At the time, I just couldn't afford the insurance - so I never did own a CR-X VTEC. Back in 1993 it was the car I wanted above all others because it seemed to offer everything a bloke who was just beginning to understand the engineering limitations of French hot hatches could possibly want.
Little VTEC 1.6 ready to sing its heart out
These little CR-Xs were way ahead of their European contemporaries. Motors that would sing beyond 8,000rpm, but run for 100,000 miles with no troubles, excellent build quality and even double wishbone suspension all round. The problem was all that engineering came at a price: in 1990 a Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 was £12,195, whereas the Honda was £13,900.
I only ever drove the non-VTEC version when I was young, still a very nippy little thing, and it was the only car at the time to shake me from my hot-Peugeot obsession. I loved the tiny dimensions, the shape, the clever ergonomics. Like all the great cars, every aspect of it appeared to have been touched by people who love cars and love driving.
I can only find one of these little gems in the classifieds. Our vendor is claiming 185hp, which is way more than the UK cars used to produce - which from memory was 150hp. I'm assuming that the JDM version was just stronger. [See below - Ed.] This is an import, and it's been lightly tweaked. But I bet on a tricky B-road many moderns wouldn't see where it had gone.
Proper little roller-skate.
HONDA CR-X SIR VTEC (JDM version)
Engine: 1,595cc 4-cyl
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Power (hp): 160@7,600rpm (JDM version)
Torque (lb ft): 112@7,000rpm (JDM version)
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1991
Recorded mileage: 106,000
Price new: £13,900 (UK version)
Yours for: £2,950