To the uninitiated, the Honda CRX Si seemed like just another fuel efficient compact from Japan. To those in the know, it was unmatched in the fun-per-dollar department.
On paper, a 1.6-liter four cylinder with a footprint only slightly larger than a coffee table is probably not what most people associate with the term “performance car.” But the CRX delivered. Its nimbleness and handling shined on twisty mountain roads and dominated in tight autocross courses.
In crude terms, some describe the CRX as a Civic with the second row of seats chopped out. The two-seat hatchback shared many mechanicals—suspension and chassis design, as well as engine options—with its bigger brother. In the top-spec Si trim, like this one which recently sold on eBay Motors, that meant a high-revving twin-cam, 16-valve jewel of a motor.
Using Every Horse to Its Fullest
That the motor made only 108 horsepower was beside the point. The CRX’s overall sportiness was far more than the sum of its parts. Honda was widely regarded to have the smoothest shifting manual transmissions in the business. The CRX’s five speed helped keep the eager revs in the engine’s sweet spot.
Even with peak power coming high in the rev range (at 6,000 rpm), the engine felt like it could happily run at that level all day long. Accurate sight lines to the corners—thanks to the CRX’s low cowl design—meant the wheels could be placed at apexes with deadly precision. The four-wheel double-wishbone suspension flowed from Honda’s hugely successful Formula 1 program, giving the CRX literal race car-like handling.
Honda CRX Si = Race Car Handling
It’s no wonder the CRX became a favorite among tuners of the 1990s. Its low entry price meant that countless examples were modified as SCCA weekend racers, show cars with booming audio systems, or even record-breaking drag racers. (Famously, Ed Bergenholtz built a CRX that ran the quarter mile in 8.72 seconds.) As a result, untouched examples are a rarity today.
That’s why, despite an odometer that reads 256,000 miles, this Honda CRX Si’s selling price of $15,900 is not out of line. While that’s nearly 50 percent more than its original sticker price of $11,130, stock specimens—especially in vivid colors like this car’s Tahitian Green—are almost nonexistent.
Even for Honda’s typically reliable engines, a quarter million miles is a lot. If you’re shopping for a CRX, ask for maintenance records and see if the engine is burning oil. If everything checks out, you’ll have an impossibly fun driving experience.
Shop now for Honda CRXseBay Motors showcases pages and pages of OEM and aftermarket CRX parts, from suspension kits to engine rebuild kits. So restoring the Honda of your dreams is merely a click away.
