FR-S/BRZ VS Prelude

[BRZoomTX]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

A lot of the reliability is particular to the owners and the Vtec models are/were abused more.

I was the 3rd owner of a 1996 Si (non vtec 2.3L) and when I traded it in, it had 205k on it and I even put it on the track at 190k. I put 60k on it from when I bought it and the only thing I needed to do was the timing belt and water pump. The previous owner did the same with also a clutch. All electronics, A/C, sunroof, cruise.. all worked. Also mine was a 5sp for obvious reasons.

Now that's not to say I wasn't the exception that proves that rule but you are the first person who I've ever seen claim the preludes are garbage after 100k. But I've only owned one so I will just have to stroke my proverbial chin beard and say, "hmmm, that's interesting."

I think the 92-96 Vtec models probably have the performance advantage over the 97+ models.

We must have some terrible people owning Preludes in the DFW area then. My GF has gone through 7 Preludes within the past half year and all of them have had similar issues, though I really can't say if its is on the car or the owners.

The automatic transmissions have the most problems out of any of them. Other issues we've commonly seen are head gaskets, exhaust leaks at the manifolds, window motor failures... I mean we do mainly buy them to fix and resell for profit, but mint / near perfect working condition Preludes on Craigslist are few and far between. The local Prelude DFW enthusiast group is constantly posted in with issues... so much that we have "Prelude curse" tales going around. Its hard to find a Prelude with the original motor around here.

Then again, the cars are all lowered, beat on, not really well taken care of... For example, my GF's current car, the last owner had the car so low that something punctured a hole through the transmission. Replaced, raised back up, running fine now. A lot of owners let them go really cheap I guess because they don't know how to do maintenance, or think fixes for 20 year old cars are expensive.

Varies by experience I suppose. Though even owners I know who take care of their ludes still run in to random issues, we're talking different worlds with a 200k mile well taken care of car versus a 200k mile beat on car. Maybe Preludes just attract more terrible owners.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by [Ron]

A lot of owners let them go really cheap I guess because they don't know how to do maintenance, or think fixes for 20 year old cars are expensive.

They probably are if you can't do it yourself, parts at markup plus an hour or two of labor is easily in the several hundred dollar range for a car you just bought for $2k some people simply can't stomach it.

Was dealing with a 20 year old Camry that would intermittently not run, problem was the distributor, since I screwed it up on my truck I decided to not learn how to do it and take it to the shop.

Diagnosis: 1 hour labor: $100
New Distributor: $150
Installation: 1 hour labor: $100

$350 to fix a car worth maybe $2,500. Sure I could have bruised some knuckles and winged it and saved myself $250 (yay markup on parts) but there's more people who don't have the tools, knowledge, or confidence than people who do.

[BRZoomTX]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

They probably are if you can't do it yourself, parts at markup plus an hour or two of labor is easily in the several hundred dollar range for a car you just bought for $2k some people simply can't stomach it.

Was dealing with a 20 year old Camry that would intermittently not run, problem was the distributor, since I screwed it up on my truck I decided to not learn how to do it and take it to the shop.

Diagnosis: 1 hour labor: $100
New Distributor: $150
Installation: 1 hour labor: $100

$350 to fix a car worth maybe $2,500. Sure I could have bruised some knuckles and winged it and saved myself $250 (yay markup on parts) but there's more people who don't have the tools, knowledge, or confidence than people who do.

I personally don't see how a $2k beater is worth it for anyone who isn't comfortable or has the time to replace parts on their own. I get your point though.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by [Ron]

I personally don't see how a $2k beater is worth it for anyone who isn't comfortable or has the time to replace parts on their own. I get your point though.

Easy, "I need to get to a job, it will take me 2 hours one way by public transit or I can buy a $2,000 Toyota/Honda and make $50/month payments for the next five years."

God bless America...

[rice_classic]

Originally Posted by [Ron]

I personally don't see how a $2k beater is worth it for anyone who isn't comfortable or has the time to replace parts on their own. I get your point though.

I gotta trust your experience on the ludes.. I'm glad I got ride of mine even more.

Having the means (tools, space and knowledge) to repair your car or a good mechanic that isn't a shyster is a worth its weight in gold. It's amazing how much money it saves you. I needed a new tow vehicle and I found a 2003 Expedition with the "big tow" package that was in pretty poor maintenance but never abused: Smoked in, rear windows didn't roll down, all the brakes needed replacing and all the fluids and filters and plugs and tires and yada yada. Guess what.. bought it for $3800, put $2500 into it and now it's nicer than anything else I'd find for $6300 and I know all the maintenance was done right and done recently.

Doing the T-Belt/Pump on the Lude (and other hondas) only costs me parts and an afternoon ($160). Costs anyone else about $800+. My G/F's father needed new rotors/pads on all 4 corners of his E46, dealership wanted $1200. I charged him $400 and still made $120 profit. My co-worker had a tiny, itsy bitsy oil leak on her engine (2006 IS350), the seal was $7.68 and the labor was $142.

Once you factor in labor rates for cars nowadays, it becomes financially stupid to be unable to repair or maintain your own car, or source a private mechanic that is both honest and fair.

I know I'm off topic but we are a few pages into a pretty silly thread so what the hell.

[jaorocks1]

After owning a prelude for 3 years it was prone to oil leaks, I say if getting a prelude swap the motor to a lower mileage VTEC motor and save yourself the hassle of fixing things every 6 months

The prelude is probably the most affordable 200hp car in the market pricing around $2000-$3000.

[Burrcold]

I f'ing love Prelude's! I've had 4 of them (2nd, 3rd, and two 4th gens). Loved every one. Got me through high school and university (in style lol).

[jaorocks1]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

I f'ing love Prelude's! I've had 4 of them (2nd, 3rd, and two 4th gens). Loved every one. Got me through high school and university (in style lol).

Oh heeeey you posted on my last thread haha! I miss mine... The forgotten chassis of Honda...

[krayzie]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuMSbv9JYpI"]1991 AYRTON SENNA HONDA PRELUDE ad 2 - YouTube[/ame]

[Purdue FR-S]

God I love the Prelude. I want a 5th gen so badly.

They're kind of stupid hard to find in decent condition, and if you do the price is super inflated.

[GotMunchies?]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

Having the means (tools, space and knowledge) to repair your car or a good mechanic that isn't a shyster is a worth its weight in gold. It's amazing how much money it saves you.

SO MUCH THIS.

A friend of my wife's has been having a rough a year and was handed two pages of repair quotes totaling $3200 for her $3000 Corolla because she brought it in with a "hesitation."

$10 of MAF cleaner later and she's back on the road. While I was at it, I did her brake shoes and fixed an oil pan leak for $80.

I charge about 1.5 beers/hour ... instead of $150/hour.

[Jaden]

Originally Posted by WazzuGrad

Fair point. What I meant is that majority of mini-vans nowadays will beat an 86 in a straight line, but its not what it was all designed for.

Out of the Honda brand, the S2k is the only fair comparison to the 86.

Minivans are NOT beating twins in a straight line...

At first I thought this was tongue in cheek, but it seems people are actually being serious here.

Jaden

[Kelbyat07]

Originally Posted by Jaden

Minivans are NOT beating twins in a straight line...

At first I thought this was tongue in cheek, but it seems people are actually being serious here.

Jaden

My Frs never lost to a minivan... I don't get where people are getting this from. Maybe it's the driver idk.

[brianhj]

Prelude? Why not just get a fucking new Corolla while you're at it? Wtf is sporty about the prelude besides the body panels?