Honda Del Sol

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.33 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $4800.00 from Texas

Year / Model Reviewed:
1997 S

Summary:
This car is more than a typical Honda. Its a cheap person's S2000. My Del Sol has been nothing but reliable for the past two years I have owned it. It currently has 97K miles on it, and is still running in top shape. It starts every time, and the mechanics of it are like new. I know I could easily continue to drive this car for the next ten years. Its fun to drive, and handles well considering its the base model. It only has about 106 hp, but it still manages to have more than enough pick-up to get me out of sticky situations. I couldn't be happier with it! The only major problem I have had is gas mileage. Its only gotten about 25 mpg city/28 highway, which I know is not right, but everything I can think of has been worked on or replaced. Most Del Sols get great gas mileage, however.

Strengths:
Hot look (for a Honda)
AC freezes me out
Surround sound set up with where the speakers are
Targa top!!
Lots of other things...

Weaknesses:
Bad gas mileage (not typical)
Top used to leak
body makes alot of squeaking when its cold

Price Paid:  $4800.00 from Texas

Year / Model Reviewed:
1997 S

Summary:
This car is more than a typical Honda. Its a cheap person's S2000. My Del Sol has been nothing but reliable for the past two years I have owned it. It currently has 97K miles on it, and is still running in top shape. It starts every time, and the mechanics of it are like new. I know I could easily continue to drive this car for the next ten years. Its fun to drive, and handles well considering its the base model. It only has about 106 hp, but it still manages to have more than enough pick-up to get me out of sticky situations. I couldn't be happier with it! The only major problem I have had is gas mileage. Its only gotten about 25 mpg city/28 highway, which I know is not right, but everything I can think of has been worked on or replaced. Most Del Sols get great gas mileage, however.

Strengths:
Hot look (for a Honda)
AC freezes me out
Surround sound set up with where the speakers are
Targa top!!
Lots of other things...

Weaknesses:
Bad gas mileage (not typical)
Top used to leak
body makes alot of squeaking when its cold

Price Paid:  $4000.00 from Police Impound Aucti

Year / Model Reviewed:
1997 Honda Del Sol DOHC VTEC

Summary:
When I was a kid, I always thot the MG TCs or TDs of the late 1940s and early 1950s were the classiest looking cars around. When I got older, it was the Mazda Miata. Well, the MGs - I long ago learned - were very underpowered (50hp!) and I've only recently learned that at my 6 foot, 3 inch height I would _never_ have been able to _fit_ into either an MG or a Miata. I've always gotten a kick out of driving convertibles; my second car as a teen was a 1959 Chevy Impala convertible, the one with the unique "teardrop" taillights. In the late 1980s I managed to get my sis-in-law to give her old 1972 Olds Cutlass convertible to my oldest son, but _I_ managed to get in a lot of time driving it as well. :-) Problems with both those cars were that if and when I drove them in the winter it was a damn _chilly_ ride and I went thru a few tops (which I replaced myself using canvas roof _kits_) mainly because having snow accumulate on the canvas kinda ruined the roofs a tad too prematurely.
Okay, so. . . A few years ago I took an interest in finding a Del Sol to tool around in, as my "mid-life crisis toy." I searched the used car ads in local papers and on the 'net, and had a buddy at work who likes to constantly look up car ads "keep an eye open for me" too. Turned out, he found one was up for "auction" so-to-speak having been seized by the County Mounties from a 3-time loser (Explanation: Local law allows the PD to impound the vehicle of anyone who has been found guilty of DWI for a third time within a period of five years; if the former owner makes no effort to take steps to re-validate their drivers license within a certain time, the PD then puts the vehicle up for auction). As a result, I jumped on it and picked her up back in the summer of 2005 for a lot less than her fair market value. Another good thing about it was that since it was stored in impound long-term it only had 62,000 miles on it tho it was eight years old (a relatively low odometer reading for that age car, I thot). I ran the VIN at CarFax to check the Title history before buying and had a cousin who is in law enforcement do a bit of research about this particular car's history before buying, too. . . and everything came up smelling roses. No discernable accident or repairs on her either, despite her former owner's propensity for boozing.
This baby is the car of my dreams, way better than my previous fave - the '59 Impala convertible. I've made no changes in her other than to change the radio/CD player; she's all stock. She sure can't keep pace with any 'Stangs, Camaros or 'Vettes, but she's lots of fun for someone with my limited resouces. The 160hp is, in my opinion, just enough to make her peppy, not overwhelmingly overpowered. I've always gotten a kick out of making my turns tight, and _this_ car handles the turns and curves very nicely, thank you. Driving a 5-speed stick again, too, after soooooooo many years was like, as they say, riding a bike. . . . you never forget how, and it sure is _fun_.
I'm not by any means well-to-do, so this car is the culmination of my dream to own a classy looking sporty car (yup, a "Poor [and in this case a bit OLD] Man's Sports Car," as the Del Sol has been called by some). When you consider that the 160hp engine _is_ as powerful as it is, the fact that you get 25 mpg around town and 30 mpg over the highway is almost surprising.
Unlike my old Impala and Cutlass - and some other Del Sols according to _their_ owners - I've had no problems with any leaks around the top. Maybe that could be chalked up to mine's being the last year Del Sols were manufactured for the USA and Honda must've "gotten it right" by then, or on the other hand it could be because the previous owner may've coated the targa's seals with some silicone spray or grease and I've kept up doing that every six months or so _and_ I keep her in my garage, out of a lot of inclement weather.
This is one of the most uniquely styled and designed cars on the road ever; I can spot one from 'miles away' and the driver of that other one will nearly always give me at least a nod, a wave or even a toot back. . . a nice feeling ('specially when its a young _gal_ ;-). You get the feeling, too, that _all_ other drivers are interested in what you're driving. Way cool for a "50-something" aging "Hippie" like yours truly.

Strengths:
The most fun you can have with your clothes on.

Weaknesses:
Nada and zilch, 'cept for two of the most minor, pickayune things:

1. The cup-holder, as all Del Sol owners know, is ridiculous. But, hell, who has any inclination to drink coffee if they're gonna drive this car? This ain't no stinkin' multi-tasker's vee-hick-ill. Buy an SUV or MiniVan instead if you really _have_ to have a half-dozen or so conveniently positioned cup-holders, factory-installed GPS and a Video-disk player for your rug rats. (Can you _tell_ I'm an "empty nester?")

2. The blind spots caused by the rear columns/roll bar support width. But this can be easily overcome by visiting your local NAPA, PepBoys, AutoBarn or their ilk and coughing up 10 simoleons for a wide-length rearview mirror which can easily be spring-clipped onto the existing one, making it possible to see _plenty_ good enough when changing lanes.

Similar Products Used:
There's _nothing_ like it nor ever has been. According to the April, 2007, Motor Trend mag tho Damlier-Chrysler has a concept car they're calling the Dodge Demon (yes, that's right. . . . _same_ name as the old muscle car, but. . . .) which they hope to bring to market within the next few years to compete with the Miata and which will sell for about $15K (cheaper than dirt!) and which has a 173hp engine. Hmmmmmmm. . . . Was Honda just _way_ ahead of its time with the Del Sol or is Chrysler just a smidgen way-way-way "20th Century" conceptually? Just 13hp more than my old Del Sol? Lee Iacocca used to spout in Chrysler's ads: "If you can find a better car, _buy_ it." Hey, I've _found_ it, Lee, I've _found_ it.

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Price Paid:  $31000.00 from Dealership, Brand Ne

Year / Model Reviewed:
1997 Honda Civic Del Sol

Summary:
We bought the last new Del Sol in Canada, not the VTec. Five speed standard, and had power windows, locks, side mirrors, air conditioning, 6 disc CD Changer put in when purchased.

Strengths:
It's Honda, right? Gas mileage is great, love the parking. Love driving standard. The roof, plenty of space in the trunk. Rear window is awesome!

Weaknesses:
Car holders are completely unusable by the driver. Very minor leakage from the roof. Power locks have needed to be fixed FOUR times now. Roof removal can be awkward for someone 5'5" or shorter (small arm reach).

Similar Products Used:
1983 Four Cylinder Camaro, no rear windshield wiper or defrost (yes, you heard me right - four cylinder).

Price Paid:  $7800.00 from From Individual

Summary:
This is my 2nd Del Sol and when I traded my first one on a Prelude, I regretted it terribly (even though I loved my Prelude). When my lease ran up on my Prelude in 2001, I went on a search and found a used 1997 Del Sol Si (48000 miles) and I've been pleased ever since. I currently have 64800 miles on "him" now and have recently replaced the timing and drive belts and the front and rear brakes. I love my Del Sol but want it to last forever since there are truly no other cars being manufactured that are better than the Del Sol! I need to get some minor body work done, but other than that I've never (knock on wood) had any problems with it other than normal wear/tear.

Strengths:
Great gas mileage Fun to drive Targa top! Rear window that rolls down Great stereo speaker placement and sound with top on or off (even with stock speakers)

Weaknesses:
Since it is low to the ground and I live in TX where I am surrounded by ridiculously big trucks, my poor Del Sol has suffered from many car dings and one time someone pulled in the parking space and hit my car because they didn't see it between the big trucks

Similar Products Used:
None