Honda Prelude - who's got one ?

Lartyconshayo

Lartyconshayo

Lartyconshayo

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Ever since I saw the Dj mehdi video 'signatune' I decided if I ever learn to drive and had a few quid I would like one.

Apparently the model in the video is the early model which is more angular and boxy which I like. Some critics saw this as a flaw.

Got any pics of your prelude ? Post em !

Also what are running costs like what with it being discontinued and all.
 
I owned a Gen 4 1995 2.2 VTEC 4WS for a few years - was a great car - reasonably quick, great fun to drive. Solid it in 2010, had just of 95,000 miles on it.

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I've got a 5th gen 2.2vti. Love it to bits, even if it is starting to get a bit tatty around the edges. Only had it a year and is been super reliable, barring needing a new battery and a wheel bearing replaced.

They are outrageously good value if you're willing to wait until a nice one comes up.

Running costs are very reasonable, servicing through a Honda dealer will normally be fixed price under the Honda Happiness scheme, normally the same as an Accord, although new parts from Honda can be expensive or hard to find. On the flip side, there are always cars being broken over on ludegeneration, so finding second hand parts is usually straight forward and they're fairly easy to work on yourself. Rust is the main killer.

They can feel a bit heavy around town, but get them out on a fast A or B road where they can stretch their legs and they really come to life. They could really use a 6 th gear for motorways - 3.5k revs at 70mph in 5 th - but they're nice and comfy and mine has cruise, so not too bad for long distances. I frequently drive Cornwall to Edinburgh in one go and usually feel fine art the end of it. Relatively practical boot space too, and you can just about get small adults in the back seats for short distances.

I get about 22mpg around town, 34 on a motorway run at 70.
 
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The one in the video is an MK3, not bad cars but rare now and usually overlooked due to the lack of VTEC (despite their power/weight being comparable to the 4th/5th gens) as one of the things most synonymous with Preludes is their H22 VTEC engine used in the 4th/5th gen (Was also reused in the ATR). Another thing is their four wheel steering which was actually best on the MK3 as it was mechanical not computer controlled (the MK3 lude could do the cone slalom faster than Porsche's or Ferrari's which was pretty good bragging rights at the time.

I have owned three Preludes over the years (one 4th 2.0, one 4th 2.2 VTEC and one 5th 2.2 VTEC) all were great cars that cost pennies to maintain.
 
HI there

I had one just like in the images above (4th gen 2.2 Vtec UK). Full exhaust, AEM Intake, lighter wheels, was about 195BHP and went pretty well, was very comfy and had the cool dash.

Purchased it for about 3.5k-4k with 55,000 miles, owned it for 1-2 years, serviced it only once (was not so big on cars then) and sold it for 3.8k with 96,000 miles on it. Never once let me down, check the rear arches as they are prone to corrosion/rust. Also check 4WS works, the rear wheels will turn when stationary and ensure Vtec engages at 5500rpm are and the gears go in with no crunching etc.

Great cars!
 
I had a gen 4 2.2 vtec, fantastic car and still miss it.
As above, check for rusty wheel arches and the four wheel steering works, also check out the sills under the plastic covers as they rust badly there but often get overlooked as the plastic covers hide them!
 
Had 2 4th gens, a 2.0 and 2.2vtec.

Great cars for the money, no real big issues with any of the gen's afaik, 4th's are prone to 4ws issues though so if you get a working one your doing well!
They just like to rust around the rear arches, mine was repaired by a very well known paintshop in Bournemouth and it was still back in a year.

As quick as the Type R's for half the scene cost, you cant really go wrong with one and that dash never gets boring in the 4th gen! :D I can see the Mk3's appreciating nicely in the future.
 
Saw a nice one for sale today, 1999 Prelude Motegi H22 in Supermarine Blue, looks really nice. On Performance Autoworks FB page for £1600.
 
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I speced my mate prelude as hes first sporty car.
Dead cheap nowadays and very good cars.
I was thinking about one before i got DC2... They look awesome :D
 
Begbie said:
Did some of these not come with 4 wheel steering?
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The 3rd gen that the OP mentions and that is seen in the video he referenced has a mechanical 4WS system, the 4th and 5th gen seen in pic above had the option of an electronic 4WS system. To be specific, the UK 2.2 VTEC cars had it as standard and the UK 2.0i cars did not (nor did the 2.3i variant of the UK 4th gen), the Japanese version of the cars had it as an option on both the 2.2 VTEC and 2.2i cars (they did not have the 2.0i or 2.3i engine).

A lot of owners actually remove the electronic 4WS system either to save weight or due to failure (and some because they just don't want a 22-12 year old computer deciding which direction their rear wheels should point in).
 
I had one, a 1996 2.2 VTEC with 4WS, was absolutely fantastic. Still a regular over on LudeGeneration due to the friendly atmosphere and the friends I made during my ownership (even though I sold mine 4 years ago...)
 
I had the proper on a BB4 non 4ws with loads of special factory jap stuff slung on it, strut braces front and rear and lowered all from factory.

Started like this

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Ended up like this

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Refurbished 5 spokes, Brembos all round red stuff pads, braided front hoses, stainless exhaust, de tango front and rear and modern head unit, unfortunately a dozy old moo drove straight over a mini roundabout with me on it so it was written off but I got a good payout and bought the car back then sold it on eBay for 1/2 what I got.

I miss that car it was like driving a roller skate
 
Noxia said:
Saw a nice one for sale today, 1999 Prelude Motegi H22 in Supermarine Blue, looks really nice. On Performance Autoworks FB page for £1600.
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Just had a look, that's probably a good buy for someone. PAW know their stuff by all accounts and it sounds like it's had all the crucial work done. Best colour and Motegi kit too. Dosn't say which engine it is, but if it's a '99 then it should have the A8.
 
This was my one after I'd finished with it:

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My mate now has it, and he's not really done much to it, just a set of coilovers, and had the rear arches re-done to get rid of the dreaded rust which came back.

The kit was the Euro/Bubble skirts & rear (a genuine Honda accessory), and a custom-made front lip (in the rough style of the Wings West RS lip), and rear spoiler - well, I have no idea what it was from, and I've never seen another on another Prelude.
 
I had a Mk4 VTEC for a number of years. Loved the car to bits and still miss it. I wouldn't say it was particularly cheap to run though. Apart from the usual brakes, exhaust, tyres, mine suffered failure of all four ABS sensors at about the same time, a failed alternator, rust along the bottom of the doors, the sunroof and the rear wheel arches and was kicking out a lot of smoke when going past 5000rpm (presumably seals or something). Also had condensation inside one of the headlight units (not cheap to replace but had a garage seal it up with silicone). It probably had other things going wrong which I just had fixed as they cropped up.

But it handled well, cruised rock solid on the motorway in any conditions (except snow) and at any speed. It put a smile on my face every day I got into it.
 
Confused said:
rear spoiler - well, I have no idea what it was from, and I've never seen another on another Prelude.
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Lets praise the lord for that :p

I remember reading your build over that, you had a nice car come the end, just not that spoiler! :)
Mine was a BB1 that the original owner nicely ticked all the optional extras bar the tv. Great car and would own another if only they just didn't rust and could be tuned!

Wonder whats happened to all the Mugened ones out there, not particular easy on the eye but there was something about that body kit that looked cool, i guess that goes for most Mugen stuff though!

2.2 vtec, looking like its on stilts, never really noticed it till now...
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