“……rusted whenever a chipmunk would break wind in its direction…….”. That is hilarious. As bad as domestic vehicles were in the late ‘60’s through late ‘70’s, it at least took a dachshund breaking wind in their direction to start rusting them. The smoothness and responsive nature of Hondas, indeed almost all Asian vehicles of the ‘80’s, coupled with the build quality, precision of fit and finishes, operation of the components, and their reliability is what drove motorists to imports in droves. Great review.
Japanese cars rusted out faster in the 70's and 80's for two main reasons. Thinner metal. They were lighter and more efficient for a reason. It wasn't just overall size, body panels were thinner gauge. So what would be annoying surface rust on a domestic vehicle would quickly turn to surface rust seemingly overnight. Rust proofing. Many imported cars simply didn't have it. I've read that in Japan salting roads is a rare thing. And they don't use nearly the volume of salt some states do. Eventually they did figure out how to deal with it, but a lot of cars died early deaths before they did.
My cousin's girlfriend bought the CRX brand new.I thought it looked cool back then.The car rusted while she was still paying it off.Granted,it did not help she did not take care of it but had money to go on vacation in Hawaii.lol
Hey, a car I actually owned! 1985 DX, white over blue. Everything you said about these is true! It handled like a roller skate, and although as you said "You didn't take corners very fast." you sure FELT like you were. My father, who was raised driving Triumphs and Austin Healeys absolutely loved this car. He said it was like a more modern reliable Sprite. Unfortunately, a misdiagnosis from my local Honda dealer resulted in a trashed engine, and the car was history. Still one of the most fun cars I have ever owned.
Honda used to built EXCELLENT cars until mid 1990’s. High quality, reliable, dependable, great handling, GREAT design. The 1st gen CRX was specially fun to drive, the ride is HARD but the cornering was phenomenal. I owned a european version 1,6i 16V MPI twin cam 135bhp, with a hump on the hood, regret selling it (though rust started to take over, unfortunately)
Great review! I’m the proud owner of an 88 HF model, sold to me 2 years ago by a sweet little old lady who wanted it out of her life. She was the original owner and other than some rust (just like you said) and some dings it runs and drives just fine. I get compliments a couple times a month from folks who love the CRX and an occasional offer to buy it which I politely decline. I can’t think of a car I’d rather drive when gas prices are out of control.
I have the 87 Hatchback Si i picked out for my mom when i was 13 , When i got my license i bought myself a brand new Si hatch 1990. That car had problems , but 87 never let us down . Thats why i still have also have 2015 Civic Si sedan. I got the Honda bug.
Thank you very much for this review. My fondest memories of past vehicles always involve my 1987 CRX Si. I had to say goodbye at 243000 miles because of rust, but damn did it run well on the way to the final auction. What an interesting time that was and how lucky I was to have owned one of the GREATS.
Great video and thank you for showing the first gen CRX some love. I had an 86 CRX DX for high school and all through college. I loved that little car. Even though it was an "economy" car, the fit and finish and the attention to detail on that car were amazing, especially seeing how I was coming from a Pontiac T1000./Chevy Chevette. I moved into my first apartment with nothing but my CRX to transport my stuff. It is amazing how much cargo you could carry in that car. It was a very sad day when I had to give up that car. I drive it until it literally could not drive anymore. With a young growing family and not a lot of extra income or time for projects I had to let that car go. IMHO a modern-day spiritual successor to the CRX is the Hyundai Veloster N. If people want to capture the magic of the CRX in a modern car, get one of those but don't sleep on them because Hyundai no longer makes them, and what is out there is quickly getting snatched up. Again thanks for the video.
I loved all the '84-'87 Civics, the CRX's, the regular hatchbacks, the sedans, and especially the wagons. I actually saw a perfectly preserved hatchback one a couple of years ago. I always thought they looked like they were made of Legos. I had an '86 Toyota Corolla at the time, a very reliable, very practical car, but I was jealous of a couple of friends who had mid-eighties Civic wagons. And yeah, cars were much smaller in the eighties so this wasn't even the smallest car on the road; the CRX's were bigger than the regular Civic hatchbacks, and those squared-off eighties cars, even small ones like this, really did have great interior space, like you said, great cargo space and great passenger space.
Worked for a Honda dealer back in 87/88 and acquired a basic understanding of these cars. A few years later I bought an 87 CRX si from a girl who loved the car, but her father refused to work on it or help her with an intermittent engine quit problem. Her Dad convinced her to sell the car and get an American car "Without all that complicated PGMFI stuff." The car had 118k and she owed $2600. I bought it for what she owed and the car was mine. NOW every so often the car would simply quit -- Let it coast over to the side of the road, Cycle the key and it would start. Long story short the problem was the key switch. Replaced the key switch and drove it for years. Good Times. !!!!
Retired Honda factory trained tech here. The vacuum hoses were mostly not the problem. The diaphragms that they operated became leaky. With the exception of three hoses toward the back of the carburetor, which incidentally were responsible for the control of the EGR. Those three gave more trouble than all the rest put together. Fun fact: 1985 was the first year for Si (fuel injected high performance), but it was not the first year for high performance in the civic line. 1984 was the first year for the square body civic, and the hatchback was offered as a 1500S. BUT, 1984 was not the first 1500S. 1983 was the previous body civic, and was the first year for the 1500S. It was offered in only two schemes, Red w black accents, and black w red accents. I found a black/red 1983 1500S in very bad shape. Since I had never seen one before, I figured it was worth the effort to restore. I should never have sold it, but I did. If you want to see how it looked when I offered it up on ebay, just click here. th-cam.com/video/wvk-W1T7SbI/w-d-xo.html There is also a video of my 1981 Accord here: th-cam.com/video/bmqtA6KjCa8/w-d-xo.html
1986 and I was in trade school in Mississippi...buddy of mine and I were both free on a weekend and we piled into his '85 CRX SI and went on a late night road trip down the Natchez Trace to Jackson. That little thing was so much fun to travel in when you were young (and skinny)
Great to see you branching out more with the reviews! I always had a soft spot for the original CRX and the rest of that era Civic range. The cars had a light, agile feeling and were surprisingly peppy despite smallish engines. The styling has held up well.
Really enjoyed this video! I remember seeing quite a few of these years ago, and I always thought they were some super cool sports car. I suppose in a way they were! Purity of design is a bit part of what makes an auto design great. Whether it's a big comfy car or something small, light and simple like the CRX- it's great being able to enjoy an engineer's (and stylist's) vision in a great package that accomplishes its design goals. Modern cars try to be everything to everyone, and that's why economy cars are heavy and luxury cars have stiff suspensions. I think this purity of design, while certainly not universal, is something that has been lost in modern cars. It really allowed for a deliciously diverse pallet of different designs that really do make for enjoyable automobile experiences. Also, it's good to know to avoid chipmunk farts!
I demand that you start all reviews with your rendition of their starting sounds...... Thanks for all your reviews and videos, I have learned something new on every one of them.
I owned an 83’ Accord, 5 speed manual for two years in the late 80s. I know what you mean about their manual transmission smoothness. Wow! And thanks for the virtual startup. Had forgotten but it brought a smile to my face.
I have a 1985 blue and grey crx (automatic) with 87,000 original miles in decent shape , I've only seen one other 1st gen. Crx so far you never ever see them , can't believe how rare this little car is !!!!!!!!!!.…................... Erik
I own two. I have owned my 86 CRX Si since 1992. It’s always been a fun commuter car and weekend racer. I swapped a B16a into in 2000 and it made it cable of 13.5s in the 1/4 and even more fun on the track. Now it has a K24a making 220hp and 200ftlbs to the tires and is an absolute street and track monster. I also own an 85 CRX 1.5L with 75,000 original miles with working AC and cassette. So fun and comfortable to drive. Great video and I know I am bias but these little cars are an absolute blast. Anyone saying otherwise never drove one.
Video reminds me when I first got my drivers license. My Father had a 73 Electra 4 door hard top and my Mother had a 71 Opel Rallye. Getting into one from the other was a blast. Had lots of Fun driving both cars.
These were really great little cars, underappreciated at the time, I believe. I had an '86 Civic, the regular hatchback version. These Hondas were extremely dependable, especially compared to their competition (except Toyota and Datsun), as the US manufacturers were still in their "malaise" era, and their gas mileage was fantastic, on par with what hybrids were achieving 25 years later. I'm glad they're getting some favorable recognition. Most of them rusted away, or were abused and neglected since they were low-cost, bare bones economy cars, and very few were babied and preserved over the years.
I remember a M/T article with an 84 1.3l model, they were trying to go from Salt Lake City to L.A. on one tank of gas. It took a few tries but they made it, I do remember one of the test cars had the regular 1.5 trans that was geared shorter. Must have been a mix up at the factory. The 1.3 had a trans with much taller gearing. My mom had a regular 85 Crx, yes they were really great cars.
So i had a friend with one of these, my solution... a smoke machine. These days their fairly easy to find but back then i had to DIY the whole thing. A paint can with a O-ring and hose does wonders. It most certainly made it easier. Edit: as a side note: 13 inch tires means nothing. My Fiat X 1/9 did corners like a champ.
In 1983, I worked for Avis Rent-A-Car, and we had a red Prelude. That was my first Honda driving experience, and I fell in love with the car immediately. In more recent years, I got a 1992 Accord, and it's 95% of what I want in a Honda. Amazing driving experience.
First, I just LOVE the fact that you had historical plates on it. You are right -- another car that was once everywhere (especially here in CA) and is now nowhere. I was also surprised to hear about all of the vacuum lines -- I thought that was an American car foible of the era.
I owned a 1985 CRX Si, bought new in August of that year when the car first came out. My dad and I went shopping for my first car and we tested the Jetta GLI and a few other imports, but as soon as I drove away in the CRX I knew that was the one! I'm 6'2" and, as you said, there was plenty of leg room; I could even stretch my legs straight out without obstruction. That car was fast for the time and well built. It never gave me any trouble. I kept the car until it had 185K+ miles, all with the original clutch, and it was still running great when I sold it. I never had any issues with rust, and I lived in the northeast. What a great little car (blue like yours).
I still have my 87 crx and agree they are well engineered and well assembled but material quality is very poor. Quality of the steel, fabrics, and especially the plastics is awful. The plastic body panels are extremely brittle. I think adam even understated how easily those pieces like fenders and lower body side cladding will shatter.
I worked at a Chevy dealership in the 80's as a car jockey and I got to drive all kinds of cars. Some memorable ones were a 1980 L82 Corvette, the Corvette ZR-1 when it first came out in late 1989, various Cadillacs, Cavalier Z24's and Beretta GT's, Sunbird GT Turbos, Mustang GTs, Camaro IROCs, a 1984 Anniversary Trans Am, a 2.2 Turbo Shelby Charger, a Saab 9000 Turbo, etc, etc. Lots of fun cars. But the funnest (is that a word?) of all was a 1989 Honda CRX Si. It had a 5 speed manual, it was yellow and it had a sunroof and a black interior. That car was so fun to drive. I'd have to go out several times a day from the dealership to the licence bureau downtown and back - and I loved taking the CRX on that drive. The only car I maybe enjoyed more was a gunmetal gray Mustang LX 5.0 hatchback - that car was a HOOT! But yea, that CRX was something special.
I had two CRX’s- a 1984 ( first gen ) and then a 1988 ( second gen ). Both fun cars. Most don’t and never will understand the dynamic driving those. Thank you for this video.
Thanks for posting this video. I am the proud owner of a 1984 Honda CRX. My serial number is 1176, manufactured in August of 83 so it's one of the early ones. I wish there was a way to send you some pictures of it. Mine has 120k miles and since it's a western car, has no rust! It's not perfect but in very good shape and runs excellent. Mine is white with the gray trim. The one letdown for many enthusiasts is Mine is an automatic, but I don't mind as all of my other vehicles are manuals.
I have a white/grey 87 crx 1.5 that's still original except the wheels. I prefer the steel wheels on your 84 so that's what I put on it. I also like the 84 headlights better. No rust on mine either and I obviously dont drive it in winter.
Always loved the CRX. Never got my hands on one, but later did get a '95 Civic SI Coupe (factory model in Canada). Paid $400 for it, threw a clutch in it, drove it for 5 and 1/2 years. Gave it to my kid who loved that VTEC and still has it. Going strong at 400,000km. I have never regretted buying Civics...
I like seeing someone being passionate without being blinded by that same passion. As someone who used to be a bit of an anti-american carguy (which considering I'm european shouldn't be that much of a surprise), but you've got me interested in a few of those nice big pre-seventies cars. Keep up the good work and keep enjoying yourself xD
Oh my am I amazed. Who would have thought you would do a Honda CRX review. My sister bought a fuel injected one new and I got to test drive it right after she bought it. Well, I am glad you had such a glowing review, mostly, for this car. My sister thought I stole the car. My short test drive ended up being over 2 hours! I agree with all your accolades for this car. I had so much fun I didn't want to give it back, but I had a Chevrolet Super Sport 409 so I would not have kept her car. I did however, consider buying one for just a runabout for great gas mileage and fun. And of course, Honda had a great reputation. That test drive often comes up when we have big family gatherings to this day. Thank you and I will send her this review. And yes, keep coming up with new ways to do your videos. You have me sold anyway with your collection, but this was sure fun.
Had an ‘86. It was my first car. The best, most fun car I ever owned! Thank you for doing this video! Your critiques are spot on! I had the Fuel Injection, so no vacuum issues like you described, but the poor body was completely rotted. I absolutely loved this car. The combo of refined engineering, lightweight and economy put together we’ll never see again, because people want big and more power. Amazing that in the 80s we could get upwards of 50 mpg with not too much rocket science. We should go back to this format. I would buy one!
I had the black 87 CRX Si. That was a great car. Just fun. It was my first "sports car". I followed with an RX7 and an S2000. But I still look back at that little CRX Si with very fond memories. Never had any problems and you were right that it was buttery smooth shifting through the gears. It's lightness made it the closest thing to a street legal go cart you could drive off the dealer showroom in 1987. Wish I still had it today, but I still have my S2000!
I owned a red 84 CRX. I lived that car and it got as much as 47 mpg on the highway. The build quality was exceptional. It was tiny though and I had to sell it when we started having kids. I wish I could find one in good shape but it seems they have all been destroyed by boy racers. Thanks for posting this!
My friend had one, it was like riding on a roller-skate. My 65 El Camino with factory 327 has one vacuum hose, vacuum advance--simple..... Any format you do is fine. Thanks for posting.
That sound of an 80's Honda ignition is very satisfying. I remember it well-I had two 80's Accords. Much to the dislike of my older brother, Honda lured me away from American cars by the time I was old enough to drive. There was just something about them- mainly the rev of the engine and the steering feel but also a "Honda-ness" that was lost by the late 90's.
I had an ‘87 and I loved it. Drove it for 11 years. I sold it because I moved to another city and my parents worried it would break down and my mech brother wouldn’t be around to fix it. I still regret selling it. It was so fun to drive. And I didn’t have any issues with rust. I lived in Vancouver where it rains all the time and there was no rust-and I even had the dealer cut it open and drop in a sunroof when I got it new.
I owned a 1984 LX sedan, a 1985 S hatchback and a 1989 SI hatchback. When I purchased my first (1985 S hatch) I was absolutely blown away by the elegance of pure simplicity and the precise engineering and almost spartan (but hardly austere) design. The 1984 Civic was certainly a landmark design. I look at the current Civic model and wonder why the car has become so complex and so big and heavy when the 1984 models still feel contemporary and fresh.
Adam, I will say one thing about the common cars we drove in the 80s and 90s, the amount of power under the hood (70-120 hp) was much more closely aligned to the driving qualifications of the people operating them. In the modern era, horsepower has gone through the roof without any commensurate increase in driving skill.
Any increase in skill? All told IMO the overall skill level is lower. Along with general courtesy when driving. There have always been butt holes on the road. But today there seem to be a higher percentage of them. Then add in the distractions. Smart phones are the biggest ones. After all. One needs to remember it's all about THEM! By and large speed limits are a joke on urban expressways. In my area it is not uncommon to see the flow of traffic moving at 10 to 15 mph over the limit. Maybe I really am turning into an old fart.
@@mpetersen6 Despite the incredible advancements in safety equipment and crash structure in modern vehicles, the fatality rate is increasing. That can only be explained by the factors you have listed.
@@mpetersen6 In my opinion, people drive like idiots just because they can. New cars are too forgiving. Give everyone something pre-1973 with drum brakes, and then see what happens. I can talk like this because my hobby car is a 1970 Plymouth Fury.
@@OnkelPHMagee Well there is the alleged quote from George Carlin about how stupid the average person is. I once followed an older gentleman into a parking lot. He wandered around like he was lost and parked across three of four parking spaces. His personalized plates were LOU IQ.
There is a story, which I believe to be true (or largely true) that when Honda introduced the CVCC cylinder head and met the then-current emissions standards with it, a GM executive was dismissive of it saying (words to the effect of) "Well, that's fine for those little toy 4-cylinder engines but American V-8s are a different story." This prompted Honda to quietly go out a buy a 350 cu in GM V-8, cast CVCC cylinder heads for it, and then submitted it to the EPA for testing. Just like the Honda 4-cyl CVCC, it passed without a catalytic converter.
@@guyderagisch4964 I'd love to have someone like Adam verify its accuracy but if you Google the issue, you'll see the story turns up a lot (and I know that, alone, means nothing).
@@xqqqme I do know that a 1986 K20 suburban with a small block and emissions deleted ran cleaner with air injection tubes pulling air in venturi. But I know trucks had different rating to cars. In 1975, Hot Rod I believe ran an article with an illegal Nova with a 671 on top of a V8 and it's tune was cleaner than emissions cars of the time.
@@guyderagisch4964 Being a 3-time Honda owner, all I know is about the CVCC head. Ultimately, emissions regs got too tight for even CVCC and, as Adam points out, fuel injection (along with the catalytic converters that Honda was initially skeptical of) helped address those lower limits.
I enjoy all of your video's, regardless of format. I love all of the old American iron as well. I also enjoy many of the foreign makes. I wonder if you could do a video on the first Honda Accord, both the positives and negatives and how that was such a game changer? You seem to have access to such a vast supply of info as well as your own deep knowledge of all things automotive. Thanks, Adam!
I had a '86 HF model. 50 mpg. Loved that thing. So much fun to drive. Actually a joy to drive and own. before i could get the timing chain replaced, my Brother-in-Law blew it up.
In 2003 I had to replace my 85 Plymouth Reliant and was dead set in a 88 crx si or gen 2 Prelude Si. I went with the Prelude when I discocevered the crx had no back seat. I got an 88 Si 4ws 5 speed and OMG coming from a K car it was revolutionary. Its the most fun car Ive driven to this day. Beyond the amazingly solid build quality you could see while driving how all the engineers worked together in 1 team to make it so great. The engine, stick, clutch, steering, suspension, all worked in harmony to deliver an amazingly fun car to drive. Unfortunately I didnt have it for long. It was plaged with electrical gremlins. I junked it aftet in wet weather i breaked in a turn, rhe wheels locked up (no abs, mototweek noted these were prone to wheel lock up) and i crashed into a curb destroying the passengee side suspension and wheel assembly. Not worth fixing AND the electrical problems. I had to junk it. And if youre curious about the 4ws,,,it really wasnt that noticeable.
Great review, thanks; my '91 Civic SI remains a favourite memory, lovely when VETEC kicked in; go-kart handling, fantastic looks, sophisticated for the time and marketplace
This brings back memories of my 1984 CRX. It was geared so tall that I could get 70 mph in 2nd gear before the redline. It's top speed was higher in 4th gear rather than 5th, and 105 mph was about all I could wring out of that tiny 1200 cc engine. 50+ mpg all day long and a blast to toss around. I wish I still had it.
My friend's family, in Bismarck, ND bought probably the first 1984 Honda Civic DX 3 Door Hatch....when I say first, they had the car in September 1983. It looked really modern compared to other cars on the market....It had a manual transmission and a plaid cloth interior...and was fun to drive...though I was only a passenger. And the door and seatbelt warning beeps were spot on. Even our 1999 Honda Odyssey had that. Friends owning Hondas influenced my purchases later...Namely one Acura MDX and 4 Honda Odyssey vans. Another family had an 84 Honda Accord 3 door hatch...red and with a manual transmission....enjoyed being a passenger in that car as well. The family ordered it and the dealer gave them a gold Accord hatch as a demo car to use while they were waiting for theirs....and I had a chance to drive it on their cabin property..and tried to convince my GM/buy American dad to give them a try....eventually my parents bought Subarus.... Listening to a Honda or Toyota idling next to an Iron Duke was certainly eye opening.
I own both an 87 crx as well as a couple 80s gm cars with iron dukes and the smoothness difference is startling. Iron duke is also a fairly large engine for a 4 cylinder.
The Toyota Corolla FX of that era was a great hatchback and very cheap to keep also. I had an 87 5 speed with air and a tape deck, a young guy's requirements. Very pragmatic and could carry 4 people or move your belongings. They weren't popular and they could be bought at nice discounts. Only rust area was the muffler, replaced it 3 times... My girlfriend had a CRX and it was fun to drive but my Corolla was more practical and comfortable imo. The CRX handled better and probably got mileage. I wish i had the FX GT 4V....My next girlfriend had a Celica ST... upgrade !
I bought the first 84 CRX 1.5 5-speed that was delivered new in Denver. I traded a 280ZX in on it. It was a blast to drive, it felt like a go-cart with air conditioning. It was my first front wheel drive car so I had to get used to balancing the throttle to control the massive understeer in corners. I had issues with the engine cutting out if I parked it hot and tried to start it and drive away in 15-30 minutes. The dealer told me that the hot carb would "percolate" the gas. I bought an 87 Civic Si to get the fuel injection (I couldn't fit under the sunroof of the CRX SI), it was also fun but not as tossable as the CRX. I miss both cars.
Adam really enjoyed this video it brought back memories of my wife's 77 Accord CVCC 5 speed manual hatchback which had a 1.5 but less vacuum lines. She had that car for over 17 years and it consistently got 40 mpgs and was peppy. Agree about the comparison to the Iron Duke but from experience my 85 Mercury Lynx (or as my mechanic called it the Escort wannabee) with a 4 speed manual was clunky and could barely get out of its own way. The tin worm finally got the Accord even though I had it Ziebarted. The only car I enjoyed driving more than was an 81 Lancia Beta which had a 5 speed manual fuel injected and I literally did a U Turn at 50 mph. There are very few small peppy fun driving cars anymore with maybe the exception of a manual Mazda Miata but those are not the easiest cars to get in and out of.
Thanks for standing outside and freezing for us. My father had one of these, I think it was the SI model with the fuel injection. He loved it. Didn't keep it long enough for it to rust though. Just what fender parts were plastic??
Wonderful to see you talk about an import car! I didn’t get my first Honda until 2014 (‘07 Civic EX auto) but in 1986 I bought an ‘84 Dodge Colt E 3-door with 80k miles and a dented passenger door. It had a 1.4L carbureted 4 cylinder and a speed manual. Specs say it weighed 1,865 lbs and did 0-60 in 13.4 seconds. It was very basic, but a substantially better car than the ‘79 Ford Fairmont Futura I had, or the ‘75 Mercury Monarch Ghia before that.
What an amazing CRX! I loved my 1982 Honda Accord 5 speed Sedan that I drove until I purchased a 1988 Accord LXi fuel injected sedan with an automatic. I still preferred my 1982 until I couldn’t take driving a manual around San Francisco!
I had an 86 Civic Si way back, 1992-1995. I loved that car, my first Honda. The transmission was outstanding, and for a 21yr old, it was quick enough and certainly handled far better than my first car, a 5-SPEED 1989 Ford Escort LX
I almost bought a blue and gray 85 CRX,,, I drove it and was in love with it and couldn't believe that I fit in it so well being 6' 3 and a 1/2,,, but better senses prevailed and I bought an 85 F150 with the 5.8 4 barrel which was one hell of a machine.. It also got almost 50 miles per gallon... lol
Owned the '87 Si version, drove the hell out of it, enjoyed it so much. You're so right about how much fun it was. My buddies had Mustang 5.0L GT's and both took my car for a spin and came back grinning from ear to ear, saying it cornered on rails. Meanwhile I took their cars for a spin and thought, great power, but otherwise, awful. Handled like crap.
I used to have an 1987 Civic HF. I got it well used in 1993 with 180k miles. The previous owner spent a bunch of money to keep it running, new cylinder head, new transmission and clutch. Got it for $1200 and drove it for more than 40K miles with no trouble. It got close to 60 miles per gallon on the highway. Drove from Detroit to New York for like $10
My Wife still has her 85 Prelude DX she bought new . I has been a great car and is a joy to drive . When I was commuting I wanted to buy a CRX HF and you couldn't get them anywhere . I ended up with several Ford Escorts in the early 90s and although they weren't Hondas they were very good cars .
I owned a 1985 a Prelude Si with an 4-speed automatic and a 1989 Prelude Si with a 5 speed manual. I absolutely loved the latter car and only gave it up because the kids were outgrowing the back seat. I missed that car so much that in 2003 I got what to me was the next best thing, a Mazda Protege5, which now has 140,000 miles on its bullet-proof engine.
I remember 2 of my friends bought 1986 Honda crx’s one white and one silver, and yes in a few years RUST! I loved them but was concerned about the size. They were fun and reliable. I was driving a 1968 Impala SS at the time, only paid 1000 bucks for it but I was jealous of their gas mileage. We used to drive down the shore and I told them if your breaks down we can just put your crx in my trunk and drive home. Living in northern New Jersey there were just to many big cars on the road and I was a passenger in the crx once, never again. To this day my friend has always bought Honda’s.
Great presentation, great advice. The paper thin quality of these cars was what spoiled it for me, fun as they were to drive. Japanese cars back then were not for everybody.
Anyway regarding repairs, I found an excellent mechanic here in the Phoenix Arizona area who specializes in older Japanese vehicles. I found out about him at a car show. I saw an old Honda (first gen Civic) at a show and asked the owner where he gets it worked on. Excellent way to get a mechanic recommendation. Sadly, that mechanic has recently lost his shop (thanks to light rail and neighborhood gentrification) and as far as I know doesn't have a new shop yet.
I too have cracked the fender on my 84 CRX by leaning on it. Fortunately there is a place, Heeltoe Automotive out of Oregon, that fabricated me a new front fender which is probably a lot less fragile than the original one.
My buddy had one of these back when we were in high school. He beat the tar out of that thing and it never broke. I remember the smooth high winding engine.
My Civic wagon was fantastic - you could almost believe the engine was Italian, except it didn't break. It just seemed to say "Come on, is that all you got? Beat me some more!". A really fun car - and it never broke.
I was a lot attendant at a Honda dealership in the early 1990s and these cars were everywhere! They were fun to drive and they were quick for what they were! The only thing I didn't like about them was that the seats were uncomfortable after a while - at least for me.
I owned a 85 crx ci in black that I ordered by putting 500 dollars down to secure the car because it was in such demand I loved that car ! I would smoke Z 28’s light to light the car was a blast to drive I lived in Iowa at the time of delivery and driving in winter you couldn’t get that car stuck I eventually moved to Texas and racked up 250 thousand miles and sold it to a fireman it was still going strong ! My first new car I won’t forget it lots of good memories ❤️
In 97 or so I bought an 87 (I think it was an 87) at a repo auction for $975, without even knowing if it ran (the battery was dead.) Damn, that was a fun little car!! The first weekend my boyfriend at the time got a speeding ticket, 55 mph in a 20 zone at a state park. I got a ticket the following week. I loved that little car, but I bought it to make some money with it, so the second weekend I sold it for $1,950 to a kid who worked at the Honda plant in Marysville OH. It needed new CV joints, but apparently the plant had a shop where they'd repair employee's cars at cost, so he didn't mind the repair. I still think about that cute, fun little car. A couple of years later I bought a 91 CRX, the only car I've ever purchased at a dealer, and I think I paid $3,600. The asking price was $6,500, which was way too high for me. I loved that car as well, but the 87 still stays in my mind. I wish I still had both of them 😪
“……rusted whenever a chipmunk would break wind in its direction…….”. That is hilarious. As bad as domestic vehicles were in the late ‘60’s through late ‘70’s, it at least took a dachshund breaking wind in their direction to start rusting them.
The smoothness and responsive nature of Hondas, indeed almost all Asian vehicles of the ‘80’s, coupled with the build quality, precision of fit and finishes, operation of the components, and their reliability is what drove motorists to imports in droves.
Great review.
Japanese cars rusted out faster in the 70's and 80's for two main reasons.
Thinner metal. They were lighter and more efficient for a reason. It wasn't just overall size, body panels were thinner gauge. So what would be annoying surface rust on a domestic vehicle would quickly turn to surface rust seemingly overnight.
Rust proofing. Many imported cars simply didn't have it. I've read that in Japan salting roads is a rare thing. And they don't use nearly the volume of salt some states do. Eventually they did figure out how to deal with it, but a lot of cars died early deaths before they did.
My cousin's girlfriend bought the CRX brand new.I thought it looked cool back then.The car rusted while she was still paying it off.Granted,it did not help she did not take care of it but had money to go on vacation in Hawaii.lol
Hey, a car I actually owned! 1985 DX, white over blue. Everything you said about these is true! It handled like a roller skate, and although as you said "You didn't take corners very fast." you sure FELT like you were. My father, who was raised driving Triumphs and Austin Healeys absolutely loved this car. He said it was like a more modern reliable Sprite. Unfortunately, a misdiagnosis from my local Honda dealer resulted in a trashed engine, and the car was history. Still one of the most fun cars I have ever owned.
Honda used to built EXCELLENT cars until mid 1990’s. High quality, reliable, dependable, great handling, GREAT design. The 1st gen CRX was specially fun to drive, the ride is HARD but the cornering was phenomenal. I owned a european version 1,6i 16V MPI twin cam 135bhp, with a hump on the hood, regret selling it (though rust started to take over, unfortunately)
Great review!
I’m the proud owner of an 88 HF model, sold to me 2 years ago by a sweet little old lady who wanted it out of her life. She was the original owner and other than some rust (just like you said) and some dings it runs and drives just fine. I get compliments a couple times a month from folks who love the CRX and an occasional offer to buy it which I politely decline. I can’t think of a car I’d rather drive when gas prices are out of control.
I had a 90 SI that I swapped in a JDM "ZC" which had 140hp if you can find one of those zc's and a si harness and ECM I recommend it
I had a 1991 CRX HF and boy do I miss that car. It was so good on gas I don't ever remember putting gas in it! Haha. 40-50 MPG!
I had an '87 Si. Still one of my all-time favorite cars. Not just ones I've owned but full stop.
The '87 Si was my dream car as a teenager in the late 80's. I didn't care for the refreshed '88 models.
I have the 87 Hatchback Si i picked out for my mom when i was 13 , When i got my license i bought myself a brand new Si hatch 1990. That car had problems , but 87 never let us down . Thats why i still have also have 2015 Civic Si sedan. I got the Honda bug.
Thank you very much for this review. My fondest memories of past vehicles always involve my 1987 CRX Si. I had to say goodbye at 243000 miles because of rust, but damn did it run well on the way to the final auction. What an interesting time that was and how lucky I was to have owned one of the GREATS.
Great video and thank you for showing the first gen CRX some love. I had an 86 CRX DX for high school and all through college. I loved that little car. Even though it was an "economy" car, the fit and finish and the attention to detail on that car were amazing, especially seeing how I was coming from a Pontiac T1000./Chevy Chevette. I moved into my first apartment with nothing but my CRX to transport my stuff. It is amazing how much cargo you could carry in that car. It was a very sad day when I had to give up that car. I drive it until it literally could not drive anymore. With a young growing family and not a lot of extra income or time for projects I had to let that car go. IMHO a modern-day spiritual successor to the CRX is the Hyundai Veloster N. If people want to capture the magic of the CRX in a modern car, get one of those but don't sleep on them because Hyundai no longer makes them, and what is out there is quickly getting snatched up. Again thanks for the video.
I loved all the '84-'87 Civics, the CRX's, the regular hatchbacks, the sedans, and especially the wagons. I actually saw a perfectly preserved hatchback one a couple of years ago. I always thought they looked like they were made of Legos. I had an '86 Toyota Corolla at the time, a very reliable, very practical car, but I was jealous of a couple of friends who had mid-eighties Civic wagons. And yeah, cars were much smaller in the eighties so this wasn't even the smallest car on the road; the CRX's were bigger than the regular Civic hatchbacks, and those squared-off eighties cars, even small ones like this, really did have great interior space, like you said, great cargo space and great passenger space.
Worked for a Honda dealer back in 87/88 and acquired a basic understanding of these cars. A few years later I bought an 87 CRX si from a girl who loved the car, but her father refused to work on it or help her with an intermittent engine quit problem. Her Dad convinced her to sell the car and get an American car "Without all that complicated PGMFI stuff." The car had 118k and she owed $2600. I bought it for what she owed and the car was mine. NOW every so often the car would simply quit -- Let it coast over to the side of the road, Cycle the key and it would start. Long story short the problem was the key switch. Replaced the key switch and drove it for years. Good Times. !!!!
Retired Honda factory trained tech here. The vacuum hoses were mostly not the problem. The diaphragms that they operated became leaky. With the exception of three hoses toward the back of the carburetor, which incidentally were responsible for the control of the EGR. Those three gave more trouble than all the rest put together. Fun fact: 1985 was the first year for Si (fuel injected high performance), but it was not the first year for high performance in the civic line. 1984 was the first year for the square body civic, and the hatchback was offered as a 1500S. BUT, 1984 was not the first 1500S. 1983 was the previous body civic, and was the first year for the 1500S. It was offered in only two schemes, Red w black accents, and black w red accents. I found a black/red 1983 1500S in very bad shape. Since I had never seen one before, I figured it was worth the effort to restore. I should never have sold it, but I did. If you want to see how it looked when I offered it up on ebay, just click here. th-cam.com/video/wvk-W1T7SbI/w-d-xo.html There is also a video of my 1981 Accord here: th-cam.com/video/bmqtA6KjCa8/w-d-xo.html
This channel is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Great work and thank you!
1986 and I was in trade school in Mississippi...buddy of mine and I were both free on a weekend and we piled into his '85 CRX SI and went on a late night road trip down the Natchez Trace to Jackson.
That little thing was so much fun to travel in when you were young (and skinny)
Wow, a Honda CRX, a departure from your usual wheel house!!! These were great, fun cars, thanks for the review!!! 👍👍
Great to see you branching out more with the reviews! I always had a soft spot for the original CRX and the rest of that era Civic range. The cars had a light, agile feeling and were surprisingly peppy despite smallish engines. The styling has held up well.
Really enjoyed this video! I remember seeing quite a few of these years ago, and I always thought they were some super cool sports car. I suppose in a way they were!
Purity of design is a bit part of what makes an auto design great. Whether it's a big comfy car or something small, light and simple like the CRX- it's great being able to enjoy an engineer's (and stylist's) vision in a great package that accomplishes its design goals. Modern cars try to be everything to everyone, and that's why economy cars are heavy and luxury cars have stiff suspensions. I think this purity of design, while certainly not universal, is something that has been lost in modern cars. It really allowed for a deliciously diverse pallet of different designs that really do make for enjoyable automobile experiences.
Also, it's good to know to avoid chipmunk farts!
I demand that you start all reviews with your rendition of their starting sounds......
Thanks for all your reviews and videos, I have learned something new on every one of them.
I'm sure that he does a great Chrysler reduction gear starter. :-)
I owned an 83’ Accord, 5 speed manual for two years in the late 80s. I know what you mean about their manual transmission smoothness. Wow! And thanks for the virtual startup. Had forgotten but it brought a smile to my face.
Underrated channel for sure. Love these talks
Thx. Spread the word!
I have a 1985 blue and grey crx (automatic) with 87,000 original miles in decent shape , I've only seen one other 1st gen. Crx so far you never ever see them , can't believe how rare this little car is !!!!!!!!!!.…................... Erik
I own two. I have owned my 86 CRX Si since 1992. It’s always been a fun commuter car and weekend racer. I swapped a B16a into in 2000 and it made it cable of 13.5s in the 1/4 and even more fun on the track. Now it has a K24a making 220hp and 200ftlbs to the tires and is an absolute street and track monster. I also own an 85 CRX 1.5L with 75,000 original miles with working AC and cassette. So fun and comfortable to drive. Great video and I know I am bias but these little cars are an absolute blast. Anyone saying otherwise never drove one.
Video reminds me when I first got my drivers license. My Father had a 73 Electra 4 door hard top and my Mother had a 71 Opel Rallye. Getting into one from the other was a blast. Had lots of Fun driving both cars.
These were really great little cars, underappreciated at the time, I believe. I had an '86 Civic, the regular hatchback version. These Hondas were extremely dependable, especially compared to their competition (except Toyota and Datsun), as the US manufacturers were still in their "malaise" era, and their gas mileage was fantastic, on par with what hybrids were achieving 25 years later. I'm glad they're getting some favorable recognition. Most of them rusted away, or were abused and neglected since they were low-cost, bare bones economy cars, and very few were babied and preserved over the years.
Loved the CRX and the infamous Prelude.
Someone make a tshirt of that diagram right now!
Do you remember the tagline that they once had? "Honda. We make it simple."
Great review! I always like the CRXs - both generations.
We had both a Gen 1 and Gen 2 in the family. Fun little cars and surprisingly well assembled.
I remember a M/T article with an 84 1.3l model, they were trying to go from Salt Lake City to L.A. on one tank of gas. It took a few tries but they made it, I do remember one of the test cars had the regular 1.5 trans that was geared shorter. Must have been a mix up at the factory. The 1.3 had a trans with much taller gearing. My mom had a regular 85 Crx, yes they were really great cars.
So i had a friend with one of these, my solution... a smoke machine. These days their fairly easy to find but back then i had to DIY the whole thing. A paint can with a O-ring and hose does wonders. It most certainly made it easier.
Edit: as a side note: 13 inch tires means nothing. My Fiat X 1/9 did corners like a champ.
In 1983, I worked for Avis Rent-A-Car, and we had a red Prelude. That was my first Honda driving experience, and I fell in love with the car immediately. In more recent years, I got a 1992 Accord, and it's 95% of what I want in a Honda. Amazing driving experience.
First, I just LOVE the fact that you had historical plates on it. You are right -- another car that was once everywhere (especially here in CA) and is now nowhere. I was also surprised to hear about all of the vacuum lines -- I thought that was an American car foible of the era.
Love the format. Watching this brought back of good memories. Those were really fun cars to drive.
I owned a 1985 CRX Si, bought new in August of that year when the car first came out. My dad and I went shopping for my first car and we tested the Jetta GLI and a few other imports, but as soon as I drove away in the CRX I knew that was the one! I'm 6'2" and, as you said, there was plenty of leg room; I could even stretch my legs straight out without obstruction. That car was fast for the time and well built. It never gave me any trouble. I kept the car until it had 185K+ miles, all with the original clutch, and it was still running great when I sold it. I never had any issues with rust, and I lived in the northeast. What a great little car (blue like yours).
I still have my 87 crx and agree they are well engineered and well assembled but material quality is very poor. Quality of the steel, fabrics, and especially the plastics is awful. The plastic body panels are extremely brittle. I think adam even understated how easily those pieces like fenders and lower body side cladding will shatter.
Very nice surprise, I always marveled at the packaging, style, and engineering of these.
Love everything you do. You're approaching the top of my You Tubers list. Love the rendition of the Honda starting! Keep em coming
lol man i love your videos. I have owned 13 Honda’s but never a CRX. I know all those Honda sounds very well. They make me happy.
I worked at a Chevy dealership in the 80's as a car jockey and I got to drive all kinds of cars. Some memorable ones were a 1980 L82 Corvette, the Corvette ZR-1 when it first came out in late 1989, various Cadillacs, Cavalier Z24's and Beretta GT's, Sunbird GT Turbos, Mustang GTs, Camaro IROCs, a 1984 Anniversary Trans Am, a 2.2 Turbo Shelby Charger, a Saab 9000 Turbo, etc, etc. Lots of fun cars. But the funnest (is that a word?) of all was a 1989 Honda CRX Si. It had a 5 speed manual, it was yellow and it had a sunroof and a black interior. That car was so fun to drive. I'd have to go out several times a day from the dealership to the licence bureau downtown and back - and I loved taking the CRX on that drive. The only car I maybe enjoyed more was a gunmetal gray Mustang LX 5.0 hatchback - that car was a HOOT! But yea, that CRX was something special.
This format and subject matter give a good balance to your regular US-centric auto stories and reviews.
These reviews are great! Please keep up the good work. I love the engine and transmission videos as well
I had two CRX’s- a 1984 ( first gen ) and then a 1988 ( second gen ). Both fun cars. Most don’t and never will understand the dynamic driving those. Thank you for this video.
Had 85 si. 35 mpg. Have 2005 civic hybrid 5 speed 51 mpg on hwy 210k miles absolutely reliable absolutely slooooowwwww😊
Thanks for posting this video. I am the proud owner of a 1984 Honda CRX. My serial number is 1176, manufactured in August of 83 so it's one of the early ones. I wish there was a way to send you some pictures of it. Mine has 120k miles and since it's a western car, has no rust! It's not perfect but in very good shape and runs excellent. Mine is white with the gray trim. The one letdown for many enthusiasts is Mine is an automatic, but I don't mind as all of my other vehicles are manuals.
Wow. Awesome!!
I have a white/grey 87 crx 1.5 that's still original except the wheels. I prefer the steel wheels on your 84 so that's what I put on it. I also like the 84 headlights better. No rust on mine either and I obviously dont drive it in winter.
Always loved the CRX. Never got my hands on one, but later did get a '95 Civic SI Coupe (factory model in Canada). Paid $400 for it, threw a clutch in it, drove it for 5 and 1/2 years. Gave it to my kid who loved that VTEC and still has it. Going strong at 400,000km. I have never regretted buying Civics...
I like seeing someone being passionate without being blinded by that same passion. As someone who used to be a bit of an anti-american carguy (which considering I'm european shouldn't be that much of a surprise), but you've got me interested in a few of those nice big pre-seventies cars. Keep up the good work and keep enjoying yourself xD
Oh my am I amazed. Who would have thought you would do a Honda CRX review. My sister bought a fuel injected one new and I got to test drive it right after she bought it. Well, I am glad you had such a glowing review, mostly, for this car. My sister thought I stole the car. My short test drive ended up being over 2 hours! I agree with all your accolades for this car. I had so much fun I didn't want to give it back, but I had a Chevrolet Super Sport 409 so I would not have kept her car. I did however, consider buying one for just a runabout for great gas mileage and fun. And of course, Honda had a great reputation. That test drive often comes up when we have big family gatherings to this day. Thank you and I will send her this review. And yes, keep coming up with new ways to do your videos. You have me sold anyway with your collection, but this was sure fun.
We drove my friend's white CRXsi across the US in '89 so he could go to college in Mass. I think we fueled up twice ;)
What a fun little car.
I was stationed in Germany and I had a 89 CRX SI. I drove it as fast as it would go on the autobahn. So much fun to drive.
As always, your sound effects are completely on point.
Had an ‘86. It was my first car. The best, most fun car I ever owned!
Thank you for doing this video! Your critiques are spot on! I had the Fuel Injection, so no vacuum issues like you described, but the poor body was completely rotted.
I absolutely loved this car. The combo of refined engineering, lightweight and economy put together we’ll never see again, because people want big and more power. Amazing that in the 80s we could get upwards of 50 mpg with not too much rocket science. We should go back to this format. I would buy one!
I had the black 87 CRX Si. That was a great car. Just fun. It was my first "sports car". I followed with an RX7 and an S2000. But I still look back at that little CRX Si with very fond memories. Never had any problems and you were right that it was buttery smooth shifting through the gears. It's lightness made it the closest thing to a street legal go cart you could drive off the dealer showroom in 1987. Wish I still had it today, but I still have my S2000!
I really like the location for the video. I lived in Lansing for 8 years and it reminds me of the parks I'd go to there. Great info as always!
I owned a red 84 CRX. I lived that car and it got as much as 47 mpg on the highway. The build quality was exceptional. It was tiny though and I had to sell it when we started having kids. I wish I could find one in good shape but it seems they have all been destroyed by boy racers. Thanks for posting this!
I had an 85 hf & an 86 si in the early 90s while I was in college. Loved them both.
My friend had one, it was like riding on a roller-skate. My 65 El Camino with factory 327 has one vacuum hose, vacuum advance--simple..... Any format you do is fine. Thanks for posting.
That sound of an 80's Honda ignition is very satisfying. I remember it well-I had two 80's Accords. Much to the dislike of my older brother, Honda lured me away from American cars by the time I was old enough to drive. There was just something about them- mainly the rev of the engine and the steering feel but also a "Honda-ness" that was lost by the late 90's.
Totally agree. Love the hondaness of the 80s to early 90s hondas, which they definitely lost by the late 90s. Just something about them....
I had an ‘87 and I loved it. Drove it for 11 years. I sold it because I moved to another city and my parents worried it would break down and my mech brother wouldn’t be around to fix it. I still regret selling it. It was so fun to drive. And I didn’t have any issues with rust. I lived in Vancouver where it rains all the time and there was no rust-and I even had the dealer cut it open and drop in a sunroof when I got it new.
90s civics are the best they ever made music to my ears
The signature sound of classic Honda powertrains really is part of their joy.
I got a 2-fer deal on my first car…1985 CRX Si & 1986 CRX (Dx)…
Great cars that made me a Honda guy.
I owned a 1984 LX sedan, a 1985 S hatchback and a 1989 SI hatchback. When I purchased my first (1985 S hatch) I was absolutely blown away by the elegance of pure simplicity and the precise engineering and almost spartan (but hardly austere) design. The 1984 Civic was certainly a landmark design. I look at the current Civic model and wonder why the car has become so complex and so big and heavy when the 1984 models still feel contemporary and fresh.
Adam, I will say one thing about the common cars we drove in the 80s and 90s, the amount of power under the hood (70-120 hp) was much more closely aligned to the driving qualifications of the people operating them. In the modern era, horsepower has gone through the roof without any commensurate increase in driving skill.
Any increase in skill? All told IMO the overall skill level is lower. Along with general courtesy when driving. There have always been butt holes on the road. But today there seem to be a higher percentage of them. Then add in the distractions. Smart phones are the biggest ones. After all. One needs to remember it's all about THEM!
By and large speed limits are a joke on urban expressways. In my area it is not uncommon to see the flow of traffic moving at 10 to 15 mph over the limit. Maybe I really am turning into an old fart.
@@mpetersen6 Despite the incredible advancements in safety equipment and crash structure in modern vehicles, the fatality rate is increasing. That can only be explained by the factors you have listed.
@@mpetersen6 In my opinion, people drive like idiots just because they can. New cars are too forgiving. Give everyone something pre-1973 with drum brakes, and then see what happens. I can talk like this because my hobby car is a 1970 Plymouth Fury.
@@OnkelPHMagee
Well there is the alleged quote from George Carlin about how stupid the average person is. I once followed an older gentleman into a parking lot. He wandered around like he was lost and parked across three of four parking spaces. His personalized plates were LOU IQ.
@@OnkelPHMagee
My hobby car used to be a 68 AMX. Wish I never would have sold it.
There is a story, which I believe to be true (or largely true) that when Honda introduced the CVCC cylinder head and met the then-current emissions standards with it, a GM executive was dismissive of it saying (words to the effect of) "Well, that's fine for those little toy 4-cylinder engines but American V-8s are a different story." This prompted Honda to quietly go out a buy a 350 cu in GM V-8, cast CVCC cylinder heads for it, and then submitted it to the EPA for testing. Just like the Honda 4-cyl CVCC, it passed without a catalytic converter.
If true this would be a bomb shell
@@guyderagisch4964 I'd love to have someone like Adam verify its accuracy but if you Google the issue, you'll see the story turns up a lot (and I know that, alone, means nothing).
@@xqqqme I do know that a 1986 K20 suburban with a small block and emissions deleted ran cleaner with air injection tubes pulling air in venturi.
But I know trucks had different rating to cars.
In 1975, Hot Rod I believe ran an article with an illegal Nova with a 671 on top of a V8 and it's tune was cleaner than emissions cars of the time.
@@guyderagisch4964 Being a 3-time Honda owner, all I know is about the CVCC head. Ultimately, emissions regs got too tight for even CVCC and, as Adam points out, fuel injection (along with the catalytic converters that Honda was initially skeptical of) helped address those lower limits.
Perfect simulation of the virtual test drive!
I enjoy all of your video's, regardless of format. I love all of the old American iron as well. I also enjoy many of the foreign makes. I wonder if you could do a video on the first Honda Accord, both the positives and negatives and how that was such a game changer? You seem to have access to such a vast supply of info as well as your own deep knowledge of all things automotive. Thanks, Adam!
My aunt would sing every song ever written. Adam reviews every car ever made... : )
Miss my 91 Crx Si. One of the most fun car to drive. Beautiful indeed
Also like this mixed video format.
I had an 85 CRX Si as my first car!!! Loved it and then I picked up a 91 Si. Great Cars!!!
I loved the review; I also have a great appreciation for these old Honda's.
I had a '86 HF model. 50 mpg. Loved that thing. So much fun to drive. Actually a joy to drive and own. before i could get the timing chain replaced, my Brother-in-Law blew it up.
In 2003 I had to replace my 85 Plymouth Reliant and was dead set in a 88 crx si or gen 2 Prelude Si. I went with the Prelude when I discocevered the crx had no back seat. I got an 88 Si 4ws 5 speed and OMG coming from a K car it was revolutionary. Its the most fun car Ive driven to this day. Beyond the amazingly solid build quality you could see while driving how all the engineers worked together in 1 team to make it so great. The engine, stick, clutch, steering, suspension, all worked in harmony to deliver an amazingly fun car to drive. Unfortunately I didnt have it for long. It was plaged with electrical gremlins. I junked it aftet in wet weather i breaked in a turn, rhe wheels locked up (no abs, mototweek noted these were prone to wheel lock up) and i crashed into a curb destroying the passengee side suspension and wheel assembly. Not worth fixing AND the electrical problems. I had to junk it.
And if youre curious about the 4ws,,,it really wasnt that noticeable.
Great review, thanks; my '91 Civic SI remains a favourite memory, lovely when VETEC kicked in; go-kart handling, fantastic looks, sophisticated for the time and marketplace
I had a ZC swapped 90 SI great memories you are so right
Also check for rust around the rear panhard rod's chassis mount.
This brings back memories of my 1984 CRX. It was geared so tall that I could get 70 mph in 2nd gear before the redline. It's top speed was higher in 4th gear rather than 5th, and 105 mph was about all I could wring out of that tiny 1200 cc engine. 50+ mpg all day long and a blast to toss around. I wish I still had it.
My friend's family, in Bismarck, ND bought probably the first 1984 Honda Civic DX 3 Door Hatch....when I say first, they had the car in September 1983. It looked really modern compared to other cars on the market....It had a manual transmission and a plaid cloth interior...and was fun to drive...though I was only a passenger. And the door and seatbelt warning beeps were spot on. Even our 1999 Honda Odyssey had that.
Friends owning Hondas influenced my purchases later...Namely one Acura MDX and 4 Honda Odyssey vans. Another family had an 84 Honda Accord 3 door hatch...red and with a manual transmission....enjoyed being a passenger in that car as well. The family ordered it and the dealer gave them a gold Accord hatch as a demo car to use while they were waiting for theirs....and I had a chance to drive it on their cabin property..and tried to convince my GM/buy American dad to give them a try....eventually my parents bought Subarus....
Listening to a Honda or Toyota idling next to an Iron Duke was certainly eye opening.
I own both an 87 crx as well as a couple 80s gm cars with iron dukes and the smoothness difference is startling. Iron duke is also a fairly large engine for a 4 cylinder.
The Toyota Corolla FX of that era was a great hatchback and very cheap to keep also. I had an 87 5 speed with air and a tape deck, a young guy's requirements. Very pragmatic and could carry 4 people or move your belongings. They weren't popular and they could be bought at nice discounts. Only rust area was the muffler, replaced it 3 times... My girlfriend had a CRX and it was fun to drive but my Corolla was more practical and comfortable imo. The CRX handled better and probably got mileage. I wish i had the FX GT 4V....My next girlfriend had a Celica ST... upgrade !
I bought the first 84 CRX 1.5 5-speed that was delivered new in Denver. I traded a 280ZX in on it. It was a blast to drive, it felt like a go-cart with air conditioning. It was my first front wheel drive car so I had to get used to balancing the throttle to control the massive understeer in corners. I had issues with the engine cutting out if I parked it hot and tried to start it and drive away in 15-30 minutes. The dealer told me that the hot carb would "percolate" the gas. I bought an 87 Civic Si to get the fuel injection (I couldn't fit under the sunroof of the CRX SI), it was also fun but not as tossable as the CRX. I miss both cars.
Adam really enjoyed this video it brought back memories of my wife's 77 Accord CVCC 5 speed manual hatchback which had a 1.5 but less vacuum lines. She had that car for over 17 years and it consistently got 40 mpgs and was peppy. Agree about the comparison to the Iron Duke but from experience my 85 Mercury Lynx (or as my mechanic called it the Escort wannabee) with a 4 speed manual was clunky and could barely get out of its own way. The tin worm finally got the Accord even though I had it Ziebarted. The only car I enjoyed driving more than was an 81 Lancia Beta which had a 5 speed manual fuel injected and I literally did a U Turn at 50 mph. There are very few small peppy fun driving cars anymore with maybe the exception of a manual Mazda Miata but those are not the easiest cars to get in and out of.
Saw a mint 1986 Si red, Grey velour interior, sunroof and the 5 speed, yesterday was a amazed to see one as nice still on the road.
Thanks for standing outside and freezing for us. My father had one of these, I think it was the SI model with the fuel injection. He loved it. Didn't keep it long enough for it to rust though. Just what fender parts were plastic??
Wonderful to see you talk about an import car! I didn’t get my first Honda until 2014 (‘07 Civic EX auto) but in 1986 I bought an ‘84 Dodge Colt E 3-door with 80k miles and a dented passenger door. It had a 1.4L carbureted 4 cylinder and a speed manual. Specs say it weighed 1,865 lbs and did 0-60 in 13.4 seconds.
It was very basic, but a substantially better car than the ‘79 Ford Fairmont Futura I had, or the ‘75 Mercury Monarch Ghia before that.
Adam, do you have any experience with Isuzu? (117 Coupé GT, I-Mark RS, Impulse)
The Impulse that became a Geo, yes.
The dashboard design looks great!
Over 30 years after the CRX and I would still pick a CRX over anything made since Honda got it right
What an amazing CRX! I loved my 1982 Honda Accord 5 speed Sedan that I drove until I purchased a 1988 Accord LXi fuel injected sedan with an automatic. I still preferred my 1982 until I couldn’t take driving a manual around San Francisco!
Thanks for doing a more recent car and non American car. Growing up in the 80s/90s, this is a car I can relate to.
I had an 86 Civic Si way back, 1992-1995. I loved that car, my first Honda. The transmission was outstanding, and for a 21yr old, it was quick enough and certainly handled far better than my first car, a 5-SPEED 1989 Ford Escort LX
I almost bought a blue and gray 85 CRX,,, I drove it and was in love with it and couldn't believe that I fit in it so well being 6' 3 and a 1/2,,, but better senses prevailed and I bought an 85 F150 with the 5.8 4 barrel which was one hell of a machine..
It also got almost 50 miles per gallon... lol
Owned the '87 Si version, drove the hell out of it, enjoyed it so much. You're so right about how much fun it was. My buddies had Mustang 5.0L GT's and both took my car for a spin and came back grinning from ear to ear, saying it cornered on rails. Meanwhile I took their cars for a spin and thought, great power, but otherwise, awful. Handled like crap.
My girlfriend at the time in 1985 had one of these. Was a fun car to drive and hugged the road as my prior 1982 TransAm did!
I used to have an 1987 Civic HF. I got it well used in 1993 with 180k miles. The previous owner spent a bunch of money to keep it running, new cylinder head, new transmission and clutch. Got it for $1200 and drove it for more than 40K miles with no trouble. It got close to 60 miles per gallon on the highway. Drove from Detroit to New York for like $10
My Wife still has her 85 Prelude DX she bought new . I has been a great car and is a joy to drive . When I was commuting I wanted to buy a CRX HF and you couldn't get them anywhere . I ended up with several Ford Escorts in the early 90s and although they weren't Hondas they were very good cars .
I owned a 1985 a Prelude Si with an 4-speed automatic and a 1989 Prelude Si with a 5 speed manual. I absolutely loved the latter car and only gave it up because the kids were outgrowing the back seat. I missed that car so much that in 2003 I got what to me was the next best thing, a Mazda Protege5, which now has 140,000 miles on its bullet-proof engine.
I haven't seen one on the road in ages. Always wanted to drive one
I remember 2 of my friends bought 1986 Honda crx’s one white and one silver, and yes in a few years RUST! I loved them but was concerned about the size. They were fun and reliable. I was driving a 1968 Impala SS at the time, only paid 1000 bucks for it but I was jealous of their gas mileage. We used to drive down the shore and I told them if your breaks down we can just put your crx in my trunk and drive home. Living in northern New Jersey there were just to many big cars on the road and I was a passenger in the crx once, never again. To this day my friend has always bought Honda’s.
Great presentation, great advice. The paper thin quality of these cars was what spoiled it for me, fun as they were to drive. Japanese cars back then were not for everybody.
Anyway regarding repairs, I found an excellent mechanic here in the Phoenix Arizona area who specializes in older Japanese vehicles. I found out about him at a car show. I saw an old Honda (first gen Civic) at a show and asked the owner where he gets it worked on. Excellent way to get a mechanic recommendation. Sadly, that mechanic has recently lost his shop (thanks to light rail and neighborhood gentrification) and as far as I know doesn't have a new shop yet.
I too have cracked the fender on my 84 CRX by leaning on it. Fortunately there is a place, Heeltoe Automotive out of Oregon, that fabricated me a new front fender which is probably a lot less fragile than the original one.
My buddy had one of these back when we were in high school. He beat the tar out of that thing and it never broke. I remember the smooth high winding engine.
My Civic wagon was fantastic - you could almost believe the engine was Italian, except it didn't break. It just seemed to say "Come on, is that all you got? Beat me some more!". A really fun car - and it never broke.
I was a lot attendant at a Honda dealership in the early 1990s and these cars were everywhere! They were fun to drive and they were quick for what they were! The only thing I didn't like about them was that the seats were uncomfortable after a while - at least for me.
I owned a 85 crx ci in black that I ordered by putting 500 dollars down to secure the car because it was in such demand I loved that car ! I would smoke Z 28’s light to light the car was a blast to drive I lived in Iowa at the time of delivery and driving in winter you couldn’t get that car stuck I eventually moved to Texas and racked up 250 thousand miles and sold it to a fireman it was still going strong ! My first new car I won’t forget it lots of good memories ❤️
In 97 or so I bought an 87 (I think it was an 87) at a repo auction for $975, without even knowing if it ran (the battery was dead.) Damn, that was a fun little car!! The first weekend my boyfriend at the time got a speeding ticket, 55 mph in a 20 zone at a state park. I got a ticket the following week. I loved that little car, but I bought it to make some money with it, so the second weekend I sold it for $1,950 to a kid who worked at the Honda plant in Marysville OH. It needed new CV joints, but apparently the plant had a shop where they'd repair employee's cars at cost, so he didn't mind the repair. I still think about that cute, fun little car. A couple of years later I bought a 91 CRX, the only car I've ever purchased at a dealer, and I think I paid $3,600. The asking price was $6,500, which was way too high for me. I loved that car as well, but the 87 still stays in my mind. I wish I still had both of them 😪