Hi everyone,

Last weekend I saw a 1993 Prelude Si 2.3L outside a gas station and I asked the mechanic if he wanted to sell it. He replied that it was his personal car but that for the right price he would sell it. The car as about 230,000 miles on the speedometer but he says he replaced the engine with a 1994 or 1993 Special Edition double cam 2.3L with about 45000 miles and claims that it now has aproximately 65,000-66,000 miles. I'm wondering how can I really now a fair aproximation of the milage?

By looking at the engine I can see he has put an air intake and it looks very clean. He is the lead mechanic at the shop so I took his word that he has taken care of it.

Also I should add that this is a 5 speed manual.

The only thing he said is that he will replace the starter (including the parts) for free and that I should buy an air conditioner and he will put it for free also, because it sometimes make a little noise and it can power down the battery if it is left on.

Then earlier today I took it with a mechanic that I've gone to before and he did a quick test drive of it and he said that the car sounded like it was good to him. The only thing was that suspension is very tight.

Now my main question is if $3,750 is a good price for buying this car?


Now if I decide to buy the A/C he stimates about $200-250 for those parts so in total $4000 if I decide to put this. So what do you guys think of this price also?

I'm thinking of buying this car so far but I just want to make sure I'm paying a fair deal and since this may be my first honda by this weekend or next I would like your input on this and I thank you for your time.


Modified by Lude Si 94 at 7:39 PM 10/25/2005

 

For around 4k that you are spending there will be quite a few Preludes in that price range. The Special Edition engine is the same as the Si.

There are a lot of neglected Preludes out there but the one you described sounds like its well taken care of.

So basically its sounds like an OK deal. If you look harder you maybe able to find better depending on the market where you live.

Good Luck

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by s13_240sx_92 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...There are a lot of neglected Preludes out there...</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's what I got. Paid $4000 from a dealer ($3200 car, $700 tax, $100 registration), and have put in about $1200 in the past 6 months. I would have looked around more, but there just aren't any for sale here (nor Integra or 90-93 Accord)

 

Thank you for your replies. A couple more things I'm not sure about is that the owner said that the Si Engine is "bigger" than the Vtec engine. What do you guys think?

And regarding car insurance is the '93 honda Prelude SI 2.3 L 230K miles(on odometer) considered a regular sedan with no extra sports car charges? or will I have to pay a premium?

And my final question of the day is that there was a minor noise sometimes on the left side of the engine which the owner claim is because of the Air conditioner. Does that sound about right. It was a small rattle sound.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lude Si 94 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thank you for your replies. A couple more things I'm not sure about is that the owner said that the Si Engine is "bigger" than the Vtec engine. What do you guys think?</TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah, it's bigger...by 0.1L (H22=2.2L H23=2.3L) what it doesn't have is VTEC.

If what he says is true, $4k is cool. But you can't tell.

 

For having an engine with roughly 66,000 miles, and aside from the A/C otherwise being in good condition, I'd say go for it. $4000 may be a little more than you'd find elsewhere, but as you said yourself at least you know it's been well-taken care of

 

The Si engine is bigger, but puts out 30 less HP than the Vtec version. Insurance is going to be on the high side. Its not considered a sedan even though its just as slow as most(stock).

 

look for a VTEC. Though the engine may go for a long time at that mileage I think you need to worry about the transmission and suspension parts. I think the later years with the directional rims also are a bit lighter.

 

That sounds like kind of a high price I think. Even though the motor only has 60k or so, the chassis itself has been over 230k. That is a lot of miliage, even if it is highway miles or so. I couldn't pay a high price of the nieborhood of 4k for that Prelude. I found one for much cheaper, one owner, 100k, and a blown oil seal on the drivers side. Other then that, it is a super awesome deal.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lude Si 94 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">he says he replaced the engine with a 1994 or 1993 Special Edition double cam 2.3L </TD></TR></TABLE>

Um.......

There's no such thing as a "special edition" 2.3L......they're all double cam. The only thing I can think he might have done it swap the vtec head on it. Even at that, going by his "knowledge" I would further question this.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lude Si 94 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
The only thing he said is that he will replace the starter (including the parts) for free and that I should buy an air conditioner and he will put it for free also, because it sometimes make a little noise and it can power down the battery if it is left on.</TD></TR></TABLE>

If you test drove it, what's wrong with the starter?

A/c shouldn't have anything to do with the battery, at least not directly....


It really doesn't sound like too bad of a car, just would get to the bottom of these things.

Am I really the only one that spotted these things?

 

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

Um.......

There's no such thing as a "special edition" 2.3L......they're all double cam.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Dont speak unless you actually know what your talking about.. The SE model was available in a 4th gen prelude... Yes, its a stock h23... its the interior and badging thats special....

 

^^^He is correct, just that he didn't specify what he meant to say, I believe. There is only a special edition model that came in a champaing tan color and also in that special green. 1995 was the only year that it was avliable in the 4th gen prelude. It had everything from a vtec model, well options wise at least. Everything execpt the 7400RPM redline, SE badaging and the H22A motor.


Modified by herovueboi at 1:57 AM 10/27/2005

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JTCdudeman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Dont speak unless you actually know what your talking about.. The SE model was available in a 4th gen prelude... Yes, its a stock h23... its the interior and badging thats special.... </TD></TR></TABLE>

Maybe YOU shouldn't speak unless you know what you're talking about. He said there is no such thing as a "special edition" 2.3 Liter. That statement is entirely correct. As you stated yourself the SE was the interior and the badging, not the motor. Think a little harder next time before posting.

 

I don't know if this is such a good price or not, I just bought a white 96 prelude Si with the h23 of course, so basically same car, just a little newer with only 68,000 miles on the car, runs great, no problems, just a little rust on the sunroof, but I want to swap that for a glass sunroof anyways. I bought it for $3200 from a dealer down here in florida, but I guess price kinda depends on location also.