"gokstate" (gokstate10)
01/25/2020 at 19:52 • Filed to: honda
3
15|
"gokstate" (gokstate10)
01/25/2020 at 19:52 • Filed to: honda | 3
| 15 |
I’d love to have an original, low mile 90's Honda or Acura about any day of the week. According to majority opinion, the 1990's was peak Honda. We had the fantastic NSX, upscale Preludes, manually-equipped Accords and Legend Coupes, Civic Si’s, Integras and Integra Type Rs, and let’s even throw the cute Del Sol in there. Styling was excellent, handling sublime, and build quality impressive. I joined the classic Honda movement when I picked up a 1998 Honda Prelude SH in 2014....and then stupidly sold it on BAT in 2017 (yes, that was my former car featured in this Jalopnik article: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ). I have always regretted letting it go, and even looked to reclaim it back, but that’s a story for another day...
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
First, I must convince you to look one degree smaller of model scale for what you’re attempting to replicate. Cars have gotten bigger over time, and therefore, what is remembered from twenty-plus years ago was a full class size below current standards. Think of it like a rental car special in reverse: “Sir, you qualify for our Hertz one class downgrade.”
My first example up for judgment is the Honda Fit.
It typifies cheap and reliable transportation. Today’s Honda Fit is the Civic of the 1990's: It starts. It goes. It won’t bleed your wallet dry. You can do a lot of basic work on it yourself and parts are cheap. It’s supremely practical and huge on the inside. Comes with a manual option and is even somewhat toss-able around corners to increase the fun factor. It has impressive fuel economy.
FWD gives decent most-weather traction. This is a car for the masses and it should sell like a 1990's Civic. It doesn’t because we live in the Crossover Age (thankfully mixed in with the Second Great Horsepower Race Age). Driving Fits among Trucks and SUVs can feel a bit vulnerable (kind of like a juicy bug about to get stepped on), though I will argue it’s actually a bigger car when placed side by side next to our Golf GTI and MINI Cooper. It’s a shame, though because a Fit is enough appliance car sprinkled with a dash of fun for nearly all of us.
Next, I call out the 10th generation Civic Si.
Today’s Civic Si is, if you’ll allow me, yesteryear’s Honda Prelude.
They’re comparable in power and handling (though the Si has better torque and skidpad numbers than the Prelude). The CIvic Si is the closest car I’ve found that mimics the last generation Prelude I owned (
and did I mention stupidly sold? Story for another day
). Both handle better than a FWD car has a right to. A lot of chassis engineering hours went into both and the drivers are the lucky beneficiaries. If anything, in both cars, the chassis are so competent, the driver is left wanting more power. I’ve often said the above Prelude with about 100 more horsepower would be (to me) the most perfect driver’s car on the planet. I need a little more seat time in the Si to see if I could say the same for it, but so far it looks promising. The Si of today’s generation will be forever lost in the shadow of its Type R flashier sibling, but it makes a nice secret for those in the know.
Speaking of the Type R....
Well, the logical place to slot this in a 90's comparison has to be the Integra Type R. I’ve not been able to drive either of these in the flesh, but both remain the only cars I’ve ever heard referred to as the “ Best front wheel drive cars ever . ” I’ve never heard a single complaint about the driving experience in a Type R, if only the same could be said about the contemporary’s styling. (I’d also add I wish today’s Type R came in coupe form).
Are you still with me or is the tide turning against?
My next comparo is today’s Civic Sport
against the Accord Coupe.
Again, we see comparable power, availability of a manual, seating and cargo volumes. Both are practical with some sporting pretensions in a, “I’m not giving up on fun just to have a reliable car.” Today’s Civic is yesterday’s Accord (and probably better).
Moving on to today’s Accord....
I think it slots well up against the 1990's Acura Legend.
Here you get performance plus a dash of elegance. Front wheel drive again and the option of a manual. Both cars well praised in their day for handling, comfort, and style.
Finally, what compares to the groundbreaking NSX of the 1990's?
Ok, my argument is starting to get a little flimsy, like balancing a mug on a moist paper towel. But, I can only offer up...today’s NSX.
Similarities? Both offered exclusivity, supercar exotica with reliability, and limited production numbers. I’m in the camp that believes the NSX is a current flop but a future star. Again, I’ve not had the grace to butt evaluate either, but the new NSX is a performance hero and a true head turner. I saw one on an Acura lot in the past year and was surprised at its presence. It’s a large and imposing vehicle, just what you want when you place your order at Supercars-R-Us. Most of us would gaze longingly if one were to pass us by on the street (of which I have actually never seen one in the wild).
So that’s my case on pitting today’s Honda against the hallowed 1990's. What do you think? Are you ready to start mashing the keyboard and call for my asylum commitment? Or, a s Kramer once said, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! C an we enthusiasts shop today’s Honda and not have to pay nostalgia prices?
feather-throttle-not-hair
> gokstate
01/25/2020 at 21:10 |
|
Man I loved that generation of prelude as a kid. One of the few FWD cars i’d be genuinely and very stoked to own. Which is not to say there isn’t a long list of FWD cars
I would own, but those are mostly in the realm of “would be a fun winter beater.” The Prelude is definitely a tier (or two) up from that.
Honda’s current line up has some gems, I like all three flavors of fun civic as each makes sense at their price point and I think probably offers a lot of smiles for the money (i’m talking Sport, Si and R.)
I was lucky enough to get a go in an NSX and while it was a nice, good car to drive, it felt almost like a luxury car where speed and cornering abilities were thought of as being “luxuries.” It didn’t thrill me even when getting it above triple digit speeds. It was just so fast and so easy to drive that it would shrug off anything you threw at it. Maybe that’s just “the modern supercar” but I would’ve liked more engagement and yes, more of a challenge. It was one small drive though, so grain of salt and all.
90's Hondas were just so good though. EG and EK Civics were so much more fun than they had any right to be, even shitty base models with nothing going for them were fun as long as they had 3 pedals. Tegs and Preludes were obviously way nicer, but somehow didn’t compromise on that engagement.
marshknute
> gokstate
01/25/2020 at 21:24 |
|
And to replace the S2000, Honda gave us...well...the S2000 with a facelift
SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
> gokstate
01/25/2020 at 21:36 |
|
Some remaining late 90s Hondas in Oz are being repurchased by Honda as part of the Takata airbag ‘di saster’. This is because there are no available replacement parts for the airbags. Without replacement, these vehicles can no longer be registered for road use. So the only option is for Honda to buy them off the owner for their current market value.
This includes 1998-2000 Accords , CRV and Legend.
MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick)
> feather-throttle-not-hair
01/25/2020 at 22:02 |
|
I can’t agree any more about the Civics. They were a BLAST, and both of mine were well used. Way more fun than any economy car had any right to be, and they kind of ruined other normal cars for me. Those civics ruined and redeemed FWD for me, they showed me that FWD doesn’t have to be soul-sucking, but now no other FWD car comes close. Why does everything that makes driving fun have to be outdated?
DipodomysDeserti
> gokstate
01/25/2020 at 22:13 |
|
One too many axles.
ranwhenparked
> MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick)
01/25/2020 at 22:19 |
|
Because people who buy in bulk at Costco, go to H ome Depot twice a year, and sometimes have dead leaves on their driveway need SUVs.
Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
> ranwhenparked
01/25/2020 at 23:04 |
|
I got that Top Gear reference
|
Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
> gokstate
01/25/2020 at 23:07 |
|
The current Civic Coupe is stupidly underrated, and I don’t know a single person who wouldn’t be happier driving a 4 door hatch instead of a 2 row SUV.
The current Accord is also a very good large car, has more style than it has any right to , and still comes with a manual. If only they made a coupe!
Great writeup
Khalbali
> gokstate
01/25/2020 at 23:07 |
|
You forgot the del Sol
But seriously, I love the new nsx I've seen a couple and I think I'd have that over a lambo or rarri, but I'd still take a McLaren first I think. I do hope the current nsx reaches attainable prices someday but I doubt it.
MiniGTI - now with XJ6
> feather-throttle-not-hair
01/25/2020 at 23:55 |
|
I had a 93 Civic 2000-2005. It was my first car and was flawless in that role. The 2003 Civic I bought new for my wife was a disappointment - the awful 4-speed auto made it feel really weak. Even cured her of liking automatics when it was replaced with our first MINI which was actually more reliable too.
Slow Car Fastest
> gokstate
01/26/2020 at 01:08 |
|
What would be the equivalent to the z600/n600 of yesterday?
|
gokstate
> Khalbali
01/26/2020 at 01:52 |
|
I mentioned the Del Sol in the first paragraph, but couldn
’t find it’s modern counterpart
! :)
404 - User No Longer Available
> gokstate
01/26/2020 at 13:18 |
|
TL;DR: Honda’s cars all became one size up .
|
feather-throttle-not-hair
> MiniGTI - now with XJ6
01/26/2020 at 20:36 |
|
93 was a good year. That change
over to the newer generation where they lost their double wishbones up front,
really kinda ruined the Civic as a “way more fun than it has any right to be” car.
phrancis5
> gokstate
01/27/2020 at 01:50 |
|
Great write-up. I totally agree with your modern comparisons and would totally get a Civic SI if my 97 Prelude SH ever died. I’ve owned it since 2002 and while it’s rickety, loud and with a failing clearcoat and leaks , it’s still such a fun little car that refuses to die, even though it’s still rockin all factory original parts (except consumables). We had a 2nd gen Fit Sport 5mt and it really was a modern example of that 90's Honda honest small car formula. You’re right about feeling vulnerable in it and even though it’s an excellent city car, for mostly safety reasons, we ended up trading it for a crossover - gulp... with a CVT . My wife and I have driven nothing but stickshift all our lives . Maybe its a middle-age thing, but I am appreciating the comfort and modern gadgets in the CRV and I can still row the gears in the old lude when I want to.
