Am I unhappy with my car? Am I simply looking for something new for the sake of novelty?

    Lately the urge to exchange my car for something different has been growing stronger. I had wanted an NSX for so long and wanted it so badly that I would like to say that I could never be unhappy with it. This is not so. I feel like it is a toy... granted, a very nice and oh so wonderful toy but a toy nonetheless. I have had the car for about 3 years now and it has never given my any solid reason for complaint. Never a single mechanical failure or maintenance requirement to dent the wallet. But neither have I felt so attached to it that I have named it. See? I still refer to it as 'it'. There is something missing; either in the car or in my expectations. It is my first dream made tangible.

    In light of the realization that I may be the problem, I have decided to list the features which I find lacking in my car.

• Power/small engine
• No HID headlights
• No dimming Mirrors
• Retractable headlights
• Head level with SUV bumpers
• CD changer in trunk/features
• Too exotic? Expensive modifications
• Resale

    For the price, rarity, and looks ... it should be faster. I want it to be faster. It's made of aluminum but weighs more than 3200lbs. The steering is tighter than most cars but could be nicer (cf Porsche). The brakes stop the car but are not anything special (cf Porsche). They stop well but not at the level of other high-performance automobiles. I think stopping fast and hard is just as important as accelerating fast and hard. Ah, accelerating. My one performance at the drag-strip aside, it doesn't accelerate like an 80K sports car. It seems that every day some other manufacturer releases new cars which compare with the NSX. Its V6 engine provides power but power better described as 'peppy' rather than monstrous or even strong. It sounds good from the factory and the Tubi exhaust makes it even better, much better.. Alas, it is not an 8 or even a really strong 6. Look at the power BMW pulls out of their 6 in their M3.

  The headlights provide inadequate illumination at night. I have been concerned about the road ahead while driving over familiar roads late at night. In comparison to standard headlights, the NSX's are laughable. I don't know how well aftermarket HIDs would preform or if they would pass the state inspection.

  The car sits very low to the ground. Most truck headlights shine directly into my rearview mirror (except those that shine over the roof of my car). Blinding would be an understatement. Driving at night is a balancing act between squinting to see the road ahead (I have 20/20 vision) and avoiding the spotlights that are my mirrors.

   It would be nice to be able to change cds without exiting the car. There is no room in the cabin to mount a changer. Features. Features are how this condenses. Features like navigation, radio controls on the steering wheel, trip computers, etc. Features that new cars like Hyundais offer that mine lacks.

  Some of my issues could be resolved with aftermarket cusomizations. The small NSX market, however, means that such pieces are often extremely expensive. Much more than comparable pieces for other high-end cars. Being somewhat exotic also translates into more people looking at the car. This is something which often makes me feel uncomfortable. On one hand, I very much enjoy being different from the fleets of sameness at the traffic lights and highway ramps, especially the highway ramps. But personally, I prefer dark corners to the limelight. I could never drive a red or yellow car. The Ferrari which I would very much like to drive would be silver or black though I could probably make an exception for an F-car.

  The NSX is long overdue for makeover. In the near future, Honda will release the next generation NSX. There has been tremendous amounts of speculation concerning the car though it all remains speculation. One change which the crowds acknowledge is an increase in power. With a major overhaul so near, what will this do to the resale value of the first generation cars? If I commit to my car for the next couple of years, what happens after that? Will I be stuck with it? Will it hold any real value to another buyer? These concerns push me to sell the car while it still holds significant value.