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Bear with me here. 1990 was a very interesting year... actually, maybe the most particularly interesting thing about 1990 is, stay with me here, Bush was president then too! I mean, it was a different Bushkie, but what the heck.
3rd-gen Prelude: 1988-1991, flip-up lights tres cool.
4th-gen Prelude: 1992-1996, looks good in red with spoiler. And I usually don't like red cars with spoilers.
5th-gen Prelude: 1997-2001. Looks like liquid money in the silver-metallic paint color. And if you own one, that means you liquified some assets to get one. Still relatively expensive 2000 and 2001 models (used) but definitely worth the price... ack, I should just get one and stop talking about it!
Any issues with the 1990 Prelude, guys? Answer kciglovr before I find more political jokes.
As far as rattles and various noises go, the Prelude is well known for its noisy quirks, but they're noting to worry about unless rattles turn into clunks or knocks.
kciglovr --
I owned a '89 2.0Si Prelude and was very pleased with it until I got too intimate with a telephone pole on an icy road.
The car is very reliable (it's a Honda) and, when new, had better-quality paint than new Hondas. About the only things to check for are regular service (w/receipts), and warped brake rotors.
Obviously, like any other used car, there might be other (expensive and hidden) areas of concern. Your best bet is to get your most trusted mechanic to spend an afternoon checking the car out before you buy. Have the tech do a compression check, check the brakes and exhaust, and carefully inspect all the suspension components for parts that might require immediate replacement. And remember, the only parts that break on a Honda are expensive ones.
BTW, how old is your son? Due the the car's age, I doubt if it's putting out more than 100hp, but that's still plenty for him to get into serious trouble with. If you buy the car, your best bet might be to remove a sparkplug to keep him safe (j/k)!
Also, while the car is built very well, 3rd generation ludes are pretty light, so there isn't a whole lot of crash-worthiness in the chassis. Something to keep in mind...
verozahl --
My silver '01 lude might be for sale soon, if you're interested.
Himiler: You're thinking of getting rid of your car? Is the mileage getting up there or do you just want something different?
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
The car is now at 68,500 miles. The previous owner assured me that the 60K service has been done, I am trying to get a copy of the 60K service record from the dealer (I have to drive 150 miles to pick it up in person). Is there some way I can visually check to see if the belt has been replaced?
As long as the dealer has a record of that service being performed, you're good to go!
nyccarguy --
I've only put 50K on since 10/01, but am thinking again that I'd like the utility of a WRX wagon (which I had on order until I drove the 'lude). No firm plans to do anything yet, just rolling the idea around in my head.
Have you had a chance to really wring out your SH yet? Keep in mind that if you're not getting a MPG number in the teens, you're not trying hard enough! ;-)
To answer your question, NO I haven't & it is killing me! I don't even have 400 miles on the car yet. I've been beating on my Saab until my alloted lease miles are up. I've got 32,500 miles on it and have until December 4 to do 36,000 miles. I only drive my Saab pretty much to move it (alternate side of the street parking here in the city) or if I go anywhere over the weekends. So my Prelude sits at my parents' house (my Dad uses it to go for bagels on Sunday morning. Whenever I go to my parents' house, I make sure to take it out for an hour or so just to stretch its legs. It's time will come though!
That actually leads me to another dilemma. I may need to keep my car in the city (on the street as I can't afford a garage) full time soon. I'm debating whether I keep my Prelude with me (and kiss my beautiful bumpers goodbye) or buy a $2000 used honda for commuting and then when I move out of the city in a few years start to drive the Prelude full time. Of course I'd still use the Prelude for road trips and other occassions. I think I'm going to stick it out with the Prelude though (Once the lease miles are up on my Saab).
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Sphinx99: I plan on keeping the car for a long and eventually retire it to weekend car duty. Thanks for the compliment though. I've said it numerous time, your S2000 is one sweet car! The way my prelude drives and handles, I can't even begin to imagine how the S2000 drives!
I really love the car though. Even though I haven't driven it too much. I like that I don't see too many of them on the road (especially Type SH). I always get the (and give) thumbs up or flash my high beams at other prelude owners.
I'll probably end up driving the Prelude every day due tp the pure enjoyment it gives me when I drive it. The bottom line is that cars are meant to be driven. I also know that it is near next to impossible to keep a car in perfect shape.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Even if I could cough up the $300-$400 per month to park (I've lived in and around the city all my life and it baffles me how much money people really have), you have to pay the individual attendents extra so they don't back your car right up against a wall or another car.
If things start to mechanically go wrong (that can't be located or fixed in 1 trip to the dealer) with a car or if the interior trim pieces aren't holding up, then I get upset. I'd also get upset if my car gets stolen only because I couldn't replace it with another new Prelude!
There will be no beater car for me! Decision of the judges is final. My Prelude will be my daily driver.
We should definitely liven this chat up a bit with some daily Prelude tails or sightings. I have a very hard time keeping up with some of the street racing tales, somewhat juvenile discussions, and repetetive topics on some of the other prelude enthusiast websites.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Parked right in front of the restaurant was a brand spnakin' new (still w/ temp plates on it) Spa Yellow/Black, Stick 2002 Acura NSX. That car is absoultely gorgeous and is a credit to engineering and refinement. Many people & magazine editors have criticized the NSX for many years for remaining the same, I think it is great. Part of what makes the 911 so successful is the fact that the overall shape and proportions haven't changed too much over the years.
The NSX and the 911 are 2 of my favorite (and dream cars). If I had the $90K, I'd have a hard time making the decision. I hope to be in that position one day.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
NSX sightings never happen here in Detroit area unless you're at the auto show. Preludes are common in Ann Arbor and pretty infrequent elsewhere, even older (3rd and 4th gen) models.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
The dealer's doing a little detailing, and I pick it up either tomorrow or the day after. The S2k will remain the daily driver until October, at which point I'm going to put it in storage. Unfortunately this means the Prelude doesn't get the garage slot, but it's a trooper, it can handle some good ol' Detroit acid rain.
I'm ecstatic! This is the combination I wanted originally but I didn't think I could afford it back then and I was too anxious to get a convertible before summer started. I thought about holding off for a while but didn't see too many coupes superior to the Prelude coming out in the near future at anywhere near a reasonable price point, and I just don't want to spend $40k on a 330Ci. Plus, I babied my old car and I knew I wouldn't be as confident with another Prelude that someone else broke in.
The only bad news is that my car shopping days are over for at least a few years. I paid cash + Prelude trade-in on the S2000 but that ran my savings pretty low, so the Prelude is mostly financed.
Woo hoo!!!!!!!!!!!
A Prelude as a winter beater...there's a concept! A Prelude & and an S2000...great combination!
Welcome back to Prelude ownership!
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Yeah, the dealer "mark-up" was pretty sad, but it'd been sitting on the lot for four months, and I figure that I'm getting an oil change, a pretty thorough detailing and some other junk for what is in reality a rather small markup to the dealer. I don't mind paying them $500 for the detailing and the trouble of having it sit on their lot forever, plus whatever they may have paid to insure it, because $500 is easily what I'd have paid to insure it had I owned it for the last four months. What I *dislike* is paying sales tax twice. The government is rich and I'm already unhappy about my tax dollars being used to buy dinners for Enron execs and drop bombs on Palestinians, and now they're double-charging. Blah.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
The Prelude has the stock RE92s with about half their life left on it. Those tires were ok last winter; they are by no means excellent winter tires, but RE92s have gotten me through two winters with no major issues and I will probably stick with them through the winter (cost issues) unless they wear quickly and become antsy towards the tail end of winter.
I have heard that good performance tires like S02s are servicable in snow while maintaining excellent ratings in dry/wet; in fact I've heard people say that S02s are stickier in wet than many all-season tires; my old boss has been running them on his 911 through several consecutive Detroit winters without issues. (He does have a 4s though.)
I know this has been brought up a few times (I'm being lazy in asking again), what is everyone else doing? My gut feeling is to stick through the winter with the RE92s then get S02s next spring if I get a decent bonus, or cheapo all-seasons if I don't....
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
If it were me, I would slap the best performing A/S tires I could get on the car, and be real careful in the white stuff (as many A/S still aren't as good as a dedicated snow tire).
just my 2 cents
-Josh
EDIT: While I do realize that I'm talking about a RWD car, and you're talking about a FWD car with more weight upfront, etc, it really falls on the way that that actual tire performs.
Remember, good winter tires are always less expensive than your insurance deductible, particularly when you factor in the inconvenience of getting your car cracked up.
You could always opt to continue running the RE92's this winter until they crap out (which will undoubtedly be a fun moment), then get some really aggressive all-seasons to carry you thru the summer and following winters. If I had a S2000 to use in the summer, this is the route I'd take.
Ask me how I know
All season tires are designed to stay soft in extreme temps, while not turning to mush in high temps. It's hard to make a tire that works well in all temps, which is why A/S tires are generally regarded as "jack of all trades, master of none".
I'll bite. How much did whatever happened cost to fix?
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
I bought my Prelude because I love the interior and exterior styling, the handling is razor sharp, the steering is extremely communicative, it is relatively quick, screwed together well, Honda reliability, crisp transmission, & I don't see too many of them on the road...
1/4 mile times never even entered into my mind. I thought that's what Mustangs and F Body cars were for.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
I'm still running on the stock RE92s for the other three seasons, but I'm thinking about upgrading to S-03s next year for my three-season tires.
Himiler, how do you like your S-03s? I'm guessing that they're a big step up from the RE92s...
I agree with sphinx and nyccarguy about this board. I get a lot of useful info from PreludeOnline, but I also get a little tired of threads about what sort of tail lights or giant non-functional wings are the best...
What would be a proper RPM/speed to shift the prelude in regular driving? spirited driving? Sometimes it's tempting to run in 4th at 2500rpm (instead of, say, 3rd at about 3500+RPM), is that a bad thing in the prelude?
Ahhhhhh, hahaha... but seriously now.
'Glad to see you came to your senses. You now have an all-season Honda sporty lineup. Very very sweet. Integra stock tires are the weakest part of this Honda-Acura product too... gotta replace them with better ones when they wear out.
hmm... Your "twice paid" sales tax is probably going to GM or Ford subsidies, or maybe Toyota or Honda envirocar subsidies. Whatever!
Anyone want to venture a guess when "affordable" sport coupes will come back into style again? Or should I find the 'Back to the Future' DeLorean Time Machine and set it to "1985"?? >:(
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Well, I didn't break anything, as just had a few close calls is all .. My car runs Michelin Pilot SX MXX3 tires, which give a little bit better dry performance than the S-02/S-03, but give so-so wet performance. I waited until about the last possible day to change over to snow tires last year, and lets just say that the car wasn't the same as it was in warmer temps hehe
-Josh
What I really want to do is put in a killer sound system. It has been my experience that the Prelude's cabin is a good place to listen to music, which (after driving) happens to be my favorite pasttime. So, I've been thinking about beefing up the sound. Any thoughts? If I did, I'd be going for fidelity over loud bass, which makes asking for advice on hp.com and po.com all but useless:
"Are there any high fidelity setups here?"
"omg ur ride sux u gotta get three 12" like my friend omg he rocks lol"
"sigh"
Overall I'm pleased by the Prelude's sound system, compared to most cars I've driven, but I've been spoiled after driving a Lexus GS a long time ago. The Prelude's solid build and compact cabin strikes me as suitable for creating a pretty good soundstage but I'm not sure where I'd begin. What I should do is set a budget...
Panga -- as long as the engine isn't "lugging" or doing a lot of rumbling, you can pretty much drive whatever speed you want in the higher gears as long as you keep the revs over 2,000. Just make sure to downshift if you would otherwise have to floor the gas to move out.
Nyccarguy -- I like Blizzaks, too (I run four of 'em on my 2.5RS), but for the mostly dry/wet highway driving I do in the winter, the Alpins work far better. They handle and brake nearly identical to the RE92, and are really quiet except for some high-pitched whining on wet concrete. They also wear better than Blizzaks.
sphinx -- My set-up is far from hi-fi, but I did add a better head unit and a powered 10" sub (sealed, for tighter bass). The stock speakers found in the doors are actually very good, and can handle up to 50W without much problem. I'm considering the replacement of the rear 6"x9" speakers with some that offer better mids and highs. I've spent about $600 so far, and really like the results I'm getting.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Just got home a short while ago. She's in beautiful shape. Unfortunately the S2k is parked at my parents' place (my sister gave me a ride to the dealer) so I can't park 'em side by side until after I write this then grab some chow. It's a big difference, bigger going from the S2k to the Prelude than the other way around, strangely. The Prelude's steering feels a little soft now, which is pretty freakin' amazing to hear myself say. The ride really isn't too much different although you can really feel the difference in weight. The S2000 feels a lot lighter than the mere 200lbs between the models would indicate. (Well, I suppose it's closer to 300lbs...) I'm also missing the S2k's brakes; I had some close calls with the Prelude, its brakes being softer and less aggressive.
On the other hand, it is nice to have a regular dash and a trunk that can hold garbage bags once more, I must admit. Having the S2000 has me regarding the Prelude as more of a beater than I would have regarded it as six months ago. On the other hand, it's a heck of a beater. Driving back I missed the s2k's 6-speed and engine power, it's just a lot more fun to operate. I don't change gears just to blip the engine, like I do with the S for kicks. However when I put in a disc and cranked the volume, a big smile came to my face. And without question, the cars share some DNA...
More later, I was in meetings throughout lunch and am on the verge of passing out... I think it's Taco Bell night...
Sorry guys, I couldn't resist. I actually had to think in order to butcher our language;)
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Next weekend I've been invited to my friend's house on the Jersey Shore (Bradley Beach). It'll be just me so it will be great to get some quality Prelude driving time in. I'm actually going to drive up to my parents' house (about 25 miles north of the city; 1.5 hours in rush hour traffic) in my Saab. Put the bra on my Prelude. Then drive down to my friend's house in NJ (about 40 minutes from my parents' house). I'm going to follow him on his motorcycle (or attempt to follow anyway) down to his house on the shore.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
will these people ever learn?
I noticed that the moonroof doesn't open and close quite as quickly as before; anyone else have this issue? I was going to get some auto grease and see if I could worm a little into the railings...
I must say that right now I feel like I have the perfect garage to keep me going for years and years. Now that the car situation has been put to bed for a while, I can focus on those washboard abs that I told myself I'd have by 1998... oops.