I got my 1999 Honda Prelude Type SH back in April of 2012. I had always wanted one, I remember endlessly configuring them on Honda's webpage back in the early days of the internet. I was in college at the time and a brand new, rather expensive car wasn't in the cards.
It really didn't take me too long to find this one. He put it up on Autotrader and paid for the special advertising, so I guess it worked. My favorite part of the purchase was that there was also a father/son duo who was also interested in the car. I think they had looked at the car first and made an offer. I looked at the car and made a higher offer. The previous owner said he felt like he had to give the other guys a chance to beat my offer. I was accepted that.
I got a phone call a day later:
"Well, the guy matched your price (I think my price was $6500), do you think you can go higher?"
I was nervous to lose the car, but I told him $6500 was my hard limit.
Then I pointed out "But you know, he didn't really beat my price, he just matched it. So I think that's really up to you who you'll sell the car to."
"Your right. And you know what? You're a whole lot less of a PITA than the other guy is, so the car is yours"
I picked it up the next day. I remember the guy mentioning that he was really into F&F at the time, but couldn't afford any modifications to the car. I was really glad for that....
The car is in pretty damn good condition. It has a few dings in the metal and chips in the paint, but nothing too noticeable. The interior is nearly flawless.
The Type SH (which supposedly stood for 'Super Handling') was substantially different from the base model. It got a completely revised front suspension with a different camber curve, different radius rods (and associated bushings), and a dual ball joint. It had different wheels and some minor interior changes. Same engine, though. The biggest difference was the ATTS system. It's an electronically controlled differential that can bias more torque to the outside wheel.
Mine serves daily driving duties. It's got 240k miles on it now, but I'd hop in it and drive it across the country without a single concern tomorrow. I intend to keep it more or less stock, although I might so some very minor mods. There's a japan-only lip that looks good, but sometimes I think I might just go for the full OEM body-kit (which was available in the US). Even though they're not necessarily 'the best' parts, I may go for a couple of mugen parts, just to kind of make it period correct.
You may ask yourself: "What's with this guy and Preludes?"
Well let me tell you:
I think they're beautiful cars. A simple, sporty cheese-wedge shape with a raked greenhouse. The front ends are simple, with just the right amount of edge. No superfluous vents or angles. The headlights are simple but not just squares (and I love the 3rd gen pop-ups). The tail is just lopped off with some nice 'light bar' style tail lights.
They're fun to drive: Yeah, they're FWD. I've owned RWD cars, driven Mid-engined cars. I've learned that has very little impact on the 'fun-to-drivability' of a car. They've got great double a-arm suspensions at all four corners. Honda gave them various technologies so they're pretty neutral for a FWD car. None of them are blindingly fast and except for the 4th gens I don't know that any of them are particularly competitive race cars, but that hasn't kept me from racing my 3g for all these years.
They're easy to keep driving: They're Honda's from Honda's golden age of reliability, so they're pretty bullet proof to begin with. Add to the fact that they have sporting intentions and occupied a slot towards the top of Honda's line up means that I don't have to constantly supply even the race car with ball joints, wheel bearings, etc. They're pretty well set up to be beat on.
Very cool cars.
