Hi there.
I am going to check out two different del Sols in my area, one is a 97 VTEC, the other a 95 Si.

Now, the info may not be fully reliable, the seller of the 97 VTEC said it is Auto and as I understand it the VTEC only comes with manual (unless I'm mistaken). I'm going to have him pop the hood, I should be seeing the B16A2 in there correct?

Also, the 95 Si then should have a D16Z6 right?

Are the stamps on the del sol motor next to the seal where it meets the transmission like on a civic? (I must have not googled right cuz I could NOT find one simple answer to this)

Any suggestions on which would be the better buy? Obviously the VTEC trim has a lot more power in it, but some people have said that the 95 is better because it has OBD1 instead of OBD2.
What exactly does the different version of OBD do for the performance of the car? I thought it was for diagnostic pruposes only.

Anyway, I'm replacing my stolen Civic EX with one of these cars, are there any other tips to look out for when buying one of these cars?

Thanks

 

OBD1 is easier to tune than OBD2, that's why people say it's better. The motor code will be stamped in the same place on the D and the B, and yes, there should be a B16A2 in the 97.

 

no not a b16a2 should be a b16a3

 

Do you even think before you type?

B16A2, found in:
1992–2000 Honda Civic EDM VTisi (EG6/EG9 & EK4)
1992–1997 Honda CR-X del Sol EDM VTi (EG)
1996–1997 Honda CR-X del Sol USDM "VTEC"
1999–2000 Honda Civic USDM Si (EM1)
1999–2000 Honda Civic CAN SiR (EM1)

Transmission: Y21 or S4C

B16A3, found in:
1994–1995 Del Sol VTEC

If it's in a 97 Vtec, it's a B16A2.

 

as far as looking at them,

let warm up and idle and look for misfire,smoke, noises,leaks etc..

Drive around and listen for clunks, noises, etc

If it were me, i would start the car a few times as codes might take a few starts for them to re-appear after being cleared (not saying the seller could be shady, but just to check if the seller is shady)

Look under the car and around the body panels for repairs.

Make sure it has a clean title

 

You are correct, the 97 vtec del sol only came with a manual gear box.

Also, be sure to check all of the seals for the targa-top. Like we all know, over time seals dry out, rot, and eventually leak. If there are signs of bad/ worn seals be sure to check the seat rails or any other exposed metal interior parts for rust or corrosion

 

i always had a feeling the 96-97 del sol vtec came with the a2.

 

if they both are about the same body and running i'd take the SI.

everything else has been pretty well stated.

oh check under the trunk carpet too while your looking em over.

 

IF he claims the ('97) DOHC VTEC is an automatic, I would steer away from it because all DOHC VTEC B16A/B18C that made their way to the US were mated to a 5spd transmissoin.
As for the '95 SI, yes, it should have a D16z6 engine/tranny if it is the original setup. Check for body damage/repairs and rust. Bring along a magnet to make sure there is no bondo work. If so, the price better drop or walk away.

 

More than likely the seller is a moron and has an Si that he's calling a VTEC because "it's got VTEC, yo."

eBay is full of those idiots.

 

This one is on Craigslist lol, but you're probably right, that's why I'm wondering where the stamp is so I can make sure. If it's not the actual VTEC model I'm gonna ask for a few hundred off.

Also, someone mentioned taking the Si over the VTEC, why is that?

 

^ Im not sure why the other poster said that....but for me, I wouldn't want to drive an auto anything honda. I mean, b16 or not, an auto isn't going to make the car peppy.

 

Yeah I will probably end up getting the Si though because that one is manual, too bad because the real VteC trim model has 160bhp

 

^ ya but as stated if its auto its got a y8. single cam plus auto=

 

auto, VTEC is heavier, in my year of searching for a del sol i never saw a working VTEC model, even when i was in japan. and its probably been beat on(provided it was a b16 vtec).
also it would seem the seller is an idiot. dont like buying something from someone who can't even go and do ten minutes of research as to what they have before they sell it. god knows how well they took care of it.
lasty obd2. i'll take obd1 all day any day.

just like the sound of the SI better so far.
but to be fair my only deciding factors are a SI and a possible VTEC del sol. no mileage body condition any of that.

 

The Si is the better model when it comes to Del Sols. It's the Si model that comes with the b16 motor. I know this for a fact because my friend has 96 Honda Del Sol Si and his came with the B16 motor.

 

^probably was swapped when he got it. si will either have d16z6(93-95) or d16y8(96-97)

 

Bring an empty bucket. fill it up with water when you get there. pour it over the roof and trunk areas.

 

no si came with a B16. ever. sorry for you and your friend.
theres
S-d15
SI-d16
VTEC- b16

that is it. with some variations.

 

WOW...that's something new I've never heard before even after owning a "S" model Del Sol in the past. DOHC VTEC Del Sols came with the factory B16, not the SI. Get your facts straight. Your friend had a SI with a B16 swap.

 

The 97 is probably an SI with a SOHC VTEC. Many people confuse this with the DOHC VTEC. The DOHC came only with a manual.
OBD is only for diagnostics.
Check the seals for leaks, as they usually all do. Check for rust all around. Pull the plug wires out and check to see that there is no oil on them or down in the wells, I had to replace the seals on mine. My sol also had the windows hitting on the clip towards the back of the roof. I ended up having to replace the adjuster clips at the top of the window. I lucked out and was able to get the last 2 on ebay.
Watch out for guys seeming fishy, I looked at a Sol where the (supposed) owner was giving me the run-around. I'm glad I didn't buy it.
Check out the paint too, alot of the paint fades on honda's. Mine's faded and is gonna be costly to fix.
Other than that, Sol's are solid. Test it, make sure everything works, maybe even take it my a mechanic for an inspection.

 

This non-technical thread belongs in the Value sticky at the top, so if you have any unanswered questions OP, repost there.