Differences Between 88, 89, and 90-91 Wagovans?

Hey guys I figured this would be the best place to ask such a question.

Can we get a list of the key differences between the 88-91 Wagovans? When I say key differences I mean things such as which models had automatic power seatbelts, rear head rests, 60/40 split rear fold down seat backs vs. bench style, etc. etc.

I know for sure the 90-91 Wagovans had the automatic seat belts - did 1989 models have these too, or are they like the manual/regular 1988 style belts.

I know the 90-91 has the 60/40 split fold down rear seat backs with head rests - does the 1989 have this too, or is it like the single bench-style 1988 rear seats?

Do 1988 models have rear head rests?

Did the 88 models have vinyl seats if it was a DX model?

Were the side moldings and bumpers all the same from 88-91 wagons?

These are the types of questions I'd like to know the answer to, plus any other info any of you may have.

I really ran into these questions when a buddy of mine recently started looking for a wagovan, and he saw a few with bench seats, manual seat belts, etc. I know the 88 had that stuff, but I'm not sure about 1989.

All the other EFs were pretty much split 88/89 and 90/91 for questions like these in terms of seatbelts being in the car, or on the doors, side molding differences, different guage clusters, hazard switch locations, corner lenses, etc. etc. all being different for the two distinct styles.

Thanks for any info!!!
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Comments

  • jpciiijpciii familEE
    For clarity, the term "Wagovan" denotes a trim level... specifically, the lowest, most basic, no-frills model. Wagovans are the ones with bench rear seats and plastic/vinyl interior. The DX and RT4WD had a nicer interior with cloth seats, cloth door-panel inserts, and headrests for the 60/40 rear seat.

    90-91 had auto seatbelts, 88-89 had manual

    Bumper turnsignal lenses changed from amber (88-89) to a clear with amber insert for 90-91

    88 had box-style rear lower control arms like the rest of the civic line

    Transmission spline counts change through the years like the rest of the civic line

    There was a bar across the rear side windows that I've only seen on 88-89 models. Can anybody confirm this?
  • B18C5-EH2B18C5-EH2 Moderator
    So really any 88-91 "Wagovan" would have the bench seat and vinyl interior?

    So calling a Wagon DX or RT4WD "Wagovan" is technically incorrect then.

    Thanks for teaching me something today. I'm pretty picky about calling cars something they are not, like a 92-95 Civic "EG" when it's an EH, etc.

    So year model has nothing to do with the style seats then, huh? Weird.
  • B18C5-EH2B18C5-EH2 Moderator
    Okay I just figured this out by trying to look up parts on www.hondautomotiveparts.com and checking the different years/trims.

    1988-1989 had three wagon trim levels:

    Wagovan (base model)
    Wagon DX 1500 (middle child)
    Wagon 4WD 1600 (top model)

    Looks like in 1990 year model they did away with the base "Wagovan" trim level.

    I guess this would explain to me why I've seen wagons listed as 1989 models with 60/40 split and clotch seats, and others listed as 1989 models had vinyl seats and the bench fold down rear seat.

    Pretty cool stuff.

    :)
  • B18C5-EH2B18C5-EH2 Moderator
    Here just to illustrate my rear seat point:

    88-89 "Wagovan" rear seat:

    13SH50_B4101.gif

    88-91 "Except wagovan" rear seats:

    13SH50_B41.gif

    :)
  • jpciiijpciii familEE
    Did they really stop offering the base Wagovan model in 90? I guess it's possible. Other than the interior, I'm not aware of any other difference between Wagovan and DX. My 89 Wagovan has lots of goodies like a tach, stereo, passenger-side mirror, air conditioning, etc.

    And yeah, most people use "Wagovan" as a catch-all term.
  • B18C5-EH2B18C5-EH2 Moderator
    One of the easiest ways to check if a model/trim is available is to check Honda dealerships' parts departments and simply ask if someone can look up a specific item regarding that year, make, and model.

    Example:

    You want to know if the Wagovan trim level existed in 1990. Easiest way to verify is to call a Honda dealership parts department, or log onto any online Honda Dealerships' parts departments and ask/check that year and see if the trim level is offered.

    Same goes for finding out if a certain feature was offered from the assembly line/factory.

    Once I was involved in a heated debate on another message board about the ABS option for 1992-1995 Civic hatchbacks. I insistd it was only a 1994 Si option, but others insisted it was also for other years too.

    Slam-dunk verification was to call Honda, or log onto www.hondaautomotivepartsonline.com and try to locate an ABS part, such as an accumulator assy for all years from 1992-1995 - 1994 is the only year it showed up.

    Same went for the wagovan bench seat vs. DX/4WD 60/40 split seats. The parts catalog specifically excludes "wagovan" from 88-89 split rear seat diagrams, etc.

    Also noteworthy for your particular wagovan, jpciii, is that dealerships installed many options, genuine Honda options, that many people think were standard features.

    Passenger side mirror, stereo, and even a/c were actually NOT standard on many Honda Civics up until 99/00 or so, especially base models and DX versions. Believe it or not none of these came in your car off the factory assembly line. Chances are before the car hit the showroom floor/sales lot the dealership had the service department add those options to your car durin the PDI (pre delivery inspection) process in order to make more money, and hopefully sell a more heavily loaded car.

    Believe it or not a car as nice as a 1992 Civic Si hatchback did not even have a/c or even a radio/stereo deck standard from the factory! Very few ever hit the sales floors lacking these options, so many think they were standard.

    My mom's 1990 STD hatch came home with no a/c, no passenger mirror, no power outlet/cigarette lighter, and no stereo - she specifically asked for one that had not been "dressed up" yet when she bought it brand new. She was a cheap ass like that.

    :)
  • B18C5-EH2 wrote:
    88-91 "Except wagovan" rear seats:

    www.civicwagon.com

    Is the seat on the left removable with a little clip which is on the hinge on the USDM models ?
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    this is a biut lame, but the 88-89 also had different shaped gauge clusters, slightly different lower console and different glove boxes, and screw holes in the side marker lens while the 90-91 didnt.

    also the different years had different color choices. the 88-89 brown interior was different toned then the 90-91 brown, while the blue and gray stayed the same.

    other the seats and upholstery in the Wagovan models they had the same features as the DX. (clock, tach, cig. lighter etc.)

    while some people people think the RT4WD were more "loaded" this is only half true. besides the obvious which is that they had 4WD there was no difference EXCEPT that power steering was standard on all models (and they had 4-spoke [90-91 only] steering wheels). pass. side mirrors were optional on the RT.

    btw 4th gen Wagovans were only made from 88-89. ;)
  • White&NerdyWhite&Nerdy Senior Wagonist
    Are you sure about the brown interior being different? I had a 91 and now have an 89, and the only differences I can see between the interiors is that the 89 has hard mounted seat belts instead of the decapitation auto belts, and my 89 is an automatic while my 91 was a stick. :) (Plus the extra gauge cluster lights for "LOW" and "S4" etc...) I don't remember my 91 having the small drawer under the passenger seat, but I never looked either. The seats, colors, etc. look identical between the two cars.
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    i was just basing the beige color difference off pics, so that could be wrong. it just seems that all the 88-89 wagons with beige looked more poopy colored then the 90-91 brown interiors.

    and the under seat tray was 88-89 RT only as well.
  • White&NerdyWhite&Nerdy Senior Wagonist
    My 91 was definitely poopy colored. (Love the technical term. :lol: )
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    i like the poopy interiors regardless. and the BLUE interiors even though most dont.
  • bam-bambam-bam Council Member
    btw 4th gen Wagovans were only made from 88-89. ;)[/quote]


    ok, so i thought that the jailbars across the rear windows were wagovan only, but if wagovans were only 88-89, were they on all those years, or just wagovan :?
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    no idea about the jail bars. i think they were prolly an option for the Wagovan... i've only seen them on wagovans though, not on the DX models. someone with a Wagovan that doesnt have jailbars needs to confirm this...


    hey TIMELESSWHITE, does your wago have jailbars?
  • HaydzHaydz Moderator
    As for the Jailbars, i have only ever seen them stock on a Civic Pro over here which is the Wagovan equivalent.
  • TIMELESSWHITETIMELESSWHITE Senior Wagonist
    wagodizzle wrote:
    no idea about the jail bars. i think they were prolly an option for the Wagovan... i've only seen them on wagovans though, not on the DX models. someone with a Wagovan that doesnt have jailbars needs to confirm this...


    hey TIMELESSWHITE, does your wago have jailbars?

    Yes, mine has them. I thought about hanging window treatments on them, but they are mounted too low!
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    ok so the jail bars were stock on the Wagovan (base) models. interesting. you would think they would include these "convenience" features on the higher end DX and RT models :?
  • jpciiijpciii familEE
    The bars make Wagovans more like a cargo van and less like a grocery-getter.
    :P
  • ThatDoodleThatDoodle Council Member
    jpciii wrote:
    For clarity, the term "Wagovan" denotes a trim level... specifically, the lowest, most basic, no-frills model.


    THANK YOU!


    Btw I put the wagovan's cargo bars on my quarter windows. the slot for the box end is there but the bracket for the end with the screw isn't on the non-wagovans. I just drilled a hole on the body big enough for the plastic anchor to just fit in. the cutout marks are visible on the backside of the plastic panels.just like the markings for the speaker pods on the lower panels its like a 15 min job each side.
  • bam-bambam-bam Council Member
    just to add to the confusion: last night in decatur I parked next to a '90 DX. Same color, interior, everything as mine. (silverish color, grey int. with cloth, 60/40 rear seat).... and bars in the back windows. Definitely not a Wagovan, definitely a '90 :?
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    ...

    damn bars.
  • crxzc10psicrxzc10psi Band Wagon
    i may have skimmed through this alittle too fast but i believe the moldings were diffrent too, or did somone mention that?
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    moldings are the same ;)
  • EDwEFprtsEDwEFprts Senior Wagonist
    are body panels interchangable between 88-89 and 90-91?
    (i can't remember)
    i know that the interior for the most part is.
  • bam-bambam-bam Council Member
    Yes, body panels are the same. Interior fabrics are similar, but not the same.
  • local wrecking yard just got a wagovan in ... has some minty interior pieces .. some not so much .. anyways i pulled the cargo bars off of it :twisted: .. do i need the interior trim that has the holes for the bars? or should i just drill some holes in mine?

    also if anyone need anything off of it pm me and ill call and see how much they want for it

    pics for reference

    45.jpg
    46.jpg
    47.jpg
    48.jpg
    49.jpg
    img00176fq1.jpg
    img00173nl4.jpg
    50.jpg
    51.jpg
    52.jpg
    53.jpg
  • EDwEFprtsEDwEFprts Senior Wagonist
    ^ thanks bam-bam.
  • The biggest difference I thought was that the 88-89 were dpfi and the 90-91 were mpfi. But someone here needs to confirm this.
  • bam-bambam-bam Council Member
    The biggest difference I thought was that the 88-89 were dpfi and the 90-91 were mpfi. But someone here needs to confirm this.

    Not so. The only wagons equipped with mpfi were the RT4wds. Same d16a6 as the Si hatch I believe. All of the fwd ones (DX and Wagovan) came with dpfi d15b2.
  • DRMORTYDRMORTY Council Member
    Does anyone have a picture of the rear window bars???
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