backinblue92

iTrader: (1)

Sup folks,
Most of u know me and my lude from way back in the early preludepower days. Might not recognize her, she's had so much work done.

From bone stock in 2007, to this:






Anyways, I'm stuck in a small bind. I'm contemplating putting the prelude up for sale, actually, I did put it up for 3 g's, got tons of interest and for now have pulled it back due to indecisiveness. I don't know if it's boredom, some weird early 30s crisis or what, but I don't feel the love for the car anymore. I know alot of you older lude guys have gone through this, so I'm seeking some advice. If you sold, did u instantly regret it? Did you do something crazy, like RHD or a turbo build to reignite that enthusiasm? Was tearing it down and rebuilding from the ground up in a different direction something u enjoyed doing? I value everybody's input except those that wanna flame me for wanting to sell. Everybody moves on at some point.

The car isn't my daily driver anymore, which may be part of what I'm mistaking for that lost love. I have an 03 Xterra for daily (which I absolutely love, Nissan, great cars) and a 08 135i so I'm open to the possibility of an entirely different project, maybe a 240sx, 300zx, RX-7, Supra, some type of an entry-level RWD situation. No domestics. Ever. Lol. Money isn't limitless but I'm not on a short budget. I'll have time and money for whatever I do.

Thanks in advance to anyone who has some words of wisdom or inspiration for me. It's been on my mind a lot.


Ps- my son also got his first car. He loves it so much he throws fits when it's time to say night night to it. He takes naps in it when possible, and aims for people and dogs when he's "driving". We're working on that part. He's only supposed to aim for Mustangs

thirsk66

iTrader: (2)

Its time to do what you feel the need and want to do, if its going to be selling the car and moving on then do that and go find a different car to fall in love with all over again. I understand where you are coming from though with not loving the lude as much anymore or being bored with it. You need to decide if you keep it whether you want to dump money into a turbo build or would you rather just start from a completely new car to you and build that one. The sky is the limit and you just need to decide which direction to go. I would just sleep on it for a few days and see how you feel about it all.

ojasia

If you do sell, sell at your price and dont budge. Atleast everything you have done will not be for nothing and you know someone will take care of it and if at the end of the day evr1 low *****, you still have her

PirateMcFred

Other than not being "in love" with the car why are you interested in selling it? Infatuation is a requirement for ownership? If it costs you little/nothing to keep, then why sell? You say you've got cash, so $3000 isn't going to help you much.

If it looks like you want maybe now's the time to enjoy driving it? Given the efforts expended in making it look pretty, have you actually tried driving it in anger or at a circuit? Preludes are pretty competent track day cars. Too heavy for drag racing, but it's another exhilarating way to enjoy a quality machine.

I had my beater 4G and scored a great deal on an S2000 thinking I'd enjoy it more at 9000rpm, 6-speeds and RWD. I sold it 6 weeks later. It was heavier, had less power, had worse fuel economy, was no quicker at the local circuit and was less practical for commuting and weekend touring. I still have my beater Prelude and in fact got another for making look good. If you're not going to bother driving "spirited-ly" RWD won't make any difference at all.

snobordboy

There are a few times where I have contemplated selling my car, and then I drive it for a few days and love the hell out of it again. It may be a hole in the garage that I toss money into, but there is something about it...

But if the car is a "toy" that you keep around but aren't that into, maybe letting it go for the right price is smart. Unless you can hoard cars and keep them maintained. no letting it sit in a field to rot!

backinblue92

iTrader: (1)

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback. After sleeping on it for a week and taking your advice, driving it for a few days daily I've decided to keep her.

You guys are right. She costs me nothing to keep but a parking spot, granted, a parking spot that could be used for a new project. I can't exactly hoard cars nor would I want to, but early returns on research for a 240sx are telling me I'm gonna spend at least $10k on an sr20det engine, s14 conversion, coilovers, etc etc just to get it to a point where I feel the Prelude I already own is at. If that makes sense. Which would be fine and dandy except I don't care THAT much. Lol. I just want a fun car to play with, and when it comes down to it, the lude is exactly that and given all that's already been invested, starting over without a goal other than "fun car" is a waste of time. I think I kinda put the ideas of 6spd trannies and RWD on a pedestal so to speak. As in, the ability of having it was worth more than the actual use I'd get out of it. A properly rebuilt supercharged h22 or turbo f20b with an LSD trans should be more than enough car for my purposes.

So for now, the plan is to tear it down and redo it. It just needs a major change and overhaul. The car I love is still under there, it just got stale imo. The interior will be gutted and spray/matted with sound deadeners. It loud as **** in there, though I suspect the 5th gen glass roof is the source of most of the noise. Anybody have any suggestions for that? The exterior will be stripped and painted though I'd like to paint the bay black. Which means the engine is coming out. It's a standard jdm h22a but I'd love to do something huge.

I looked around and it appears no 4th gen prelude has ever been J-swapped. So my options become:
Build a g23, make 250 easy with stock internals and k20 pistons.
F20b turbo build, 6-8psi boost on stock block.
H23a vtec supercharged- the most intriguing of the 3, to me.

I feel like to make the type of power I wanted in an NA straight h22 build, I could get with forced induction at a fraction of the time and money. Plus FI is great when u don't need to rely on the car.

Yknow. I'm glad I'm not selling this car. It's the same car I always loved, the same car I could fix blindfolded. I guess I just forgot that. Life took over and I became disconnected.

So give me some feedback on what engine build I should target. Of course I can do my own research. But you guys' input has yet to ever steer me wrong.

Northernlightz

There is something alluring about these 4th Gens..


I've come close to selling mine a couple times. As I was washing it one day, I just couldn't bring myself to get rid of it. I've learned more about cars since owning this car as well. I have driven this car through various mountain passes with ease, even with the h23a3. It is a great grand touring car imo. The car gets compliments from time to time.

I've never met a 4th gen prelude owner that I didn't get along with. The community seems tighter and people are more helpful. It kind of adds to the car owning experience.

H22Honda98

The fact that youre even asking this question should be proof to yourself that it's worth keeping.

I completely understand someone wanting to sell, and I understand being hard up for cash or just being bored, but ditching the lude will probably leave you just wanting another one anyways.

For me, this car is a link to my past. I'm 17 again every time I sit in it. I can't buy that anywhere, and a measly few grand wouldn't make up for losing it.