New guy, no car

[Chips]

First of all, I'd like to say hi to all you Prelude owners out there. Second, the reason I joined is because I saw a '90 Prelude si for sale in town and am seriously considering buying it. I only caught a glance of it, so I don't know much except that it's a 5 speed, is driven buy some kid in High School, and the asking price is $1800 (which to me reads 1500). A friend of mine has seen him around town and says he drives it pretty hard. I need to find him again so I can talk to him. From what I've said, is this car in the range of fair price? No, I don't know the mileage on the car but I'm going to assume no more than normal for a 16 year old car. This is a small town so there really isn't much reason to drive a lot. I currently drive a '00 automatic neon but I'm sick of it and want to go to something with a 5-speed as well as something takes to mods better (neons don't get much power from anything). Any input you might have is appreciated :smile:

x-posted on pp.com

[Prelude13]

$1500.=$1000. :biggrin:


These are extremelly fun cars, check out www.prelude3g.com for a lot of mods and tutorials.

Welcome to the board, hope you get a 3g Lude! <--the best car you will never forget

[Pauludeiful]

I'd say go for it. My last car was an 97 Dodge stratus es slapstick. I could have modified a few things to make it faster. But every Mopar forum I went to kept saying the same thing. If you modify that motor, be prepared to replace that trans. So, rather than trying to modify a car I didn't want to drive into something I might. I started searching for my prelude. I had had one about 6 years ago and always wanted another. Then I found an 89si 5 speed, with 60k on it. I paid $3500. I haven't looked back since.

[Chips]

Thanks for the welcome :smile: Right now my main concern is finding that car again so I can get to talk to that kid. Do you guys have any suggestions on what I should ask about in regards to wear on the car? What tends to go out on these cars? I hear that they eat oil, and the water pump can go out. Also something about the syncros going bad. Oh, and rust on the corner panels was mentioned. Anything else I should be wary of? Any input is appreciated :3:

[THE ONE]

welcome to the boards and I also say go for it!

[Prelude13]

Thanks for the welcome :smile: Right now my main concern is finding that car again so I can get to talk to that kid. Do you guys have any suggestions on what I should ask about in regards to wear on the car? What tends to go out on these cars? I hear that they eat oil, and the water pump can go out. Also something about the syncros going bad. Oh, and rust on the corner panels was mentioned. Anything else I should be wary of? Any input is appreciated :3:

Since he is a kid he probably doesn't know much about the Prelude, so dont waste your time asking him :redface:

If you flag him down, open the hood and look at the motor.
Locate the motor stamp and see if it says, B21a1 or b20a5 or b20a.
It should have the b21a1, the motor that comes with the car.
These motors will tend to burn oil later in its life.

Honda rust is typical to the rear quarter panels around the wheel wells.
Concerning the synchros that's really how the car hasbeen driven/abused in its life.
The water pump is a maintainence item.


Uhmm...you'll probably notice power steering fluid smeared on the underside of the hood as well, that's normal. other than that, it is a 17 year old car. So you figure out the math

good luck!

[Chips]

Checking under the hood was definitely on my todo list, including checking the engine code. A friend of mine said he has seen the kid driving his car hard so I'll ask him about a slipping clutch or bad synchros. I'll also have to ask about any maintenance hes done to the car. With any luck, he will know how to take care of a car. I'm no car expert and I don't pretend to be, but I know a few things here and there and I've been reading about honda motors for a while now (I've actually been considering buying a civic to mod for almost a year now but never had the money).

[91Si4WS]

get a prelude you won't regret it, drive a civic then drive a prelude and that will make up your mind, exspeshally if it's a 3rd gen!!

[Chips]

Really what I'm after is a car that is cheap and will take decently to mods.. Being a mechanical engineering student, I want to be able to tinker with something and feel like i accomplished something. Neons are not very good for that >_> I'm also a huge fan of the sport compact cars; they fit my personality really well lol. Because of these facts, civic was the obvious first choice, but then this prelude came around....

[sappysport215]

hi.

[insanodano]

1800 for a 27yr old ca?