1995 Acura NSX-T ______________________________Video
Article written and submitted by Jerry Hill

I was a Ferrari owner from 1994 to 1999. I experienced many enjoyable miles in these cars, BUT also some disappointments as well. When a Ferrari runs good it is one of the most satisfying machines on the road, but when they break...grab the ol' checkbook, because it will cost a small fortune to repair!

I spent enough money on two 348's and one 355b to buy a nice place to live in the Colorado Rockies. If I had bought three NSXs instead, I would have three NSXs today and that mountain home! As it stands I have been blessed with one '95 NSX-T which is the best car I have ever owned.

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When I first looked at sports cars, the NSX was high on the list. I went for a test drive at an Acura dealership in Plano Texas, and if we were gone for 15 minutes I would be surprised! The salesman knew very little about the car and turned me off! Immediately after I went to the Ferrari dealership and drove a 328 GTS and a 348ts.

Two weeks later in another location I bought myself a nice '92 red/tan 348ts. Little did I know that car was an albatross from the beginning. It was in the shop more than in my garage. As the miles grew on the odometer, the re-sale value of the car vanished. I paid in the eighties when the car had 5,600 miles. When I sold it with over 50k miles, it brought a mere $ 40 GRAND!

During ownership, I drove my Ferraris! They did not sit in the garage collecting dust and bugs from all over the countryside, as they were well used. In 1994, year of the FCA National meet in Monterey, CA, I drove the 348ts from Louisiana to California..via Colorado, Utah, Nevada and Idaho. A round about journey proved that a Ferrari can be driven to meets..not just transported in a truck. On my way to Colorado, the darn ECU malfunctioned and I was stranded on I-25, south of Walsenberg, CO, for a long while. I was fortunate to get the car running and drove to Denver. That journey took 6 hours!

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I was passed by motorists waving to me with the middle finger! Yelling , "you Communist!" I guess that was because I wasn't driving a 'Vette??? Worse than that an NSX pulled alongside in Denver and I wanted to crawl under the seat as I knew what a mistake I had made. The NSX was running and sounded great with an aftermarket exhaust and some very nice looking wheels. Later at the Ferrari dealership they repaired the ECU but at a cost of well over $ 400.00 ! I should have gone to the Acura dealership right down the street and traded for an NSX, if they had one!

Nobody, well in the USA, that is...wants a Ferrari with MILES! Everyone wants a Ferrari that is a virgin! (at that time my 348's odometer showed over 10,000 miles).

Why? It beats the stuffin' outta me! They get better with miles! The car loosens up! Ferrari owners in Europe drive the cars as everyday vehicles. At least those who are fortunate enough to afford a Ferrari! Gasoline is outrageous in Italy, where the Prancing Horse is born. Still, they are sought after with Italian passion!

Performance of the NSX v. Ferrari 328 .. is stronger. Ferrari 348, depending on the driver, the NSX would be a better handiling car, but with an experienced driver in the Ferrari , the performance level would be very close. I have seen a Japanese video where an NSX Type S Zero beat a Ferrari 355...so a lot of times it depends on the driver and how skilled they are with the car.

The hot ticket in the USA as far as the NSX/NSX-T is concerned is COMPTECH SUPERCHARGERS! I traded my '94 Ferrari 348 Spider for my present car...a '95 NSX-T back in May of 2000. I attended the NStexPO event in June and couldn't believe my eyes. There were supercharged cars there as well as one with NOS setup

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. Mine being stock and me being on the sick side that weekend, proved difficult to make the events. I was blessed with someone to drive my car so I could spectate from the "shotgun" position. Afterwards I traveled to Atlanta, GA, in October to the NSXPO 2000 to enjoy the national convention of NSX owners. We all had a great time and I am looking forward to the 2001 meet in Wisconsin @ Road America.

Getting back to Ferrari for a moment. I cannot down grade this marque and if it sounds like I am forgive me. Enzo Ferrari developed a marque that has won more Formula 1 races than any other marque in the history of racing. Ferrari builds a fine automobile, BUT their cost factor and service is too expensive for most buyers. I found that out the hard way.

Honda Motor Co. on the other hand builds a car that will perform with just about everything on the open road. They need some more power and to update the styling of the NSX, but that doesn't keep consumers from buying the car. Try and locate a brand new NSX-T at a dealership. You will have to call everyone of them in the United States and maybe be successful...that is iffy!

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From my point of view I will always remember my three Ferraris. We had some good times together, but when I buy another sports car if I need one...it will be an NSX. I like the coupe better than the targa. I hope that when Honda builds the next generation NSX, it will be available in a coupe without a special order attached.

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