One day wandering aimlessly through sites with advertisements for the sale of cars, I stumbled upon something that cannot be. Any sports "Japanese" is always at risk of being tuned into all the cracks, but the Prelude, which avoided installing a hellish body kit and other attributes of a "true sports car", is a beast straight from the pages of a book in the color of its polished body.
The swiftly approaching red crocodile caught me off guard. A second ago, a long nose peeked out from around the corner ... and suddenly a body spread out on the ground was at my feet. In terms of length and width, the Prelude is comparable to that of a BMW "kopeck piece", but in terms of height it is equal to the Porsche 911.
The austere exterior design is an invitation to climb the Prelude family tree. The rounded predecessor of the fourth generation looked like a renegade among the angular relatives and did not sell well, so the fifth generation marked a return to basics. If the diamond-shaped head optics only vaguely resembles the wide-open eyes of the ancestors who had a predilection for "blind" headlights, then the elongated taillights frankly yearn for the bygone days. The most striking detail is the hood, the relief of which immodestly hints at the top of the Honda logo.
The aesthetics of minimalism are not to everyone's liking. Apparently, this is one of the reasons for the unbridled desire to hang a snowplow front spoiler on the Prelude and screw the giant's shaving razor onto the trunk. Does this Honda realize how lucky she is in her life to stay in stock?
Inside
Old-fashioned Honda sports cars rarely gave importance to interior design. “In cars of this kind, this is not the main thing,” is the most popular excuse for such savings. Well, even the first NSX did not suffer from an exquisite interior. And in Prelude, there is nothing to catch your eye. Such a front panel could belong to any Honda of the late nineties.
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Ergonomics is not without sin. The cruise and sunroof are controlled by buttons in the blind spot to the left of the steering column, while the heated seat controls are tucked away in door pockets. But the interior is strong and solid, and besides, it is the "same" Japanese assembly - for many, more is not needed.
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There are few sports accents in the interior. The center console casts plastic like metal, the rims of the instruments shine, the double stitching on the "mechanics" lever glows. All this, including the tachometer, marked up to 8,000 rpm, pales before the charm of the fiery red Recaro, which appeared here at the whim of the owner and violently gripped me with a death grip.
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Remnants of the original interior are visible if you contrive to look back. It is not without reason that two deep tissue beds have preserved their virgin appearance after a mileage of 185,000 km. There are armrests, ashtrays and relative space above the head and shoulders, but the legs will fall into a tight trap, even if the passengers in the front seats are of average height. Therefore, the rear row is more like an additional trunk to help the usual hold with a volume of just under 300 liters.
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In move
Naturally, Prelude is a sin to judge by the comfort of the rear seats and the volume of the trunk. If there were neither one, nor the second, no one would be upset at all. Moreover, we have here not some two-liter vegetable, but the legendary "four" H22A8 with a large DOHC VTEC inscription on the scarlet valve cover. Yes, now no one will be surprised by the variable valve timing system, but let's not forget that this is a car of the late 90s.
Features of this type of VTEC are two camshafts with four valves per cylinder and the presence of rockers, and for every two valves there are three cams on the camshaft. At the same time, the valve timing is adjusted both at the inlet and at the outlet - not bad at all for that era! At the exit we have 200 forces taken from a volume of 2.2 liters. Leader of the Redheads! More powerful Preludes - 220 hp SiR S-spec and Type S - were found only in Japan.
The motor, even if it is devoid of supercharging, but due to the notorious "inlet", which helps it to work efficiently at any speed, has a very wide torque shelf. At the same time, 90% of the thrust is at your disposal starting from 2,000 rpm, and they begin to melt only after 6,000. In lazy city traffic, if you do not turn the engine above 3,500, Prelude masterfully hides its hellish essence. He is helpful, friendly, always ready to speed up and not annoying. A civilian rather than a rock-solid sports clutch, commendable soundproofing, ergonomics that do not require getting used to, visibility acceptable thanks to faceted shapes ...
If you go from work to work strictly during rush hour, then you will not know the devil with a red head! An avalanche of acceleration after 3,500 rpm is just a Prelude to a nuclear thrust explosion that covers you as soon as the tachometer crosses the five thousandth mark. The arrow instantly flies into the red zone, but this moment is beautiful, and I want to repeat it here and now, immediately. Addiction is instant. Give more! Regular use of this drug is not very ruinous - even with active driving in the city cycle, Prelude consumes no more than 14 liters of fuel.
Not a single engine. Another feature of the model was the fully controlled 4WS chassis, which appeared in the third generation of the model in the late 80s. I would like to emphasize that this is not a "multi-link steering", but a full-fledged 4-wheel steering system, which we will tell you about separately sometime later. At low speeds, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels, causing a slight skid sensation. Unusual, but thanks to this feature, the Prelude deftly maneuvers in the parking lot and has a turning radius like a subcompact.
Honda prelude v
Declared fuel consumption per 100 km
At speeds over 90 km / h, the situation is reversed. The wheels now turn in the same direction as the front. You shake the steering wheel slightly, and the Prelude changes its trajectory with lightning speed, as if an invisible hand moves the coupe to another row. All this with amazing exchange rate stability. Having met a bunch of turns on the way, do not rush to slow down. At high speed, the Honda dives with serpentine agility, is perfectly controlled by traction and stabilizes at the exit without unnecessary hassle.
The sport-tailored double wishbone independent suspension with anti-roll bars front and rear does not hesitate to demonstrate Japanese hospitality to the traditions of Russian roads. And if an acceptable ride quality for a sports car of this level is not new, then the verified reliability of the suspension design is a sensation.
The Prelude was good for everyone, but it was expensive, plus the vector of consumer preferences at the turn of the century shifted towards crossovers. The Japanese had no choice but to reduce the number of sports cars. But Honda will wake up from sleep. The process launched by the advent of the Acura NSX should not go unnoticed. After all, you can't make a couple of Toyota GT 86 / Subaru BRZ bored alone.
Purchase history
Peter is a longtime Honda fan, especially the Prelude. At one time, he dreamed of a third-generation coupe, but had to confine himself to the Accord. After selling it, he decided that he could already aim at the latest Prelude, so he slowly began his search. At the same time, Peter understood perfectly well that it would not be easy to find a well-groomed copy with a minimum of tuning, and it would be even more difficult to persuade the owner to sell it.
Having good connections among hondovodov, he managed to find in Moscow a well-groomed black coupe, with which the owner was ready to part for an adequate price. Without thinking twice, Peter transferred the bail and went to the capital. But upon arrival, two news awaited him - good and bad. The bad news is "Black Prelude is no longer for sale." The deal was vetoed by the owner's brother, who decided to take the sports car for himself. The good news is, "A friend has a red Prelude in excellent condition and is willing to sell it too."
In view of force majeure circumstances, Peter received the coveted sports car in about a month. And until the moment of purchase, he saw his future car only in the photo. For a 200-horsepower Prelude of 1999 with a mileage of 150,000 km and a Moscow registration from the date of purchase, Peter paid 450,000 rubles.
Repairs
The condition of Honda could not but rejoice - a smooth body, native engine, gearbox and iron without the slightest hint of rust. The modifications included Koni Sport struts adjustable in height and stiffness and a short-stroke gearshift rocker. The repair history for eight years of ownership is very short and could be even shorter if not for the pedantic attitude of the owner towards the car.
In 2015, Peter, solely out of love for Prelude, completely disassembled and repainted the coupe in his native color. At the same time, the native, but pretty sandblasted windshield was changed. Both bumpers were also replaced, since the relatives no longer had enough mounts, and the optics suffered in a small accident. There was nothing to repair on the units. Not counting the replacement of the timing belt and clutch for repair?
Improvements
Peter approached the modifications of the Prelude very carefully - by the standards of hondovodov, this cannot be called tuning. The stock front seats have been replaced with the correct Honda red Recaro SR3. Instead of the usual "stove" there was climate control, taken from the right-hand drive Prelude.
Exploitation
Peter has already had Prelude for 8 years, and for the entire time of his ownership, he traveled only 35,000 km in the coupe, and every year less and less - for the whole of 2016 the car has not traveled even 500 kilometers. Realizing perfectly well that such a car should not be idle in the garage, in the summer of 2016, Peter put the Prelude up for sale. Life flows, priorities change. Well, someone gets lucky!
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Transmissions - five-speed "mechanics" and four-speed "automatic". Suspension - the traditional multi-link for the model in a circle with a control system for all four wheels 4WS for powerful versions was supplemented by the active torque distribution ATTS. It all ended in 2001. After producing just over 58,000 fifth-generation coupes, Honda has frozen the Prelude family indefinitely.
Despite the fact that many categorically reject the division of cars by "sex", most motorists are convinced that there is a category of vehicles in which women look very cool, as if the designers had specially created them for the fair sex. These “female” models include, for example, the Ford Ka or the Volkswagen New Beetle. Naturally, there are also purely "male" cars. One of them is the Honda Prelude. The stylish two-door Honda Prelude has been around since the late 70s. Today, the fifth generation of this model, which rolled off the assembly line from 1996 to 2000, is very popular in the secondary market.
Right off the bat, Honda is no longer making the Prelude. The fact is that at the very end of the 90s, the company produced quite a lot of similar cars: Civic Coupe, CRX Del Sol, Integra Type R, coupe based on the American Accord, Acura CL (luxury version of the two-door Accord), and, of course, Prelude (S2000 roadster and NSX super coupe don't count here). Of course, some of them were focused only on the American or Japanese markets, but even despite this division, the competition between models within the firm itself was obvious. And it was Prelude that could not stand the competition for buyers' wallets. It was not taken very well, and besides, the price of this Japanese-assembled car, even in America, significantly exceeded the cost of many similar competitors.
The buyer of the Honda Prelude must check the wheel alignment angles and body geometry of the selected specimen in the service. Otherwise, the faulty car is likely to have an accident later. And if the owner manages to keep his health, he will have to fork out for the restoration of the body. Firstly, the car will need to be repaired not in the nearest garage service, but in decent service stations with the necessary equipment. And secondly, the prices for "hardware" and optics "Japanese" are simply outrageous. For example, a headlight costs more than $ 400-450, although, they say, in Vladivostok you can buy it for $ 250. On the Honda Prelude, only 2.0 or 2.2 liter gasoline engines of various capacities were installed. The first produced only 133 hp, which is naturally not enough for the fifth generation Prelude coupe. True admirers of this model do not really like him.
The only advantage of 2-liter machines is the lower cost in the market. Well, you can also add that, for example, gearboxes on such Preludes last longer. On the market, there are Preludes with a "regular" 2.2-liter 160 hp engine, which were intended exclusively for the Japanese market. Several versions of this unit were produced for different markets. So, at first, engines with a capacity of 185 hp went to Europe. (after 1999 - 200 hp). Purely Japanese copies could already boast 200 or 220 hp. (the latter were put under the hood of the Type-S and S-spec modifications). Well, American cars were equipped with a slightly different 2.2-liter engine with VTEC system, which, depending on the modification, produced 190, 195 or 200 hp. What is the peculiarity of the Vtec engine? In short, the principle of operation of VTEC (Variable valve Timing and lift Electronic Control, which means “variable valve lift system”) is as follows. When the engine exceeds 5500 rpm, a solenoid is triggered, which activates the other camshaft cams, as a result of which the lift of the intake and exhaust valves increases, as well as the volume of the supplied mixture. In addition, the injectors do not start working in pairs in antiphase, but synchronously. In fact, it all looks something like this. At first, the engine behaves quite peacefully and, in principle, is no different from many other power units. But exactly at around 5300 rpm, the valve operation phases change and ... the driver is simply pressed into the seat back, and the tachometer needle instantly reaches 7000 rpm. Despite the complexity of the VTEC system, the 2.2-liter Honda Prelude engines are considered very reliable. You just need to remember that Japanese power units are extremely demanding on the quality of the oil, so it is better to change it every 10 thousand km, and when driving aggressively at high speeds - exactly twice as often as regulated. You also need to remember to check the oil level from time to time (at least once every two weeks), since even a fully serviceable engine may well consume a little of it.
Neglect of these holy rules will lead to the need for overhaul of the engine. And it costs about $ 2000. The best quality should be not only oil, but also filters. It is better to buy all "consumables" in the original version, although sometimes you can save some money. So, for example, when using Russian gasoline, spark plugs have to be changed about once every 10-15 thousand km, although initially they were designed for 100 thousand km. Branded platinum candles are $ 20-30 apiece! But you can also supply non-original ones for $ 3-8, since the service life of expensive platinum candles and ordinary ones is the same. It is enough to change the timing belts every 100 thousand km. Moreover, this operation is not too expensive for a Japanese sports coupe - even with the use of original parts it is possible to keep within $ 300. Sometimes you can hear that when replacing the timing belt, the rollers (there are two of them) can not be touched, since they are more tenacious, but the "experienced" advise not to be greedy and install new components. If you strictly follow all the recommendations for servicing engines, they will last a long time. According to the owners of Honda Prelude, the engines of their cars work more than 200-300 thousand km without any problems. Gearboxes on the fifth generation Honda Prelude are both mechanical 5-speed and automatic. The latter have the ability to manually switch. However, if you often drive on the “automatic” at high speed and constantly change gears yourself, the automatic transmissions wear out much faster. You also need to remember that you need to fill the box with a special Honda ATF Z1 fluid, and not the usual ATF. Well, the repair of an automatic transmission will cost at least $ 1500. Buying a used one is almost impossible. The manual transmission is considered more reliable and better suited for a sports car like the Prelude. True, on cars with "mechanics" after a run of 100-120 thousand km, you have to change the clutch (the kit costs about $ 280) and the oil in the gearbox, but, as a rule, this is where the transmission service ends. At any speed, the Honda Prelude holds the road perfectly, and only after 200 km / h there are slight "yaw". The power steering here has a variable gear ratio, so at high speeds the steering wheel becomes very elastic, requiring a lot of effort. When turning the steering wheel, the car does not jump to the side, but precisely and without delay changes its trajectory. Without a doubt, this behavior is due to the 4WS (4 Wheel Steer) system, which simultaneously turns all four wheels. And the most interesting thing is that in the parking lot, when you twist the steering wheel all the way, Prelude turns the rear wheels in the direction opposite to the front ones! This allows you to significantly reduce the turning radius - 4.7 m. Although I must say right away that 4 Wheel Steer is found only on top models with a 2.2-liter engine. Full-drive Honda Preludes usually cost little more than conventional cars. But the descent / collapse is expensive ($ 125 for branded service stations), because this procedure takes 2.5 standard hours for the masters. Moreover, the Prelude owners strongly recommend not to contact the usual services specializing in these works, even if they have a program for Prelude 4WS. You can give the car only to those craftsmen who already have experience with Prelude. It is also worth noting that if for one reason or another the 4WS system turns off (for example, a control unit or an electric motor fails), driving a car will become quite dangerous. Especially at high speed - the turning radius is significantly increased, and the rear of the car begins to noticeably chatter on bumps. The Honda Prelude's multi-link suspension is very reliable, especially when you consider vehicle speeds. Experience shows that some levers are capable of serving 250-300 thousand km without replacement. Only for this it is necessary to constantly inspect the suspension and all kinds of anthers. As soon as cracks appear on any of them, you must immediately change it (for a ball joint, for example, it costs $ 20-30). Thanks to this, it will be possible to save decent money, because the price of the same levers drives even true fans of Honda cars into sadness - each detail is estimated at $ 200-250. It is also worth adding that by 100 thousand km on many Preludes (especially if they have been driving for a long time on our roads), the hub bearings may fail. "Honda" parts are expensive (about $ 200 apiece), but you can find non-original parts for $ 60-90. Each shock absorber will cost around $ 100. Even with an aggressive driving style, they can withstand 120 thousand kilometers each. As for the cost of work, it is about the same as that of many other cars. Fortunately, maintaining the Prelude's undercarriage does not require a huge amount of labor. Honda Prelude brakes are often heavily criticized. While the driver is in no hurry, they hold out. But as soon as aggressive driving begins, it turns out that the Prelude's brakes are far from the best - they overheat rather quickly, and accordingly wear out (as a rule, the pads are only enough for 5-10 thousand kilometers). km). In general, it is not surprising that the Prelude so often beat "muzzle". That is why it is recommended to do a brake system tuning, which costs $ 1500-2000 (kits from AEM are considered very good). If it is a pity to spend that kind of money, you can limit yourself to half-measures - put new brake discs (AEM, EBC, Zimmermann, Brembo, etc.) and high-temperature brake pads (for example, Ferodo DS2000, DS3000 series). Good pads will pull $ 100-120. But buying non-original pads for $ 40 is strictly prohibited. Summing up the story about the chassis of the Honda Prelude, we can say the following: it is very reliable and can easily withstand fast driving even on our roads. However, with a mileage of 100-150 thousand km, you can easily spend more than $ 1000-1500 on suspension repairs. True, then she will not bother for a couple of years
Excursion
The first generation Honda Prelude was shown in 1978. This car was equipped with a 1.6 liter engine. with a capacity of 80 hp However, already in 1983, a new version of the Prelude appeared with a 12-valve 1.8 liter engine that was very modern for those years, which produced 102 hp. In 1987, the presentation of the third generation Honda Prelude took place. The car is interesting, first of all, because it was on it that they began to install a control system for all four wheels. True, such models were intended exclusively for sale on the domestic market. Under the hood, there were various variants of a 2.0-liter engine with a capacity of 114-150 hp. The fourth Prelude (1991-1996) was equipped with much more powerful engines. The fastest version had a 2.0-liter unit that produced 133 hp. At the top of the lineup was a modification with a 2.2-liter VTEC engine with 200 hp. Naturally, this Prelude also had the famous 4WS four-wheel steering system. The next generation Honda Prelude appeared in late 1996. However, this car did not cause much excitement in the market. Of course, experts noted that the fifth Prelude, like the fourth, has a very good suspension with the 4WS system and the ability to install the ATTS active torque distribution system (it distributes the moment so that more traction is transmitted to the most loaded wheel when turning), amazing engines and etc. However, the price of Prelude turned out to be quite high. In addition, Honda was already producing several two-door coupes that attracted many Prelude buyers. In the fall of 2000, it was decided to stop production of the Honda Prelude. Periodically, however, there are rumors that Honda is working on the creation of the sixth generation Prelude, but so far they have not been confirmed. But admirers of this model hope.
We are grateful to Anton Lagutin, Alexander Kazakov, Denis Loginov and other members of the Russian Internet Club Honda Prelude (www.prelude.ru) for their help in preparing the material.
Denis Smolyanov / MK-Mobile
Honda Prelude V generation retained the key features of the entire model line - it was the same car for one person - for its own owner. The appearance of the model, at first glance, was radically different from the third version, but for old fans of the brand, it fell in love with it. The fifth generation was the successor of not the fourth, but the third, most respected by consumers of the sports coupe generation. Indeed, looking at this car it is impossible not to notice its resemblance to the Prelude of the late 80s, which used the fashionable for that time lifting headlights. This time, such a design, of course, was not used, due to the harm to aerodynamics, but the feeling was created that the huge headlights of the new model are about to "slam shut" if you press the coveted button in the cabin.
But, from the fourth generation, the fifth got a line of engines. As before, the Prelude used two motors - the "average" F22B, and the powerful H22A. True, this time, the designers of Honda were able to make four variants of cars from two versions of the engine. The F22B was divided into a completely “strangled” 135-horsepower and a more or less “riding” 160-horsepower. The H22A also came in two variations, a powerful 200 hp and a super powerful 220 hp. The latter two options put the Prelude in red lettering on the page of the most powerful Honda cars in production history.
Two types of transmission were installed in the set for the engines, - mechanical, and automatic transmission - tiptronic (denoted by Honda S-Matic). The latter, which is not typical for the company's design solutions, was installed both on the weakest versions and on the 200-strong SiR.
The suspension of the car remained traditional for the Prelude - multi-link both on the front and rear axles. At the same time, the design of the rear suspension was, in its way, unique, thanks to the presence of the ATTS system, a continuation of 4WS, the rear-wheel steering system in the corner.
The appearance, as it was said at the very beginning, was strikingly different from the third generation, but to a large extent it was close to the second. To be honest, the car, after the fourth version, turned out to be somewhat unsightly, angular, as if designed for options for further "refinement" with bumpers, body kits and a spoiler. Nevertheless, and perhaps precisely for this reason, the model was very popular with tuning firms that specialized in "fine-tuning" the appearance of the model.
In the cabin, however, everything remained the same - in front there are two seats for the driver (chief) and a passenger (usually random). The interior space is emphatically focused only on the owner of the car, around whom the world should revolve. The interior trim is not to say that it shone with quality, it was solid and pleasant. The designers, in spite of the power contained in the engine compartment, managed to strike a balance between "sport" and comfort. The interior of the car was far from "racing", focusing more on "metrosexuality".
Honda Prelude V, was the last of the entire series of cars of this model. In our opinion, it cannot be called the most beautiful (after all, in our opinion, this title should remain for the fourth generation), but it can undoubtedly be called the most perfect from a technical point of view. The designers managed to bring together all the advantages of a powerful engine, good transmission, spectacular appearance, and a comfortable interior. This model did not become a legend like, say, the Accord Euro R, with the same engine, or the Civic Type R, with its sporting ambitions. Prelude turned out to be a great machine for young people who believed that the world revolved around them.
With the onset of the 2000s, against the backdrop of declining demand, and a general change of generations, Prelude was discontinued. Nevertheless, the popularity of this model in Russia remains at a constant (albeit low) level. The main buyers, like in Japan, are young people.
Specifications
The fifth generation was the last among the rather rare Honda coupes called Prelude. This time he will pay attention to this beautiful and powerful car produced from 1996 to 2001. In technical terms, it is impossible to call 5 a novelty, it is built on the developments of the previous - the fourth model, from which they borrowed: engines, chassis, rear wheel steering system, as well as power steering that changes the steering effort, but the exterior and interior of the new Japanese coupe have undergone significant changes ...
Take a look at the photo of the Fifth Prelude, notice that its headlights are "stretched" vertically, and the taillights are "stretched" horizontally. Stylistically, the optics of the fifth model is radically different from the optics of the previous one. 
models and this is good, because in the shapes and proportions of the body itself, the Prelude of 1991 is still recognizable. The fifth generation car became heavier: if the lightest Fourth Prelude had a curb weight of 1190 kg, then the 1996 model in an equipped state weighs at least 1240 kg. With a body length of 4545mm, the Japanese wheelbase is 2585mm, and the ground clearance is 140mm. The width of the body of the Japanese two-door is 1750mm, and the height is only 1315mm - this is a low, sports car that easily cuts through the air and tenaciously holds onto the track. 
As in the case of its predecessor, the body of the Japanese woman is protected by zinc and the appearance of rust on it speaks only of poor-quality repair of the damaged body panel.
The main difference between the Fifth Prelude and the Fourth, which you can see in the salon, 
consists in the front panel, which has become much simpler and more traditional, it no longer has an electronic fuel level and engine temperature indicator. All devices fit under the visor - in front of the driver. There is no longer, "stretched" along the entire dashboard torpedo, which looked so impressive on the previous model of the Prelude. After the "spaceship" tidy 4, the ventilation sliders on the torpedo of the 5th model look outdated to say the least. The fact that the two-door Honda is not a "drift car" is indicated by the handbrake shifted closer to the passenger - you can see this in the photo. Otherwise, landing in the front - as in the 4th Prelude - is almost on the floor, with a large margin of legroom, and in the back, as in most two-doors, there is quite a bit of space, but this can hardly be called a disadvantage, given the class and purpose of this car. A trunk that holds 284 liters, as for a coupe, is not bad, in terms of volume it even surpasses some hatchbacks.
Specifications Honda Prelude 5, 1996 - 2001
The base two-liter F20A4 engine with 133 horsepower, accelerates the Honda Prelude to 100 km in 9.2 seconds. Of course, such an acceleration rate in itself is not bad, but for a car with a sporty image, these are not impressive figures.
"Vtekovy" 2.2 develops 160hp, but 2.2 VTEC produces 185hp and allows the owner of a Japanese woman to eject up to a hundred in just 7.5s, in addition, it is very important that the Vtekovy 2.2 provides an excellent set not only from the spot, but also on the move.
Honda motors are not equipped with hydraulic compensators and need to adjust the thermal clearances every 40,000 km. The timing belt, with all rollers, as well as the balancing shaft drive belt should be changed every 100,000 km (when using original spare parts). The pump nurtures two timing belt lifetimes.
"Wet" cars can be equipped with the 4WS system, which at low speeds turns the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the front, and at high speeds in the direction of the front. Thanks to the 4WS system, the maneuverability of the Japanese woman was improved by 15%, the stability on the track increased significantly, but according to the owners, it is more difficult to get a fully-controlled car out of a skid, this requires experience in driving a car with the rear wheels turning in extreme situations.
Honda Prelude 5 Price
You can buy a Honda Prelude 5 in a normal, not rolled condition for $ 8,000. It is not uncommon for a Honda Prelude 5 to be priced at $ 10,000.
As in the case of the fourth generation model, the supervised Japanese woman on the secondary is almost always offered with a base, two-liter engine. Yes - this engine confidently (by the standards of ordinary cars) pushes the coupe forward, but it lacks the excitement that is present on VTEC - new cars. For this reason, fans are looking for a Honda coupe with this particular engine.
The fifth generation Honda Prelude was the last in a series of models that had been in production for over 20 years. Some fans of "charged" cars strive to become the owners of this sports coupe. But is it worth contacting him?
The long hood, the low roof, the predatory "jaws" of the air intake and the squat body - everything seems to radiate energy. Prelude resembles a predator before jumping. This model has a sense of the "breed" of real sports cars. She, like all other Prelude generations, was produced only with a coupe body. Its galvanized panels resist corrosion well, only the rear fender arches are affected by the "red" disease. The presence of rust in other places can only mean one thing - this instance was poorly repaired after the accident. The sparkling body should also be alerted - perhaps the car was recently painted for the reason we have already mentioned. In any case, when buying a Prelude, you need to show the bodybuilders so that they can assess whether the body geometry is broken. Some information can also be given by "flarers" by checking the alignment angles of all wheels in relation to the body.
Complete unity
Once in the car, you begin to merge with it. The landing in the front seats is sporty and low, it seems as if you are sitting right on the asphalt - straight legs are extended forward almost parallel to the floor. All necessary controls are at hand. In a semi-recumbent position, everything is visible - there are no comments on visibility. Even the tailgate is easy to feel, especially on models with a rear spoiler. True, some drivers in versions with "mechanics" complain that when the second and fourth gears are turned on, they rest their elbows against the glove compartment lid located between the front seats. In addition, front passengers above average height sometimes complain that even with the seat fully pushed back, they cannot stretch their legs normally. Soundproofing is also weak.
The landing formula of this coupe is "2 + 2", but of their own free will, only the ignorant will agree to accompany the main crew. First, getting in and out of the rear seats resembles an acrobatic stunt, while it is easy to hit the top of your head against the doorway. Secondly, having climbed there, you need to immediately curl your legs, since there is a risk that the front passengers, adjusting their seats in length (this must be done every time after reclining), will injure your lower limbs. Thirdly, you can sit in the back only with your knees around the backs of the front seats. And finally, when driving through irregularities, passengers slightly above average height can fill bumps on the glass of the trunk lid hanging over their heads. But this "charged" compartment is not for carrying passengers!
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Compared to its predecessor, the Prelude V's interior is simpler - an unremarkable dashboard with a dashboard, on which large scale indicators and a mechanical odometer flaunt. |
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Take a closer look at the owner
The line of engines designed for the Prelude included two gasoline engines - a 2.0-liter F20A4 and a volume of 2.2 liters, which were successfully tested on its predecessor. The first powertrain was borrowed from the Accord model. The second engine is equipped with a proprietary VTEC variable valve timing system and, depending on the degree of forcing, produces different powers - from 185 to 220 hp. from. (on right-hand drive Japanese versions). True, there is also a simple version of the 2.2 liter engine without VTEC (160 hp).
We officially sold cars with a 185-horsepower engine. This engine, especially when paired with "mechanics", gives tremendous dynamics. Many people call it "two in one". Thanks to the work of VTEC, it seems that two motors are installed under the hood. The first one operates up to 5 thousand rpm, providing powerful, even acceleration. But as soon as the tachometer needle passes the above line, the "second" is turned on. It seems that the car was pushed and it got a second wind for acceleration.
On other Honda models, the same engines are capable of "going out" under 400 thousand km, and on the Prelude they were often "driven" to 150 thousand km.
According to the minders of the proprietary service station, on other models, Honda's power units, with timely maintenance, are capable of "going out" almost 400 thousand km before overhaul, but on the Prelude, excessively "hot" riders often "rolled" them to 150 thousand km. Therefore, the residual life of the engine depends on the driving style of the car owner. It is not cheap to repair the motor - about 8 thousand UAH. In general, no characteristic malfunctions of the Prelude motors were observed.
Every 40 thousand km, the valve mechanism needs to adjust the thermal clearances. The timing belt changes every 100 thousand km (the period for the original spare part) along with the guide and tension rollers, as well as the balancer shaft drive belt. The pump is also driven by the timing belt, but it is capable of "going out" 2 of its service life.
A strange couple ...
All Preludes are front-wheel drive vehicles. They were aggregated with 5-speed manual gearboxes and 4-speed Tiptronic automatic gearboxes with manual gear shifting. "Automatic" was equipped with an adaptive control program that adapts to the owner's driving style and changes the moment of gear shifting depending on this. 60% of these cars are equipped with "automatic", which is rather strange for a sports car.
As the mechanics said, the automatic transmission paired with a 2.2-liter engine, as a rule, does not serve for a long time - a powerful engine quickly "kills" them ("burns" clutches, bearings, etc.). Depending on the temperament of the owner, the "machine" "lives" 20-100 thousand km. But the automatic transmission with a 2.0-liter engine "runs" much longer.
"Mechanics" are more tenacious, although "hot" heads manage to roll it up too. Usually synchronizers of 1st and 2nd gears "die" first. The first signs are difficult switching on with unheated oil, and in advanced cases - constantly. Repair of MCPs is cheaper - about 600 UAH. spare parts and 1000 UAH. - Work. Although this is not the limit, if other parts have to be replaced. The hydraulic clutch lasts a long time and without problems.
It's nice to ride, but the renovation ...
Many Prelude owners note that this car behaves confidently when driving at high speeds and holds the road perfectly during active cornering. And all this is due to the independent multi-link design of the front and rear suspensions, made according to a fundamentally the same scheme: two wishbones and one longitudinal, plus anti-roll bars. Serviceable suspension with "native" 16-inch wheels is characterized by moderate rigidity, allowing a fairly tolerable ride on our roads, and is distinguished by an amazing "survivability". But for tuning enthusiasts who install 17-inch disks, the "running" becomes "stool" stiff and wears out faster.
At the same time, when the time comes to repair the suspension, get ready to waste it - it will cost a lot. For example, the upper arms are supplied with ball bearings (even a non-original spare part - about UAH 1000), the lower wishbones - together with silent blocks (spare part - UAH 1250), the rear bearing - together with a hub (spare parts - UAH 1200 .). The rest of the "rubber bands" are changed separately from the levers, for example, silent blocks of the longitudinal levers (spare part - 300 UAH).
This is it!
The steering is quite sharp and informative. It is equipped with a power steering that changes the degree of amplification depending on the speed of movement. There are no remarks about the reliability of these nodes - even the tips of the steering are capable of "going out" up to 100 thousand km.
In addition, the top versions with a 2.2-liter unit used the fully-controlled 4WS system. It is structured as follows. There is a sensor on the front steering rack that monitors the steering angle of the front wheels, which together with the ABS speed sensor transmits information to the 4WS system control unit. He, having processed it, in turn gives a specific command to the stepping motor, which, by means of steering rods, turns the rear wheels. At low speed they turn in the opposite direction from the front wheels, and at high speed - in the same direction. The 4WS provides the car with excellent maneuverability (turning radius is 15% less than a conventional machine - only 4.7 m) and amazing handling in turns at high speeds. Although many note that in winter on slippery roads it can cause more problems for an untrained driver, since it falls into a skid more than the front-controlled versions, and it is much more difficult to stabilize the car.
The main problem with many Preludes is overly active owners who simply "roll" this car.
Typical problems of 4WS are wear of the working surface on the steering rack at the point of contact with the sensor of the fully controlled system. As a result, the sensor gives out incorrect information, which leads to the failure of the 4WS - according to experts, it simply turns off and is inactive, without affecting driving safety. Treatment of the "disease" - shaft grinding. For the rest, the 4WS is reliable, and troubles arise due to unskilled intervention (for example, when adjusting the toe-in of the rear wheels) or after an accident.
There are no complaints about the reliability of the brakes - they serve for a long time and without problems. Although, when driving aggressively, owners often complain that the standard brakes overheat and lose efficiency. Experts advise tuning the brake system by installing more powerful brakes, for example, the American Power Slot kit (about UAH 10,000). A more budgetary option is the use of high-temperature sports brake pads, for example, Ferodo DS2000, DS3000 series.
Take your favorites
According to experts, the main problem of Prelude is overly active owners, who quickly "roll off" this car and, not wanting to get involved in expensive repairs, put it up for sale. If you don't want to waste money on restoring ditched components and assemblies, buy a car only after qualified diagnostics. And even better - a copy that was in the hands of a true fan of the model. As a rule, they watch and constantly look after their pets. True, such Preludes are much more expensive.
If you are interested in this model, then the Avtobazar weekly catalog will help you find the car you need.
Before and after…
Fourth generation Honda Prelude, like all the others, is represented by one modification - the coupe. Many fans of this model believe that the fourth generation was more sporty than its successor, both in terms of design and driving qualities. Although, in fact, both generations are structurally similar - almost the same engines were used, multi-link suspension in front and rear, steering with power steering, which changes the degree of amplification depending on speed, and fully-controlled versions of 4WS. The characteristic drawbacks are also the same - the high cost of spare parts, a small interior, severe wear and tear of many cars.
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Prelude has no direct heir as such. Honda's marketers decided to end the unnecessary competition that arose within the company in the late 90s between the small "charged" models Civic Type R, Civic Coupe Si, Integra Type R and Prelude. All competitors are produced to this day, but instead of just a "hot" coupe Prelude for fans of dynamic driving is offered a more high-tech and uncompromisingly sporty 2-seater S2000 roadster. Like classic racing cars, it has a rear-wheel drive transmission. The car is equipped with a 6-speed "mechanics" and only one power unit - the owner of the honorary title "Best atmospheric engine". It produces a record 120 hp without any pressurization. from. from every liter of volume! Acceleration to the first "hundred" takes 6.2 s. According to a domestic dealer, the cost of S2000 in Ukraine is 218 thousand UAH.
History
10. 1996 The fifth generation Honda Prelude debuts. Versions with all steered wheels - 4WS and ATTS system (active differential, redistributing engine torque between the driving wheels) are presented.
12.2001 Prelude discontinued
Alternative
The most affordable of the listed competitors mainly due to the older Celica generation. It differs from rivals in the largest number of modifications - hatchback, coupe and roadster. The last two versions were intended only for the Japanese and American markets and are rare in our country. The most widespread in Ukraine are weak 1.8-liter versions of 116 liters. sec., providing modest dynamics of 10.2 s to "hundreds". If you are not just a fan of original cars, but are fond of active drive, look for the GT version - acceleration from 0-100 km / h in 8.1 seconds.
We, as a rule, operate versions with a hatchback body, but it is extremely problematic to find Spyder convertibles. This model was assembled in America at a plant common with Chrysler. Eclipse (2G) still has a "twin brother" Eagle Talon, although in Ukraine they can also be counted on one hand. The advantage over competitors is the availability of all-wheel drive versions, however, front-wheel drive "brothers" come across more often. The most powerful modifications with a 2.0 liter Turbo engine are rare in our country. More widespread are 2.0-liter atmospheric versions, although they are not very dynamic - acceleration to "hundreds" takes 9.4 s.
Like the Honda Prelude, the Nissan 200 SX (S14) is represented by only one modification - a coupe. It differs from all of the above competitors in the classic rear-wheel drive transmission layout. It is equipped with just one engine - 2.0 l Turbo, which provides the stock car with excellent dynamics - 7.5 seconds to the first "hundred". Another plus is the excellent axle weight distribution. However, to find a 200 SX in the "14th" body, you have to try hard - it is less common than other competitors. Although this kind of exclusivity, on the contrary, flatters the pride of the owners.
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Average prices for new non-original spare parts, UAH * |
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Front brake. pads |
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Rear brake. pads |
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Air filter |
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Fuel filter |
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Oil filter |
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Bearing front / rear hubs |
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Front / rear shock absorber |
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Spherical bearing |
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Tie Rod |
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Clutch kit |
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Timing belt |
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Timing tensioner |
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* Prices may vary slightly depending on the manufacturer and vehicle modification. |
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Autocentre resume
Honda |
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common data |
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Body type |
compartment |
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Doors / Seats |
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Dimensions, L / W / H, m |
4545/1750/1320 |
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Equipment weight / full, kg |
1240/1680 |
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Trunk volume, l |
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Tank volume, l |
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Engines |
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Petrol 4-cylinder: |
2.0 L 16V (133 HP), 2.2 L 16V (160 HP),2.2 L 16V VTEC (185 HP), |
Transmission |
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type of drive |
front |
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5-st. fur. or 4-st. ed. |
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Chassis |
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Front / rear brakes |
disk. vent. / disk. |
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Suspension front / rear |
independent / independent |
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195/60 R15, 205/50 R16 |
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We stand. in Ukraine, $ |
from 13.3 thousand to 18.0 thousand |
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According to the catalog "Avtobazar" |
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Yuliy Maksimchuk
Photo by Andrey Yatsulyak
The editorial staff would like to thank the service station of the Dnipro Motor Invest company for their help in preparing the material
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