RE: Spotted: Honda Prelude Motegi
Discussion
MysteryLemon said:
The Accord coupe and Prelude were, atleast, trying to be different things.
The Accord coupe was the luxury wafty barge coupe. Big engines (200hp v6 auto only...) with a comfy interior and softer suspension. The Prelude was the "sporty" big Honda coupe. Good handling with revy 4 pot engines
So where does the Integra Type R fit?The Accord coupe was the luxury wafty barge coupe. Big engines (200hp v6 auto only...) with a comfy interior and softer suspension. The Prelude was the "sporty" big Honda coupe. Good handling with revy 4 pot engines
The Prelude 2.2 is more of a 'lazy' engine by all accounts, which makes it more of a cruiser. I can't really see why there was much point in an Accord Coupe...
I always thought ATRs got a better write up?
Autocar did a 2 car comparison, a goodbye feature for the Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo and one of these in the late 90s. They said the Fiat Coupe was pretty good, but wondered if the Prelude was more a slow burner, something less obvious that would take time to get under your skin and show you its talents. I think they were going on about subtlety.
Not a Fiat Coupe dig as that's why I bought the magazine and read it. I'm still under the spell of Bangle's Coupe.
I like ATRs, I don't need the Prelude looks and cramped rear seats and not sure I need RWS. I prefer ATRs with the smaller less obvious rear spoiler. Part of the Type-R allure for me is the seats too, especially the green ATR ones.
Autocar did a 2 car comparison, a goodbye feature for the Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo and one of these in the late 90s. They said the Fiat Coupe was pretty good, but wondered if the Prelude was more a slow burner, something less obvious that would take time to get under your skin and show you its talents. I think they were going on about subtlety.
Not a Fiat Coupe dig as that's why I bought the magazine and read it. I'm still under the spell of Bangle's Coupe.
I like ATRs, I don't need the Prelude looks and cramped rear seats and not sure I need RWS. I prefer ATRs with the smaller less obvious rear spoiler. Part of the Type-R allure for me is the seats too, especially the green ATR ones.
C.A.R. said:
So where does the Integra Type R fit?
The Prelude 2.2 is more of a 'lazy' engine by all accounts, which makes it more of a cruiser. I can't really see why there was much point in an Accord Coupe...
The Accord Coupe makes more sense in other markets like the US, Australia, NZ and Japan? The Prelude 2.2 is more of a 'lazy' engine by all accounts, which makes it more of a cruiser. I can't really see why there was much point in an Accord Coupe...
Plus look at the blue rinse reputation Honda has here, I've seen an elderly lady pedalling an S2000. Perhaps she was quite a driver and it's far from my place to wonder how she spends her money, but I did wonder if she was a driver or was in it as it was a Honda badged MX-5 alike. It was that soft pale baby blue like shade a bit like the Portofino blue Fiat Coupe shade.
I don't get market niches either.
Look at the fastback monstrosities we have now and high performance Range Rovers. If that's what buyers want or what the marketing people convince them they want. That BMW X6? What an abomination.
Edited by carinaman on Thursday 14th March 11:47
Henry Fiddleton said:
Great cars.
Good luck getting into 5th gear with out double clutching.
(They chew the syncros).
Never heard that one before. The Tiptronic autoboxes on them are notorious for eating themselves though so best avoided. Manuals are very good from experience and what others say.Good luck getting into 5th gear with out double clutching.
(They chew the syncros).
I never understood the distaste for the styling of the last Preludes.
Alright i have never owned one but thats down to lack of supply when i wanted one.
Interior on the 90's Hondas where a bit dull but the engines are awesome. Mate it to the manual gearbox and its a winner.
I like the exterior styling. Sure bigger wheels e.t.c. improve upon the looks but the same can be said about SO MANY other factory cars.
I have always seen these as rather under-rated and under-valued.
Alright i have never owned one but thats down to lack of supply when i wanted one.
Interior on the 90's Hondas where a bit dull but the engines are awesome. Mate it to the manual gearbox and its a winner.
I like the exterior styling. Sure bigger wheels e.t.c. improve upon the looks but the same can be said about SO MANY other factory cars.
I have always seen these as rather under-rated and under-valued.
I love these cars but do understand peoples dislike to the styling. The front end in particular. The headlights aren't the nicest although they look lovely from the rear and the side profile is very nice.
I always saw the 5th gen as a nod to the 3rd gen styling. Straight lines and low profile where the 4th gen went a big blobby and crazy inside.
I always saw the 5th gen as a nod to the 3rd gen styling. Straight lines and low profile where the 4th gen went a big blobby and crazy inside.
Yeah its bigger than the integra but the weight distribution is far worse, the prelude was always nose heavy, the BB5 was an improvement from the BB4 but they were never as nice as the Integra or accord. Not great under breaking, the 4WS only really helped at low speeds loads of under steer...good value at this price but not Honda finest effort
MysteryLemon said:
I always saw the 5th gen as a nod to the 3rd gen styling. Straight lines and low profile where the 4th gen went a big blobby and crazy inside.
Fully agree, I've always thought that too. Although I do also like the 4th gen, it seemed pretty obvious to me that they were re-booting the styling to continue from the 3rd gen starting point when they made the 5th. Not the biggest fan of the headlights, but I also can't help thinking exactly the same thing happened when they 'facelifted' the NSX, removed the pop-ups and put glass housings on that look somewhat alarmed!This is quite timely as one of these was suggested in a thread I started in the Jap section just over a week ago, where I was looking for reasonably similar alternatives to getting another DC2!
I did have a quick look for one of these, but ultimately went for an Accord Type-R.
Price does seem a little strong on this
(I paid less for a slightly newer, lower mileage ATR with full service history)
Regarding the red- I havn't found my Starion has needed anywhere near as much attention to keep a good red as my old E30 of the same year. The summer months obviously require a bit more upkeep, but nothing too time consuming. I guess it may depend on the paint used?
That said, having owned 3 red cars (all of 88/89 vintage) I was adamant I was not going to have another- so this would be a no for me for that very reason!
I did have a quick look for one of these, but ultimately went for an Accord Type-R.
Price does seem a little strong on this
(I paid less for a slightly newer, lower mileage ATR with full service history)Regarding the red- I havn't found my Starion has needed anywhere near as much attention to keep a good red as my old E30 of the same year. The summer months obviously require a bit more upkeep, but nothing too time consuming. I guess it may depend on the paint used?
That said, having owned 3 red cars (all of 88/89 vintage) I was adamant I was not going to have another- so this would be a no for me for that very reason!
MysteryLemon said:
All that is different with the Motegi is the body kit. Admitedly, they do look much nicer with the kit on but there is no other difference between the Motedi and the standard car.
That is not correct!I have had both the standard VTI and the Motegi, the standard car has 185bhp and 0-60 in 7.2 secs (denoted by a grey rocker cover) the Motegi has 197bhp (red rocker cover) 0-60 in 6.7 secs & a closer ratio gearbox.
Both had rear wheel steering which was very useful when parking.
Had mine for 6 years, very very reliable cars even at 100,000 miles and only had to change the rear wheel bearings in all that time (apart from normal wear parts like brakes, tyres and exhaust)
Really miss it apart from the horrendous fuel consumption! Suppose that is why i moved on to a 330D!
I had a 5th gen Prelude VTi manual and would love a Motegi. They are lovely cars to drive and generally well made and reliable (aside from gearbox synchro issues). Pity about the fake wood on the dashboard and console, I'd love to know what Honda was thinking when that got signed off.
Yes this one is expensive but hopefully it has plenty of life left in it.
Yes this one is expensive but hopefully it has plenty of life left in it.
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