Crazy Bimmer

Original NSX



Facelift NSX

GRNMCHN03cl

Going to have to say I like the 02+ style better.

FiftyFive

Original NSX

'01White3.2CL

02+ ftw!

synth19

The ONLY reason why I picked an '02 is because I thought the front on the older models gave it a dated look. I definitely planned on doing an '02 conversion if I purchased an older NSX. But with that said, I like "old school" looking cars that are clean.

Crazy Bimmer

Only way i would buy an 02+ is if i can retro fit the pop-up headlights onto it.

Always wanted them since i was a kid!

synth19

^ Some ppl like the pop-ups more, some ppl don't. It's totally a preference type of thing I think. I had a celica back in the days, one headlight would stay up, the other one down... has bothered me since. LOL

Crazy Bimmer

Yea i always saw that with other cars. I just assumed it was frozen from the cold.

godfather2

i prefer the facelift, mainly due to the headlights

TSX-Tuner

I prefer the original. The 02+ looks great, but the headlights look a bit awkward and the front bumper doesn't look as sharp. Also, 02+ has circle amber pieces for rear turn signals, whereas pre 02 models have all red taillights.

nokiaman

I think it's a tough one. I've always loved the pop up headlights as they remind me of 90's sports cars as the NSX or F355. But in the end if I must choose, I think I'd get the 02+ with the updated front end.

NSXE

I like the original better because the flat and angular panels on the front end really match up nicely with the rest of the body. The exposed headlights on the ’02+ model bulges out of the body panels and do not look quite right. I think Acura could have done a little better here. Keeping the exposed headlights completely flush with the rest of the body would have been perfect. That said, I don’t like flip-up headlights when they are on, but they look fantastic when they are down.

cM3go

Original, facelift is rockin 4x4 style.

Ken1997TL

I love 'em both.

Too bad Long Beach Blue wasn't available on the earlier NSXs

warrenw

Have you ever seen a high mileage 2002?
The head lamp covers usually are pitted and yellowed so bad, they need replacing.

I prefer the 1991 - 2001 look. The hideaway head lamps are perfect for the car.

NSX-Tuner

I believe a clearbra should solve the head lamp cover issue.

ChrisQ1980

Original. When I buy one it will be a 97-01 due to the bigger engine (over 91-96)and added 6th gear.

Crazy Bimmer

^ Add headers to the 91-94 and you just as fast since they lighter.

n1njai

iTrader: (3)

Original, always appealed to me since i was a young kid in elementary school. Even when its popped up at night, it still looks great, its not like the corvette where the headlamps go up fully, the NSX is more of a half way popped up look. Love it.

LIPPSTUH

iTrader: (2)

na1 ftw

aaronnn

original.

love the classic look!

tmnhs81

I prefer original in red with black top. pure sex

ThermonMermon

original design

the inset turning signals correspond nicely to the slits in the pop up headlights. the two negative spaces work well. also, if you aprpeciate a timeless design, it would only make sense to favor the original.

the 02 bumper and headlights try too hard to modernize a classic look. why revise the picasso?

however, i do NOT like the all black tops. it emphasizes the body of the car. which is quite slim and long. the addition of the greenhouse balances the proportion of the profile. having matching body colored pillars gives depth and height to a the longated wheelbase.

paliknight

the original design, but with the new headlights.

TSX69

OK to the untrained eye the only difference that I can pick up on is the headlights. I would rather go w/ the popups, even tho that's so 80s, bc it kind of reflects that era of the exotic car & the then current look ... it gives the NSX that nostalgia effect.

1 day I am going to buy an NSX & the 1st thing that I am going to look into is getting HIDs/Xenon lights installed bc there is no going back for me after having those. I probably will pass on trying to get LEDs in the back bc I never see them but those headlights are a must.

Crazy Bimmer

^

HIDs were one of the first things that i installed on the NSX.

ediddy

Once you add HIDs to the pop ups then the car looks modern.....and with the front parking lights brighter also its looks way modern......when seeing a pop up headlight on at night..... you cant tell its a pop up headlight till you get closer....thats what i like about the pop ups for the NSX......its not like any other pop up headlight.......I'll post some new pics of the HID set up I have now with the new lights......world of difference from my old HID and light set ups.

TSX69

So I am on the hunt for an NSX & need the experts to help me w/ the visual differences b/n the original & the facelifted (I have yet to see the 2 side-by-side to figure it out). Here is what I can tell:

• Pop ups vs fixed HIDs (I prefer the popups)
• Rims (I prefer the refreshed not only bc they look better but I rather have the Acura emblem than the word)
• Tail lights (Toss up here: I prefer the refreshed emblem instead of the word however I do not like the refreshed orange turn signals)
• Black top (This was only the 1st couple of years & not sure I have much of a preference especially since black is my 1st choice)

Am I missing any other differences b/n the 2? Someone told me that they do not like the shape of the refreshed but other than the bulbous lights, I do not see a difference in the shape of the car.

Thanks!

ediddy

Sorry I been busy lately, I'll try to take some pics later this afternoon....

The 2002 headlights are HID headlights where the popups in US were just projectors with people retrofitting HID's in them. JDM had HID popups in 1997 and up.

The 2002+ also is a little more aerodynamic and lighter in weight with new front end....but not by much.

As far as rims the 2002+ oem rims are the best looking besides the zanardis.
Most guys like me don't care anyways since we put aftermarket wheels on them such as Volk, Advans, HRE, Work, Mugen, etc etc

Tailights hands down I think the JDM pre2002+ tails are the best looking.....Some people like the 2002+ JDM tails or the US 2002+ tails.

I also agree I like the black top look also.....but my car is black so it looks matched.

The cars shape is the same.....they added a trunk lip spoiler for 2002+ for better aero, taillights, rims, side vents, a newer better looking lower valance, flushed sideskirts, and a new front end (new hood, fenders, bumper, and headlights).......

My car has basically the 2002+ rear end except with JDM tailights pre 2002 and the type-r diffuser....2002+ side vents....the only thing I am missing is the sideskirts(not cheap).....and I am leaving the front pop ups since I like the look.......both are nice looking and you can't lose either way.........I like the fact that I have turn signals on the bottom bumper unlike the 2002+ models.........some days I want to do the 2002+ update and some days I am like nah I like the smooth look of the pop ups.......now if they had a flushed headlight design that kepted the smooth lines of the car, then I would have been all over that.

I wanted a coupe and couldnt be more happier......when I asked differences in the NSX over the years from my buddy and NSX guru Jon Martin......he said man you are splitting hairs when it comes to differences over the years......yes it gotten better over the years stock for stock wise.....but there isnt anything an NA1 cant do that a NA2 can do.......once you mod a NA1 its pretty much game over......most of all the high hp NSX are NA1 because of the OBD1 computer.....NA2's are much more difficult to mod with OBD2 to mess with, but they are slowly coming along.

You can't go wrong with any year NSX really except for 95-96's because they are Targas that are still 5 speed and 3.0L with more weight basically.....at least 97 and up are 3.2 6 speeds.....so at least you gain more from it being a Targa.

Good luck on your hunt.....figure out what you want out of the car and whats important to you....for me I knew I wanted to mod the car pretty heavily overall engine wise and I wanted a coupe, so my idea of what I wanted went out the window......I was looking at 97 and up only because I thought 6 speed and 3.2L was the thing to have, but after talking to Jon he made me realize the 91-94s were for me.

mrsteve

iTrader: (1)

I like the old school front but I like the '02+ rear.

nbovelle

+1

Nate in DC

CGP CL9

i like pieces of both generations.
but i like the pop up lights bc you can do the sleepy eyes with them with a little bit of work lol.

oscar_driver

91-01 front with a lip and center piece in black + 02 rear with Type-R wing (all lowered + wheel spacers) = back to the 21th century no questions ask.

Oscar

SG81

iTrader: (1)

the original

oscar_driver

91-01 front with a lip and center piece in black + 02 rear with Type-R wing (all lowered + wheel spacers) = back to the 21th century no questions ask.





my flips barely go up, but they do give an exotic look no doubt when they go up ....



I definitely love both but flips are more "romantic" ..


Oscar

salu8819

Im jealous..............

venom550pm

as long as i get one eventually, i don't care what it is

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

02 style is way better.. looks more elegant and is putting up less of a FRONT, if you will.

it looks like it's hiding something which we all know it is!...and the newer style is tying to flaunt it's looks when it really was better off trying to stay subtle.

02 look is classier, and looks more aerodynamic. much better IMHO

Oscar I think yo probably got the sexiest NSX i've seen that's not in a video game :-)

mischa316

I prefer the Facelift NSX. I also like the regular headlights not the popups. Both models are just smoking hot but I still like the facelift.
Mischa.

Blazing GT

facelift