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 |
Re: In search of del Sol
On Fri, 21 Oct 2005 20:09:29 -0400, Rannie wrote:
> 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! |
Re: In search of del Sol
On Fri, 21 Oct 2005 20:09:29 -0400, Rannie wrote:
> 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! |
Re: In search of del Sol
See:
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/car/109141746.html Thanks! Rannie wrote: > 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 |
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