{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"002 | Why This Stock 1991 Honda CRX Si Is a Rare Time Capsule","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/002-why-this-stock-1991-honda-crx-si-is-a-rare-time-capsule","audioUrl":"https://anchor.fm/s/1091187bc/podcast/play/108633165/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2025-8-22%2F6b68f695-49d9-a2ea-a7be-27522e6955ec.mp3","description":"On today’s episode of Cool Cars with Chris, we’re stepping back in time with Mike and his incredibly clean, all-original 1991 Honda CRX Si — no mods, no swaps, no neon, just pure 90s Honda greatness.Mike takes us through what makes this CRX special, how rare it is to find one unmodified, and why he chose this car over newer, flashier models — including a GTR he once owned (!).We also dig into the golden era of Honda, the challenge of keeping this beauty mint, where he shows it off, and even touch on California’s wild exhaust laws. If you're a fan of old-school Hondas, JDM culture, or just clean, classic cars, this is one for the books.Make sure to check out the new website: coolcarswithchris.com for episodes, videos, and social links.Thanks for listening and don’t forget to hit that follow or subscribe button!00:00 – Intro: A pristine 1991 Honda CRX Si00:52 – Meet Mike and the CRX Si01:25 – Why a stock CRX is so rare02:24 – The definition of “Si” and trim levels03:22 – Competing hot hatches of the 90s04:05 – Mike’s personal connection to the CRX04:55 – Mike’s collection of 80s and 90s Hondas05:12 – Why unmodified Hondas are special06:00 – How Mike found this car07:06 – Mileage and reliability07:46 – Engine specs and performance08:34 – Driving experience and freeway vibes09:06 – Parts availability and insurance10:25 – Buying story: Temecula pickup memory12:02 – When and where Mike drives it12:24 – Paint job: matching factory Real Red13:41 – The car’s flaws (or lack thereof)14:09 – The one thing Mike wishes it had15:07 – Driving without power steering16:21 – Longest drive Mike’s done with it17:24 – Oil type and gas usage18:15 – Reactions at car meets and shows19:11 – This car belongs in a museum20:01 – Reproduction window sticker21:05 – People’s reactions and Cars & Coffee details22:51 – Rarest cars at Cars & Coffee23:39 – Why Mike prefers classic Hondas over supercars25:04 – Stock Miatas and Monster Miatas26:20 – CARB states and exhaust law talk27:30 – Street legal issues and ticket stories28:52 – Chris's old exhaust and VQ engines29:03 – Manual transmission & 5-speed details30:17 – What “Si” means today31:03 – The appeal of fuel injection back in the day31:16 – Final thoughts: nostalgia and value of old cars32:09 – Let's go for a ride!32:29 – Recap: A ride down memory lane33:10 – Wrap up and thank you33:32 – Website, socials, and closing message#HondaCRX #CRXSi #1991HondaCRX #StockNotModded #ClassicHonda #JDMClassic #TimeCapsuleCar #90sHonda #GoldenEraHonda #UnmodifiedCRX #CleanCarCulture #HondaHeritage #CoolCarsWithChris #JDMIcons #VintageHonda #PreservedNotRestored #CRXLove #CarsAndCoffee #OldSchoolHonda #RareJDMFind\n"},"annotations":[{"startTime":176.52,"endTime":182.0,"type":"car","title":"Honda CRX","url":"/cars/honda/crx","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/1988_Honda_CRX.jpg","quote":"...as the top of the food chain back in 1991 for the CRX. There were three trim levels. And this was the t...","canonicalId":"car:honda:crx","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":205.04,"endTime":212.52,"type":"car","title":"Honda Civic","url":"/cars/honda/civic","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/2022_Honda_Civic_LX_Sedan%2C_front_right%2C_11-02-2022.jpg","quote":"...d to be a hot hatch, like a GTI, you know, even a Civic hatchback, very similar to this car, Mazda MX3, w...","canonicalId":"car:honda:civic","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"MercurySable99 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":205.04,"endTime":212.52,"type":"car","title":"Volkswagen Gti","url":"/cars/volkswagen/golf","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/2020_Volkswagen_Golf_Style_1.5_Front.jpg","quote":"... what people considered to be a hot hatch, like a GTI, you know, even a Civic hatchback, very similar t...","canonicalId":"car:volkswagen:golf","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Vauxford (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":212.52,"endTime":219.52,"type":"car","title":"Mazda Mx3","url":"/cars/mazda/mx-3","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/1994_Mazda_MX-3_BS_O24.jpg","quote":"... Civic hatchback, very similar to this car, Mazda MX3, which you could actually get a small V6 in. This...","canonicalId":"car:mazda:mx-3","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"MrWalkr (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":303.52,"endTime":311.52,"type":"car","title":"Honda Prelude","url":"/cars/honda/prelude","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/1982_Honda_Prelude_%2815977118997%29.jpg","quote":"... Hondas. I have this 91 CRX and I've got also 200 preludes and 89 prelude SI and also a 1993 prelude SI. So ...","canonicalId":"car:honda:prelude","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Riley from Christchurch, New Zealand (CC BY 2.0)"}},{"startTime":444.52,"endTime":448.52,"type":"car","title":"Ford Ranger","url":"/cars/ford/ranger","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Ford_Ranger_%28T6%2C_P703%29_Wildtrak_IMG_7320.jpg","quote":"... know, but some cars have the, like that old Ford Ranger I had. Yeah. It like clicked over at 100,000.","canonicalId":"car:ford:ranger","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Alexander-93 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":955.52,"endTime":956.52,"type":"car","title":"Nissan 370Z","url":"/cars/nissan/370z","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/2010_Nissan_370Z_NISMO.jpg","quote":"the car that you and I have in common, the Nissan 370Z, that's also a big problem","canonicalId":"car:nissan:370z","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"IFCAR (Public domain)"}},{"startTime":1331.52,"endTime":1334.52,"type":"car","title":"Chevrolet Silverado","url":"/cars/chevrolet/silverado","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/2022_Chevrolet_Silverado_1500_Z71.png","quote":"...lutely be welcome at truck week. I took my lifted Silverado to truck week. Oh, nice.","canonicalId":"car:chevrolet:silverado","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"LukaCali (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":1422.52,"endTime":1426.52,"type":"car","title":"Nissan R35 Gtr","url":"/cars/nissan/gt-r-r35","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/NISSAN_GT-R_%28R35%29_China.jpg","quote":"...e in point, I, there was a time when I did own an R35 GTR and my friends made fun of me because","canonicalId":"car:nissan:gt-r (r35)","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Dinkun Chen (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":1485.52,"endTime":1488.52,"type":"car","title":"Mazda MX-5 / Miata","url":"/cars/mazda/mx-5-miata","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/1990_Mazda_MX-5_Miata%2C_front_left%2C_06-08-2024.jpg","quote":"for a decade, I owned a 1990 Miata that I just recently sold to a friend.","canonicalId":"car:mazda:mx-5 / miata","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"MercurySable99 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":1623.52,"endTime":1625.52,"type":"car","title":"Hyundai Elantra","url":"/cars/hyundai/elantra","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/2017_Hyundai_Elantra%2C_Windsor%2C_Ontario%2C_2025-07-01.jpg","quote":"your, your previous show with the Elantra N, you know,","canonicalId":"car:hyundai:elantra","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Crisco 1492 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":1661.52,"endTime":1664.52,"type":"car","title":"Dodge Challenger","url":"/cars/dodge/challenger","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Dodge_Challenger_%281970%29_Hirschaid-20220709-RM-115601.jpg","quote":"...actually looking at the, the four door was at the Challenger Charger. Charger.","canonicalId":"car:dodge:challenger","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Ermell (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":1661.52,"endTime":1664.52,"type":"car","title":"Dodge Charger","url":"/cars/dodge/charger","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/1970_Dodge_Charger_R-T_Hirschaid_22-20220709-RM-120204.jpg","quote":"...oking at the, the four door was at the Challenger Charger. Charger.","canonicalId":"car:dodge:charger","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Ermell (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":1781.52,"endTime":1785.52,"type":"car","title":"Crx Si","url":"/cars/honda/crx","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/1988_Honda_CRX.jpg","quote":"...gh fuel economy one was five speed only as is the CRX SI, the top level trim. Five speed only.","canonicalId":"car:crx:","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":1859.52,"endTime":1861.52,"type":"car","title":"Land Range Rovers","url":"/cars/land-rover/range-rover","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Land_Rover_Range_Rover_%285th_generation%29_IMG_9481.jpg","quote":"The parents had, you know, Range Rovers and things like that or whatever. Like someday, s...","canonicalId":"car:land rover:range rover","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Alexander-93 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":1920.52,"endTime":1922.52,"type":"car","title":"Toyota Prius","url":"/cars/toyota/prius","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/2014-2021_Toyota_Prius_%CE%B1_Touring_Selection.jpg","quote":"... for the store to work. An appliance, you know, a Prius or whatever. And there's nothing wrong with that,","canonicalId":"car:toyota:prius","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"TTTNIS (CC0)"}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"Chris Smith","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/002-why-this-stock-1991-honda-crx-si-is-a-rare-time-capsule/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}