Help please

[JT361]

On Sunday I will be travelling 3 hours to look at/buy what looks like a tidy 91 Mk 2 Honda Prelude. This is my first foray into the car purchasing world and I was just wondering if anyone out there can give me some advice/tips/pointers on what to look out for? Thanks in advance.

[Wheeler88]

Hi,

Whilst I don’t have a great deal of knowledge on the Prelude, I have recently purchased a 54 plate Civic Type R so I know the sort of worry you are facing when trying to decide if the car you are going to see is the right car for you.

Firstly, I would say for you to not get your hopes up. If you go there thinking it is going to be 'the one' it can affect your judgement when viewing the car and you may overlook things.

Secondly, because of the age, there is going to dinks, bumps, scratches etc so don't expect a brand new looking car. Just know that with a bit of time and effort (and hopefully not too much money) you will be surprised how nice and new you can get it looking. Photos are never good for showing up defects and many dents and scratches can be hidden depending on the light in the photo.

Next I would say to really get down and dirty with the car. Don't be afraid to ask the seller anything and take their answer with a pinch of salt. Often someone selling the car will make up a load of Bcks to make it sound like a good deal. Also, don’t wear your best clothes to the viewing. You will need to be able to get underneath the car to look for any signs of excess wear/rust. Also check the wheel arches for damage and rust.

Ask where it is stored and (if possible) have a look at the area to see any suspect traces of oil leaks etc on the floor.

Take the car for a test drive. You will be able to get a feel for how tight the car is and the clutch/gear box condition.

Also ask to see the service history. Then take your time to go through looking at what intervals it was serviced. Ask to see the last MOT and if there are any advisories, ask if they have been amended. If YES, ask to see receipts as proof of the work being done. Don't be afraid to question anything you think looks strange.

Finally, I would say just because you have driven 3 hours to view it shouldn't be a deciding factor to make an offer. It is easy to fall into the trap of "Ah well, I have driven this far so I might as well make an offer otherwise it will be a wasted journey". You will know as soon as you see the car that it is the right one for you. I was looking for months before I chose the right ones to view. And as soon as I saw the one I own now, I knew it was right because I couldn't walk away from it. Don't be afraid to say no and go to view others.

How much is the asking price? Do you have any photos/info on the car you are viewing?

Good luck with you car hunt. Keep us updated with the progress!

[JT361]

The asking price was £625 on eBay, I put in an offer of £500 on the grounds that everything is as described and no mechanical problems are found. There are two minor spots of rust on the base of the wheel-arches but it looks easily fixable. They have a genuine reason to sell and I have spoken to the seller on the phone since the auction ended. I have bought it to be half daily driver half project car so I'm not after a mint condition model.

[Wheeler88]

Well in that case, for the price, it looks like a decent purchase. Enjoy!

[havoc]

At this age they'll rust from the inside out, so if you can see rust from the outside then I'd get working on it ASAP - inner sills likely to be worse, but far from unrepairable.

Otherwise do the usual checks recommended for any older car - think the Mk2's a straightforward car mechanically.

[Mr Sparkle]

That's a mark 3, I had the 4WS manual version. Double check the rust just forward of the rear wheel. Water can get traped there by the rubber wheel arch lining and go from the inside.