Thank Frankel it's Friday: An ode to the Honda NSX

I imagine most of you who’ve not driven an NSX would be astounded if you did. Remember it was an NSX that was Gordon Murray’s daily driver when he was designing the McLaren F1 and that much of its philosophy of being a lightweight, practical, driver-centric supercar was adopted as a result.

Because I think people look at its modest 270bhp engine output, its rather plastic interior and, I fear, a badge lacking the prestige of a Ferrari or Porsche and conclude there’s not much that can be learned here.

But there is, and the heavier and more complex modern supercars become (perhaps none more so than the current NSX), the more I think a long hard look at the original is instructive.

It was so pure. It had an aluminium monocoque and was powered by a 3-litre V6 engine that ran all the way to 8000rpm thanks to components like titanium conrods. The double wishbone suspension units were works of art, all realised in lightweight aluminium. It didn’t need more than 270bhp because at the kerb it weighed just 1365kg, over 410kg less than its modern equivalent.

To drive it blew all expectations to pieces. Remember that at the time Honda had little history of even making fast hatchbacks unless you look way back to the 1960s and cars like the S800. When it went on sale the only interesting Honda on sale was the pretty little CRX coupe. And that hardly suggested its maker was capable of something that might humiliate Ferrari.

And yet that was precisely what the NSX did, making the heavier, more expensive Ferrari 348 with its difficult gearbox and tricky handling look at best complacent, at worst completely out-thought and out-performed.

Now, of course NSXs are not perfect. Their rear suspension settings provide an appetite for rear tyres I’ve not encountered in any other car, and while you can hoof them around with far more impunity than the aforementioned Ferrari, its tolerance of such behaviour is not unlimited and sooner or later it will throw you into a field. I know, I’ve seen it happen.

Remember too that there are NSXs and there are NSXs. In particular, avoid the automatic like a pint of time-expired prawns. It’s not just that the gearbox is awful (though it is), it’s that it also came with a detuned engine, horrid electric steering and softened suspension, all of which contrive to substantially ruin the driving experience. I’d not leap at a targa roofed car either.

But a manual coupe is simply fabulous and while I’d like to say I’d plump for the purity of the early car, the last 3.2-litre, 290bhp cars with their ugly bubble headlights are simply superb devices. Back in 2004 I spent a week cruising around Europe in one and, 15 years later, it remains one of the drives of my life.