RE: SOTW: Honda Prelude

[Black S2K]

Gizmoish said:

doogz said:

What I don't know, is whether or not the 4WD system in the Gen4 and 5 was speed sensitive? Anyone?

Pretty sure it was on JDM Gen 4s at least.

Steers in the opposite direction at low speed (for tighter lock) and same direction at high speed (four wheel drift for lane changes).

It also responds to the rate of steering wheel input too; a poor, nervous driver will get a smaller change in rear wheel angle. Setright was right; it is an astoundingly fast car over distances because of the brilliant system. Even with only 197BHP.

Unfortunately, this shed is 2WS, which utterly misses the point of the 'Lude. Not that the 2.oi 2WS is a bad car in itself...just a sign of more bad research into both subjects.

Then again, I've seen Nissan's 4AWS totally ignored by hacks writing about Infinities thus equipped and I'm sure they'll gloss over Acura's PAWS with equinamity.

But then, sales never took off because hacks and stealers were too damned lazy to understand it & explain it to the great unwashed.

Plus ca change...

[The Obeast]

Had A 4th Gen 2.2 vtec jap import. people may think this is a bold statement, but it had the best seats ive ever placed my large bottom in. and the vtec was awesome. Until the engine died!!

[STiG911]

rallycross said:

Nice to see some reference made to LJKS on PH.

^This

[andreas542]

Have liked these for about 10 years now, ever since an older friend of mine was bought a 2.2 VTEC manual one as his first car by his millionaire granddad... The word jealousy doesn't even come close to covering it!

Two years ago another friend of mine bought a 150k one for under £400, which was great for about two weeks until he noticed one of the wheels was loose and upon tightening the bolts they all sheared off. Not fancying replacing a wheel hub it was sold for parts.

I personally love the mk4 and it's on my to-get list, albeit hopefully finding a standard, lower mileage one and paying a little bit extra. Cracking cars!

[theno23]

STiG911 said:

^This

Yup.

Setright's "Drive On!" is brilliant http://www.amazon.co.uk/Drive-On-Social-History-Mo...

I've been reading it on and off during plane flights recently.

Looks like it's out of print though.

- Steve

[GranCab]

or maybe all this Italian leathery loveliness for £925 ?



http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/msn/CARS_popup.js...

[Agent Orange]

Better than a POS Blazer so 10/10 from me. You could have put up a 1.6 Montego Estate and I'd have still given it 10 after last week.

[ApexJimi]

GranCab - nae offence dude, but you're kinda missing the point of a SOTW thread - they are a discussion about the car in question, not what else you could get for a grand or under.

[mikey77]

My 2.2 Vti is now nearly 15 years old, still in daily use, no rust anywhere and I've just decided to go on driving it for another year. I haven't been able to find anything else that is as nice to drive or as comfortable to sit in all day - which we still do, quite frequently. Even though, at my age, I am beginning to have issues with the low access and really need something more practical I can't bear to let it go. I think the auto-tiptronic transmission is quite the nicest I've ever had - and I've had lots including the 4-speed GM400 on our 6-litre XJS, which I also think is pretty special.
A few years ago I took out an NSX, thinking that might be the time to have one of my own, after I had road tested one for the press just after the launch 20-odd years ago. After driving it I gave up on the idea - it just made me realise what a damn good motor the Prelude is.
Oh, and I always was and still am a huge fan of LJKS.

[sorrel]

What a difference a light interior makes! I like the shape of the Prelude (4 and 5) but always hated the drab grey plastic interior. Your car looked a treat!

MysteryLemon said:

Ugly or not, the 5th gen is a fantastic car. The 2.0l is a perfectly capable car. Not going to set the road on fire, no, but a great cruiser and still fun in the twisties.

The motegi kitted cars are far nicer to look at. This one looks rediculous with that wing and silver never did anything for the shape...

This was mine from a few years back.

Edited by MysteryLemon on Friday 19th October 09:45

[irocfan]

Leaves me cold TBH, not particularly interesting to look at and an interior at least as plasticky as those we all criticise the Yanks for

[ApexJimi]

No experience of the 5th gen, but the 4th gen interior, at least in VTI trim, wasn't what I'd call "plasticky".

[djdestiny]

Numeric said:

djdestiny said:

Might as well of just written an article about Setright

An article about Setright doesn't seem unreasenable - him and Bishop, management hell but a heck of a lot of stories if you knew the press fleet people.

My point was that there seemed to be more written about him than the car!
However, the less said about that car the better....

[MGL1986]

Gizmoish said:

doogz said:

What I don't know, is whether or not the 4WD system in the Gen4 and 5 was speed sensitive? Anyone?

Pretty sure it was on JDM Gen 4s at least.

Steers in the opposite direction at low speed (for tighter lock) and same direction at high speed (four wheel drift for lane changes).

It's the same on the 5th too, once you get used to how it turns parking is a doddle.

The 4WS system crapping out is a known issue, but there is a reset procedure which can sort it out. Mine has stopped working 5 or 6 times in the years I've owned it but the reset sorted it out every time (so far!).
A few peole swap out the rear subframe for one from a 2WS if the problem is with the motor unit or something a bit costly!

[GranCab]

ApexJimi said:

GranCab - nae offence dude, but you're kinda missing the point of a SOTW thread - they are a discussion about the car in question, not what else you could get for a grand or under.

If it were an interesting shed then - agreed - but this week's is just bland and the link with the late great LJK Setright is tenuous to say the least !

[Escort Si-130]

These were just plain boring. To me it was just like create a coupe based car, stick in a not so fast engine and thats it. They came in crap colours which was typical of many 90's Honda's. So much of them in that sickening silver.
The interior then was just plain bullst. So fking boring and depressing.

The rounder version of this Prelude looks better, but the one with the squarish front lights looks crap.

GranCab said:

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Ewan S]

GranCab said:

... or this ?



http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/msn/CARS_popup.js...

I drove one of these after driving a 5th Gen 2.2 manual prelude about 8 years ago. The Honda was half the price but just felt so right it was definitely nicer than the celica. I would add as a manual the prelude is easily the best front drive car I've ever driven. It even sounds nice. I've also driven an auto one - lets not go there!

[Escort Si-130]

I have to admit, it looks much better in this colour and the interior looks lifted a bit from the norm. Shame they didnt do more of them in this scheme, it would have surely give the car a better image.

MysteryLemon said:

Ugly or not, the 5th gen is a fantastic car. The 2.0l is a perfectly capable car. Not going to set the road on fire, no, but a great cruiser and still fun in the twisties.

The motegi kitted cars are far nicer to look at. This one looks rediculous with that wing and silver never did anything for the shape...

This was mine from a few years back.

Edited by MysteryLemon on Friday 19th October 09:45

[Defconluke]

So an anonymous car that doesn't have speed, luxury, looks or a certain oddball-ness about it?
Come on, even the Blazer was a better choice than this.

[fingersprice]

The Spruce goose said:

Amateurs
I paid the princely sum of £295 for my Honda Prelude VTi 2.2 Auto 1997, 130 k miles, no history.

I was going to fix it and sell it on, but fell in love with an engine that sounds like a women on the mental x 1000.

O.k it is an auto, and was advised it hard an intermittent starting issue.
But Tax and mot until April 2013 and the engine runs very well. 4 good tyres, some minor body work issues and rust.

So far about 1.5k miles and no issues, just 1 long starting but worked in the end.
Get tops 30 mpg tops and 20-23 if driven in the vtec zone.

I would highly recommend one, and the 4ws handling is pretty precise and inspires confidence.

Sounds like the same starting issue afflicting my Accord Type R. Allegedly this is a known fault caused by faulty fuel pump relays, which is also nigh on impossible to replace as Honda no longer make them (my local dealer had 6 left in stock at over £300+VAT a piece).