Fast & light - the Honda CR-X Story

[@tetchuma]

The 87-91 CRX still looks amazing

[@DaBossk]

first gen is better :)

[@kamest]

We got a guy driving a JDM one where I live, puts a smile on my face everytime I see it drive by.

[@marcusgarvie4758]

@@tetchuma yes that's the one I had 89 in red

[@TornadoOfSouls777]

@@DaBossk where have all the 1st gens gone? seem so rare to spot these days

[@DaBossk]

@@TornadoOfSouls777 probably rusted out. mine got too rusty to drive :(

[@elicaul6506]

I didn't own a CRX, but I had access to an '89 Si as a 'demo' when working at a Honda dealership as a salesman. It had incredible power and handling, and felt like a much more expensive car than it was. The little glass panel in the back did help with rear visibility, but not by a whole bunch. That car had near-perfect handling, but it was subject to lift-off oversteer, something that really caught me by surprise the first time it happened (!) Thanks for another informative and enjoyable video!

[@marcusd2380]

I have a gen 2 VTec CRX. One of the best cars on the rd back in the day. A great engine with power and 50 mpg. I found the small rear window quite good for reversing etc.

[@artoodiitoo]

I have a ´89 euro Si, which has the 1.6 DOHC non-vtec 131hp engine. It's my only car, very handy even for hauling some stuff, since half of the car is basically cargo room. It is very fun to drive, and keeps up with the traffic, even outruns some poor modern cars. It must have been nuts in the 80s. Our family had a ´86 1st gen CRX too, it was very fun to drive as well. Visibility in the 2nd gen is great, I've never seen a car with better visibility.

[@TornadoOfSouls777]

​@@artoodiitooi have the jdm version with the glass top. love these cars!

[@dstevens518]

Had the first gen CRX Si, red, power sunroof, tons of fun and great on gas, could fill it from empty with $15 Canadian back then, and get 575-600 km per tank, even driving around like an idiot...lol. It was even great in snow, put some cheapo winter tires on it and the front wheel drive dragged me through closed highways no problem.

[@WayarPutuih]

Early 90s UK, there was a one make CRX racing series. My older brother got a 92' CRX Si-R in blue with b16 Vtec@160hp. Used CRZ is now the cheap option to a Civic Type R. Dump the hybrid battery, plonk in Honda K20/K24 motor+6spd manual gearbox and u get instant 90s NA hot hatch fun.💪

[@mdftrasher]

I am driving a Crx for the last 20 years ;-) Own 2 cars, fixing up my 1991, driving my 1989 now. Thank you so much for this video!

[@tivrobobo]

Where noobs can start learning about owning CRX and if it possible to buy one in a good condition ‘89-96?

[@artoodiitoo]

@@tivrobobo Well depending on where you are, there's the CRXCommunity for mostly US users, and CRX-UK forums for UK people, and some facebook groups if you have that. Best option to get a good one for a reasonable price, is to find an original owner who's had the car since new. Good condition ones can be a bit expensive, but you don't have to spend 10k in repairs and paint, like I've done lol xD

[@jwc3104]

Early 90's Honda.... CRX, Civic, Prelude, Integra... gorgeous cars, even for today.

[@76horsepower]

This was peak Honda, the last of the Hondas before the Japanese bubble economy burst.

[@Matt55131]

@@76horsepower early 2000s Honda still built the NSX, S2000, DC5 integra, EP3 Civic type R, Prelude 2.2 and Accord euro Type R. Arguably an even better line up than early 90s.

[@76horsepower]

@@Matt55131​​⁠Perhaps, but not for the money. You’ll never again see cars so affordable and yet so well-engineered. Heck, when’s the last time you saw double-wishbones on anything that wasn’t a supercar?

[@Matt55131]

@@76horsepower I agree with current cars, but I'm talking early 90s Vs early 00s Honda's. S2000 at the time had the highest output per litre for naturally aspirated engine in history. A top of the range Prelude was comparable in cost with inflation also between 90s and 2000s.

[@76horsepower]

@@Matt55131The S2000 and 5th generation Prelude always seemed great but were out of my price range.

[@zzhughesd]

760kilo car. When cars were…. Just cars. Magical.

[@TiBiAstro]

boomer ass comment.

[@baronvonjo1929]

I bought one of the smallest car I could here in the US. A Honda Fit. Man it SUCKED. Good deisgn on paper and nice driving dynamics. But no power, meh CVT, poorly made and unreliable. It has been such a hassle. Don't plan on buying small poorly made cars ever again. The smaller the car the less effort put into it. The Fit was the most practical out of all the options. Buying any other small car is pointless. So there is genuinely no reason to consider a small light way car ever again unless it's a Miata. Which is a toy. For actually transportation you gotta go bigger.

[@concinnus]

The Honda Insight, despite being a hybrid and 20 years later, was basically the same weight.

[@concinnus]

@@baronvonjo1929 Buying a bad CVT when manuals are available is a choice.

[@izzatfauzimustafa6535]

760 kg? That's featherweight by today's standard. That meant the chassis & body weren't thick, but then again this was 1980s where safety standards for chassis and body strength weren't yet to be formalized by automotive safety regulations.

[@asthalis]

Too bad they don't make this kind of cars anymore ! I loved the 2nd generation, to me it was a very good looking car with a extraordinary engine (VTEC).

[@WayarPutuih]

Get a 2010 CRZ, dump the 1.5 motor+hybrid battery. Plonk in a Honda k20/k24 motor+6spd gearbox and u get a 90s naturally aspirated screaming Vtec hot hatch. Meter from Honda S2000 is optional. It's a much better,cheaper option to a modern turbo Civic Type R. PS - imo, Honda shud've made the CRZ dat way from the factory.

[@philipjamesparsons]

Light weight solves many problems in terms of economy and performance. Too bad we have gone the other way.

[@williamegler8771]

People want additional features and manufacturers have to meet ever-increasing crash test standards and both add weight.

[@andrewcocos]

@@williamegler8771 people also want to be alive after crashes. How dare they!

[@VictorMaxol]

@@andrewcocos It's a small price to pay for style.

[@andrewcocos]

@@VictorMaxol LOL

[@dinkaboutit4228]

I hate it, but I had an '87 CRX and I've driven a lot of 2nd gens too. I wouldn't want to get hit by an Escalade in one. Although, when you're IN a CRX you do tend to feel like if you did get hit by an Escalade you would just sort of get pushed along in front of it like a beach ball... Bad thoughts.

[@sjelliott6660]

I had a black 1990 CRXsi from '92 to '96. The most fun car I ever had. It was peppy, nimble, and felt faster than it was, being so small. The inside was roomy. I went all over in that car. Definitely hit 100 mph every day, somewhere. There was 1 perfectly angled RR crossing here in Houston, and if I hit it at 57 mph, would get 2 ft off the ground and land smooth on the other side. Did that at least a hundred times. Never got caught.

[@dolfandon7124]

I owned a 91 CRX Si while stationed in Germany. Enjoyed it immensely more than the 10 year old BMW 528 it replaced. It was quicker, faster, more economical, reliable, practical and yes... comfortable than the old Beemer. I think the rear window was kind of a nod to the Fulvia. The bar was barely noticeable to me and made parking in downtown Frankfurt or Wiesbaden a breeze. The perfect car at the perfect time for me. Meinen Roter Blitzwagen

[@cytherians]

A friend of mine also stationed in Germany had the CRX HF. It got amazing gas mileage, but yikes... was it weak on inclines. You'd have to floor it to gain enough momentum to avoid dropping below the desired cruising speed. We drove it up to Bremerhaven where he was dropping it off for shipping back home, and I was picking up my old early Honda Prelude.

[@Meower68]

I had a 2nd gen (1988) CRX with the 16-valve 1.5, TBI, and a 5-speed. There was no back seat. I got 32 MPG in town and 41 on the highway. The prior owner had put Acura hubcaps on it so everyone thought it was cooler / more expensive than it truly was. I was single, no kids, ending my time in the military and going to college, so it was a good fit. I never had any trouble finding a parking space for it, as it was so small. Drove it all over the USA, which was a real treat since it didn't have cruise control. I nearly had my driver's license suspended because I got so many speeding tickets in it. It didn't accelerate very quickly (the SI, with the larger engine and MPI, was better for that) but it just kept accelerating and accelerating, very smoothly, until you ended up 20+ MPH over the speed limit and ... oops. Deceptively fast little ride. I intentionally got it up to 110 MPH, late one night, before I backed off. Luckily, no tickets on that run. But the engine and suspension were still perfectly smooth at that speed. I wanna say it would've hit the 135 on the top of the speedometer without issue. There was plenty of room left on the tach. It had 250+k miles on it when it finally hit "tired iron" status, I had difficulty buying a working ECU for it, and I had to send it to the junkyard.

[@deadp01]

Competition for the CRXs would also be the Nissan NX with its T-Bar roof, and the Mazda MX3, a FWD coupe variant of the 323 (shared the MX5’s engines).

[@philipjamesparsons]

MX3 was nice, but I'll bet it was much heavier than the CRX. V6 version too.

[@dalerollinson]

Possibly Mitsubishi FTO too?

[@76horsepower]

@@philipjamesparsonsYes, the MX-3 weighed near 300 pounds more than the last second-generation CRX (about on par with a del Sol). I owned every CRX generation as well as an MX-3 GS with the little V6. The second-generation CRX was a far better overall car than the MX-3, but that little V6 was lovely - my favorite engine I’ve owned by far.

[@265justy]

I had both a V6 MX-3 and a second gen CRX SiR 1.6 DOHC Vtec.. Must say the MX-3 had more power and torque lower down the revs.. But heck that Vtec was nuts above 6000 rpm. The MX-3 was more comfortable to drive in general and that V6 was smooth and pulled better down low..

[@ausaleve6002]

Had a gen 2 CR-X in the 90s.I was young, and I loved this car. I missed it immediately after they day i had to put it in the junkyard. Rust was the main issue with these toys.

[@Commentator541]

Because they are made of so little metal, but OMG I loveee that car.

[@dimekoza]

VTEC meaning - Variable Valve Timing & Lift Electronic Control

[@malcolmar]

Well done. The CRX was a very special car. To me it was one of those rare times when the best car on the lot was not the most expensive one. I had a first gen CRX that I had for high school and college. I was able to move into my first apartment with that car. The cargo space for such a small car was impressive. It was a very sad day when I had to get rid of it after my second engine started to go out. At the time I had a young family and could not justify pouring more money into a 2 seater. Fast forward to now and I have an FK8 Honda Civic Type R and I am NEVER selling that car. Honda knows how to make special cars. Keep up the great work!

[@rADIOLINJA]

I absolutely love my 1991 CRX. My current 200hp 2.0 VTEC motor and limited slip differential really completes the chassis along with better brakes, suspension upgrades and tires.

[@TornadoOfSouls777]

200hp with that weight is perfect

[@rADIOLINJA]

@@TornadoOfSouls777 Yeah, I feel like it's quite an optimal amount of power. Also the bump up in engine displacement made a huge improvement on low and midrange torque and power and made the car way more fun to drive. Surprising part is that the fuel economy didn't change almost at all from the factory original 150hp 1.6 VTEC motor.

[@Matt55131]

@@rADIOLINJA is that with a B20 block? That was my ideal route with my MK2

[@johnjones928]

Well first, cars are bigger than they used to be, then add more stringent safety testing adding weight to the basic structure, the desire for more and more sound and vibration dampening, occupant conveniences and standard equipment. Then add the fashion trend of large wheels and tires and the larger brakes needed to arrest their added inertia.

[@AlanDoherty-v5e]

Great video, I'm very happy to see a Honda Big Car episode. I had and 87 CR-X it was a fantastic car, I loved it, the split rear window was not an issue, and I loved the fighter pilot dash and instruments 😅

[@markdavis2475]

RRC restoration channel is doing an in depth restoration of a CR-X. Really cool build.

[@kenpallister5804]

Yes!! It's really interesting and detailed work. Fascinating given the awful condition that it had fallen into. Brave but clever. Give it a watch if you haven't.

[@markdavis2475]

@@kenpallister5804 I did a lot of welding on one last year. It had been welded before. I guess most of them simply rust away 🥺

[@michaelmorley7719]

I had an '85 with the 1.5L engine. An absolute delight on a twisty back road.

[@rareblendcars]

Well done video! I’m sorry that you never got to experience the Honda CRX firsthand. I have owned three and did everything from racing to rebuilding them over the last 30 plus years. These are amazing cars and should be ranked in the top 20 of all time! Brilliant handling, good quality build, bullet proof motors and good looks puts this car at the top! One of my deepest regrets in life was selling my 1991 Honda CRX Si last year after 25 years of ownership.

[@HerbsmanRevs]

I had an '89 CRX in the late 90's, the non-VTEC ED9 chassis, 1.6 DOHC. It's the most fun car I've ever driven. Quick, great on fuel, superb handling and looked great. I liked the rear window, the split blocked headlights out behind you. I screwed that car for 8 years, modified it to 172bhp, big brakes, coilovers. The only issue I had was the coil died and I had to repair the gearbox several times.

[@geofftefl]

Had one of these in the mid-late 1980s with the 1.5 litre engine.What a hoot and great fun to drive.

[@jumpjetcaptain495]

My first car... loved it sooooo much!

[@Hamsteak]

One of my all time favourite cars growing up. I never owned one, but did have a 1989 Honda DX hatchback as my first car. Always wanted a CRX

[@mrjsv4935]

I must be weird as I was mostly fascinated with the 1984 Civic Hatchback with it's all glass looking tailgate :)

[@pepito2900]

Sadly , me too , i now own 3 , a daily driver , a track build and a donor car haha

[@pervertt]

Me too. I had one for a few years in the late 80s. Build quality was shit but I never forgot the brilliant manual gearbox or the ability to change direction like a fly.

[@NoHandlePlease423]

I bought a brand new 1985 CRX with the 1.5 engine. It wasn't fast but it had quick nimble handling. Over the next few years it was upgraded with Koni adjustable front struts, Mugen sway bars and rear springs. At the time I was into scca autocross, running C Street prepared.

[@halofour01]

I had a 91 CRX. It was my first new car. That thing was amazing!! Fun to drive, super reliable, great mileage and you could fit a ton of stuff in it! My wife and I (then girlfriend) took it on a camping trip. The glass panel they added in the back lift gate was perfectly positioned. I could hardly tell there was a bar at all and it had unusually good visibility all the way to ground close behind you. I really wish I could buy another one.

[@frankiemck40]

I had two back in the day- 1984 and 1988. So much fun to drive. The lower rear window did actually help with seeing behind the car.

[@19sunbeamalpine67]

My dad had a first gen CR-X back in the day and I remember him telling me that he really liked it. He just bought a used CR-Z with a 6 speed stick as his daily driver and I’ve gotten to drive it a few times. It has the bar across the rear window and yes it does kind of get in the way. But other than that I think it’s a really fun car to drive.

[@jergervasi3331]

I loved my '86 SI. I sold it when the rust started taking over the sills, with 120K miles on it. A friend bought it from me and drove it well over 200K, last I heard. One of the best cars I ever owned. A RIDICULOUS amount of cargo space; I moved huge guitar amps, drum sets, the hatch area was DEEP and well-proportioned. At 6'2, I actually had JUST enough headroom. It was quick, and handled like it was on rails!

[@TofersCarTales]

Amazing video as always. That overly complicated electric roof with all the beeping was a riot. Now I want a 1st gen in blue, just like my favorite teacher in 5th grade had. Thanks for the memories!

[@legodude666]

My parents had a '90 CRX Si (which was my mom's car originally), both loved it, claimed it was responsive in the corners and had point & squirt power when needed despite the plucky size. My dad ended up selling it in 1998 since it was a third car as my mom had her Isuzu Trooper and he had his then-new LS400, and claims he had a "line around the block" of buyers as that was when the JDM/tuning craze in the U.S. began to kick off.

[@staninjapan07]

Good one, thanks! Even here in Japan it would be like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow trying to get that gorgeous little silver 1972 hatchback. It would be a nice restoration project, if you could get your hands on enough parts and a good enough garage and tools. MMMmmmm salivating...

[@Dan-bp8ts]

My dad owned a '91 CRX HF, and I spent a lot of time driving it in my late teens/early 20s. The split in the rear window was not really that noticeable, but I would not want to drive one of the older models that didn't have the vertical clear plastic piece. If I could find one for a decent price and in good condition, I would buy it in a heartbeat and clean it up for a daily driver. I also owner a '94 del Sol. I'm 6 foot, with the wingspan that goes along with it, and I had no problem removing the roof myself. I even installed it in the middle of the road at a red light when I pulled up and it started to rain. I can understand how someone shorter would struggle to remove/install it themself. Also, the thing leaked like crazy. Of those two cars, I would absolutely love to have a CRX again. The del Sol is something that was ok to drive, but it did not have the same peppy feeling as the CRX.

[@nicktheobald3128]

I had two Blade Silver CRXs one after the other in the 90’s in the UK - the first was a second generation 1.6i-16, the second a 1.6i-VT with ALB. Both were truly excellent cars that had distinct characters and suited me as a single bloke in his 20’s. Enough space to go for a weekend away with a girlfriend, or fold the back seat down to collect a piece of furniture if required. What made both these cars special was the suspension (independent double wishbone) and handling - supple, but keen and lively without being intimidating when pushed. The steering was perfectly weighted and gloriously unassisted, so the cars were nimble and chuckable. The engines were also so advanced for their time - 40 MPG on a run, even allowing for some fun! The view through the glass was great, with narrow A-pillars, huge door openings - the pillar way behind your shoulder, and decent rearward views. The vertical glass panel below the spoiler was also handy for reversing, as you knew you had just a few more centimetres of bumper beyond. The seats in both were excellent - well bolstered and comfortable - the VTEC car even had black leather with red contrast stitching. I preferred the earlier car’s cloth seats as they had inherent grip. The engines just loved to be revved - the 16 valve car was at its peak at 6800rpm - the VTEC car making full power at 7600! I now have another VTEC Honda - a JDM Type S NSX that has the same spirit as the CRX.

[@daveallen8824]

I had 2 Civics. The first was an '85 Wagon that was simply fantastic - got terrific mileage, dead reliable, interior was infinitely configurable, and a real ball to drive. I liked it so much that I went full tilt and bought a 3rd gen CRX SI. A great, fun little car, but I always thought the silly little tailgate was a bit of a laugh - should have just been a straight hatch. Unfortunately, my fun was over when I managed to get it upside down...totalled the poor little bugger, but Honda still had me as a customer - next up was a 90 Legend with the 5 speed - what a truly great car!

[@ThomasPCGuruENGINES]

We got CR-X 1.6 factory turbos in NZ as imports, they had a great reputation in the late 80s before Subaru Imprezzas arrived. We also had Mirage and Tredia turbos, true 200Kph cars, and so many Toyotas with 3sge and 4age engines. Amazing times...Japan's domination of car tech in the 80s never fails to amaze

[@SkittyDoogle]

I currently own an 85 CRX Si. Absolutely love it to death despite its issues like rust and broken parts over the course of almost 40 years. I got am engine lined up for it, an K20A2 pulled from an RSX Type S. It will take a few years to get the parts to build it, though.

[@izzatfauzimustafa6535]

Absolutely got the musical reference to the CR-X's Japanese TV advertisement in the beginning of the video. 😊

[@Daren_PNW]

When I grew up as a kid in the late 90's, I used to always hear most mornings a simple-modded CRX smoothly go through the gears driving up a steady hill outside the house. _SO COOL!_

[@thomasfrancis5747]

Might be worth doing a video on Kei-based sports cars, eg Beat, AZ-1, Cappuccino, Copen?

[@pablodelgado7919]

Back when i was in highschool, these cars were almost everywhere mostly with the guys that liked to study mechanics. One of my favorites cars from Honda from that era "especially the 2nd Gen of the CR-X"

[@ern48]

I had a red 1988 CRX Si in '92, great fun little car in the day, a bottle rocket.

[@jonathanwong8206]

I bought a 1986 CRX 1.6i Mk1 for 600 GBP in UK - 48k miles excellent condition with no rust except the sunroof which was a design flaw I didn't know much about them and just wanted a cheap runaround but wow - what a car - great handling - great engine - and couldn't believe the MPG / economy Reliable car - sadly had to sell when relocated to Asia but it's one of my all time favourites and will look to buy another when I relocate to Europe if I can find one as seems lots rusted away I'm sure it was better than the Golf's of the day - maybe would have benefitted with some aftermarket suspension upgrades but other than that great car

[@mandiandsean2003]

I had a white 1986 CRX. It was my second car and I started driving it in 1990. It was a lot of fun to drive in Southern California. It got great gas mileage and it was very reliable as long as you changed the timing belt in them when it said to. It was quick in the corners and I got my share of tickets while driving it. I drove it for 4 years.

[@TimV1987]

I had 6 crx mk2's. Rear view was great. Parking was easy because you can perfectly see where the car ends. When someone ask's me what the greatest car is, it's a mk2 crx. I own a ep3 and a mk3 Leon Cupra now and stil think the same about the crx :) Greetz from Holland!

[@youtubejunkie8053]

Definitely miss my white ‘88 CRX! I put 320,000 on that car and she was a beast! Should have never sold it.

[@johnharvey7913]

'88 white CRX HF owner here. In 16 years I put 360,000 miles on mine, until it was stolen. Probably would have hit 400,000 otherwise. A delight to drive. 55 mpg overall (60 or more highway) for the first 150,000 or so, was down to 45 mpg at the end. If you ever see one of these on the highway, they still look good, because they are so clean and simple. But nobody is willing to buy such a car now. The current Hondas are all butt ugly and gigantic. Americans want turbocharged tanks now. They absolutely do not care how much fuel they burn, or what harm their vehicle causes. Cars went downhill, along with the culture. My in-law, visiting from Sweden, rented an SUV here and remarked that it seemed "ready for the apocalypse." Got that right! Why can't we buy cars like the CRX anymore? People roll up to the drive-thru window solo in 4,000 pounds of steel and plastic and computer chips, completely out of touch with their environment. And in debt...what a choice!

[@hondatrix]

Had the privilege to test the 1st B16 CRX in Africa. The test was to see if we would use the engine in the next generation Civic/Ballade. It was simply amazing. None of the cars we pitted against it, even 2.5 6 cylinder performance sedans of the time came close on the track.

[@RoryRevs]

Thank You For This Upload! I've had my '89 CRX for 5 years now and even after doing 30,000 miles in it I still smile every time I drive it 😊

[@awk666]

Didn't drive the crx, but I have a civic ej8 and a cr-z, and despite the cr-z not getting the best reviews, it's been a really good car, it's got now about 300k km with little to no issues and it's really fun to drive, it's got the same feeling as the civic and the fuel economy is about the same as the civic, about 6l/100km but it being a hybrid it's really cheap to insure, and the tax in Germany is only 30€ a year. I only drive it in Sport mode, in economy its gutless.

[@garethjones2746]

I remember in the mid to late 90s my brother, my mate and me all wanted one of these, it just looked and still does, look perfect

[@timc924]

I owned a 1989 series 2 for 3 happy years and added a strut bar to the suspension. By far and away, it remains one of the best handling, fun and engaging cars I've ever owned. I can compare it to a Porsche Cayman and, which when I first road tested was immediately reminded of the sensation of the the CRX. Yes, front engine to mid-engine dynamics aside, the CRX was like the Cayman, a light, tight and no-nonsense car and I regret the day I and CRX met the armco on a nasty afternoon and it was written off. Thanks for making this and your other niche video's, they're educative and enable codgers like me to reminisce and lament that the electric age is nigh and the allure of the hiss vs an ICE is becoming as enticing as a colonoscopy on a wet cold afternoon.

[@2006gtobob]

I owned 2 CRX's. Both were 1991 models. One was the Hf and the other was the Si. Both were FANTASTIC and hold 2 places in the top 3 favorite cars I've owned.

[@MegaGEZZZ]

I had a ‘95 CRX Del Sol and honestly loved it, I sold it as it was leaking and getting rusty and bought a nearly new ford puma the next day and it was like stepping into a Ferrari at the time 😂 honestly the handling difference was night and day, but that 1.6 DOHC VTEC is unbeatable, to think Honda had those engines in the 80’s when ford were just stepping into 16 valve engines is incredible 😧 i don’t think people quite get how advanced Honda was back then.

[@MegaGEZZZ]

I also believe if they’d put a k20 or even a tuned 1.5 DOHC iVTEC in the cr-z with no hybrid nonsense it would have been a very different story…….

[@dinkaboutit4228]

I had an '87 DX. I've owned cars since that outperform it by any metric (except fun) and it's still my favorite, and the only one I really miss. I still think about her in the middle of the night. The best driving experience I've ever had. Just a perfect little car. And reliable like the sun. And yes the 2nd gen was a better, safer, faster car. The 1st gens were more fun to drive. The 2nd gen felt lighter (they were NOT) and squirly, the first gen was planted, and you didn't really have to go fast to feel like you were really driving. If you were only going 30 or 40 miles per hour you never had to touch the brakes.

[@robertbaldwin177]

Owned 2 x Gen 1s when I was at Uni aged 19-21. A 1985 1.5i in white which was excellent, felt quick. Then a 1986 1.6i-16 in red with bonnet bulge which was quicker still but was corroding and falling apart beneath the plastic exterior. I remember the white 1.5i more fondly. Had an awesome whine from the fuel pump when pushed hard. Fun times were had, I miss that little car.

[@mirekslonski1121]

Very good video. Thanks!!! 1988 CRX Si - most fun car I've ever owned. Miss it very much.

[@RedStarGOSJ]

I bought a brand new 1990 Honda CRX Si in late 1989. It was a quick little car but I sold it exactly a year later and went back to being a 1 car man. I had 2 complaints about my CRX. The first was the terrible visibility in the rear view mirror thanks to the pillar running across the back end. It was almost useless. My second gripe was the back seat area. No one could really sit back there at all. The visibility was a shock to me as my other car was a 1966 Chevy Corvair which had ZERO blind spots. The Corvair was way more fun to drive as well.

[@RaquelFoster]

The coolest thing about the Del Sol is the power rear window. Odd that it's not even mentioned. The TransTop was unreliable, added 200 lbs, filled up most of the trunk, and was only available in Japan/Europe. But the regular targa top is awesome. It definitely doesn't take two people to lift the 11 lb. roof panel. Maybe if your arms were super short and you couldn't reach far enough to support it under the middle it would be tricky? But you just unlatch two little latches, pop the trunk, get out of the car, and if you're strong enough to lift 11 lbs. it takes less than 5 seconds to put the top in the trunk. You can easily do it at a red light. And the trunk was huge. Even with the targa top in there, it had a ton of room. In 2010 I sold my Del Sol and got a Miata and the step-down in trunk space was comical. But the canvas top on the NB Miata is even easier to take down. You don't even need to take your seat belt off. You just unlatch two latches and you can put the top down with one arm while you're driving - but that would be a really bad idea if you're going very fast.

[@yuriglek7730]

I had a 1988 with an B16A swap and an LSD trans. The car felt closer to the 600cc sport bikes that I wonder afterwards, than to modern SUVs. The rear window was stained with small black round dots all over as a form of factory tinting. The visibility was not terrible and it was very helpful when backing up.

[@Beaula2]

After owning a 2nd gen CRX for a year & now owning a first gen CRX for a few, I can attest, they are great cars and give you the fizz.

[@car7productions731]

I had a mk1 about 30 years ago. White with the blue interior in the video - thanks for bringing it all back. What a fabulous car. Although I did manage to break the engine and the gearbox. I used to drive from Newcastle to Liverpool quite often over the A66 - brilliant fun. I am amazed I survived it!

[@ericbrammer2245]

When I worked at Gerrish Garage, in Woodstock, VT as a reconditioner, we had both Porsche and Honda brands in the two separate Dealer Garages, a few hundred meters apart. I got to, of course, wash both types. Behind my Shop, there was a 700 M strip, away from the road, to access the Honda Bays. I pitted a 924 vs the CR-X in a 0-to-30/ish-to-0 Dash & Stop. The CR-X handily Won, and wasn't beaten until the 944 came out the next year!

[@ericbrammer2245]

Oh, and, when the back , um, 'seat' was folded down, the 'flat' had a Center 'handlebar', such that one could sit, cross-legged, under the hatch, and hold-on the center handlebar. So, even With the 'child seats' folded out, two Adults and one Limber Teen could still be in the car. Not 'safe' by today's standards, but Effective.

[@lawrencebaker2318]

I had an original base model del Sol. I loved that car! Quick enough for the city, comfortable enough for road trips. Kept it for 13 years. No, I would never win a race with it, but it was fun, practical and efficient enough for me. Windows down and top off, could not beat it, in my book!

[@Ron-n2o]

One feature you didn't mention is that those grey lower body panels on the 1st gen CRX were plastic, so they wouldn't rust. It also had torsion bar front suspension. I had an '84 CRX (bought used in '88), and the short wheelbase combined with a quick steering ratio made it a blast to drive, even with the small engine. That smaller engine was the last model to use the CVCC engine, and that was the reason I finally got rid of it after a dozen years and many miles-- the special 3-barrel carb was impossible to repair, and it was very expensive to replace (these days there is an adapter that will let you mount a 2-barrel Weber, but that didn't exist back then). The hatchback and lack of a back seat gave it a huge cargo capacity, and I carried 8ft long boards by putting one end into the passenger footwell. The Del Sol didn't have that capability, so I wasn't interested in it, although I owned a couple of other Civics after that (for a total of four in a row).

[@tedecker3792]

Absolutely loved my 89 CRX Si, traded it in 92 for the new Prelude.

[@scottb926]

It’s like a greenhouse. Very easy to see out the rear. Parking is easy as.

[@dannymac6368]

Those Del Sol seats with green inserts look amazing.

[@davidhinkson8856]

The second gen one was truly awesome. My Spanish teacher - a very eclectic lady - got one to replace her Mitsubishi Lancer Turbo, and at one point in the early 1990s for whatever reason DJs took a fancy to them. I only see them on Instagram now; don't know the last day I saw one in the wild.

[@DonziGT230]

I've owned dozens of cars, but my first gen CR-X Si stands out, it's one of a few cars I wish I had today.

[@markdc31]

The CRX was a great car. I miss having lots of small, practical, efficient and fun cars to choose from. I didn’t have one, but I had friends who had them. I did have a del Sol which was great! At 6’4” I could comfortably fit inside. The biggest reason for poor sales in my opinion was insurance surcharges. The insurance companies added a hefty surcharge as they wanted to treat the targa too similarly to a convertible. While Miata buyers may have been trading in a 626 or whatever and willing to pay more for insurance, CRX owners didn’t greet the del Sol “tax” very warmly. I bought my del Sol used after production ended. The surcharge was no longer in place. It would be very nice to see a new version, but it’s probably not safe to drive a 2200 lbs car while you’re surrounded by behemoth SUVs and heavy electric and hybrid vehicles.

[@edscr87]

The first gen is really under appreciated by a lot of younger Honda enthusiasts It's not like the newer Civics that came in the 90s so its understandable. It's really hard to find parts nowadays. This was the car I wanted since I can remember 34 years later I found one in decent shape.

[@3kstra]

Perfect timing. I have been eyeing a Civic Wonder SB3 as my first car next year. Good to see the big brother of the SB3 appear in the limelight!

[@hughbarton5743]

I was a District Service Manager for American Honda Motor Company, the manufacturer. They put all us field guys in CRXs, and urged us to crank some serious miles on them and report our findings to Mr. Honda. Himself. They were invested... And the cars were fantastic!!!!fast, nimble, great on gas, great seats....I went looking for guys with " sporty cars " to compare.... Went well for my team....

[@landmonkey22]

Brings back so many menories this lovely little car..

[@chrisc.9627]

Honda Golden Age IMO

[@floydblandston108]

Hard to argue; I first noticed it in '83 (84?) when the new Prelude came out. It was like Honda had leaped an entire generation ahead of everyone else, and two from where the previous iteration had been.

[@ElectricPylon]

I've had 2 CRXs since 1991, and I've still got a VTEC - great car, and still noting I'd prefer to own as a second car. Thanks for a very informative video - just makes me love them even more!

[@EffequalsMA]

I had an 85(?) Civic S the hatchback version of the CRX. Also a couple of the original Civics as well. Fun little cars!

[@Lucas-kp9ws]

My 87 Prelude SI is still the favorite car I've owned. Honda screwed up by not making a Fit (or Jazz) SI. That is the CRX's spiritual successor.

[@Henry_Jones]

I was going to get a CRX back in 03 but then I discovered they were 2 seaters so I got a gen 3 Prelude Si 4ws 5 speed instead. Also a FANTASTIC car and the most fun car Ive ever owned. Nothing like these light nimble 80s/90s Hondas can be made now. Theyvw been regulated out of existance by safety standards. Modern hot hatches are just too heavy.

[@Matt55131]

@@Henry_Jones in Europe both the MK1 and MK2 had rear seats. They weren't super useful though... Handy in an emergency however

[@scroggins100]

I had a "thing" about coupes. Starting with a Fiat 850 sports coupe for the wife and a Alfa GTV Alfetta for me. Then we got serious for most of the 80s. Then the CRX for the wife and an MX5 for me. I have to say the CRX, with its Vtech engine, left me in the dust. The wife said it was the most fun one could have with ones clothes on.. She collected many speeding points and it was a sad day when the rust worm finally killed it. What a car..

[@encartech]

We called CRX "coffin on wheels" in Turkey because it was fast and uncontrollable 😊 It was our dream car back then. Still has a very active fan club also

[@williamfence566]

Had one of the last CRZ's with the uprated battery ( 137bhp ) . Yes it was moderately quick and had moderate fuel economy but it was extremely reliable and a handful to drive if pushed . ( the weight in the boot became an anvil at speed on corners ) . I kept it 8 years because it was brilliantly different.

[@76horsepower]

I owned two first-generation CRXs (base and Si), a second-generation CRX Si, and a del Sol Si, and I can confidently say they were all great cars. The first-generation car was the most raw, very tossable and most likely to step out in a corner (which made it fun to autocross) but it had a relatively cheap-feeling interior. The second-generation felt comparatively like a GT, with a more tractable engine, less dodgy handling, and an interior that was the best in any car I’ve owned (and yes, the visibility was excellent, even out the rear). The del Sol had a unique interior and rev-happy engine, but was indeed a disappointment compared to the previous generations, as the chassis had quite a lot of flex with the roof panel removed, and the engine lacked the mid-range punch of the previous cars. I eventually moved on to a Miata (and still own one), but I don’t think even a Miata is as fun to drive quickly as a CRX. Those were Honda’s peak years and the CRX was one of their crown jewels. Thank you for the reminder!

[@NeoGee]

My neighbor's college age son got an '84 model in white back then the teen me thought thought it was one of the coolest cars ever. I still think that. But then the Civic Accord and Prelude back then were all great looking

[@chrischerry2787]

1st and 2nd generation CRX were such fun cars to drive! As for the extra glass at the back: it was a nice style addition, but the car was so small that the rear visibility wasn't ever a huge issue.

[@marcbungener1877]

Used to own a 1.5 first gen for a relatively short period (I’m more found of confort than sportiness) but still liked it, was really fun to drive. The motor was indeed a nice one, especially for a small 4 cylinders.

[@Cruel_Shoes]

❤ with that extra glass panel on the deck lid, I could park my CRX anywhere. That’s the only car I could ever parallel park.

[@AdamJRichardson]

I had a last year ('87 I thought?) CRX Si, in silver, and by that point the lower body cladding was in matching paint color, which really made it look less econoboxy. The 4-hole alloys are still one of the best looking wheels ever IMO. It was a fun little car, and indeed very practical for carrying stuff in the trunk (so long as you didn't need more than one passenger). The awkard placement of the heater controls was actually a feature: It prevented you from using the AC too much, which sucked power out of the already meagre engine!

[@MartinHannett_]

I own a facelift Lithium battery CRZ manual and it’s amazing. Seriously underrated car. I use it as a weekend toy and it’s a great escape from my daily driver.

[@Bucketroo]

Yeah, the little CRX was fantastic. I would have loved to own one back in the day. And, as you mentioned, it was pretty roomy for tall people. I had a Pontiac Vibe with similar spaciousness.

[@trappenweisseguy27]

They were nearly all red over here, but I had one in blue. The carburetor was a bit of a pain in the winter but it accelerated really well for 80 horsepower. Best transmission I ever shifted in my life.

[@derived-doom]

Thank you very much. It's fascinating to see, that a couple of decades ago a car short as an actual Fiat 500 can look so cool...

[@BigCar2]

Thanks so much for your support!

[@Matt55131]

I had a MK2 VTEC, I don't remember rear visibility being especially bad. They're quite low, so you get good enough visibility out of the back, the top part of the rear window is pretty big.

[@petarpopovic3306]

Yes, I think that part is different in the crz, probably due to some safety regs. It looks like the whole rear end/ bumper is higher than CRXs, so the geometry makes the small vertical glass panel OF THE CRZ to almost be the main one. Whereas it was only a nice suplement to the slanted rear window in the CRX.

[@Matt55131]

@@petarpopovic3306 that's probably fair. The CRX was a good foot, 30cm lower than the CRZ which changes the available viewing angle a fair bit.

[@stargazeronesixseven]

😊🙏 OMG! This brought back so much fond memories of the 1990s Honda Civic , CRX , Integra , Prelude , etc., ... That 1990 to 2012 were exciting era indeed for the Whole World ... 🙏🕯🌷🌿🌍✌💜🕊

[@matthewlewis2072]

Always wanted a Mk2 CRX. Such a cute car. Did have a 1.7 Puma, kind of the same thing 😊

[@rADIOLINJA]

I'd say Puma was the closest spiritual successor to the CRX. I think the Puma is one of the greatest handling sports compacts ever made along with the CRX.

[@Matt55131]

@@rADIOLINJA Puma and CRX comparison is interesting. Integra Type R has to be in that conversation though as best handling. The Clio's are in there also, Williams, 172 etc

[@rareblendcars]

No they were definitely not similar in any way aside from having four wheels! Haha! The CRX was a true performer on the road and track!

[@Matt55131]

@@rareblendcars CRX was based on the Civic. Puma was based on the Fiesta. The Puma won awards for its handling and was used for rallying. Ford in that era are well regarded for getting the most out of a chassis. They're quite similar despite no direct lineage.

[@marklambert5959]

I was lucky enough to have both 🎉 a 1987 mk1 1.6i 16 and several years later a Puma 1.7. My favourite 2 cars I’ve owned. An Alfa Romeo Sprint Green Cloverleaf was my 1 car. Yes I love small coupes ❤

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Those were great cars - I always wanted a first or second Gen.

[@Soknik01]

Owned an 89 crx. Smiled every time I drove it. Such a wonderful machine.

[@Danger_mouse]

As a teenager, I had posters of the Nissan EXA turbo and the 1.6 VTEC CRX on my wall. Unusual tastes for an Aussie kid who was supposed to be a Ford or Holden fan 🤣

[@jbu999]

Love the Burgess Meredith voice-overs on the US commercials

[@fuselpeter5393]

My dad got one of the first generation CR-Xs with the 125hp 1.6l in red with the painted bumpers and a factory wing. He got it after the reunion of Germany and it must've been one of the fastest cars around here in eastern Germany at that time. :D He sold it because I was born and it was to tiny for a family. :(