Simply put: Awesome!
The Water Pump broke as soon as I bought the car. I just replaced it.
The cars performance is great. I haven't really drove it yet, as I have just recently fixed it, due to a broken Water Pump.
The car has awesome comfort, and I would easily drive hours on end in it, without any hassle.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 28th July, 2003
The best $500 I ever spent
Currently have a CV Joint Problem.
Just put a new Clutch Cable in.
Body in Very Very bad (rusty) condition.
Smokes the spark plug in cylinder 3 every 2 months.
Also just had a new ignition coil put on.
The heater Sucks in it.
I love the car on very curvy roads it handles like the sports car I always wanted.
Gotta love the 5-speed.
Not the best performance power wise, but it goes enough for me.
Backseat space... NONE.
I have the fold down seats in the back and with a stereo system in it with the back seat down it rocks.
Love the 6 and 1/2 feet of leg room.
What I love about the car most is that I don't have many problems with it and the problems I do have a minor, and I also love the fact that all the power motors in it work and that amazes me you since it is 20 years old.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 9th December, 2002
Handles like a new European sports car, minus the engine power
Water pump broke, replaced easily.
Head gasket crack at 89000 miles, also a semi-easy replacement.
The clutch is worn down to the bone, but still the original and pending replacement around the latest mileage.
Brake light indicator always on, still working on that.
Trunk rails bent with a trunk mounted bike rack and about 80lbs+ of weight. I over did it and it's probably all my fault, but worth a mention. Get a roof rack.
I love the way this car feels. With a 5 speed and McPherson rack and pinion steering it's fun as hell to drive. The car sits low and mean, and you're just a few inches off the ground in the cockpit.
The rear seat is almost worthless, and is currently holding a set of boxed 6x9's. I can still cram a person or two back there.
There aren't many performance after-market parts, but stock and standard parts are commonly available or ready to order. Honda dealers have an online computer to order parts in a day or two, from simple things like headlight mounts to a new clutch. I'm putting it up for the winter and will try an engine swap to get more HP.
Beware the rusting, try to find one that's southern or winter kept.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 1st July, 2001
Hondas are the best cars ever built
I had to get the engine rebuilt because of a cracked piston. And the timing belt was ripped to little pieces by a little spring...... stupid thing.... and that's really about all that's gone wrong with my little beast.
This thing has no torque!!!!!! None!!!!!! I'm thinking of dropping in an H22A.... that would be nice..... impractical, perhaps, but I don't care, and I also might drop in a turbo.....
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 15th November, 2000
Good fixer-upper
Right CV boot torn.
Right CV joint damaged (halfshaft replaced by me just two weeks ago).
Front disc brakes warped.
Silver paint heavily oxidized.
Loads of rust.
Valve lash loose (adjusted by me recently).
Ignition timing 0 deg. (TDC)(adjusted by me to 10 BTDC a week ago).
Fuel filler line corroded (dealership will fix in a week due to a 1992 recall).
Right rear tire losing air.
Spark plug in cyl. 4 completely melted due to detonation caused by retarded ignition timing (all four plugs replaced by me two weeks ago).
Failed emissions first time on CO at cruise, dealership cleaned carb floats, passed second time easily.
I bought this car on July 2 at 10:30 p.m. It seemed like a good deal at $1,500. Little did I know about all the problems which came with it.
I test drove it, but I was too foolish to go more than once around the block. At speeds over 30 mph, the front disc brake warpage is apparent. It vibrates to the point of coming apart. Also, the fact that I didn't get to look at it until the night completely hid the oxidation in the paint. The previous owner had no idea of all the mechanical problems, but that's okay.
Oh, and when I test drove it, it ran okay, but it did seem kind of rough. After taking it home and looking under the hood a few days later, I realized cyl. 3 wasn't firing!! Merely caused by a loose spark plug wire.
Even though this car has its share of problems, I don't really mind. I enjoy working on cars, and a car this old should be expected to have many problems. I have most of the major ones fixed, namely the timing and CV joint, but the paint is the next thing. I'm currently in the process of stripping all of the paint from the hood--by hand. I'm using 220 grit sandpaper on a wooden block, wet.
I really love this car, since it is the first year of the second generation Prelude. I believe it is the only year without a computer, and mine doesn't have air-conditioning, an added plus. If anyone has any info about the '83 Prelude, please e-mail me at cocacola443@netzero.net
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 26th July, 2000