Picked up a '98 Prelude back in 2000. Loved that car. Was really fun, yet comfortable car. Handled very well for stock suspension, engine sounded great, especially at crossover, and was cheap to own/maintain. I hear about oil burn, but I did not experience it. Maybe it was not old enough before I sold it, which was in 2003. I am a serial trader...lol.
I've had the pleasure of owning two Preludes. I had a 2000 Base 4AT in high school and college, which I owned 6 years and now I have a '97 Type SH that I've owned for a year and some change. Some of the key differences between the Base and the Type SH: - The Base has black side skirts and molding on the rear bumper. These parts are color matched to the body on the SH. - Type SH gets its own unique wheels. Same dimensions - 16x8. This car has Type SH wheels. Base wheels are kinda...swoopy on the spokes. Not sure how to describe them. They're neat. - Type SH was only offered with a 5 speed manual - Base Preludes could be optioned with the spoiler. The spoiler is standard on the Type SH. Funny quirk - The Base _always_ comes with an interior third brake light, even if you optioned it with a spoiler. The SH omits it because it always has a spoiler, and the third brake light is built in there. Pay attention to the rearview mirror here. The interior third brake light is there. - Type SH had different springs and therefore a stiffer suspension setup than the Base - The Type SH features a round shift knob with stitching. The Base's shift knob is squared on top. Someone swapped in a Type SH shift knob onto this car. - And yes, of course, there is ATTS. As I understand it, ATTS is a series of clutches that will reduce power being sent to the slipping wheel, thus sending more to the wheel with more grip. Whether it actually worked is up for debate. For the most part, it added weight and complexity where the job could probably be better done by an LSD; ergo, you don't see ATTS in the US outside of Preludes. And since they're mechanical parts that need maintenance, they tend to get neglected as there aren't really any techs who know what it is or that it's there anymore. If you own a so equipped Prelude, it's a drain bolt, a fill bolt, and two quarts of ATF. You need to know this if you own an SH. Essentially, if you want the rarer variant, buy an SH. The Type SH is also compatible with the red top variant of the H22A that makes 217 hp and is the most powerful variant of the engine in stock form. But you cannot pull a manual transmission from a base and mount it in a Type SH because of the ATTS. I don't actually know what it takes to mount any drive line components from a base in a Type SH chassis, if any of them work at all. Another thing to remember is that this was the start of that bad run of automatic transmissions for Honda. Autos in this car are also known to be weak. Still, treat your Prelude right and it'll treat you right. Mine has ~257k on it and still runs like a champ. My old 2000 auto was doing just fine at 197k when I sold it because I kept up with maintenance. These get hella overshadowed by the NSX and S2000, but they're really cheap and a lot of fun for the money. Find a seller that's had theirs listed for a long time, low ball him, and drive the snot out of it. Especially a manual if you can. These are awesome cars.
@spicytuna62 Thanks for the thorough overview! Interesting point on the differential. So, it closer resembles an "E LSD" as they call it in the newer cars. The brake light makes sense. BMW M3s in the 90s were the same way. Factory installed had no shelf brake light whereas dealer installed spoilers did. Always learning new stuff about these older cars. This one was a pleasure to drive.
@cameroncoop6592 haha, rsx love is still strong! Practicality and fun. My first car will never sell it. Preludes I’ve always had a fascination for so I’m hoping they stay affordable as I’m still very young.
I have a 5th gen, pretty modified, love these cars. I’ve had mine for 7 years, and the engine actually is similar to B series engines, it does share some parts and it has the same basic layout. But you’re correct more torque was the goal. These are related to the Accord while the Integras are related to Civics.
@matthewgallant3622 Interesting comparison! I never thought of it that way. It seems to have more torque down low relative to its top end like an Accord.
Great video! Absolutely love the Prelude, hope to own one someday. Unmolested Preludes like this one are getting hard to find, and the ones that aren't modified are asking $10k or more.
@xxCablexx From the owner: On to of the Prelude history. The car was purchased new by a Stanford professor in California who drove the car for the first 94,500 miles. The professor moved to Michigan taking a position at MSU and traded the car into Capital Honda in 2013. An older local artist then purchased the car using it sparingly and only in nice weather adding a total of about 5000 miles over 6 years. Due to health reasons, he sold the car to me in 2020. The second owner learned that I collected older Hondas, and he actually wrote me a letter asking if I would be interested in continuing ownership of the car. I was happy to do so, opting to replace the aftermarket wheels that came on the car with a refinished set of Type SH wheels, new tires, new struts, a host of maintenance items, an oem rear spoiler, refinished valve cover, and refinishing of the exhaust manifold cover. I did my very best to model this car after the example that Honda keeps in the American Honda Collection Hall. During my ownership, I have added a little over 2000 miles in 4 years. The car has always been owned and cared for by older owners and never abused in any way.
@@M-t3ch yes they do a lot of people who owns one will tell you they leak water out of the taillights because the steal fails overtime! I know my Honda’s still
@@M-t3ch they aren't bad but, they are the worst imo. My father had the 84, my aunt had an 87. I have a 90. My cousin had a 94. I had a 97. All the previous generations were really comfortable and had good bolstering, I could sit in them all day.
@@M-t3ch yea. I believe that. If you ever get the chance of getting your hands on a 3rd gen, go test drive it. I enjoy that more than I ever did with my type sh and it only had 135hp
holy this channel is underrated i thought this was like 300k subs type video w the editing u have a ton of potential
@@billy4301 That means a lot. I appreciate the support!
I was gonna say the same thing. But I couldn’t help but not be slightly disconcerted by the slight angle of the head cam. Great video!
@986BoxS It does doesn't it? Just noticing that too. I'll try to fix it moving forward!
@@M-t3ch haha I just couldn’t shake it. Ended up watching part of the video with my phone at an angle 😅😅. Keep the awesome content up!
@986BoxS Haha, rock on 🤘. We'll keep them coming!
One of my favorite Honda’s!
@@Jay-sb2xs I like them a lot too!
@@M-t3ch I love Honda’s my buddy owned 3 civics now he has a CRV 04
Picked up a '98 Prelude back in 2000. Loved that car. Was really fun, yet comfortable car. Handled very well for stock suspension, engine sounded great, especially at crossover, and was cheap to own/maintain. I hear about oil burn, but I did not experience it. Maybe it was not old enough before I sold it, which was in 2003. I am a serial trader...lol.
@@willjam465 It must have been a very nice car back then!
I've had the pleasure of owning two Preludes. I had a 2000 Base 4AT in high school and college, which I owned 6 years and now I have a '97 Type SH that I've owned for a year and some change.
Some of the key differences between the Base and the Type SH:
- The Base has black side skirts and molding on the rear bumper. These parts are color matched to the body on the SH.
- Type SH gets its own unique wheels. Same dimensions - 16x8. This car has Type SH wheels. Base wheels are kinda...swoopy on the spokes. Not sure how to describe them. They're neat.
- Type SH was only offered with a 5 speed manual
- Base Preludes could be optioned with the spoiler. The spoiler is standard on the Type SH. Funny quirk - The Base _always_ comes with an interior third brake light, even if you optioned it with a spoiler. The SH omits it because it always has a spoiler, and the third brake light is built in there. Pay attention to the rearview mirror here. The interior third brake light is there.
- Type SH had different springs and therefore a stiffer suspension setup than the Base
- The Type SH features a round shift knob with stitching. The Base's shift knob is squared on top. Someone swapped in a Type SH shift knob onto this car.
- And yes, of course, there is ATTS. As I understand it, ATTS is a series of clutches that will reduce power being sent to the slipping wheel, thus sending more to the wheel with more grip. Whether it actually worked is up for debate. For the most part, it added weight and complexity where the job could probably be better done by an LSD; ergo, you don't see ATTS in the US outside of Preludes. And since they're mechanical parts that need maintenance, they tend to get neglected as there aren't really any techs who know what it is or that it's there anymore. If you own a so equipped Prelude, it's a drain bolt, a fill bolt, and two quarts of ATF. You need to know this if you own an SH.
Essentially, if you want the rarer variant, buy an SH. The Type SH is also compatible with the red top variant of the H22A that makes 217 hp and is the most powerful variant of the engine in stock form.
But you cannot pull a manual transmission from a base and mount it in a Type SH because of the ATTS. I don't actually know what it takes to mount any drive line components from a base in a Type SH chassis, if any of them work at all.
Another thing to remember is that this was the start of that bad run of automatic transmissions for Honda. Autos in this car are also known to be weak.
Still, treat your Prelude right and it'll treat you right. Mine has ~257k on it and still runs like a champ. My old 2000 auto was doing just fine at 197k when I sold it because I kept up with maintenance. These get hella overshadowed by the NSX and S2000, but they're really cheap and a lot of fun for the money. Find a seller that's had theirs listed for a long time, low ball him, and drive the snot out of it. Especially a manual if you can. These are awesome cars.
@spicytuna62 Thanks for the thorough overview! Interesting point on the differential. So, it closer resembles an "E LSD" as they call it in the newer cars.
The brake light makes sense. BMW M3s in the 90s were the same way. Factory installed had no shelf brake light whereas dealer installed spoilers did.
Always learning new stuff about these older cars. This one was a pleasure to drive.
Dream car, will own one day. For now it'll be RSX :)
RSXs are cool too!
its funny you say that cause i currently have a prelude and a rsx type s is my dream honda lol
@cameroncoop6592 haha, rsx love is still strong! Practicality and fun. My first car will never sell it. Preludes I’ve always had a fascination for so I’m hoping they stay affordable as I’m still very young.
Such a professional and detailed channel, its going to take off so keep putting in the work Sonny! We're all enjoying these videos.
@@nicholasvella4412 I appreciate the support!
I have a 5th gen, pretty modified, love these cars. I’ve had mine for 7 years, and the engine actually is similar to B series engines, it does share some parts and it has the same basic layout. But you’re correct more torque was the goal. These are related to the Accord while the Integras are related to Civics.
@matthewgallant3622 Interesting comparison! I never thought of it that way. It seems to have more torque down low relative to its top end like an Accord.
Great video! Absolutely love the Prelude, hope to own one someday. Unmolested Preludes like this one are getting hard to find, and the ones that aren't modified are asking $10k or more.
@@nchondakid Nice ones do command a lot of money now!
Love my 2006 Civic Si Fg2 Coupe 😊
Awesome, now do the 6TH Gen Accord Coupe
@@BETTER.ART. I'd love to get my hands on one!
after hearing the stories of the Owners other Hondas, would love to hear the story behind this one
@@xxCablexx I'll ask!
@xxCablexx From the owner:
On to of the Prelude history. The car was purchased new by a Stanford professor in California who drove the car for the first 94,500 miles. The professor moved to Michigan taking a position at MSU and traded the car into Capital Honda in 2013. An older local artist then purchased the car using it sparingly and only in nice weather adding a total of about 5000 miles over 6 years. Due to health reasons, he sold the car to me in 2020. The second owner learned that I collected older Hondas, and he actually wrote me a letter asking if I would be interested in continuing ownership of the car. I was happy to do so, opting to replace the aftermarket wheels that came on the car with a refinished set of Type SH wheels, new tires, new struts, a host of maintenance items, an oem rear spoiler, refinished valve cover, and refinishing of the exhaust manifold cover. I did my very best to model this car after the example that Honda keeps in the American Honda Collection Hall. During my ownership, I have added a little over 2000 miles in 4 years. The car has always been owned and cared for by older owners and never abused in any way.
@@M-t3ch wow, that is amazing to hear the story, it's also awesome to hear how well taken care of it was, thank you!
I've had 2 5th gens 1 second gen i really need another
@@tyhyhh Yes!
That’s the Type-SH 2.2 liter H22 VTEC 5 speed Manuel but those burn oil like crazy
SH and regular both had the same engine. Do they burn a lot of oil?
@@M-t3ch yes they do a lot of people who owns one will tell you they leak water out of the taillights because the steal fails overtime! I know my Honda’s still
@Jay-sb2xs I think every 90s car has the tail light issue lol.
@@M-t3ch never heard of us
I know. They just got more expensive
I tried looking for one but there all beaten high mileage modify prices are crazy
All the nice ones dried up on every 90s/2000s Honda.
@@M-t3ch yeah true
Have new cars gotten better? No, not really 😊
@gertstolk Depends on how you define better haha.
Seats are the worst of all generations
@@yaushaas Really? I like them.
@@M-t3ch they aren't bad but, they are the worst imo. My father had the 84, my aunt had an 87. I have a 90. My cousin had a 94. I had a 97. All the previous generations were really comfortable and had good bolstering, I could sit in them all day.
@yaushaas Interesting! I think these seats feep nicer than a Civic of it's day. But I know towards the end of the Prelude run they weren't as special.
@@M-t3ch yea. I believe that. If you ever get the chance of getting your hands on a 3rd gen, go test drive it. I enjoy that more than I ever did with my type sh and it only had 135hp
@yaushaas I would love to drive one of those. The 4 wheel steering one intrigues me.