does the del sol handle any different than a civic hatchback?
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From: Orange, CA, US
does the del sol handle any different than a civic hatchback?
i never drove a del sol before but i'm looking to buy one and use it as a track car. i driven an EG and an EK before. does the car handle any different than these two models when modified with a decent suspension set up of course.
Thanks
Thanks
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From: Warrenville, IL, US
Re: does the del sol handle any different than a civic hatchback? (androO)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by androO »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i never drove a del sol before but i'm looking to buy one and use it as a track car. i driven an EG and an EK before. does the car handle any different than these two models when modified with a decent suspension set up of course.
Thanks</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yes, it will handle similarly due to the same suspension setup, but the frame is no where near as strong as the hatch's and under hard track driven circumstances it will be 'like a wet noodle' unless you get a cage and do some decent chassis mods.
Here is the civic body frame [==], here is Delsol [__]
Thanks</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yes, it will handle similarly due to the same suspension setup, but the frame is no where near as strong as the hatch's and under hard track driven circumstances it will be 'like a wet noodle' unless you get a cage and do some decent chassis mods.
Here is the civic body frame [==], here is Delsol [__]
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From: Orange, CA, US
Re: does the del sol handle any different than a civic hatchback? (del_soldude)
ok so you're saying that the del sol is not a good choice as a track car and i should go with a civic hatchback instead?
but i just thought the del sol would be a better choice since its smaller that a hatch.
what is the weight distribution on a del sol?
but i just thought the del sol would be a better choice since its smaller that a hatch.
what is the weight distribution on a del sol?
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Re: does the del sol handle any different than a civic hatchback? (androO)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by androO »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ok so you're saying that the del sol is not a good choice as a track car and i should go with a civic hatchback instead?
but i just thought the del sol would be a better choice since its smaller that a hatch.
what is the weight distribution on a del sol?</TD></TR></TABLE>
If I may,
Yes he is saying that its a poor track car stock. However, if you plan on competing in any organized events like SCCA, they require a roll-cage anyways so the del Sol will be thereby stiffened and better suited for racing.
Weight Dist del Sol:all models: 61/39%
but i just thought the del sol would be a better choice since its smaller that a hatch.
what is the weight distribution on a del sol?</TD></TR></TABLE>
If I may,
Yes he is saying that its a poor track car stock. However, if you plan on competing in any organized events like SCCA, they require a roll-cage anyways so the del Sol will be thereby stiffened and better suited for racing.
Weight Dist del Sol:all models: 61/39%
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Re: does the del sol handle any different than a civic hatchback? (Ice78transam)
but the **** put inside the del sol is super small what happens if the roll cage hits my head when i take a hard turn or go over a bump.
maybe i should go with a crx instead..
maybe i should go with a crx instead..
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ok next question is for a track car... how much should i spend? most of the cars that i looked at are 4000+
compared to a honda crx which can be found for 2000 or less.
i really like the del sol though just because it looks a little cool with the targa top.
compared to a honda crx which can be found for 2000 or less.
i really like the del sol though just because it looks a little cool with the targa top.
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From: Warrenville, IL, US
Re: (dafuzzbudd)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dafuzzbudd »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">weight: del sol > hatch ?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Delsols weigh something like 2400lbs, which is heavier than the EG Sedans, my civic CX hatch weighs in at 2019lbs with full interior.
Delsols weigh something like 2400lbs, which is heavier than the EG Sedans, my civic CX hatch weighs in at 2019lbs with full interior.
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Re: (Dasfinc)
The Del Sol weighs more because of a more substantial frame.
It's roughly the same size as a 92-95 civic hatchback. Notice that even though the del sol has only 2 seats, the trunk is the size of a truck bed.
The Del sol was designed to be more "sporty" from the factory than a hatchbox.
You're not going to see a HUGE difference between the Del sol and a hatchbox as far as mild track use is concerned. The Del sol weighs about 2300lbs for the Si model. With this you get power windows, locks, mirrors and AC.
Sure, the CX hatch weighs 2100 lbs...but it's allready sans power anything and God forbid a CX should have AC.
I'm not sure if the power functions or AC are important to you. But consider that they weigh around 100lbs or so put together. So you can bring the Del Sol down to around 2200 lbs. Less if you gut it for track use.
I dont like gutted cars as I use my street cars on the track. I like driving back from the track with the AC on. If I go to the drivethru after the track, I like pushing a button to roll down my windows. If I see that the mirrors are a little shaken out of place from the track....I like pushing a button to adjust them. You get the point.
If you're looking for a track ONLY car...then none of that is important and should all be ripped out, I guess.
The hatchbox has been proven more than the Del sol. They do share parts, however...so I'm not totally sure why more people aren't road racing or autoxing del sols vs. hatchbacks. Maybe availability or price is a factor. Or maybe the del sol sucks. Who knows. The one my friend owned handled very well.
The cars share a chassis and lay out. They're both double wishbone/multilink sub 2500lb cars.
The box's advantages over the Del sol are that it's cheap, readily available, and junkyard parts are a-plenty. It's also lighter. Also, nobody can refer to is as a "del slow" to make fun of you when you lose.
The del sol's advantages are that it's more sporty, usually comes with power amenities that are hard to find on 92-95 hatchbox and impossible to find on a 96-00 hatchbox unless they were installed by the previous owner. It also comes with a B series option, which, again is impossible to find on any 92-00 factory hatchback in the U.S.. It comes with sway bars and a rear disk if you buy an Si or VTEC model. I think the S model comes with only a front bar. Even the middle of the road del sol Si comes with a D16Z6, which is a huge step up from the D15B7. It also comes with larger aluminum wheels.
I think that the advantages get more leveled out as you start modding either one. The del sol just lets you start a little higher up on the food chain.
The CRX is a nice little car..but the earlier 88-91 civics/crxes were very flexible and had limited suspension travel. The DA has the same issues. I guess if you were going to roll cage it, it wouldn't be a huge deal....but then again, if you were going to roll cage whichever car you buy, the 92-00 chassis would be better still.
The 92-95 civic and all del sol models have a lot of interchangability with the DC chassis...which is key. The DC chassis is probably one of the BEST FWD chassis ever made. The 92-95 civic or any del sol is as wide as the DC, slightly shorter in wheel base, but shares a lot of the same construction.
The 96-00 civic felt a lot softer to me than the 92-95. The 93 hatch that I owned felt a lot more substatial than my 99 hatch. The 96-00s are easier to engine swap if you have the correct engine. The wiring harness comes all the way out of the car..which I love.
I think overall, the best track cars are made from either older DC chassis or 92-95 hatchback chassis. The reasons are:
Cheap parts
Junkyard part availability
Parts interchangability
Handling potential is greater in these chassis'.
Chassis has the best combination of light weight and substance (out of the other options)
The platform is tried and true more than the 96-00 or the del sol
Excellent suspension travel. Great advantage over 88-91 civics or 90-93 integras.
Easier engine swappability than the EF or DA.
Is this really going to be a TRACK CAR..or a street/track car?
It's roughly the same size as a 92-95 civic hatchback. Notice that even though the del sol has only 2 seats, the trunk is the size of a truck bed.
The Del sol was designed to be more "sporty" from the factory than a hatchbox.
You're not going to see a HUGE difference between the Del sol and a hatchbox as far as mild track use is concerned. The Del sol weighs about 2300lbs for the Si model. With this you get power windows, locks, mirrors and AC.
Sure, the CX hatch weighs 2100 lbs...but it's allready sans power anything and God forbid a CX should have AC.
I'm not sure if the power functions or AC are important to you. But consider that they weigh around 100lbs or so put together. So you can bring the Del Sol down to around 2200 lbs. Less if you gut it for track use.
I dont like gutted cars as I use my street cars on the track. I like driving back from the track with the AC on. If I go to the drivethru after the track, I like pushing a button to roll down my windows. If I see that the mirrors are a little shaken out of place from the track....I like pushing a button to adjust them. You get the point.
If you're looking for a track ONLY car...then none of that is important and should all be ripped out, I guess.
The hatchbox has been proven more than the Del sol. They do share parts, however...so I'm not totally sure why more people aren't road racing or autoxing del sols vs. hatchbacks. Maybe availability or price is a factor. Or maybe the del sol sucks. Who knows. The one my friend owned handled very well.
The cars share a chassis and lay out. They're both double wishbone/multilink sub 2500lb cars.
The box's advantages over the Del sol are that it's cheap, readily available, and junkyard parts are a-plenty. It's also lighter. Also, nobody can refer to is as a "del slow" to make fun of you when you lose.
The del sol's advantages are that it's more sporty, usually comes with power amenities that are hard to find on 92-95 hatchbox and impossible to find on a 96-00 hatchbox unless they were installed by the previous owner. It also comes with a B series option, which, again is impossible to find on any 92-00 factory hatchback in the U.S.. It comes with sway bars and a rear disk if you buy an Si or VTEC model. I think the S model comes with only a front bar. Even the middle of the road del sol Si comes with a D16Z6, which is a huge step up from the D15B7. It also comes with larger aluminum wheels.
I think that the advantages get more leveled out as you start modding either one. The del sol just lets you start a little higher up on the food chain.
The CRX is a nice little car..but the earlier 88-91 civics/crxes were very flexible and had limited suspension travel. The DA has the same issues. I guess if you were going to roll cage it, it wouldn't be a huge deal....but then again, if you were going to roll cage whichever car you buy, the 92-00 chassis would be better still.
The 92-95 civic and all del sol models have a lot of interchangability with the DC chassis...which is key. The DC chassis is probably one of the BEST FWD chassis ever made. The 92-95 civic or any del sol is as wide as the DC, slightly shorter in wheel base, but shares a lot of the same construction.
The 96-00 civic felt a lot softer to me than the 92-95. The 93 hatch that I owned felt a lot more substatial than my 99 hatch. The 96-00s are easier to engine swap if you have the correct engine. The wiring harness comes all the way out of the car..which I love.
I think overall, the best track cars are made from either older DC chassis or 92-95 hatchback chassis. The reasons are:
Cheap parts
Junkyard part availability
Parts interchangability
Handling potential is greater in these chassis'.
Chassis has the best combination of light weight and substance (out of the other options)
The platform is tried and true more than the 96-00 or the del sol
Excellent suspension travel. Great advantage over 88-91 civics or 90-93 integras.
Easier engine swappability than the EF or DA.
Is this really going to be a TRACK CAR..or a street/track car?
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From: thread hijacker, SNJ
Re: (B serious)
Originally Posted by B serious
The Del Sol weighs more because of a more substantial frame.
It's roughly the same size as a 92-95 civic hatchback. Notice that even though the del sol has only 2 seats, the trunk is the size of a truck bed.
The Del sol was designed to be more "sporty" from the factory than a hatchbox.
You're not going to see a HUGE difference between the Del sol and a hatchbox as far as mild track use is concerned. The Del sol weighs about 2300lbs for the Si model. With this you get power windows, locks, mirrors and AC.
Sure, the CX hatch weighs 2100 lbs...but it's allready sans power anything and God forbid a CX should have AC.
I'm not sure if the power functions or AC are important to you. But consider that they weigh around 100lbs or so put together. So you can bring the Del Sol down to around 2200 lbs. Less if you gut it for track use.
I dont like gutted cars as I use my street cars on the track. I like driving back from the track with the AC on. If I go to the drivethru after the track, I like pushing a button to roll down my windows. If I see that the mirrors are a little shaken out of place from the track....I like pushing a button to adjust them. You get the point.
If you're looking for a track ONLY car...then none of that is important and should all be ripped out, I guess.
The hatchbox has been proven more than the Del sol. They do share parts, however...so I'm not totally sure why more people aren't road racing or autoxing del sols vs. hatchbacks. Maybe availability or price is a factor. Or maybe the del sol sucks. Who knows. The one my friend owned handled very well.
The cars share a chassis and lay out. They're both double wishbone/multilink sub 2500lb cars.
The box's advantages over the Del sol are that it's cheap, readily available, and junkyard parts are a-plenty. It's also lighter. Also, nobody can refer to is as a "del slow" to make fun of you when you lose.
The del sol's advantages are that it's more sporty, usually comes with power amenities that are hard to find on 92-95 hatchbox and impossible to find on a 96-00 hatchbox unless they were installed by the previous owner. It also comes with a B series option, which, again is impossible to find on any 92-00 factory hatchback in the U.S.. It comes with sway bars and a rear disk if you buy an Si or VTEC model. I think the S model comes with only a front bar. Even the middle of the road del sol Si comes with a D16Z6, which is a huge step up from the D15B7. It also comes with larger aluminum wheels.
I think that the advantages get more leveled out as you start modding either one. The del sol just lets you start a little higher up on the food chain.
The CRX is a nice little car..but the earlier 88-91 civics/crxes were very flexible and had limited suspension travel. The DA has the same issues. I guess if you were going to roll cage it, it wouldn't be a huge deal....but then again, if you were going to roll cage whichever car you buy, the 92-00 chassis would be better still.
The 92-95 civic and all del sol models have a lot of interchangability with the DC chassis...which is key. The DC chassis is probably one of the BEST FWD chassis ever made. The 92-95 civic or any del sol is as wide as the DC, slightly shorter in wheel base, but shares a lot of the same construction.
The 96-00 civic felt a lot softer to me than the 92-95. The 93 hatch that I owned felt a lot more substatial than my 99 hatch. The 96-00s are easier to engine swap if you have the correct engine. The wiring harness comes all the way out of the car..which I love.
I think overall, the best track cars are made from either older DC chassis or 92-95 hatchback chassis. The reasons are:
Cheap parts
Junkyard part availability
Parts interchangability
Handling potential is greater in these chassis'.
Chassis has the best combination of light weight and substance (out of the other options)
The platform is tried and true more than the 96-00 or the del sol
Excellent suspension travel. Great advantage over 88-91 civics or 90-93 integras.
Easier engine swappability than the EF or DA.
Is this really going to be a TRACK CAR..or a street/track car?
It's roughly the same size as a 92-95 civic hatchback. Notice that even though the del sol has only 2 seats, the trunk is the size of a truck bed.
The Del sol was designed to be more "sporty" from the factory than a hatchbox.
You're not going to see a HUGE difference between the Del sol and a hatchbox as far as mild track use is concerned. The Del sol weighs about 2300lbs for the Si model. With this you get power windows, locks, mirrors and AC.
Sure, the CX hatch weighs 2100 lbs...but it's allready sans power anything and God forbid a CX should have AC.
I'm not sure if the power functions or AC are important to you. But consider that they weigh around 100lbs or so put together. So you can bring the Del Sol down to around 2200 lbs. Less if you gut it for track use.
I dont like gutted cars as I use my street cars on the track. I like driving back from the track with the AC on. If I go to the drivethru after the track, I like pushing a button to roll down my windows. If I see that the mirrors are a little shaken out of place from the track....I like pushing a button to adjust them. You get the point.
If you're looking for a track ONLY car...then none of that is important and should all be ripped out, I guess.
The hatchbox has been proven more than the Del sol. They do share parts, however...so I'm not totally sure why more people aren't road racing or autoxing del sols vs. hatchbacks. Maybe availability or price is a factor. Or maybe the del sol sucks. Who knows. The one my friend owned handled very well.
The cars share a chassis and lay out. They're both double wishbone/multilink sub 2500lb cars.
The box's advantages over the Del sol are that it's cheap, readily available, and junkyard parts are a-plenty. It's also lighter. Also, nobody can refer to is as a "del slow" to make fun of you when you lose.
The del sol's advantages are that it's more sporty, usually comes with power amenities that are hard to find on 92-95 hatchbox and impossible to find on a 96-00 hatchbox unless they were installed by the previous owner. It also comes with a B series option, which, again is impossible to find on any 92-00 factory hatchback in the U.S.. It comes with sway bars and a rear disk if you buy an Si or VTEC model. I think the S model comes with only a front bar. Even the middle of the road del sol Si comes with a D16Z6, which is a huge step up from the D15B7. It also comes with larger aluminum wheels.
I think that the advantages get more leveled out as you start modding either one. The del sol just lets you start a little higher up on the food chain.
The CRX is a nice little car..but the earlier 88-91 civics/crxes were very flexible and had limited suspension travel. The DA has the same issues. I guess if you were going to roll cage it, it wouldn't be a huge deal....but then again, if you were going to roll cage whichever car you buy, the 92-00 chassis would be better still.
The 92-95 civic and all del sol models have a lot of interchangability with the DC chassis...which is key. The DC chassis is probably one of the BEST FWD chassis ever made. The 92-95 civic or any del sol is as wide as the DC, slightly shorter in wheel base, but shares a lot of the same construction.
The 96-00 civic felt a lot softer to me than the 92-95. The 93 hatch that I owned felt a lot more substatial than my 99 hatch. The 96-00s are easier to engine swap if you have the correct engine. The wiring harness comes all the way out of the car..which I love.
I think overall, the best track cars are made from either older DC chassis or 92-95 hatchback chassis. The reasons are:
Cheap parts
Junkyard part availability
Parts interchangability
Handling potential is greater in these chassis'.
Chassis has the best combination of light weight and substance (out of the other options)
The platform is tried and true more than the 96-00 or the del sol
Excellent suspension travel. Great advantage over 88-91 civics or 90-93 integras.
Easier engine swappability than the EF or DA.
Is this really going to be a TRACK CAR..or a street/track car?
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Posts: 1,098
Likes: 2
From: Plymouth, MN
From personal experience, once you're hitting some high HP numbers and have worked over the suspension on a sol, it becomes pretty squirrely at high speed while cornering. The shorter wheel base, compared to a hatch, makes it twitchy. It's great of auto-x, but some road courses....yikes.
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
From: Orange, CA, US
Re: (B serious)
Originally Posted by B serious
The Del Sol weighs more because of a more substantial frame.
It's roughly the same size as a 92-95 civic hatchback. Notice that even though the del sol has only 2 seats, the trunk is the size of a truck bed.
The Del sol was designed to be more "sporty" from the factory than a hatchbox.
You're not going to see a HUGE difference between the Del sol and a hatchbox as far as mild track use is concerned. The Del sol weighs about 2300lbs for the Si model. With this you get power windows, locks, mirrors and AC.
Sure, the CX hatch weighs 2100 lbs...but it's allready sans power anything and God forbid a CX should have AC.
I'm not sure if the power functions or AC are important to you. But consider that they weigh around 100lbs or so put together. So you can bring the Del Sol down to around 2200 lbs. Less if you gut it for track use.
I dont like gutted cars as I use my street cars on the track. I like driving back from the track with the AC on. If I go to the drivethru after the track, I like pushing a button to roll down my windows. If I see that the mirrors are a little shaken out of place from the track....I like pushing a button to adjust them. You get the point.
If you're looking for a track ONLY car...then none of that is important and should all be ripped out, I guess.
The hatchbox has been proven more than the Del sol. They do share parts, however...so I'm not totally sure why more people aren't road racing or autoxing del sols vs. hatchbacks. Maybe availability or price is a factor. Or maybe the del sol sucks. Who knows. The one my friend owned handled very well.
The cars share a chassis and lay out. They're both double wishbone/multilink sub 2500lb cars.
The box's advantages over the Del sol are that it's cheap, readily available, and junkyard parts are a-plenty. It's also lighter. Also, nobody can refer to is as a "del slow" to make fun of you when you lose.
The del sol's advantages are that it's more sporty, usually comes with power amenities that are hard to find on 92-95 hatchbox and impossible to find on a 96-00 hatchbox unless they were installed by the previous owner. It also comes with a B series option, which, again is impossible to find on any 92-00 factory hatchback in the U.S.. It comes with sway bars and a rear disk if you buy an Si or VTEC model. I think the S model comes with only a front bar. Even the middle of the road del sol Si comes with a D16Z6, which is a huge step up from the D15B7. It also comes with larger aluminum wheels.
I think that the advantages get more leveled out as you start modding either one. The del sol just lets you start a little higher up on the food chain.
The CRX is a nice little car..but the earlier 88-91 civics/crxes were very flexible and had limited suspension travel. The DA has the same issues. I guess if you were going to roll cage it, it wouldn't be a huge deal....but then again, if you were going to roll cage whichever car you buy, the 92-00 chassis would be better still.
The 92-95 civic and all del sol models have a lot of interchangability with the DC chassis...which is key. The DC chassis is probably one of the BEST FWD chassis ever made. The 92-95 civic or any del sol is as wide as the DC, slightly shorter in wheel base, but shares a lot of the same construction.
The 96-00 civic felt a lot softer to me than the 92-95. The 93 hatch that I owned felt a lot more substatial than my 99 hatch. The 96-00s are easier to engine swap if you have the correct engine. The wiring harness comes all the way out of the car..which I love.
I think overall, the best track cars are made from either older DC chassis or 92-95 hatchback chassis. The reasons are:
Cheap parts
Junkyard part availability
Parts interchangability
Handling potential is greater in these chassis'.
Chassis has the best combination of light weight and substance (out of the other options)
The platform is tried and true more than the 96-00 or the del sol
Excellent suspension travel. Great advantage over 88-91 civics or 90-93 integras.
Easier engine swappability than the EF or DA.
Is this really going to be a TRACK CAR..or a street/track car?
It's roughly the same size as a 92-95 civic hatchback. Notice that even though the del sol has only 2 seats, the trunk is the size of a truck bed.
The Del sol was designed to be more "sporty" from the factory than a hatchbox.
You're not going to see a HUGE difference between the Del sol and a hatchbox as far as mild track use is concerned. The Del sol weighs about 2300lbs for the Si model. With this you get power windows, locks, mirrors and AC.
Sure, the CX hatch weighs 2100 lbs...but it's allready sans power anything and God forbid a CX should have AC.
I'm not sure if the power functions or AC are important to you. But consider that they weigh around 100lbs or so put together. So you can bring the Del Sol down to around 2200 lbs. Less if you gut it for track use.
I dont like gutted cars as I use my street cars on the track. I like driving back from the track with the AC on. If I go to the drivethru after the track, I like pushing a button to roll down my windows. If I see that the mirrors are a little shaken out of place from the track....I like pushing a button to adjust them. You get the point.
If you're looking for a track ONLY car...then none of that is important and should all be ripped out, I guess.
The hatchbox has been proven more than the Del sol. They do share parts, however...so I'm not totally sure why more people aren't road racing or autoxing del sols vs. hatchbacks. Maybe availability or price is a factor. Or maybe the del sol sucks. Who knows. The one my friend owned handled very well.
The cars share a chassis and lay out. They're both double wishbone/multilink sub 2500lb cars.
The box's advantages over the Del sol are that it's cheap, readily available, and junkyard parts are a-plenty. It's also lighter. Also, nobody can refer to is as a "del slow" to make fun of you when you lose.
The del sol's advantages are that it's more sporty, usually comes with power amenities that are hard to find on 92-95 hatchbox and impossible to find on a 96-00 hatchbox unless they were installed by the previous owner. It also comes with a B series option, which, again is impossible to find on any 92-00 factory hatchback in the U.S.. It comes with sway bars and a rear disk if you buy an Si or VTEC model. I think the S model comes with only a front bar. Even the middle of the road del sol Si comes with a D16Z6, which is a huge step up from the D15B7. It also comes with larger aluminum wheels.
I think that the advantages get more leveled out as you start modding either one. The del sol just lets you start a little higher up on the food chain.
The CRX is a nice little car..but the earlier 88-91 civics/crxes were very flexible and had limited suspension travel. The DA has the same issues. I guess if you were going to roll cage it, it wouldn't be a huge deal....but then again, if you were going to roll cage whichever car you buy, the 92-00 chassis would be better still.
The 92-95 civic and all del sol models have a lot of interchangability with the DC chassis...which is key. The DC chassis is probably one of the BEST FWD chassis ever made. The 92-95 civic or any del sol is as wide as the DC, slightly shorter in wheel base, but shares a lot of the same construction.
The 96-00 civic felt a lot softer to me than the 92-95. The 93 hatch that I owned felt a lot more substatial than my 99 hatch. The 96-00s are easier to engine swap if you have the correct engine. The wiring harness comes all the way out of the car..which I love.
I think overall, the best track cars are made from either older DC chassis or 92-95 hatchback chassis. The reasons are:
Cheap parts
Junkyard part availability
Parts interchangability
Handling potential is greater in these chassis'.
Chassis has the best combination of light weight and substance (out of the other options)
The platform is tried and true more than the 96-00 or the del sol
Excellent suspension travel. Great advantage over 88-91 civics or 90-93 integras.
Easier engine swappability than the EF or DA.
Is this really going to be a TRACK CAR..or a street/track car?
anyway, after reading your write up i think i can eliminate the honda crx. Now i only need to decide between the hatchback and the del sol. For starters, I don;t think i want to make the del sol or the hatchback a fully track car. I want to be able to drive it to the track and back. I definitely need to have ac in the car because if i don't i become as bitchy as a girl going through the time of the month.
well it seems like i probably won't got wrong with either of the two. as far as price goes typically a honda del sol is more expensive to buy right? but then a hatchback is hard to find because everyone is buying them all the time. i dont think i want to spend anymore than 1500-2000 bucks on a del sol or a hatch back. do you think i can find a car for that price range?
when you say DC chassis are you referring to the integra chassis?
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Re: (Bakeoff)
FYI none of the 2 door civics or hatchbacks for 92-95 came with a rear sway bar that includes the del sol. Also if you want rear disc brakes stock you will need the del sol si, vtec or a 92-95 civic si hatch. The disc and the rear swaybar are an easy swap from any integra from 94-01. As already said the hatch will have a stiffer chassis and be a bit lighter then the del sol. good luck in what ever you get. Also something to think about if this is going to be track car you can get something cheep that the body isn't that great on or even has a bitched up interior. since none of that realy matters
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Re: (androO)
Originally Posted by androO
should i look for one that has ABS brakes? if i find a del sol without ABS brakes how easy is it to add that feature in for later?
I think for the criteria you need, either a 94-01 integra (DC or DB), or a 92-95 civic Si will be the best. They both come with AC, rear disk, an excellent chassis, and lots of suspension and engine swap options.
A 94-95 GSR can be had for durrty cheap considering all you get. The DC chassis handles amazingly well for a FWD car. I was really surprised with mine. It also has a 170hp engine with tons of low end and good top end. The only engine upgrade you'd really want/need would be a trans from a B16 or an B18C5. An LSD trans would be preferred since the gearing will be considerably shorter. It also comes with power options and AC. Find a stock one and the AC should even WORK!! INSANE!! The ABS on my 99 was really good. I dont know how well the earlier ABS performs. Sometimes people opt to take it out...so maybe the earlier ABS sucks.
The 92-95 civic Si would probably be the second best. The engine is robust enough. The Z6 can move the car along pretty well..although, you'll probably want some more power if you're road racing it. The chassis is similar to the DC so there's room for extra power. It comes with rear disk, a sun roof, sometimes has ABS, and IIRC, AC and power mirrors are standard. Some even had power windows/locks. The DX models came with AC as an option. The CX models are the lightest...but they are a tin box on wheels. No options. They also come with the 8 valve engine. How does double digit HP and 5500 RPM redline sound? Terrible? I know. The VX is about the same as a CX as far as options..but comes with a 95hp economy VTEC engine that has the WORST gearing for performance.
The 96-00 civic chassis is about as stiff and substantial as the 92-95, but is heavier. The hatchbacks came with no "performance" model. So your choices of engines are all shitty. They also come with no options besides AC. With a swap and some suspension work, this can be a bad *** track car. But they're comparitively expensive (in the GSR range), and you WILL NEED to swap the engine or turbo it or something...seriously. Or atleast swap the trans to a 92-95ex/si or 96-00ex trans and be able to run as fast as...say..a Yugo with 4 people in it.
Other really good non-honda options:
Miata. Relatively cheap and RWD! Great suspension market. The stock engine is iron block with forged internals. Turbo or supercharge with no worries! They handle very very very well. I have personal experience with fast Miatas. One of my best friends has a FAST Miata. Like Z06 fast. He has coilovers and TE37s iwth RS2s. Fun to drive is an understatement. His is a 2nd generation car. The 2nd gen cars are better for many reasons. Mainly the rear suspension travel. The 2nd gen cars can be had for like $8-9k for a base model. You'll probably want the one with the LSD, however. So make sure it has one.
S13 240SX. I had one with an SR20, coilovers, tires, etc. in it and it was bad ***. These are very very cheap now a days. The front susupension is MacPherson strut..but they still do handle very well. SR20s are cheap and VERY powerful (for the money and effort). The cars are about 2500LBS with the SR..so making them fly is easy. They were kind of a higher market car when they came out, so AC and power options are standard in the SE and LE models. S14s are getting cheaper as well.
RWD is generally a lot more fun, and usually better for track excursions.
I always have FWD cars as daily drivers..although FWD hondas make awesome track cars (err...for FWD cars). NA hondas can easily be as fast as mild setup turbo miatas and basic 240SX swaps with none of the issues that plague turbo cars. Plus, with light weight and the double wishbone/multilink setup, they handle great. I think honda really does make THE BEST FWD chassis.
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well see all of your suggestion sound fantaastic but its out of my price range. I'm a beginner driver so i think its probably best for me to start off on something cheap.
I found a 1995 honda del sol in awesome condition for 1500.00. the problem is that is the S model and it doesnt have AC. how hard is it to put in AC in the car?
I found a 1995 honda del sol in awesome condition for 1500.00. the problem is that is the S model and it doesnt have AC. how hard is it to put in AC in the car?
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Re: does the del sol handle any different than a civic hatchback? (androO)
it all depends on the setup, for stock they shoud be the same but if u build it for track it will be even better
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Re: (androO)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by androO »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">. how hard is it to put in AC in the car?</TD></TR></TABLE>
It sucks. Look around for an Si. Even if the AC is busted, you can always fix it. That's easy.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EJ1civic coupe »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it all depends on the setup, for stock they shoud be the same but if u build it for track it will be even better</TD></TR></TABLE>
What will be better?
It sucks. Look around for an Si. Even if the AC is busted, you can always fix it. That's easy.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EJ1civic coupe »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it all depends on the setup, for stock they shoud be the same but if u build it for track it will be even better</TD></TR></TABLE>
What will be better?
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Re: (B serious)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B serious »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
It sucks. Look around for an Si. Even if the AC is busted, you can always fix it. That's easy.
What will be better? </TD></TR></TABLE>
yeah man i did a little research on my own and i found that if i buy a car with no ac its going to be almost impossible to put ac back on the car. so i think you're right but crap bro... this car is so cheap though. its a 1995 Del Sol S in pretty good condition and i talked teh guy down to $1300. the only bad part is that it has 246,000 miles and no AC. the car rides great too. i have until tomorrow to buy it before some other guy jumps on it.
in the moment of heat i'm about to break down right now and just hand the guy my money but i know in the long run if i wait it out i'll find one with ac in it. but every del sol that i found is roughly a 1993 or 1994 salvage title for around 1500.
the 1995 that i found is in solid condition but no AC. urgh so tough. but i guess you get what you pay for... and when it comes down to it, i just cant pay a lot.
It sucks. Look around for an Si. Even if the AC is busted, you can always fix it. That's easy.
What will be better? </TD></TR></TABLE>
yeah man i did a little research on my own and i found that if i buy a car with no ac its going to be almost impossible to put ac back on the car. so i think you're right but crap bro... this car is so cheap though. its a 1995 Del Sol S in pretty good condition and i talked teh guy down to $1300. the only bad part is that it has 246,000 miles and no AC. the car rides great too. i have until tomorrow to buy it before some other guy jumps on it.
in the moment of heat i'm about to break down right now and just hand the guy my money but i know in the long run if i wait it out i'll find one with ac in it. but every del sol that i found is roughly a 1993 or 1994 salvage title for around 1500.
the 1995 that i found is in solid condition but no AC. urgh so tough. but i guess you get what you pay for... and when it comes down to it, i just cant pay a lot.
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Re: (androO)
oh yeah one other thing i would like to point out about the delsol. i was suprised that i could barely see the hood of the car when i was driving it. i'm a pretty small guy though (5'9 180lbs)
being that the car had so many miles on it, everything was pretty much vibrating as i went over bumps. (kinda annoying) but then again the roof top was off when i was driving it so it was really loud.
meh... i thought it for about another hour already and i think i'm probably going to have to sacrifice the fact that it doesn;t have AC and just buy the darn car for 1300.
what do you guys think?
being that the car had so many miles on it, everything was pretty much vibrating as i went over bumps. (kinda annoying) but then again the roof top was off when i was driving it so it was really loud.
meh... i thought it for about another hour already and i think i'm probably going to have to sacrifice the fact that it doesn;t have AC and just buy the darn car for 1300.
what do you guys think?