Oppoinions: 1993 Honda Del Sol

"JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!" (jqj213)
03/01/2015 at 10:06 • Filed to: opinions, del sol

does anyone have any experience with them? As you know I really want a convertible and my buddy just got one he's willing to sell me for around $1500. Automatic (sigh) with about 180k miles. What do you think?

DISCUSSION (23)

Katsumoto > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/01/2015 at 10:09

Are you able to fit in it comfortably?

I've driven/ridden in them and I couldn't stand being in there. Just too little for me and I'm 6'1.

Vicente Esteve > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/01/2015 at 10:10

I would say yeah if it was a manual. But in this case, i'd wait for something better to pop up.

Not to be in the bandwagon but if I were you i'd buy a Miata.

Desu-San-Desu > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/01/2015 at 10:12

They're great little cars. They handle well out of the box and with a good rear sway bar and decent springs and shocks, they'll rock at autocross all day long. You can parts share with Civics and CRX's all day long, so converting it to a manual should be really easy. The aftermarket is definitely there and they're Honda Reliable, so 150k is nothing. For $1,500 and in good running condition? I'd take that all day long.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/01/2015 at 10:13

Basically a 92-95 civic underneath. Huge aftermarket. I'm 6'3 and 325 lbs and fit in reasonably OK. It was my 5' tall girlfriend's car a decade ago and I drove it from time to time. It had a MyChemical Romance CD stuck in the player so that's the only thing we could listen to.

jkm7680 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/01/2015 at 10:13

I'd say pass. Cramped cabin and auto are not a goo combination.

505Turbeaux > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/01/2015 at 10:14

I love em, good little cars. We packed a friend off to Clemson with everything he needed in one back in the days. All the way from CT. Barely enough room for him to drive it

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/01/2015 at 10:15

I like them but that mileage is on the high side.

E. Julius > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/01/2015 at 10:25

Cool little rides! If it's in decent condition I'd go for it. Not like you're going to find much better for $1500.

Mongo > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/01/2015 at 10:28

Owned the DOHC version for several years. Did everything from cross-country trips to autocross to track days. I'm tall from the waist up and wide of girth, and I fit just fine in it. 200,000 miles on it and still running well when I gifted it.

dogisbadob > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/01/2015 at 10:28

There is nothing wrong with that. If the car is in good condition then it;s a great deal. Used Hondas, even old ones, are quite expensive for the age and miles. And of course Honda is known for reliability.

Plus, that removable top is awesome, too.

Ducky > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/01/2015 at 10:32

unless it's a So it has the D15 non VTEC and is slow as fuck. Get a Miata.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/01/2015 at 10:38

Alright cars but the automatic is utterly terrible and I've heard reliability horror stories about them.

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/01/2015 at 10:43

My brother had one (the green color) for almost 10 years from about 1995. We were just talking about it last night. It's basically a Civic and his was bulletproof.

Don't get the Japan-only one with the trick roof and I think it should be fine. The price sure is right.

My Alfa 164 is Too a Real Alfa > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/01/2015 at 10:59

I had a '93 si. My favorite car that I've owned by far. I liked it even more than I currently like my e30 318is. Del S0l's are stupid fun, and there was never an unhappy time in that car.

daender > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/01/2015 at 11:01

It'll be more of a cruiser-convertible than a sports-convertible with the auto and factory engine specs. Down here they're nicknamed "Del-Slow" from all the Miatas running circles around them on track and at auto-crosses. On the flip side, BIG aftermarket potential since it shares Civic parts and it shouldn't be hard (abit slightly costly) to convert it into a manual B18 mini-rocket. Also it's 90s Honda, it'll outlive cockroaches.

JasonStern911 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/01/2015 at 11:51

Should have been a more modern mid-engine Porsche 914, but ignoring that design flaw, they're solid cars. Honda reliability and a trunk big enough to carry a keg. Targa tops are awesome as it's a lot easier to replace a seal than the entire top, which most $1,500 convertibles need done. Not as much fun as a Miata, but better in the snow if that's a concern. Good value for $1,500.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/01/2015 at 12:46

Ughhhh

Kinja'd!!!

Much rice

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/01/2015 at 13:07

A friend of mine has a manual 94 SI, and just had to put in about $2,000 at 160,000 miles to get most of the engine rebuilt. Mind you this was a car that he has only had for a few months, and has been only adult owned prior to him.

Steve in Manhattan > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/01/2015 at 13:17

Had a '91 CRX Si, and I recall being disappointed with this car as a 'replacement.' This is when Honda started making mistakes.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/01/2015 at 16:16

For the prices that you can get a decent Miata at down here, I would save a little longer and get one of those.

Slant6 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/01/2015 at 21:03

My friend has one. He absolutely loves it. I've driven it and I enjoyed it. One of the best handling FWD cars of the era. Honda parts are cheap and they get good gas millage. I think I'd be perfect for you. Doesn't carry the insurance premium of a convertible. And the trunk is huge.

My friend actually picked up another friend on the Blue ridge parkway who thought he could bike from Blacksburg Virginia to Asheville North Carolina. The Del Sol is capable of carrying 2 guys, a girl and a bike while having a large subwoofer in the trunk.

Dsscats > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/01/2015 at 22:18

Is it really another good decision to buy another car?

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Dsscats
03/01/2015 at 22:35

My dad really wants me to have something else so we don't run into the car issue whenever grandma comes down and takes my Civic away. He just wants something more practical like SUV or a truck so we could sell the Pilot and get something smaller and more efficient.

He's okay with a 2nd car aslong as I actually involve him on this one and get something not rebuilt and with an actual clean past