With emission regulations continuing to tighten during the 1980s, car manufacturers needed to think outside the box if they were going to provide drivers with anything even remotely resembling decent levels of performance. While American manufacturers worked to get their heads around this brave new world, Japanese and European manufacturers provided some ideas of the technology that would be required by releasing an enormous array of hot hatches. One of the more charismatic and stylish of these hot hatches was the Honda CR-X, and this 1988 CR-X Si is a great example. It is in spotless condition and has a genuine 8,750 miles on the clock. It is located in Erin, Ontario, Canada, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. There has only been a single bid of C$17,000 submitted at this stage, and the reserve hasn’t been met. A huge thank you has to go out to Barn Finder Patrick S for spotting this little gem for us.

These Japanese hot hatches had a lot going for them when they were new, but like so many cars from this era, they could also look worn and tired very quickly. That doesn’t appear to be the case with this Rio Red Honda, because it presents superbly. The paint shines well, while the trim and plastic haven’t suffered under the ravages of UV exposure. The panels are laser straight, and the gaps are as tight as you would expect to find on any Honda. Apart from some small scratches on the rear window, the glass appears to be faultless. A factory sunroof is a great addition, and this compensates for the fact that the CR-X does not come equipped with air conditioning. The Honda rolls on its original alloy wheels, and these are also in excellent condition. These are wrapped in the original tires, although I would be tempted to change those before I took the car on any extended journeys.

Historically, Japanese manufacturers have never relied on large-capacity engines in their performance offerings. The Japanese road tax system is quite complicated and benefits models fitted with small engines. That is why Kei cars have remained so prevalent there. It has also meant that if a manufacturer wanted to extract the best bang for their bucks, then they needed to embrace advanced engine design to achieve this. That meant that multiple camshafts, fuel injection, and electronic engine management system development advanced in leaps and bounds. You find a lot of this technology hiding under the hood of the CR-X. It is the 1,590cc 4-cylinder “D16A6” engine that features 16-valves and multi-point electronic fuel injection. This little engine produces 105hp, which finds its way to the front wheels via a 5-speed manual transmission. Such a small engine with a front-wheel-drive configuration would typically not be the sort of combination that promised scintillating performance. However, this Honda should be capable of storming the ¼ mile in 16.8 seconds. I will admit that we aren’t in muscle car territory with that sort of performance, but it is still an impressive number for such a small car. The owner claims that the CR-X has a genuine 8,750 miles on the clock, and it seems that he holds documentation that would confirm this. The car has recently received a full fluid flush and change using OEM products. The owner says that the vehicle runs perfectly and that it is a joy to drive.

The interior shots that the owner supplies are not the best and this is the pick of the bunch. The interior does appear to be in excellent condition, and piecing the condition together from the supplied photos indicates no wear on the deeply-sculptured bucket seats. The carpet seems to be in as-new condition, while there are no signs of any problems with the dash or the plastic trim. The buyer isn’t going to be inundated by optional extras in this car because there is no A/C, nor is there power assistance for the windows, seats, or locks. There is an aftermarket Denon CD player that was installed when the vehicle was about a year old. Apart from the sunroof, that’s your lot. The CD player is a removable type, and the factory blanking plate conceals the resulting hole when the player is removed.

It is easy to dismiss cars like this 1988 Honda CR-X because they are small cars, but they are also hugely important. Lift the hood on any of the performance offerings from American manufacturers today, and you will find fuel injection and electronic engine management systems as a significant part of their DNA. Without that type of technology, there is a fair chance that those cars either wouldn’t exist or their power and performance figures would be firmly mired in the sorts of numbers that we saw during the Malaise Era. However, American companies not only leaped on this technology, but they successfully adapted it to their own unique requirements. It is classics like this one that demonstrated that not only was this technology accessible, but it could also be inexpensive and extremely reliable. This CR-X is never going to offer the sorts of performance figures that we see from today’s muscle cars, but it does provide an interesting compromise. If it is poked with a sharp stick, this little car will offer performance that the majority of motorists would find more than acceptable. The CR-X is also an accomplished open road cruiser, it is a great weapon to have in the cut-and-thrust of city driving, and it offers outstanding fuel consumption. The 1988 model is also an exceptionally attractive and distinctive car, and the condition of this one makes it something quite special. Japanese hot hatches aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but they are fun little cars to drive. When life gets too serious, a bit of fun never goes astray.