RE: Shed of the Week: Honda Prelude
Discussion
2smoke said:
Always liked these back in the 90's when they were well out of reach for a teenager, before the days everything was financed. Can anyone comment on what they're actually like to drive?
They're Wonderful!Had one for 7 years (and 50k miles) because I couldn't find anything better to change to.
Brilliant VTEC engine, perfectly matched to the gearbox so that you were either always 'in the zone' or always able to move with docility without attracting unwanted attention.
4WS system increased confidence and practicality all the time.
Interior was fine for the front occupants; less so for those unfortunate to be relegated to the rear.
Great driving position/visibility etc.
Downsides were average stereo, and awful - bordering on downright dangerous - headlights.
Sold mine to a neighbour for half the price of this one.
Loved it and want another.
...off to look for an Integra Type R.
ETA: ownership expenses:
Everything was done via a specialist (Irish Mike in Colney Heath, then Ruislip - still around?)
Oil changes, air filter etc.
Nothing else.
Except a wheel bearing and gaiter that melted during a spirited high-speed run due to 'operator error'.
Also, somebody mentioned an expensive problem with the 4WS system, which I was always promised was a £50 fix involving a fuse, but never had cause to test as the system worked perfectly during my ownership.
Edited by sideways sid on Friday 30th September 17:45
soad said:
s m said:
Isn't this a VTEC one with over 180bhp or have I missed a bit?
You're right. Later model gained another 20bhp (same engine as Accord Type R?) iirc.And thanks to Black S2K; that article highlights just the reason why LJKS was such a wonderful word-fangler; his description alone of the Prelude would have enchanted me into purchasing one.
I can't remember about the diff. I know mine didn't have one.Before I was just about old enough to drive, I remember seeing one of these and it was my dream at the time. Well about 14 years ago I did and bought the 2.2 VTEC grey import which I think was the 2 wheel steer variant with a tiny bit extra HP over the UK version. Replaced it 6 years ago with a Mazda 6MPS which is quicker. Still prefer the Prelude though - just better to drive and made me happier. Miss her loads..
Always thought the Gen 4 Prelude looked good. The electro-luminescent gauges looked very Star Trek at the time. Always fancied one, and after owning stuff like 200SX, Corrado VR6 was interested in seeing what the reality was like. Ended-up with a Gen 5 2.2 VTi manual as a daily driver for a while. Quicker than I expected (even after coming from an S2000), the car was bulletproof. Comfy, excellent aircon, good driving position, highly geared steering. The 4WS felt like the car was oversteering at low speeds, but gave comically direct turn-in and loads of grip at high speed.
Scrapped it after the clutch slave cyl let go. Everything else, from 4WS to cruise control still worked on the car. Wish I'd kept it. I compete in autosolo, and reckon the 4WS would do really well there.
Scrapped it after the clutch slave cyl let go. Everything else, from 4WS to cruise control still worked on the car. Wish I'd kept it. I compete in autosolo, and reckon the 4WS would do really well there.
Memory is a bit foggy but a mate had a 2.3 (IIRC) which didn't have the 4WS and was a nicer drive/less frantic - then you you need to remember what coupes were like in the 90s
They weren't hot hatches, they tended to lean more on cruiser/GT credentials. My late-80s Celica was frequently praised for it's ability to waft-out bumps and it was a consumate long-distance cruiser and these were similar.
We're now WELL into the territory of "has been restored or will need restoring" tho - cars without notable rust (or notable repairs to it) will be scarce and you can expect a lot of non-factory bits on there (they had stainess exhausts IIRC - but the fasteners/brackets were NOT stainless which makes removal for work a nightmare!!)
Also - some parts for Hondas of this period are getting harder to find which makes the less shiny cars worth more in bits.
I'm not even sure this is a shed - a shed is a car you can afford to drive into the ground - this is really 'restore or break' territory?>
They weren't hot hatches, they tended to lean more on cruiser/GT credentials. My late-80s Celica was frequently praised for it's ability to waft-out bumps and it was a consumate long-distance cruiser and these were similar.
We're now WELL into the territory of "has been restored or will need restoring" tho - cars without notable rust (or notable repairs to it) will be scarce and you can expect a lot of non-factory bits on there (they had stainess exhausts IIRC - but the fasteners/brackets were NOT stainless which makes removal for work a nightmare!!)
Also - some parts for Hondas of this period are getting harder to find which makes the less shiny cars worth more in bits.
I'm not even sure this is a shed - a shed is a car you can afford to drive into the ground - this is really 'restore or break' territory?>
Edited by 405dogvan on Saturday 1st October 13:04
Rover 600 was a badged-up Honda surely? Bet they had quite a few shared under-skin bits. And you can see a bit of similarity in the styling....? But surely the PH article talks about a Gen 4 but shows a Gen 3. I loved my 1995 Gen 3 2.0 boggo one, as per earlier post. Currently have an '07 S2000 and '14 1.8 Civic. First Hondas I've had since the Prelude, in fact.... Also had an Acclaim back in the day (first new company car, what joy the day I picked that up and drove it home from Bletchley to Ruislip).... and of course they were the start of the BL-Honda thing, as per the Rover 600 (and 200s and 800).
designforlife said:
Loplop said:
A friend has two of these, both 2.2 VTECs.
One is a ratty thing that's been lowered, loud exhaust and a smokey engine.
The other he bought for <£500 with an engine running on three. Wasn't sure what to do until he took the skirts off to reveal the sills, the car is 100% spotless. So he dropped a H22a7 from an Accord Type R with matching gearbox into it. Quite the sleeper!
Not Jack Galley by any chance?One is a ratty thing that's been lowered, loud exhaust and a smokey engine.
The other he bought for <£500 with an engine running on three. Wasn't sure what to do until he took the skirts off to reveal the sills, the car is 100% spotless. So he dropped a H22a7 from an Accord Type R with matching gearbox into it. Quite the sleeper!
Lover of preludes that he is.
AH33 said:
KimJong - Yours hasn't been back on the road since 2009
LordGrover - Yours appears to have vanished off the face of the earth.
Good tool https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/
I believe that when the details are not on the system at all i.e the car has just vanished entirely, it was a victim of the Scrappage SchemeLordGrover - Yours appears to have vanished off the face of the earth.
Good tool https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/
I heard that the DVLA deleted every detail of cars submitted to the scheme sadly
TheJimi said:
Ok, I'll nibble - what the sod has a Rover 600 got to do with Preludes?!
The Prelude chassis was derived from the Honda Accord, the 600 was a reskin of the Accord, the engines tended to be shared, you could get a mix of Rover and Honda engines in a Rover 600, the 2.0 petrol was the Rover T series but the rest were Honda units, apart from the diesels.Absolutly fantastic cars. by far one of the best ive owned, had a 2.0 1994 then had a 1992 2.2Vtec import auto which i converted to a manual with LSD box. easily out handled more modern more expensive cars and easily kept up with a lot of them. only issue i had was rust, had both rear arches cut out and welded and 2 resprays and it kept coming back, i really regret getting rid of it
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