Umm… Direct competitor would incline that it was able to “compete” with them. The NSX was no doubt a “cool looking” car, but just not what it was made out to be.
It cannot keep up with a Stock Vette from the same year, let alone a Ferrari or Porsche.
Lets see, a Stock 2002 Honda NSX-R, is STILL slower, than the BASE Corvette of 2001. Pretty sad for the price if you ask me.