Oh, and it has rear-wheel drive as well! Relocating the stock gasoline tank was necessary to fit the engine and its components into the interior of a FWD automobile.
In This Article...
Is the Honda Del Sol RWD or FWD?
The Del Sol is a targa top, front-engine, FWD car that seats two people. It was designed to be a relatively inexpensive model and to provide enjoyment when operating the vehicle.
Is there a RWD Honda car available?
Hondas with RWD do exist. The Honda S2000 and Honda NSX are two real “big hitters” in Honda’s RWD lineup, which is rather small.
One of the most adored two-seat roadsters of all time, the Honda S2000 is renowned for its superb handling and high-revving engine (with one of the highest outputs per litre of any naturally aspirated engine in history).
It truly is an excellent “riff on the traditional roadster recipe” (RWD, naturally aspirated engine, manual gearbox). As a result, Honda S2000 prices have been rising; if you’re considering buying one, check out our buyer’s guide for the Honda S2000 here.
The first and second generation NSX are another well-known pair of RWD Hondas. One of the top vehicles of the 1990s, the first generation NSX was Honda’s response to the world’s Ferraris and Lamborghinis. For more details on this outstanding supercar, read our first-generation Honda NSX buyer’s guide here.
In general, other RWD Hondas belong to the Honda “S family of compact roadsters (primarily produced for the Japanese domestic market).
The Honda Beat is one example.
The Honda S500, S600, and S800:
Additionally, there was the Honda Vamos, a Kei truck from the early 1970s that was resurrected as the Vamos Hobio in the late 1990s:
As you can see, Honda’s RWD lineup was never that diverse outside of the Honda S2000 and original NSX.
A Del Sol is what kind of drive?
Honda produced the Civic del Sol, a two-seater front-engine, front-wheel drive, targa top vehicle, in the 1990s. The Honda CR-popular X’s replacement, the del Sol, was built on the Honda Civic platform. In Japan and the UK it made its premiere in 1992, while in the US it did so in 1993.
Honda Del Sol cars uncommon?
The Honda Del Sol combines the eccentric styling of an El Camino with the dependability and utility of a fifth-generation Civic. No, it’s not really true, but the buttresses flanking the back window certainly give the impression that it is connected to the famous car-truck.
The rear window, which could be rolled all the way down, was another of the Del Sol’s party tricks. The roof of the car could also be taken off and stored in the trunk. But the rest of the trunk space could still be used because it had a separate unique slot.
The Del Sol was one of the first vehicles on the market to produce 100 horsepower per liter of displacement, according to the editors of Hot Cars. This honor was made possible by the 1.6-liter DOHC VTEC engine that was offered. At the time, it produced 160 hp, which was a respectable level of power, especially considering that the car only weighed roughly 2,400 pounds.
Furthermore, Honda produced less Del Sols than Civics during the period that it was in production. Thus, it is clear why it is now so uncommon.
Honda sold 25,748 Del Sols in 1993, followed by 21,075 in 1994, according to Car Sales Base. That’s not awful, but the sales fell off in the following years. Honda only produced 14,021 Del Sols in 1995, and after the car had a minor facelift, that number fell to 8,489 in 1996. Honda was ultimately only able to sell 5,603 Del Sols in 1997, the year of its sad demise, during its final year of manufacturing.
Honda, in contrast, sold significantly more than 250,000 standard Civic models in the same time frame. It is therefore safe to state that, about 30 years later, it is difficult to locate a Honda Del Sol (in good condition) on the used market, which accounts for the increased pricing.
S2000 is it RWD?
The S2000 was unveiled in 1999 and granted the “AP1” chassis designation for the 2000 model year. It has a front engine, rear-wheel drive design, with a 1,997 cc (122 cu in) inline four-cylinder DOHC-VTEC engine that provides power.
Honda only offers FWD; why?
simply a reputation The majority of Honda owners are, in fact, satisfied with the balance and handling of their vehicles, thanks to advancements in engineering such as electronic traction control. RWD is more durable, but it also costs a lot more to build, which you would have to pay up front.
Is RWD preferable to FWD?
For maximum acceleration, rear-wheel drive is preferable to front-wheel drive. The added weight over the car’s rear tires, which are its drive wheels, is the reason of this. This weight forces the tires of the cars into the pavement, boosting grip and the car’s ability to go forward. When you press the gas pedal, the weight on the rear tires increases, just as your body weight is pushed back into the seat when the automobile takes off. This increases pressure on the tires and improves grip by shifting the car’s weight to the back of the vehicle, which presses down on the tires even more. When a front-wheel drive vehicle accelerates, the same thing happens. However, a front-wheel drive system pulls an automobile along the road rather than pushing it. When you step on the gas, the weight transfer forces the vehicle’s front tires to bear less weight while simultaneously pushing the back tires down, thereby trying to raise them off the ground. Through wheel spin and a reduction in engine torque, this weight transfer reduces the traction of the vehicle’s front tires. Acceleration is usually slower when there is less traction. You now understand why rear-wheel drive racecars have the fastest acceleration in the world. The Dodge Challenger Hellcat and the newest Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 are two examples of today’s most potent rear-wheel-drive muscle cars.
What is the top rear-wheel-drive automobile?
Top 10 rear-wheel-drive vehicles for 2022
- Toyota MX-5.
- 911 Porsche.
- 3 Series BMW.
- Giulia Quadrifoglio by Alfa Romeo.
- XE Jaguar.
- Mountain A110.
- McDonald 720S.
- BMW i4.
A CRX is it RWD?
The Honda CR-X, also known as the Honda CRX in some areas, is a front-wheel-drive performance compact automobile that Honda produced from 1983 to 1991. It was first introduced in Japan as the Honda Ballade Sports CR-X. In several markets outside of Japan, the first-generation CRX was sold under the name Honda Civic CRX. The most frequently acknowledged meaning of the abbreviation CR-X is “Civic Renaissance Experimental,” despite the fact that there are numerous other potential meanings. [1]
While Japanese and European market models had a 2+2 seating configuration, the CRX was marketed in the United States as an economical sport kammback with space for two passengers. The CRX was well-liked for its performance, nimble handling, and high fuel efficiency. It was completely redesigned for the 1988 model year and manufactured until 1991. Honda’s CR-X del Sol, which was sold as the CR-X in some areas, took the CR-place. X’s
Honda Del Sols are trustworthy?
I’ve had my 1994 Del Sol Si for years, and I adore her. She has never presented me with any unforeseen problems. 167k on a bone stock that’s still going strong.
The Del Sol only fits two people, is underpowered for its size, takes up a lot of trunk room due to the targa top, and has subpar interior lighting. The Del Sol also gets great gas efficiency, is incredibly dependable, and is a blast to drive. It also offers remarkable leg room and trunk space (when the top is in place, that is)
The Del Sol is no different from other used cars in having problems. I’ll detail these problems along with what a buyer might anticipate when purchasing a Del Sol today.
Top leak: Predictable and repairable. Check for rust under the seal before you buy since water can collect there. To check there as well, you might want to take the visor assembly off.
As a remedy, try using silicone lubrication gel. If this doesn’t work, replace the seals, which are sold by most Honda dealerships. Costly but worthwhile.
Seats: Because individuals tend to slide into cars, seat tears on the corners are frequent. If a vendor has seat covers, they typically have ripped seats hidden.
There isn’t much you can do about this besides replacing them, reupholstering them with better fabric, or getting your own seat covers.
Del Sol steering wheels start to flake over time. Push down on the top of the wheel and look within the steering wheel covers for any sponginess.
Again, there isn’t much that can be done about this other than changing the wheel or hiding it.
Door bubbling: This can tear off and occurs near the armrest. The only solution is to reupholster, however this is merely a cosmetic change.
Check all the way around the trunk, paying close attention to the space under the spare tire and the region around the antenna, both of which are vulnerable to rust and water damage.
The Del Sol has VTEC, right?
The 1996 127 hp D16Y8 Civic engine, as well as the suspension, bigger front and rear stabilizer bars, and steering of the 160 horsepower (119 kW) VTEC, are all installed in the del Sol Si.
Why was the Del Sol thus named by Honda?
Honda released the Civic Del Sol in 1992 to replace the well-liked CRX for the 1993 model year. Spanish for “del sol” “of the sun, a smart reference to its detachable targa top that could be kept in the trunk. The automobile has the appearance of a convertible with a fixed rollbar thanks to the retractable rear window. Del Sols from Europe and Asia were equipped with the automatic “TransTop roofs, which, at the touch of a button, folded the entire center part into the trunk.
The 1.5L, 102-hp S and 1.6L, 125-hp Si types of optional four-cylinder engines were available for the Del Sol, just like the Civic on which it is based. These engines would drive the front wheels via either a standard 4-speed automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual transmission.
Every model year saw a small update, and two airbags were declared a standard in 1994. The hot 160-hp version of the 1.6-liter engine, which was equipped with Honda’s variable valve timing and lift system known as VTEC and only came with the 5-speed manual, became available in 1994. In 1995, the “Civic name was discarded in favor of “Del Sol. In 1996, a minor cosmetic modification was made, however it was insufficient to boost declining sales.
The vehicle in this photo is a 1997 VTEC model, the Del Sol’s final year of production in the US.
James Green, the museum’s manager of automotive preparation, made a kind donation of this car.
A Del Sol is it a JDM?
Despite frequently being passed over in favor of the Miata, the Del Sol is a cheap yet surprisingly entertaining JDM sports car.
Based on the hugely popular Civic hatchback around the world, Honda’s Del Sol had a sportier look, a reduced curb weight, and a targa top. The model was first introduced by Honda in 1992, and after selling out in other markets a year later, it continued to be offered there until 1997. The company was able to sell approximately 70,000 units during that time. These days, used options are surprisingly reasonable, with examples starting at under $5,000.
What is the value of a Del Sol?
What is the market value of a 1997 Honda Civic del Sol? Depending on the condition, usage, and options, a used 1997 Honda Civic del Sol is worth anywhere from $452 and $3,016, on average.