Rear-wheel Driven Honda?

[mrnabeehhasan]

I'm just curious about this, but did Honda ever produce any rear wheel drive cars? I know overseas they have some 4WD models of cars, and in the 80s we had 4WD Civic Wagons, but I don't ever recall a single Rear wheel drive Honda.

Any clarification would be graciously accepted,

Nabeeh Hasan

[mrnabeehhasan]

Not to mention I left out the S2000...but I'm really interested in models of Honda predating the current line up.

[Moppie]

Honda's first ever production car line up included two RWD sports cars.

The S600 which was then replaced by the S800.
The S2000 is ment to be a more modern contuation of that theme.
Then I suppose you could count all the F1 and Indy cars Honda has supplied engines and g/boxs for.

[ric]

dont forget the nsx

[GSteg]

Originally posted by ric
dont forget the nsx

but he said predating the current lineup

[Setanta]

Moppie left out the very rare S500 But it was the prototype and had a snarly front grille which was updated to the smiley S600/800 look

I'm trying to remember whether the Coupe 7 and Coupe 9 of the late 60s/early 70s (?) were RWD or NS FWD or EW FWD.

Everything else to the NSX was FWD though - unless some of their vans were RWD.

[Moppie]

Originally posted by Setanta
unless some of their vans were RWD.

YES! Theres one used at a local shopping center to pick up shopping trollys, and its deffinatly RWD. (its also tiny, as in smaller than my Civic)

[mrnabeehhasan]

I was pretty surprised that the RWD was like something decided was I guess either outdated or less desirable. Toyota and Nissan produced various models that were RWD in the 80's but tapered off in the 90's. Do they feel that RWD is less marketable to the public or less functional? Would anyone care to speculate on why that is?
At the very least, I figured the Prelude should have been RWD at some point in its lineage, but it appears that never happened.

Your information is appreciated,

Nabeeh

[Moppie]

FWD is cheaper to make.
Thats all there is to it.

Basicly One of the main reasons Honda has stayed in bussiness as an independant manufactor, and Nissan was bought out by Renult, has to do with Honda useing only a very small number of basic platforms (the Civic and integra use the same platform, as do the Prelude and Accord) which allows a LOT of parts sharing. (for example the brakes from an Accord can be fitted to the same year Civic with little to no modifcation depending on the year).
Where as Nissan was useing something like 7 or 8 differnt platforms for all its differnt models, and altough there was a lot of parts sharing between them, it wasnt enough, and each model was costing them more to produce than each model cost Honda.

Quite simply Honda has perfected an enginering philosophy first started by British leyland and BMW, that of actualy only building 1 or 2 differnt cars, then clothing those cars in differnt bodys, and giving them differnt engine options, and suspension settings.
(except of course for thier limited production models sold only in Japan, cars like the Beat (another RWD, that was also midengined) and the collection of small trucks etc)

[mrnabeehhasan]

Thank you for clearing that up. I guess I understood that, but just had to hear it from someone else to fully realize that is the only reason. I was just looking for a none $25K+ Honda option of rearwheel driving. I've never driven anything that was not FWD, so I've been interested in how it feels and how different the styles of performance are. Guess I'll have to go Toyota, Mazda, or Nissan.

Thank you,

Nabeeh Hasan

[JasonAccord98LX]

Originally posted by mrnabeehhasan
Guess I'll have to go Toyota, Mazda, or Nissan.

Or, you could just splurge and buy an S2000

[crxlvr]

there was a 4wd civic from the late 80's it was the 5 door wagon, called a wagovan.

[rockerdude]

Honda hasn't been in the RWD game long enough to design a good RWD since they focus on the FWD.
But if you want to know how a RWD drive feel like, you should get toyota, nissan, or mazda just like how you mention. Believe me, the RWD is a crazy ass machine.
Here's what i recommend, the 93-97 Supra TT, 91-95 MR2 TT, 87-97 RX-7 TT (FD or FC model), 90-95 300z TT and last but not least a nissan 89-93 s13 or 95-98 s14 and drop in a RB26dett(skyline Vspec) engine in it with a RB20det tranny for the FR layout.
You can say i use to own a 97 HB, but got me a 180sx.