Impressions of the CRX

"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
02/07/2015 at 10:02 • Filed to: None

I promise I'll do a full review, and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but I drove the C-Rex to work yesterday (and other places) so I thought I'd share my thoughts

It's not fast in a straight line. But it never feels underpowered. Getting on the highway is fine, and even passing power is more or less there. I need to get the exhaust leak fixed though, it's a bit too buzzy for my tastes.

That being said, throttle response is pretty fantastic. It's a nice little motor. It's still just a shock how far motor technology has come: The D16A6 is a 1.6L motor putting out 108 HP (when new), and my Sonic has a smaller motor putting out WAY more power (with the tune).

The car is surprisingly comfortable. The ride quality isn't as horrible as you might think. It's not good, but it takes an especially bad road to really notice it. Of course being this old it squeaks and rattles all the time.

Refinement is lacking, to say the least. This is a big reason why I don't see myself driving it to work that often. It rattles. It squeaks. It creaks. It buzzes. The Sonic does none of that. Going from the CRX to the Sonic makes the Sonic feel like a luxury car.

Handling is...okay. I feel like it has a lot of potential, but I'm still adjusting to the lack power steering. The steering ratio is odd. You really have to crank the wheel to throw it into a corner, which is a bit annoying for someone used to a modern electric rack.

The car feels a bit wallowy and mushy. I think that's just because it's old. I'm starting to research suspension components a bit, if it's not too expensive I might go ahead and redo most of the suspension to take out the mushiness. It's hard to describe, really, but the Sonic feels much more solid. Something as simple as putting in new shocks would likely fix this.

The car is straight up tiny. It's unreal how small it is as someone who hasn't owned a car from anytime before 2004. It's actually quite frightening: driving home from work yesterday on the highway with the sunroof open and my window partially rolled down I heard a loud noise and glanced over to see a moving truck barreling down the road next to me. It absolutely dwarfed the CRX. The wheels were nearly as tall as my entire car. Modern truck's belt lines are higher than the CRX's roof. You feel tiny because you are, and that can be a bit unnerving.

I washed and waxed it yesterday. That tiny size is fantastic for someone that enjoys washing cars.

Visibility is unreal. Hooray for disregarding structural rigidity. The A Pillar might as well not be there. The way the rear hatch works is very odd: most people have asked if I have to look through the tiny lower window, but I can't even see that in the rear view. The rear view mirror is set up to only look through the upper glass, and the curvature of the glass 'squishes' cars so you can see them fine. It's equal parts odd and really cool

The shifter and clutch are pretty fantastic, but the shifter is really light. I don't know how I feel about that. It's fine, but I think I prefer the 'firmer' feel of my Sonic's shifter

Overall I quite like the little car. It wins you over quickly. I'm going to look for some correct size front tires today, hopefully that'll help the handling a bit. I'm also curious to see how much cost would be involved in really getting the suspension right: My intention was to fix it up, get it stock, and sell it, but I kind of want to build a little autocross bomber and have some real fun with it first. I just ordered tires for the Sonic though, so my budget for the CRX is pretty much depleted for some time.

Like I said, more to come soon. If there's anything in particular you want to know about the 1990 CRX Si let me know in the comments

DISCUSSION (16)

Tohru > Jayhawk Jake
02/07/2015 at 10:15

My dad had a 1991 CRX that was supposed to be my first car, I like the little buggers. When I totaled the Caprice out at 60mph, Dad sold the CRX - mostly because the amount the Caprice crushed from the accident was the distance from the front bumper to the base of the windshield on the CRX.

From the times that I drove dad's, you're correct on all points. The Caprice is a pretty low-slung car, but in the CRX you had to look up to see the windows. It's unbelievably short. Also, the handling was never something to write home about, even new - it was an economy car first and foremost. The aftermarket can readily fix that now, but with OEM replacement the handling isn't going to be where it sounds you want it.

My dad likes to tell a story of one late night in Wausau when a guy in a body-kitted CRX Si tried racing his 3rd gen V8 Camaro on Grand Avenue. When they went through a turn, the CRX body-rolled until it scraped the corner of the front lip on the road.

Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed > Jayhawk Jake
02/07/2015 at 10:29

I love that you bought this car. When are you going JDM...bro?

Jayhawk Jake > Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed
02/07/2015 at 10:33

It's going stock, with some suspension work maybe.

Jayhawk Jake > Tohru
02/07/2015 at 10:35

I think ultimately it's just going to be too much cost to get it to handle as well as I'd like. I'll do bushings at least since it's only $150 for a whole kit. Then I'll just keep my eyes peeled for a deal on shocks.

I suspect that at the end of the day I'll be happier selling this for a profit and getting a Miata for autocross. The one NA I've autocrossed was an absolute dream to drive, I doubt any amount of suspension work will get a CRX there.

Tohru > Jayhawk Jake
02/07/2015 at 10:39

Despite the sporty appearance, it's still basically a Civic underneath. It is very very cool, but it's still Civic underpinnings.

It would take quite a bit to make it handle like a Miata. Which is a shame, because I'd much rather see a CRX killing cones than yet another goddamn Miata.

Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed > Jayhawk Jake
02/07/2015 at 10:51

Bless your heart for that. This car far too often falls victim to the fast and the furious crowd.

desertdog5051 > Jayhawk Jake
02/07/2015 at 11:38

Next?

Kinja'd!!!

Jayhawk Jake > desertdog5051
02/07/2015 at 13:10

God no

Vicente Esteve > Jayhawk Jake
02/07/2015 at 13:54

For added awesomeness, find a brochure on E-Bay.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Jayhawk Jake
02/07/2015 at 22:12

You're reeeeeeeeeally making miss my 1991 Civc hatch.

I miss how small it was. I don't really like CRXs because I'd rather have a squared of hatchback that is a bit more useful had has at least sorta usable rear seats, but I'm still incredibly jealous of you right now.

Jayhawk Jake > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
02/07/2015 at 22:17

US Spec CRXs don't even have a backseat

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Jayhawk Jake
02/07/2015 at 22:21

I know. Oh and I just did a quick search and found that the CRX's wheelbase, and overall lenghth, is a full 8 inches shorter than the hatchback. Wow. I always thought the only difference was the roof line.

Oh now it seems so obvious. I wonder if the CRX doors are shorter too?

Kinja'd!!!

Jayhawk Jake > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
02/07/2015 at 23:18

The CRX has different doors and fenders from the Civic according to someone at the meet.

Hot damn that CRX is clean. I wish I could get mine that clean, but one of the previous owners ruined the place the moulding goes on the sides, so it'll never look that nice.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Jayhawk Jake
02/08/2015 at 00:09

So the moldings are completely Gone? I thought they were just painted wrong from some of the other pics you posted.

As far as the doors and fenders. The fenders are different because the whole front end is different and the CRX has side skirts while the Civic didn't. You can swap the front end if you cut the fenders and weld them into a hybrid fender.

a bit of digging found that the doors are the same length but are different from the window sill up due to the roof line.

Jayhawk Jake > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
02/08/2015 at 00:38

The moulding on the sides is gone

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Jayhawk Jake
02/08/2015 at 00:40

that is a bummer. you could just paint the doors as if the molding are there lol.