Faults:

Driver seat deteriorated, but soaking it a few times by leaving sun roof open during rain didn't help! ha! Hazard light required paper clip and special skills to turn off. Fuel filler tube from gas cap to tank rotted apart, Honda replaced free of charge. Had to replace timing belt soon after getting car, Honda replaced free of charge after I was told where to write for authorization.

General Comments:

Great car overall.

Having to buy Honda parts due to them being them being the only ones that worked, i.e. wiper replacement blades, steering fluid, etc. added to cost of maintenence.

It was a quick and nimble car, much like driving a big go-cart.

Visibility was amazing, with huge windshield and drop away front hood so that all you could see was the road ahead.

Interior very well thought out and comfortable.

Withstood some heavy abuse and came back for more.

Made heavy use of fold-down rear seat to haul drum equipment. I found that there was nothing that I couldn't fit in car one way or another. People were amazed that I could fit entire large drum set and related equipment in car and still be able to carry a passenger.

Faults:

When it comes to maintenance, this car is a dream. For the most part I have only had to do the usual 3,000 mile maintenance (oil and air filter change).

When I first got the car (1997) I had the tires replaced, as well as a coolant system flush. These were just preventative measures, and I had the money at the time.

The interior fan recently stopped working and needs to be replaced.

General Comments:

There is no car like a Honda! Many people claim that Hondas have a "rough ride"; but I don't share that opinion. The Prelude is a great car in every way.

Handling is wonderful, fuel mileage is great (about 25 miles per gallon), and I have had next to no mechanical problems.

My car will be 17 years old in July 2002 and I must say that I would be shocked if it didn't make it to 30!

Faults:

Constant Velocity boots went bad.

Seats wear badly.

Hard to put into reverse.

Flywheel was scarred.

V belts broke.

Alternator went out.

Inside dome light works at random.

Sunroof does not open.

Hazard lights do not work.

Left turn signal blinks faster than the right one.

Parking brake light is on even when the parking brake is not engaged.

Glove Box will not close.

Clutch had to be replaced.

General Comments:

Hey, it was cheap and it runs. What more could I ask for?

Faults:

The floors were rusted badly and had to be patched a lot before inspection.

When I got it the brakes were in bad need of replacing front to back.

The exhaust needed replacing at 130,000.

The drivers seat was torn.

The body had to be repaired VERY badly.

The trunk leaked.

CV boots needed to be replaced.

Brake lines were rusted badly.

General Comments:

The body and floor were very bad and needed a lot of patching to look good again, but they are not by any means very good.

The car was cheap to operate (if you do the work yourself).

The car only left me stranded 2 times. The first to go was the voltage regulator located on the passenger fender well (little black box). The second time the alternator went.

The Honda performed very well and could handle like a dream. The fastest I ever had it going was 200km. It would beat most stock 6 cylinders.

If the car has carb troubles do not buy it. The carbs can only be set by the dealer and is very costly.

Faults:

CV boot.. replaced at $250.00.

Thermostat, replaced at $50.00 (still overheats, think it needs a radiator rotout).

Brakes need work.

Vacuum.

No compressor fan, A/C inoperable.

Hazards out.

Back up lights out.

Needs a tune up.

Need to work on right front axle assembly.

The list goes on and on and on and on.....

General Comments:

It seems to me that this car is going to be a lot of trouble for me in some areas. It is expensive to fix and and while some aspects of it are great, (good pick up, runs good, sunroof STILL works), there are some areas I'll really have to consider in repairs.

I'll continue to drive the car till it dies, I guess.