Fast Driver, Slow Car Is Still a Good Combo on the Nurburgring

I had a phenomenal time driving Mike's 500-horsepower Mazda RX-7 at the racetrack. But it left me slightly terrified of how fast it was. I still need to reach its maximum potential. But I could push my Skoda Octavia daily driver within an inch of its life at the same venue. After all, I've driven it for over 43,495 miles (70,000 km) compared to just 100 miles (160 km) or so in the RX-7.

And 110 horsepower feels like a walk in the park compared to 500. You can have fun in any car. That's not to say that Honda's CRX Del Sol is "any car." With a curb weight of around 2,425 lbs (1,100 kg), the B16A2-powered Del Sol was quite exciting for its time. And most people would still be surprised when VTEC kicks in. In today's video, Misha Charoudin will not drive the top-of-the-range Del Sol. The ESi is slightly slower. Its D16Y8 engine has a maximum output of 127 hp. Torque figures aren't impressive either at only 107 lb-ft (145 Nm).

VTEC is a lot less aggressive in this SOHC setup. But with Misha's experience, it's still fun to watch it go. He drove a lot of fast Hondas last year, including an EP3 Type R, a tuned FK8 Type R, and several S2000s. But some of the laps that will make you smile the most are in slow cars. Prices for the Del Sol have started going up in recent years, ranging from as cheap as $3,000 to as much as $15,000.

There's room for improvement, and the car in this video has an upgraded radiator, brakes, and coilovers. Those should come in handy on the Nordschleife, but the speaker setup isn't going to add any performance points. I won't comment anything about the exterior look of this vehicle. But even most Honda owners would call it that four-letter word I shall not name here.

It is the least exciting car in the owner's collection, as he has the keys to the Top Secret Supra and a Honda S2000. Misha overtakes several vehicles throughout the lap, including a Subaru Impreza and a Ford Mustang. It's also fun to see the owner's face as he feels the compression at the bottom of the Fox Hole while doing over 111 mph (180 kph). Many people have noted that the Suzuki Swift is ideal for learning to drive at the Nurburgring. And an entry-level Del Sol would be a good choice, too.