1989 Honda Prelude Si review from Australia and New Zealand

Air Conditioning: Required new compressor at 185,000km.

Timing Belt broke at 220,000: Whole New Engine was required, although this problem was caused by general lack of maintenance. (AU $5200)

Aerial broke.

It took only one drive of a Honda Prelude for me to decide it was the car for me. It wasn't orginally what I was looking for as I wanted to get a MR2 with a mid engine layout. However test drives of thoses where disappointing and a 5 minute stint in the Prelude swayed my direction immediately.

This car is the best car I have ever driven. I shopped around for 5 months to find the perfect example.

Now I have a company car, and now my Prelude has become my weekend toy. It now has 17" rims, CD/MD player, completely rebuild motor (from mainly new parts), 2 1/4" exhaust system and extractors.

The cars cornering and braking are incredible, and the acceleration is pretty quick. The 4WS can be tricky to get used to, particularly when driving the car to its limits, but the turning circle is tiny. The only down side of the Prelude is the front wheel drive, if only Honda made it rear???

Parking is a breeze, you can see the corners of the car and the 4WS means parallel parking is done most times by driving in forwards!

Once you drive one... you will be hooked!

Buy it for:

Handling

Acceleration

Parking

Fun

Safety

Reliability

Fuel Economy

Engineering Quality.

Don't buy it because:

Front Wheel Drive

Cost of Spare Parts.