1990 Honda Prelude SR 2.1 I4 (B21A1)
Summary:
My love for it is as undying as the car itself
Faults:
Absolutely nothing for mine, however there are a few things worth noting;
If you own the B21 model, it WILL eventually burn oil if it hasn't started already. This usually starts around the 200,000km mark. There are a few options for that issue, which is caused by pistons getting worn by the reinforced engine block.
The first, being the most affordable in the long run, is to remake the piston heads. A bit costly, but done right will add about 100,000km before the engine starts burning oil again.
The second one being to swap the engine. While costly and more work than simply redoing the pistons, a swap can be the thing you need to fall in love with the vehicle again. My personal recommendations are the H22 if you like naturally aspirated, and the F20 if you want a turbo.
The third option, of course, is to ignore the oil burning.
A good way to extend the engine's life is to change oil between 3000-5000km, and to avoid revving over 7000rpm.
Other than that, it's the typical wear of a 90s Honda; most have rust, and most have over 200,000km on the engine, but they're Hondas, and they'll last forever if you treat em nice.
General Comments:
This car is all the fun Honda had to offer in the early 90s!
The SR (Si in the US) I own has the B21 engine with a remade head, putting out 140hp, which isn't bad at all for a late 80s entry-level sports car.
It has 4 seats, which is really just 2 seats and a shelf for your stuff, because to be comfortable when you're tall, you have to sacrifice legroom at the back. Otherwise, the driver's seat is a fully adjustable bucket seat!
The car is somewhat small; taller people will have their head touching the roof and a hard time getting in.
The car handles exceptionally, is very responsive and nimble, which surprised me at first. With about 12 inches of clearance between the road and the car, it's very low and the suspension is rather stiff, which gives the car a sportier feeling.
The car comes with a sunroof, which makes it a very nice summer car.
It's somewhat fuel-efficient (for a 1990 model), costing me $60 to refuel and a full tank lasting me 400-500km.
All in all, the car may be old, but its styling and those gorgeous pop-up headlights will still make heads turn, and its FWD is what makes it so fun to drive. I fell in love the first time I saw one, and now I fall in love every time I sit in mine! If you treat it well, the car will last longer than you will.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 14th May, 2018
27th Aug 2007, 19:30
I would say that it is possibly a CV joint. That's what I've always heard from people when a front-wheel-drive makes a noise like that. I've been in a couple of cars that were doing that and remember asking a local mechanic once a few years ago.
To be sure, however, you could maybe ask someone you know whose a mechanic or at least mechanically- minded.
Hope it goes well, and "have a nice day"