Which Pink Honda Would You Rock? 1987 CRX vs 2008 Element

You don’t see a lot of pink cars, unless you are or know a Mary Kay rep, or you own a red car that has been left in the sun too long. Rare indeed is the car that comes from the factory in any shade of pink, and just as rare is the owner who will voluntarily paint a car pink. But today, we’re going to check out an old Honda that started out as red, and a newer one that started out as silver, as far as I can tell.

Yesterday, we pitted an old Volvo against a newer one, to see if the old 240 still has its old magic. And the answer seems to be “not quite.” The old brick put up a good fight, but the more modern S60 took the win. Nothing lasts forever, it seems.

Many of you thought the S60 was too good to be true at that price, and without more information about it, I’m inclined to agree. That car seems like it should cost more than two grand, if it’s in acceptable shape. But I think I’d favor the old 240 no matter what; I really admire those cars.

Do you want to meet the nicest people? Do you wish a car could just make it simple? Then you need a Honda. The Japanese firm has somehow managed over the years to be ruthlessly precise in its engineering and manufacturing, but also produce cars that are charming as all get-out. Toyota may make excellent cars, but they can be kind of cold and clinical. Hondas are warmer and cuddlier. And the two cars we’re going to look at today are among the best examples of that. Let’s check them out.

1987 Honda Civic CRX – $3,800

Engine/drivetrain: 1.5-liter OHC inline-4, five-speed manual, FWD

Location: Pleasant Hill, CA

Odometer reading: 148,000 miles

Operational status: Runs and drives well

I’ve never had the pleasure of owning one of these little rollerskates, but I’ve driven a couple over the years, and really enjoyed them. My wife had one before we met, and she still raves about it. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say they don’t like the CRX. Oh sure, there may be a few killjoys out there who dislike fun, but that’s their problem. For the rest of us, here’s one of the dwindling supply of first-generation CRXs, faded and slightly damaged, but still up for a good time.

The CRX came with a couple of different engines over the years, depending on the trim level. This isn’t an HF, and it isn’t an Si, so it has the standard 1.5-liter carbureted engine making 78 horsepower, plenty for a lightweight little car like this. This car has had the same owner since 1998, and they’ve done all the maintenance themselves. It has a new water pump and a new clutch, and it runs and drives great.

I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: I absolutely love Honda interiors from this era. They’re so simple and straightforward, the switches feel good to operate, and everything is right where you’d expect it to be. This one is in good condition from what I can see, too. Someone has added some silly aftermarket pedal covers to it, but I think it’s some kind of rule that no sporty Honda can remain completely stock. It has to have some bolt-on nonsense on it somewhere.

One of the reasons I dislike red cars is that they fade unevenly, and after a while they end up looking like hell, like this one. It’s about half a dozen different shades of red to pink now. At least it’s a California car, so it’s probably not rusty underneath. The plastic nose is badly broken, and I honestly don’t know where you’d find a replacement. Rock Auto actually lists the part, but it shows out of stock, and I don’t think they’re expecting more any time soon.

2008 Honda Element LX – $3,995

Engine/drivetrain: 2.4-liter DOHC inline-4, four-speed automatic, AWD

Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL

Odometer reading: 178,000 miles

Operational status: Runs and drives well

The Honda Element will always remind me of the first person I knew who owned one: my old friend Jon, who passed away recently. He bought one brand new in 2003, right when they came out, because it was the only car he could fit his six-foot-five-inch, three-hundred-pound frame into that he considered “cool.” He dreamed of a Mini Cooper, but there was no way he was going to fit in one. Jon’s Element was dark blue and nicknamed “Scooter,” but I think he would have liked the idea of a bright pink one.

Despite its odd styling and packaging, there’s nothing exotic about the Element’s mechanics. It’s basically the same thing as a CR-V. It has a 2.4-liter K-series engine and Honda’s “Real Time” 4WD system. Between them is a five-speed automatic. The seller of this one has had it for five years, and they say all the maintenance is up to date. That’s nice to hear, but personally I’d like to see some records to back it up.

The Element isn’t waterproof inside — we know that —  but it is easier to clean up than most cars. The seat fabric is wet-suit-like, and personally I don’t like the feel of it, but it does seem to hold up well. This one looks fine inside, and the seller says the air conditioning is nice and cold, which is important for a car in Florida.

I would really, really love to hear the story of how this car ended up pink. There has to be a reason. Is the seller a big Barbie fan? Was it a marketing vehicle, like those old Red Bull Minis, except for Pepto-Bismol? If you have any even more outlandish theories, I’d love to hear them in the comments.

One of these cars is only as expensive as it is because it’s getting really rare, but is still in demand. The other is only as cheap as it is because someone painted it a weird color. They end up meeting in the middle, at about the same price. So my question for you is, which pink Honda is more your style?