Orlando Sentinel's view

I’ve heard more gripes about Honda than any other car company this year.

Prelude enthusiasts who love the original boxy model get nauseous when you even mention the new, wedge-shaped Prelude.

The Accord has gotten stale – and expensive.

The new Civic sedan and hatchback are nice, but who can afford them?

The much-loved CRX two-seater is history.

Just talk to a Honda enthusiast, and they’ll likely tell you the fun has gone.

Now, in the form of Civic del Sol, there’s at least a small break in those dark clouds.

The del Sol is a grin machine. And it may be the best thing Honda has done this decade.

Honda let me test drive a bright green Si model for a week, and that car is an attention-getter.

It’s one of those cars, that, as the song goes, can take a nothing day and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile.

I see the del Sol as having a large appeal to young women – a notion confirmed by early sales reports at several local dealers.

The roof is easily removed, so there’s no fussing with convertible tops and tonneau covers. An associate wearing a skirt said she had no problem getting in and out.

The del Sol is fun to drive and semi-quick, so it’s not intimidating. It’s easy to steer and the clutch pedal is smooth and light to the touch.

Though the del Sol is a small car, you don’t feel boxed in. Even though you sit low, visibility is good. The gauges are clear analog units unobscured by the steering wheel. A driver’s side air bag is standard.

There isn’t much turbulence inside with the roof removed. Most of the air is routed over the car. With the rear window lowered, what little wind that does get inside goes right out the rear. That makes it possible to have a conservation or hear the radio at 65 mph.

If you are thinking of a small, sporty car, this is one that deserves a test drive.

I wonder, though, about prices. The test car had a base price of $15,000. Air conditioning, radio, floor mats and the $310 destination charge brought the purchase sticker to $16,514 – an excellent value for the money.

But you likely can’t buy a similar del Sol for that price. Some dealers are adding a second window sticker that raises the price higher. This often happens when a car is in demand and the supply is low.

At one local dealership, a base model del Sol S with a $16,000 sticker cost almost $19,000 thanks to a $1,995 ”market adjustment.”

The del Sol is not worth that much.

If you are interested in a del Sol, shop around until you find a dealer who doesn’t add a second window sticker or else wait until December when car sales slow and supply catches up with demand.