In search of del Sol

Hello, this is my first time posting here. I recently became a new
Honda owner with my 1995 Civic Sedan EX. Just about everything is
original, and it looks beautiful. 129k and I paid $2900. It has proven
itself to be a pretty reliable little car, but shortly after my
purchase another vehicle caught my eye. Honda's smaller, sexier Civic,
the del Sol. I've been looking, and I'd like to find a '95 VTEC or SI
model, 5 speed, in blue (95 being the last year of the -cool- front
end.)

Issues I've heard are cup holders from hell, leaking roofs, and body
flex with the top removed.

So does anyone have a del Sol? Can you tell me what it drives like
compared to a Civic? Or have you had any problems with it? Am I
wasting my time and should I be satisfied with my current vehicle? Any
other things you can tell me about it?

Rannie

 

Just Sold her 95 Del Sol... 102 000 miles. running new brakes, rotors,
Kumho tires (the BEST!)(total cost was <$240 as rotors are only $26 new
in the autoparts houses here..., and I do ALL maintenance. New timing belt
and tensioner, water pump, all belts, (total cost was $146) at 85,000,
and the radiator top tank developed a small crack, so we got a new one
delivered from the Internet for $113.78.

Yes, ALL the parts are pretty inexpensive, and most seemed to be from the
OEM, even though we went to the aftermarket for them! We put in all new
Water hoses, plugs, and ignition wires, at 90,000 miles. We ran
AMSOIL 10W50 Racing synthetic oil, and the AMSOIL filter, so we changed
oil only every 27,000 miles, and the filter every 13,500 miles.

She owned the civic Del Sol since 1999, with 40,000 miles, for $6995 from
AutoWorld. She got $5200 for it! We put had in a stereo CD player, and all
new speakers. and the car was pristine! The engine was the Si, most
popular model at 68% of all sales. Transmission is the OD Automatic, 'cuz
she had foot surgery when she was shopping for a car... Paint color is
Black, with golden metalflake...

Now, in all that time we took the Tee top off, and into the trunk rack,
only about 6-8 times. NEVER leaked! Never heard of anyone having any
problem, with their Del Sol roofs, either! We only Armor-All coated them
once every 5-6 months, when we detailed the car interior.

The body is strong, and the car is airtight!
Well, for everything except AutoCross or SCCA pylon events!
For high performance cornering, I would get adjustable high performance
McPherson struts, reinforced strut towers, and a titanium strut brace bar!

We put the Euro horns on the front, so the horns were louder. Here in
Florida the Soccer Moms and tourists don't look before lane changes, so
all low profile vehicles need really BIG horns!

I also enjoy putting the electric Air Horns on my motorcycles!

I HIGHLY recommend the Honda Civic Del Sol, which, from the door posts
forward, is identical to the other Honda Civics as far as much of the
drivetrain goes.
We had NO PROBLEM with the cup holders, though there are only two,
co-located in the center console under your elbow! We traveled EVERY
mile with our travelmugs there!

Some kids who are headed to prison broke the radio antenna.
Replacement from Honda (the ONLY maker for that VERY unique part),
is $86, and a motorized mast one could be custom made at some
astronomical prices.

We went and bought an electronically amplified antenna, which I had to
make a small clear plastic washer (windex bottle plastic) to fill the
hole, and painted the back with spray can matching paint, put it together,
and it looked good, and worked well. I did add the aftermarket remote
alarm module which took all of about 20 minutes... New cost was under $50
from JCWhitney& Co. on the Internet.

We replaced it with a Honda CR-V 5 speed. Florida is fairly 'flat', and a
Stick shift SUV is just about right for the road wars we must contend
with here. So, the fuel economy is only slightly worse, but the ease
of entry for these aging bones, and visibility, safety, in traffic, are
greater. But, yes, we miss it a bit...

And, if any of you come to visit, realize that it is bumper to bumper on
the roads, Half of whom are folks who don't care if they wreck their
Rent-A- Wreck rental cars, and YOURS.

The large number of accidents usually involve senior citizens, or, drunks,
who DO NOT GIVE WAY in their 1980's 2 ton Ford/Mercury/Lincoln, GM, or
Dodge BOATS, or else, speeding idiot students and children, in their first
year of driving. Nimble and alert is the WORD!

 

See:

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/car/109141746.html

Thanks!