[Ragnaarok]

A long time friend of mine is in need of cheap, reliable transportation. He has about 4000 to spend from insurance after his Jeep burned. Seriously, it caught on fire on the interstate.

Anyway, he had a soft top Jeep and is interested in the del sol for the open air flavor, and honda in general for the reliability. I'm trying to talk him out of the del sol, but mostly 'cause I don't like them. I was thinking just a regular civic coupe from '92 thru maybe '98. He says he doesn't want a rex or older civics of that gen.

I am basing my opinion of the del sol just on looks mostly, can you guys give me your opinions if it is a good car to get? I'm trying to come up with actual good/bad facts to give him. Thanks.

 

[Dren]

If he wants a Del Sol, often called Del Slows, there is nothing wrong with that. I don't really care for their looks but they are a fun car, especially with the top off. Have him get the Si or VTEC version, don't get anything else. The 108hp version with the D16A6 in it is a dog because the car is pretty heavy for what it is. The Si has the D16Z6 SOHC VTEC and the VTEC version has the B16 VTEC. Have him get one with the B16, it should be fun and fairly peppy. I think they only came in the older models so good luck.

If he is wanting to race around he needs to get a different car, but if he just wants to have a car that's fun with an open top, the Del Sol is the car to get.

A Prelude isn't too bad either. They were pretty fun with the VTEC motor around that time (mid 90s).

 

[grouch]

I'm trying to talk him out of the del sol, but mostly 'cause I don't like them.

So he doesn't want a CRX....don't try and talk him into it.
I wouldn't try to talk anybody out of owning almost any Honda. If he likes the open air feel, the del sol is perfect. It was targeted at the Miata(and failed in that respect) and captures most of the convertible experience.
Like Dren said, just steer him toward the Si or vtec.

 

[jfrolang]

Del Sols (dull slows :lol: ) can be cool cars. I probably won't ever buy one, but you could do much worse. I had the opportunity to drive one a few years ago, it was summer, and it was great with the top off and the back window down.

To clarify what Dren said, The Del Sol never came with a D16A6. Del Sol S from 93-95 had a D15B7, 102 hp. Del Sol S from 96-97 had a D16Y7, 107 hp. Del Sol Si had a D16Z6 from 93-95 and a D16Y8 from 96-97, both 125 hp. Del Sol VTEC had a B16A3 (94-95) and a B16A2 (96-97), both 160hp.

Don't get confused between Si and VTEC models. If you open the hood on an Si, you'll still see VTEC on the valve cover, but it's SOHC. The VTEC models will say DOHC VTEC.

 

[ComposiMo]

I've said it before, and i'll say it again... i LOVE Del Sols 8)

Why are people insistant on calling the Del Sol a "Del Slow"??

Your CRX's stock ('specially if you have a DX or HF) are pretty much just as slow as it is! WTF?? For the MOST part, a Del Sol makes a PERFECT daily driver. The trunk space is adequate, it rides nice, you can cruise with the top off, and enjoy the sun, chicks dig it, and it accepts every single modification you can do to your CRX if you did want to make it move along a bit quicker... and its cheaper to do motor swaps into

So lets assume a crx has 100% potential... a del sol may only have 98% comparable potential... but if you're not using your OWN CRX at 100% potential (which most only are at about 50% potential, and if you have interior, dash, a/c, anything street-related, even a RADIO, you aren't using the car to 100%), then quit bitching about how 'slow' Del Sols are... they are AWESOME cars for what they are.

And don't feel bad that he'll pick up more women in his car than you will in yours... i know i had a lot of fun in mine

:lol: :lol:

 

[Dren]

Del Sols (dull slows :lol: ) can be cool cars. I probably won't ever buy one, but you could do much worse. I had the opportunity to drive one a few years ago, it was summer, and it was great with the top off and the back window down.

To clarify what Dren said, The Del Sol never came with a D16A6. Del Sol S from 93-95 had a D15B7, 102 hp. Del Sol S from 96-97 had a D16Y7, 107 hp. Del Sol Si had a D16Z6 from 93-95 and a D16Y8 from 96-97, both 125 hp. Del Sol VTEC had a B16A3 (94-95) and a B16A2 (96-97), both 160hp.

Don't get confused between Si and VTEC models. If you open the hood on an Si, you'll still see VTEC on the valve cover, but it's SOHC. The VTEC models will say DOHC VTEC.

My bad! Yeah, I knew it had the slow D16 but thought it was the A6, thanks for the clear up.

My CRX Si has no radio, AC, heat, but it goes like **** out of a baby! :twisted:

 

[Ragnaarok]

thank you for all the info, i'm always happy to see the great responses I get when I ask a question on here. you guys rule!

anyway, I'll relay the info to him later today, we are going to check out the Jeep in it's oooey gooey goodness. pics will be taken, and i'll post some up here for all to see.

thx again.

 

[SETI20]

A delsol is not a crx.
In fact, it should not even be referred to as a "car" unless it is as "donor car".

They are heavy slow and have a weak backbone.
They are even more prone to squeeks than crxes are, and even more so to leakages.

Beware of the delsols.

 

[Ragnaarok]

seti, that's more along the lines of what I was thinking, I must of heard it on here, maybe from you previously.

I just called my buddy Steve up about the jeep, we're going around 3:30 cst to see it. As far as del sols go, it seems he is eyeing a camaro that another friend of mine is selling. hmmm. maybe no honda in his future. more to come...

 

[Street luge]

well if he doesent want a crx, i dont knwo why , but i vote for a late 80's 300zx it has the T tops, Nice interior and good trunk space. and thats all i know about them , i am currnetly rebuilding one

take it or leave it

 

[SETI20]

Altho a miata has an awfully small trunk, they are soooo much fun to drive.
Oh man if I had some spare cash and room I'd get one tomorrow, and get a hard-top for it too.

Not too practical tho.

 

[daveb91]

Del Sols are nice i wouldnt trade my CRX for one but I would own one. There is one that autox around here that is lightening quick and it just has KYBs and some nice 10" wide wheels!

 

[rex2nr]

I've said it before, and i'll say it again... i LOVE Del Sols 8)

Why are people insistant on calling the Del Sol a "Del Slow"??

Every time you typed Del Sol, I read Del Slow[/quote]

 

[Ragnaarok]

well no matter what you say of a del sol, del slow, or whatnot, my friend is going for the camaro. it's a '93 z-28 with the LT1. since it's from another friend, he knows the whole story on it so it shouldn't have any surprises.
newly rebuilt auto trans and just needs some body work on the front. $2500

i'll have the jeep pics once I get 'em, my camera crapped out and his cam uses a different memory card

 

[jmart]

automatic??? uggggggg.

 

[Ragnaarok]

automatic??? uggggggg.

yeah he said he was looking for a stick shift honda, but the camaro has auto, so he's pretty much stuck. but hey, kills two birds with one stone, steve will have a car now, and the other friend has $$$$ now.

 

[ryan_long_01]

The LT1 with the automatic isn't too bad...if it's like the Corvette with the same engine, the automatic's ECU actually has a more aggressive tune to compensate for the power loss incurred by the slushbox, so 0-60 and 1/4 mile times are actually pretty much identical. I've driven both C4 and C5 Corvettes with automatics, and they aren't bad at all. I'd definitely choose a manual trans if it were up to me, but the automatics aren't bad at all as far as performance goes.

 

[Dren]

I'm not a fan of the manual transmissions that GM put in those. I hate the force shift into 4th from 1st. The feel just isn't as fluid as an RSX shifter or an S2000.

 

[crxsquared]

Arrrgh- two of the words I despise most: GM and Camaro!

I bought a new 1982 Camaro Berlinetta (ordered from the factory a month before the official introduction of the 3rd gen body style) and it sure was purty, but also damn unreliable. That stinking car was in the shop more during the 4 years I owned it than my '88 CRX was in 12-1/2 years! There were four recalls that first model year. At about 68K the engine blew-up in a cloud of white smoke less than 10 miles after I got it back from the local Chevy dealer (complained of loss of power, they rebuilt the carb for the 4th time). Paid $12K new, sold for $3K after four years.

But the only good thing about it was that I bought an '86 CRX DX to replace it while the engine was being swapped with one from a salvage yard. Drove that DX for a little over 2-1/4 years (60K miles) with absolutely NO problems, then traded it in for a '88 DX (2nd gen model- way nicer) that went over 100K before anything other than normal maintenance items needed work. Put 371K on the car (original engine) before selling it in 2000. Try putting 371K on a Camaro.

I wouldn't touch a GM car on a bad bet, but at least their lousy reliability drove me to Honda.

Thanks, GM!

 

[Dodo]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
the only time you will hear a honda driver thank gm for something!