Hey Guys:

So i am about to buy my 4th Honda...I Have a 2005 Civic Coupe (5 speed, nighhawk black), and a 89 Honda Accord (automatic, wth a F4 tranny that has serious issues with the lockup in cruise. I had a 2002 F4i (bike obviously) and I am about to buy a prelude. I have absolutly loved every honda ive ever owned and I don't think i'll ever buy anything else.

I found a GREAT deal of information on this site very useful in repairing my accord. I also found out that the transmission that is in it has serious issues and several TSB's. My question for you guys is this.

I am looking between 86-91 preludes. I have been checking out some of the links posted in the forum here and some have been useful and some have not. I was wondering if there is a specific year i should look for, and a specific year i should stay away from?? I realize that there is both second and third gen ludes there. It doesn't matter to me if they are fuel injected or carb'd. Im not sure when ludes went with FI, but i believe it was 86? Please let me know what you guys think and list some of the reasons. thanks alot for your help guys!

P.S I plan to use this as a daily driver in the city so i will be going with automatic transmission, I will not be modifiying it. Thanks

One more thing...do all the ludes have 4 wheel disc brakes?? What year did they start using those?

 

Speaking for 3rd gens only here:
88-91 is a 3rd gen.
They have 4 wheel disk brakes.
All 3rd gens are FI except for the S model cars (single cam + twin carbs).
Try to get a car with a 2.0L (engine stamp B20A5) and stay away from the 2.1L (B21A1) as it burns oil. The 2.1L was offered in 1990 and 1991 only.
In 1990 they received a slight update (better tailights, different front end, slighly different steering wheel and gauge cluster [switched to electronic speed sensor]).

I'd go for a 88/89 just to be on the safe side. The 88 + auto tranny has the best gearing for highway.

 

Thanks Run Away, I think I'll aim for the 88-89 model then. Good to know about the FI too. How are the auto trannies in the 88-89 any serious TSB's i should know about before purchasing one? Any other major issues in that year?? bad crankcase seals or anything? head gaskets? anything that i can watch for is a big help.

 

If i were you, I would spend a little extra and get a 92+ Prelude. It is easier to get support, parts, and it is known to be reliable. Especially since it is going to be your daily driver.

 

I know of a SWEET one for sale! http://members.***.net/preludeforsale

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AndyD &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If i were you, I would spend a little extra and get a 92+ Prelude. It is easier to get support, parts, and it is known to be reliable. Especially since it is going to be your daily driver.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That is a good idea but i am not looking to spend that kind of money on another car as i have 2 already...just something for tuesdays and thursdays daily driver ..If i go 92+ I am looking at another 3,000-5,000 more money...Thanks though...

P.S Should i avoid the 4WS if at all possible? I notice a few 88-89's with 4WS....


Modified by NotherHonda at 12:48 AM 5/21/2005

 

$3000-5000 more? I paid $4000 for my 92 S w/ 112k from original owner who garaged it. I am sure there are better deals out there than I got too. Unless you are looking for super low miles, but I would be wary of a car that old w/ really low miles.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by FadeToBlack &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">$3000-5000 more? I paid $4000 for my 92 S w/ 112k from original owner who garaged it. I am sure there are better deals out there than I got too. Unless you are looking for super low miles, but I would be wary of a car that old w/ really low miles.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well the cars I am looking at are around $3000. I guess thats about $2400 US. To goto a 92 I am looking at like $6000-$7000 which i sappose is $4700-$5600 US...So im looking at almost double to go from a 89 to a 92...Im not looking for really low miles either, price goes up quite a bit for that...

 

Once you buy a 3rd gen and learn more about the ludes you'll wish you had a 4th gen for another grand. Must better investment IMO. Im might be selling mine if you're interested.

 

91Si all the way....best out of the 2nd and 3rd gens

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by h23sleeper &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Once you buy a 3rd gen and learn more about the ludes you'll wish you had a 4th gen for another grand. Must better investment IMO. Im might be selling mine if you're interested.</TD></TR></TABLE>

4th gen runs what years?? Why is is so much of a better investment?? If i could find one for only an extra grand i might consider it, but all the 4th gen 91+'s ive seen have been 2-3 grand more than a 88-89....Im going to have to search the TSB database too to see which year is the best for tranny's and stuff...stuff i wish i had done before i bought this accord cause i bought the crappy tranny of the bunch.


What does technical components does 4WS add to the car?? Does it add CV joints in the rear ?? is there seperate power steering fluid for rear steering? To me it seems like it would add ALOT of stuff that could go wrong?


Modified by NotherHonda at 6:32 PM 5/23/2005

 

I just picked up a 94' si in good shape for $700... w/ a blown H23 in it... ... I am parting the H23... I got a JDM H22 swap for $1200 it will be going in in a week.... I am pumped... I got a hell of a deal and the 92-96 look better... drive better, and of course there's much more part availability.. spend the extra money.. you won't be upset!

 

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

4th gen runs what years?? Why is is so much of a better investment?? If i could find one for only an extra grand i might consider it, but all the 4th gen 91+'s ive seen have been 2-3 grand more than a 88-89....Im going to have to search the TSB database too to see which year is the best for tranny's and stuff...stuff i wish i had done before i bought this accord cause i bought the crappy tranny of the bunch.


What does technical components does 4WS add to the car?? Does it add CV joints in the rear ?? is there seperate power steering fluid for rear steering? To me it seems like it would add ALOT of stuff that could go wrong?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

The 4th Gen makes for a better investment because replacing worn parts is cheaper/easier to get a hold of compared to the 3rd Gen. Also, 4th Gens hold their value better.

You might end up spending more for a 4th Gen right now but the ownership will be better. You cna find used replacement parts MUCH more readily than 3rd gens. Plus, many 5th gen parts fit too.

As for the 3rd Gen 4WS, I know it is all mechanical. I have not heard anything bad about that system. The 4WS in the 4th gen is a little flaky, mainly because of the electronic ECU. I had problems with my 4WS ECU. Once I replaced it, it works fine now.

 

You should get a 3rd gen 4ws w/ a blown motor, and drop in an H22. I think that OEM parts are avaliable.

my $0.02

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 4bidden &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I know of a SWEET one for sale! http://members.***.net/preludeforsale</TD></TR></TABLE>

92 lude for 7500? maybe 5000 for it. the only good thing about it is the tranny. if it is leaking, i dont know how bad, but the leaking kind of negates the fact that it's a m2b4 because there is something wrong with it. if it's not bad, then maybe the tranny is still good or maybe a simple weld would fix it.

u can find a 93+ with vtec for maybe 4500-5000.