How old does a survivor need to be for us to truly appreciate it? And will any make do? It’s easy to revere a ’50s or ’60s vehicle with low mileage and no changes from stock. We can appreciate nearly any rare exotic with a handful of miles, and we’ve seen our share of astonishing ’30s and ’40s work trucks retired early with only a few tens of thousands of miles. But what about more pedestrian vehicles – the kind we all used for commuting? Here to test how we feel about survivors is this low mileage 1987 Honda Civic CRX Si hatchback, listed by Vintique Motors, a dealer located in Livonia, Michigan. The asking price is $17,000 and its entire ownership history is known. The car was originally sold in Canada and resided with its first owner for 28 years; since then, it traded garages just twice more (with a way stop at a dealer’s in between). Now with only 101,000 km (about 63k miles), it’s ready for a new owner.
Honda was well-known for its CVCC (Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion) technology, which allowed it to sidestep the installation of a catalytic converter for several years. But by 1987 when this car was made, Honda had buckled to the pressure of regulators, leaning on catalytic converters just like everyone else. But also creeping into the mix was fuel injection. This motor is Honda’s D15A3 SOHC 1.5-liter four-cylinder with PGM fuel injection (thus the “Si” for “Sport injected”) making about 91 hp. Paired with the desirable five-speed manual, this little number can hustle from zero to sixty in just over eight seconds. Top speed is about 112 mph. The car has an exhaust header and Tein adjustable suspension – the only significant changes from stock.
The interior has minor wear, including frayed carpet, slight fading, damage around the Pioneer CD player, and a few scratches in the plastic panels here and there. The headliner looks nearly new, and the power sunroof shows no evidence of leaking. The cargo area holds the spare, jack, and a few tools. An original owner’s/service manual comes with the car.
The underside is about as clean as we can expect, with minor wear. This Honda received a repaint by its first owner in the factory color of Rio Red but that was long enough ago that a few imperfections have accumulated over the years, including a chip in one wheel well, and a few scrapes around the front bumper. The CRX earned a berth in the “pocket rocket” class straight from the factory, but performance upgrades are common. Price-wise, I’m thinking the ask is a bit heavy given the scattering of paint issues here and there. On the other hand, this guy turned down $16k for his comparable CRX Si, so maybe I’m being cheap. What do you think?
These were such good cars. Sporty, frugal, fun to drive. I would buy an EV version if offered.
Being an EV would ruin it. Half the fun of these cars is revving then to the moon. You still won’t be going anywhere fast but you’ll feel like you are. You don’t get that same sensation from EVs unless they pipe fake audio through the sound system. Being an EV would just make it heavy and expensive. We learned that lesson already with the CR-Z.
I’m surprised it’s not on BaT – Vintique (AJL1988) sells a lot on there. I like this one but I don’t think I could ever have a car with a km speedo – would drive me nuts to constantly do the math to convert into mph, etc.
No need to convert. The MPH is just under the KMH numbers on the speedometer.
good point.
It’s been on BAT a couple of times.
Since you can’t post links to BAT here on BF (not cool), it sold on 7/29/21 for $8,700. Then, Vintique had it on there on 7/5/23 and it was bid up to $12,750.
I think the price is a steal if the mileage can be verified. What else can you get for that price that’s as usable, reliable, and fun as a first gen CRX Si?
I saw a note on Classic.com that the car HAD been on BaT and did not sell with a top bid around $13k. But when I went to BaT to find it, I couldn’t. Mysterious.
Here it is:
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1987-honda-crx-si-18/
Thanks, not sure why I couldn’t rustle that up.
entry from 11 am or so still not on here?
Response indicating this might just be a ‘pre-BaT test-market’ as it IS so hi $.
Plus a-lot more verbiage.
Will watch to see if this appears,
Thnx,
– -Chad
“chrlsful”
BTW: i never go to BaT anymore, now (2022+?)
Toy car, literally. Not for me. Riding around all contorted.
I’m 6’3 and my 1985 CRX Si is one of the roomiest cars I’ve ever driven. The lack of a back seat means you have enormous amounts of leg room and the boxy shape means you have a lot of head room. It may be a small car but it’s very roomy.
We could use more cars just like it built new,cheap,simple,easy to fix.few problems.build more.
It’ll never happen. Look at what the Civic has become. Even the Type-R has turned into a bloated land whale that’s 50% heavier than this car. Too much feature creep in modern vehicles to ever return to the small light-weight runabout.
Though there are small lightweight runabouts (Ariel Atom, KTM X-Bow, Caterham, etc.) they are obviously not the combination Honda established with the CRX by making them AFFORDABLE…
Did the 87 CRX have the plastic fenders?
Yes. Plastic fenders, plastic header pannel, plastic rocker pannels, plastic front and rear bumpers, plastic lower door panels and plastic lower pannels on the rear quarters.
I’ve got an 85 Si and finding the plastics has been the hardest part. There’s a company that remakes many of them in carbon fiber but you’d have to sell your first born to afford them… Just ONE of the fenders is twice what I paid for the car in 2008…