Honda Prelude Forum banner

Just Purchased used Prelude How long will it last?

2.8K views 20 replies 17 participants last post by  beepnoodle  
#1 ·
Hi..I just purchased 91 lude SI with 116k miles.
I was in market for either used civic or accords (93-94).
Then i heard about Prelude which has less problems than those models above.
I read some people citing above 200k and it still drives like "new"..

I needed a car which is not expensive but reliable.

Hope this one last beyond 200k ^^
 
#2 ·
wow 200k.. keep an eye on everything.. u should check to see what has been changed.. i would be worried about the axles.. because its a mess to clean up and better changing them before they mess up on u..

i'm unsure how much longer u got.. but i kno theres tons on the board that have gone over that and are running great..... but the b21 maybe burning oil u should check that.
 
#3 ·
JAY_JAY_N said:
wow 200k.. keep an eye on everything.. u should check to see what has been changed.. i would be worried about the axles.. because its a mess to clean up and better changing them before they mess up on u..

i'm unsure how much longer u got.. but i kno theres tons on the board that have gone over that and are running great..... but the b21 maybe burning oil u should check that.
haha. he didn't say his car HAS 200k miles. he said he hopes it lasts that long.

if you keep the prelude stock and be nice to it, it'll last well past 200k miles. my smokey, abused b21a1 90 Si ALB prelude blew up at 275k miles and only because i stopped putting oil in it.

if you're just looking for a reliable car, it should be ok. if you drive it like a sports care (like the rest of us), then you'll start breaking stuff left and right. she is almost 20 years old, remember.

I would do a normal tune up, and check all the suspension, brake, and emissions parts.
 
#4 ·
Wow. if you drive a prelude nice, it will last forever. Im commin up on 300km with mine (295), and it runs awsome. It was at 284 when i bought it and all I've had to do was change oil. I have heard of preludes going over 500km. The shop my borther works at rents their tools to people who want to do their own work, and one guy was restoring the body on an 86, that had over 800km, no lie.


Now I know its no fun to drive a prelude nice, but as long as you keep oil changes and maintince regular you should have no problems, except of course for rust, if you live in northern regions. Enjoy the lude man!
 
#5 ·
ohh my bad lol.. 116 thats great.. better condition then mine lol.. but u should do the usual stuff.. examine the axles because its sooo messy when the boot tears lol...
 
#8 ·
danieljdsn said:
Hi..I just purchased 91 lude SI with 116k miles.
I was in market for either used civic or accords (93-94).
Then i heard about Prelude which has less problems than those models above.
I read some people citing above 200k and it still drives like "new"..

I needed a car which is not expensive but reliable.

Hope this one last beyond 200k ^^
Hey check out this page: http://mustardcat.brinkster.net/p3g/CommonProblemFixes/Justbought/justbought.htm

I threw it together mostly for new lude owners, walks you though most of the basic tune-up items to get the car in top shape.
 
#9 ·
My 91 SI is lasting great it has 186k miles on it ive never had anything wrong with it except the axle that i broke jumping train tracks. And im a very abusive young driver.IF u treat it right u can easily make 200K in my opinion. DO the B21a1 really burn and eat oil that much i never had a problem with oil other then when i cracked the oil pan on my train track jumping days? Yes im well aware that that was very stupid
 
#11 · (Edited)
The main things I would inspect are the timing belt and the radiator. Overheating and a broken timing belt are the only two things that usually kill a Honda engine, otherwise it will last for a long time. Also, just make sure to get under the hood once every couple weeks to make sure everything is looking good. I've got 232K miles on mine and it runs better now after all the repairs than most newer used Hondas, but I also check her out every weekend just as a habit to make sure that everything is okay. The main thing is to keep up on the maintenance and inspect under the hood on a regular basis. If you notice any problems fix it asap. Also make sure to keep the body nice and clean so the clear coat doesn't peel and the body doesn't rust. Happy luding!
 
#12 ·





Thats an old pic too, shes got about 209k on the same motor and trans she rolled off the line with. Only thing ive done is a radiator, minor suspension work and reg. maintenance on time, every time. Really depends on how well you take care of her. Proper maintenance and what not and shell run forever.
 
#13 ·
Thanks Guys ^^

Wow. Great Stories. Legend lives on haha...^^

I just did 120k factory recommand service. Power Flush Trannny (auto).
Got new B pipe and muffler. yah.. power antenna was not functioning so got a replacement antenna...
A/C is working fine (cold for 14 years old, i think previous owner recharged it recentnly
After, did the maintenance, i think my Lude drives much nicer i mean smoother
Well, my question is.. now i should i should check under the hood once in a while, but how do know when is the time to replace "Radiator"?
May be when it overheats? ^^

Well i guess i made a right choice friends..

Thanks..
 
#15 ·
Yep, Ludes Live Forever ...

My baby has 245 000 km on it, not sure how many miles this is .......

So far all I did was radiator work .....

Like everyone else said, regular maintenance and everything should be fine .....

:p
 
#16 ·
Unaturally Aspired said:
Forever.

You'll fall it love with it, then proccede to spend every cent you have in repairing it and keeping it running. The only way to get rid of a prelude is to total it.
:p
amen.. i used to hate the 3rd gen with a passion when i was younger, based on looks alone. after i drove one (and only) i bought it. 179,000 miles when i bought it and i drove it hard to see what it was made of. dude before me only put less than 10,000 miles a year on it and was the OG owner. car drives and handles like a champ but needed some TLC...it gets LOTS of TLC. i drive it hard but i take care of it. solid as a rock. but any 17 year old car will need some work.

99% of my cash goes into the car. it controls my thoughts
 
#17 ·
i have a 91 si of course it came with the b21 well the previous owner used this poor engine for street racing. The moron ran a 125 shot of nos into it. I didnt know this when i bought the car (800 dollars). it would have lasted forever if it wasnt for the stupidity of the previous owner. well it is now a 91 2.0si with 33k mi on the motor and i know it will last a long long time.
 
#20 ·
I have 222Km on my '91 and blew the rings in #4 but I drive like a bat outa **** :p Great cars... In the process of fixin up my '88... I might finish buy the end of the summer :sleepy:
 
#21 ·
danieljdsn said:
Wow. Great Stories. Legend lives on haha...^^

Well, my question is.. now i should i should check under the hood once in a while, but how do know when is the time to replace "Radiator"?
May be when it overheats? ^^
No no no, don't wait until then!!!! That's how I blew the headgasket on my old motor! Overheating blows headgaskets! If you look inside the radiator and it looks all rotten and crystallized inside then it's time for a new one. Otherwise, just get the cooling system flushed when you have time and that should be fine for now. The temperature needle should sit just below the halfway mark.