Acura's NSX Is Experiencing LFA Like Sales - Why Are Japanese Super Cars Such A Hard Sell?

#1 Price / The GTR, LFA, and NSX if conceived as Corvette-level cars would have been more likely to have sold wall.

#2 Technology / The Japanese seem to want to overcompensate for shortcomings elsewhere by producing a technological marvel.

#3 Styling / The NSX is generic and Fieroish. The GTR is ass ugly. The LFA was no beauty.

All good points except the Fiero shout out. If the NSX was priced like the Corvette, I would put one in the garage...well driveway, but the point being, I would have one. They need to lower the price of the NSX to about 75k to 90k fully loaded and they would get sells.

Mdarringer...from a guy that thinks the PINTO was a piece of art.

People just want brand names status, even if they end up working till 100yrs old to pay for image when really they are living check to check.

I'd buy a Lexus, Acura, corvette over any eurotrash pos any day.

@jonesharrison Given that a Corvette is virtually equal to an NSX for performance at 1/2 the cost depending on the model, competing with the Corvette would demonstrate engineering prowess. The real question about the NSX is what performance benefit do you get for all the extra money you'll spend and the answer is absolutely nothing.

Face it guys- even if the performance would be superior - Japanese cars simply are not in the same "class" as the premium supercars of ASton, Porsche, Mercedes, Lambo - and the ruling class.

At that price range - people are not buying performance - they all go fast - they are buying exclusivity and prestige. IN that class - Japanese cars simply do not have the prestige - it will be decades before Lexus will ever be considered as true competitor to the S class. And Acura is a joke - about what not to do to break into the upper class market. Acura barely competes with Buick.

Frankly - since the performance makes little difference - and the price is probably not an issue - I would much rather have a Ferrari - than an Acura - because a Ferrari is a car to be SEEN in.

#4 Desirability / It is no Ford GT. (Quite possibly the most perfect supercar from a styling and performance standpoint ever. But then again I am biased.)

Because if you drop $200k-$350k on a supercar, and you come home with a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Ford GT etc - Nobody will ever ask you "Why did you buy that?

@MD is right on all points. Pretty counts in supercar sales.

I would think to myself....You wasted money on a POS Lambo, Ferrari...etc! Sucker, SUCKER, what a Sucker!

@canadiancomments, what should I drive next?

@MD, If you really liked the Lincoln Continental as your daily, I would give the Lexus LS500 a test drive and see what you think if you can get past the grill. It should be the most similar in drive and feel to the Lincoln. Slightly better priced than an S-Class too. Maybe there are some good year end leases available from Lexus for the Q4 sales push. I will be interested to know what you choose.

@canadiancomments

The LS500 and S Class are not options because I have no connection to "borrow" one for several months. I'd really rather not have a high-end premium sedan as a company car. It would seem like such a waste.

Ford, GM, and FCA are my current options.

Laugh, but I'm leaning toward a Flex. We leased one a few years back and adored it. It would truly be ideal for my needs.

My wife's lease is up, so I'm helping her too at the moment.

@MD. Ok I get that. I have a friend with a GC Summit and he loves it. I am sure a loaded up Explorer is nice too. Depends on the room you need. Expedition could be nice as well. But will cost more in terms of gas. Couple of Ford Flex's in the area and they seem happy with them. Space for kids and pets.

If honda had followed the original formula of the NSX (super car styling, light weight and a high RPM engine, price around $110,000) they would have a winner on their hands. Instead they tried to get cute with electric motors. The real competition for the NSX are the GTR, Audi R8 and Porsche 911. Ferrari, Ford GT etc. are in much higher price class.

The nsx is hideous.

No heritage no racing creed going back decades.

heritage of POS, unreliable, and styling that gets old fast!

B.S. on 10k off the A3, we have had that conversation before. if you talking a used car or demo, they will start with 5k off and you can get another 2k. You CANT get 10k off the new A3. Name the dealership or its Fake News

Where.. still call B.S.,,, we have been through this before. Name the dealership or it's Fake News.. Especially the 300 mile thing. Name the dealership, get me a new (17 or 18, no accidents) A3 with 300 miles on it and I will buy it for gp. Name the dealership or stop lying

Did you miss the part of the article where the NJ dealer is selling one for a $45k discount?

This car is a joke. Anyone who spends that much money wants a very special brand name. Acura does not fit the bill, especially since its current lineup is so mediocre.

So, where are all the fans who lambasted those who predicted the NSX II would be a non-event? My guess is they're still fans, but they're silently down-voting posts they don't like, without putting their name behind their opinion.

MDarringer's opening post says it well. So does Tiberius1701A, who accurately points out that an Acura/Honda simply does not merit that kind of coin. We are shown, once more, that "the numbers", in and of themselves, do not make an automotive success.

BTW, I'd like to see actual unit sales numbers to see how closely the NSX II compares to the LFA with its 500 unit total production run, which still has new, unsold vehicles at dealer lots 5 years after production ended. A hot performer almost nobody wants.

600 units is a HORRIBLE volume for any Acura.

"LF-A like sales"? Really? If the resource is correct, the highest sales year for the Lf-A was in 2011 and that was a whopping total of 62 cars. The NSX sold 269 cars last year (and only available for part of the year) and 355 so far this year. How again are these numbers "LF-A like", again?

Honda engines but not Honda cars....back at you fifty six!

Honda had a factory car in F1 for many years...

Here you go.

Honda has participated in Formula One, as an entrant, constructor and engine supplier, for various periods since 1964. Honda's involvement in Formula One began with the 1964 season; their withdrawal in 1968 was precipitated by the death of Honda driver Jo Schlesser during the 1968 French Grand Prix.[3] They returned in 1983 as an engine supplier, a role that ended in 1992. They returned again in 2000, providing engines for British American Racing (BAR). By the end of 2005 they had bought out the BAR team, based at Brackley, United Kingdom, and renamed their new subsidiary Honda Racing.
It was announced on 5 December 2008 that Honda would be exiting Formula One with immediate effect due to the global financial crisis and were looking to sell their team.[4] On 27 February 2009 it was announced that team principal Ross Brawn had led a management buyout of the Brackley team.[5] The team raced successfully as Brawn GP in 2009.
On 17 May 2013, Honda announced their intention to return to the sport in the 2015 season under a works agreement with McLaren to supply V6 engines and kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) units.[6] The Honda engines prove to be unreliable, fuel thirsty, and underpowered, with Honda head calling the engine's reliability problems a "disaster".[7] McLaren dropped Honda after three years, with Toro Rosso agreeing to use Honda engines in 2018

Pugs are pugnacious. When is the last time a Honda car won LeMans, Mille Miglia, Panamerica, 24 Hours of Daytona, Sebring, etc etc. Educate me on what Honda road car ever won a major event. The NSX is a road car and it cannot hold a candle to Porsche and Ferrari road cars in terms of heritage and racing history. That's why it doesn't sell in large numbers. But what do I know...I'm ignorant and Jim Clark, Dan Gurney, and Mario Andretti were my heroes. All three did drive NASCARs...yes Jimmy Clark had a go in NASCAR once.

i actually REALLY like the NSX. my only issue is the price point, i think it should top out at 100k. anything over that there are too many options with brand name cars like the AMG GT, BMW I8, Porsche 911, Audi R8.
that the nsx cant compete with them in performance or even beat them, just peoeple dont want to spend 150k on an acura.