Faults:

Faulty door catch - fixed with a bit of oiling.

Oscillating idling speed - tightened the plunger seat of the fast idle valve (searched online). A 2 minute job.

Faulty aerial.

Intermittent cabin lights - stuffed some paper under the switch contacts.

Stiff gear change (due to wear).

Some mysterious plastic squeaks behind the fascia.

General Comments:

Just acquired the car. Amazed at the overall condition. Although it is yesteryear's design, the shape is quite stout and sexy, and except for the aerial, all the electronics, including the sunroof and cruise control, works.

Throttle response is still sensitive, and the engine is most lively from 3.5k on. For a 19 year old car, acceleration is quite impressive. Speed build-up is rather throaty, and the suspension is quite taut and is good for cornering, but the ride is quite soft, not like a horse cart.

I've just slotted in a new battery and the car fires up instantly every time. Fuel economy: 8.5 - 8.9 on my regular suburban commute. 100kmh would come at 3000rpm, so it would not be an ideal highway cruiser.

Complaints: terrible rear view visibility, lack of a rear wiper and the low cabin entry, but then, this is part of the deal.

This car is the best used car I've ever owned. If I were to buy a new car, it will have to be a Honda. For now, I just indulge in the fact that I have picked up a reliable and economical sports car for next to nothing!

Faults:

Would sometimes cut out while driving; would be fine after I opened the petrol cap. Happened very rarely.

General Comments:

Wow!! Bought this as my first car and had no idea what a beast these things really are.

Picked the car up for $2400 NZD with 176,000kms (BARGAIN!!). Also had four low profile performance tires.

For this price, there is nothing else quicker, once you hit 5000 revs it takes off. Handles fantastic, glued to the road. Great fun to drive, and would have loved to keep it, but couldn't for two reasons.

1. It was very impracticable to take anybody but two people in.

2. Being a High school student, I just couldn't afford the running costs (was fine if I drove it steadily, but who could resist putting your foot down at every opportunity).

Interior really made you feel like you were in a performance car with its low seating position, and a mate once said it looked like a spaceship inside.

However comfort wasn't great (but who needs comfort in a sports car).

Cool and handy extras include...

- Traction control

- 4WS

- Electric seats

- Cruise control.

Great reliability, never had to replace anything for the year and a half I had it.

Two bad things I have to say about it are the rear leg room is almost zero, and my mates gave me grief because they said it was a girl's car (but they weren’t complaining when it hit 5000rpm down the back roads).

If you want a car that really is a performance car, but don't have the money for a Skyline, WRX, EVO, or RX7, get one of these. The Prelude will more than hold its own against any of these cars. And if they laugh at you for having a girly car, just drag them at the lights and see who’s laughing then.

Faults:

Engine wouldn't start sometimes.

Boots tore up and had to replace both axles with a genuine remanufactured Honda part.

General Comments:

Superb acceleration!

Great cornering with the right performance tires!

Faults:

Rear stabilizer bar broke due to rust that made a hole where the rubber bushing comes on the bar.

Front rear discs were warped due to overheating, but I think they weren't original either.

Piston in ABS modulator head broke, so ABS was working in a fail-safe program, but I switched the whole ABS block (modulator body + pump) for $250.

Rear fenders rust, but that's true with all the older Hondas...

General Comments:

It's a fun, comfortable on the road to drive sports car with really great handling (even my friend was impressed who is a Honda hater :) ).

This 2.3 engine isn't so much sports oriented, but still delivers good performance, if you want more, there's still the 2.2 VTEC...