Shed Of The Week: Honda CRX
158hp of VTEC fun for £1,000? Shed takes a closer look
Sun appears to have taken its toll here
Now, there's no doubt that the first- and second-gen CRXs are the best ones to get, but the odds of finding one that isn't either rusted out or ridiculously expensive are about the same as those on finding a cat in a saucepan.
The third-generation was quite different to its predecessors. For a start it was a strict two-seater as opposed to the previous cars' notional 2+2 setup. The new car's styling was on the girlish side of delicate but you did get a nice targa roof. Our Shed has the manual lid: top spec VTis had (occasionally troublesome but fun) electric Transtop items. Roof seals perish but are relatively easily sorted.
Our Shed is from the first year of production. The lack of badges makes it hard to know whether it's a true UK car or a JDM Del Sol. The vendor is quoting miles rather than kms, but imported red Del Sols are known for turning 'Milano pink' with age, with non-matching panels, and the paint on this Shed has that look about it. It's not worth a full correction, and once they go really pink there's not much you can do about it, but this one might respond to with a one-day Swissvax machine polish for a couple of hundred notes. Not sure what the story is behind the less than perfect fit of the bonnet: some history and crash damage investigation is required there.
The piece de resistance
CV joints and driveshaft gaiters are a well known Civic weakness and the CRX/Del Sol is included in that. The odd oil leak is normal on higher mileage cars and is generally fixable. Distributors, radiators, fans and exhausts go. So does the PGMFI main relay. VTEC CRXs can burn through brake components, and calipers stick.
Track project perhaps?
On the plus side you can expect mpg figures in the high 30s, and a hell of a blast from the engine of course, making this an appealing and unusual alternative to the ubiquitous MX-5. As long as you don't mind looking even more like a girl.
Finished in Bright Red.
Rare UK 1.6 VTi Model, 160 BHP, MOT July 2015, Removable Manual Roof, Alloys Resprayed in Satin Black, Sports Seats, Alpine CD Player, Electric Windows, Electric Mirrors, PAS, ABS, Looks and Drives Superb,
HPi Clear / P/x To Clear
Plenty of turbo'd models in the US (and probably uk) running silly power too.
One of the best cars I've had.
With regards to it'll probably never break down, mine did. The timing jumped and it burned out the distributor. That and the roof broke halfway when closing, I had to manually wind it back.
Those faults aside, it was a great car, mine had the full mugen exhaust system so it sounded great.
Having had a Mk2, I still always liked the Mk3 for what it was, a secure targa top car which predates the 'cc' type tin top cabriolets but with decent performance.
With the lift out roof, I'd say this is the better choice, wasn't the roof panel aluminium - I recall it being very light and hardly took any boot space.
What's the betting the naysayers have never driven one - ignore the soft looks, they're great fun.
Never quite got the image, loved the previous one but this didn't seem to know what it wanted to be, sort of a Honda MR2 with the engine in the front and a bit dumpy looking.
A mates sister got a job and got given a brand new early nineties Civic VTi with the 158 bhp engine, I was most jealous, annoyingly she wasnt remotely interested in it being fast and a bit gutted as she couldnt have a Rav4!
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