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Will honda ever bring back some of their cool cars?
I know this is a civic forum and all, but we also got a lot of fans of other honda cars here. I know I am. I love the civic, but wouldn't it be cool if they brought back the Civic Del Sol, and the Honda Prelude, both with a modern, updated look? I mean keep the same basic elements of both cars, of course. Keep the Sol a targa top, with weird roll bar looking back glass, but sort of bring the whole car up to date. Anyone seen any concepts of these old cars? Or perhaps heard any talk of them coming back? I think it would be awesome.
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Re: Will honda ever bring back some of their cool cars?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Justinsn95
I know this is a civic forum and all, but we also got a lot of fans of other honda cars here. I know I am. I love the civic, but wouldn't it be cool if they brought back the Civic Del Sol, and the Honda Prelude, both with a modern, updated look? I mean keep the same basic elements of both cars, of course. Keep the Sol a targa top, with weird roll bar looking back glass, but sort of bring the whole car up to date. Anyone seen any concepts of these old cars? Or perhaps heard any talk of them coming back? I think it would be awesome.
The Del Sols were doomed to fail because of its connection to the Civic. The Prelude failed because of poor engineering and over pricing. They were both essentially replaced for the S2000.
I don't see either of those two names coming back. I would like to see them bring back the Integra though.
Re: Will honda ever bring back some of their cool cars?
If you like the Del Sol or the CRX it looks like the upcoming CRZ is the way to go. The Prelude would be nice to see again if done with a good mix of new and old.
Re: Will honda ever bring back some of their cool cars?
What was the actual problem with the Sol's connection to the civic? Sure it shared some parts, but that couldn't have been it, honda makes a wonderful product. It shared the name in part, I guess. My Sol had all the factory paint and stickers on it and on one side of the rear end, it said "Civic" and on the other, it said "Del Sol". So I'm afraid I'm not real sure what you mean by that.
As for the prelude, the overpricing I agree with. The poor engineering... I can only agree with, to a point. I think that the car, being a honda, should have gotten about 4 or 5 more miles per gallon than it did. As hondas go, it was a bit of a hog at 25MPG. Heck my old accord got 29.
Re: Will honda ever bring back some of their cool cars?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Justinsn95
What was the actual problem with the Sol's connection to the civic? Sure it shared some parts, but that couldn't have been it, honda makes a wonderful product. It shared the name in part, I guess. My Sol had all the factory paint and stickers on it and on one side of the rear end, it said "Civic" and on the other, it said "Del Sol". So I'm afraid I'm not real sure what you mean by that.
When you think Civic, you think Economy. With only two seats and very little trunk space, it just didn't make sense.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Justinsn95
As for the prelude, the overpricing I agree with. The poor engineering... I can only agree with, to a point. I think that the car, being a honda, should have gotten about 4 or 5 more miles per gallon than it did. As hondas go, it was a bit of a hog at 25MPG. Heck my old accord got 29.
It was too heavy, had a poor weight ratio, & it had a questionable rear seat design. If you were to "correct" those you'd basically end up with an S2000 . I loved the body of the Lude but if performance and luxury was what you wanted, she didn't deliver. Let me add that again she too was overpriced for what you got. Also the final nail that sealed the Prelude's fate was the introduction of the 6th Gen Accord.
Re: Will honda ever bring back some of their cool cars?
Well, unfortunately, the Japanese are notorious for sort of using other company's styling. I remember when toyota was sued by mercedes for a couple of the lexus designs, and then honda was sued by porche for the s2000 styling. If you take the same color cars, and stack an s2000 and a boxter right beside each other, it becomes obvious when you can't tell them apart at 150 feet away. Maybe us honda lovers could, but at first glance you think they are the same, and a non-enthusiast straight up can't tell the difference. Take a look at the new civics. A jetta knock off, to be sure.
But i don't hold any of that against them, not one bit. Other than breaking a few laws, I mean. If they can offer me a superior product (like they have been doing) at a decent price, they can skimp a little on the body design and I don't mind. After all, it must be easier to put more into engines, fuel economy, and durability when you just sort of make your car look like someone else's. But I don't care. Those other cars that they made them to look like, look good. And I will be enjoying the benefits of all the other stuff being better.
Re: Will honda ever bring back some of their cool cars?
Preludes were pretty & Del Sols were cute & sporty & not as big$$$ as an s2000. Doesn't seem to me they filled any gap when they dropped those. Newer Accords *yawn* just blend in to the blah crowd IMHO. Hell, if this were'nt a civic forum fulla 7th & 8th genners I might say the same for newer Civics BUT I WON'T. (Maybe over on the 6th gen.) And I really only have eyes for hatches anyway. It really pisses me off that they haven't been making cars w/ better mileage, though. My old 81 hatch averages 41 mpg, my 96 about 37 and the latest are in the 20s?!?!! Even that ugly-ass embarrassing-it's-honda Fit only gets 34? Certainly no incentive there for the oil companies to lower their prices.
Re: Will honda ever bring back some of their cool cars?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Justinsn95
...If they can offer me a superior product (like they have been doing) at a decent price, they can skimp a little on the body design and I don't mind.
I whole heartedly disagree with this statement. The route Honda has taken with their designs is absolutely horrendous. Look at the 8th gen Accord for example. The body lines do not flow well, the grill looks like it should be on a truck, not a car, and for the coupe the hood does not line up with the headlights like it does on the sedan. After the 6th gen Accord they started dropping the ball. When the gave the 7th gen a minor face lift I though OK they're starting to turn around again, but I was wrong. Then go to Honda's premium line up, the Acura. Look at that gawd awful birds beak for a grill and those super funky tails! I could go on and on on how awful the designs are. I can't knock on Honda's reliability, although they are not perfect, but their new designs make it real hard for me to stay true to them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hb pickup
Preludes were pretty & Del Sols were cute & sporty & not as big$$$ as an s2000. Doesn't seem to me they filled any gap when they dropped those. Newer Accords *yawn* just blend in to the blah crowd IMHO. Hell, if this were'nt a civic forum fulla 7th & 8th genners I might say the same for newer Civics BUT I WON'T. (Maybe over on the 6th gen.) And I really only have eyes for hatches anyway. It really pisses me off that they haven't been making cars w/ better mileage, though. My old 81 hatch averages 41 mpg, my 96 about 37 and the latest are in the 20s?!?!! Even that ugly-ass embarrassing-it's-honda Fit only gets 34? Certainly no incentive there for the oil companies to lower their prices.
I call on those MPG numbers you posted. I couldn't find the 81 hatch but an 84 civic auto got a combined 25 mpgs. The 96, 28 mpgs, and the newer 09 Civic auto gets 29 mpgs, while the hybrid model gets a whopping 42 mpgs. The fit averages in the low 30's. Now if your talking about the 6 speed SI models then yes the mpgs do drop a bit. Honda has been very consistent with their fuel economy and it certainly is not the problem with the oil companies. Much of that blame can easily fall on their domestic rivals and their ridiculous gas guzzling SUV's and tanks, which I'm happy to see that they are finally starting to scratch the surface and get on board with the low emissions train.
I agree about the designs though (see first part of this post).
Re: Will honda ever bring back some of their cool cars?
lol i think after the 2000 models, everything started going downhill with looks. they just look really badly designed, and the newer interiors started becoming boxy and cheap again like 20 yrs ago.
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Re: Will honda ever bring back some of their cool cars?
Quote:
Originally Posted by OCDjG
I call on those MPG numbers you posted. I couldn't find the 81 hatch but an 84 civic auto got a combined 25 mpgs. The 96, 28 mpgs, and the newer 09 Civic auto gets 29 mpgs, while the hybrid model gets a whopping 42 mpgs. The fit averages in the low 30's. Now if your talking about the 6 speed SI models then yes the mpgs do drop a bit. Honda has been very consistent with their fuel economy and it certainly is not the problem with the oil companies. Much of that blame can easily fall on their domestic rivals and their ridiculous gas guzzling SUV's and tanks, which I'm happy to see that they are finally starting to scratch the surface and get on board with the low emissions train.
I agree about the designs though (see first part of this post).
I wasn't using any numbers but those off the gas log sheets I fill in every time I get gas and have been using for 18 years w/the 81 and 12 years w/ the 96 (when the odometer works for a whole gas tank - speedo intermittant last couple years). Any car that gets less than 30 is piss-poor at this point in time.
The moe-rons that kept buying poor mileage vehicles are the driving force behind manufacturers building them that way & oil companies raising prices knowing people will still pay for it in spite of thier whining about it.
Re: Will honda ever bring back some of their cool cars?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SIMONETTE
Del Sol all the way!
I owned a 94 with a 99civic si swap in it and loved that little car for 2 years of my teen years. Did it have issues? Well the top leaked all over the famed del sol seats but other then that it was a pearl. I will more then likely buy another later on. I must say they are not too attractive to me stock and i believe the price was pretty high when they released them in 93 in the states and 92 in a different country. I sure do miss mine as someone rear ended me going 45mph and jacked it up
Re: Will honda ever bring back some of their cool cars?
The del sol I could do without. A true CRX replacement--bring it on. I'm concened that the CR-Z will be a hybrid, and thus not nearly as fun to drive as the original CRX.
The mid-1980s Prelude was a great car, but there seems to be no place in the market for such a car now. Everything is bigger, heavier, and more powerful.
I agree with others that Honda seems to be losing site of its traditional values.
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. I loved the body of the Lude but if performance and luxury was what you wanted, she didn't deliver. Let me add that again she too was overpriced for what you got. Also the final nail that sealed the Prelude's fate was the introduction of the 6th Gen Accord. 
on those MPG numbers you posted. I couldn't find the 81 hatch but an 84 civic auto got a combined 25 mpgs. The 96, 28 mpgs, and the newer 09 Civic auto gets 29 mpgs, while the hybrid model gets a whopping 42 mpgs. The fit averages in the low 30's. Now if your talking about the 6 speed SI models then yes the mpgs do drop a bit. Honda has been very consistent with their fuel economy and it certainly is not the problem with the oil companies. Much of that blame can easily fall on their domestic rivals and their ridiculous gas guzzling SUV's and tanks, which I'm happy to see that they are finally starting to scratch the surface and get on board with the low emissions train. 
