Prelude advice

Third Opinion · 18 Oct 2006 at 10:45

Basically the time has come to replace my old Primera. She has now done 160K and is feeling very tired to drive. On the plus side she is still well capable of over 40mpg on a run and has never let me down. The car is also in first class condition body wise which is such a shame as the resale value with that many miles is going to be £0 even with 11 months MOT.

I was going to be very boring a replace it with another Primera but I have been looking at Honda Prelude 2.2. Can anyone give me an average fuel consumption obtained on a run. Also whats the service schedule like for belts etc (it is a belt isn't it)? The other condition is it must be automatic as I have given up driving manuals for health reasons. Anyone own an auto version?

Thank you

Confused · 18 Oct 2006 at 11:30

I have a UKDM 1996 2.2 VTEC manual, and I average at 30MPG - pretty much no matter how/where I drive.

Cam belt is due every 60k miles.

My dad's friend had an automatic version, and whilst not quite as nippy as my manual, it's still very respectable, and the auto box isn't too bad, the "S" sports setting on the gearbox holds the revs longer, which allows you to make full use of VTEC.

http://www.preludeuk.co.uk for lots and lots of information and advice

Garry

!bluetonic! · 18 Oct 2006 at 11:59

Hello,

I had a JDM 2.2 Auto Prelude.

I wasn't impressed with the fuel economy, but loved the drive and the dash that lit up like an xmas tree. I never drove a manual one, so can't compare.

I really enjoyed my time with it, but had to move on.

Happy days.

Psycrow · 18 Oct 2006 at 12:08

My accord type-r has a similar engine (H22) and I get 25mpg with just city driving, if I do mostly motorway then I can get over 30mpg easily. The prelude should have very similar ecconomy (slightly better since its less tunned).

Pigeon · 18 Oct 2006 at 12:23

I get around 31mpg out of my Prelude on normal weekly drive ( 7 miles town, 7 mile dual carridgeway everday to work)

Have had 36mpg out of it on a run though which I was impressed with (particulary as I went around the M25, with 2 people and a full boot).

If you are looking for an auto no one reccomends them due to them not using all the rev range and power of the engine. Plus it will hurt the fuel economy!

Rich · 18 Oct 2006 at 18:49

Sorry to Hi-Jack, but is it true that the 2.2 VTEC lump needs to be serviced every 6000 miles. I read this on one of those "user reviews" sites. This cant be right surely?? I would expect 10,000 maybe.....

Confused · 18 Oct 2006 at 18:57

I've done a full service twice since I've had my car - but 12,000 miles apart.

I have however changed the oil every 3k.

They use a little bit of oil (about 0.5l per 3k miles), so a regular oil change is advised to keep the oil levels high enough

Garry

ramirez · 18 Oct 2006 at 19:04

Rich said:
Sorry to Hi-Jack, but is it true that the 2.2 VTEC lump needs to be serviced every 6000 miles. I read this on one of those "user reviews" sites. This cant be right surely?? I would expect 10,000 maybe.....

Well, maybe change the oil every 6k.

But do that and the engine will last forever.

As much as I love Preludes the autoboxes are rubbish.

Pigeon · 18 Oct 2006 at 19:18

yeah the 6,000 service is just an oil/filter change. 12,000 it gets more checks

Rich · 18 Oct 2006 at 20:10

Bit too often for my liking, i was seriously considering these. If servicing costs are high it puts a dampener on it. Guess i could get a local to do the 6000 service and someone with a bit more specialist knowledge for then 12,000.

ramirez · 18 Oct 2006 at 20:16

its a performance car though, it comes with the territory.

Confused · 18 Oct 2006 at 20:29

Oil + filter is about £25.

It'll take <1hr to do, even on your own driveway. Hell even most backstreet garages will be able to do it for about £30 - it's not really a large expense at all!

Rich · 18 Oct 2006 at 21:11

I dont have a driveway

Id rather have the garage do it

Third Opinion · 19 Oct 2006 at 08:38

ramirez said:
Well, maybe change the oil every 6k.

But do that and the engine will last forever.

As much as I love Preludes the autoboxes are rubbish.

It what way are they rubbish? Unreliable or just a poor performance issue?

ramirez · 19 Oct 2006 at 08:58

fair bit slower than the manuals, dont take advantage of the vtec engine. maybe rubbish was a bit strong but they aren't great autoboxes and dont really suit the car too well.

Third Opinion · 19 Oct 2006 at 12:02

Thats fine I am not too concerned about performance, I was going to go for the steptronic anyway.

Thanks for all the advice it was very helpfull.

Hate · 19 Oct 2006 at 12:11

Third Opinion said:
Thats fine I am not too concerned about performance, I was going to go for the steptronic anyway.

Thanks for all the advice it was very helpfull.

steptronic is just as "bad" as the auto, but in different ways - its only got 4 gears which are far too tall for a VTEC engine.

put it this way, if you're going VTEC - buy a manual, seriously.

Third Opinion · 19 Oct 2006 at 12:40

Hate said:
put it this way, if you're going VTEC - buy a manual, seriously.

I can't, medical reason

Hate · 19 Oct 2006 at 13:51

well i guess thats a good reason, but the steptronic and automatic versions are a bit limp compared to the manual

pinkaardvark · 19 Oct 2006 at 16:10

ramirez said:
its a performance car though, it comes with the territory.

Plenty of other "performance cars" have much higher intervals of service.