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One Female Operator: 1987 Honda CRX Si

The first-generation Honda CRX remains one of my favorite cars of the 80s. I’ve thought long and hard about setting out to search for one, but it has remained on my list of, “If it falls into my lap, I’ll buy it.” But there will come a day when a rust-free CRX Si is near impossible to find and certainly hard to buy cheaply. This one is said to have a longtime female owner and does run but will likely need a fuel pump. Find it here on eBay with bidding over $1K and the reserve unmet. 

One of my favorite features of the early CRXs was the optional rear window louvers. These were dealer installed, which isn’t that unusual seeing as how many 80s hatchbacks came with them. I just love thinking about a Honda dealer installing OEM louvers! The phone dial wheels are specific to the Si model, which offered a slight performance advantage over the lower-spec CRXs. It looks like rust may be an issue on the rear fender and likely elsewhere.

The seller does not mention any rust, however, so that is speculation at best on my part. He does say it is original paint, and that’s the original interior with those nicely bolstered bucket seats. The seller says it was last registered in 2010 in New York State, which certainly isn’t kind to cars that are driven through winter. The early Japanese vehicles had very fragile sheetmetal, so this one is worth inspecting even though it clearly is a survivor.

The engine bay is pretty filthy, certainly more than I expected. Mileage is quite reasonable – low, even – at 109,000, so I’ even more surprised at the general filth under the hood. The seller says the CRX will run but needs a fuel pump, and a full engine service (timing belt, plugs/wires, cap and rotor, etc.) should be on the top of the next owner’s list. All generations of the CRX make great handlers and good track cars, too, but it’s also right at home on the backroad of your choice. How would you use it?

Comments

  1. Avatar photo Matt

    A friend of mine had one of these in high school but it was blue with the louvers. In order to get around a particularly long light at a very convoluted intersection he would drive in the lane for oncoming traffic for a few hundred feet. He used to say “don’t worry, they don’t want to hit you either.” I can only imagine he is either dead or a motivational speaker.

    Like 13
  2. Avatar photo Jeffro

    Just because it’s female owned/driven doesn’t really mean anything. I’ve know girls who drove cars harder some male gear heads.

    Like 17
    • Avatar photo Rob John

      My youngest daughter comes to mind.

      Like 8
    • Avatar photo Poppy

      Plus a lot of females I know aren’t the best at maintaining their cars. “I didn’t think I needed to change oil until the oil light came on” or “What? My brake pads are TOTALLY gone!? Hmm, I wondered what that scraping noise was.”

      Like 8
  3. Avatar photo Miguel

    “The seller says the CRX will run but needs a fuel pump, and a full engine service (timing belt, plugs/wires, cap and rotor, etc.) should be on the top of the next owner’s list.”

    These services should have been on the top of this owners (flippers) list.

    Like 14
  4. Avatar photo Scott Tait

    Hate flippers … they suck the marrow out of any hobby and push prices up

    Like 14
    • Avatar photo Rx7turboII

      Without flippers, a lot of cars would never come to Market, keep that in mind….. it’s funny that you say you hate flippers, does that mean you hate every single one of us? Even the ones that turn a neglected, beating up old Honda into something that somebody can be proud of by doing the correct maintenance to it that the previous owner did not? Kind of a general statement that you hate all flippers don’t you think?
      Some of us do it out of pure enjoyment and to make a little money on the side,not all of us have enough money from our paychecks to live on and have to do side work to pay the bills.
      I hate it when people lump all Flipper’s into one category, trust me, some of us have morals and honesty under our belts!

      Like 4
      • Avatar photo jdjonesdr

        Nobody likes a flipper until they flip a car themselves. Then it’s OK.

        Like 0
  5. Avatar photo Mike B

    Worst case: you’ve got a really fun winter car.

    Like 4
    • Avatar photo jdjonesdr

      ‘Worst case: you’ve got a really fun winter car to work on all winter’

      Fixed that for you. Lol

      Like 15
  6. Avatar photo Wrong Way

    I doubt that I could even get in and out of such a small car! I am curious as if any long tall people can?

    Like 3
    • Avatar photo jdjonesdr

      I’m 6’4″ and had no problem getting into mine. Great little car too.

      Like 4
    • Avatar photo Tony K

      I’m 6-foot-two, and I bought a new CRX in 1984 and had absolutely no issues getting into and out of it for many years. Loved that car! Finally had to trade it in 1994 because I needed a back seat (moved to a ’94 Acura Legend 5-speed).

      Like 1
  7. Avatar photo Junkyard Jimmy

    “One Female Operator” translates to: Vehicle never got fluids checked or changed in entire time of ownership.

    Like 12
    • Avatar photo Moparmann Member

      Looking at the enlarged ebay pictures, it would seem that the “original” paint has not been washed OR waxed, based on its current condition!

      Like 5
      • Avatar photo Miguel

        I was just going to say that. Along with never checking fluids, the car has never seen a cloth with wax on it.

        It is a red car, however, and the paint will probably come back for a very short time.

        Like 1
  8. Avatar photo KevinLee

    Regarding female ownership, I always say: Girl + car = dead animal!😁🤣

    Like 4
  9. Avatar photo Ronald

    I had numerous civics from ’79 til ’14, great little cars but look where this car is from. NY state, everything no doubt rusted up underneath, driven by a young girl, nah will pass.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar photo Joe

    Parts car for my dual Accord engined Car & Driver ’84.

    Like 0
  11. Avatar photo leiniedude Member

    I just sold my 91 Civic DX for $1500. Paid $ 1750 for it 14 years ago. Great cars! Ended: Jul 26, 2018 , 11:11PM
    Winning bid:US $1,525.00
    [ 66 bids ]

    Like 0

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