Honda NSX - Pictures

If you can find one, Honda's fast and reliable NSX needn't cost a fortune

Make sure a new belt isn't needed. They have to be replaced every eight years or 72,000 miles, and specialists will charge up to £1,000 for a full cambelt service. Clutches can wear out in as little as 30,000 miles, and they cost

Check the gaps where the body panels meet. These machines were built by hand, so anything less than a perfect fit means that the car could have been crashed. Panels are also easily dented, as they are made of alloy.

There are three amplifiers built into the NSX's stereo system, which can often burn out. Their demise is accelerated by turning up the volume, and - as they are hand built for each car - fixing them costs a huge £1,000.

One of the very few weak points in the NSX is the mechanism for the power windows. It is susceptible to breaking, which can require a complete stripdown of the door to put right. This is labour-intensive, and so can be costly.

Rubber generally does not last long on high-performance cars, and the Honda NSX is no exception, with those at the rear typically wearing out in less than 6,000 miles. New tyres aren't quite as expensive as they used to be, though, at