Honda
originally called this car the Civic del Sol in
the US because it shares a number of components
with the Civic family. However, for 1995, it's
simply the del Sol, as Honda attempts to give
this car a separate image.
The del Sol inhabits the cute end of the
sports-car spectrum.The car's defining
characteristic, of course, is its targa roof. By
removing the large roof panel, I can enjoy
top-down motoring with less buffeting than in a
convertible.
Considerable attention has gone into managing
airflow around the car, from the raked windshield
to the flying buttress pillars at the rear of the
roof. The result is a civilized open sports car
that lets me sit up and listen to the music, too.
A novel rear window that goes up and down offers
an additional way to adjust the airflow.
When the top's in place and the windows are up,
the del Sol is a nice little sports coupe with
plenty of interior room.
The seats were a bit low - but after climbing
inside and stretching my legs, it felt like my
favorite sports car position. The comfortable,
contoured bucket seats hold me securely.
Ride & Drive
Some torsional rigidity is lost, of course,
because of the targa top, but the car still feels
solid and under control.A racing-inspired,
four-wheel double wishbone suspension. An
available 160-horsepower, dual overhead cam VTEC
engine.
When the sun is shining, a convertible is one of
life's more delicious automotive pleasures.
With its removable targa roof panel, it supplies
plenty of open-air motoring, with a substantial
weatherproof environment for off-season cruising.
|
