My poor Honda may have finally kicked off, help with new-to-me car choice

[mithrandir2001]

Originally posted by: Rallispec

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Another $500 will get you something like a 4 banger grand am that's half as old, and has half as many miles.

another 500 will get him a new spoiler and a new muffler also.

That's easy, then. Get the spoiler and the muffler!

 

[Lucky]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Another $500 will get you something like a 4 banger grand am that's half as old, and has half as many miles.

too bad they dont last half as long as hondas.

 

[CocaCola5]

If the car is clean and looks well kept then its a good deal.

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: CocaCola5
If the car is clean and looks well kept then its a good deal.

I was just going to post the same thing. That generation of Prelude has a certain uniqueness and appeal (I know not everybody sees it, but it's there), and clean, well maintained one (especially dealer maintained and/or with all Honda parts) is worth the premium to enough people that the high asking price is justified.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Another $500 will get you something like a 4 banger grand am that's half as old, and has half as many miles.

The only problem with that is then I'd have a Grand Am, and the only thing I'd want less than a GM product is a Chrysler product. Plus the Grand Am would probably be an automatic, the 4-cyl Grand Am is 20 hp down on the Prelude, and 500+ pounds heavier than the Prelude. Bad combination.

As for the price, it's actually about 1,000 below KBB. The pictures I've seen of the car don't show any rust. Of course I'll have to check it out in person. I know the rust areas for third generation Hondas all too well.

ZV

 

[ThisIsMatt]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Another $500 will get you something like a 4 banger grand am that's half as old, and has half as many miles.

For $500 less I'll sell him a POS. lol

 

[Zenmervolt]

Stupid people an not taking down their used car websites after the car was sold. No local Prelude in my future. Oh well, at least now I know what I want to replace the Accord.

ZV

 

[Lucky]

well uh, if you are looking for a clean 1989 prelude si with 195,000 that has been babied to death, my ex lives in newark a little south of columbus. She's looking to sell soon!

 

[iamwiz82]

i would never never never buy a car like that as a daily driver, but thats me.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Lucky
well uh, if you are looking for a clean 1989 prelude si with 195,000 that has been babied to death, my ex lives in newark a little south of columbus. She's looking to sell soon!

Hmmmm. Only if my Accord dies for sure, and if the Si checks out at a mechanic, and if the Si is a 5-speed. Automatics need not apply. 195,000 miles is a little scary, but it would definitely help with making the car affordable.

As for a Prelude as a daily driver, it would actually be better than my Accord. My Accord weighs just barely over 2,500 lbs. The 3rd generation Prelude weighs just over 2,700 lbs. The Prelude is 200 lbs heavier than the Accord. That can only transfer into better traction in adverse weather.

Update on my Accord. Just remembered that a malfunctioning O2 sensor would give me exactly these symptoms (minus the smoke of course) and that the O2 sensor is original. It might be as simple as that. If not, then I guess I'll be asking Lucky if he has any pics of his ex's car.

ZV

EDIT: Never mind, re-read Lucky's post and discovered the car he's talking about is an automatic. Not interested.

 

[CraigRT]

My LeBaron GTS went over 260,000 kms before the timing belt needed to be changed.

luckily it's a clearance head.. and i just let it die instead of willingly changing the belt.... didn't hurt anything... hondas the same way??

 

[Lucky]

Never mind, re-read Lucky's post and discovered the car he's talking about is an automatic. Not interested.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Yield
My LeBaron GTS went over 260,000 kms before the timing belt needed to be changed.

luckily it's a clearance head.. and i just let it die instead of willingly changing the belt.... didn't hurt anything... hondas the same way??

Hondas are interferance engines. If the timing belt breaks it means you're buying new heads and valvetrain. 60,000 mile interval is pretty much the universal recommendation for a timing belt. A timing chain will last much, much longer.

ZV

 

[ObiDon]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Yield
My LeBaron GTS went over 260,000 kms before the timing belt needed to be changed.

luckily it's a clearance head.. and i just let it die instead of willingly changing the belt.... didn't hurt anything... hondas the same way??

Hondas are interferance engines. If the timing belt breaks it means you're buying new heads and valvetrain. 60,000 mile interval is pretty much the universal recommendation for a timing belt. A timing chain will last much, much longer.

ZV

Do all cars with timing chains use chan tensioners? How long do those tend to last?

Don't you have a 914? I think it needs a pal!
Okay, okay, I know about all that practicality mumbo jumbo!

 

[Zenmervolt]

Do all cars with timing chains use chan tensioners? How long do those tend to last?

Don't you have a 914? I think it needs a pal!

Every timing chain that I've seen uses a tensioner. The tensioners tend to be fairly reliable, and even when the tensioner fails the chain's not likely to fail, just make a lot of noise. I don't need another 914. I'd love to have a really nice 914 (could get one for about $10,000) but then the white 914 would get neglected since it would then serve no purpose. Of course, if I got a 914/6 then the 914/4 would sitll be different and I'd have to keep it...

Nah, I need a Honda around for reliability. (Although that doesn't seem to be working out really well right now.)

ZV

 

[AreaCode707]

Aaron's Honda died? I think I'll cry... Y'know, there are things you count on in this world, and Aaron's Honda running forever was one of those things... *sob*

 

[Thegonagle]

I just thought of something. The hesitation could very likely be caused by a bad TPS sensor (there should be a code set if the PGM-FI light is on, find out how to check it), and the smoke could be from a seized water pump, alternator, or anything else turned by a belt. BTW, the water pump is not turned by the timing belt on this car.