True story: I once tried to date a girl because she owned a Del Sol and I wanted a chance to drive it. Sadly I had zero game so I never got to drive it.
Prelude guy here. DelSol and Prelude people gotta stick together lol. And regardless of that, I've always liked the DelSol. I think it got a lot of hate as it was sort of the "replacement" for the insanely loved CRX. Would've been tough for anything to follow that. Wish I could find a 95 DS Vtec...I personally would take that over any EM1 Civic Si. Absolute top level Trans TOp model would be the flagship. Got to see one in person recently. Amazing.
@@noelleelizabeth9991 Yep. Never owned a DelSol. 2 Preludes. But I ALWAYS wanted a DelSol. Specifically, the 95 VTEC. I do wish they'd have just made them Mid Engine, like the MR2. But... Can't beat mid 90s Honda, when companies weren't afraid to try things.
'97 del Sol Si guy here. Love my car and the roof has never leaked. Honda fixed the roof leak issue for model year 1996-7 with the refresh. Unfortunately, the car had already become a lot less popular. Honda also issued a service bulletin to retrofit the older models with the hardware to fix the roof leak issue (93-004, Nov. 28 1994) and made it a warranty item but by then it was way too late, the damage had been done reputation wise and few had it done. Production numbers for US market were as follows: 1993 - 25,748 1994 - 21,075 1995 - 14,021 1996 - 8,489 1997 - 5,603 Total - 74,936 So yes, about 60,000 US model del Sols have potentially leaky roofs from the factory and about 14,000 do not. All del Sols are somewhat rare but I don't think people realize just how rare the '96-'97 USDM models are and I don't think they've ever gotten the respect they deserve on the open market. 14,000 made, that's not a whole lot. I feel very lucky to have mine. I love mine and will never sell it. Good video on a great car.
Also have a 97 model and I am so glad with it. Nothing leaked and it’s in great condition in general and completely stock , only radio has changed and got the vti wheels on my d16y8 but anyhow it’s Honda original … today put new tyres on it :)
I had a 95 and the roof didn't leak. The floor was prettygone because Illinois tho. Also, the last time I was looking for one the 96-97 models were notably more expensive.
@@kellypg I think you're right...I have read in certain places that they fixed the issue some time during model year '95. According to the TSB, officially the affected 1995 model cars were as follows; any made before numbers S trim - JHMEG1.....RS006413 Si - JHMEH6.....RS007531 VTEC - JHMEG2.....RS002959 had the bad seals.
i definitely agree with you on that ending. 96 and 97 year models are far harder to come by since the decline in popularity the delsol had by that time. ive yet to come across a fellow soler that doesn't have a early model with a late model nose. i figured this out the hard way when i had to search countless nights and days for an original dolphin front bumper that wasnt being sold for the price i bought my sol for 😅😂
I bought my first '97 DS in the spring of 2001. Such a great little car, practical but fun and never a problem. Had to sell it in the divorce, the first car I ever regretted selling. In 2012 I got an S2000, then traded that up into an NSX in 2017. The first time I took the NSX's targa off was a revelation: it's the same latching mechanism as the DS. All the power, all the street cred but I can't just take it anywhere and not worry about it. Fast forward to January 2024 and I've just bought my second '97 DS, another milano red Si. $6500. It's crazy to me that these cars are so cheap for how fun and practical they are. Thanks for this video, it was a big help in seeing the changes over the years! I'm so happy to be back in a DS.
I get that totally, like 6 years ago I sold my 97.. and that was very sad . I wanted that time more space ..now I got again a 97 as a summer drive car :)) next to my daily civic..
I know a guy with one just like this, he’s about to come off it for pretty cheap to help me and my kid out. What a great guy, I hope he knows how much me and my daughter appreciate it. You know who you are👍👍👍
@@BrandonGolets Take good care of her bro. i bought mine from the 1st owner 10 years back for 500 bucks, now its worth 8k lol. The new classics are rising 👌 and for the interior, may i suggest S2000 seats👍
In 2000 i bought 1995 CRX ,put NSX 16's and supercharged the b16. insured for 18k she destroyed a new elise then someone went through a stop sign and she went to car heaven
Absolutely love this car! I have a 1992 samba green transtop del sol I’m currently restoring. I fell in love with this car when I was 20 years old And bought my first one 2008. I’m at the moment I’m collecting any Mugen parts for the vehicle, been collecting parts for over 10 years. I’ve swapped out the b16 engine for a B18. There are so many different options between USA, UK, and Japanese model. Can’t wait to finish up my car and take it for a spin.
@@justinmadera Not all markets had the same release year. Other markets had the Del Sol earlier like Japan where it was made. The model referred (Transtop) and is likely a JDM hence the 1992 reference. Other markets had this Transtop model too but likely a JDM version.
Underrated and underappreciated. I've had my 1994 Si since 2000. I did a B16 swap in 2005. I'm currently tearing it down to restore it and swap in a K24.
Sorry to hear about the traction (or lack thereof) on your Tinder profile. I loved my '93 CDS Si in that vivid Samba Green (my license plate was "KEYLIME"), and I learned a few things in here. I liked that the top install/removal was a one-person job, vs. the hardtop on my S2000 which came off once, never to be reinstalled again until a year and a half later when I sold the car. Nice vid!
Yeah I came across pictures of yours while I was gathering material for this video. I was like omg he's owned one of these too?! 😂 I like that green colour it looked good!
Very cool video. I’d like to add a little. I think it’ll be appreciated primarily by those not old enough to remember this car in its heyday. Maybe. We’ll see. Number one, the CRX was super popular. There were super economical versions and super sporty versions. If you didn’t need a back seat, there was a CRX for you. Honda’s biggest mistake was replacing it, in my opinion. I don’t think they wanted to sell them side by side and have the CRX and del Sol compete against one another. Number two, when new the insurance companies classified it as a convertible, not a targa top, so there was a surcharge. So if you had a CRX HE, for example, you were paying next to nothing for fuel, maintenance and insurance. Then suddenly there was an extra cost. People kept their CRX’s and prayed they’d come back. I don’t think the del Sol ever got past these two issues. Okay, enough about that. I had a ‘94. It only had a D Series engine but the car was so light weight, it didn’t matter. The car was still lots of fun. Mine had no A/C so no power lost to the compressor. Tons of fun. No, it wasn’t a sports car but it was a lot of fun to drive around the city and on road trips. There was enough storage space for my girlfriend and I to drive to the Cape or to Maine for the weekend. A couple of other things, it was roomy. I am well over six feet tall and I was comfortable in my del Sol. I couldn’t fit into a Miata, never-mind drive one. I bought mine used with tons of miles on it. Like 8 years old and it never leaked. I did treat the seals with silicone spray but that was after it had been around the block. I was in a car club. A lot of folks did modify them. A popular engine swap was the 170 HP B18 engine from the Integra. Then a turbo, still not a pure sports car, but pretty sick. I eventually supercharged mine(Jackson Racing), but didn’t keep it long enough to get it perfectly tuned and enjoy it. Honda used to make a lot of really fun, cool, dependable cars. Those were the days.
Sales drop due to the natural sales cycle of having a mature product and the car being considered mature after the first 3 years of production. Hence many examples of the 4th production year being a face lift/redesigned to boost sales one last time and extract the most from major production machines prior to totally being scrapped. This redesign can be seen in many Honda vehicles especially in the 91 Prelude, 92 Accord, 91 Concerto, 96 Accord etc. This is why cars tend to only have 4 years of production cycle which is common in the 80's, 90's, 00's and even today on most models. Yet the Delsol had 8 years of production (double the norm) with little to no redesign.
My 8th Del Sol is currently parked in the garage. My current 93 del sol si has a custom turbo setup and is on a fully built SOHC ZC engine. A while back I had the super rare 96 Del Sol SiR Transtop model and even took it on a racing show called PassTime. Love these cars, tho in Texas if you don't have AC in triple digit weather the car might as well be put in storage.
I had a '93 without air. When I moved to Florida I learned that on the hot days if I left the top on and the windows down (including the rear window) the air would pass through and make it quite comfortable. Air was not a necessity for me.
I loved this video, I've actually been excited every time an upload pops up in my notifications, keep up the good work! As for the failure of the del Sol, I think it really is, as you alluded, the common misconceptions around front wheel drive. I'm sure you appreciate the value of front-wheel drive, but when it comes to the general perception, the del Sol and many other similar cars should have been far more successful than they were, and as an enthusiast that favors front-wheel drive, it's pretty frustrating how often people can be ignorant that it is an extremely sporty drivetrain. If you want to spin and slide your car, it's no more easier or difficult than a rear wheel drive car, you only need different technique. And if going fast through corners is your thing then I can't think of anything better and more accurate for entry and exiting of corners. Like a samurai sword is weighted in a way that straightens out its swing, a front-end pulling a rear-end straightens out the entire chassis if the wheels aren't turned, and that gives you better control over your car than all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive could ever offer you. I can rant all day about front-wheel drive but it's just because it's so underestimated. Really ironic, considering any car that says "Type R" on the back of it is probably a front-wheel drive. 🤷🏻♀️ And it's okay I'm ready to get some flack for my insane opinion😅🤷🏻♀️ be nice, everyone?😅
I agree FWD sports cars do have a place, an Integra Type R for example handles like its on rails, and even a regular Integra has pretty decent handling. My ideal dream garage would have a few RWD sports cars...Lexus SC300 anyone? and a few FWD sports cars....I'll take an Integra type R and a 3rd gen Prelude please! The only thing I don't think belongs in a sports car is AWD. Don't get me wrong, there's a time a place for AWD, but it ain't in a sports car! Call the AWD shade my controversial opinion I guess.
In Canada, 93 was the last yr of an si hatch. I picked one up as inventory was ending. Us went to 95. Currently w a 19 hatch 6sp sp touring, but looking for a delsol or Miata used. Delsols fate reminds me of the Toyota pasio- sheep in wolfs clothing. Congrats on the vid.
being an owner of a daily driven del sol i can honestly say its just become that rare sunday driver that not many people take out to drive on sundays 😂 especially in the north east where im from
just got a 97 Si in cypress green pearl with 18k on a reman Y8. definitely need to freshen up the suspension before beating on it too hard, but i love how simple the platform is to work on. parts availibility, besides body panels, is quite good!
Love my del sol. Here in Europe we got the B16 from the start. Mine is a 1992 VTi (b16 engine) samba green. Also has ABS but no airbags. With coilovers and other upgrades it's really fun to drive.
Was my first car and honestly I did road trips, camping, ppl carrying (3ppl) and my best tossing it around on the back roads. I miss that car everyday (the rear window more than anything)
I own a 1995 Honda Del Sol Si, and it's fully loaded with options too! Cruise control, power windows (were always included!), power mirrors, power steering, power locks, and the 5 speed transmission. It's a perfectly optioned Si for a daily driver. My issue with the Del Sol is as a Miata driver before this car (someone hit me and totaled it), it's just...not that...engaging. Like it can be fun, sure, but it doesn't capture enough of the experience that the styling would lead you to believe. The Si feels like someone made a sports car body, but other than putting a manual transmission and a VTEC that only works beyond 4,000RPM, it doesn't feel that lively. The targa is fantastic for keeping rain out (it does have the improved seals), but it's annoying and slow to put on and off. The car is perfect for the person who wants a sporty economy car, but kinda a little lacking for a sports car enthusiast who wants a driver's car, because that's what it lacks. It gives so much practicality over a Miata of the same era, but it lacks so much of the character. The interior is nice, the options are generous for the decade, the driving experience is pleasant to drive daily, but it lacks the feel. It's not completely gone, but it's just not up to the par. I don't want to run 93 to get the B-series motor, but I honestly see why people K swap this car. It needs a little something something, and I think what would have made it so much more unique, was if it was rear engine. If it were the baby NSX, I think we'd still hear more about these cars. It didn't fight the Miata on driver feel, it wasn't a good competitor to the MR2, it kinda was cannibalized by Honda's own line up of the Prelude, the normal Civic sport trims, and the only real reason to pick it, was the targa. It's neither fish nor fowl, but I think for someone who ISN'T trying to get the driver focused car, it's truly a very weird economy car that is almost a sports car. It's a very very niche demographic, and for someone who never drove a Miata, something more thrilling, I could see them growing old with this car. But for me? I dream of Mazda, and I dream of those pop-up headlights. I am thrilled for getting back into one soon, but kinda sad to see this car go. Not because I want to keep it, but because it's different. Because it's so nice to live with, that it's truly an oddball. Just not one that fits me.
Underrated gem for sure ive had civic si,preludes,s2k,accord v6 manual and an acura tl and my del sol has been my favorite mine was also supercharged at jackson racing in 1996 at 32k miles and still runs that setup to this day even tho its in the middle of a motor build for more power
how much are they? I am getting ready to antique my 1995 del sol someone hit and run my left front sooo $1500 fix coming out of my pocket, including paint job. insurance is crazy in SOFLO never ends to drive 2 vehicles. guess it's worth it dunno
Hey Sab :) got the same engine in my del sol 97.. I love the video and also the del sol in general:) just a fun driver.. your also on the Dutch fb group for del sols ?
@@hermanboerakker-ub2se ah, my car is still geschorst for the winter. I'm saving money to finish my S2000. Thanks for the invite, I was there last year for the meeting in de Meern.
I have owned an NA8, NB1, ND1-RF and a Del sol SI. It is a shame more people didn’t like the Del Sol, it’s a fantastic car and in some ways does things better than a 2017 Miata. I think if Honda could figure out a way to make a new one they should. It would pair well with the new Prelude.
Owned a delsol SIR back in 2017 a B16 black top i love everything about it, i just dont like when it rain i always got this wet spots in the carpet and if you remove the targa the car seems to flex in high speed
The CRX managed to be a pocket-size sports car and an economy car. It was affordable, practical and fun. The del Sol was significantly more expensive, heavier and much more complicated. The cramped interior didn't help either. It was the anti-CRX (just like the CR-Z many years later). I worked with a lady who had a black '95 del Sol S (automatic). I drove it once and it immediately understood why it flopped. Having owned a '85 and '90 CRX, it didn't even feel like a Honda.
Del Sol owner here, about to buy an Íntegra Type R, although the ITR is a far superior car in terms of everything, the Del Sol is pretty competent car, I’ve done trackdays with it and it never let me down, it’s a 93 VTi, which is the edm match for the usdm Vtec, and it also has a transtop, it’s my first car and it will definitely leave an empty spot in my heart
My older lady neighbor has a green one. Like two doors down. She would drive it a couple times a month and it’s a stick. She died a month ago and nobody knew for a few days. She had no kids and wasn’t married so I don’t know who to ask if I could buy the car. I really like it. It’s a one owner lol
Great video, there was a black Del Sol a block away from my house in my teens/twenties. I was drinking Fruitopia and playing Donkey Kong country for the Super Nintendo in the 90's❤
I'm not really a Honda guy, I like my VW's and Mopars, ive only owned 1 honda in my life, a 2005 civic coupe base, but always secretly loved the DelSol. This video kinda makes me want to go find a nice stock one to buy.
Oh no youre not...I get comments almost every day about that...I'm Canadian, some car model pronounciations are slightly different up here, I wasnt aware of it until I started posting these videos lol
I miss driving my old one. Definitely a fun car. I had a 95si. Im surprised you didn't mention the TERRIBLE sun visors lol which i guess could be considered a little ironic 😂
Despite its a different model then the first and second generation crx:) what I have owned also:) I just love the del sol:)) it’s a rare car and it’s fun to drive :) off course it’s not a real sports car but still it’s more fun then people think. I had one for 12 years unfortunately did sell it , but I did get another one for those rare sunny days here and for meetings to enjoy it. It’s a 97 d16y8 with now 120700km on it
For some context on why only North American sols got rid of the aux lights after 95, in every other market these lights were for the brights, not utilized as an essentially useless auxiliary light. So they couldn't get rid of it like we did here.
My aunt traded her 1987 mustang 5.0 gt for this car when it came out. I was so mad at her. I really wanted that car with all my soul. She hated this car, it was too slow for her but got way better has milage which she did like. She's a doctor now.
My first car was a 1986 CRX si in 1996. I followed that a few years later with a 1995 del Sol Si white (1.6 SOHC) cd changer, no ac originally from Minnesota. It was totaled by a senior citizen who ran a red light. I replaced it with a very low mileage (34000 mile) 1994 del Sol VTEC 1.6 DOHC in red in 1999. All the my Hondas were manual. And my white del Sol had red strips. Bought both del Sols from the Honda dealers. And both could keep up with Miatas. Even on twisty roads. And the DOHC would leave first gen Miatas for dead easily. My sister and brother in law at the time had a 1995 Miata and 1996 Miata M edition as hers and his cars. And they did SCCA parking lot courses. I could easily keep up in either del Sol. The European models had the "trans top" a hands free targa top removal. I think that Honda lost the plot and it shows with the 2001 Civic. The Integra was gone. Prelude was on its way out. They didn't have fun cars any more. The 99 and 2000 Civic Si was heavier than the del Sol but was more practical. The roof would leak in a hard rain or any car wash. I even lubed the seals often but they still leaked. Fun cars though. I traded the 94 for a 99 WS6 in 2002.
I have a 94 si. I love it with the d16 but honestly anyone who likes these should think kswap awd. again the d16 has just enough pep to squak tires and is great on gas but there is a reason some of us call it "del slow"
People Love this car! I Know I do! Don't know why they stopped building it so fast... Wish they would bring it back with 4 sized engines from: D16Z6 130 hp B16A 170 hp GSR 188 hp B18C 222 hp
The Del sol is the car ppl look at and think either its beautiful or ugly. I think stock their ugly lol. But something simple like lowering it and getting wheels completly changes the car. (My pfp is my 1994 vtec) the b16a3 is a very fun engine and i still cant believe i own it. Only 9% of them were made with the b series
Del Sol. The embarrassing chick Civic. To me, it never served a good purpose and should have never existed. A waste of development money. As girlie as a New Beetle Convertible.
True story: I once tried to date a girl because she owned a Del Sol and I wanted a chance to drive it. Sadly I had zero game so I never got to drive it.
Hahahaha
Bruh…..I knew two girls in my life who drove del sols. Both were hot af. I get it
i have a delsol, where are you from you can drive mine if you want
Prelude guy here. DelSol and Prelude people gotta stick together lol. And regardless of that, I've always liked the DelSol. I think it got a lot of hate as it was sort of the "replacement" for the insanely loved CRX. Would've been tough for anything to follow that. Wish I could find a 95 DS Vtec...I personally would take that over any EM1 Civic Si. Absolute top level Trans TOp model would be the flagship. Got to see one in person recently. Amazing.
I've unfortunately never owned either, but Preludes and Del Sols are my two fave cars ever!
@@noelleelizabeth9991 Yep. Never owned a DelSol. 2 Preludes. But I ALWAYS wanted a DelSol. Specifically, the 95 VTEC. I do wish they'd have just made them Mid Engine, like the MR2. But... Can't beat mid 90s Honda, when companies weren't afraid to try things.
@@J.Wick.i can get a 95 del sol up here in canada pretty cheap literally the only reason im on this vid to see if i should get a del sol
@@ShadowNoCap cool
Prelude is such a beautiful car honda use to love making cars
'97 del Sol Si guy here. Love my car and the roof has never leaked. Honda fixed the roof leak issue for model year 1996-7 with the refresh. Unfortunately, the car had already become a lot less popular. Honda also issued a service bulletin to retrofit the older models with the hardware to fix the roof leak issue (93-004, Nov. 28 1994) and made it a warranty item but by then it was way too late, the damage had been done reputation wise and few had it done. Production numbers for US market were as follows:
1993 - 25,748
1994 - 21,075
1995 - 14,021
1996 - 8,489
1997 - 5,603
Total - 74,936
So yes, about 60,000 US model del Sols have potentially leaky roofs from the factory and about 14,000 do not.
All del Sols are somewhat rare but I don't think people realize just how rare the '96-'97 USDM models are and I don't think they've ever gotten the respect they deserve on the open market. 14,000 made, that's not a whole lot. I feel very lucky to have mine.
I love mine and will never sell it. Good video on a great car.
Glad i have a 96-97 Del Sol Si ECU on my B16A2 Eg6
Also have a 97 model and I am so glad with it. Nothing leaked and it’s in great condition in general and completely stock , only radio has changed and got the vti wheels on my d16y8 but anyhow it’s Honda original … today put new tyres on it :)
I had a 95 and the roof didn't leak. The floor was prettygone because Illinois tho. Also, the last time I was looking for one the 96-97 models were notably more expensive.
@@kellypg I think you're right...I have read in certain places that they fixed the issue some time during model year '95.
According to the TSB, officially the affected 1995 model cars were as follows; any made before numbers
S trim - JHMEG1.....RS006413
Si - JHMEH6.....RS007531
VTEC - JHMEG2.....RS002959
had the bad seals.
i definitely agree with you on that ending. 96 and 97 year models are far harder to come by since the decline in popularity the delsol had by that time. ive yet to come across a fellow soler that doesn't have a early model with a late model nose. i figured this out the hard way when i had to search countless nights and days for an original dolphin front bumper that wasnt being sold for the price i bought my sol for 😅😂
I bought my first '97 DS in the spring of 2001. Such a great little car, practical but fun and never a problem. Had to sell it in the divorce, the first car I ever regretted selling.
In 2012 I got an S2000, then traded that up into an NSX in 2017. The first time I took the NSX's targa off was a revelation: it's the same latching mechanism as the DS. All the power, all the street cred but I can't just take it anywhere and not worry about it.
Fast forward to January 2024 and I've just bought my second '97 DS, another milano red Si. $6500. It's crazy to me that these cars are so cheap for how fun and practical they are.
Thanks for this video, it was a big help in seeing the changes over the years! I'm so happy to be back in a DS.
Glad you were able to get yourself back in a Del Sol!
I get that totally, like 6 years ago I sold my 97.. and that was very sad . I wanted that time more space ..now I got again a 97 as a summer drive car :)) next to my daily civic..
I know a guy with one just like this, he’s about to come off it for pretty cheap to help me and my kid out. What a great guy, I hope he knows how much me and my daughter appreciate it. You know who you are👍👍👍
@@joelbuff3254 just glad to see it go to a good home :-) now to figure out the pickup spot, we'll know on Saturday!
@@jimmy-buffett good luck on that one. It’s a good looking car…. Yall be safe
One of the best cars ever made!! Civic parts are everywhere available. Big trunk to start holiday adventures. Awesome look when lowered.
I bought mine new in 1997. I'm finally getting it repainted this week! The exterior will look sweet although it is a bit chewed up on the interior.
@@BrandonGolets Take good care of her bro. i bought mine from the 1st owner 10 years back for 500 bucks, now its worth 8k lol. The new classics are rising 👌
and for the interior, may i suggest S2000 seats👍
In 2000 i bought 1995 CRX ,put NSX 16's and supercharged the b16. insured for 18k she destroyed a new elise then someone went through a stop sign and she went to car heaven
Absolutely love this car! I have a 1992 samba green transtop del sol I’m currently restoring. I fell in love with this car when I was 20 years old And bought my first one 2008. I’m at the moment I’m collecting any Mugen parts for the vehicle, been collecting parts for over 10 years. I’ve swapped out the b16 engine for a B18. There are so many different options between USA, UK, and Japanese model. Can’t wait to finish up my car and take it for a spin.
Don’t you mean 1993? That’s when Del sol debuted
@@justinmadera Not all markets had the same release year. Other markets had the Del Sol earlier like Japan where it was made.
The model referred (Transtop) and is likely a JDM hence the 1992 reference. Other markets had this Transtop model too but likely a JDM version.
@@crxdelsolsir yes sir it’s a 1992 jdm transtop.
Underrated and underappreciated. I've had my 1994 Si since 2000. I did a B16 swap in 2005. I'm currently tearing it down to restore it and swap in a K24.
Sorry to hear about the traction (or lack thereof) on your Tinder profile. I loved my '93 CDS Si in that vivid Samba Green (my license plate was "KEYLIME"), and I learned a few things in here. I liked that the top install/removal was a one-person job, vs. the hardtop on my S2000 which came off once, never to be reinstalled again until a year and a half later when I sold the car. Nice vid!
Yeah I came across pictures of yours while I was gathering material for this video. I was like omg he's owned one of these too?! 😂 I like that green colour it looked good!
This was my dream car as an 8 year old living in Scarborough.
Really appreciate the longer form content.
Very cool video.
I’d like to add a little. I think it’ll be appreciated primarily by those not old enough to remember this car in its heyday. Maybe. We’ll see.
Number one, the CRX was super popular. There were super economical versions and super sporty versions. If you didn’t need a back seat, there was a CRX for you. Honda’s biggest mistake was replacing it, in my opinion.
I don’t think they wanted to sell them side by side and have the CRX and del Sol compete against one another.
Number two, when new the insurance companies classified it as a convertible, not a targa top, so there was a surcharge. So if you had a CRX HE, for example, you were paying next to nothing for fuel, maintenance and insurance. Then suddenly there was an extra cost. People kept their CRX’s and prayed they’d come back.
I don’t think the del Sol ever got past these two issues.
Okay, enough about that. I had a ‘94. It only had a D Series engine but the car was so light weight, it didn’t matter. The car was still lots of fun. Mine had no A/C so no power lost to the compressor. Tons of fun.
No, it wasn’t a sports car but it was a lot of fun to drive around the city and on road trips. There was enough storage space for my girlfriend and I to drive to the Cape or to Maine for the weekend.
A couple of other things, it was roomy. I am well over six feet tall and I was comfortable in my del Sol. I couldn’t fit into a Miata, never-mind drive one.
I bought mine used with tons of miles on it. Like 8 years old and it never leaked. I did treat the seals with silicone spray but that was after it had been around the block.
I was in a car club. A lot of folks did modify them. A popular engine swap was the 170 HP B18 engine from the Integra. Then a turbo, still not a pure sports car, but pretty sick.
I eventually supercharged mine(Jackson Racing), but didn’t keep it long enough to get it perfectly tuned and enjoy it.
Honda used to make a lot of really fun, cool, dependable cars. Those were the days.
Sales drop due to the natural sales cycle of having a mature product and the car being considered mature after the first 3 years of production.
Hence many examples of the 4th production year being a face lift/redesigned to boost sales one last time and extract the most from major production machines prior to totally being scrapped.
This redesign can be seen in many Honda vehicles especially in the 91 Prelude, 92 Accord, 91 Concerto, 96 Accord etc.
This is why cars tend to only have 4 years of production cycle which is common in the 80's, 90's, 00's and even today on most models.
Yet the Delsol had 8 years of production (double the norm) with little to no redesign.
The 3rd gen Integra lasted 8 yrs of production as well
You make great vids. Excellent narration. You have a talent for this! Keep making more. I love them.
I had a 1993 SI version. A beautiful blue color. I wish I still had it.
My 8th Del Sol is currently parked in the garage. My current 93 del sol si has a custom turbo setup and is on a fully built SOHC ZC engine. A while back I had the super rare 96 Del Sol SiR Transtop model and even took it on a racing show called PassTime. Love these cars, tho in Texas if you don't have AC in triple digit weather the car might as well be put in storage.
I had a '93 without air. When I moved to Florida I learned that on the hot days if I left the top on and the windows down (including the rear window) the air would pass through and make it quite comfortable. Air was not a necessity for me.
I loved this video, I've actually been excited every time an upload pops up in my notifications, keep up the good work! As for the failure of the del Sol,
I think it really is, as you alluded, the common misconceptions around front wheel drive. I'm sure you appreciate the value of front-wheel drive, but when it comes to the general perception, the del Sol and many other similar cars should have been far more successful than they were, and as an enthusiast that favors front-wheel drive, it's pretty frustrating how often people can be ignorant that it is an extremely sporty drivetrain. If you want to spin and slide your car, it's no more easier or difficult than a rear wheel drive car, you only need different technique. And if going fast through corners is your thing then I can't think of anything better and more accurate for entry and exiting of corners. Like a samurai sword is weighted in a way that straightens out its swing, a front-end pulling a rear-end straightens out the entire chassis if the wheels aren't turned, and that gives you better control over your car than all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive could ever offer you. I can rant all day about front-wheel drive but it's just because it's so underestimated. Really ironic, considering any car that says "Type R" on the back of it is probably a front-wheel drive. 🤷🏻♀️ And it's okay I'm ready to get some flack for my insane opinion😅🤷🏻♀️ be nice, everyone?😅
I agree FWD sports cars do have a place, an Integra Type R for example handles like its on rails, and even a regular Integra has pretty decent handling. My ideal dream garage would have a few RWD sports cars...Lexus SC300 anyone? and a few FWD sports cars....I'll take an Integra type R and a 3rd gen Prelude please! The only thing I don't think belongs in a sports car is AWD. Don't get me wrong, there's a time a place for AWD, but it ain't in a sports car! Call the AWD shade my controversial opinion I guess.
4:10 My 95' Del Sol does not leak at all from the top.
Maybe a tiny bit at the side window but it's so little it's barely noticeable...
In Canada, 93 was the last yr of an si hatch. I picked one up as inventory was ending. Us went to 95. Currently w a 19 hatch 6sp sp touring, but looking for a delsol or Miata used. Delsols fate reminds me of the Toyota pasio- sheep in wolfs clothing. Congrats on the vid.
being an owner of a daily driven del sol i can honestly say its just become that rare sunday driver that not many people take out to drive on sundays 😂 especially in the north east where im from
just got a 97 Si in cypress green pearl with 18k on a reman Y8. definitely need to freshen up the suspension before beating on it too hard, but i love how simple the platform is to work on. parts availibility, besides body panels, is quite good!
I had the 94 v-tech and loved her , I had kids in there 80's Camaro and firebirds tried to race me and was shocked how fast the Del Sol was
Love my del sol. Here in Europe we got the B16 from the start. Mine is a 1992 VTi (b16 engine) samba green. Also has ABS but no airbags. With coilovers and other upgrades it's really fun to drive.
Which upgrades do you recommend? 😁
Yo that tiguan add kinda went hard too bad about the water pump and the timing chain issues i really loved that facelifted tiggy
love your videos, you're gonna be famous one day.
Been driving my Del Sol for 29 years. To be honest, I kinda like it. It's my only car and I'll never sell it...ever.
Same for me, except only 27 years.
Was my first car and honestly I did road trips, camping, ppl carrying (3ppl) and my best tossing it around on the back roads. I miss that car everyday (the rear window more than anything)
I own a 1995 Honda Del Sol Si, and it's fully loaded with options too! Cruise control, power windows (were always included!), power mirrors, power steering, power locks, and the 5 speed transmission. It's a perfectly optioned Si for a daily driver. My issue with the Del Sol is as a Miata driver before this car (someone hit me and totaled it), it's just...not that...engaging. Like it can be fun, sure, but it doesn't capture enough of the experience that the styling would lead you to believe.
The Si feels like someone made a sports car body, but other than putting a manual transmission and a VTEC that only works beyond 4,000RPM, it doesn't feel that lively. The targa is fantastic for keeping rain out (it does have the improved seals), but it's annoying and slow to put on and off. The car is perfect for the person who wants a sporty economy car, but kinda a little lacking for a sports car enthusiast who wants a driver's car, because that's what it lacks. It gives so much practicality over a Miata of the same era, but it lacks so much of the character. The interior is nice, the options are generous for the decade, the driving experience is pleasant to drive daily, but it lacks the feel. It's not completely gone, but it's just not up to the par.
I don't want to run 93 to get the B-series motor, but I honestly see why people K swap this car. It needs a little something something, and I think what would have made it so much more unique, was if it was rear engine. If it were the baby NSX, I think we'd still hear more about these cars. It didn't fight the Miata on driver feel, it wasn't a good competitor to the MR2, it kinda was cannibalized by Honda's own line up of the Prelude, the normal Civic sport trims, and the only real reason to pick it, was the targa. It's neither fish nor fowl, but I think for someone who ISN'T trying to get the driver focused car, it's truly a very weird economy car that is almost a sports car. It's a very very niche demographic, and for someone who never drove a Miata, something more thrilling, I could see them growing old with this car. But for me? I dream of Mazda, and I dream of those pop-up headlights. I am thrilled for getting back into one soon, but kinda sad to see this car go. Not because I want to keep it, but because it's different. Because it's so nice to live with, that it's truly an oddball. Just not one that fits me.
Underrated gem for sure ive had civic si,preludes,s2k,accord v6 manual and an acura tl and my del sol has been my favorite mine was also supercharged at jackson racing in 1996 at 32k miles and still runs that setup to this day even tho its in the middle of a motor build for more power
no doubt the perfect combination of the highest quality in mechanics combined with one of the best designs ever in a car
I've had some amount of cars over my many years on this planet and I miss my del sol more than I ever thought I would.
how much are they? I am getting ready to antique my 1995 del sol someone hit and run my left front sooo $1500 fix coming out of my pocket, including paint job. insurance is crazy in SOFLO never ends to drive 2 vehicles. guess it's worth it dunno
Really loved this video, I own a EU ESi '96 Del Sol with the D16Y8 SOHC VTEC engine and even I learned a lot from your video. ❤
Hey Sab :) got the same engine in my del sol 97.. I love the video and also the del sol in general:) just a fun driver.. your also on the Dutch fb group for del sols ?
@@hermanboerakker-ub2se yes indeed I am
Cool.. if you got time and want we have a meeting at 30 march with the crz/crz people in Cuijk. If weather is okay. C ya friend
@@hermanboerakker-ub2se ah, my car is still geschorst for the winter. I'm saving money to finish my S2000. Thanks for the invite, I was there last year for the meeting in de Meern.
I have owned an NA8, NB1, ND1-RF and a Del sol SI. It is a shame more people didn’t like the Del Sol, it’s a fantastic car and in some ways does things better than a 2017 Miata. I think if Honda could figure out a way to make a new one they should. It would pair well with the new Prelude.
Owned a delsol SIR back in 2017 a B16 black top i love everything about it, i just dont like when it rain i always got this wet spots in the carpet and if you remove the targa the car seems to flex in high speed
8:80 off topic, but why does this song have the item throw sound effect from smash ultimate?
The CRX managed to be a pocket-size sports car and an economy car. It was affordable, practical and fun. The del Sol was significantly more expensive, heavier and much more complicated. The cramped interior didn't help either. It was the anti-CRX (just like the CR-Z many years later).
I worked with a lady who had a black '95 del Sol S (automatic). I drove it once and it immediately understood why it flopped. Having owned a '85 and '90 CRX, it didn't even feel like a Honda.
Del Sol owner here, about to buy an Íntegra Type R, although the ITR is a far superior car in terms of everything, the Del Sol is pretty competent car, I’ve done trackdays with it and it never let me down, it’s a 93 VTi, which is the edm match for the usdm Vtec, and it also has a transtop, it’s my first car and it will definitely leave an empty spot in my heart
My older lady neighbor has a green one. Like two doors down. She would drive it a couple times a month and it’s a stick. She died a month ago and nobody knew for a few days. She had no kids and wasn’t married so I don’t know who to ask if I could buy the car. I really like it. It’s a one owner lol
another awesome video keep it up
Great video, there was a black Del Sol a block away from my house in my teens/twenties. I was drinking Fruitopia and playing Donkey Kong country for the Super Nintendo in the 90's❤
Great work, as always.
Sick video mate! 👌🏾
I'm not really a Honda guy, I like my VW's and Mopars, ive only owned 1 honda in my life, a 2005 civic coupe base, but always secretly loved the DelSol.
This video kinda makes me want to go find a nice stock one to buy.
Honestly haven't met a single person who didn't think the del sol is an awesome looking car. Love mine
in my country the name is del sol also ..pretty much in all the countries was named del sol all central and south america too
Am I the only one who’s never heard anyone pronounce it “preelood”?
Oh no youre not...I get comments almost every day about that...I'm Canadian, some car model pronounciations are slightly different up here, I wasnt aware of it until I started posting these videos lol
Granted I'm not around a lot of car people, but I didn't realize people dislike the Del Sol. I've never owned one but absolutely love those lil guys 🥰
When you can then drive it :) it’s a fun little car
@@hermanboerakker-ub2se It is! It's no Miata, but it is pretty fun to drive spirited!
I had a 95 del sol, it was awsome as a cheap 2 seat semi-convertible. Never had any leaks and my seats didn't have that goofy colored stripe.
What is the source for the video in the beginning?)
Its from a Volkswagon Atlas commercial 😂
I miss driving my old one. Definitely a fun car. I had a 95si. Im surprised you didn't mention the TERRIBLE sun visors lol which i guess could be considered a little ironic 😂
as a owner of a del sol, i wanna make the world wanna preserve them for years to come
mind boggling how the b16 wasn't also put into the eg/ek civic in the US American market
Despite its a different model then the first and second generation crx:) what I have owned also:) I just love the del sol:)) it’s a rare car and it’s fun to drive :) off course it’s not a real sports car but still it’s more fun then people think.
I had one for 12 years unfortunately did sell it , but I did get another one for those rare sunny days here and for meetings to enjoy it.
It’s a 97 d16y8 with now 120700km on it
I loved my si version…wish I still had it!
Good video! And such a pretty little car.
For some context on why only North American sols got rid of the aux lights after 95, in every other market these lights were for the brights, not utilized as an essentially useless auxiliary light. So they couldn't get rid of it like we did here.
Interesting! Didnt know that!
He means Grindr profile
😂
Man they look so much better without the goofy fog lights.
Nice job bro 🔥 👍 💪 💯 😎 👌 🔥
i personally like a lot the CRX/Del Sol, unfortunately they are rare and consequently expensive in my country
I LOVED my del sol. And all it had was the lowly d15
My aunt traded her 1987 mustang 5.0 gt for this car when it came out. I was so mad at her. I really wanted that car with all my soul. She hated this car, it was too slow for her but got way better has milage which she did like. She's a doctor now.
My first car was a 1986 CRX si in 1996. I followed that a few years later with a 1995 del Sol Si white (1.6 SOHC) cd changer, no ac originally from Minnesota. It was totaled by a senior citizen who ran a red light. I replaced it with a very low mileage (34000 mile) 1994 del Sol VTEC 1.6 DOHC in red in 1999. All the my Hondas were manual. And my white del Sol had red strips. Bought both del Sols from the Honda dealers. And both could keep up with Miatas. Even on twisty roads. And the DOHC would leave first gen Miatas for dead easily. My sister and brother in law at the time had a 1995 Miata and 1996 Miata M edition as hers and his cars. And they did SCCA parking lot courses. I could easily keep up in either del Sol. The European models had the "trans top" a hands free targa top removal. I think that Honda lost the plot and it shows with the 2001 Civic. The Integra was gone. Prelude was on its way out. They didn't have fun cars any more. The 99 and 2000 Civic Si was heavier than the del Sol but was more practical. The roof would leak in a hard rain or any car wash. I even lubed the seals often but they still leaked. Fun cars though. I traded the 94 for a 99 WS6 in 2002.
I have a 94 si. I love it with the d16 but honestly anyone who likes these should think kswap awd. again the d16 has just enough pep to squak tires and is great on gas but there is a reason some of us call it "del slow"
since childhood thought it wasnt a sexy looking car, poor mans convertible
In high school, we called it the del slow
the del sol was the poor ppls s2k. i loved it. let car will always hold a place in my heart
People Love this car!
I Know I do! Don't know why they stopped building it so fast...
Wish they would bring it back with 4 sized engines from:
D16Z6 130 hp
B16A 170 hp
GSR 188 hp
B18C 222 hp
oh that choice of engines would be epic!
It would of sold a hell of a lot more if it was mid engine like the MR2 or rwd like the Miata
I saw one of these around and thought it looked kinda cool
in my country del sol never came with that upholstery ...it came with the normal civic upholstery
I kinda want to get a del sol, they just look fun
Love my 93 del sol samba green 💚
This guy basically read aloud the Wikipedia entry. He obviously never drove a del Sol.
Yeah, this was way too critical. Lol I wonder if he was just engagement baiting by negging the car
Love the vids but why no tsx vids
Its on the list of cars to do
These cars are still stupid fun i love them (i own a 95 miata)
the B16 del sol has nothing to envy the na miata
You sound American ? but you pronounced z as zed not zee. What's happening?
I'm not American, I'm Canadian
@@AcuraAdvice amazing. I didnt know canadians say Zed! good stuff
They didn’t get rid of the del sol they just made it better by turning it into the s2000 del sol is just a fwd s2000 in my opinion
I think the del sol is more for drifting. Trust me it's fun.
I thought the Del Sol replaced the CRX
I just hated the Del Sol for replacing the CRX. It's that simple.
fair!
FWD. thats all I’m saying. Thats one of the reasons the Miata sold like hotcakes.
Who the hell doesn’t like a del sol?
Had one in high school I loved that stupid little car!
It was the fetus that became the S2000
Hence the S2000!
I love the del sol
I love my del sol
Rebuild them all
The Del sol is the car ppl look at and think either its beautiful or ugly. I think stock their ugly lol. But something simple like lowering it and getting wheels completly changes the car. (My pfp is my 1994 vtec) the b16a3 is a very fun engine and i still cant believe i own it. Only 9% of them were made with the b series
Del Sol. The embarrassing chick Civic. To me, it never served a good purpose and should have never existed. A waste of development money. As girlie as a New Beetle Convertible.
It's ugly tbh
Had mine about 10 years, its great car VTI B16 Transtop, Only thing that sucks is the crap UK weather ☁️☁️☁️ is all we see for last few summers
I have a 94 del.sol.. doing the greatest build of all time.. a custom LS swap twin turbo...