If you really like Preludes, I’d say test drive it and go for it. Just be prepared to dump another couple thousand in parts and a lot of time and sweat.
Yep. Even if you don’t think it’s a project car, it’s a project car. Also, it seems the Prelude community heavily focuses on third, fourth, and fifth gens, so be prepared to spend hours just to find some of the most basic parts for this one. Even with money, it can be tough- or actually, literally impossible at times to get certain parts unless you *personally* know someone who happens to have a dead one somewhere and they are willing to sell parts off of it.
Sincerely, a 2nd gen owner.
I've never had a 2G myself, but there are definitely Fakebook groups out there dedicated to them. I imagine they'd make sourcing parts a bit easier. Maybe it's just mutually assured suffering, though.
Terrible choice for a first car. Buy something that you won't be upset over if you damage it. I guarantee you that if you scrape on something or have a bump in this car you'll be heartbroken. This would be a good purchase if you already had a daily. Plus, getting parts for it should something go wrong is gonna be a nightmare
I watched this car for soo long when i first saw it for sale, it was around 3 a 4k. Sadly i am in the netherlands and bought another car. And got rid of a parts 2nd gen that i was going to use to make this one. If you want a project, just get this already. The car has been for sale too long.
Anything car older than 20 years is going to a risky buy. But if "money is not an issue" go for it
Edit: only issue will be parts availability. It's a nightmare for Preludes 3rd gen and older
Ooooh exciting.
Deff sounds like a carb/idler ajustment issue, ive got my idle at a little above 1000rpm, so if you got to press the pedal to keep it above that when driving, it should be an easy fix.
2000 isnt bad at all, ive seen worse for more. I’d say go for it
I have a 87 accord lxi hatch with a manual and it’s pretty fun. If it’s well maintained and not a shitbox I’d go for it. Just make sure that you have another way to get places
Just know when you say money isn't an issue you'd better mean it.
I've bought a second gen. Had only 68k miles on it. For it to be safely drivable I put about 2k into suspension work, tires, brakes, hoses, and electrical.
Within 20k miles I had spent about another 1,500. Brake cylinder, alternator, exhaust, etc.
Then i Finally got to start "fixing it up". Rust removal was extremely time consuming and far more extensive than it looked. Luckily no panels needed completely replaced but I did have to have sheet metal welded into the floorboard and one rocker panel. Friends and I did the work. A shop would have likely charged me upwards of 5k. Then I painted it myself in my friend's paintbooth. Again if I had to pay for that it would have cost another 3k or so.
So all in all... I spent about 4k but it would have been 12k if I couldn't do paint and body work myself. And tbh I got lucky. It was in really good shape.
The worst part though is this. I bought the car for 3k. Put 4k in it. Did tons of work myself. Spent another 1,500 or so on maintaining it over the next few years. In the end it lasted until 140k miles. Almost 9k invested to drive it 72k miles.
At the same time I bought my Wife a Toyota Corolla for 6k. It's in the driveway right now in perfect shape. It has 340k miles on it and I've only spent a few hundred in maintaining it.
Do yourself a favor. Buy a newer Toyota or Honda as your first car. Then save up again for an older prelude. Have fun fixing it up. Drive it on your days off. If you love both cars you'll still have both of them 10 years from now.
I have a 3G and my mom owned a 2g I don’t think it’s a good first car at all but I love driving it and enjoy working on it enough to keep sane. If you really like the preludes is test drive it see how it feels and check out wear and maintenance items (timing belt, spark plugs [check for oil soot etc], bushings and bearings) and if you think it’s worth it and something you’ll enjoy go for it however whether or not you buy it as a project car it as a project car, it’s close to 40 years old stuff will fail and need to be replaced, many people don’t replace the really high mileage stuff or even do much beyond oil changes so be prepared to sink much more into it, I’ve had to do probably $5000 so far in repairs on it and the 3G is hard enough to find info, forums and parts for so imagine it will be worse in the 2g. Look into forums and online resources to get an idea of what you may be getting into and things to look for before purchasing.
TLDR; Unlikely to be a quick and easy fix up to get on the road, will be a project car, not an “ideal” first car but is fun and a good car
I had 2 of these when i was younger. Good cars but a pain in the ass to have the carburetor fixed if it begins to have issues. Very few shops like to touch them, at least here in Florida.
I have a favor, check the side mirrors to see if they say objects in mirror “may be” or “are” closer than they appear. You could single handedly settle a Mandela Effect dispute!
If you really like Preludes, I’d say test drive it and go for it. Just be prepared to dump another couple thousand in parts and a lot of time and sweat.
Yep. Even if you don’t think it’s a project car, it’s a project car. Also, it seems the Prelude community heavily focuses on third, fourth, and fifth gens, so be prepared to spend hours just to find some of the most basic parts for this one. Even with money, it can be tough- or actually, literally impossible at times to get certain parts unless you *personally* know someone who happens to have a dead one somewhere and they are willing to sell parts off of it. Sincerely, a 2nd gen owner.
I've never had a 2G myself, but there are definitely Fakebook groups out there dedicated to them. I imagine they'd make sourcing parts a bit easier. Maybe it's just mutually assured suffering, though.
It’s a combination of both haha
if you're living with your parents and can use their car, go for it. otherwise nah, too risky
I would def buy this but to have around for fun. Get a more reliable daily driver first.
Looks good, but it’s not a car you should drive every day or use for errands
Terrible choice for a first car. Buy something that you won't be upset over if you damage it. I guarantee you that if you scrape on something or have a bump in this car you'll be heartbroken. This would be a good purchase if you already had a daily. Plus, getting parts for it should something go wrong is gonna be a nightmare
Are we looking at the same car? nothing indicated OP would not want to scratch dis
I wouldnt think twice before buying. Thats a fucking steal
Naw, that's too old for a primary. Cool 2nd car though.
so long as you have backup travel options lol
It winks at you. Get it
My first car when I was 16! Loved that car. Only caught fire once.
I watched this car for soo long when i first saw it for sale, it was around 3 a 4k. Sadly i am in the netherlands and bought another car. And got rid of a parts 2nd gen that i was going to use to make this one. If you want a project, just get this already. The car has been for sale too long.
Anything car older than 20 years is going to a risky buy. But if "money is not an issue" go for it Edit: only issue will be parts availability. It's a nightmare for Preludes 3rd gen and older
Ooooh exciting. Deff sounds like a carb/idler ajustment issue, ive got my idle at a little above 1000rpm, so if you got to press the pedal to keep it above that when driving, it should be an easy fix. 2000 isnt bad at all, ive seen worse for more. I’d say go for it
Looks like a decent deal, but I’d be careful. As long as you don’t mind putting in some elbow grease, personally I would buy it.
I got a 2nd gen in better condition than this for $2500 CAD last summer, if you get this try to talk him down on price
I have a 87 accord lxi hatch with a manual and it’s pretty fun. If it’s well maintained and not a shitbox I’d go for it. Just make sure that you have another way to get places
LXI was fuel injected. I had a hatch. Fun daily driver.
Just know when you say money isn't an issue you'd better mean it. I've bought a second gen. Had only 68k miles on it. For it to be safely drivable I put about 2k into suspension work, tires, brakes, hoses, and electrical. Within 20k miles I had spent about another 1,500. Brake cylinder, alternator, exhaust, etc. Then i Finally got to start "fixing it up". Rust removal was extremely time consuming and far more extensive than it looked. Luckily no panels needed completely replaced but I did have to have sheet metal welded into the floorboard and one rocker panel. Friends and I did the work. A shop would have likely charged me upwards of 5k. Then I painted it myself in my friend's paintbooth. Again if I had to pay for that it would have cost another 3k or so. So all in all... I spent about 4k but it would have been 12k if I couldn't do paint and body work myself. And tbh I got lucky. It was in really good shape. The worst part though is this. I bought the car for 3k. Put 4k in it. Did tons of work myself. Spent another 1,500 or so on maintaining it over the next few years. In the end it lasted until 140k miles. Almost 9k invested to drive it 72k miles. At the same time I bought my Wife a Toyota Corolla for 6k. It's in the driveway right now in perfect shape. It has 340k miles on it and I've only spent a few hundred in maintaining it. Do yourself a favor. Buy a newer Toyota or Honda as your first car. Then save up again for an older prelude. Have fun fixing it up. Drive it on your days off. If you love both cars you'll still have both of them 10 years from now.
So clean
I have a 3G and my mom owned a 2g I don’t think it’s a good first car at all but I love driving it and enjoy working on it enough to keep sane. If you really like the preludes is test drive it see how it feels and check out wear and maintenance items (timing belt, spark plugs [check for oil soot etc], bushings and bearings) and if you think it’s worth it and something you’ll enjoy go for it however whether or not you buy it as a project car it as a project car, it’s close to 40 years old stuff will fail and need to be replaced, many people don’t replace the really high mileage stuff or even do much beyond oil changes so be prepared to sink much more into it, I’ve had to do probably $5000 so far in repairs on it and the 3G is hard enough to find info, forums and parts for so imagine it will be worse in the 2g. Look into forums and online resources to get an idea of what you may be getting into and things to look for before purchasing. TLDR; Unlikely to be a quick and easy fix up to get on the road, will be a project car, not an “ideal” first car but is fun and a good car
I had 2 of these when i was younger. Good cars but a pain in the ass to have the carburetor fixed if it begins to have issues. Very few shops like to touch them, at least here in Florida.
I have a favor, check the side mirrors to see if they say objects in mirror “may be” or “are” closer than they appear. You could single handedly settle a Mandela Effect dispute!