Preludes

They cost as much as the Integra but didn't offer as much performance

I dont get this? Brand new, it cost more.. and while the majority of integras sold were not gsr or type-r,s every prelude sold in the last generation had 190hp and was quick compared to a non-vtec integra (i.e. most of them). I dare say they also handled BETTER than a GS or LS integra.

This coming from just having sold an 01 GS integra..

Fond memories of guiding mid-90s Preludes through corners in Gran Turismo. That and the MkIII Supra were always my first cars.

Vigo wrote:

They cost as much as the Integra but didn't offer as much performance

I dont get this? Brand new, it cost more.. and while the majority of integras sold were not gsr or type-r,s every prelude sold in the last generation had 190hp and was quick compared to a non-vtec integra (i.e. most of them). I dare say they also handled BETTER than a GS or LS integra. This coming from just having sold an 01 GS integra..

Yeah, there is no way they handle better then an integra. Lude's are too heavy, the only real thing they have going for them is the motor. They are expensive cars, even the 1st gen cars command a premium. There are alot of people that had the 1st gen si's that are revisiting there first cars for a mid life crisis mobile's.

If you drop the engine in a integra or civic, you'll see a track monster. Then again I hear the V6 accord/minivan swap is a nice one as well, it outta be really nose heavy though.

Andrew

I'd say they wear their weight pretty damn well, and as has already been mentioned, they're still a sub-3000lb car. If people are getting mad that they don't weigh the same as a CRX, they're missing the point. The wheelbase is nice and wide and the center of gravity was kept pretty low. The last gen had one of the shortest roof lines of any car sold at that time, including exotics (this was a big deal to my buddy, lol). Personally, I think they make better street cars than race cars. As a daily driver the extra weight means very little and little extra torque they have over their Honda brethren is a boon. The stock performance stats were just about spot-on with the GSR, but my friends Prelude felt faster, because you didn't have to wring the motor out as much.

That said, when I was shopping for a sporty Honda a few years back I ended up with a GSR because it had lower insurance costs, more back seat room, and (imho) more autocross potential. I still wouldn't mind picking a 'lude up one day though.

Vigo wrote:

They cost as much as the Integra but didn't offer as much performance

I dont get this? Brand new, it cost more.. and while the majority of integras sold were not gsr or type-r,s every prelude sold in the last generation had 190hp and was quick compared to a non-vtec integra (i.e. most of them). I dare say they also handled BETTER than a GS or LS integra. This coming from just having sold an 01 GS integra..

what few Preludes have a-x'ed and been on track w/ me ('01 LS Integra), have come nowhere near keeping up with me... doubt it's my incredible driving ability ... maybe the mods to the car, but more likely it would be the power to weight ratio... (I'm guessing )

digdug18 wrote:

Vigo wrote:

They cost as much as the Integra but didn't offer as much performance

I dont get this? Brand new, it cost more.. and while the majority of integras sold were not gsr or type-r,s every prelude sold in the last generation had 190hp and was quick compared to a non-vtec integra (i.e. most of them). I dare say they also handled BETTER than a GS or LS integra. This coming from just having sold an 01 GS integra..

Yeah, there is no way they handle better then an integra. Lude's are too heavy, the only real thing they have going for them is the motor. They are expensive cars, even the 1st gen cars command a premium. There are alot of people that had the 1st gen si's that are revisiting there first cars for a mid life crisis mobile's. If you drop the engine in a integra or civic, you'll see a track monster. Then again I hear the V6 accord/minivan swap is a nice one as well, it outta be really nose heavy though. Andrew

Mid-life crisis, Andrew? OUCH.......

I've had my '86 Si (a first gen Si) for over nine years and it's my fifth Honda. After three first gen Crx's and an ED/EF Civic hatch, I knew exactly what I was buying.

Prelude's were intended and designed as more upscale cars than Civic's and more comfort/luxury-oriented than Integra's. Anyone disappointed that Prelude performance doesn't match either of its' brethren are a bit un-educated and their expectations are too high. That said, the cars (from '84-'01) still offered a nice balance of performance, comfort and style.

Like too many cars, subsequent generations gained in size and weight, but so did the competition. The '91-'96 cars (fourth gens) probably received the most after-market support. Honda pulled the plug in '01 because sales of Accord coupes far outpaced those of Preludes; the company pretty much shot itself in the foot.

My oldest nephew (an engineer for Honda) bought a last gen Prelude and I believe he still has it, even though his DD is an E92 M3 sedan.

Maybe it's The Land of the Miatae talking, but a sub-3000 lb car doesn't strike me as quite the heavy SOB that people are making it out to be. I can rattle off a list of much-loved sports cars that weigh as much or more and they don't get the same treatment. Perhaps it's better to say they're nose heavy or the platform doesn't handle its weight as well.

Oldsaw- How old are you?

Andrew

digdug18 wrote: Oldsaw- How old are you? Andrew

I was introduced to the world the same year as this:

wbjones wrote:

Vigo wrote:

They cost as much as the Integra but didn't offer as much performance

I dont get this? Brand new, it cost more.. and while the majority of integras sold were not gsr or type-r,s every prelude sold in the last generation had 190hp and was quick compared to a non-vtec integra (i.e. most of them). I dare say they also handled BETTER than a GS or LS integra. This coming from just having sold an 01 GS integra..

what few Preludes have a-x'ed and been on track w/ me ('01 LS Integra), have come nowhere near keeping up with me... doubt it's my incredible driving ability ... maybe the mods to the car, but more likely it would be the power to weight ratio... (I'm guessing )

I wasn't putting down the 'Lude at all... merely trying to point out some of it's "shortcomings".. not really shortcomings so much as it's a different car from these others, it's roomier, more nicely tricked out inside, in many ways more comfortable ... if other words it's more of a GT car than the Integra, or the Civic (Si) ... with more room here at home and more money the Prelude is one of the cars I would have in my stable... 'course I've been driving Hondas since 1976

VanillaSky wrote: I really want a third gen 2.0 Si with 4WS. They're hard to find with a working 4WS system, if you can find them. I've heard they're pretty expensive to fix properly, so they get disabled or sold to junkyards. The second gen shares engines with the third gen Accord, and there's now ready made b-series swap mounts available off the shelf. It's always good news that such old cars are getting more aftermarket support.

You're misinformed about the 4WS system on the 3rd gen (88-91) cars. The system is 100% mechanical and I've never experienced or heard via forums of a failure yet. And I've owned 7 now over the last 6 years. Parts are pretty cheap (typically people pay ~$300 for a full swap to convert 2ws to 4ws), though they're harder to find in junkyards now. I think you're thinking of the 4th gen (92-96) 4WS, which was electronic and from I've heard do fail as they age, something about solder joints in the main controller.

There are also now mount kits to put the F/H family of motors (all 90-02 4cyl accord and 92-01 Prelude) into the 3rd gen preludes. Funny how the availability/development of aftermarket parts changes with the demographics of the owners.

wbjones wrote: I wasn't putting down the 'Lude at all... merely trying to point out some of it's "shortcomings".. not really shortcomings so much as it's a different car from these others, it's roomier, more nicely tricked out inside, in many ways more comfortable ... if other words it's more of a GT car than the Integra, or the Civic (Si) ... with more room here at home and more money the Prelude is one of the cars I would have in my stable... 'course I've been driving Hondas since 1976

The point, WB, is that Prelude's only have shortcomings in the eyes of those who wrongly equate them to Civic's and Integra's. It's always an apple vs. orange contest regardless if the comparison is by taste bud, street performance or track times.

Longtime citrus-lovers should know the delights of all varieties.

Always like the 4th gens. Spent a lot of time in one during high school (girl). The interior was well laid-out, though I always found the mix of analog and digital gauges interesting.

Don't like the 5th generation much, though.

In reply to digdug18:

Not so sure about your statement saying a 'Lude can not out handle an Integra. The 4th Gen Lude weighed a couple hundred pounds less than the 5th Gen. In addition the 4th and 5th Gen Lude have a wider track and I'd dare say a lower center of gravity (stock-to-stock) then a 3rd Gen Integra GS-R. For what it's worth the 5th Gen Lude SH was touted as the best handling car (front, rear, or AWD) under $30,000 by another well know car mag in the late 90s.

oldsaw wrote:

wbjones wrote: I wasn't putting down the 'Lude at all... merely trying to point out some of it's "shortcomings".. not really shortcomings so much as it's a different car from these others, it's roomier, more nicely tricked out inside, in many ways more comfortable ... if other words it's more of a GT car than the Integra, or the Civic (Si) ... with more room here at home and more money the Prelude is one of the cars I would have in my stable... 'course I've been driving Hondas since 1976

The point, WB, is that Prelude's only have shortcomings in the eyes of those who wrongly equate them to Civic's and Integra's. It's always an apple vs. orange contest regardless if the comparison is by taste bud, street performance or track times. Longtime citrus-lovers should know the delights of all varieties.

look back at my post

your answer is exactly why I put " " around the word shortcomings.... while I've had several Civics, Accords, and an Integra and a CRX ... I'll probably always regret not having had a Prelude

Great, now I'm looking for Prelude's on CL.

http://www.edmunds.com/honda/prelude/history.html

I remember taking a trip down south in my brother's '99 back in the day. "Ride the Lighting" playing the whole time. A few things I remember: Low, stiff, cool, back hurts a little now, sounds cool, ouch-pothole, are we there yet?, want to sell it? Premium fuel? Insurance that much?

He later traded it for a '03 Si. Took it down south. A few things I remember: Where's the front? Man my back feels good, what's that sticking out of the dash? regular unleaded, yeah, we can fit it in the hatch, is the engine running?

Which one would I own? Both. Si slightly ahead. I'm getting older. I can't shake the two door hatch fever. I saw a new Gti today. I wish it had a Honda badge and all that comes with it. Just change the oil and not much worry.

Ummm.. still not believing the prelude doesnt handle as well as an ls/gs integra (stock for stock), and knowing for a fact its faster...

Run_Away wrote:

VanillaSky wrote: I really want a third gen 2.0 Si with 4WS. They're hard to find with a working 4WS system, if you can find them. I've heard they're pretty expensive to fix properly, so they get disabled or sold to junkyards. The second gen shares engines with the third gen Accord, and there's now ready made b-series swap mounts available off the shelf. It's always good news that such old cars are getting more aftermarket support.

You're misinformed about the 4WS system on the 3rd gen (88-91) cars. The system is 100% mechanical and I've never experienced or heard via forums of a failure yet. And I've owned 7 now over the last 6 years. Parts are pretty cheap (typically people pay ~$300 for a full swap to convert 2ws to 4ws), though they're harder to find in junkyards now. I think you're thinking of the 4th gen (92-96) 4WS, which was electronic and from I've heard do fail as they age, something about solder joints in the main controller. There are also now mount kits to put the F/H family of motors (all 90-02 4cyl accord and 92-01 Prelude) into the 3rd gen preludes. Funny how the availability/development of aftermarket parts changes with the demographics of the owners.

Good to know. Now I'm sold on buying a 4WS 3rd gen. Found one with a broken timing belt for $300. I'm hoping it's a 4WS car. If it is, I'll probably buy it. How bad can getting a new head on there be? Heck, the guy already bought the timing belt. I could always hope that none of the valves ever made contact with the pistons

Vigo wrote: Ummm.. still not believing the prelude doesnt handle as well as an ls/gs integra (stock for stock), and knowing for a fact its faster...

not sure about "stock for stock" but with ~ equal mods the LS will wear the Prelude out ... go figure... 'cause you're right about the top end... and to top it off my CRX will literally run away from one (assuming the same level of mods) it must be the weight thing ..??

I'd still love to have one

Heh, well that makes me wish i had raced some Preludes in my SOHC neon, because i sure didnt waste my time lining it up with the GS integra that i had at the same time. That race would have been over by 20 mph.

On the other hand, the neon sold for $300, and the integra sold for $6200... thats prelude money! .hehehee.

Challenge priced and riced.

I'm on the Mustang side of the fence here, so please forgive my ignorance, but what exactly is different between a Prelude and a similar-year 2-door Accord besides some body panels?

ReverendDexter wrote: I'm on the Mustang side of the fence here, so please forgive my ignorance, but what exactly is different between a Prelude and a similar-year 2-door Accord besides some body panels?

Fox-body Mustangs were based on a platform designed for the Fairmont.

Apply the concept to Preludes/Accords, add Honda design, engineering, and build-quality; you'll get a pretty good idea.

Second gen Preludes are monster mini stock cars. They are like a Civic with torque.