The NSX has been called Japans first super car, but I had to ask, just how super was it? The NSX came into its prime in 1997 with this 3.2L Type S Zero. This NSX offered less weight and stiffer suspension than the stock model to boost its performance.
But it wasn't the only car coming into its prime at the time.
In 1998, the Subaru Impreza STI and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution might have lacked the title "super" but they were thoroughbred racers. Lacking the refinement of the NSX, the STI and the Evo were like thugs and the NSX like an athelet. So how would these cars compare if they went head to head?
I found out.
On paper the cars seem similarly speced but behind the wheel the difference is clear. The STI, despite having 40Nm more torque, was clearly slower in a straight line. The N/A V6 in the NSX responded much more quickly than the STI's turbocharged boxxer engine and made the NSX feel more powerful in the corners than the STI. While the cars seemed to be able to corner at equal speeds the NSX was more prone to oversteer but its chassis and suspension are tuned perfectly to make the car easy to control even on the road. The only area that the STI excelled in was braking. Even while the video suggests that the STI isn't much slower I had to drive it much harder to try to keep up with the NSX. This plays into the nature of the cars. The NSX is easy to drive fast, but it has to be handled gently; where as the STI is a car you grind into the asphalt.
I still love the STI, but the NSX really does deliver the performance.
P.S.
I have no idea how I found this NSX Type S Zero for the price I listed in the chart. Here's proof that it is an odd find, and also an example of a more common price:
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