RE: SOTW: Honda Prelude
Discussion
Deluded said:
Can get a 5th gen for really not a lot more. Fantastic, underrated cars.
That was mine for a while. Loved it!
You picked the two best angles That was mine for a while. Loved it!
The front looks a bit weird on this one with those headlights IMO. Lovely interior, tho. I was thinking on it (but never had due to the ridiculous road tax in ROI, which was 830 Euro/year - and don't mention the insurance for a Honda here...) as a quick, good-lookin' transport for a single dumbass like me 
kambites said:
My legs didn't fit, there just wasn't enough distance between the seat and the pedals, even with the seat right back. I'm only 6' but I do have quite long legs for my height.
This is a pet interest of mine - how some people seem to be able to fit into cars when others cannot (even tho they're similar sizes).I'm 6'5" - longish legs in particular - so my problem is always getting my knees behind the wheel. I cannot heel/toe any car (as my right leg has to bend just to get into the car). I cannot get behind the wheel of a Z3/Z4, most TVRs or a MK1 or MK2 MX5 - and yet Clarkson (same height) drives one across the Middle East!??
I know part of it is the seating position people prefer - I'm forced to slump in the seat to avoid banging my head AND to get my knees extra room but maybe some people won't do that!??
Certainly, if I were to insist on sitting in the seat 'properly', there are probably not 10 cars in manufacture I could actually drive!
With these feet said:
Chinese whispers...it's the actual VTEC mechanism they claimed never failed under warranty, not the entire engine - and I think it only covers the original DOHC VTEC, not the newer iVTEC.
Plus what model was it in? Not a UK built model by chance was it??
I'm sure they're happy to let people extend the belief to the entire engine tho - and yes, it was a Swindon made [s]Rover[/s]Civic 5dr Aerodeck - the rest of the car was shoddy and fault-ridden too tbh.Plus what model was it in? Not a UK built model by chance was it??
The engine came from Germany tho - according to Honda UK (it was one of the reasons they persistantly refused to replace it).
johnpeat said:
kambites said:
My legs didn't fit, there just wasn't enough distance between the seat and the pedals, even with the seat right back. I'm only 6' but I do have quite long legs for my height.
This is a pet interest of mine - how some people seem to be able to fit into cars when others cannot (even tho they're similar sizes).I'm 6'5" - longish legs in particular - so my problem is always getting my knees behind the wheel. I cannot heel/toe any car (as my right leg has to bend just to get into the car). I cannot get behind the wheel of a Z3/Z4, most TVRs or a MK1 or MK2 MX5 - and yet Clarkson (same height) drives one across the Middle East!??
I know part of it is the seating position people prefer - I'm forced to slump in the seat to avoid banging my head AND to get my knees extra room but maybe some people won't do that!??
Certainly, if I were to insist on sitting in the seat 'properly', there are probably not 10 cars in manufacture I could actually drive!
This was my UK car, now owned by another Pistonhead.
I love Preludes and have had 4 all manual 2.2 VTIs. Very underated, but dont tell anyone as its keeping prices reasonable.
I still have a supermarine blue gen 5 version sat on the drive with the later red top engine. They were 1999/ 2000 cars with power upped to 200BHP and heated seats.
nottyash said:
This was my UK car, now owned by another Pistonhead.
I love Preludes and have had 4 all manual 2.2 VTIs. Very underated, but dont tell anyone as its keeping prices reasonable.
I still have a supermarine blue gen 5 version sat on the drive with the later red top engine. They were 1999/ 2000 cars with power upped to 200BHP and heated seats.
These are awesome. Really low centre of gravity, double wishbone suspension, UK versions have 185BHP Jap import versions have 197BHP, naturally aspirated so mechanically very sound only issue at this age is rust. Agree a bit nose heavy and the 2 seats in the back are a joke. Big boot though.
And the electroluminescent dash has got to be one of the best dashes ever.
And the electroluminescent dash has got to be one of the best dashes ever.
Vic Cooper said:
You picked the two best angles The front looks a bit weird on this one with those headlights IMO. Lovely interior, tho. I was thinking on it (but never had due to the ridiculous road tax in ROI, which was 830 Euro/year - and don't mention the insurance for a Honda here...) as a quick, good-lookin' transport for a single dumbass like me
As an aside Vic, what happened to your old Laguna V6 SOTW? The front looks a bit weird on this one with those headlights IMO. Lovely interior, tho. I was thinking on it (but never had due to the ridiculous road tax in ROI, which was 830 Euro/year - and don't mention the insurance for a Honda here...) as a quick, good-lookin' transport for a single dumbass like me Smike said:
Vic Cooper said:
You picked the two best angles The front looks a bit weird on this one with those headlights IMO. Lovely interior, tho. I was thinking on it (but never had due to the ridiculous road tax in ROI, which was 830 Euro/year - and don't mention the insurance for a Honda here...) as a quick, good-lookin' transport for a single dumbass like me
As an aside Vic, what happened to your old Laguna V6 SOTW? The front looks a bit weird on this one with those headlights IMO. Lovely interior, tho. I was thinking on it (but never had due to the ridiculous road tax in ROI, which was 830 Euro/year - and don't mention the insurance for a Honda here...) as a quick, good-lookin' transport for a single dumbass like me 
I wanted to register the car on irish plates then turned out the road tax would be 1260 euro/year (instead of the 180 quid in the UK!). So I used it on UK plates for a half a year. Later there were signs that it'd be better to get rid of the car as around me all cars on UK plates (and NI or PL) has been tow'd away by the customs. Actually I haven't lost a penny as I sold it for the same money with 4500 extra miles on the clock I liked it very much, few boyracers had to notice that the family shell contains a suprise in the engine bay Quite like that but do prefer the 5th gen model, easier to get a nice one as they tended to be owned by older people (it is a Honda after all) and also for some unknown reason 
they arent popular with the drift fraternity like the 200 SX, not that I dont approve of drifting but it has trimmed down the number of decent, unmolested 200's around somewhat.
they arent popular with the drift fraternity like the 200 SX, not that I dont approve of drifting but it has trimmed down the number of decent, unmolested 200's around somewhat.Vic Cooper said:
Ehh... I had to sold it I wanted to register the car on irish plates then turned out the road tax would be 1260 euro/year (instead of the 180 quid in the UK!). So I used it on UK plates for a half a year. Later there were signs that it'd be better to get rid of the car as around me all cars on UK plates (and NI or PL) has been tow'd away by the customs. Actually I haven't lost a penny as I sold it for the same money with 4500 extra miles on the clock I liked it very much, few boyracers had to notice that the family shell contains a suprise in the engine bay
Ah shame , a real stealth bomber with that engine/chassis I wanted to register the car on irish plates then turned out the road tax would be 1260 euro/year (instead of the 180 quid in the UK!). So I used it on UK plates for a half a year. Later there were signs that it'd be better to get rid of the car as around me all cars on UK plates (and NI or PL) has been tow'd away by the customs. Actually I haven't lost a penny as I sold it for the same money with 4500 extra miles on the clock I liked it very much, few boyracers had to notice that the family shell contains a suprise in the engine bay 
Good shed, my 5th gen summer shed was great. The 4WS effectively kills understeer which makes me think the person commenting earler about the 4th gen understeering terminally possibly had a faulty car.
The 5th Gen had a good level of equipment as standard and I got around 40mpg on the motorway.
Great, underrated cars if you don't need to carry passengers- had to leave a friend behind because we could only fit 3 of us in it.
The 5th Gen had a good level of equipment as standard and I got around 40mpg on the motorway.
Great, underrated cars if you don't need to carry passengers- had to leave a friend behind because we could only fit 3 of us in it.
I had a brand new Milano Red Prelude 2.2i VTEC for 8 years from 1995. Totally reliable, wonderful car way ahead of its time - I adored it. But I actually preferred the mechanical 4WS in my earlier 1991 Prelude which I'd also owned from new - it was my 'welcome home' present to myself after I came home from Gulf War One and sold my Manta GTE Stage 2.
The 5th generation Prelude was a hideous looking thing - an utter frump in comparison. I went for a test drive and loathed it - the dealer understood my opinion and agreed!
The only failures I had in 8 years were:
1. The ABS black box needed to be replaced (after 6 months).
2. The right front indicator bulb failed (after 4 years).
3. The dealer mis-diagnosed a brake issue (after 7 years). Soon fixed under extended warranty.
4. An intermittent engine emission amber caption (after almost 8 years).
Traded M96VJO in for an SLK320 in 2003 - hope it's still alive!
I'd order a new Prelude tomorrow if Honda would only relaunch it....
The 5th generation Prelude was a hideous looking thing - an utter frump in comparison. I went for a test drive and loathed it - the dealer understood my opinion and agreed!
The only failures I had in 8 years were:
1. The ABS black box needed to be replaced (after 6 months).
2. The right front indicator bulb failed (after 4 years).
3. The dealer mis-diagnosed a brake issue (after 7 years). Soon fixed under extended warranty.
4. An intermittent engine emission amber caption (after almost 8 years).
Traded M96VJO in for an SLK320 in 2003 - hope it's still alive!
I'd order a new Prelude tomorrow if Honda would only relaunch it....
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