1995 Honda del Sol VTEC 1.6 DOHC

Summary:

A head-turner on a budget

Faults:

Nothing significant has gone wrong; the armrests have sagged and the surfaces has consequently separated from the foam behind them as is apparently common to this car.

General Comments:

Purchasing this car marks my return to the Honda brand after five years driving a VW Golf, which I regretted within the first week of ownership.

I'm driving a del Sol now for the exceptional reliability of a Civic drivetrain, for the zip of a sports coupe, and for the fun of open-top driving, all of which the Mazda Miata could provide for a few thousand dollars more. That Miata, though, would not have provided the comfort of a hard-top in inclement weather, the safety of front-wheel drive in the snow, and the convenience of a substantial trunk.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 31st October, 2003

26th Sep 2010, 21:09

Yes I agree it is a head-turner. People want to see the guy that drives this go-cart!

1995 Honda del Sol S 1.5

Summary:

Fun and exciting to drive

Faults:

Nothing ever went wrong with the car when I had it. It was the most reliable car I have ever owned.

I am six foot tall, the car did seem a little small when the top was still connected.

Seats were a little uncomfortable.

General Comments:

Car is very sporty.

Removable targa top makes you feel great.

5 speed is very fun to drive, nice on twisty roads.

Front wheel drive is also good in winter.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 30th October, 2003

1995 Honda del Sol Si 1.6L SOHC Vtec

Summary:

A reliable, economical sports coupe

Faults:

Clutch needed replacement at 175,000 miles.

Water pump needed replacement at 200,000 miles.

Other than those only regular maintenance.

I chose to replace the timing belt on the advice of Honda at 100k and 200k miles as a preventative measure.

Otherwise only oil changes and tune ups at normal intervals, which was 7500 miles for oil and about 25000 miles for tune ups.

General Comments:

The Del Sol is one of the best 2 seater cars ever built.

I have owned a Pontiac Fiero, Toyota MR2, Buick Reatta and a Nissan 300z and the Del Sol is by far the best.

The car handles extremely well, hugs corners and turns on a dime.

The Targa top stores in it's own holder in the trunk without taking up any trunk space. It is easy to remove and replace in under 1 minute. If you use the Honda brand lubricant regularly on the seals it will not squeak or leak.

Power is never a problem. Under 5000 rpm it is an every day economy car with excellent gas mileage. But push it from 5000 to the red line and it's a serious sports coupe that can keep up with the best of them.

Comfort is not a problem even if you are tall like me. The seats are molded foam covered with a neoprene type material, which translates into a firm supportive and comfortable pair of very sporty bucket seats.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd September, 2003

1995 Honda del Sol S 1.6 liter

Summary:

Has the heart of a sports car, with the value and reliability of a Honda

Faults:

Replaced front brakes.

Driver side arm rest seems to be wearing.

Driver's window seems to be a little slow when going up or down.

Doors leak slightly when it rains very, very hard. This seems to be a common problem with all Del sols.

General Comments:

Excellent gas mileage.

Car handles extremely well.

Gets looks from its aggressive styling, beefy appearance, and low ground level clearance.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 8th September, 2003

1995 Honda del Sol Si 1.6 SOHC

Summary:

A great bargain for a great ride with the wind in your hair

Faults:

The floor cover has started to wear out in one little spot and I can see the body.

The radio antennae motor has stopped working.

The car has been broken into twice, and the windows don't seal like they should so there is noticible wind noise especially at highway speeds.

General Comments:

The car is very quick despite the age and the mileage. And gets great miles per gallon of fuel.

Thanks to living in Southern California, several times I have taken the car from sea-level to 6,000 feet in one day and have only noticed a slight degredation in performance due to the change in air pressure.

The steering is quick and responsive and even without any high end aftermarket suspension equipment the car is a thrill on a windy mountain road.

The interior is layed out in great cockpit style. I'm 5'11" and I fit great in the racing style factory seats. The 5 speed with the short-throw shifter feels great and my hand doesn't have to travel that far from the shifter to the radio controls.

The car is shockingly spacious compared to other import coupes. I have been able to pack enough gear for two people for an entire weekend trip in the trunk, leaving plenty of space to store the top.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 28th October, 2002