CRX "Love"

I'm the same way man. Sometimes I get really depressed about my CRX, especially the rust, and the dents, and the squeaks... And yes, it does take all my money. I too paid too much for mine (try finding an Si in
New Hampshire though), and it came with a load of problems. Whenever I drive it though, I'm happy, it's amazing. I honestly like it better than my roommate's RSX, which was one of my favourites before. Nothing else feels the same. The CRX is raw, manual everything, shakes your fillings out, gives you a nice view of the underside of all the SUVs on the road, and I love it. Even though my car is bad like yours, I still get looks and comments about it when I'm out, and it feels good. I actually had a friend tell me a couple of weeks ago that he was surprised at the good condition of my car. I literally laughed in his face. Then we went for a ride, and he wants one now. Yes, someday when I can throw more money at it, I will have a rust free perfect CRX, but right now all the money has to go under the hood and between the control arms

invalidcomfort said:

I never understood the facination with cars. Nor working on them & such until I bought it. Now I'm scared for my wallet. :shock:

Click to expand...

I have a theory about people who don't "get" car obsessions and enthusiasm: They're driving the wrong cars! I mean, think about it; if you were stuck in a Saturn or a Crown Vic (I think Mark can confirm that last bit for me) as your daily driver, would YOU be interested in working on it? Would you enjoy driving it, and would it make you try to be a better driver?

Me neither.

I guess I've always been a "car guy", but it wasn't until I got my first CRX that I found out how deep that sentiment can go. Here was a car with so much fundamentally RIGHT with, that just needed a little tweaking here and there... and suddenly you have a full-blown obsession born.

I still have that first CRX, along with two others, and I've had a couple others as well. It *must* be love. That, or some kind of deep-rooted mental problem.

Lately, I haven't been so much with the obsession or the project ideas. Lack of a decent job and money can do that to ya, y'know. But I still drive the CRXs when I get the chance, and they're still horribly addictive. A simple run to the video store always seems to end up with me swinging the car's ass out just a bit around a corner, running it to redline through at least the first three gears, and just having way too much fun in general for it to be legal.

Mike

Kwico, your CRX's rear will swing around?! Wow man, I wish mine would do that

They're driving the wrong cars! I mean, think about it; if you were stuck in a Saturn or a Crown Vic (I think Mark can confirm that last bit for me) as your daily driver, would YOU be interested in working on it? Would you enjoy driving it, and would it make you try to be a better driver?

Click to expand...

Actually, the president of the student autoshop here has a crown vic. He used to have a really nice Mustang, mildly built with a suspension that made it very... well un-mustang. It got totalled, and he was broke so he got one at a CHP auction really cheap. Here it is:

and yes, he has a set of slicks on it. Our classes for the RPI autocrosses are GT, A and B. They are sorted based on car and driver, with about 30 cars usually it comes out pretty evenly. He runs in B, and usually takes first or second place. He also makes a little money for the club taking 3 passengers in a fun run.

Kwicko, your CRX's rear will swing around?! Wow man, I wish mine would do that

Click to expand...

.

It will, Tom. You just have to convince it a bit. How do I know yours will if mine will? Easy - mine's a '91 DX! Arguably the least nimble CRX ever sold in the US. That means no rear antisway bar to help the rear rotate. I'm running all-stock suspension, brakes, etc. on that particular car ('91 CRX DX), the only mods being to the engine and transmission.

So how do I get the arse end to step out? How do you get your CRX to put a li'l hip-sway into that sexy butt? Like this - it's called a "Scandanavian Flick", and I learned it from watching and reading about rally driving (I know, watching and reading about rally driving is like dancing about architecture...).

Okay, you're coming up to a turn, so you're slowing down. Say it's a 90-degree bend to the left. What you want to do is, just as you're ready to enter the turn, flick the steering wheel about a quarter-turn to the RIGHT, *then* turn in for the apex of the corner. This causes a sudden weight transfer to the side of the car that's on the outside of the corner - I mean, a MORE sudden weight transfer. The car's suspension starts to move the car right, then suddenly you're turning back the other way, which helps unsettle the rear of the car.

Only practice this kind of stuff in large parking lots where you can't hit any curbs. It's pretty easy to get the tail to wag just a bit. It's definitely NOT the quickest way through a paved corner, but it's a bit of fun anyway. As you get more comfortable with it, work with the gas and brake pedals as well. I'll often use a combination of lift-throttle oversteer and-or trail-braking along with The Flick™ to REALLY get the back end sliding. And by "really" sliding, I'm talking about it stepping about six inches out at the rear. Hey, I said it was a DX...

I learned this maneuver back when I had my '88 CRX Si. Lighter weight, rear sway bar, and more snap-oversteer were that car's hallmarks. On a good day, I could hang the tail out a couple of feet through the corners, and hold it that way through most of the turn. I find that if you explain to your passenger EXACTLY what you are going to do beforehand, they can even control their terror and enjoy it a bit. Just so they know you're not completely out of control and trying to kill them.

As I said, this is NOT the fastest way through a corner (unless it's dirt, gravel, or snow-covered, as most rally courses are); it's just a way to have a bit of fun with the car and practice car control. There's nothing quite like the feeling of playing "toss and catch" with the car through a couple of turns. And there's nothing quite as bad as the feeling when you completely botch it. That's how my beloved '88 Si died. Fortunately for me, I'd sold it, and it was the new owner who oversteered it into a guardrail and totalled it (he wasn't hurt, just his pride. And his car.). And like I also said, do this in empty parking lots. After LOTS of practice, maybe you'd like to try it on a deserted road. I don't condone doing this in traffic; it really tends to freak out the SUV-driving populace, who think you're out of control (nope, perfectly IN control, thank you very much!) and careening toward them at breakneck pace. And contrary to popular opinion, cops are usually just not impressed with your car control skillz when they see you doing these kind of stunts. Trust me on that one.

Mark: I'm with ya, brotha. I don't hate working on my cars; I hate HAVING to work on them. Nothing will take the love out of a car affair faster than having to work on it 'til 3am just to be able to get to work the next day. When I found my CRXs, I discovered that I worked on them because I *wanted* to, not because I had to. That changes the landscape a bit, in my view.

Technically, though, everyone who told you not to put money into was right. You'll never get it back if you sell it. Then again, since you don't ever intend on selling it....

Click to expand...

That's the way I look at them. They're not an investment, they're a hobby. Investments should be "safe" and guaranteed to return you money. Hobbies are just for sh*ts and giggles. CRXs are perfect for that.

Mike

You guys are awesome..

I'm soo happy! I got that speedo cable from John today. Slipped it right in... well, figuratively. It was really simply. Just I forgot to put the things into the dash side of the firewall. MY SPEEDO WORKSSS!!!! YAY!!!!

Since I had my cluster out... I fixed this:




Now they're all stock. Those nasty covers kept the real thing underneath nice and black. :lol: I would show you pictures of the fixed cluster, but you all know what they lok like stock.

I want to punch who ever owned my freaking car before... stupid "rixxor"s!

One more step for me, One... um... small step to the orignal!

I bought mine new in 1989. I have always loved her and still drive her daily. I feel every bit of her when I drive. I sense her aches and pains. I feel her exhilaration when I put the pedal to the floor. She spins up smoothly and growls at the wind. She begs to be driven with spirit but also with respect.

I love my rex. And the one in the garage is growing on me.