What year did Honda stop making the Del Sol?
The Honda Del Sol, a popular two-seat sports car, was discontinued by Honda in 1997 after a successful 6-year production run. The Del Sol was known for its distinctive "targa-style" removable roof panel, which provided an open-air driving experience without the complexity of a full convertible top.
The History of the Honda Del Sol
The Honda Del Sol was introduced in 1992 as a replacement for the Honda CR-X, which had been discontinued a year earlier. The Del Sol was designed to be a more modern and refined sports car, with a focus on handling and driving dynamics. It was powered by a range of Honda's reliable four-cylinder engines, including the popular B16A VTEC unit.
The Del Sol was well-received by critics and consumers alike, with its nimble handling, peppy performance, and unique roof design setting it apart from other small sports cars on the market. However, sales began to decline in the mid-1990s as consumer preferences shifted towards larger, more practical vehicles.
Why Did Honda Discontinue the Del Sol?
There were a few key reasons why Honda decided to discontinue the Del Sol in 1997:
- Declining Sales: As mentioned, sales of the Del Sol had been steadily declining since the mid-1990s, as the market shifted towards larger, more practical vehicles. This made it increasingly difficult for Honda to justify the continued production of the niche sports car.
- Changing Consumer Preferences: The Del Sol's small size and two-seat configuration were seen as drawbacks by many consumers, who were increasingly looking for more practical and versatile vehicles. The rise of SUVs and crossovers in the 1990s further contributed to the decline of the Del Sol's market segment.
- Overlap with Other Honda Models: With the introduction of the Honda S2000 roadster in 1999, the Del Sol's position in Honda's lineup became increasingly unclear. The S2000 offered similar performance and driving dynamics, but with a more modern and sophisticated design.
Ultimately, the combination of declining sales, changing consumer preferences, and overlap with other Honda models led the company to discontinue the Del Sol in 1997, after a successful 6-year production run.
Is a Honda Del Sol rare?
The Del Sol is uncommon, holding its value
With less than 75,000 units manufactured for the U.S. market, the Honda Del Sol is not a rare car, but can be considered uncommon. As years go by, the number of good-condition, drivable examples continues to decrease.
What was the last year of the Honda Del Sol?
1998
The Honda CR-X del Sol (marketed in other markets as the Honda Civic del Sol, Honda del Sol and the Honda CRX) is a two-seater targa-top car manufactured by Honda from 1992 until 1998.
How much is a Honda Del Sol worth today?
A: The average price of a Honda Del Sol is $10,500. Q: When was the Honda Del Sol produced? A: The Honda Del Sol was sold for model years 1992 to 1998.
Why was Honda Del Sol discontinued?
Honda stopped making the Del Sol primarily due to declining sales, which were caused by a combination of factors including water leaks from the targa top, a cramped and low-quality interior, and stiff competition from other roadsters like the Mazda Miata. The final model year in 1997 saw fewer than 6,000 units sold in the U.S., making it a financially unviable vehicle for the company.
You can watch this video to learn more about the Honda Del Sol's short production run: 58sAcura AdviceYouTube · Oct 14, 2023
Reasons for the Del Sol's discontinuation
- Declining sales: Sales dropped significantly after its first couple of years, plummeting to under 6,000 units in its final year, which made the car a poor investment for Honda.
- Targa top issues: The removable targa top was a major source of complaints, as it was prone to water leaks and potential damage if not sealed properly, which hurt customer satisfaction.
- Interior and practicality problems: Many owners found the interior cramped and made of cheap materials, and the car lacked storage space, especially for a convertible.
- Market positioning: The Del Sol struggled to find its niche. It was marketed as a sports car but was front-wheel drive and didn't offer the same performance as its competitors like the rear-wheel-drive Mazda Miata, while also being less practical than other cars in the Civic lineup it was based on.
- Competition with the CRX: It was seen by some as an inferior successor to the CRX, lacking the CRX's sharper handling and overall more connected driving experience.
- Structural changes: When the new generation of the Civic chassis was introduced in 1995, it was apparently too long to maintain the structural rigidity needed for a targa top. Honda continued to produce the Del Sol on the older chassis, which likely hurt its appeal and long-term viability.
