* Suspension required replacing.
* Leaking Engine Cooling ditribution pipe behind engine required replacing.
* Engine pulley on main A/C, Pump, Power Steering, Generator etc, dropped out of the engine bay, nearly resulting in a serious accident.
* Wiring loom required replacing.
* Engine warning light constantly came on which would put the ECU into idle home mode, causing any engine performance at all to be negligable.
* Every single hose connection required replacing (Honda seem to think wire clips instead of hose clamps are satisfactory and let me tell you, there absolutely 100% NOT vehicle worthy at all).
* Ignition switch caused trouble with starting the vehicle (If you still own one of these cars and your car will not start for no reason at all, then try turning the key slightly and don't turn it all the way (as you would a normal car), I discovered this allowed me to start the car. I'd imagine like nearly every part in these vehicles they wear out faster than normal cars over time).
* Power steering system required practically an entire replacement job.
* A host of less major things relating to body work.
In all fairness to Honda and to those who love them, a new Honda (or so I'm told), is a dream to own and regular maintenance will give you a good vehicle for a few years. However as I discovered from talking with many other Honda owners while I owned the Prelude, most Honda's over 150 000 KM's have a strong tendancy to experience problems. (In case your thinking it, no most cars will not experience problems with age if there well maintained).
When I bought the Prelude it was solely because I'd never had a Sporty style car and wanted to try something out that would suit my budget. Now, some people will state that you get what you pay for, however other Prelude owners I talked to who had payed a lot more for there Preludes experienced at least a few problems like those I had experienced, which frankly I find rather poor for a vehicle in this class.
My first priority is surely everyone's must be when they buy a vehicle: "Is this fit for purpose". In other words, will it do the job and while doing the job is it reliable?
The Prelude is absolutely the most unreliable vehicle I have ever owned. When they worked, the features like, power steering, cruise control, A/C, Pop up lights, were really groovy (the 4 wheel steer really didn't give me any more performance over a Toyota Camry I had owned, but was a lot better than the Holden Berlina), were really nice. It's a shame it was just so unreliable.
To anyone thinking about purchasing one of these, I cannot recommend it strongly enough. Make sure you have the vehicle thoroughly examined by a good /trustworthy mechanic as it's bound to save you many dollars and avoid a lot of dull waiting for tow vehicles.
After this vehicle I went to a Toyota Corolla and frankly for reliability and overall performance, I'd take the Corolla any day. Unlike the Prelude, the Corolla never missed a beat and has been the most trusty faithful car I have owned to date.
If you're an enthusiast, then perhaps you may find this vehicle fun, however my advice is to purchase 'The Dog and Lemon Guide' and check out what it says about Honda Preludes around this year. Basically everything it states that has been well known to go wrong, went wrong with mine and I wish I'd seen this write up before purchasing mine as it would have saved me a lot of trouble and dollars.
I'll end this review by giving the D&LG overall rating: "AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE".
Man if I ever bought a 16 year old car and had to change the oil I would be pissed. You almost have 200,000 miles and you sit here going crazy!! what did you expect for a old car? Fresh out of the package? Right!
No idea what level of bad luck someone would have to have to experience all those problems with this car.
My '89 Prelude SI with 256,500 on it has almost all original parts. Did replace the muffler, brakes & transmission seal. I'm not complaining about that at all... it is 18 years young. Just wish the previous two owners loved it as much as me, & maintained it properly.
I would not hesitate to get another one.
My friend owned a 1989 Prelude too, and he bought the car for $50, and he and his dad replaced the motor with a motor from Japan. They had the car towed to Florida from Virgina, and while the car was in Florida, the whole audio system was replaced and slight modifications were added (exhaust and intake), along with body work and a nice paint job...
After all that, the car worked for about 5-6 months, and then one day driving the car home from school, it threw a a rod and blew the motor...
So I've heard from some people that their Prelude has lasted them for ever and ever, and it's taken anything you can throw at it.. it's just sad my friend's did not.
Interesting review. To the first poster - there is a difference between routine wear and tear and replacements in an old car, and a total mechanical meltdown. The former is routine and the latter is potentially bankrupting; in this case get rid of the car!
It is often the case with old cars that you will hear a plethora of different appraisals and opinions about the exact same model. I have indeed heard that sometimes Preludes are frustratingly unreliable, but on the other hand I have also heard that they are uncannily reliable.
I have been trying to kill mine for the last year and it just won't quit. The thing hasn't been serviced in about 20,000kms, is half finished (engine rattle, blue smoke, LUMPY idle, shot suspension), yet it simply refuses to die. It is an extremely stubborn car, and in my personal experience I would recommend it in a second for reliability; though not for any sort of drivability. In this regard it is pure cheese!
I own a 1989 Japanese model Honda Prelude 3rd gen.. it has done just over 220,000km's...
I honestly have not had any problems at all... I have owned the car for 7 years, and since ownership, the clutch, the shafts, and shaft seal, is all I have replaced on that car...
It is a real sexy and sporty; not so fast, but good enough for me type of car...
That guy that posted that essay above, he really had some bad luck... but not once did he mention how heavy his foot is on the accelerator...
For that many things to go wrong... what can you say... my car has been the best I have ever owned... extremely reliable... and mind you, I do punish my car... I ask for trouble... but the beast keeps rolling along... it is a beauty... I would definitely recommend it to any one that is looking to buy... ***** five star car... cos it's a Honda!
I have to say that I just bought an 89 Prelude today with only 182000klm on the clock. When I took it for a test drive, I gave it heaps to see if it was blowing smoke, however it did not. But get this, I purchased the car, and on the way home on the motorway I punched it till about 110 KLM/h, and thrn it played up running rough for a bit, then blew a heap load of blue smoke. Very unhappy.
I've owned 2 of these cars one was the S model (carbed) and my current one is an Si.
The carbed model was parked at 214000 miles cause I was young and tired of dealing with the hundreds of vacuum lines. My current Si I bought in 2001, 8 years ago and I have put 70k on it, currently at 244k. The only work I have done on it is:
Timing belt done as soon as I bought it. (2001)
Distributor seal and Windshield (2001)
Alternator, Fuel Pump (2003)
CV Axles (2003&2005)
Passenger Ball Joint (2005) swapped off my parked S model
Radiator, All hoses, belts, brakes, rotors (2007)
Single brake line, Clutch slave&master cylinder, valve cover gasket, and clutch master cyl res (2008)
Currently the car needs a timing belt, rear and front main seal. It leaks about half a quart every month, but DOES NOT burn any. In the past I have owned, Mitsubishi, Dodge, Plymouth, and Ford... this little Honda is by far the most reliable. I bought it for $950 and put maybe $1800 in parts and labor into it since buying it.
The only modifications I have put on it are a cold air intake, and a catback system. The car handles extremely well, and I believe is very intuitive. It communicates road conditions and how to correct it better then most cars of that era. Most people make the mistake of comparing it to a modern car, not realizing its 20 years old.
The 5 spd manual is smooth, though as mentioned the 5th gear is not much of an overdrive. It sits at 3000 rpms at 65 mph.
Performance wise its like all other Honda B series motors, it requires revs to get anywhere. I think the sweet spot is about 4000 RPM's but will continue to pull upto 5800. Try avoiding the redline at 6800RPM's, if you hit 7200 might as well say goodbye to your motor.
Finally, if you take care of this car and buy one that has been taken care of you will get many years out of it. Change your damn oil, and keep it tuned up! If you have any questions on how to maintain this car or do any work on it you can email me at thebeerishere@gmail.com I will do my best to walk you through repairing this vehicle or answering any questions.
Well I just bought my 89 Prelude Si, and it won't start now. 136,000 miles, new alternator, new ignition coil, new battery, and I have no spark going to the distributor, and I have no clue why it won't start.
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