speaker@umcp-cs.UUCP (03/15/84)
I'm interested in the Honda Prelude myself... one thing I CAN tell you. The dealers mark-up (above and beyond normal retail) has skyrocketed from around 1000 bucks to 2500 bucks since the prelude became a super duper car of the year. I'm trying to find a dealer's service in Virginia or Maryland... but no luck. The Prelude engine is just crammmed with hoses and stuff, difficult to service I would imagine. Also the engine is no longer stratified charged... it's a real honest to god 16 valver! -- Debbie does Daleks - Speaker
swc@cbsck.UUCP (Scott W. Collins) (11/20/85)
~ I am interested in opinions and facts about the Honda Prelude. Specifically, the older, smaller model (like around 1982). I would be interested in hearing what you have to say from (1) personal experience or even (2) what you've heard on the net before. Topics: -performance -quirks, problems -gas mileage -aspects liked about it -aspects disliked about it -what price do you think would be good for an '82 that is in quite good shape It seems to me I've seen discussion on Preludes before, but at the time I wasn't interested in them. Rather than adding more load to the network machines, may I suggest any respondents mail me directly. Interested parties need only to ask for what I find out... Thanks, y'all. Scott W. Collins ...!ihnp4!cbsck!swc
bcking@inmet.UUCP (11/27/85)
*** replace this lime with your massage *** I had an '82 Prelude once. In a lot of ways it was the best car I've ever owned. Sold it to a guy at work. He says in a lot of ways it's the best car he's ever owned. To answer your questions one by one: -performance Depends on what you're used to. If you currently drive a modern car with a non-turbocharged, eight valve, four cylinder, <= 2 litre engine that weighs in at around one ton; or a modern two ton American boat with a six or eight, you'll probably find the Prelude quite peppy. It handles O.K., and certainly better than most other cars in its size and price range. If you care, this can be improved considerably with after market tires and anti-sway bars. More radical approaches to this include stiffer, lower springs, better shocks, and solid bushings, but the ride will of course suffer. I wouldn't recommend trying to hot rod the engine. It just won't take the extra stress and there aren't a lot of high performance parts available anyway. -quirks, problems Between myself and its current owner, we put 60k miles on the car and it has never had any problem of any kind. I mean nothing. It's been oiled and tuned up regularly but that's about it. It's a tight fit inside for people over 6' tall and the back seat is only for groceries or legless midgets. At 5' 10" I didn't care about the former, and since it was my car I didn't sit in the back seat much so the latter didn't bother me much either. -gas mileage 20-35 MPG. Your mileage may vary, etc. -aspects liked about it The car was very solid and very well built. It never broke. It was small, light, and reasonably quick. It offers good visibility. It handled great in the rain and snow. -aspects disliked about it Not too much to cmplain about. -what price do you think would be good for an '82 that is in quite good shape It's been a while since I priced one. Check the blue book. Sorry to reply on the net, but I don't yet have a way to mail a reply to you. R.M. Mottola Cyborg Corp. Newton, MA. (Reply posted for me by a friend, but not for long)