Why a Prelude?

[stl_95_9c1_lt1]

After seeing this (http://www.aaroncake.net/RX-7/why.htm) page with a dozen people explaining why they decided to become a RX-7 owner I decided it'd be fun to see why members of the St. Louis Prelude Club decided to become Prelude owners.

So how about it? Out of all the vehicles out there, why did you decide on a Prelude?
Price?
Looks?
Speed?
Reliability?
All of the above?

What sets the Prelude apart from similar vehicles?

And the most important question: if you had to do it all over again, would you still chose a Prelude?

[ludikris]

The Prelude is my first car that wasn't a hand-me-down and thus the first car that I purchased. Being young (23) and single I wanted a sports car. Period. There was no discussion of SUVs, trucks, or any remotely "family" type car. I drove a Mustang Cobra, Probe GT, Firehawk SLP, looked at older Vettes, and finally drove the Prelude. I can remember sitting down in the Prelude and instantly deciding that I was getting this car. The fit and finish buried the competiton even though this car had more miles than the rest (12K vs <10K for the others). The ergonomics won hands down and the power was better than anything I had before. It was more practical (room wise, fwd versus rwd for the winters we get, and the Honda reputation was a big plus). It was unusual at the time and still is somewhat around here (bought my 97 in 98), was less than $19K, looked good, had the Honda name, and handled well. It was owned by a woman since I found makeup underneath the seat after buying it, so that made me feel better about it. I'm guessing the other cars had a much harder life.

[iMEA]

My decision I could say wasn’t a no brainer… My ex-girlfriend got an ’89 Prelude in ’93 and I thought it was a nice car but a little girly for my taste (sorry 3rd gen owners) so I never real thought much about owning one myself at the time.

Then fast-forward to 1999 I decided I wanted to get rid of my ’97 VW Golf GL so I started looking around and reading up on cars that I was interested in based really only on word of mouth, look and price. My choices really came down to a ’94 VW Corrado, 93’ Mazda RX7 and ’97 Prelude SH. I test drove the RX7 1st and loved the acceleration and was kind of turned off by how small the car was and the lack of a backseat. Next I drove the Corrodo and realized that I only liked the car for looks – the automatic seatbelts suck - even though I always wear mine I couldn’t get over the tackiness of it. Also both of those cars were older then the car I already had and the interior was looking a little aged. Lastly I test drove the ’97 Prelude SH and I loved it!!! Everything from the exterior to the interior I couldn’t really come up with anything bad about the look. The handling I was very impressed and sometimes still get impressed with it. The dealer was riding with me and told me to get on it a bit so I could feel the VTECH then told me to take a corner a little faster then I normally would and got a chance to feel the ATTS kick in. It took a little bit to get use to because it almost felt like the backend was going to slide out from under me but soon realized it was normal. Once I got back to the dealership I was all smiles and signed my automotive life away right then and there. The Honda name really stuck in my head too because I remembered that my ex-girlfriends father loved her car and always said Honda’s last forever (if taken proper care of).

Since that experience I did some reading up on the car and found out that others love the car just as much as me. Not just because they were stuck with the car and secretly wanted something else but because it fits them as much as it fits me.

I am now on my 2nd Prelude because I ended up totaling the ’97 (see my post) – I didn’t even look at anything else. I knew what I wanted, looked for it and got it. Now when I look back…sure there are other cars I would buy but only if I could keep my Prelude.

Here is a little bit of info and quotes ---- Also an industry favorite, the Prelude earned a spot on Car and Driver's "Ten Best" vehicle listing and was named the world's best handling car for under $39,000 last year. In addition, the Prelude was named "Most Appealing Sporty Car" in a 1997 J.D. Power and Associates survey. ----
:thumbup:

[TJ]

I bought mine for the reliability and for the look. at the time i really wasnt into cars so a 200hp car felt balls to the wall fast to me. now that I am more into cars and into having fast toys I am lookin elsewhere. but the prelude has been a very fun car and I dont regret one bit that I bought it. it was a great car to learn on and stuff like that

[Keith]

After owning 2 domestic cars (1990 and 1997 Z24) I felt the need to try something different. I found myself modding both american cars which was difficult since there isn't much of a market for either. I knew I was going to get a Japanese car but I wasn't sure which one. The one thing that was stopping from getting something sporty was insurance on the Prelude. So I scrapped that idea and looked for something else. I thought about an Integra but I found that I would be in the same league as having a Cavalier, (i.e. having a sports coupe and not a sports car since the Teg comes in a 4 door sedan version as well). So I ruled that out. Then I looked at the Acura 2.2 CL (not the 3.0 since they only came in manual). I checked prices for insurance and the numbers worked out well... but before I could test drive one, I found out that the insurance rates on the 5th gen Prelude were simular. I always liked the 5th Prelude after seeing on a truck being transported to the dealership but I never thought I could afford one and I just signed my 3 year lease on my Z24. Towards the end of my lease, I test drove a couple of Preludes (SS and stick) and opted that the 5-speed Prelude was my choice. After I read the Comparision Test from Car and Driver in 1999 where the Prelude came first place over VW GTI, Mercury Cougar, Acura Integra GSR, Eclipse GST, and Toyota Celica, I knew that I was making the right choice. Not to mention that it was voted by C & D 10Best in 1984, 85, 86, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, and 1998, as well the Best Handling car for under 30,000$. The Honda name comes with it too so you know reliablity is there.

The Prelude was never meant for speed, it was designed for handling. It has creature comforts that a ITR doesn't have which kinda lets you know that you have an 'adult's' car and not a racing car.

Anyhow over 3 years later and I still have my Prelude. If something to happen to it (knock on wood), I would get a different car but for now, I plan to keep it forever.

[Billiam]

I like the car overall, but when I was in the market for a car a couple of years ago this wasn't my first choice by a long shot. I had just come from owning a '96 Maxima 5 spd and really liked the car a lot. I was going to get a 2001 Maxima but finding one with a stick was almost impossible. So I scratched that. I looked at the Accord coupe but did not want a automatic so I scratched that because of the engine available. I ended up with a 2001 Prelude and have enjoyed this car thouroughly. This is the first car i've modified and it's been fun. The majority of the cars I've had I wasn't able to because they were dealer cars (we owned a dealership for a few years until I was 20).

1. 1986 S10 Blazer 2.8 V6 4x4 4 spd. Auto. Sucked ass
11/95 - 11/96
2. 1994 Hyundai Elantra 5 spd. Peppy, reliable car, ugly color but that was the only problem.
11/96 - 4/97
3. 1996 Dodge Avenger ES 4 cyl. 5 spd. Awesome car for a 17 year old. Wrecked it too many times.
4/97 - ?/99
4. 1998 Chevy S10 Blazer 4.3 V6 4x4 4 spd. Auto. Sucked ass, interior pieces just fell off. The passenger recline lever was a visegrip.
?/99 - 3/01
5. 1996 Nissan Maxima 3.0 V6 5spd. Awesome car, but died too shortly. But it ended up taking me completely out of debt after making two payments on it. Thank you gap insurance.
3/01 - 5/01
6. 2001 Honda Prelude SH
5/01 - ?

I would not ever buy another Honda. Nor would I ever buy another Blazer. I've had nothing but bad experiences with Honda sevice and nothing but bad when doing routine work to my car. The car was just built wrong, like the factory workers were all drunk when they built the car. Don't get me wrong though, I do like the look, feel, and handling of the car and that is why I have no intention to get rid of it any time soon. Next car will definately be RWD though.

[ksprelude01]

Heres my story, I bought my brothers 1995 honda civic from him just before he moved to Finland. So I got a great deal on it. I loved the car, great for a high schooler. 4 door and a vtec motor, tons of fun. But it was Junior year i went to the honda dealership with my friend chris and talk to one of the dealers and said that i was looking for a car for my graduation. Which i said jus to drive the brand new prelude SH on the lot. I always liked the look and at the time it was the coolest looking car, as far as i thought. So the dealer handed me the keys and said take it out as long as I wanted to. So i took it on a 45 min drive around west county. After hitting Vtec for the first time when leaving the honda dealer ship, and feeling the car peeling out the whole time. I fell in love with the car. Than taking the turn from Manchester to clarkson at 45 + MPH and it had not problem with doing it, with out even a second thought. Than heading out Manchester west and hitting 125 mph with no problem at all! It was the car of my dreams.
So after having my civic for 4 years and going though 1 engine and 2 transmisions I got tiered of fixing the car so i sold it and got a car that i have always wanted, which was the prelude. But finding the one i wanted was no easy task. I looked for 2 months till i found a white 2001, the only other thing the type SH which it wasn't but hey can't have every thing I want. Now after having the car for almost a year now, i still love the feeling of getting in it each morning and getting a smile on my face when i first hear the VTEC chime in the morning. The Prelude i will own till it dies or the next gen comes out!

[grlielude]

Well Duh!

its like, completely cute!!!

:P :peace: :thumbup:

[Jacques]

After owning a 3rd gen Prelude Si for 8 years, I bought another car (Mazda 626 ES) off my Dad, with the idea I didn't have a love anymore for a sports coupe. After a year in a sedan, I couldn't take it anymore. In a way, I went back to this Prelude because I wanted to "come home" again. When I first sat in the driver's seat at a car show, I felt like I'm back home...sentimental, yes, but it just seemed right.

Don't get me wrong, I had researched and test drove the following before I settled on the SH: Eclipse GSX, Acura Integra GS-R, Nissan 240SX, Mazda MX-6, Toyota Celica, Nissan XTerra (the lone SUV). I didn't consider the ITR because after I crossed off the GS-R off the list, I didn't want to get a car that physically didn't look much different from other Integras, and there's the theft rate. I didn't consider an older M3 at the time because I was concerned about upkeep. I didn't consider F-bodies or a Mustang because they were too one-dimensional, and I saw them everywhere. I wanted a car that handled well out of the box...the SH was the "Best Handling Car under $30,000" by Car & Driver, which was a big selling point for me. I didn't like the look of the 5th gen when they first came out (they were the first to have the "vertical" headlamps back then), but I grew to appreciate it. I wanted a car that you don't see too often, and even to this day, I still love looking at her when I walk away from her in a parking lot.

So, one day, I wentt to Dave Mungenast Honda, took a brand-new FGP Type SH for a spin, traded the 626, and, the rest is history.:) As a next car? Unless the Prelude makes a comeback, my next car will be RWD.

[stl_95_9c1_lt1]

Jacques and Hobie1113 both said their future cars will be RWD, would anyone care to explain why the desire for RWD? Mine's RWD and it's a B***H everytime it rains and it's completely worthless in the snow, trying to find a cheap 4x4 or at least something FWD for this winter because I literally can't drive it in the snow. I honestly have no idea how the police got anywhere in the snow with these.

Have either of you owned RWD cars? I may be wrong but I don't recall any of the cars you two listed as previously driving/owning as RWD.

[Billiam]

As for RWD for my next car, I want it to try it out. I've driven a Miata on many different occasions, while it was both in stock and turbocharged configurations and it has been a lot of fun. I like the idea of less understeer more oversteer. Although for a fwd car, the Prelude does handle great. I really just want something different. I do know about the snow and rain issue.
My mom has owned an '84 Camaro and a '90 300ZX when they both came out and the two cars sucked in bad weather. The Z ended up in our yard when we had about an inch of snow on the driveway. It stayed there for about a month, too.
I'm surprised that your "land-yacht" isn't that great in the snow. Since it probably weighs 4200 lbs.

-Bill

[Keith]

A lot of drivers call a front wheel drive car a 'wrong' wheel drive car. I would like to try/have a car that pushes versus a car that pulls (aka front wheel drive).

[Jacques]

Originally posted by stl_95_9c1_lt1
Have either of you owned RWD cars? I may be wrong but I don't recall any of the cars you two listed as previously driving/owning as RWD.

No, but having raced RWD (and AWD for that matter), made me appreciate the advantages of RWD in those situations. Having driven RWD in inclement conditions (ie. snow, rain), has made me steer clear of them for years. But, with advances in newer RWD cars (ie. traction control), I'd reconsider one in the future.

In the case of your "land yacht", I'd hate to drive that thing in rain or snow too! LOL. Having ridden with a friend that has an Impala SS, he's scared the bejessus outta me in those situations.

[stl_95_9c1_lt1]

Originally posted by Hobie1113

I'm surprised that your "land-yacht" isn't that great in the snow. Since it probably weighs 4200 lbs.

-Bill

You're right, it weighs roughly 4200 lbs, amazing it still gets to 60 in 6.5 (http://www.rice.hatesit.com).

Hard to get traction. Stock they're 330 ft-lbs torque, but that only gets you to 60 in 7.0. Might be putting out a little more than that.

[stl_95_9c1_lt1]

Originally posted by Jacques
No, but having raced RWD (and AWD for that matter), made me appreciate the advantages of RWD in those situations. Having driven RWD in inclement conditions (ie. snow, rain), has made me steer clear of them for years. But, with advances in newer RWD cars (ie. traction control), I'd reconsider one in the future.


Which RWD cars with traction control are you considering? I can only think of a few cars with RWD and traction control, new corvettes and Lexus come to mind.

[Jacques]

Originally posted by stl_95_9c1_lt1
Which RWD cars with traction control are you considering? I can only think of a few cars with RWD and traction control, new corvettes and Lexus come to mind.

Not considering for now, but if I were in a couple of years, Nissan 350Z (Enthusiast trim and up), Infiniti G35 coupe, BMW Z4, BMW 330ci, BMW M6 (in 2005-6).

[marcsmt]

I got it for the looks, FWD, and good handling. I didn't even know what Vtec was when I bought the car.

It's been a great first car, but I've realized I'm not a big fan of FWD. I'm looking into buying an MKIV Supra next summer :thumbup:

[SlowP]

Hey,

I might as well chime in here.

I’ve had a 94 240sx and a 01 civic sir, prior to the SE.

Loved the 240! Can I say that again, loved the 240! Not so much in the torque department, but I’ve never had more fun in a car.

He sir was an all around disappointment. The only way of generating any power was to wait until the rpms decided to go above 4500, and even then it was very disenchanting, even in vtech. I decided to upgrade to the p-lude for obvious reasons.

However, to the question at hand my motivation was driven by these factors:

1) Couldn’t find a comparable machine, price, hp, ascetics (Exterior) interior sucks ect..
2) Couldn’t or didn’t want to afford a FD/RX7 and all of the upkeep, despite my year and a half search for one in respectable condition.
3) Ease of transition from a Honda to a Honda, given that I was on a 4 yr lease on the sir and had only fulfilled 1.5 of that contract.

Hind sight: Should have stayed with the sir for a year or so and then bought a GTI 337, WRX or something with a little more torque.

Don’t get me wrong I like the Lude, but I feel it is an under performing 200hp. Sometimes I’m amazed that a Corolla, or dx civic under semi normal driving conditions/acceleration moves just as, or more quickly then my Lude.

Hence – SlowP

My 2 cents.