can compete with a Ferrari Enzo, Porsche Carrera GT, Mac F1 or Bugatti 16.4 Veyron. There are always bigger fish in the sea my friend.

"None of these Japanese cars can compare to US made performance cars"?

Yes well please show me an American car that can compete with a Ferrari Enzo, Porsche Carrera GT, Mac F1 or Bugatti 16.4 Veyron. There are always bigger fish in the sea my friend.
:judge: :judge: :judge: ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!!!!

Ford GT?

Not the Bugatti though and IDK what the Mac is.

^ You dunno what the McLaren F1 is??????

My....... God........

^ You dunno what the McLaren F1 is??????

My....... God........

ooooh...i thought it was a whole different car. NVM, I know what that is.

They answered your question up there. The Ford GT can compare to some of those, as well as i would bet the new corvette ZO6 would be close, but obviously not quite enough. But hey both of those cars are way under the pricetag of the more expensive foreign cars. Oh and one more thing, i said Japanese cars, not italian cars. Not a single car you named is a japanese car, every single one is an italian car. And my car having the upper hand in racing and being 1/3 of the price is exactly my point. But it is the same old argument, price vs performance (with a little of owner preference thrown in there). I think think for the price the NSX was the worst car ever made.

You can also add the Viper to the list of exotic American thunder.

Don't get me wrong the car looks great but I think that it's way over priced and has too little Horsepower! My friend has a stock 00 SS and raced one of those things on the highway and pulled on the NSX by about two car lengths!

I remembered another American Exotic (at least I think it is American) that is up there....Saleen S7.

They answered your question up there. The Ford GT can compare to some of those, as well as i would bet the new corvette ZO6 would be close, but obviously not quite enough. But hey both of those cars are way under the pricetag of the more expensive foreign cars. Oh and one more thing, i said Japanese cars, not italian cars. Not a single car you named is a japanese car, every single one is an italian car. And my car having the upper hand in racing and being 1/3 of the price is exactly my point. But it is the same old argument, price vs performance (with a little of owner preference thrown in there). I think think for the price the NSX was the worst car ever made.

All you said was "show me Japanese cars that can compare to US made performance cars." The fact of the matter is that the Japanese sports cars which directly competed with vehicles such as the Corvette and Viper are no longer in production. Japan doesn't have anything in the $50,000 - $70,000 price range that makes around 300-400ish hp. The R34 GT-R, FD RX-7 and Mark IV Supra have all been discontinued for the time being with their successors each being at least 2 to 3 years away at least. The 3000GT is long gone as well without a successor in sight. At the time being, Japan's high performance machines all occupy lower price points. Right now the RX-8 and 350Z are the biggest names in terms of sporty cars from Japan and while they cost about 20k less than a Corvette they also make about 100 to 150 lesshp. What's odd is that they are both outgunned by a pair of larger 4 doors, the WRX STi and the Evo. Both the Rex and the Evo will run with Mustang GTs and Z51 C6s around road courses for about as much as a Mustang and much less than a Corvette so I'd say that both cars are damn fine machines if they can post low 13 quarters and outslolam Corvettes and Vipers.

The point of me asking for American cars which can run with the best of Europe is that just because American machines can outpace the best from Japan, it doesn't make them king of the sports car hill. I'm sorry but a Ford GT will get its ass handed to it by an Enzo. If you're stupid enough to think that a GT can hang with an Enzo or a Carrera GT you obviously don't know what you're talking about. Ford built the GT to take on the 360 Modena which it handily outclasses but Ferrari has already built a successor (F430) which most people agree has taken the crown back from the GT. Don't get me wrong, the GT is an awesome testament to what the Big 3 can accomplish if they set their sights on something and follow through, but there's a reason it costs some 300k to 400k less than the European stuff.

The only major player from the US which has the stuff to do battle with the best from Europe is Steve Saleen and company and their S7 Twin Turbo.

The only reason you brought up price is because you know that the best from the big 3 will get bitch slapped by the best from Europe. Arguing price vs. performance when you know that a more expensive machine will kick your ass is just as bitch ass as ricers who complain and whine about displacement. You're absolutely right in that dollar for dollar the US made performance machines will often get you 70% to 80% of the performance available from high dollar Euro exotics, but at a much more affordable price... but hey 30k will get you a Japanese 4 door that can outhandle a Z51 equipped C6 and almost hang with it in the quarter. You wanna talk bang for your buck, then give the WRX STi and the Evo the respect and the recognition they deserve. There is NO US car that can offer that kind of performance in the straights AND the twisties for that price. The Mustang GT comes close but it's handling capabilities are dismal when compared to the rally bred sedans.

You might say that Japan offers the best bang for your buck performance cars up to about 30k, the US covers the middle ground up to about 100k, and the Europeans hold the high ground with big name players like the Enzo and Carrera GT.

It's about time they "officially" killed that thing off, since it's been limping along for almost a decade. Overpriced, underpowered, overrated.

NSX's were never RX7s, Supras, 3000GTs, F-bods, Vettes, Porsches, or even Mustangs. They cost too much to be "bang for buck" rides, not refined enough to be a high-end supercar, exotic or any of the other miss-monikers people have put on it.

Not as fast as cheaper cars, not as well-crafted as comparable priced cars, it's just a wannabe Ferrari/Lambo for fanboys that don't have the scratch for one.

Hell, the "current" NSX has a "whopping" 252hp/210tq @ close to 3200lbs. Not what I would call a runner. It's for people that like to pretend they're fast and scoff at faster cars, as if they're 'too good to race', when the reality is, they feel like chodes soon after buying the underpowered exotic-wannabe and know they'll get spanked.

I smoked an 04 in my old LT1 that had just an intake and catback. It didn't even have headers and that was from a 60 roll all the way up till he gave up (3 cars behind) around 125mph. I've had better runs against modded Eclipses and they cost a tenth of a new NSX.

Sorry for anyone that has one and really loves it, but it's really a silly car when you think about price-versus-performance.

Now hopefully Honda can get on to making a decent runner for a realistic price.


:mad: HEAR HEAR!!! :judge:

People that think they look similar = crackheads

Hell, in the early 90's the NSX and ZR-1 were the same price. I would have ponied up money for the ZR-1 well before the NSX. I never thought much of them.

290hp isn't that low if we're talking about the stripped out bad boy racer 2800 lbs. JDM only NSX-R. Japan had a few lightweight models over the years (the first NSX Type-R, the NSX Type-S Zero and the last of the NSX-Rs) which checked in below 3000 lbs. but when Coupes became special order only cars in the states (Honda only sold Targas in showrooms for a while) your average NSX weighed about 3100 to 3200 lbs. We did get one lightweight special I remember and that was the Zanardi Edition of which only 50 were built but they weighed about 150 lbs. less than your standard NSX-T. In any case if you wanted an NSX with more power you had to look to tuners like Comptech. Their blowers helped push NSXs to 60 in the 4.0-4.5 second range. Honda pretty much relied on lowering curb weight to make the quickest of the NSX breed what they are.

Not that this would be absolutely comparable, but now for the price of an NSX-R, one could opt for an Ultima GTR, eventhough they'd had to build the thing, and it would have it's quirks, but hey, they're both intended for race homolgation (even though they might not fit into many sanctioning bodies).

Yes the GTR is a kit car, however the overall money spent would easily be the factor that can command a decision between two high performance vehicles.

All you said was "show me Japanese cars that can compare to US made performance cars." The fact of the matter is that the Japanese sports cars which directly competed with vehicles such as the Corvette and Viper are no longer in production. Japan doesn't have anything in the $50,000 - $70,000 price range that makes around 300-400ish hp. The R34 GT-R, FD RX-7 and Mark IV Supra have all been discontinued for the time being with their successors each being at least 2 to 3 years away at least. The 3000GT is long gone as well without a successor in sight. At the time being, Japan's high performance machines all occupy lower price points. Right now the RX-8 and 350Z are the biggest names in terms of sporty cars from Japan and while they cost about 20k less than a Corvette they also make about 100 to 150 lesshp. What's odd is that they are both outgunned by a pair of larger 4 doors, the WRX STi and the Evo. Both the Rex and the Evo will run with Mustang GTs and Z51 C6s around road courses for about as much as a Mustang and much less than a Corvette so I'd say that both cars are damn fine machines if they can post low 13 quarters and outslolam Corvettes and Vipers.

The point of me asking for American cars which can run with the best of Europe is that just because American machines can outpace the best from Japan, it doesn't make them king of the sports car hill. I'm sorry but a Ford GT will get its ass handed to it by an Enzo. If you're stupid enough to think that a GT can hang with an Enzo or a Carrera GT you obviously don't know what you're talking about. Ford built the GT to take on the 360 Modena which it handily outclasses but Ferrari has already built a successor (F430) which most people agree has taken the crown back from the GT. Don't get me wrong, the GT is an awesome testament to what the Big 3 can accomplish if they set their sights on something and follow through, but there's a reason it costs some 300k to 400k less than the European stuff.

The only major player from the US which has the stuff to do battle with the best from Europe is Steve Saleen and company and their S7 Twin Turbo.

The only reason you brought up price is because you know that the best from the big 3 will get bitch slapped by the best from Europe. Arguing price vs. performance when you know that a more expensive machine will kick your ass is just as bitch ass as ricers who complain and whine about displacement. You're absolutely right in that dollar for dollar the US made performance machines will often get you 70% to 80% of the performance available from high dollar Euro exotics, but at a much more affordable price... but hey 30k will get you a Japanese 4 door that can outhandle a Z51 equipped C6 and almost hang with it in the quarter. You wanna talk bang for your buck, then give the WRX STi and the Evo the respect and the recognition they deserve. There is NO US car that can offer that kind of performance in the straights AND the twisties for that price. The Mustang GT comes close but it's handling capabilities are dismal when compared to the rally bred sedans.

You might say that Japan offers the best bang for your buck performance cars up to about 30k, the US covers the middle ground up to about 100k, and the Europeans hold the high ground with big name players like the Enzo and Carrera GT.
the enzo couldnt be bought by jus anyone even if they had the money. other than that you are mostly correct. america has its spots in the world sport/muscle car history books and its a very decent place too..