Honda Prelude 2.2 Vtec

[Randomman]

Hi all,

I'm looking at people's opinions of this car, the 5th Gen Honda Prelude 2.2 VTi.

For those of you that don't know it theres a piccy at the bottom and few details below:

197 Bhp 2.2 Vtec Engine, revving up to a happy 8400rpm. 60mph comes up in around 6.5 seconds, onto a top speed of over 130.

The looks aren't to everyone's taste. Its a lot rarer than the Vauxhall Calibra, so I think its dated less as people dont see them about as much. But dated it a description of its looks, none the less. It comes with A/C and the leather is heated (if you chose leather) its a bit of a 2+2 as no adults can fit in the back for a comfortable period of time!

It genius comes in the form of 4 wheel steering... Yes you read right. The rear wheels can move up to 5 degrees either way. At speeds of under 20mph this is in the oposide direction to the front wheels, meaning theres no excuse to no be able to park this car. At over 20mph that switches to turning the same way as the front, for the quickest lane changes you'll ever see. Also it aides in the understeer problem associated with FWD coupes.

Around town its engine will deliver more usable torque than a lot of other Vtecs and still return a healthy 30(ish)mpg. Throw in some motorway driving and you'll hit 40's thanks to a long 5th gear.

What brings the car alive is its screaming Vtec lump, your nippy coupe becomes an out and out beast for the last 2500 revs of your range. Driving like this will yeild MPG in the teens, but I'm lead to believe its a damn good bit of fun doing it!

So with the motorway comfort (for 2) of a cruiser, the revvy engine of a sports car and the speed of a new civic type-R there comes a price....

Oh wait, no there doesnt, you can get a minter for £3500 easily. And yes, Honda does live up to its reliability expectations, despite having an engine that lives in the red.

Your Views?

 

[jamie86]

My friend has one and loves it although they do rust...

He also has problems with the battery not being powerful enough to move the rear wheels when started up...

Also they aren't quick when out of Vtec either...

But other than that a lot of bang for your buck although cheack Ins obviosuly

 

[Randomman]

My friend has one and loves it although they do rust...

The 5th gen ones shouldn't, totally galvanised and well put together and covered in good paint.

I've yet to be in one but the performance I've been told is akin to the previous Civic Type R (the 2000-2006 one) I've driven one of them and it was surprisingly grunty out of Vtec, definately not as bad as some people make out! But I do agree with you, Vtec is where its at!

 

[jug]

its one of the best cars on earth imo. the 2.2vtec is amazing. i really cant fault this car in any way, its perfect. have a test drive and then tell me you can go to sleep without thinking about it. i know i couldnt. even the bland interior didnt put me off at all. i was so close to buying one a few weeks ago, £2000 for a minter with 60k! (import)

then the insurance quotes brought me back to earth

 

[jamie86]

Pretty sure my friend couldn't insure it for anything less than silly money until his 21st with 3years NCB...

Well I can tell you it has rust on the arches and is an L-Reg which is that model right?

But (don't tell him) I like it

 

[jug]

Well I can tell you it has rust on the arches and is an L-Reg which is that model right?

1993 is the older shape 4th generation, which did rust, but they were still beautiful cars and i'd still have one in my lotto collection. unfortunately the gen4 had a 2.2 litre engine that could be vtec or non vtec, the non vtec version isnt as good by a long way. a friend of mine had the 2.0 non vtec and it wasnt as fast as you'd want it to be (it replaced his early gen3 2.0 which he said was the better car!). if you buy a prelude its gotta be a 2.2 vtec gen5 imo. most people seem to prefer the gen4 2.2 vtec.

 

[ChrisUK]

My starting car of choice on Gran Turismo

 

[Randomman]

I dont think they did a non-vtec 2.2 in the 5th Gen form. (At least I hope not, otherwise that makes car hunting a lot harder)

I prefere the looks of the 5th Gen, although there are many who prefer the 4th.

And I normally take a Prelude or a CRX in GT. Honda FTW!

 

[jug]

I dont think they did a non-vtec 2.2 in the 5th Gen form.

correct

 

[wolfracepunto]

Agreed, they are awesome machines. In the way the Accord Type R is... I'd have either

 

[pinin__prestatyn]

Nice.... but was always pummeled in the period reviews by a certain italian coupe lol. I've never driven one but I like the futuristic dash.

 

[vtec]

as said above its the 4th gen that suffers rust not 5th gen, most likely low down on the rear arches with them. personally i think the 5th gen looks a bit fugly, id way sooner have the older one over it and even the interior looks better,.,

 

[FuzzyPanda]

My brother owns a 2.0 Gen 5 and loves it to bits, and on the way to getting his car we collectively test drove more or less every Prelude (gen 4 and 5) within a large radius.

I completely agree with your sentiments about bargainness, especially if you like the looks of the Gen5. I recently saw a Motegi for sale for under 3k in spot on condition, so if you can dig up a good quote for insurance you're onto a winner.

Test drives are absolutely essential though. One particular Gen4 2.2 we experienced looked good, even had an apparently full service history, but was very disappointing to drive. The VTEC changeover was more or less unnoticeable. Shortly after we drove a spot-on Gen 4 owned by a Type-R enthusiast (Teg DC2 on the drive) which went like the absolute clappers even with three people in.

So drive as many as you can for as long as you can, and see what you think. They like a good drink, but the bonus is the longer legs of the 2.2, compared to other VTECs the extra capacity gives it a little more shove down low but, really, you shouldn't be driving a VTEC in the first place if that's what you're after. Useful, useable, yes, but 6000 RPM is where it's at.

Check Pistonheads if you haven't already, and this forum. Even found the link to that Motegi for ya.

Good luck!

Edit: Oh crap it's an auto. Oh well.

 

[tsport_jay]

vtec crossover point isnt really meant to be noticeable or aggressive. the only thing you should notice is the noise. when they get mapped its usually made so it comes in a lot smoother. dont get me wrong its nice when tec comes in and all hell breaks loose but its not whats best really.

"6000 RPM is where it's at." in my case it was 5600RPM but life after that is indeed sweet.

 

[luvduvs]

I love the dashboard on the 4th Gens - absolutely stunning

 

[Rampage94]

use to own a 5th gen. and i LOVED it. specially after a few things replaced here and there, and a tune. it IS the best engine honda has ever made and the instant vtec kicks in (8v to 16V) it's pure bliss. mine kicked like a horse going into vtec (due to mods) id be all over that if i were you.

 

[Randomman]

I didnt think VTEC changed the number of valves in use, all 16 are in sue at all times, but VTEC crossover is when the cam followers lock and follow the more agressive cam profile as each cam has 2 profiles.

Still to not have one VTEC mechanism fail in what 14 million?, is a true testament to a fantastic system.

I want one!

 

[jug]

:yeahthat:

you get the sex of a high lift cam, but you still get smooth low rpm like a normal car. its such a great idea.

the noticable difference occurs when the cam profile change occurs, which is electronically selected depending on engine load & throttle position. plenty of other brands use the same system under various names but it was honda who originally developed the idea.

 

[ChrisUK]

:yeahthat:

you get the sex of a high lift cam, but you still get smooth low rpm like a normal car. its such a great idea.

the noticable difference occurs when the cam profile change occurs, which is electronically selected depending on engine load & throttle position. plenty of other brands use the same system under various names but it was honda who originally developed the idea.

Not to mention perfected it! :slayer:. Doesn't Alfa have something similar or is that just something to do with the Timing variator.

 

[jug]

many fiat group engines use a variator for variable valve timing on the inlet camshaft, very different to vtec, but almost achieves the same effect. the advantage is it is continuously variable, the disadvantage is it only changes inlet valve timing duration, it can not affect lift since the cam profile does not change. still, its a clever and very cost effective method. this is also used by many brands, i'm not sure who developed the variator idea first but i think it was nissan.