1988 Honda Prelude SI 4WS from North America - Comments

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.

I guess the assembly line of every car produces the odd lemon, but this review seems extreme in the extreme. I've had a Prelude of this vintage for two years and I've had not the slightest problem - certainly not a touch of rust. Then again I don't drive on the salt laden roads of North America.

I have a 1988 4WS Prelude, it's my 6th Prelude, the first of the 3rd generation. It's a great working car and very reliable. It is autocrossed every other weekend during the season. It's the best Prelude I've had. My advice to you, as I am a motor vehicle technician, who has worked for Honda, is to check the meaning of the words preventive maintenance.

I think the fact that the 'lemon's odometer reads 172000 miles speaks for itself.... and also speaks to the possibility that the author's mechanic is using the author's car to put his kids through college.

I have the same vehicle, and I've had to get very little done to it (it's at 170,000 km). My car has no rust, and drives beautiful... You just had bad bad bad bad luck...

I have a 1988 Si 4WS and have never, ever had a single engine or transmission problem in the seven years I've owned the car. However, I have had problems with body rust exclusively in the rear quarter panel. Nevertheless, a really fun car to drive. Sorry you've had such bad fortune with your car.

We have had a 1988 Honda Prelude for 7 years. We bought it used with 24K on it. Now it has 98k on it.

This is my first Honda and I'm not that impressed. It has had the right axle replaced twice, the A/C has been repaired 3 times, the radiator replaced, had the timing belt and water pump replaced as maintenance items??? At 90k. The transmission makes a loud noise in park after shifting from reverse, the sunroof leaks buckets, and speaking of buckets, it's a rust bucket too. I have owned over 40 cars, this isn't the worst, but far from the best.

I have a 1988 4WS Prelude, it's my 6th Prelude, the first of the 3rd generation. It's a great working car and very reliable. It is autocrossed every other weekend during the season. It's the best Prelude I've had. My advice to you, as I am a motor vehicle technician, who has worked for Honda, is to check the meaning of the words preventive maintenance.

Hey dude. Move to Texas/you will not have a rusty car here.

I have a 1988 Honda Prelude Si 4WS. I love this car!!! It's so much fun to drive. It does have a bit of rust and body rot, but that's what patch kits and putty are for. It has 172,000 miles on it and its never let me down. Although, it's not that great in the rain or snow unlike my old '84 cavalier. But when this one goes I'll be pretty upset and I'll try to find another one just like it!!! Don't give up on your Prelude!!!

I have had a 88 prelude for three years. The car hasn't given me any big problems, just little things.

I've got an 88 lude, and had it for a year. No rust no problems until recently wen a bolt come out of the cam a ripped a fist sized hole through the head. I went to my local dealer and they sourced me a brand new never been used motor for $600 (I live in New Zealand) so at the moment it's all in my garage ready to go. It's been a good car and I look forward to a great many miles from it now. it'd done 216456km when the engine crapped itself.

I have a 1988 prelude that hasn't gave me any real problems yet, but I think I have a rod knocking, but other than that the only money I have put in to it was for new rims and tires, cold air intake, spar-co racing seats, and an exahust.

My prelude 1988 SI has over 421K original engine... either you didn't treat it right or... some how it just happened to be one out of the thousands of preludes produced that has problems, but I think I'm going with the first choice :P.