I am looking to buy my first car but I am no stranger to Hondas. I have been under the hood of a honda since 4th grade. Now coming that I am old enough to drive Im very interested in the 97 model Prelude but since I'm having problems learning stick shift Im thinking of buying the SH model with the triptronic transmission since it also comes with the H22. But I'm a believer that cars should NOT be projects if they are automatic. So my question is if i should even bother having a triptronic prelude for my project. Please give me your opinion good or bad.

 

The transmission is known to have a lot of problems. It's also a 4 speed, it isn't going to be as fast as a 5 and auto transmissions weigh more than manual, I wouldn't buy one.

 

I believe that prelude SH's do not come in the tiptronic auto. Only manual.

 

Don't get a automatic prelude. Just take your time and learn how to drive a manual.

 

Listen to this man. My parents purchased an auto 94 Si for me in 03 and I still rock it and still love it but a manual is necessary if you want your car to reach its full potential.

 

it is only if you're crippled in a way that doesn't allow you to drive manual, and at the same time can't afford to get a custom shifter setup but still enjoy driving.

 

If you want to spend the extra $ for a trans swap later I dont see the problem with it. I have a triptonic trans 01 Prelude I use for my daily. Transmission would have lasted well over 100k. I had it rebuilt bc it had started to shift slowly and a little rough going into 4th. Like I said tho, if I had babied it I have no doubt it would have lasted another 20k miles maybe more. I will say that the auto trans does hold the potential of the car back. They are much slower compared to a 5 speed.

As for the transmission problems, they seem to be hit and miss. I have heard of auto preludes lasting 200k and also going out at 20k. They are not built to hold much over 200hp so modding the motor with this trans would not be recommended. If I were you I would save the $2k for the trans swap and just learn the stick. Close thread...

and yes, SH only comes with a manual trans.

 

I don't have the tiptronic transmission but my 94 Si auto has 170k on the original tranny. I've just changed the fluid 4 or 5 times.

 

^-- not all transmissions are created equal. The tiptronic tranny was innovative at its time, and wasn't exactly as well-designed as they had hoped. At least that's my take on it.

 

I have only taken my dad EM2 out twice for about an hour and a half all together. And his is a 5 speed but the transmission is so stiff its hard to get the gears in.
I love working on cars even if they arent mine ESPECIALLY if its a Honda.

But my dads been trying to discourage me from learning stick since he know ima mod up a car and he has been doing a good job at it since I live in LA he says the traffic and the hills are a pain in the *** for a stick shift.

Its just starting the car from a stop thats so hard for me.
how much more practice till i get it about right?

 

get a manual...i have owned many preludes including an auto and the auto can not compare to the 5spd. Many people have their own opinion but this is mine.
Good luck to you.

Its not going to be that hard for you to learn how to drive a manual. Like MauricioJDM said, starting and stopping and the hills are the only "difficult" part and its not that hard. You will get it. Good luck!

 

For a 5th gen Prelude, it's not a matter of opinion. The tranny WILL break. Just like the H22 WILL burn oil at some point.

 

Yeah I work at a Honda dealer and everyone there can tell you that the triptronic trans wont last. You're also totally right dagle, the Prelude was one of the first cars of its time to have a triptronic trans and that's pretty much why they fail, it was new technology that hadn't been perfected yet.