#TBT: Turning a Honda CRX into a reliable, fun track car on a budget

For years we have all been told that getting on track costs money—lots of it. But does that have to be true? Sure, the top race teams burn through cash with reckless abandon, but what about just getting out there and clicking off some laps?

Welcome to the world of track events and lapping days, …

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I ran all those prices through an inflation calculator, and here's what I got:

I'm not so certain you could find a decent CRX for $4K nowadays...

In reply to Colin Wood :

You could find one for $4k, but it won't be decent or have sides that you can't see through.

I'd rather we see a comparison of the newer "crx/civic" alternative compared to 2008's CRX. I'll play:

I can provide a link with price for anything on the right column. Left was from old receipts. 

In reply to Colin Wood :

Sadly, back in the day, finding a good CRX took just a few minutes on Craigslist. This was the first and only car I even called on. And then, as your reward, you had a CRX–in this case, already fitted with a B16A.

Yeah, CRXs have become a semi-collectible...kinda like early Miatas.

Even more crazy is all the interior parts, as so many were stripped by kids years ago when that was the trend.  Now, those same folks scour the web for deals on those same parts to "restore" their cars. 

On the bright side, modern tech has made many of the deteriorated plastic clips and such available again through 3D printing.  This includes the oft-maligned climate control dash modules.

I've always owned at least one of these, with a max of three (fit into a two-car garage plus a riding mower).  Down to two presently.

I mean... how far yall wanna drive and what do you consider decent?  The set of 3 looks like a decent deal.

https://louisville.craigslist.org/cto/d/new-albany-1988-honda-crx-si-set-of/7720802727.html

https://lakeland.craigslist.org/cto/d/bartow-1985-crx-si-all-matching-vin/7725761960.html

https://wyoming.craigslist.org/cto/d/laramie-1988-honda-crx-speed-d16z6/7728395643.html

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/d/mesa-1988-honda-crx-hatchback/7724577480.html

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/cto/d/sun-valley-honda-crx/7726814095.html

https://monterey.craigslist.org/cto/d/marina-1991-honda-crx-dx/7722683762.html

https://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/d/shingle-springs-91-honda-crx/7721747935.html

https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/cto/d/vista-crx-gen-project-or-parts/7720957234.html

In reply to Andy Hollis :

I have a bad feeling that I might have once tossed one of the back “trunk boxes” into the trash. You’re right, back then, we thought there’d be an endless supply.

But we were lucky to have two of them. In addition to the ’88 HF fitted with the B16A, we also had a supercharged ’88 Si. (Yes, in Y49 and, no, it wasn’t cursed.)

Wonder what it would cost to do a K-swapped CR-Z ?

Where did you get Super Blue fluid?  I used to use it but now NLA?

In reply to benjammin308 :

In 2008 it was readily available. 🥸

typ200 or super dot4 are like for like equivalents, though not blue (which I don't like)

So, what happened to this very CRX? I traded it to Per for our rallycross Subaru Impreza. At the time, I felt like I could always find another CRX down the road (wrong). 

I’m 99.99% certain it eventually became this 9-second drag car campaigned by IPG Parts. 

Last I saw, it was for sale as a roller. 

benjammin308 said:

Where did you get Super Blue fluid?  I used to use it but now NLA?

It was pulled from the market specifically because of the blue color - the DOT didn't like it. ATE Typ200 is the exact same stuff without the blue dye. 

David S. Wallens said:

So, what happened to this very CRX? I traded it to Per for our rallycross Subaru Impreza. At the time, I felt like I could always find another CRX down the road (wrong). 

I’m 99.99% certain it eventually became this 9-second drag car campaigned by IPG Parts. 

Last I saw, it was for sale as a roller. 

All of that is true.  Tom Creen was the driver and prime motivator behind that effort.  He's no longer with IPG Parts. 

James Innes (IPG = Innes Performance Group) is still in business and doing great work.  I get lots of my Honda performance parts through them -- just bought a fresh Exedy clutch for my CRX.  They've saved my bacon on numerous occasions, including hand carrying a TPS to Daytona from their HQ in Orlando during One Lap back in 2011 or so.

I'll check in and see what the story is with the drag CRX.  I found the for sale ad, but nothing conclusive.

And here it is...new owner still drag racing it.

https://www.facebook.com/joshua.torres.52643

Thanks for the info, and glad to see that the CRX is still out there. I bought the car already swapped and, IIRC, the seller had a baby on the way–or something like that. The seller was down in the Melbourne/Cocoa Beach area. They might have had an Evo, too. This is back when you didn’t have to go far to find a clean CRX. 

So seeing how this article was from 2008, what would be a good car of choice in today's world?