Like most other Civic owners, the people who drive the 1993 Honda Civic del Sol are consistent in calling it a fun car to drive. Other aspects drivers enjoy are the comfortable seats, large trunk space, removable roof, and sleek body. It looks like a sports car and behaves like an economy car. Some people enjoy modifying this vehicle to be more powerful and responsive. With a consumer rating above 9 (out of 10), the $3,000 to $6,000 price tag seems like a good deal.
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Bought a brand new Del Sol So in 1993. Due to family death I had to sell the car.
I LOVED the car! Im desperately looking to buy another in the 1993 to 1995 range. I believe that says everything. Its a fantastic car!Aug 07, 2021
by Jerry A
Apr 30, 2021
Small easy to park
Good gas mileage
Fun to drive
Hondas quality
Easy shift gears
Prob. So quiet, doesn’t sound like a sports carApr 30, 2021
by Anonymous
Mar 15, 2020
I like the Del Sol although it is a bit small and difficult to get in and out of. Would probably have purchased a different model were it not for the Targa Top roof.Mar 15, 2020
User rating:
by MaryAnne F
Aug 07, 2021
Bought a brand new Del Sol So in 1993. Due to family death I had to sell the car.
I LOVED the car! Im desperately looking to buy another in the 1993 to 1995 range. I believe that says everything. Its a fantastic car!Aug 07, 2021
by Jerry A
Apr 30, 2021
Small easy to park
Good gas mileage
Fun to drive
Hondas quality
Easy shift gears
Prob. So quiet, doesn’t sound like a sports carApr 30, 2021
by Anonymous
Mar 15, 2020
I like the Del Sol although it is a bit small and difficult to get in and out of. Would probably have purchased a different model were it not for the Targa Top roof.Mar 15, 2020
by Jose I
Mar 03, 2014
I love everything about this car the way it look the way it drive, I take care omy car like it was my child, like I said I only drive this car on the summer and only weekend, my car be park all winter long..Mar 03, 2014
by Anonymous
Sep 12, 2012
Not much I dislike, bought it for fuel economy. I just thought it would be a little quicker with the way people talk about these cars with the d16 but it works for me. I'll just have to molest it a bit laterSep 12, 2012
by Walter M
Oct 27, 2011
i just like this car since the day it came out. cant tell u about the performane no
engine in it. it was a good cost.this car will b fun to drive when im done with it. del
sol r nice carsOct 27, 2011
by Zachary Z
Jul 02, 2011
pretty fun to drive. it has over 300,000 miles, and still runs like a champ. this car is awesome. corners 15mph corners easily at 50-60. I gave it an exhaust customization, cold air intake, headers. I like how easy the top is able to be removed.Jul 02, 2011
by Jennifer V
Oct 16, 2010
i love my car as a whole. but it needs some work. As of right now it needs an ICV,
Fan switch, and exhaust system, because mine is falling apart, but aside that, my
car drives great. my interior is stock and pretty well maintained. exterior needs
paint, but am slowly getting it all together. This car has amazing mpg. it has an 11
gal tank and i get over 333 miles per tank. This car is great to drive, it has a targa
top that comes off and is easily stored in the trunk. it takes maybe 15 seconds to
remove or put the top back on.Oct 16, 2010
by Beau A
Aug 24, 2010
awesome car, performance-n/a i havent really driven it yet
has dent on driver door and rear 1/4 panel, black with sexy dents all over it
is convertable targa top, has cold air intake, automatic, small engine ,cute funAug 24, 2010
by Pierre V
Jul 31, 2010
The del Sol is built for handling & braking, it accelerates really well & is truly fun to drive in it's stock configuration.
The gas mileage & maintenance costs would be pretty reasonable if my Sol wasn't modded... but it is. So it costs more to operate, but it's even more fun to drive !!! :) Jul 31, 2010
by Chris S
May 24, 2010
Sporty shape easy and cheap to modify great build quality easy to work on very fast car fuel economy isnt that bad it was very cheap to buy because of its age it has a very nice sporty drive and very comfortable for long distancesMay 24, 2010
by Andy T
Apr 06, 2010
performance- handles corners noo problem, horsepower isnt too bad but car is light so that makes up for it
build quality- roof squeaks a little / leaks when it rains hard and car is just sitting there
Fun Factor- soooo much fun, love my del sol would not want any other car!!Apr 06, 2010
by Aaron M
Feb 14, 2010
Performance - Stock D15B7 (1.5-I4), Not a very fast car enless you have the B16a engine or D16Z6 engine. Acceleration is normal, Braking is fine, and handeling is ok. Suspension could be updated (year 1994 I believe they added the si models with bigger engines and vtec, and updated suspension).
Build Quality - Very thin Sheet Metal, hail or anything kind of object can hurt the body of the car. Interior is all plastic.
Appearence - The car looks cool and cute. Everyone says its a girls car, i dont really see much girls driving del sols. The whole car looks amazing.
Cost of Ownership - i put in about 22 dollars to fill up my tank every week and a half. Gets very good gas mileage. Fun summer car.Feb 14, 2010
by Brian S
Jan 22, 2010
This is probably the fastest car I have ever owned. I had a
GSR swap out of a 01 GSR. Jackson Racing supercharger
running 11 PSI and full bolt ons. Loved the removable top.
Very quick and fun to drive.Jan 22, 2010
by Miranda C
Jan 08, 2010
Great car. Loved the Targa top. Carbon Fiber hood and
trunk. Great aerodynamic body kit. Paint color is BMW
Blue even though it looks purple, which makes it a one
of a kind. All symbols have been removed to give it
more class and let people wonder what it is.Jan 08, 2010
by Phil L
Dec 04, 2009
This car had break neck acceleration for a 4-cylinder. The factory short throw shifter is a nice touch. A targa top and an electronic roll down rear window make it a nice cruiser. This car was fun to drive and got some bad ass gas mileage.Dec 04, 2009
by Reap E
Nov 26, 2009
i love this car! 1.6L Vtec motor wit 3in intake and greddy Evo 2 cat-back exhaust,carbon fiber brake lights, titanium corner headlights.belden wires and bosch platium iradiums pugs.3 way alarm (remote lights up,vibrates,and beeps)replace all factory speakers and added a 1000w sub wit cap.optima yellow top battery,red tint.neons light inside and out!many more parts like painted brake calipers,cluster gauges and vents!Nov 26, 2009
by Ashley H
Nov 05, 2009
i like the color (samba green) and how small it is :D
its really fun to drive. its easy maintenance and cost
less money than most other cars, thats al i have to say
about kermit (thats its name). :D Nov 05, 2009
by Manny M
Oct 29, 2009
it's not a car that you really see every day... There are so many mods that can be done for this car seeing that it's a honda... All it needs is a custom all wheel drive set-up and your ready to jet.Oct 29, 2009
by John R
Sep 29, 2009
1.6 sohc black completely stock minus the intake car runs
smooth like its brand new motor has been swapped has targa
top that is awesome and i wouldnt ever sell this car ever i
wanted to but i always had and excuse why i couldnt :)Sep 29, 2009
by Paul I
Sep 26, 2009
Fantastic car. Needs more power, and that whole breaking axle thing is a problem, but...my next car will be another del Sol, if I can help it. Buy one with the 1.6L DOHC motor if you can find it, but the SOHC 1.6L is excellent too, especially if you live in a cooler climate. It doesn't like the heat, but it goes like a bat out of Hell when it's below 70 degrees outside. Sep 26, 2009
by Amanda F
Jul 01, 2009
Work in progress... right now it's getting ready for paint (different color body parts) so appearance isn't so great right now. I plan to do an engine swap and brake upgrade in the near future... It's been a slow process but it's coming together.Jul 01, 2009
by Andy C
Feb 03, 2009
cars handling is amazin its been dropped 30mm on 18inch alloys.it has a yeas m.o.t dives like band new.the exteio part of the car needs a paint job but once thats done the car will look brand new again.its a 1.5vtec so its cheap to insure.this car is loads of fun drive specially in the summer wen u can take the roof down.Feb 03, 2009
by Eric K
Nov 16, 2008
Best cars I could ever ask for. They are a rare little car with only 75,000 sent to the US. There reliable, quick, they look good, and the next closest thing to having a hard top convertible like this would be a $100,000 mercedes. The car was$24,000brand newback in the dayNov 16, 2008
by D.j. C
Oct 10, 2008
i love the fact that my car was built by me and not the car manufacturer themselves. i've modified it to the point that it seems to be a completely different car. the car is awesome to drive (when it's running right) and after the turbo install, runs like a champ. it still needs some tweaks and tunes, but that's the way it goes with a project car that you love...the build never endsOct 10, 2008
by Joey R
Jul 19, 2008
*Performance - Very nice handling, decent acceleration for engine size, strong brakes
*Quality - it's a honda :) they run forever. but recently has needed a few repairs. but what do you expect at 284,000 miles?
*Appearance - very stylish car with nice green color. interior is nice
*cost - gas mileage is amazing. averaging between 35-39 most of the time, maintenance is low. parts are cheap
*fun factor - 10! fun to drive whether it be on the highway or on the back roads. and summertime is where it's at! Convertible! :D
*Definitely would recommend to a friend!Jul 19, 2008
by Brandon L
Jun 26, 2008
Fun car which is easily customizable but one of the
worst honda ever built. Very good acceleration and
braking, along with handling. It needs repairs on the
body, which is common with most all del sols. I have
topped out at about 120, but could have pushed it a
bit more. Not bad for a 4 cylinder, lol. Jun 26, 2008
by Joshua W
May 19, 2008
Always wanted this car, have it for 7 months and love it. Having the top down is nice and gets the heads turning more than ever. Looks beast but is a sleeper.May 19, 2008
by Brandon B
Apr 08, 2008
fantastic build quality, but very slow on accelApr 08, 2008
by Karrie M
Mar 24, 2008
This is just about the cutest car I've ever seen. It's tiny and fun to drive. Mine was old and had a few problems, but I loved it to no end.Mar 24, 2008
by Adam W
Feb 28, 2008
wicked little car. once the vtec engine kicks in hold on to the steering wheel cause your in for some speed. great when the weather is nice, you can take the roof out an it hides away in the boot.Feb 28, 2008
by Sarah G
Feb 02, 2008
Not a fantastic amount to say really, I love the car.Feb 02, 2008
by Joshua C
Jan 13, 2008
The one driven had a lot of work done to it... exhaust, header, intake, ignition, and head work. It was decently fast.Jan 13, 2008
by Charanjeet J
Jan 11, 2008
Fun car to drive. I had fun putting in a powerful stereo and driving this year round in Calgary.Jan 11, 2008
by Fenton P
Dec 31, 2007
Definitely worth every penny I paid for it. Runs on fumes, attacks corners and barks into 2nd if you do it right. not the fastest, but when you're sitting that low to the ground, it feels fast. Great short drive car or just ripping some highway up on the weekend. I'll be sad to see her go one day...Dec 31, 2007
by Martin Allan D
Dec 24, 2007
A very good 2 door car. Parts shared with EG. Practical to maintain. Fun to drive.Dec 24, 2007
by Anonymous
Nov 10, 2007
I purchased this car last spring after finding it for sale on Craig's list.
Fuel Economy
The car gets decent gas mileage. It is rated for 23 mpg city and 31 highway. My city mileage is typically over 26 because of my normal driving style, and it is possible to get even better mileage if you live in a flat part of the country.
Ergonomics + Storage
Considering the car has just two seats, you get your money's worth for trunk space. I have fit huge loads in the trunk with no problems. With the roof in the trunk tray, space decreases a bit, but there is still plenty of room. In addition, you get some room behind the seats on the floor, two locking compartments, the glove box, and a compartment (with fold-down cup holders) in the center console. The seats are quite comfortable. They are fairly sport oriented, with some extra side bolstering and fixed headrests. The seats seem to accommodate a wide range of body types. They will fit a man of tall and/or large stature without much trouble. The only difficulty with the nature of the seating is ingress/egress. The car is low, which can make for a difficult exit, especially when in a tight parking space (which is unlikely, considering the car's size) or when parked facing up a hill, making it necessary to apply pressure to hold the door open while exiting.
Fun Factor
If you have an Si, you know what I'm talking about. Even if you don't, the car is still a blast to drive. Take it out to some smooth, curvy back roads for a nice adrenaline rush. It sticks to the road and the steering responds to your every move. Bump steer and understeer are very minimal. The feeling of what the front wheels are doing is very good. There is some suspension jacking around turns, but that depends on what type of strut/spring setup you have. There is also a bit of torque steer upon hard acceleration. Braking is decent at medium to high speed, but does not always "bite" as hard at low speeds (especially when decelerating towards traffic at a stop light). Power is sufficient at higher RPM, but not always great at lower RPM, which is the case for most normally aspirated 4-cylinder engines. The car can still perform in a straight line. If given a wide-open-throttle and allowed to rev into VTEC mode, the del Sol will take off like a miniature rocket. This could be further improved by adding a turbocharger or allowing the engine to breathe better with some aftermarket intake and exhaust parts, if more power is desired. The best thing about owning a Honda is that aftermarket performance parts are readily available and inexpensive.
Unique Features
1. This car has a targa top, which separates it in a major way from the rest of the compact car population. The top is easily removable (via 2 latches) and can be stored in the trunk (secured via 2 more latches). The tray for the roof can be raised up easily on its two hydraulic supports by pulling a release trigger. The rear window is also powered and retractable, transforming the car into a roadster. An LED indicator on the dash informs the driver when the rear window is retracted or when the roof is not securely latched. There are two downsides to this roof. One is that it squeaks and rattles when driving, after the weather stripping has been worn down somewhat. Another is that it tends to leak in heavy or sustained rainstorms. These problems could both be corrected with replacement weather stripping.
2. What, no stereo? Wrong!! There is a fold-down panel that hides the radio. Very convenient when in a high theft area or to block the glow from the stereo when driving at night.
3. There is no trunk release button. The trunk has to be opened manually with a key.
4. Two locking compartments behind the seats. Useful for valuables or simply as an extension to regular trunk space.
5. Lower stance and better suspension than the Civic.
6. Auxiliary fog lights, activated with a toggle switch to the left of the steering wheel on the main console.
Summary
If you want a safe, fun, and reliable car, but do not carry much baggage around with you (human or inanimate), the del Sol is the perfect candidate.
If you want a car you can customize into a show car or a club racer on a budget, look no further. Aftermarket Honda parts are cheap and plentiful.
If you understands what it means to really drive and enjoy it, get a del Sol.
Performance modifications made to my 1993 del Sol Si:
- Tokico Illumina suspension with 5-way adjustable struts and performance springs
- Centerforce II clutch
- Short ram air intake
- Stainless headers and front exhaust pipe
- Carbon fiber hood
- S2000 style tail lights
- 15" alloy wheels...waiting for tires!Nov 10, 2007
i would love to know if you could swap for a k20 in a 93 del sol? also if you can do you know if you have to do as much conversions for the weight compensations like h22 swaps and such. thanks.
Some days my car will start and run fine and then there are days when it won't start at all. The engine will turn over but it wouldn't start, as if it is not getting fuel. I was told it was the computer so I replaced it with a used one off eBay. That did not fix my problem. Now I'm afraid to drive it somewhere and then when I leave it won't start again. Please help I don't want to get rid of my favorite car.
after a rain the car would not start, the check engine light does not go off and the fuel pump does not prime just cranks, the next day I turn the key 30 to 40 seconds later light goes out and car starts. I removed the main relay checked all 3 legs good, i am stumped, the fuel pump only primes when the light goes out