TRC Scooty’s – Redline Honda NSX
A momentary break from the parking lot has me checking out a prototype Honda for Redline Tuning.
The NSX shown here is scheduled to be TRC Scooty’s first release for Redline. I haven’t had much success with the NSX’s, and at S998 the problems only seem to get worse. Nevertheless, I took the car to Road Atlanta to see what it could do.
After taking it easy on the first half of RAtl, I noticed something surprising. I could actually see my S7 Ghost on the back straight. huh? A few more laps and I was consistently passing it in several sections. I couldn’t manage to better my dismal PB, but again, in S-Class this isn’t saying much. So we loaded the prototype again, this time for my arch nemesis: Suzuka Circuit in Japan.
My Suzuka battle has been well-chronicled, with everyone and their entire tuning families trying to help me get into the 1:55-range. You heard correctly, not 1:54’s but 1:55’s. For the simplest of reasons, I haven’t run the lap time. Maybe one day I’ll sit down with a KM or S7 and run 50 laps with sim tires, but for now, I’m still fighting the good fight.
Again, this NSX surprised me with it’s come-from-nowhere performance. For the first 3/4’s of a lap, this car is ahead of the best-feeling-car-I’ve-driven-at-Suzuka-Aegis. Incredible for a rear wheel drive non-leaderbaord car. Unfortunately, for the last quarter of the track, I blew more corners than a GTAIV street-walker.
Still, this is no fault of the car, as the performance is on par with the very best S-Class cars I’ve driven. It turns like the R34’s, and has brakes on par with GEARBOX’s outstanding Panspeed RX-7.
One thing that perplexed me was the gear selection for the left hairpin. First gear felt too slow and second gear bogged on the exit. Seeing as how Scooty has several top 100 times with this car, I know for a fact it is my pitiful driving technique.
The thing that is obvious is that this car is capable of dispatching leaderboard cars with ease. On my S7 tracks, I was hanging in with my ghosts. On my AWD tracks, it was right there as well.
I would not hesitate to break this car out in a multiplayer room full of leaderboard cars. However, should you be lucky enough to be in a room where leaderboard cars are restricted, the real fun begins.
The NSX is a competitive online performer, and dominating in non-leaderboard rooms. I can’t wait to get one with paint so I can return it to multiplayer action.
STAR RATING coming soon. The tune is outstanding, but the early prototype is sans-paint. Livery or no, it is highly-recommended.
Thanks for the review Inferno. Scooty was actually surprised you posted it, cause he didn’t have paint yet.
About the first and second gear thing. I talked to Scooty and he said to stay in second in turns. It might feel sluggish, but it keeps the car from kicking out and something about the powerband. I already forgot, but either way, first is almost never used.
Yeah, he told me that the torque peaks near 6k rpm, and if I could carry enough speed in that hairpin it would be right there for the drive out.
Sadly, I’m not as skilled as Scooty… LOL!
LOL. Either way, glad you like that car. Paint is coming along, slowly, but as soon as it’s done, you can expect a copy.
Also, did you get our 22B? You might want to give it a wirl around Suzuka and see if you can’t get that 1:55.XXX. I almost finally got a 1:55 in a Fairlady Z the other day, but the heavy nature of the car got the better of me and I only got a 1:56:3XX. Still good for a new PB, but you and me both are aiming for that 1:55.XXX. Anyways, if you still can’t get a 1:55:XXX, then I might have something special that can get you there, but it’s by all means, a final option.