Is honda prelude worth buying?

[desiplaya4life]

whats your opinion on this car? i know its a GOOD 4cyl car but value wise, i heard its going up? a guy locally is selling a salvage 00 prelude for $9.5k (kbb value=$14.5k) is it worth buying? who has a prelude that might like to share their experience?

 

My friend has a 2000 type sh. Could be 1999, I'm not sure the year.

It's a fun car, sticks to the road like flypaper. It doesn't really have much balls until it gets into high rpms, but thats what you expect anyway.

 

[saltedeggman]

its okay car, not as common as civic...so it gets my vote

 

[mikebb]

I always liked the Prelude. However, I would find it hard to believe that its value is going up. It would have to be a collectible to appreciate in value, and I don't think any 5 year old Hondas qualify as collectible...

 

[Whisper]

My mom has a 99 prelude 5-speed, and I love driving it. Best handling car this side of an M3. Hell, I'd probably take a used prelude over a new RSX if I had the choice.

 

[Vic]

Preludes are very good cars. I would be very careful buying a salvage title of any make and model though.

 

[pulse8]

I owned a '96 Prelude and I LOOOOVED it.

 

[Wahsapa]

erm, for 10k thats good. id spend the 10k on something else tho. but take what you can get :beer:

id be a little worried when anybody sells the car for under bluebook. if its ever been in a major wreck(frame damage) i'd avoid at all costs.

 

[poopaskoopa]

I have a 2000 Honda Prelude. It's a fun car, but it's not fast. Mine's an auto, so it's kinda boring, and I rarely use the SportShift feature. If you have to get an auto, get the 2000 model or newer, as the transmission is covered up to 100,000 miles. 1997-1999 models are covered up to 36,000 miles, and these SportShift trannies are notoriously unreliable(and expensive). That info, is from various Prelude websites, and I have no life experience to back it up. My biggest complaint is that the CD player sucks ass, and the trunk is rather small. If you're the type who goes to Best Buy and CC to shop for car audio stuff like me, you'll probably have a hard time finding an enclosure to fit 2 12" subs that will also fit in your trunk. But you'll find it, I'm sure(my buddy built one, or bought one, to sell me. I can't tell which cuz it's rather well-constructed).

I bought it about 6 months ago. Paid $14k with 36k miles on it.

 

[boyRacer]

id buy one.

too bad its mostly used as a donor car nowadays.

 

[Pocatello]

Originally posted by: Vic
Preludes are very good cars. I would be very careful buying a salvage title of any make and model though.

Definitetly, and $9K is a bit much for something like that, even if it's a honda.

 

[RU482]

I've owned 3 or 4 prior salvage cars. Seems like there's always something that turns up.

PLUS, having that blemish on the title isn't gonna help resale. Even though you buy it cheaper on the front end, I've always found it very frustrating to take it in the ass when you sell

 

[sillymofo]

Take it from a 4 generations of Prelude owner, it's worth it. Just make sure that nothing is wrong with the engine, or transmission. Generally, most of the other stuffs are pretty good, the only problems I had with one of the prelude was the transmission. But, that's well expected, because of my driving, and it had well over 150K miles before I had rebuild it.

EDIT: The most fun I had in a Prelude was with '91 4 wheel steering model. Slightly modded, of course, but I beat a couple of Porsches down hills before.

 

[zugzoog]

I have a '97 Prelude VTIR. I have had so much fun in this car.

I agree with the previous posters comment that it lacks low-end torque. It could really do with a AWD conversion so that you could apply higher revs at take-off.

It really comes into its own when doing winding roads, it sticks to the road something chronic. Whatever you do, do not get an automatic. I get my best out of the car when shifting to the correct gear and making the most of the hi-rev capability of the engine.

 

[zugzoog]

Oh, one more thing, when properly tuned this car WANTS to be driven. A couple of people that have driven my car have noticed that the car just seems to WANT to go, it wants to take off, it wants to play.

I LOVE that feeling.....

 

[Ns1]

i drive a lightly modded 97 prelude

you should be paying 8-9k for a 97ish prelude

NEVER buy a salvage vehicle unless it's a project car



fun little car, just don't come in expecting to make it fast, cuz it's not going to happen. if you're not going to go mod happy, it's a great reliable car.


looking back however, instead of buying the prelude i would've waited the extra 4 months or so to saev up some more cash to buy a WRX.


any questions with the prelude feel free to PM me; member of preludeonline.com for 2.5 years

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

they handle great and have nice power, 200hp?

 

[vi edit]

Never drove one admittedly, but I never really ever saw the draw to them. They seemed slow, cramped, and overpriced for what you get.

 

[desiplaya4life]

well reason i ask is that i really would love to get a coupe... and prelude is one of my fav cars of all time.. and buying a salvage title was my main concern.. i guess i'll pass on this one.

right now i drive a 01 honda accord v6 sedan and im frustrated wheather to sell it or not.. i bought it for 15k could get 13k maybe for it.. losing some money for 1yr ownership :\

 

[thawolfman]

I love my '92.

Still a boring fat automatic, but it's my baby

 

[vi edit]

well reason i ask is that i really would love to get a coupe... and prelude is one of my fav cars of all time.. and buying a salvage title was my main concern.. i guess i'll pass on this one.

Meh. After owning 2 doors for 4 years I'm done with that nightmare. Coupes = overrated. More expensive to buy. More expensive to insure. Harder to get in & out of. A major PITA if you ever need to make use of the back seat. But as always, that's my opinion.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Never drove one admittedly, but I never really ever saw the draw to them. They seemed slow, cramped, and overpriced for what you get.

Slow- don't really notice it, unless i'm trying to pass up another aggressive driver.
Cramped- not unless you're 6'2 200lbs. except for the passengers, but who cares about them anyway?
Overpriced- back then yeah, but nowadays a freaking STEAL



and re: HP

195hp for 97/98
200hp for 99+

 

[Dacalo]

I wonder how much insurance is for these?

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Dacalo
I wonder how much insurance is for these?

Very high. Especially comp due to the theft rate.

 

[Svnla]

I had a Prelude before I bought this SUV that I am currently driving. It is a great reliable car with excellent handling. Don't expect huge low end torque power as American V8 muscle cars.

If you can find a good used Prelude (make sure you do a Carfax on it), then get it and do some mods (header, intake, exhause, wheels and tires, ect.). You will have a fun car to drive for years to come.