97CGPintegra

well, i was thinking about purchasing a new used car sometime within a year. i wanted to get a rwd car at first but i love hondas and can't afford a s2000 or a nsx yet.

so, my question is, are the 4ws preludes worth buying? is the handling alot better than a prelude without the 4ws? any suggestions will help. i know that it's all really up to me, but i haven't find one worth test driving yet. tia

AndyD

iTrader: (1)

I am not sure how much different my 4WS handles on the track, but in parking lots I noticed it the most.

If you want a less troublesome car, get the regular Prelude. I like but when the 4WS light comes on, it can get on your nerves. I've had to miss a session at a track event because of it. When it works, it is cool. Plus, the chicks love it when I tell them I have 4WS.

The Weather Man

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AndyD &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I am not sure how much different my 4WS handles on the track, but in parking lots I noticed it the most.

If you want a less troublesome car, get the regular Prelude. I like but when the 4WS light comes on, it can get on your nerves. I've had to miss a session at a track event because of it. When it works, it is cool. Plus, the chicks love it when I tell them I have 4WS. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Sounds like a big headache to me. Doesn't it not work after 25mph or something like that?......not really sure.
I would get a regular 5speed if i were you.

JTCdudeman

3rd gen preludes are completely mechanical. This system never fails and no lights comes on due to electrical malfuntcion. The 3rd gen works a bit different than the 4th gen as well... Being completely mechanical it turns certain ways not matter the speed, whereas the 4th gen senses speeds and responds according to them as to how it will turn. the 4th gen occasionally has a system malfunction and the 4ws fails, but its still a fun car to ride in... Yes, the 4ws preludes are supposed to handle better... But, its often a neglible difference until you truely have a feel for the car. My main issue with driving a 4ws is the back ends feels like it kicks out and often I think its breaking loose when its just turning, you just have to feel for it.. Both cars are wonderful cars to own and really neat. If you've ever seen a car with 4ws turn, you probably will be envious of how neat it is...Overall, ya its worth it to buy a 4ws prelude if everything else is comparable...

AndyD

iTrader: (1)

I have NEVER felt the car to be unstable when the 4WS worked. In fact, the car is VERY neutral, especially for being a 63/37 weight dist. FWD car.

Not_Rice4ws

i own both 4ws and 2ws. i love the 4ws 4th gen much more then the 2ws.

mgags7

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JTCdudeman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">3rd gen preludes are completely mechanical. This system never fails </TD></TR></TABLE>

oh i believe thats a fair assumption.....NO!

i would rather have a light and safety lock to tell me when my rear wheels are about to let loose, rather than have some metal peice fail and i dont know about it until im in a ditch....

97CGPintegra

thank you everybody for your response. i guess i should really start looking for one to test drive or at least ride in and see for myself how good it works.

another question i have for those who have a 4ws prelude, have you changed the suspension? how does your set-up look like? did it change how the 4ws works in any way? are there certain things i should look for or stay away from? tia

AndyD

iTrader: (1)

I took my car out with 160K miles on the STOCK suspension to the track the first time I participated in a track event. The car handled MUCH better than I expected. I now have a Tein Basic coilover and the car handles even better.

You can put any suspension you want on it. The only limiting factor is a rear swaybar, but you don't need to do that anyway.

butterthegreat

The 3rd gen 4ws will not have a mechanical failure...no metal pieces failing and causing you to crash. The electronic 4ws on the 4th gen is more likely to cause that due to it being sensor based.

I have 2 3rd gen 4ws's...I love em. I also own a 3rd gen non 4ws...there IS a difference.

If you get a prelude...make sure it is either a 91 4ws or a 93 4ws....you will love it.

shutta

I believe that if any sensors fail on the 4ws it return the wheel straight and doesn't allow them to turn at all. the odds that the rear wheels will let loose and turn whichever way they want is extremely rare, and the problem is more than just a sensor.

AndyD

iTrader: (1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by shutta &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I believe that if any sensors fail on the 4ws it return the wheel straight and doesn't allow them to turn at all. the odds that the rear wheels will let loose and turn whichever way they want is extremely rare, and the problem is more than just a sensor. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Tell that to my car, and many other 4WS Preludes out there. In MANY cases, the rear wheels DO NOT lock. Mine DEFINITELY do not when the 4WS light comes on.

97CGPintegra

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AndyD &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Tell that to my car, and many other 4WS Preludes out there. In MANY cases, the rear wheels DO NOT lock. Mine DEFINITELY do not when the 4WS light comes on.</TD></TR></TABLE>

so, what happens? the rear turns all over the place? how often does this happen and is there a way to fix it?

iCe_2x

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AndyD &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Tell that to my car, and many other 4WS Preludes out there. In MANY cases, the rear wheels DO NOT lock. Mine DEFINITELY do not when the 4WS light comes on.</TD></TR></TABLE>

How fast are you turning when it does that?

I can kick my rear end out in turns, and im 2ws.

AndyD

iTrader: (1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 97CGPintegra &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

so, what happens? the rear turns all over the place? how often does this happen and is there a way to fix it?</TD></TR></TABLE>

For some reason many of us have the issue where our rear wheels do not lock in place when you start the car and the 4WS light comes on.

While driving, if you go over roads with imperfections, you can feel the rear wheels turning any-which-way. The rear wheels will turn any-which-way if you are going around a sweeper too.

Trust me, I am NOT making this up or making it sound like it is bigger than it truely is.

The most common issue with the 4WS system has one fix. It's in the essentials FAQ links. I need to resolder my 4WS ECU. Once I do that, the 4WS system will work ALL the time. It worked when I had my old 4WS ECU. Then one day after making a lot of arrands (had to start and turn off the car many times, it stopped working. )

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by iCe_2x &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

How fast are you turning when it does that?

I can kick my rear end out in turns, and im 2ws.</TD></TR></TABLE>

My car handles PERFECTLY fine in the turns, no matter how hard I am turning. The car is VERY neutral when the 4WS works. When the 4WS light illuminates, that's when the car becomes unpredictable

AndyD

iTrader: (1)

Read this thread:
https://honda-tech.com/zeropost?cmd=tshow&id=886363

butterthegreat

Then the best bet would be to get a 90-91 prelude where there are no sensors and it's COMPLETELY mechanical.

Not_Rice4ws

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AndyD &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

For some reason many of us have the issue where our rear wheels do not lock in place when you start the car and the 4WS light comes on.

While driving, if you go over roads with imperfections, you can feel the rear wheels turning any-which-way. The rear wheels will turn any-which-way if you are going around a sweeper too.

Trust me, I am NOT making this up or making it sound like it is bigger than it truely is.

The most common issue with the 4WS system has one fix. It's in the essentials FAQ links. I need to resolder my 4WS ECU. Once I do that, the 4WS system will work ALL the time. It worked when I had my old 4WS ECU. Then one day after making a lot of arrands (had to start and turn off the car many times, it stopped working. )

My car handles PERFECTLY fine in the turns, no matter how hard I am turning. The car is VERY neutral when the 4WS works. When the 4WS light illuminates, that's when the car becomes unpredictable</TD></TR></TABLE>

We have bad ruts in road's around here. When you are in one of these 2-3 inch deep ruts (paved roads...) and your 4ws is not active (lights on) the rear will pitch out of the rut...... not fun at all. The car feels like it has massive frame damage all of a sudden as the rear tires will track up to 6-10 inches outside the front tires.
but... fixing the system is fairly easy when it comes right down to it. the only truelly costly this to replace is the entire rack itself... thing is i have never heard of anyone needing a new one. its always one of the rear actuators that go bad. and in my case the rear steering angle sensor was bad, which was replaced for free as it was a recalled part from honda.