NSX - why so many automatics?

[davidpn]

So why are so many early NSXs automatic? Does anyone know the ratio between the two gearbox types registered in the UK? Perhaps it's just that the autos come up for sale more often as NSX owners are apparently notorious for holding on to their cars.

Looking at the classifieds here on PH, of the 9 shown:

6 are < 2000 (4 autos, 2 manual tho' one is a Jap import)
3 are > 2000 (all manual)

Automatics have their place (in GTs for instance) but I just don't understand why SO many original NSX owners ticked that box!

[ferrisbueller]

Not sure what the sales split was between the F-Matic and the manual. It may reflect the demographic that ended up buying the car, rather than the one Honda intended to sell to. Another theory would be that people who have manual cars simply don't want to sell them and when they do, they are so sought after they don't hang around.

[douglasr]

I always though a lot of the F-matic's were imports as the Japanese buy more high performance
autos or semi-autos.