Driving a 1991 Acura NSX Brought Me to Tears

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      Many people often caution against meeting your heroes because, frequently, it leads to disappointment. A similar idea can be applied to cars, especially vintage ones, which are often idolized until they're experienced on the road, revealing that they may not live up to the hype—poor brakes, sluggish transmission, overly soft suspension, etc. Fortunately, the first-generation Acura NSX was never on my list of dream cars, so I was genuinely taken aback when I recently had the chance to drive one. So much so, in fact, that it brought me to tears.

      No offense to the NSX, but growing up in Mexico City during the ’90s, my bedroom featured posters of the Lamborghini Diablo, Ferrari F40 and F50, Porsche 959, and even a Ford GT90, alongside many of Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher. It wasn't until I was a teenager that I started to appreciate Honda vehicles (likely because I began to understand the value of money and came to appreciate reliability and fuel efficiency), which is when the idea of a quick, agile, eye-catching, yet dependable Japanese sports car like the NSX appealed to me.

      Fast forward to my current profession, where I have had the opportunity to drive the latest Acura NSXs—not just on the road, but also on prestigious tracks like the Daytona road course. In 2019, I chased Indy 500 champion Simon Pagenaud around the famed circuit in an NSX—at night—testing every driving skill I’ve acquired over the years. Three years later, after the NSX Type S was released, I repeated this experience at the same track, this time in the very car that had been loaned to Max Verstappen a few months earlier. In the meantime, I also undertook a 1,000-mile road trip to demonstrate that the NSX could serve as a practical grand tourer. However, despite all these experiences, the original NSX had somehow remained out of my reach.

      That changed earlier this month during Monterey Car Week, when, as an Acura guest, I had the chance to drive a classic NSX from the Honda Collection Hall. Clad in the shining Formula Red with a black leather interior, and in pristine condition typical of a manufacturer-maintained vehicle, I embarked on a drive along one of the country’s most scenic roads: Highway 1.

      It took less than a minute for me to realize I was in for a remarkable experience—one that, despite being common in my job, felt distinct. Despite clocking 85,000 miles, it felt like I was driving a pristine vintage car—a truly unique one. The pedals had a stiff yet springy feel, characteristic of older vehicles. The steering was heavy (with no power assist), but not excessively so, and the standout feature was the shifter. I hadn’t even left the hotel parking lot when I fell in love with the transmission.

      The Acura NSX transformed the sports car landscape in the early ’90s with its elegant design, aluminum chassis, and advanced Honda engine that could reach up to 8,000 RPM. It outperformed many top European cars of that era while providing everyday dependability, fuel efficiency, and comfort. Its engine was a 3.0-liter V6 VTEC with 270 horsepower and featured titanium connecting rods, with many of its lightweight and rapid-revving technologies derived from Formula 1. Additionally, it was equipped with a five-speed manual transmission, although a four-speed automatic (with power steering) was also available.

      As I was heading out of town toward Bixby Bridge, dark clouds suddenly rolled in. “Just my luck,” I thought, “I'm in a fantastic car on an incredible road, and now it’s raining.” However, this turned out to be a fortunate turn of events, as all the supercar owners flocked back to their luxury accommodations, leaving me with a largely empty stretch of stunning, winding coastal road from Monterey to Big Sur. Plot twist: just five miles down the highway, the skies cleared to bright blue and sunshine. Score!

      The next 60 miles, from Carmel Valley Ranch to the Big Sur Inn and back, were among the most enjoyable I’ve ever experienced in any vehicle, anywhere. Every straightaway, every curve, and every sandy overlook where I paused for a photo was enchanting. The sound of the V6 revving past 6,000 and up to 8,000 RPM is still ringing in my ears. It gives me chills.

      I’ve driven numerous cars—countless cars, in fact. From Fiat Pandas and Nissan Tsrus to Ferraris, Paganis, Rolls-Royces, and two of my all-time favorites, the F430 Scuderia and Prodrive P25, and yet a car that's nearly 40 years