Very reliable, other than routine maintenance (oil/air/fuel filters, brake pads, timing belts, tires, valve adjustment, etc.) I've had to do nothing to it (except keep it clean and waxed!). Impressive power for it's time. I love driving this car everyday.

Lack of aftermarket performance upgrades parts available.

If you are looking for a used performer, I would highly recommend this car. Mine still looks nearly new and runs like I just drove it off the lot - and it has 140k miles on the odometer. Funny to note that the original battery is still starting the car every morning. As it gets older, and they become less common, I seem to get more and more comments on the car.

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2000 Honda Civic EX, 1990 Honda Civic

This car is awesome! It is fun to drive gets up and goes, and is extremely reliable. Best car in it's class by far! Cornering is a sinch in this car, especially with the Sports Sequential shifter, I hardly use the brakes! The car is smooth on the road, but you still feel the road just right!

Take off is a bit slow, but not to bad

I paid 23,299 for the 200HP Prelude which is a steel! I love this car and I would recommend it to anyone who likes to enjoy the car they are driving.

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Had a 91 Toyota MR2, I think the Prelude out performs the MR2 overall. Although take off is a bit slower over all the Prelude is a much better car.

Tremendous perfomance, great stule, and resopnsible seating. I am impresed with the veicles overall livability as well.

The trim on the windo leaks in cold weather if it gets wet. However my warrant fixed the problem.

This is one peppy car. That VTec likes to zing right up to that 7,000 rpm redline. It stays fluid an strong all the way up there. The brakes are exceptional the ABS works in perfect syncipation with the suspension to stop you on corners in wet or dry. The 4 wheel double-wishbone suspension is suprising supple but, when pushed maintains its confidence in curves. Another notable factor about the Prelude is is build quality. I noticed many little details that you don't usually notice on a 20 grand car. The seals on the suspension bushings are protcted with an extra ring, the trunk is lined with a quality fabric, the ash trays are rimmed with metal. The fit and finish of this automoble are quite good. The paint beads the rain right off, and when the "Lude" is clean it appears as if waxed. Many say that because of its 2 + 2 layout it is a sports car without the guts. Well, I state that the suprisingly comfotable and large backseats provide the flexibilty many young profesionals such as I need. I plan on having kids in the next ten years and the back seats will provide necessary room for a child of five years. The cars overall livability is quite good. It has adaquate trunk space, preforms better than many coupes on snow and ice, and cleans esily. It is great for toolin' aroung town or screaming down a twisting 2 lane highway.

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I test drove the Eclipse by Mitsubishi. It simply was not of the same quality. The "Lude" is almost fluid like in its perfomance. The Eclipse was rather crude. I also prefer the Preludes sophisticated style to the flash of the Eclipse

Performance, reliability, looks

Limited seat adjustments. Honda servicing is inconsistent.

I've been driving and autocrossing Preludes since 1984 -- this is, in my opinion, the best sports coupe built in it's price range. While the '84 could have used more power, later models have corrected this. Handling is outstanding -- this car inspires confidence at speed, and I've never had any trouble placing it exactly where I want it on the road. Reliability is unmatched -- I have never been stranded in a Prelude by a problem I didn't cause, and the car's toughness has gotten me home a few times when others wouldn't have made it.

Nits...this is a "short" car -- I'm 5'7" and with a helmet, my head's firmly wedged against the roof. A height-adjustable seat would be nice. So would a telescoping steering column -- I'm constantly hunting between two seat positions, trying to get a spot comfortable for both arms and legs. It hasn't been that much of a problem, though -- over the course of 16 years, I've driven each car on 600-mile-per-day cross-country trips without real complaint.

Honda service departments are not always helpful either -- I've run into service writers who flat out did not know much about cars (any car -- not just Preludes). Labor tends to be on the high side. And many independent mechanics are not really familiar with later model Preludes -- reliability has a price, I suppose!

All-in-all, though, I'd buy another -- and when my current Prelude wears out, I probably will.

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VW GTI, Dodge Daytona, Toyota Celica, VW Corrado, Porsche 944. The 944 is better (but at a price!). The Corrado, equal. The others...in the weeds.

the 92-96 preludes are the best looking honda sports cars around. definitely better than those new preludes (97-now) with the ugly headlights! my gas mileage is great - mostly because its 5spd and most miles are freeway miles. but the car is definitely reliable with 107,000+ miles on it and its been through one accident. it still drives and handles excellent and can smoke any car out on the road.

don't expect four seats b/c it only has two...the rear fits about my purse and that's it. i've sat in the back of my own car once and it wasn't too comfortable...and i'm only 5'2''. and gas gets expensive because the tank is big and the car calls for premium feul. the cup holder doesn't always hold my cup.

i bought the car used for 7,000. blue book at the time that i bought it was over 9,500. i definitely recommend this car. the only time i had problems with it was after a nasty accident that called for some new internal parts. but now that everything is fixed, it's running as great as it did before. even though this car is 8 years old, it still looks as good as the 96 model and nobody can believe that it's a 92. if you're looking for a used car that is fun to drive and will turn heads, buy a fourth gen. prelude. just don't get it if you're expecting to take a family trip with it or something.

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93 honda accord, but that is in a different class than the prelude. 99 Civic Si...a great car and comparable to the prelude...but it just doesn't look nearly as good. something about it says that it's still just a civic.

This is the best car in its class in my humble opinion. I love the style of the car. The rear lights are amazing and the front of great once you fall in love with them. The handling is superb and the reliability is great. Power is not bad at all with 200 horsepower on tap and plenty of room for modification. There is a reason why this car was rated number one for so long in many magazines I have read. You can not imagine what you can actually get for $25k. This is an amazing car and if you haven't test drivin one, then you don't know what you are missing.

You can't beat a VIPER, darn!

For $16,500, this car was a steal. It can out handle many $45k+ cars and has the power to beat them too. The handling is just something I can not get over so fast. The comfortable ride and eligance of the car says it all. With body styles resembling something in a dream this car will be one dream you do not want to wake up from. Number one in all the magazines for a reason so check it out!

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Well the Acura Integra Type R is pretty close. It actually handles better and faster because it is light but as for being a comfortable ride, the Type R just won't do that. Type R is more for the drag strip racer or the everyday autocrosser. It can not compare to the Prelude in terms of everything else. Prelude is number one.

I love this car! Quick, stylish and a lot of fun to drive. I mean A LOT OF FUN TO DRIVE!!!! Best handling car I ever had.

Size. Pretty small car. I feel crowded in it when someone else is in the car with me. The trunk can barely fit my golf clubs, the back seat is for show, the glove box can only fit a glove.

I leased this car. Now it is going back to Honda so they can auction it off. I originally was going to purchase this car after the lease was up but I need more space. Don't get me wrong, I highly recommend this car (esp. the SH). You will not be disappointed! As I got older, want more luxury features and space. So, if you run across a Black lude with 28,000 miles on it, it could be my car which was "babied" as long as I had it!

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Integra GS-R

2nd gear..even in the 4 speed automatic...the handling, amazing for its price class

very heavy, take off is sllloooooowww

Yes! I would recommend this car to anyone who wants an "entry-level sports car," great handling compared to everything in its price class and power to back it! This car is made for someone who wants comfort, superior handling, and power. Although not as fast as the Acura Integra Type R, the Prelude looks classier and the SH handles better.

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None

This car handles great. The visibility is superb, it feels like your driving in a greenhouse. It's reasonably quick, at least quick to have fun, but not quick enough to get myself into real trouble. I have an automatic, which cuts down on the fun a bit, but it has an S3-S4 trigger on the shifter, which works very well on the highway. I took it up to 120, not bad for a 135 hp 4-cylinder.. I think the car's great and I like to play. The car seems to attract people in pickup trucks who want to race. Their loss. I get about 28 mpg driving 35 miles each way to work rather fast.

The problems I have with the car are more to do with it having 158k miles and being 11 years old. Little dings, paint fading, Hub caps look like crap. The black trim under the windows cracks and peels off.

I paid $2400. Then I paid about $500 getting a valvejob and radiator flush. I have to get a CV joint replaced and a few other things done. I'll probably pump another $1000 dollars into it through the next year.
Overall, I recommend it, if you're looking for a cheap, fun way to get around. It's faster than normal cars, but not as fast as "real" sports car.

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90 Integra GS, this is my brother's and it's a stick, so it had more balls but the Prelude seems to handle about the same.

Handling is great, and the car feels relatively comfortable compared to an Integra or Eclipse.

Not enough low-end torque. Looks fine, but controversial. Needs a shorter shifter and higher-rpm.

Yes, for those who appreciate curves and not just straight lines. For those who appreciate pure driving pleasure however, go with the Integra Type-R. I paid 21,800 + taxes and license fees. It's more expensive in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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1997 Integra GSR. The lude is more refined and handles better, but not as agile. The car also feels more secure.