1988 Honda Prelude SI 4WS review from North America

Starter, alternator, water pump, brake master cylinder, A/C compressor, drivers side CV axle, rear sway bar bolts, ALL FOUR BRAKE CALIPERS, radiator fan switch, passengers side ball joint..

Additionally: the fuel filler pipe leaked gasoline all over a station last year while filling up and required replacing. $2000 in *parts* (not labor) since last year.

This car has a horrible rust problem and I've watched the entire rear quarter erode and rot off for the last year. I cannot believe how rusty this thing has gotten.

Last week (July 2000), I had excessive valve lash noise coming home on the highway. The exhaust camshaft broke off, took the timing belt with it, and I bent valves. Now I'm looking for a complete head for the stupid car.

This is the third Honda Prelude I've owned. The other two were a 1984 S and a 1988 S. Those were both wonderful and reliable cars. My roommate wrecked them BOTH! - the 1984 was totalled with 174,000.... I made him buy the 1988 from me for $700 when he crashed it into a Subaru at 140,000 miles.

It's still driving with 163,000 miles and no problems but brakes/tires/oil/belts/etc. Oh, and a smashed up front end. Not Honda's fault.

I was genuinely SHOCKED by what a piece of miserable junk the third Prelude is.