honda prelude...any good?

[dh5927]

hi guys, just jumped over from the bmw forums... currently driving a z4mc but its gonna get locked up for most of the autumn/winter... i have owned a 1993 prelude 2.0 several yrs ago...great great car...
im looking for something to drive for approx 6/12 during autumn/winter and have stumbled across a v reg 2.0 prelude(new shape)...just wandered what these cars a like... its got 70k on the clock, good condition, how different is this newer shape to the old one?
thanks for the advice in advance!

[EvoBarry]

I preferred the older model to drive but if you just want a nice comfy winter smoker the later model will do just fine. My ma had a 2.2Vti, it went ok but felt a bit soft and understeery compared to my ITR (well, it would really..)

Lot of car for the money though!

[Holst]

I have a 1994 VTEC which im very happy with.

The new and old shape cars are pretty much the same, the newer ones having more room in the back seats and being slightly heavyer (and I think uglyer)

The 2.0 will be a bit gutless but will be reliable if its got enough oil.

If the car has 4WS (Four wheel steer) then make sure its working correctly on the test drive. There is a light on the dash that will light up and go out when you start the car if its all working. If the light stays on then its got a fault. Dont be scared off by cars with 4WS mine has been relaible for 3 years.

If you buy a good one then you should get 12 months+ trouble free motoring at a bargain price.

Prices are VERY low for 2.0 preludes so make sure you dont pay too much.

Other things to check for are sticking rear brake calipers, warped front brake disks, rust on the sunroof and rear arches, if its a tiptronic be carefull as they can go wrong, if its manual check that 5th gear engages smoothly at high RPM as the syncro is a weak spot.

Im a big prelude fan, I dont think any other car is as reliable, fast and cheap as an old prelude

[dh5927]

cheesrs holst!...thats very sound advice...i too am an avid honda fan, have loved em ever since my dad bought a 1979 metallic green 1600cc accord!
i owned several preludes whilst younger...fabulous machines!...hope this one runs as well as the others...is it the same 2.0i DOHC engine as in the 93 model?

[Holst]

dh5927 said:

cheesrs holst!...thats very sound advice...i too am an avid honda fan, have loved em ever since my dad bought a 1979 metallic green 1600cc accord!
i owned several preludes whilst younger...fabulous machines!...hope this one runs as well as the others...is it the same 2.0i DOHC engine as in the 93 model?

The engines in the 4th and 5th gen preldes are very similar. There might be slightly differences but it will be basically the same engine as in the previous model.

[ferrisbueller]

Holst said:

dh5927 said:

cheesrs holst!...thats very sound advice...i too am an avid honda fan, have loved em ever since my dad bought a 1979 metallic green 1600cc accord!
i owned several preludes whilst younger...fabulous machines!...hope this one runs as well as the others...is it the same 2.0i DOHC engine as in the 93 model?

The engines in the 4th and 5th gen preldes are very similar. There might be slightly differences but it will be basically the same engine as in the previous model.

183 vs 197bhp also IIRC.

[Holst]

ferrisbueller said:

Holst said:

dh5927 said:

cheesrs holst!...thats very sound advice...i too am an avid honda fan, have loved em ever since my dad bought a 1979 metallic green 1600cc accord!
i owned several preludes whilst younger...fabulous machines!...hope this one runs as well as the others...is it the same 2.0i DOHC engine as in the 93 model?

The engines in the 4th and 5th gen preldes are very similar. There might be slightly differences but it will be basically the same engine as in the previous model.

183 vs 197bhp also IIRC.

I was yalking about the 2.0

There are various differences between the UK spec VTEC engines and the imports, and also some differences between the 5th gen "red top" engines and the 4th gens "black top" ones. There is also the Jap Type-S 5th gen as well.

If you can afford the extra insurance you should look at buying a VTEC car. Fuel economy isnt much worse if you dont VTEC everywhere and they are much more enjoyable to drive.

Edited by Holst on Saturday 6th September 15:46

[ferrisbueller]

Holst said:

ferrisbueller said:

Holst said:

dh5927 said:

cheesrs holst!...thats very sound advice...i too am an avid honda fan, have loved em ever since my dad bought a 1979 metallic green 1600cc accord!
i owned several preludes whilst younger...fabulous machines!...hope this one runs as well as the others...is it the same 2.0i DOHC engine as in the 93 model?

The engines in the 4th and 5th gen preldes are very similar. There might be slightly differences but it will be basically the same engine as in the previous model.

183 vs 197bhp also IIRC.

I was yalking about the 2.0

There are various differences between the UK spec cars and the imports, and also some differences between the 5th gen "red top" engines and the 4th gens "black top" ones. There is also the Jap Type-S 5th gen as well.

Went through a phase of hankering after a Type-S but it's in a kind of no-man's land now. The ITR kind of pissed on its chips.

[only1mikey]

I agree that the Type S isn't as hardcore as a DC2 but there still a nice drive

Not driven a standard UK 5th gen so can't comment what they are like.

Here's mine...

[rapidophile]

only1mikey said:

I agree that the Type S isn't as hardcore as a DC2 but there still a nice drive

Not driven a standard UK 5th gen so can't comment what they are like.

Here's mine...

Very nice!

[rapidophile]

Type S for sale on eBay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

3,000 starting price with no bids.

[ferrisbueller]

rapidophile said:

Type S for sale on eBay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

3,000 starting price with no bids.

Way too much money.....an E36 M3 is about the same.

[rapidophile]

How much for a decent standard 2.2 vti?

[TPB1]

rapidophile said:

How much for a decent standard 2.2 vti?

You can pick them up for under £2k....

[rapidophile]

TPB1 said:

rapidophile said:

How much for a decent standard 2.2 vti?

You can pick them up for under £2k....

I've been looking at this price range for quite a bit now, so far everytime I find one at a decent price, when I ring up about the FSH I find its not full. As much as I am a massive fan of Honda reliability, its still a massive risk if its not had a FSH ideally from Honda.

I'm holding out, don't want to pay over the odds in this market.

I have found quite a few lower mile cars with patchy history, personally I'd rather go for a car with a few more miles but with a really good service history. So I am sure someone hasn't been VTECing it everywhere without changing the oil etc.

[rapidophile]

ferrisbueller said:

rapidophile said:

Type S for sale on eBay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

3,000 starting price with no bids.

Way too much money.....an E36 M3 is about the same.

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/HONDA/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146-236,N-9-43-62-240-4294965578-4294966904/advert.action?R=200911330617436&distance=16&postcode=E3+2JJ&channel=CARS&make=HONDA&model=PRELUDE&min_pr=1000&max_pr=&max_mileage=100000&vehicleYearOfManufacture=1997&vehicleRegLetter=P

Another unreasonably priced Type S, looks very nice though

[ferrisbueller]

rapidophile said:

ferrisbueller said:

rapidophile said:

Type S for sale on eBay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

3,000 starting price with no bids.

Way too much money.....an E36 M3 is about the same.

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/HONDA/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146-236,N-9-43-62-240-4294965578-4294966904/advert.action?R=200911330617436&distance=16&postcode=E3+2JJ&channel=CARS&make=HONDA&model=PRELUDE&min_pr=1000&max_pr=&max_mileage=100000&vehicleYearOfManufacture=1997&vehicleRegLetter=P

Another unreasonably priced Type S, looks very nice though

Horses for courses. That doesn't represent good value to me.