Nothing says fun like the Honda del Sol, the lively 2-seater contribution aimed squarely at those with smaller pocketbooks and younger attitudes. Honda takes fun-in-the-sun as a concept and gives it a healthy dose of Japanese engineering and sensibility. Based on the Civic platform, the del Sol is destined to become a sought after classic open-air two-seater. Typically this much driving fun only shows up in the movies (and usually has some sort of banjo-picking theme music plucking in the background).
Used models you're likely to see for sale are the economical S model, with its zippy 106-horsepower engine lifted almost intact from the Civic line. The sportier Si model steps up the chase scenes with a 127-horsepower SOHC VTEC engine and a suspension the S model only dreams it had. Aluminum wheels, power door locks and power mirrors flesh out the detail package. Closest to the sun up there at the top of the line is the del Sol VTEC. Hang on to your radio microphone, Smokey, because this Bandit will blow past you with its 160-horsepower engine. If slowing down for red lights and sirens is your thing, you'll have antilock brakes only if you stumble upon a used del Sol VTEC—the other models won't have them. If you're inclined to avoid the stick shift and the clutch, stay away from the VTEC—those 160 horses insist on being reined in only by a manual transmission and someone who knows how to use it.
Since it first came on the scene, the del Sol has been compared with the Mazda Miata—the car that reset the bar on this category's metrics—but the Honda del Sol is no 'me too' model. No copycat and certainly no grown up Matchbox car, the del Sol VTEC has incredible acceleration (better, in fact, than the Miata) and excellent braking capabilities. And Honda enthusiasts will always point to Honda's reliability and generally attractive resale values when making the case for their 2-seat roadster.
The del Sol is out there to be bought used but if you're going to find yours and enjoy it before it becomes the classic so many think it will become, you'd better click here and start hunting down yours now.
