Thrill Rides

It had been two weeks of nonstop traveling, and my body was completely drained. The weekend, I figured, would offer more than enough time to recuperate because guess what? The following week I would be heading out for the Acura press lead for the ’02 NSX and CL Type-S—both cars redesigned and upgraded with the enthusiast in mind. And in this case, getting to drive these cars would not only be a perfect story for the pages of Super Street, but it would also be another perfect opportunity for me to brag about how I got to drive these cars and you didn’t. Especially the NSX. And in one night, it all came crashing down on me.

You know how most of the time you get these annoying little colds that really don’t do you any harm except for a little nasal congestion and maybe a runny nose? Those are easy. It’s the ones you get every couple of years—that really nasty flu—that just destroys your whole week. Well, that’s what I got the day of my departure—a striking fever of 103 degrees that would not let up no matter how much I tried. I visited a shaman for advice, I begged a priest for forgiveness, and I switched from a regular conventional oil to a synthetic brand, but no luck. I would remain sick until my body would say otherwise. This sort of thing only happens to the unlucky…and Super Street editors.

Try as I could, I enjoyed my free dinner and met briefly with the Acura staff, which you’ll remember is now made up partly of one former SS original, Matt Pearson. Breaking away early for some much- needed rest, I downed what was left of my NyQuil and prayed for the best. Come morning, I felt a little better and did my best to hide a hacking cough that would only bug the hell out of people as the day wore on. This trip also served as a Super Street reunion because I paired up with former feature god Karl Brauer (now lord of Edmunds.com) to beat the living hell out of these cars. Or at least try to, anyway.

The Journey Begins Here
I grabbed three rolls of tissue and shoved them in my backpack. They would serve not only to aid in keeping the snot from dripping out of my nose but also to keep all potential pants drenching to a slight minimum. I know it’s so cliche to say that, but what else did you want me to say? That I wouldn’t be excited to drive an NSX? That I think the CL Type-S gearbox is the smoothest thing to happen to an automobile since boys and girls started making out in them? I’ll say ’em! Anyhow, moving onward… With a slight bit of strategic planning, it took Karl and me less than a few seconds to grab a CL for the first leg and enjoy the NSX on a more difficult stretch of road. We jettisoned from our San Jose quarters and headed toward the ocean, a trip that included fresh air, plenty of scenery, and the ever-present hacking cough by yours truly.

Within moments of getting the car warmed up, I took full advantage of the CL, totally underestimating its capabilities. It was my goal to de-virginize this baby; instead I was taken advantage of in all the best ways. Each shift feels like warm apple pie. The shortened gearbox is so precise that it—along with the limited-slip differential, self-adjusting clutch, and dual-mass flywheel—made the car an instant favorite with me. We only got to drive the manual six-speed, but you can opt for the Sequential SportShift automatic version should you find yourself more willing to succumb to just brake and gas pedals. We’re sure both are adequate for even the pickiest driver. More impressive, however, is the 260hp V-6 VTEC engine, and since this is the Type-S version we’re praising, its sweet spot kicks in right when the needle touches the 4,400-rpm mark. This is where the smiles come in and the “Holy sh*t, that’s fast,” falls out of our mouths. In other words, this car kicks some serious butt.

From an outside perspective, the CL Type-S isn’t an eyesore. It may not warrant the same kind of response from a double-D–breasted Playboy Playmate as a BMW or a Mercedes S-Class would, but at least the college sorority girls will give you props for it. Besides, college girls are more fun anyway. It’s got loads of room for a two-seater and feels extremely plush, sometimes too comfortable for its own good. The audio system is a Bose essential, and if you’re linked up to the navigation system, you’ll learn that getting lost in the CL Type-S won’t be an easy task. Another fine feature is the suspension. It’s no Type R, but it’s still tight. Thanks to stiffer front and rear springs along with sportier shocks and larger-diameter sway bars, the task of turning becomes just as much fun as going in a straight line. And how could you go wrong with the 17-inch wheel package and HID headlights?

Pushing the Limits
The NSX is a totally different story altogether, and no, it does not involve paragliding midgets or topless Swedish bikini girls serving free booze. That would be wrong. Now, I don’t know about you, but sitting inside of an NSX for the first time is like, well, “doing it” for the first time. Your palms get sweaty, and your stomach cramps up before you touch anything. Beads of sweat drip from your forehead, and when someone asks, “Are you ready to go all the way?” your voice cracks like a young schoolboy who’s obviously never done this sort of thing before. That, my friends, is what it feels like when you’re just getting into an NSX. After you turn the ignition on and punch the gas, only then will you feel like a true man (or woman). In my case, I grew facial hair.

From that point on, it was truly evident that I was a complete moron (amongst the other names that people call me) for not driving one of these babies sooner. It was extremely hard to resist the temptation to pull up next to another high-dollar sports car, smile, and drive off laughing. The babes winked, little kids gave me the thumbs-up, and corporate yuppies winced with jealousy. Somehow the three letters on the back of my car (N-S-X) looked way better than the letters on theirs (P-O-S). I drove modestly for the average Joe but like a madman for the physically sick. My running nose couldn’t stop me from enjoying all 290 horses for one second—the sweet sound that the 3.2L V-6 engine produces is pure harmony and trance-inducing. It’s a sound you never forget, and one that you never want to stop.

With the ’02 model NSX comes a few enhancements—mainly cosmetic, but at least they’re easy to swallow. The body retains its basic shape and design, but the front air dam has been lowered for aerodynamics. The rear of the car features new taillights, Acura badging, an air diffuser integrated into the lower bumper, redesigned exhaust tips, and a trunk spoiler for that Super Street touch. We probably didn’t have any direct influence on that, but we like to think we did. The wheels have increased in size, ranging from 17x7 up front to 17x9 for the rear. You also have two new color options: Long Beach Blue Pearl and Imola Orange Pearl. Just think, if you can’t afford an NSX, then at least you can use either paint scheme on your Civic or Integra.

Another new feature for ’02 is the option to have your interior totally customized among six different color schemes. You can go with a Vivid Blue to match your Long Beach Blue Pearl, or if you wanna go old-school Kosoku-style, go crazy with a Vivid Yellow. Yet another reason why we’re a perfect influence on the Honda marketing ploy. We’d like to be paid with free lap dances at the Spearmint Rhino, if you’d please. Matt? Please? Yes, I know, my life is tough. I drive some of the world’s fastest and most practical cars and I get paid to do it. But hey, I do it all for you.