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Top 10 worst Hondas'...

16K views 47 replies 20 participants last post by  Baker 
#1 ·
Top 10 worst Hondas' from Honda Tuning:
Worst might be the wrong word, maybe disappointing.

Bad cars are inevitable. Bad cars are necessary. If it weren't for bad cars, then the good ones might not seem so good. Besides, counting down the list of Honda's all-time best would be entirely too easy, not to mention entirely too labored a list. Consider these not so much the worst but perhaps the worst of the not-so-great. Some were underpowered. Some lacked proper styling. Some were engineering oddities. Either way, behold, the following are what may well be the 10 worst Hondas of all time, in no particular order.

1992 Acura Vigor: In a world of sophisticated VTEC engines-all of which had even numbers of cylinders-the Legend-like Vigor made do with the oddity that was Honda's only longitudinally mounted five-cylinder powerplant.

1991 Acura NSX Automatic: Drive one and you'll quickly realize that no amount of suspension finesse or supercar styling will make up for its slop-box full of clutches, gears, valve bodies, and other nonsense.

1990 Prelude Si 4WS: The world never has and never will require four-wheel steering.

1997 Acura CL 2.2: Heavier and slower than the Accord, Acura's supposedly upper-echelon model was more expensive than its Honda ancestor yet featured dim performance and curious styling. Bits of its front fascia were also the basis of the 1990s California Integra Type R conversion and earns its place on this list if for no other reason than that.

2002 Civic Si: The first Si to not feature its respective era's flagship four-cylinder Honda engine. It was also the first in 14 years to have its steering cumbrously connected to its struts and featured the lowest amount of shock travel of any Civic to date.

1994 Honda Passport: Designed by Isuzu. Built by Isuzu. Any questions?

1996 Acura SLX: It looked like an Isuzu Trooper…because it was one. At least one major automotive evaluation firm rolled one over during testing.

2005 Honda Accord Hybrid: When compared to non-hybrid Accords, it performed similarly, achieved marginally better fuel consumption, yet weighed and sold for significantly more.

1993 del Sol S: That Honda didn't equip the roadster-like del Sol in the wake of Miata domination with an RWD configuration can be forgiven. That it offered a version with its least powerful SOHC 1.5L D series cannot.

2011 CR-Z: They claimed it was the spiritual successor to the late, great CRX. At 122hp, it wasn't.


http://www.hondatuningmagazine.com/editorial/htup_1204_10_worst_hondas/index.html

Agree, disagree?
What would make your list AND why?
 
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#3 ·
A Vigor makes the list just because it has a 5 cylinder engine? I'd take a Vigor over any Accord of the same generation, any day.

I'd add a 2004 RL to the list. With a chassis entering its 9th model year and a woefully-underpowered C-series V6, it was very much outclassed by the competition. It was also the last Honda/Acura to not have VTEC at least as an option.

And a ZDX, because what people "really" want is a 2+2 SUV with no cargo space. I think the sales numbers speak for themselves in this case. They'll be very rare in the future, but not in a good way, more obscure like a Merkur Scorpio.
 
#5 ·
If Honda had made the Del Sol an MR, which I assume would have been the plan, they would've been attacked with lawsuits like Toyota was over floormats. I imagine there wouldve been way more fatalities recorded in Del Sols than CRXs even though airbags were standard. Why? The car would be cheap (Miata price range), light, powerful (z6 and later B16), and handling wouldve been a crapshoot.
Say that handling wasnt much of a problem with the weight distribution though. Kids would think they had just baught an NSX and your local canyon road would be the biggest Del Slow VTAK pick-n-pull. I believe that it was a smart move to keep it FWD.

I think the 5 cylinder Vigor is in there because its the only Honda with an inline 5 banger. Thats not a good thing when looking for aftermarket support, I guess.
 
#7 ·
An MR Del Sol would have been like an MR2, not automatically a bad thing. Of course the real reason it's an FF is because Honda didn't want to spend the time and money to engineer a new chassis, so they just modified the Civic platform. I like Del Sols ever since I drove one on a sunny day with the top off and the rear window down, but I still think it belongs on this list just because of chassis flex. Those things make a stock CRX feel stiff.
 
#9 ·
Sat in a CRZ at my local dealer. Didn't feel CRXy, but was cool anyway. Went back later to show my son. No CRZ. Reason? In a local population base of about 150,000, the salesman said there was insufficient interest so they don't keep any CRZs in stock. That sorta says something. Maybe the '12s will be better? I always felt Honda should have let the Rex evolve several more years.
 
#10 ·
AJHS2011 said:
I kind of disagree with the 1990 Prelude Si 4WS.
Same here. They were good looking cars inside and out, my favorite gen of Prelude really.
With or without the 4WS, I don't think it should have made the list to begin with or for that reason alone.

jfrolang said:
a ZDX, because what people "really" want is a 2+2 SUV with no cargo space.
It's basically an Accord Crosstour though, right?
Though much uglier, like the rest of the Acura lineup.
 
#12 ·
Baker said:
2002 Civic Si: The first Si to not feature its respective era's flagship four-cylinder Honda engine. It was also the first in 14 years to have its steering cumbrously connected to its struts and featured the lowest amount of shock travel of any Civic to date.
This is in reference to the hatch? I kind of like this hatchback. Reminiscent of the 92-95, useful and relatively rare.
 
#13 ·
gdh said:
Baker said:
2002 Civic Si: The first Si to not feature its respective era's flagship four-cylinder Honda engine. It was also the first in 14 years to have its steering cumbrously connected to its struts and featured the lowest amount of shock travel of any Civic to date.
This is in reference to the hatch? I kind of like this hatchback. Reminiscent of the 92-95, useful and relatively rare.
Yeah and I like them because real Si are hatches.....
 
#22 ·
I disagree with that list. My worst Hondas list would be:

First gen Element: ugly plastic body panels, only seats four, and the suicide doors don't have windows that can be rolled down.

Accord Crosstour: Big, heavy, ugly, need I go on?

Acura RDX turbo: Honda finally offers a turbo in the states, and they shove it in an expensive SUV? And it only makes 240hp? No thanks.

2012 Honda CRV - Ugly as all get out, big and heavy for what it is. 185 hp 163 lbs tq? Not even tough enough to do any light hauling.

Acura RL - FWD and no V8 option? Next please.

Honda Ridgeline - See above on the V8 option. Not much I can do with a truck with a 250 hp V6. It doesn't even have the most powerful V6 in Honda's line up. FAIL.
 
#23 ·
Edison Carasio said:
First gen Element: ugly plastic body panels, only seats four, and the suicide doors don't have windows that can be rolled down.
I can agree with your list except one, only because I'm biased. :lol:
Body panels were available body colored, seating doesn't bother me, windows pop open only but make up for it with the pop up or removable rear sunroof.

It's about time though that Honda take Acura to the next level and offer a V8 RWD flagship as well as something to add to the Ridgline if they want to keep it around and actually compete in the truck market.
 
#24 ·
Baker said:
Edison Carasio said:
First gen Element: ugly plastic body panels, only seats four, and the suicide doors don't have windows that can be rolled down.
I can agree with your list except one, only because I'm biased. :lol:
Body panels were available body colored, seating doesn't bother me, windows pop open only but make up for it with the pop up or removable rear sunroof.

It's about time though that Honda take Acura to the next level and offer a V8 RWD flagship as well as something to add to the Ridgline if they want to keep it around and actually compete in the truck market.
Don't get me wrong, I LIKE the Element, but I couldn't get into them until the later model years.



^^^ I like this one. It's a early model with the later model panels swapped over if I recall correctly.
 
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