Quote (grandmabob @ Nov 12 2009 01:46am)
cause he went too wide on both of those turns
No its because hes used to driving cars that are meant to actually be driven like that, not fail wheel drive economy cars.
Quote (kevis1 @ Nov 12 2009 01:46am)
Vtec = Very Teenage, Exciting and Cool
Product Rating: 5.0 Recommended: Yes
Pros: - Quick, reliable, good resale value, good looking, Vtec
Cons: - Needs premium gas, not fast, may be expensive to insure.
The Bottom Line: A great purchase if you don't mind some premium gas. Fun and reliable, so go for it!
Pardon the corny title, I've always wanted to make something catchy. Maybe that wasn't it, but I don't care. You'll read this just the same, right?
The Drive
I've always wanted a car that was fun, exciting and entertaining to drive. I don't like driving a vehicle and feel as if I'm sitting still, yet look out the window and see myself in transit. You could say that I'm not a bus kind of a guy.
The prelude is low, wide and fun. It has a low centre of gravity- you feel almost "glued" to the road. Imagine a 190 horsepower go-cart, and you have the feeling this Prelude gives you. I love the look of the vehicle, especially the front air vents by the headlights. It just begs for a short ram or cold air intake, if you're into that sort of thing.
From a standpoint, acceleration is impressive. It's not fast yet it certainly is not slow. The car moves quite well, and if you rev it long enough to allow Vtec to kick in (at 5500rpm) you will notice that it still moves straight to redline. I had completely forgotten that this vehicle was a Vtec vehicle until it kicked in. It placed a smug little grin on my face.
I look funny with smug grins, so I replaced it with the more common "tough guy" face associated with sports car owners. Well, that's what we expected wasn't it?
If you shift right at 6000 rpm the engine is kept in its "sweet spot". There is a brief lapse, I'd say one second or so, then Vtec kicks in and you're on your way to a speeding ticket. It's a high revving car, no doubt. However, it's still fun to drive. That's what I look for, and I'm sure many of you can attest. Something fun, something sleek, something... entertaining.
I can recall thinking about the transmission as I drove. I quite love Honda's transmissions. They're not the closest ratios, but they're precise. You always know what gear you're in.
The Interior
The front of the car is roomy. There is a lot of space for the driver and front passenger. The heated leather seats (as this vehicle came equipped with) were a blessing on my cold bottom. The pedals are spaced nicely and all essential instruments are within reach.
Of course, this is the top model (the SR-V) and as such it is loaded. Power everything, A/C, sunroof etc.
The digital dash is something I'm not quite sure I like or dislike. I'm used to the guages being right in front of me. I found that I was looking across the dash on this car to see things. To give it credit, everything minus the digital clock was easily visible.
I would like to note that this car has two front speakers and three rear speakers, providing nice fill.
BE WARNED IF YOU EVER HAVE REAR PASSENGERS. They will hate you. The rear seats, obviously provided by the engineers as a joke, are just that. They are small and no one over 5'6 could sit there comfortably. If you're over six feet, pray you never have to experience the rear seats first hand.
The stock speakers also seem to be quite cheap, but that may have to do with the fact that they are now approaching ten years of age.
The Engine
The Prelude is powered by a 2.3 litre 4 cyl. It "boasts" 190HP and 158ft-lbs of torque. Given that it's a Honda it's reliability isn't really in question; I've seen ads for Preludes exceeding 300,000km and still going. I sold my old 1991 Honda Civic at 305,000 km and I saw it just the other day, still alive.
Given that it is Vtec you need to put in premium (91 octane) fuel. However, since gas prices are already high I wouldn't really worry about it. What's another three or four dollars per tank?
I don't forsee any major problems. With my experience with Honda (the Civic) I never had to do anything except for basic matinance (tranny fluid, oil changes etc.) This car would be great for someone going to college (such as myself).
Finishing thoughts...
Having recently being dicked around by a Hyundai dealer (see my 2004 Hyundai Tiburon review) I decided to buy used. I feel that the 1995 Honda Prelude SR-V is a great choice for anyone looking for a fun, reliable and sporty car. If you can find one that's been taken care of and is going for a decent price I encourage you to take it.
You won't find many cars more reliable than Honda, and you won't find many cars more fun than this Prelude.
Just a thought.
Amount Paid (US$): 8250
Condition: Used
Model Year: 1995
Model and Options: SR-V, 5 speed, Vtec
rofl
This post was edited by ride686 on Nov 11 2009 11:49pm