1991 Honda CRX VTEC 1.6 VTEC from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A real pocket-rocket. and reliable too!

Faults:

Boot struts are weak and have now collapsed. Replaced cheaply.

Front wheel bearings replaced.

New front discs.

Interior is staring to wear, especially seat edges, but nothing major, especially for a 13 year old car.

Other than that the car is like new!

General Comments:

This is an awesome car if you like fast, fun hatchbacks. The acceleration is blistering and cruises very well at speed too.

The VTEC engine is extremely powerful (150+bhp) for a 1.6 and very responsive to throttle input, but you have to keep the revs high to really use the power. The VTEC kicks in like a turbo at 5500rpm and sounds fantastic.

Handling is very good with excellently weighted power steering,- very pointable and hardly any body roll. Not much can keep up with you through the twisties! Perhaps would benefit from some bigger wheels than the standard 195/14s tho.

Fuel economy is good, but not amazing, can usually get about 35mpg, but start using the VTEC (and its hard not to) and this soon drops way down.

The interior is not bad either, comfortable front seats and electric everything. Don't try to fit people in the back tho!

I bought this car as I had heard how good the performance and reliability was and I haven't been disappointed. If your thinking of getting one, be patient and have a look at a few before you buy. I was lucky enough to find a low mileage example with one owner from new, but it took me a few months to find one in such good nick. There are many abused CRX's so be careful!

The CRX is an awesome little motor and huge fun to drive. Performance for a 1.6 is out of this world and if well looked after will never let you down.

Very highly recommended.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 15th June, 2004

17th Oct 2005, 17:09

Pretty good review, but power steering was only fitted to Japan-market cars (the SiR) unless you had one of the EXTREMELY rare ones with aftermaket-fitted PAS.

8th Nov 2006, 12:53

I think it is an sir because they came with 14's and vti's came with 15's.

26th Dec 2008, 03:29

Yes, I bought an abused CRX and have done it up. Now it's quite a beauty. Be careful; it's not wise to smuggle people in the boot through Serbian checkpoints or toll gates as the smuggled will get a cramp.

1991 Honda CRX VTEC 1.6 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Extreme performance 1.6

Faults:

The rear brakes seem to wear a lot quicker than the front.

Sun roof has come out of the runners.

Leather seats are starting to rip and wear.

General Comments:

This is a very quick car, standard 0-60 7.2 seconds. With a few modifications, you can achieve 6 seconds like mine.

I have raced RS Turbos, GT Turbos and have never lost a race.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 25th October, 2003

27th Jun 2005, 06:06

A totally standard CRX will have a hard time beating many turbo petrol cars. For example, a standard Escort RS Turbo would be easy to beat, as it's a poorly engineered car with terrible FI engine management. A standard Renault 5 Turbo, about the same performance so it would be down to the nut behind the steering wheel as to who wins. Sierra/Escort Cosworth - not unless it/driver has a problem of some kind.

I have a lot of respect for the Cosworth built and tuned Fords, as they have come out with a very high output engine that's also pretty reliable. But, the comparison isn't fair. Until you compare a turbocharged b16 (the CRX 1.6 VTEC engine) to the Cossie engine. Both are non-standard/special builds of/around an engine which wasn't originally designed to be turbocharged.

The b16 in 6-8psi boost with the proper components built on, and mapped properly, will reach about 240-250bhp and 150ft/lb of torque. Without changing a single internal engine component (b16 engines are extraordinarily durable; but for more than 8psi forged internals and Darton sleeves are advisable). This translates to 1/4 mile times of around 13.5 seconds, 0-60 times just under 5sec, and top speed runs of up to 150mph. The car is also 250/275kg lighter than an Escort/Sierra Cosworth, and has far lower transmission losses than 4/rwd as it's front wheel drive (a limited slip diff is very successful for improving launch grip, which came on some CRX's).

I know there are builds of Cossie's with better times than this, but without spending more than the £2-3k budget it would cost to successfully turbo a b16 CRX, I doubt. And the b16 is still 400cc down on the Cosworth engine, which makes the comparison all the more impressive.

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