Used 1997 Honda Civic del Sol Consumer Reviews
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Impossible Find : 1997 Honda Del Sol VTEC
Paulo Nicolau, 03/28/2015
1997 Honda Civic del Sol VTEC 2dr Coupe
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
I am extremely lucky to find a 1997 Honda Del Sol VTEC. Not only is this car impossible to find, it's even more rare to find one that is manual with very few previous owners (mine had 2) For a 17 year old car, it is very impressive and Honda has won my respect from here on. Everything about this car makes sense, and it has a lot of features for a 97. The engine is 1.6L ;I always heard people say it is a gas saver but wow!! about 500 mpg and it costs about $40 to fill a tank. The car is light,fast & lets you take control of the road.It turns heads everywhere I go, and even those with brand new cars are stunned! If you find one, get it! Best investment I ever made.
Great Car!!
RD, 01/11/2006
1997 Honda Civic del Sol S 2dr Coupe
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
Though this car may seem simple, it's got everything you need. I've owned mine for a little over a year now, and I'm in love. It has required very little $ for maintenance, and it is truly a fun car to drive. Perfect for driving to and from work or even on a trip (especially in the summer with the top off!).
1997 Honda Civic del Sol for sale near you
Showing 2 of 2 listings
- Si CoupeMSRP: $11,999428 mi away
- VTEC CoupeMSRP: $10,9952,448 mi away
Very fun car for the price
germanhondaguy, 09/26/2012
1997 Honda Civic del Sol Si 2dr Coupe
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
I bought mine for $3000. It is an automatic Si but man is it quick. Sure It's not a 12 second car but it is really fun to drive and that's the point. The mileage is great. Only problems I have are that the suspension is rough and the interior is kind of bland. I was impressed to find two cup-holders in a car this size. The trunk was also very sizable, I fit more in it than my Civic EX The '97 also doesn't leak like previous models. It has 170K on it and runs perfectly fine except for my one tie-rod that is wearing out ($15 part) All-in-all if you want an economic car that is actually fun to drive, This is the car to get.
love the car
roadkill7007, 05/10/2015
1997 Honda Civic del Sol Si 2dr Coupe
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
i recently bought this car as my first car and i never knew all that is was a rare car to find. i dont know if its a VTEC, SI or an S but it's manual. after some couple of adjustments and part replacements, the car works amazing and fine. although the car has more than 250,000 miles on it; it has no trouble on the motor and it doesn't suffer to accelerate fast and to make all the shifts. if somebody is able to buy this car, get it. it is very worth it once it is how you want it.
Best car I have owned, and I have had 91 cars
Kenneth Hausmann, 02/14/2018
updated 12/28/2020
1997 Honda Civic del Sol VTEC 2dr Coupe
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
The best buy is the DOHC VTEC, second best is the SOHC VTEC. I like driving this car more than any car I have ever owned, and that includes Corvettes, Mustangs, a Jaguar, even an NSX. They are fun, agile, cheap, great gas mileage, nothing is expensive on them. Quick off the line, AC has no problem with tiny cabin, even in Texas heat. Fairly rare now, DOHC VTEC's are very, very rare. I have had 8 Del Sols in my life, I love these cars. Both of my sons drive one as well. Great value on these cars, just watch for rust, modifications, and accident damage. Don't expect to get one for the prices shown here, unless it is a rusted out parts car. Nice ones start at 10k and can go over 20k. Still cheap as you will sell it for more than you paid in the future!
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So far so good
blouderback, 01/06/2011
1997 Honda Civic del Sol Si 2dr Coupe
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I just bought this 1997 Honda del Sol a few days ago. So far, I am enjoying driving it. The seats are a little narrow, and are not adjustable in that regard (no lumbar adjustments). I am somewhat disappointed at the cup holders. Also, the dome light doesn't really light up much of anything, making th einterior very dark, even with the dome light on. There are no lights around the floor area either. Locking the doors is kind of a hassle. You have to hold the inside release latch open and then lock the drivers door, otherwise you have to use the key from the outside to lock it. Gas mileage is 30+, even while I'm driving it like a race car!
Sean's del Sol Experience
Sean Swanson, 11/10/2003
1997 Honda Civic del Sol S 2dr Coupe
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
After taking a used '95 del Sol for a test drive and falling in love with it, I decided to buy one new from the local dealership. I drove other two-seaters (like the Mazda Miata) and found the del Sol much more roomier and it performs better. My actual gas mileage was over 30 mpg and I do a lot of city driving. The top stores easily in the trunk without taking up any trunk space and because it's a hard top, it has been great for winter driving as well.
My Toy
TCDKJ, 01/23/2004
1997 Honda Civic del Sol Si 2dr Coupe
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
What a fun vehicle to drive. I bought my little red toy with 55,000 miles on it. This past summer my wife and I put 2,000 miles on it while on a ten day vacation and enjoyed every minute of it. Gas mileage is super and the switch from open air convertible to hardtop is a breeze. Great fun vehicle to have for a couple of 50 year olds. They are getting harder and harder to find.
Fun Coupe
John Hed, 01/22/2017
1997 Honda Civic del Sol Si 2dr Coupe
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Great little fun car. Love the easy to remove and store targa top. Even when stored I could still fit a couple sets of golf clubs an small cooler! Only little 2-seater I've found that can do that! Great visibility, wonderful seats and almost no wind with the top off and windows up.
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Indestructible
Batman, 07/28/2010
1997 Honda Civic del Sol Si 2dr Coupe
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
A '93 Del Sol is my daily driver. I beat the HELL out of this car. I drive it like I stole it, take turns like a maniac, and perform the bare minimum for maintenance. In the last 80K miles the only thing to break was the distributor cap. At 190K miles the car is still on its original clutch. This is unheard-of. The car keeps going and going, and absolutely will not die, sort of like that dude in that movie. Girls think it's "cute," which is okay I guess. It also goes for about a year on one tank of gas. Okay maybe not a year, but you get the point. It's ridiculously reliable and pretty fun to drive. Buy one.
Fun in the sun
caneco95, 03/25/2013
1997 Honda Civic del Sol S 2dr Coupe
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
I just purchased this car and I can see it is not going to be my summer, weekend, beach car but will replace my CRV as my daily commute car. A small step down, but as someone mentioned it is a fun car to drive. As a guy, I couldn't care less that it's labeled as a "chick car" or some people call it "cute". Fun trumps cute 8 days a week and then some. I did a search and looked at comparable cars like the Mazda Miata and the TR7, both two seaters, but Honda quality and the fact that it was a hard top won out over my other choices. Even though I would have preferred the manual drive, the automatic is no slouch. If you have the chance to drive one and buy it, do. You won't be sorry
Nice little car.
LUVinIT, 08/03/2005
1997 Honda Civic del Sol S 2dr Coupe
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
Had a '91, CRX before purchasing this car. Needed more air flow - got it. Love to drive it with the top off. Averaging 34 city/40 highway. Put 195's on it sticks to road. Going on 150k miles and still running strong. No problem passing emission tests. Great car for the money.
Get manual transmission for great MPG
Sue G, 09/27/2008
1997 Honda Civic del Sol S 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I owned a 97 del sol S with 5 speed manual transmission, it's ultimate gas saver and such joy to drive. It's a shame Honda doesn't bring this car back to market. it's very solid build and never break. Later my husband talked me into getting an automatic transmission and sold the one with manual shift, the MPG drop drastically from average 37MPG to 27 MPG, not talking about the fun of driving is gone. So I highly recommend pick and stick shift if you are in the market for Del Sol.
Best car on the road
Karen, 12/24/2008
1997 Honda Civic del Sol S 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This little car is reliable, fun, fuel-efficient, and great in the snow. Don't let the small size fool you. The trunk is big enough for weekly grocery shopping. I've even gone camping in it - tent and all! The small size means that it can get out of tight spots that other cars can't and parking is a breeze. The front wheel drive means it's great in bad weather and maneuvers well in all weather and at all speeds. The small engine is all that's needed, and mileage is anywhere from 35 to 40 mpg. I've owned this car for 8 years and have spent $5,269.46 on maintenance and repairs, including oil changes and tires. I don't ever want to give this car up!
What a great car
reo4ua, 12/23/2009
1997 Honda Civic del Sol S 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought used with 170k on the odometer to commute back and forth to work. My buying decision was based in large part on the reviews I read here while researching. To have as many miles on it as it does, this is one tight little car. Burns/leaks nothing! 100% bone stock and fairly well cared for. One month after buying I drove back home for a funeral 800 miles round trip. Ran it pretty hard and no trouble at all. Don't expect a lot of pep...not much power under the hood on the s model. Don't pass up the opportunity to buy one in good shape. Already 2 offers to buy mine.
A rare Gem of a car
Dv8sol, 08/22/2002
1997 Honda Civic del Sol VTEC 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I loved this car so much I bought 2 of them. 1 was 170 miles from my house, the second (97 DOHC VTEC) I bough 1500 miles away sight unseen. This car has better performance than the Audi TT. If you want a fun car to sit next to your daily car, this is it. There is none like it.
Wonderful!!!
OrthoTropic, 10/01/2002
1997 Honda Civic del Sol Si 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
The car drives wondefully. Road noise can be excessive, however it's expected when the top is off anyway. It handles great and is pretty fast for a car that gets between 30-40 mpg. The interior is extremely comfortable for those of us who are 6'-0" and above compared to other small cars. The car quality is excellent. It feels solid, and I've never had a problem with it.
1997 Honda Del Sol
Freddy G. Richardson, 11/10/2002
1997 Honda Civic del Sol Si 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is my 2nd Del Sol in 2 months. Vehicle doesn't hold up well when applied to White Tail Deer, and trees. Fortunately, not even a scratch on the human body! Vehicle is a blast to drive! Honda quality definitely shows in this particular vehicle with its' tight body feel, and handling.
Another 15 Years?
Bob K, 07/20/2003
1997 Honda Civic del Sol S 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought the del Sol used after 15 years driving a Honda CRX Si. As with my CRX, I have not had any trouble with the del Sol, except a small trunk leak. I get between 30 and 38 mpg (winter to summer) . The car is just plain FUN to drive! I recently put on bigger rims and tires (15x7, 195x50R15) and it made the del Sol even MORE fun to drive (MUCH more so! well worth the money). Engine power in the S model is OK but my old CRX was quicker. If you can find an Si or VTEC del Sol consider it.
More fun than ever!
R.E. Majoros, 10/23/2003
1997 Honda Civic del Sol S 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
When faced with the conundrum of purchasing a new vehicle, I wanted more than anything to stay with Honda and a convertible, but the S2K was too much money. The car was about an hour away from where I lived, and had been a weekend car for two sets of owners. It was perfect, and had really low miles. I cannot imagine owning any other car! And with the way Hondas are built I don't think I will ever have to! It handles like a dream, is spacious for tall people (I am almost 6'), and is just an all out fun car to drive! This was by far the best car I have ever driven or owned!
Best Car Ever
Abby, 06/27/2005
1997 Honda Civic del Sol Si 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Loved it, sold it to find a bigger car for winter driving. Not too good in the snow and ice, but extremely fun to drive. By far the best vehicle I have ever had. Love the Targa Top.
Simply the best
Dave Barton, 03/05/2003
1997 Honda Civic del Sol Si 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Simply put, this is the best car I've ever owned, bar none. After six years and 135,000 essentially trouble-free miles, I'm convinced that nothing could compare with it. In all that time, the only thing that's been done to it apart from routine maintenance was a single repair costing about $400 to the air conditioner at about 75,000 miles. All this and fun too! Can't be beat!
Will now be a Honda owner for life
Danielle151, 10/22/2004
1997 Honda Civic del Sol VTEC 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I love my little Honda. I bought it used with a ton of miles on it, and I've never had a problem with it. It is by far the most reliable and fun to drive vehicle I have ever owned. Of course it's not too practical and the front suspension could be better, but ultimately the perfect little red sports car! Also, the trunk is absolutely huge, so that helps a lot.
202K Miles and Counting!
kmm215, 12/07/2005
1997 Honda Civic del Sol Si 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I've been driving my del sol si for 6 years now... every day and doing about 100 miles a day. I couldn't ask for a better car! I've done routine maintenance, 2 timing belts,etc... this is by far the most reliable car I've ever owned. I hope to drive it another 100K miles.
I love these cars
Steven C., 03/20/2006
1997 Honda Civic del Sol Si 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is the 3rd del Sol that I have owned. I started with a '95 S ... not enough power. A year later I purchased a '94 SI ... wonderful mileage, super performance and I measure my summers by the number of bad hair days (top off!) The more the better. Recently HAIL destroyed the '94 so I purchased yet another used del Sol -- a '97 SI. Great cars. Why don't they make cars like these today ... high performance, great gas mileage and way too fun to drive? Seems like everything that is great gets cancelled and replaced with mediocrity at a higher price!
Practical and Fun
RIDelSol, 07/28/2007
1997 Honda Civic del Sol Si 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Quite simply the best car I've ever owned. I commute daily in this car over 80-100 miles round trip every day for over 7 years! My del Sol has over 253,000 miles and counting! Maintenance is key, but affordable. I love seeing the reaction on the faces of people when I tell them that. No one makes a better car than Honda. Car routinely gets 35 MPG between city/highway driving, so it's pretty economical there too. You simply can't ask for more!
Del Sol Rocks
Cary Honda Fan, 10/06/2007
1997 Honda Civic del Sol S 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Having owned one Acura Integra, three Civics, and one Accord, I admit to being a Honda fan! We looked at the Honda S2000, but the price for a fun car was out of our range. We purchased this 97 Del Sol for what the taxes would have been for the new S2000 and we totally love it. The targa top is great. Gas mileage is unbelievable. The noise and air flow with the top out, windows down (including rear window) is very comfortable. We can actually carry on a conversation at 75 mph on the interstate. Did I mention fun? This is the most fun conviertible that I have ever driven. Just got back from California where I rented a Mustang convertible (2007) and the Del Sol totaly was more fun.
Another Great Honda
simpsojo, 05/18/2007
1997 Honda Civic del Sol Si 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought this car as a commuter to offset gas prices with driving down to south GA from TN about two times a month. I found it with very few miles on it for the year and in near mint condition. It has been a very reliable car and very cheap to maintain. It worked great on the interstate except the headlights blinding you from behind as the car rids very low and there are so many behemoths on the road nowadays. The car passes with ease even when doing 75 MPH which is good to have on the interstate. Placement of accessories are comferatable. Also a very ood looking car. I have no doubt that when I go to sell it, it will go quickly
2nd Del Sol
204meca, 03/28/2002
1997 Honda Civic del Sol Si 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is my 2nd Del Sol Si. Del Sol is fun to drive, great gas mileage (30 mpg plus in town, up to 40 on highway, comfy seats, reasonable handling. When the weather is warm it is easy to take off the top and enjoy the sun. Eibach springs, KYB shocks, & a strut tower bar made a significant improvement in handling with a minor ride penalty. I am considering installing some sound insulation. Otherwise it is great for a 50 year old empty nester and his wife! A couple of months ago I was tempted to get a Contour SVT, then came to my senses. I'll keep this one as long as we can still get in and out of it!
Awesome investment
G Cl3aN, 07/26/2017
updated 07/26/2018
1997 Honda Civic del Sol VTEC 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is a 2 person ride only! Must be at least 48" to ride this baby. Not a family car. But if you want to get from A to B quick; here you go. I got lucky with my purchase. 1997 Honda Del Sol V-Tech with 97,000 miles! No engine leaks or problems. New tires with original wheels. No leaks at the targa or trunk. Still had the spare tire and jack that was never used. Leather seats that needed updating but no biggie. The kid before installed an Alpine stereo with new speakers. Except the subwoofer is gone :( But they didnt mind if I kept the Rockford Fosgate 800a2. Niiiiice! At 20 years old she just has a small dent in fender and faded paint. But that doesnt stop her from passing you up on the freeway. Love the 35 mpg. I just bought her a week ago and I cant wait to begin to restore her. But even if I didnt restore she is a good investment.
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My Prize possession of 20+ years, 1995 V-tec dels
stevie bleu, 10/19/2017
updated 10/26/2020
1997 Honda Civic del Sol VTEC 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought my car with 45,000 on it and now its got 230,000. The most expensive repair ive had to do in 20 years is one water pump and timing belt , If you can find one to buy that's not been modified, the stock V-tec with 5 speed will absolutely fly and it runs like a clock, when you start doing the mods on the engine your going to lose dependability in my opinion but that's your choice, The only negative with my car has been the paint the clear coat started peeling years ago a body shop guy told me it was common for this year and model color (RED) GO Honda cant beat them even older used ones that's been taken care of solid transportation , dependability, Maintenance cost, less repairs than most.vant beat a Honda of You simply keep up Regular maintenance.. you can ramp it up but if you put too many mods thinking your helping performance your on a slippery slope besides I don’t it constantly having issues with Coolers blowers that’s just me
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I will never sell this car
Brian, 08/03/2008
1997 Honda Civic del Sol Si 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Last year I was lucky enough to find a a 97' Si with amazingly low miles (68,000) and in near mint condition. I quickly bought it and began customizing it to meet my needs. Even after a series of novice D.I.Y. performance upgrades and some harsh mechanic treatment the engine continues to run effortlessly and without fail. This car is simply a joy to own and drive and I will never sell it until it rusts over and stops running (Which may take decades.) I love this car. Did I forget to mention 28/35 MPG?
Great all season car!
jim wallace, 08/10/2008
1997 Honda Civic del Sol Si 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car in 1997 to replace my wrecked 1992 Geo Storm GSI and this car has performed great giving me 10 years of almost zero maintenance. All I have done to this car is replace the tires and low cost general maintenance. I have not needed to replace any expensive items on this car like timing chains or major engine repairs. The car originally came with Yokohama tires that were designed for summer use, not winter. All I had to do was go through one winter with those tires and knew I needed a better tire that was more for Nebraska winters. I switched to Bridgstone Potenza R92's and this car is a Japanese tank that does not get stuck in the snow, even uo to 15 inches! Believe it!
97 del Sol
del Solorator, 02/26/2009
1997 Honda Civic del Sol Si 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought this 97 del Sol Si in March 2007 in Oregon and drove it east 3,333 miles to Maine. Great weather and great drive. Car had 68K miles on it when I pulled out of the dealership. Everything worked and was well taken care of. Paint a little dull, but has improved reasonably, polished with wax. MPG is impressive, getting 36 MPG cross country at high speed. Normally gets 40 to 42 in my rural drives. Interior is great and ergonomics very good. Love the motor. Will be upgrading bushings, added 16 inch alloys with 205/45 summer tires. Settled the ride nicely after 14 inch OEMs were taken off. A fun, economical 2 seat convertible. This thing is a blast to drive.
302000 miles
kmm215, 03/23/2009
1997 Honda Civic del Sol Si 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Really, can I say more than that? 302K miles I've driven my del sol! And its still running strong...I recently purchased an '07 civic and am keeping my del sol for a summer car. Really I'm spoiled with great gas mileage and a targa top, but to follow up my review from 2+ years ago, this is by far the coolest most practical, impractical car I've ever owned!
Dependable and Fun To Dive
rivervale7, 03/17/2004
1997 Honda Civic del Sol Si 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Dollar for dollar it is the most fun and dependable convertable you can drive. It looks nice and is made even better. Gas it up and change the oil, and nothing else since I got it.
One of the best cars I have had!!!
David, 03/19/2008
1997 Honda Civic del Sol Si 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have had this car about a year and it gets really good gas mileage and is perfect for my commute since I can commute with my friend and avoid traffic by riding in the HOV lanes and also avoid paying the toll on the bridge. The car was pretty cheap and has been very reliable. I hope to get 275K miles out of it!
Honda del sol
Jill, 02/19/2021
1997 Honda Civic del Sol S 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Response quick. Beautiful car
Best Car Ever
BW, 11/06/2021
1997 Honda Civic del Sol VTEC 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Had my 1995 del sol VTEC for 26 yrs. Only sold it because I needed a bigger car. I sure miss my pocket rocket.
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sexy car for an old lady
jane, 07/20/2022
1997 Honda Civic del Sol VTEC 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I've driven this car for twenty three years. Agile, nimble, trustworthy; it's a winner.
oh yeah!
old.woman.witch, 08/05/2022
1997 Honda Civic del Sol VTEC 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I've driven this car for twenty three years. it's well worth the regular investment in maintenance and repairs! I've just had my first, yes, first, brake job at a little over 162K miles. I fully expect to drive it for another twenty or thirty years. don't be cheap and neglect needed maintenance and repairs! ! ! I can not replace this vehicle with similar quality (at no older than two years) for less than $30,000.
My baby
Foxyredsol, 07/13/2002
1997 Honda Civic del Sol Si 2dr Coupe
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
This car has been the perfect college car. I drove back and forth 200 miles to school and it drives like a dream. The only problem I ever had with it was when I went off the raod cause it was icy and I shouldn't have been driving. I love this car and wouldn't give it up for anything.
Economy and glamour
jne, 08/02/2002
1997 Honda Civic del Sol S 2dr Coupe
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Excellent gas milage. Gorgeous exterior and interior alike. I have had no problems to date with my sporty ride. It would be wise for Honda to reintroduce this rare car