Faults:

I have 2 Prelude Si's with 4ws. The white one (auto. trans.) was wrecked when I got T-boned... The insurance company "totaled" it, but I am keeping and trying to find a driver's door for it.

Motor, A/C, everything under the hood, etc. is in "like new" condition... so am not going to let this one get away...

Having trouble with another Prelude that had been sitting (garaged) for 16 years.. (5-speed... wild man!) in that it has little power in 1st gear if the A/C. is on... Otherwise, fine... The guy who "tuned it up" for me when I bought it, I think, installed the timing belt incorrectly/set it wrong... 'cause it went out on me last month. Don't know yet if it affected the valves/cams... etc.

Does anyone know of a super, knowledgeable Prelude mechanic in S.E. Georgia area? I don't like to trust it to just anybody.

Thanks. Red Baronness.

General Comments:

Awesome! Awesome! When I know of someone who "abuses" a Prelude, I get physically "sick"... just like when some folks abuse children or pets!! And, I'm a 73-year old female!

Daddy owned GMC dealership years ago... he used to have me help him take motors apart... my tiny fingers could get into places he didn't have the right tools for... so I thought I was very "special"... have always known more about cars than my husband! It's very creative.

Faults:

What can go wrong with the Prelude? Bottom line: one of the safest cars I've ever driven! I am the original owner for the past 22 years, and she is still with me.

General Comments:

My little Prelude has been an absolute dream! Reliable, comfortable and safe, what else can you ask for? I still own it and am having a hard time parting with it. What a good girl she's been all these years!

I now own a 2010 CRV. Good so far, but my Prelude is the best for squeezing into tight parking spots. Let's see how many years my CRV will last.

Faults:

Cracked radiator at 119,500 miles.

Axle boots needed replacement at approximately 115,000 miles.

Very slow power steering fluid leak, haven't fixed yet.

Speedometer now squeals and occasionally cuts out (odometer keeps working).

Brake light occasionally lights up when e-brake is disengaged.

General Comments:

I bought this car as a college beater, and after a few non-routine maintenance items (see above) were taken care of, it runs well.

The clutch is responsive for a 22 year old car, but the engine feels somewhat lackluster. It accelerates well at low rpm, but has some difficulty passing at above 3.5k rpm on the highway.

Steering on this car is wonderful. Very quick and responsive. The turning radius is tiny.

The interior has held up incredibly well over the years. It may be plastic, but the quality is apparent. Only one piece of interior plastic was broken when I bought the car, and the headliner has started to peel slightly, but this is to be expected. Also, everything electric works well, which includes the sunroof, antenna, and flip-up headlights. Windows, locks, and seats are all manual and still work.

The design of the interior is about on par with other cars of the year. It is small and well-designed. Visibility is great all around. Every button is placed thoughtfully. Don't even think about trying to fit a normal-sized person in the backseat, however.

I gave this car a 5 for comfort. Stock suspension is hard and unforgiving, so either avoid roads with bumps or be prepared for a somewhat uncomfortable ride. The seat is only two-way adjustable and has no lumbar support. Multi-hour road trips will leave you with a sore back. Wind noise is very noticeable above 55mph.

I get about 27-30 miles per gallon with combined town/highway driving.

Overall I'm happy, but not thrilled, with this car and hope to drive it for many years to come.