That stick was smooth. I once had someone sitting in the back and we had driven for about 50 miles until he first noticed me shifting. He said, that he thought it was an automatic.
Even though the engines had to rev hard to get the power out, they did not feel like they were working that hard. In comparison, a powerful four like the GM quad four felt like you were destroying the engine when you revved it hard.
Gal friend of mine had this Prelude in HS. One ride and I knew these were much better than domestic cars. The way it handled and sounded was completely different. The doors. The dash layout, gages. Everything was purposeful and fun
I had an 86. This generation with 4 wheel discs. It may have been my favorite of the dozens of vehicles I’ve owned. Very light in a way modern cars can never be. Fun little revy engine, great handling 6:17 and brakes. A blast to toss around mountain roads of West Virginia. On the highway 40mpg, dead nuts reliable. Bought with 160,000 miles and changed a brake booster during the 120,000 mile stint which I owned it. I hit a deer with it and I assumed it would be totaled. It was not. The insurance company wrote me a check 40 percent over what I paid for the car 4 years earlier and I sold the wrecked car for another $400. Was great in the snow with a pair of snow tires as long as it wasn’t deep. No other car has ever suited my needs as this car did at that time in my life.
I currently drive a 1985 SI prelude. It's had about 10 owners, was caked in ancient mud, 170,000 miles with an odometer that runs fast, and no brakes at all , but this car is still a breath of fresh air from from uninspired and depressingly styled nanny cars of today. It's never let me down despite incredible abuse and one of the fuel injectors straight up not working. 900$ was what i payed for it in 2019. My family made fun of me for driving a 35 year old car as my first car , but i told them "find a car this beautiful that runs for 900$ then you we'll talk". The prelude is an absolute gem. Nothing like it will ever exist again. Just remember this car has not 1 but 2 fuel filters !
This was my dad's first brand new car. He sold it for a brand new 1993 Taurus SHO that I had the pleasure of driving secondhand in highschool in 2003/2004. A Prelude and SHO basically encompass my entire growing life.
incyphe You still CAN get more 80s -First, put it in Sport Coupé. Second, make sure it has retractable headlamps. And if you still want more, then add a t-roof, a bra and seat covers.
My first car was a white '86 Prelude SI with the gold spoked wheels. Man I loved that car! Handled great and had plenty of power......it got me a few speeding tickets as a teen.
I loved the Prelude and owned 3 of them. First one was an '80 model. Second Prelude was an '88 Prelude Si 4WS and the third was a '94 Prelude VTEC. I have fond memories of all 3 of them. It's May '22 now and it's been decades since I owned my Preludes. However, I've stuck with Honda/Acura ever since. Currently have a '20 Accord Touring 2.0T and I think it is awesome! Love Honda products.
I really loved the styling of this Prelude. For me, this is about the time Honda started its golden years, when they were making some of the most stylish cars you could buy for this kind of money. It's a verry underrated classic car!
Yeah, it just pitty they have lost their edge now. Definitly when it comes to coupes and the American Acura line. What ever happened to the Prelude, the Integra and the CRX? whatever happened to our heroes? :p
The '80's was my favorite decade for Honda styling, both inside and out. They got the balance just right of being fresh & modern without looking like something that had just beamed down from 2050, and it definitely worked. These cars look every bit as good today as they did 34 years ago.
I love 80s Hondas too. They had sort of an exotic Ferrari-esque styling to them. But by the mid 90s they reverted back to the stereotypical rice burner look from the 70s. But I do say some of the newer Hondas are starting to look pretty good.
Typo on the title--that's actually an '83 model. I owned an '84 model and LOVED it. It was a fun sports car that handled well, had excellent visibility, and surprising utility with the folding back seats opening to the trunk. At the time, Car & Driver named the Prelude the second-best-handling car, 2nd only to the Porsche 944. The Prelude was a light, fun car.
I used to drive one of these in high school. It was a red '84. Sadly it was totaled when a driver failed to yield and pulled out in front of me making a left turn at a light. It was an offset head-on collision at about 35 mph and I walked away from it. It was a great little car and it was built like a tank. The handling was really incredible for a front wheel drive car. It also plowed through snow as if it had four wheel drive. I miss that little car and I wish Honda would bring the Prelude back.
I have a lot of great memories with the Prelude. The first car I ever purchased was the 85 prelude. I loved that car! It never left me stranded, even though I was a college student with no money to take care of it properly. I kept it as a second car until '93 when I got tired of people knocking on my front door asking if they could buy it. I really liked the ultra light steering, although I almost put it right into the curb during the test drive, I was used to the parents luxury car steering. The announcer was right about the bubble feel in the cabin, but I can tell you there wasn't a blind spot to be found. You didn't need a rear camera to back up in this car.
Hell yah! I own 2 Preludes and Love these things, This is when Honda made cars we all wanted and really came into their own in the '90s!!!! Ever since the turn of the century however they have taken a massive nosedive styling wise and cut all their fun sporty cars. I would LOVE to see a new generation Prelude back on the market. Thanks for uploading this MW!!
The only sporty cars Honda has at the moment since the s2000 ended in 2009 is the civic si coupe and the accord coupe. The prelude was a great car no doubt
I have owned an 85 and a 91 4ws models and loved them both. My favorite about these two generations are the great front visibily due to the low hood line.
+85corolla I'm assuming by your name you either have had or just like mid 80's corollas I had a 85 gts hatch and a 86 gts coupe...miss them so much...nothing more fun than driving sideways...
My first car was a 86 Prelude Si with 14" Fitipaldi 5 spoke wheels, my favorite car ever, in black of course My retracting cover fog lights even worked :)
my very first car, and i can say it was an absolute blast to drive, even ten years old, and maybe almost too much for a 16 year old. i really learned how to drive in this thing, then got an ‘88 Si because i loved the ‘84 so damned much.
This year Prelude set the stage for the renaissance that was Honda later in the decade. The '86 - '91 Accords were a revolution, using the styling cues and platform from this vehicle. They were some of the best built cars ever made. The size, handling and economy were spot on, and the American public bought them by the boat load.
Still my favorite car of all I've owned. Bought a low mileage '85 Prelude in the summer of 1995 for $2500 cash. Drove like an absolute dream. Had it until the engine was pretty much shot at 185k miles in 2001. If I could find one in pristine condition today, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
I was hired by American Honda in 1987 and my first company car was a 2G red Prelude. I came from General Motors and the Honda quality was incredible. I was rear ended in the rain at a stop light and the car was totaled.
My very first car was a loaded red 1986 Prelude, by loaded I guess it means Auto, A/C, rear defroster and Sunroof lol. My dad bought it for me used in 1994 for $3000 with about 110k miles on it when I was in high school. It was a slightly refreshed version of the one in the video with good looking Honda hub caps.. Drove that car unimaginably hard for 3 years and sold it for $1500 with 170k miles!
@@nickaa827 He definitely got his money's worth. It's not unheard of though to get that much for an older high mileage car. I bought a 1985 Volvo 240 with 134k miles for $2500 in absolute mint condition. I sold it a couple years later with 168k miles for $2300. Some cars hold their value really well.
Mine was red. Bought it off the showroom floor. I have driven many cars of all kinds since those days and I still believe it was one of the best driving cars I've ever owned. It was solid, reliable, efficient, and a blast to drive on the twisties.
I had an 86 that I bought in 88, sold it in 93. To this day, I still think it was the best car I ever owned. I sold it for an 89 Legend, boy that was a mistake!
Mine too. Inherited from my dad. Wrote it off shortly after. Loved it so much I bought another one, same year but different colour. I'm still so ashamed of myself for ruining such a great car. Were we ever so young and stupid?
I had a first generation '80 Prelude in high school but I really wanted a 2nd generation. Never got one but I did end up owning an '88 Prelude Si 4WS and eventually a 3rd Prelude, a '94 VTEC. I've stayed loyal to Honda/Acura throughout my life. Currently drive a '16 Acura TLX Advance.
0:56 If you look only at the chrome lines around the headlights and surrounding the grill area, you can almost make out the front end of a 4th Gen Accord. Or is it just me? P.S. To the real Honda: We miss you!
+jaymum23 -- You're 1000% correct. In my opinion, it's not just the Japanese automakers that have lost their way. Frankly I can't think of ANY new car or automaker that really... captivates (?) me, other than Mazda as you've pointed out. Sadly, cars are becoming more closely related to appliances than the marvelous, soul-stirring machines of yesteryear (for me at least), but so goes life.
@@wawewawe1316 Three very niche vehicles? We're talking when even their sedans were desirable, like the Accord. Hondas are all pretty bloated and bizarre looking nowadays. Not the same appeal.
I want one. Seats were so comfy. But driving beside huge trucks in a rusted out prelude with bad breaks in the middle of winter was honestly a dangerous nightmare that my dad probabaly shouldn't have risked hahaha
15 years ago I had a late 1985 Model with Power Steering and 4 Wheel disc brakes. I absolutely loved that car. Fun, frugal on gas and easy to fix, for a Honda. If I could find another in good condition that hasn't been riced out, I'd snap it up in an instant. It was my second car, my first being a 1983 Accord LX, which I think I have seen reviewed on MW.
Ok. I was crackin TF up when he said " the thing about the back seat is fine.... If you dont have any legs"... Haha see this was my first car when I got my license back in 97... I remember feeling bad for any of my boys that had to pile in the backseat... I remember fights literally over who is sitting shotgun... My prelude was like a gladiator ring. I could chill and watch the entertainment
I drive a 87 2ng Gen SI prelude in 2023 and I really makes me feel like i'm living in better times, the lack of aftermarket support sucks but it's a fairly reliable car and is fun as hell to drive
Wanted one of these back in December 1984. There was a waiting list for the Preludes when I wanted one and was unable to wait. My present clunker was on its last leg and needed a new car ASAP! So bought a brand new 1985 Celica GT instead 😁
Most people don't know or remember that fact. The new 1983 redesigned model had a huge waiting list and a above MSRP markup. My aunt bought a 1983, the only year with the steel wheels and small center caps(as in this video) and she had to pay out the nose to get it. Her local dealer couldn't source one so she bought from our local dealer(acouple towns away) back then. They brought it over to the house right after they picked it up and it looked beautiful. To have a power moonroof standard back in 1983 was a huge deal.
These were friggin' great cars. My dad had a red one of these 'ludes. And honestly, about $10k then is not ALL that different than $10k today. (I'd say it would be like comparable to if a Fit cost more like $15k than the easy $20k and up that they go for.) I mean, people's salaries have not increased insanely since those days, so this was actually pretty damn affordable even then. That's true for all car prices really, they're quite high now for any car. Although today's cars are nice from almost any brand.
high end salaries went up and did minimum wage, but middle income doesn't not seem to have increased with the rate of cost of goods and services making cars much more of a financial burden than a joy to purchase.
I had an 84 prelude for many years. 100 horsepower doesnt seem like much but the car is extremely light, something like 2200 pounds curb weight. It was a quick car before freeway speeds and handled amazingly well around turns. Really crappy topend though I think mainly cus of carbeurators.
I have always LOVED the styling of '80's Hondas such as this '84 Prelude. Honda had just the right knack for making them look fresh & modern WITHOUT making them look as if they had just time traveled back from 2050.
Domestic big 3 in those days “our customers will buy anything, here’s a Pontiac 1000, Ford Tempo, and Chrysler K”, Honda “here’s the Civic, CRX, Prelude” - Big 3 “oh shit”
Test drove this generation Prelude the day before I test drove the then new Porsche 924S. I thought the Prelude handled better in everyday use. The responsive, quick steering is what set it apart. Though not as fast as the 924S, it seemed more solid ... firm with not a rattle or squeak. I remember telling a friend at that time, it was if the car was carved out of a bar of soap.
TheSuperMotoHooligan Do yourself have experience both cars? I owned both a 1987 Porsche 944s and a 1986 Honda Prelude 2.0 Si. The Prelude, for being front drive, handled as well as was better in fit and finish. Also the 944 was remincent of the bad old days of supercars as it was great at speed, but below 40mph the 944's steering was so ridiculously heavy that it almost felt "agricultural" around town. Thanks to the 944 I can now parallel park anything with ease. The main issue is the 944 origins date back to, I believe, 1976 with the original 924 and the design was really showing it's age. Where the Prelude was modern if not head of the game for when it came out. While they both handled very well, they both rode very hard, in fact the Prelude may have lost in this catagory. Yes it had road feel, to the point you could run over a coin and tell whether it was heads or tails. The Porsche was not much better, although the Prelude made me wonder if I should get to know some local chiropractors.
And people wonder why Detroit got its ass kicked back in the 1980's lol 1984 Prelude, 1.8 liter 4 cylinder, 100hp, still used carburetors, pretty quick when the car only weighed 2000lbs 1984 Cadillac, 4.1 liter V8, 135hp, fuel injected, SLOW!!! car weighed 4200lbs, plus these were notorious for self destructing with low miles
I remember my dad's friend having one of these when was at primary school. It did handle well, but even then my legs still felt squashed in the back seat lol.
What niche did it fill? If I was in the market in the late 90s, I would have rather bought the Civic Si or Integra GS-R. If I lived outside the US, then surely the Type R brothers were better cars than the Prelude. Just my opinion.
I had an '84 ... the first car that opened my eyes to just how good a (stock) FWD car could handle. The engine wasn't anything to write home about (especially not at the altitude I live in). Flip up headlights, albeit unnecessary, were a bonus.
Hey, I love the throwback videos, but couldn't you turn up the volume on the video or turn down the volume on the closing engine noise? If I forget to turn down the volume or stop the video before the end, it startles me.
No wonder Honda beat American cars easily. Growing up I remember the Prelude as being so much more modern than the ugly stuff GM was producing. Especially the interiors of Hondas were light years ahead.
That's a laugh considering the Lincoln LSC was being manufactured when this under-powered, uninspired, and soul-lacking mass-produced-feeling japcrap already began already rusting away. Clearly you've never owned nor been in a GOOD car.
It had never occurred to me that the black and chrome components of the headlights when closes and the faux upper grill mimic the then ubiquitous Honda front end design. The dumbbell shape created by the chrome perimeter running around the headlamps and grill.
Too bad Honda added their overly light power steering. I'd rather deal with a little extra effort in daily driving. I'm surprised they couldn't crack the ten-second barrier in acceleration. I figured these cars were high nine-second cars to sixty. Also, what tacky personality called this car bizarre looking? It was quite fresh when it came out, while still being conservative. I loved these cars as a kid and as an adult, I can say I had great taste.
David Ilijevski You are right Foxbodys were fast in the right drivers hands but in the hands of a 16 year old dumbass that doesn't know how to launch it you can easily beat one. My father bought a 1987 Saleen and he said it would out run almost anything including Porsches and Corvettes that they would buy and resale. But it was a heavily worked car (the Saleen). The Prelude would spank a stock mustang on a technical back road just because of the suspension. Trust me i'd rather own a foxbody.
Yea i dont know ,probably a back road ...i had a 87 lx hatch 5.0 5 speed with out any Options no air or power windows and in that time that car pretty well beat everything obviously there are exceptions but for that time there was not much around to beat it
Strange, I had an 84 prelude auto and it felt like it had way more than 100 hp. I guess we are spoiled by today’s cars- even the boring Corolla has 130 hp.
The video is wrong when they say that the second generation Prelude used MacPherson Strut front suspension. That was only for the first generation. The second generation has a Double Wishbone setup in the front and unequal length MacPherson Struts in the rear while the third generation used Double Wishbones all around.
The start of the Golden Era for Honda. Funny that not having a sleek low nose with no grill was deemed offensive at the time. I was just approaching my driver's license age, read every car magazine out there, and it seemed like American cars were 20 years behind the Japanese
the thing about these 80's and 90's hondas with a stick is not how fast it goes, it's how good it drives.
That stick was smooth. I once had someone sitting in the back and we had driven for about 50 miles until he first noticed me shifting. He said, that he thought it was an automatic.
Even though the engines had to rev hard to get the power out, they did not feel like they were working that hard. In comparison, a powerful four like the GM quad four felt like you were destroying the engine when you revved it hard.
Bryan Jones
That’s all in the balancing. American 4cyls have always been shitty and rough.
Gal friend of mine had this Prelude in HS. One ride and I knew these were much better than domestic cars. The way it handled and sounded was completely different. The doors. The dash layout, gages.
Everything was purposeful and fun
@@monkeywkeys3916Totally 'agree!Honda Preludes were tops at the times during the '80s...
These classic Honda videos are all over my news feed and I love it
I had a first and second gen Prelude and a first and second gen CRX. I now have a 10th gen Accord.
@@frankiemck40 awesome! i have a tips & tricks video for the 10th hen Accord :-)
@@frankiemck40 I love this Honda Prelude 1985-1988
I had an 86. This generation with 4 wheel discs. It may have been my favorite of the dozens of vehicles I’ve owned. Very light in a way modern cars can never be. Fun little revy engine, great handling 6:17 and brakes. A blast to toss around mountain roads of West Virginia. On the highway 40mpg, dead nuts reliable. Bought with 160,000 miles and changed a brake booster during the 120,000 mile stint which I owned it. I hit a deer with it and I assumed it would be totaled. It was not. The insurance company wrote me a check 40 percent over what I paid for the car 4 years earlier and I sold the wrecked car for another $400. Was great in the snow with a pair of snow tires as long as it wasn’t deep. No other car has ever suited my needs as this car did at that time in my life.
That's the literal definition of being totalled lol
Great thing about motorweek is this really the only place you can watch old reviews of new cars .. they were the only one around back then! Haha
I currently drive a 1985 SI prelude. It's had about 10 owners, was caked in ancient mud, 170,000 miles with an odometer that runs fast, and no brakes at all , but this car is still a breath of fresh air from from uninspired and depressingly styled nanny cars of today. It's never let me down despite incredible abuse and one of the fuel injectors straight up not working. 900$ was what i payed for it in 2019. My family made fun of me for driving a 35 year old car as my first car , but i told them "find a car this beautiful that runs for 900$ then you we'll talk". The prelude is an absolute gem. Nothing like it will ever exist again. Just remember this car has not 1 but 2 fuel filters !
This was my dad's first brand new car. He sold it for a brand new 1993 Taurus SHO that I had the pleasure of driving secondhand in highschool in 2003/2004. A Prelude and SHO basically encompass my entire growing life.
What were the all vehicles after that?? If you can remember, I remember all my parents vehicles from 1989 to today in 2023😂
You can't get any more 80s than that steering wheel!
Your right same with one of the steering wheels available in the third gen camaros with the rectangle lol
yes you can, it's not red
that image suckered me in ... had to check it out
incyphe You still CAN get more 80s -First, put it in Sport Coupé. Second, make sure it has retractable headlamps. And if you still want more, then add a t-roof, a bra and seat covers.
My first car was a white '86 Prelude SI with the gold spoked wheels. Man I loved that car! Handled great and had plenty of power......it got me a few speeding tickets as a teen.
The factory gold spoked wheels are actually impossible to find now, hopefully the next owner kept them. Love Prelude's to death.
I loved the Prelude and owned 3 of them. First one was an '80 model. Second Prelude was an '88 Prelude Si 4WS and the third was a '94 Prelude VTEC. I have fond memories of all 3 of them. It's May '22 now and it's been decades since I owned my Preludes. However, I've stuck with Honda/Acura ever since. Currently have a '20 Accord Touring 2.0T and I think it is awesome! Love Honda products.
These Prelude's were just a joy back in the day.
my two still are!
A friend had one. Not sure how she arrived at buying Honda. But she was 💯 right for doing so.
I still remember the no nonsense interior. Very smart.
@@monkeywkeys3916 Honda Prelude 1980s is best. This generation is my favorites
I really loved the styling of this Prelude. For me, this is about the time Honda started its golden years, when they were making some of the most stylish cars you could buy for this kind of money. It's a verry underrated classic car!
Yeah, it just pitty they have lost their edge now. Definitly when it comes to coupes and the American Acura line.
What ever happened to the Prelude, the Integra and the CRX? whatever happened to our heroes? :p
FrightfulAccountant it's ugly. I much prefer the next generation from the late 1980s
Doktor Hachi Roku They still have the Bluebird name. If you're talking about Nissan?
The '80's was my favorite decade for Honda styling, both inside and out. They got the balance just right of being fresh & modern without looking like something that had just beamed down from 2050, and it definitely worked. These cars look every bit as good today as they did 34 years ago.
I love 80s Hondas too. They had sort of an exotic Ferrari-esque styling to them. But by the mid 90s they reverted back to the stereotypical rice burner look from the 70s. But I do say some of the newer Hondas are starting to look pretty good.
Typo on the title--that's actually an '83 model. I owned an '84 model and LOVED it. It was a fun sports car that handled well, had excellent visibility, and surprising utility with the folding back seats opening to the trunk. At the time, Car & Driver named the Prelude the second-best-handling car, 2nd only to the Porsche 944. The Prelude was a light, fun car.
This is a 1982 model. In Japan, some were equipped with ABS brakes.
@@KSergey1970 Not an '82. This is definitely an '83.
I used to drive one of these in high school. It was a red '84. Sadly it was totaled when a driver failed to yield and pulled out in front of me making a left turn at a light. It was an offset head-on collision at about 35 mph and I walked away from it. It was a great little car and it was built like a tank. The handling was really incredible for a front wheel drive car. It also plowed through snow as if it had four wheel drive. I miss that little car and I wish Honda would bring the Prelude back.
I know that the columbine shooter have one at high school too
I had a 1986 blue prelude si. That car was fast. I miss it. Had a lot of fun at beach and country riding. It also had a decent stock sound system.
I have a lot of great memories with the Prelude. The first car I ever purchased was the 85 prelude. I loved that car! It never left me stranded, even though I was a college student with no money to take care of it properly. I kept it as a second car until '93 when I got tired of people knocking on my front door asking if they could buy it. I really liked the ultra light steering, although I almost put it right into the curb during the test drive, I was used to the parents luxury car steering.
The announcer was right about the bubble feel in the cabin, but I can tell you there wasn't a blind spot to be found. You didn't need a rear camera to back up in this car.
Hell yah! I own 2 Preludes and Love these things, This is when Honda made cars we all wanted and really came into their own in the '90s!!!! Ever since the turn of the century however they have taken a massive nosedive styling wise and cut all their fun sporty cars. I would LOVE to see a new generation Prelude back on the market. Thanks for uploading this MW!!
The only sporty cars Honda has at the moment since the s2000 ended in 2009 is the civic si coupe and the accord coupe. The prelude was a great car no doubt
+Acc0rd79 I really wish Honda would bring back the Prelude. It's my favorite car of all time and I've had 3 of them over the years back in the 90's.
I have owned an 85 and a 91 4ws models and loved them both. My favorite about these two generations are the great front visibily due to the low hood line.
+85corolla yup cars are so bloated now
+85corolla I'm assuming by your name you either have had or just like mid 80's corollas I had a 85 gts hatch and a 86 gts coupe...miss them so much...nothing more fun than driving sideways...
My first car was a 86 Prelude Si with 14" Fitipaldi 5 spoke wheels, my favorite car ever, in black of course
My retracting cover fog lights even worked :)
The car that made me a lifelong Honda fan!
my very first car, and i can say it was an absolute blast to drive, even ten years old, and maybe almost too much for a 16 year old. i really learned how to drive in this thing, then got an ‘88 Si because i loved the ‘84 so damned much.
I had an 86 Honda Prelude Si with a 5 speed stick for my first car It was a lot of fun to drive. I miss that car sometimes.
Just a really really great car. Perfect balance of sport and efficiency.
Preludes are great little cars.
I had a 78,79,81,82,84,85,88, and an 89.
I must have a thing for them.
I had an '80, an '88 Si 4WS and a '94 VTEC. I loved them too.
I have a 90
I had a 1982 Prelude with silver exterior with blood red interior.
I'm sorry for you.
I’ve owned 7 over the years. Finally got myself down to one, a late 2001.
This year Prelude set the stage for the renaissance that was Honda later in the decade. The '86 - '91 Accords were a revolution, using the styling cues and platform from this vehicle. They were some of the best built cars ever made. The size, handling and economy were spot on, and the American public bought them by the boat load.
Still my favorite car of all I've owned. Bought a low mileage '85 Prelude in the summer of 1995 for $2500 cash. Drove like an absolute dream. Had it until the engine was pretty much shot at 185k miles in 2001. If I could find one in pristine condition today, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
My step-mom had an '87. I just remember it as a buzzy sounding ugly piece of shit. Guess you've never owned a good car.
Anyone remember the 4 wheel steering Preludes?
Yes! I owned an '88 Prelude Si 4WS. Loved that car.
yes I loved those 4WS
I had a 91 with the 2.1
One more useless feature to break.
Yes..Drive one when I worked at Macco Body shop..It was sweet
I had an 85 Prelude in high school in 1991! Beat the crap out of that thing and it kept going and going. The vid brings back some good memories!
Honda's technology in the 80's was amazing. This is when they knew how to build some of the best looking automobiles. Old Honda's are the boss
I was hired by American Honda in 1987 and my first company car was a 2G red Prelude. I came from General Motors and the Honda quality was incredible. I was rear ended in the rain at a stop light and the car was totaled.
My aunt had one. Euro 1986, 1.8 Automatic 4ws.
One of the best handling cars i ever have meet in my live.
My very first car was a loaded red 1986 Prelude, by loaded I guess it means Auto, A/C, rear defroster and Sunroof lol. My dad bought it for me used in 1994 for $3000 with about 110k miles on it when I was in high school. It was a slightly refreshed version of the one in the video with good looking Honda hub caps.. Drove that car unimaginably hard for 3 years and sold it for $1500 with 170k miles!
LeadBlastin22 that's awesome you were able to sell it for that much... goes to show the quality of old hondas :)
@@nickaa827 He definitely got his money's worth. It's not unheard of though to get that much for an older high mileage car. I bought a 1985 Volvo 240 with 134k miles for $2500 in absolute mint condition. I sold it a couple years later with 168k miles for $2300. Some cars hold their value really well.
I went from a 1972 VW Karman Giha to an 81 Prelude and I loved everything about it.
These old videos are a national treasure!
Joseph Lee I agree! JD and the team should have these videos in the Library of Congress!
In this case what nation, Japan?
Mine was red. Bought it off the showroom floor. I have driven many cars of all kinds since those days and I still believe it was one of the best driving cars I've ever owned. It was solid, reliable, efficient, and a blast to drive on the twisties.
I had an 86 that I bought in 88, sold it in 93. To this day, I still think it was the best car I ever owned. I sold it for an 89 Legend, boy that was a mistake!
My first car.. Brings back some memories
Mine too. Inherited from my dad. Wrote it off shortly after. Loved it so much I bought another one, same year but different colour. I'm still so ashamed of myself for ruining such a great car. Were we ever so young and stupid?
Me 2! 1984 Prelude in that silver. Loved it!
Lucky you
I had a '86 Prelude and loved it. It was the first Honda that I ever owned. Today, I drive a '15 Accord Sport.
Same here, '86 Prelude has been my favorite car owned.
My first car in high school was an 86 Si 5 speed. loved that car.
I had a first generation '80 Prelude in high school but I really wanted a 2nd generation. Never got one but I did end up owning an '88 Prelude Si 4WS and eventually a 3rd Prelude, a '94 VTEC. I've stayed loyal to Honda/Acura throughout my life. Currently drive a '16 Acura TLX Advance.
Shame for you you've probably never owned a truly good car.
Honda really made great reliable & simple to fix cars in the 80's & 90's
0:56 If you look only at the chrome lines around the headlights and surrounding the grill area, you can almost make out the front end of a 4th Gen Accord. Or is it just me?
P.S. To the real Honda: We miss you!
+jaymum23 -- You're 1000% correct. In my opinion, it's not just the Japanese automakers that have lost their way. Frankly I can't think of ANY new car or automaker that really... captivates (?) me, other than Mazda as you've pointed out.
Sadly, cars are becoming more closely related to appliances than the marvelous, soul-stirring machines of yesteryear (for me at least), but so goes life.
The real Honda is back!
Jake from State Farm Ummm...Aerial Atom? Toyota 86? Mazda MX5?
@@wawewawe1316 Three very niche vehicles? We're talking when even their sedans were desirable, like the Accord. Hondas are all pretty bloated and bizarre looking nowadays. Not the same appeal.
Wow look at how low that hood is! I love it!
I had an '84 Prelude 5-speed manual... loved it! Fun to drive, sporty, sleek... great to find this vintage review. Thanks, Motor Week.
I want one. Seats were so comfy. But driving beside huge trucks in a rusted out prelude with bad breaks in the middle of winter was honestly a dangerous nightmare that my dad probabaly shouldn't have risked hahaha
15 years ago I had a late 1985 Model with Power Steering and 4 Wheel disc brakes. I absolutely loved that car. Fun, frugal on gas and easy to fix, for a Honda. If I could find another in good condition that hasn't been riced out, I'd snap it up in an instant. It was my second car, my first being a 1983 Accord LX, which I think I have seen reviewed on MW.
+Pete Jackson (Papa's Vlogs) I had an '86 Si and it remains one of my favorites. It rode on rails, handled like a dream.
Ok. I was crackin TF up when he said " the thing about the back seat is fine.... If you dont have any legs"... Haha see this was my first car when I got my license back in 97... I remember feeling bad for any of my boys that had to pile in the backseat... I remember fights literally over who is sitting shotgun... My prelude was like a gladiator ring. I could chill and watch the entertainment
I drive a 87 2ng Gen SI prelude in 2023 and I really makes me feel like i'm living in better times, the lack of aftermarket support sucks but it's a fairly reliable car and is fun as hell to drive
Wanted one of these back in December 1984. There was a waiting list for the Preludes when I wanted one and was unable to wait. My present clunker was on its last leg and needed a new car ASAP! So bought a brand new 1985 Celica GT instead 😁
Most people don't know or remember that fact. The new 1983 redesigned model had a huge waiting list and a above MSRP markup. My aunt bought a 1983, the only year with the steel wheels and small center caps(as in this video) and she had to pay out the nose to get it. Her local dealer couldn't source one so she bought from our local dealer(acouple towns away) back then. They brought it over to the house right after they picked it up and it looked beautiful. To have a power moonroof standard back in 1983 was a huge deal.
Another beautiful car. I love it.
These were friggin' great cars. My dad had a red one of these 'ludes. And honestly, about $10k then is not ALL that different than $10k today. (I'd say it would be like comparable to if a Fit cost more like $15k than the easy $20k and up that they go for.) I mean, people's salaries have not increased insanely since those days, so this was actually pretty damn affordable even then. That's true for all car prices really, they're quite high now for any car. Although today's cars are nice from almost any brand.
I was curious, so I plugged the numbers into the BLS inflation calculator. $10k in 1984 is the equivalent of just around $24k today.
high end salaries went up and did minimum wage, but middle income doesn't not seem to have increased with the rate of cost of goods and services making cars much more of a financial burden than a joy to purchase.
I had an 84 prelude for many years. 100 horsepower doesnt seem like much but the car is extremely light, something like 2200 pounds curb weight. It was a quick car before freeway speeds and handled amazingly well around turns. Really crappy topend though I think mainly cus of carbeurators.
Kevin C my 2nd gen lude was a si. 2.0l dohc injected. it was actually really quick
Kevin C yep....they weren't that fast off the line, but they were very quick going from, say, 30 to 60
This almost makes me wish I still had my '84!
I have always LOVED the styling of '80's Hondas such as this '84 Prelude. Honda had just the right knack for making them look fresh & modern WITHOUT making them look as if they had just time traveled back from 2050.
Domestic big 3 in those days “our customers will buy anything, here’s a Pontiac 1000, Ford Tempo, and Chrysler K”, Honda “here’s the Civic, CRX, Prelude” - Big 3 “oh shit”
My first car was a Honda/Acura product. 93 legend sedan
nice car, definitely agreed they were a major improvement over the first generation Honda Prelude's (which I've never cared for).
Test drove this generation Prelude the day before I test drove the then new Porsche 924S. I thought the Prelude handled better in everyday use. The responsive, quick steering is what set it apart. Though not as fast as the 924S, it seemed more solid ... firm with not a rattle or squeak. I remember telling a friend at that time, it was if the car was carved out of a bar of soap.
and then you woke up...
... replied the being from another Galaxy!
TheSuperMotoHooligan Do yourself have experience both cars? I owned both a 1987 Porsche 944s and a 1986 Honda Prelude 2.0 Si. The Prelude, for being front drive, handled as well as was better in fit and finish. Also the 944 was remincent of the bad old days of supercars as it was great at speed, but below 40mph the 944's steering was so ridiculously heavy that it almost felt "agricultural" around town. Thanks to the 944 I can now parallel park anything with ease.
The main issue is the 944 origins date back to, I believe, 1976 with the original 924 and the design was really showing it's age. Where the Prelude was modern if not head of the game for when it came out.
While they both handled very well, they both rode very hard, in fact the Prelude may have lost in this catagory. Yes it had road feel, to the point you could run over a coin and tell whether it was heads or tails. The Porsche was not much better, although the Prelude made me wonder if I should get to know some local chiropractors.
@@kevinpatrickmacnutt did you ever compare the second generation Mazda RX-7 of the time since they were clearly going after the 924 and 944?
And people wonder why Detroit got its ass kicked back in the 1980's lol
1984 Prelude, 1.8 liter 4 cylinder, 100hp, still used carburetors, pretty quick when the car only weighed 2000lbs
1984 Cadillac, 4.1 liter V8, 135hp, fuel injected, SLOW!!! car weighed 4200lbs, plus these were notorious for self destructing with low miles
the favorite car of my dreams, and apart from that I adore and long for a mr2 Toyota AW11 its design is unique the civic's kill me yes yes
I remember my dad's friend having one of these when was at primary school. It did handle well, but even then my legs still felt squashed in the back seat lol.
Buddy of mine has one with 850k on it. Original motor
Got to be one of the best looking cars ever built.
Excellent cars. I test drove one back in the day.
I drive a 1990 Prelude Si. And i love it! 3rd gen is my fav!
this is a second gen. you doughnut
Well, if you knew how to read I was talking about what I drive. ^-^
And if you knew how to read youd see this title is about a 2nd gen. Prelude. If you still drive it though rock on I have a 84 and a 90 civic.
Well if you knew how to read I was just stating what I drive. Nothing wrong with stating what you drive.
+D'Lite Xiong well clearly we both know how to read and I just thought your comment was out of context
The 2nd gen Prelude seems to foreshadow the early Legend coupe and '86-89 Accords.
The first few Preludes really were awesome
This generation in the Si model, and the Prelude would never be better--or prettier!
Thanks for uploading this =)
Maybe it's just me, but in my opinion the Si was overdone and looked it. Then again I always preferred the Firebird Formula to the Trans Am.
This had carbs! These cars weren’t about horsepower but rather about being fun to drive.
The carbs were because they were actually behind on technology. Fiat had fuel injection here in America 1981
Tell me. Why did Honda stop making the Prelude?????? Great car. Too bad they are gone.
david dykeman It became too good for general public to appreciate :-( The last gen Prelude was amazing.
incyphe best explanation I've ever heard. 1995 Prelude SE Owner. Damn shame.
It was heavy and had serious understeer.
It got too pricey near the end.
What niche did it fill? If I was in the market in the late 90s, I would have rather bought the Civic Si or Integra GS-R. If I lived outside the US, then surely the Type R brothers were better cars than the Prelude. Just my opinion.
My first Honda!
Max of 39mpg and super reliable. And Detroit wonders why they failed.
I had an '84 ... the first car that opened my eyes to just how good a (stock) FWD car could handle. The engine wasn't anything to write home about (especially not at the altitude I live in). Flip up headlights, albeit unnecessary, were a bonus.
My mom used to drive this car back in the day!
3:50 "whatever happened to the grille". that made my day, I love that guy xD
Which is ironic as the Camaro had no grill either. Strange comment!
Hey, I love the throwback videos, but couldn't you turn up the volume on the video or turn down the volume on the closing engine noise? If I forget to turn down the volume or stop the video before the end, it startles me.
John Wagner startles? I SHIT my britches!!!!
John Wagner ok grandpa Simpson
No wonder Honda beat American cars easily. Growing up I remember the Prelude as being so much more modern than the ugly stuff GM was producing. Especially the interiors of Hondas were light years ahead.
Government motors has always been junk.
That's a laugh considering the Lincoln LSC was being manufactured when this under-powered, uninspired, and soul-lacking mass-produced-feeling japcrap already began already rusting away. Clearly you've never owned nor been in a GOOD car.
VinylToVideo ...you’re comparing a Lincoln to a Honda? You’re an idiot 👉🏻🍆
P77777777 what a fool..comparing a Lincoln, a LUXURY car to Honda’s compact offering at the time. You make Americans look stupid my friend
@@angryasianwaiter5768 I suggest you learn the definition of "compare."
I wish cars like PRELUDE, CRX, INTEGRA, S2000 Comes again in 2020 😍😍
S2020
Seems like this was an 83 review of an 84, but definitely not an 85
It had never occurred to me that the black and chrome components of the headlights when closes and the faux upper grill mimic the then ubiquitous Honda front end design.
The dumbbell shape created by the chrome perimeter running around the headlamps and grill.
I miss my prelude
The seats in cars from the 80s 👌👌👌
I wish a private company would make 80's cars with those really 80's digital dashboards that look like they're from a arcade game
Elegant looking coupe. Miss those days
stiff steering? ive drivin masny new & used 80s preludes, the responsive comfortable steering is what impressed me the most.
When the model first came out, we'd refer to it as the Honda Quaalude...it was appropriate at that time...ha!
Back in 99 I bought a 93 Grand Prix, and my buddy bought an 85 Prelude. My GP was faster, but the prelude was a lot more fun to drive.
You could fit adults in the rear seat of a Grand Prix. I like both cars btw.
Checking the air cleaner on these was a pain.
Adjusting the valves was no picnic either, but you had to do it frequently.
Too bad Honda added their overly light power steering. I'd rather deal with a little extra effort in daily driving. I'm surprised they couldn't crack the ten-second barrier in acceleration. I figured these cars were high nine-second cars to sixty.
Also, what tacky personality called this car bizarre looking? It was quite fresh when it came out, while still being conservative. I loved these cars as a kid and as an adult, I can say I had great taste.
Cameron Covington no one was beating fox body mustangs in those ...whatever your smoking i want some buddy
David Ilijevski You are right Foxbodys were fast in the right drivers hands but in the hands of a 16 year old dumbass that doesn't know how to launch it you can easily beat one. My father bought a 1987 Saleen and he said it would out run almost anything including Porsches and Corvettes that they would buy and resale. But it was a heavily worked car (the Saleen). The Prelude would spank a stock mustang on a technical back road just because of the suspension. Trust me i'd rather own a foxbody.
Yea i dont know ,probably a back road ...i had a 87 lx hatch 5.0 5 speed with out any
Options no air or power windows and in that time that car pretty well beat everything obviously there are exceptions but for that time there was not much around to beat it
Strange, I had an 84 prelude auto and it felt like it had way more than 100 hp.
I guess we are spoiled by today’s cars- even the boring Corolla has 130 hp.
I feel like my 2008 Civic SI is the grandson of this car. Same DNA
Anyone notice the Honda okay sticker on the back side window
I had one bought it for 200 bucks. Restored, it put some nice BBS wheels and sold it for 3300. Then got it back again. That was a good car.
The video is wrong when they say that the second generation Prelude used MacPherson Strut front suspension. That was only for the first generation. The second generation has a Double Wishbone setup in the front and unequal length MacPherson Struts in the rear while the third generation used Double Wishbones all around.
Pretty neat little car
Many still on the road today
This is a review of the 1984 Prelude.
I LOVE those cars. If I could find one with 50k original miles & garage kept most its life, Id like it,.
Reminds me alot of my 90 legend coupe they look almost identical except the prelude is a bit more compact
two carbies not three just to clarify
My man hitting the no lift shifts on the acceleration test 🤟🤣
The start of the Golden Era for Honda. Funny that not having a sleek low nose with no grill was deemed offensive at the time. I was just approaching my driver's license age, read every car magazine out there, and it seemed like American cars were 20 years behind the Japanese
The twincam si models were pretty quick for their time.
100 hp 104lbft of torque...wow.
This should have been rwd and the accord coupe fwd. Hindsight is 20/20