zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Buying
/
At $25,000, Will You Flip your Lid Over This 1993 Honda del Sol SiR?
At $25,000, Will You Flip your Lid Over This 1993 Honda del Sol SiR?-August 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:09:13

Nice Price or No Dice 1993 Honda del Sol TransTop

According to the seller, today’s Del Sol is in “showroom condition.” Of course, that would have be a showroom not in the U.S., as this version of the targa-top two-seater was never sold here. Let’s see what such exclusivity might be worth.

The we looked at last Friday had been heavily modified by its seller, with the inspiration, they said, having come from the Internet. Despite that crowd-sourced influence, the result didn’t exhibit universal appeal amongst all of you. Add on to that a not-insubstantial $34,000 asking price, and things just went downhill from there. The result was an overwhelming 96 percent No Dice loss.

Image for article titled At $25,000, Will You Flip your Lid Over This 1993 Honda del Sol SiR?

When Mazda introduced the MX-5 Miata to the world, it engendered a wave of nostalgia for traditional British roadsters to a whole generation of buyers, many of whom faked it as they were too young to have been around for the original experience. Being as successful as it was, the Miata gave rise to a spate of competition from other car makers, none of which was able to capture the same genie in the bottle as Mazda.

Honda’s entry into the Miata-like mix was the de Sol, a targa-topped two-seater leveraging many of the same parts under the skirts as the Civic upon which it was based. The car was nominally a successor to the two-seat CRX, but it played to a different market, being a good bit larger and somewhat wonkier owing to its open-top body.

Image for article titled At $25,000, Will You Flip your Lid Over This 1993 Honda del Sol SiR?

Honda sold the del Sol globally, but the U.S. was left out of the model’s best party trick. That’s the optional “TransTop” automatic Targa delivery and retraction system. That cool feature levitates the boot lid to roof level on an extendable gantry and then either sucks in or spits out the Targa top depending on which way the dash-top switch is thrown.

This is a JDM model with the TransTop and is claimed to be in showroom-fresh condition. I’m not quite sure about that description since the car wears aftermarket tail lamp clusters and chrome-plated wheels that allow views of the rattle canned-red brake calipers. Aside from those blemishes, the 60,000-mile car looks to be ladably original and very clean.

Image for article titled At $25,000, Will You Flip your Lid Over This 1993 Honda del Sol SiR?

Power comes from a 1.6-liter VTEC four, which is paired with a five-speed stick driving the front wheels as it does when doing its Civic duty. New Toyo tires ensure the engine’s 168 ponies are put to good use. Of course, making that happen will require some remapped muscle memory since this is a right-hand-drive car, meaning gear changes are left-handed affairs.

Image for article titled At $25,000, Will You Flip your Lid Over This 1993 Honda del Sol SiR?

At least the cabin looks like a decent place to learn such behaviors. The upholstery and plastics all look to have held up well, and there’s no evidence of the seal leaking that typically plagues these cars as they age.

The bodywork also presents very well, and while many of the photos in the ad have date stamps from 2011 on them, it’s more likely that the person taking the pictures simply didn’t want to be bothered with updating the date. According to the ad, the car is registered in Connecticut and comes with a clean title.

Image for article titled At $25,000, Will You Flip your Lid Over This 1993 Honda del Sol SiR?

What might something as unique as this del Sol be worth? The seller asks $25,000, which is top of the heap for a privately imported TransTop car but might make sense in this topsy-turvy car market.

What do you say, is $25,000 a fair price for a “showroom condition” TransTop del Sol? Or is that price just too over the top?

You decide!

Stonington, Connecticut, , or go if the ad disappears.

H/T to whatsupdohc for the hookup!

Help me out with NPOND. Hit me up at and send me a fixed-price tip. Remember to include your Kinja handle.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Buying
At $8,900, Would You Consider Horsing Around in This 2014 Hyundai Equus Ultimate?
At $8,900, Would You Consider Horsing Around in This 2014 Hyundai Equus Ultimate?
Being unmemorable is bad. Being unmemorable when you’re a car brand’s top model is unforgivable. Today’s Equus once carried Hyundai’s halo, but youlikely never gave these a second thought. Maybe this one’s price will finally make you sit up and take notice. Someone else’s project. That seems to be a...
Aug 15, 2026
The 797-HP 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Proves Power Never Gets Old
The 797-HP 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Proves Power Never Gets Old
The Dodge Challenger is as as it is impractical. It’s based on an ancient platform, and its looks haven’t changed that dramatically since its . It has the turning radius of a bus and the traction of a cat on hard floors, it guzzles gasoline like its job is to...
Aug 15, 2026
The 2020 Range Rover Evoque Is a Bold Way to Withdraw From the World In Style
The 2020 Range Rover Evoque Is a Bold Way to Withdraw From the World In Style
The old Range Rover Evoque was a big departure for the brand, offering something compact, stylish and fairly capable—and even a bit curious when it comes to the coupe and . The new has lost a bit of its stylish charm, but it remains a car that can be bold...
Aug 15, 2026
Here's Where Women Pay More for Car Insurance Than Men: Study
Here's Where Women Pay More for Car Insurance Than Men: Study
Those of you familiar with the “” shouldn’t be at all that surprised to learn that women tend to pay more than men for car insurance in half of the United States. And this is despite men being found to be the overall riskier drivers. Go figure! In ,...
Aug 15, 2026
I Can't Choose Between Cargo Space And Horsepower! What Car Should I Buy?
I Can't Choose Between Cargo Space And Horsepower! What Car Should I Buy?
JP is having a crisis of performance vs. practicality. His lease is up soon and he likes a good sport sedan, but needs some hauling capability as a new homeowner. He’s tired of bugging his friends for trucks, but he really doesn’t want to give up something that is fun...
Aug 15, 2026
A Brief Reminder That Cars Are Meant to Be Driven
A Brief Reminder That Cars Are Meant to Be Driven
I have given a name to my pain, and it is . Aside from being a clearing house for fantastically well-maintained cars I can’t afford, even if their prices are questionable—$15,000 , what the hell?—it has become my go-to place to get depressed over very good cars that are never...
Aug 15, 2026
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved