Saw a Honda Prelude today
Discussion
Plastic chicken said:
Here's the one I used to own (etc.):
Nice. I had a red one of these, back between 1997 and 1999, a bit like this:
Bought mainly because, laughably, to my 20-something self at the time, it looked A BIT like an NSX...especially in this colour!
However, I missed a trick by buying a 2.0EX model, with an auto box. I fell in love with the looks, and didn't worry too much on the test drive. However, it soon became obvious that a plain 2.0 litre non-vtec engine, running twin carbs (!) with a slushbox, was gonna be a total slug. And so it was.
So, I just made the best of it. The car came after a few hot-hatches anyway, where I had spent the past few years razzing everywhere like my life depended on it, collecting nothing more than broken and worn-out parts on the cars, a couple of shocking near-misses that could well have cost me my life, plus many speeding points and eventually a couple of bans.
I just dialled into the Lude's calm personality, fitted a monstrous sound system, and enjoyed wafting around in the thing, listening to music and appreciating the splendid interior, comfort and ride quality
A few years with the Prelude saw me with a clean licence again. Happy days, as they say.
And over those few years, apart from tyres and servicing, no bills came my way.
Overall, a great ownership experience.
Had two of them, first was an import and then had one as a stop gap shorter a while ago.
Lovely thing to drive, had one of the best manual gearboxes I've driven too, nice short throw and really chunky.
The 4ws is a bit weird when you first drive them, it does feel a bit like the car is rotating around the wrong point because the rear wheels are pushing you round as well.
If I could figure out some kind of justification for it, I'd have another.
Both mine were mk3. Never liked the look of the last generation
Lovely thing to drive, had one of the best manual gearboxes I've driven too, nice short throw and really chunky.
The 4ws is a bit weird when you first drive them, it does feel a bit like the car is rotating around the wrong point because the rear wheels are pushing you round as well.
If I could figure out some kind of justification for it, I'd have another.
Both mine were mk3. Never liked the look of the last generation
The Honda 4ws on the Preludes I had make the rear wheels turn the opposite way to the fronts below about 25mph. and the same direction above this speed.
This makes a big car feel like a small car to park.
It does take some getting used to at speed because it feels like the back is coming away.
I always wondered how it would feel when it lost grip, I imagined there would be no warning..
This makes a big car feel like a small car to park.
It does take some getting used to at speed because it feels like the back is coming away.
I always wondered how it would feel when it lost grip, I imagined there would be no warning..
I had a K reg 2.2 manual grey import for a while. It had an incurable vibration between 40 & 60, dropped all it's oil one night which turned out to be the main oil seal & a £400 bill & Honda dealers round here wouldn't ever help with parts because it wasn't a UK car. I loved it, it was a hoot to drive. Eventually I chopped it in for a mk1 Focus which was unbelievably dull by comparison.
The later ones were electric 4ws, the earlier ones mechanical. Both however used to make me feel sick when driving them (Ex Honda tech back in the day!)
2.3 Lude was one of the cars I loved test driving after PDI, always thought of having one but never got round to it.
Loved the dash as well, though look out for the speedo needle illumination, if it goes out its a costly job - and you cant see your speed!
2.3 Lude was one of the cars I loved test driving after PDI, always thought of having one but never got round to it.
Loved the dash as well, though look out for the speedo needle illumination, if it goes out its a costly job - and you cant see your speed!
A friend of mine had a fourth gen one and I drove it a few times. The one residing memory I have is of it being one of the worst packaged cars I've ever come across - it felt enormous yet I didn't even have enough space in the front, let alone the back. Boot was a decent size though.
In terms of how it drove - decent chassis, woeful steering, engine had a surprising amount of character for a four-pot. Except for the engine, it seemed to be worse in every way than the 16v Corrado I had at the time.
IIRC the one I knew got crashed into and written off while it was parked.
In terms of how it drove - decent chassis, woeful steering, engine had a surprising amount of character for a four-pot. Except for the engine, it seemed to be worse in every way than the 16v Corrado I had at the time.
IIRC the one I knew got crashed into and written off while it was parked.
Butter Face said:
Mugen Wheels, Mugen Headlight covers, Mugen bodykit? Seems a shame to have that sitting around doing nothing?!
As we're whoring pics. Here's my old badboy!
When I look at that I can see where they got the styling for the EP3 Civic from it looks really similar just a bit longer in length and a bit shorter in height. To be honest I always thought the styling was a bit strange on those but the more time has passed and the more Civics I've seen the more ordinary that generation Prelude looks to me. I mean no dis-respect they are probably nice to drive I have never driven one. I guess it's the same platform as the Accord?As we're whoring pics. Here's my old badboy!
iloveboost said:
Butter Face said:
Mugen Wheels, Mugen Headlight covers, Mugen bodykit? Seems a shame to have that sitting around doing nothing?!
As we're whoring pics. Here's my old badboy!
When I look at that I can see where they got the styling for the EP3 Civic from it looks really similar just a bit longer in length and a bit shorter in height. To be honest I always thought the styling was a bit strange on those but the more time has passed and the more Civics I've seen the more ordinary that generation Prelude looks to me. I mean no dis-respect they are probably nice to drive I have never driven one. I guess it's the same platform as the Accord?As we're whoring pics. Here's my old badboy!
I liked the angles, straight lines and the larger headlights. 4 years on and I'm driving an EP3 so your logic is sound
Sold my BB4 prelude in Jan and upgraded to an S2000. I'm actually thinking about going back in the other direction. I've had two of the former - 200bhp, low 6s to 60, 2ws, limited slip diff , lightweight from the factory and the extra 200cc the h22 has makes for good torque for a vtec. Neither cost me more than £800 and I made profit on both of them. The only problem with them is rust and typical barrying. Oh, and the innit bruv brigade who will make your life a misery come sale time.
Mechanically/dynamically the only things I'd criticise them for is a touch of understeer (eBay strut braces are v cheap and work) and a very very long third gear.
Fab cars, shame they were seen as the poor relation to tegs, EK9s etc in their homeland because I think that had a ripple effect on desirability world wide. Maybe a mk4 type r version would have helped because the basic platform was very good.
Mechanically/dynamically the only things I'd criticise them for is a touch of understeer (eBay strut braces are v cheap and work) and a very very long third gear.
Fab cars, shame they were seen as the poor relation to tegs, EK9s etc in their homeland because I think that had a ripple effect on desirability world wide. Maybe a mk4 type r version would have helped because the basic platform was very good.
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