As for the road course thing, I would still take him. It's amazing how import drivers assume american cars handle extremely bad. Stock, my stang shouldn't have any problem hanging with a stock prelude, but I have a couple suspension mods as well anyways.
This isnt really an "assumption". Most Japanese built "sports cars" do handle better than your pony car. Its not some ricer just assuming it. American manifacturers just dont seem to care quit as much about handling as they do flat out acceleration and that is reflected in the vehicles they build. I dont know the specs on your 03, but I know when the 5th gen prelude came out in 97, it was ranked "best handling car for under $30k" which means it outhandled a huge variety of cars at the track. Pretty much any performance oriented American car (with the exception of the corvette) fell into that "under 30k" catagory at the time.
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Sure...I'll take the bottle outta my trunk....as soon as you take the turbo outta your engine compartment!
You are right, import cars generally do handle better from their lightweight and tightness, but I think many people have taken it too far. While an import maybe be able to handle better, there is more than handling in a road course. While an import may can take a turn a few mph faster, some american cars can make up the difference in acceleration from low end torque. I'm not saying one is better than the other though. Imports could use more power, domestics could use better handling.
BTW, I am not against preludes here. I am a car guy - not a domestic, import, old school, or new school only car guy. I like all cars, unlike many other american car owners who despise imports. I may possibly even be building me an import (either prelude or 240sx) this winter to make my daily driver.
You are right, import cars generally do handle better from their lightweight and tightness, but I think many people have taken it too far. While an import maybe be able to handle better, there is more than handling in a road course. While an import may can take a turn a few mph faster, some american cars can make up the difference in acceleration from low end torque. I'm not saying one is better than the other though. Imports could use more power, domestics could use better handling.
BTW, I am not against preludes here. I am a car guy - not a domestic, import, old school, or new school only car guy. I like all cars, unlike many other american car owners who despise imports. I may possibly even be building me an import (either prelude or 240sx) this winter to make my daily driver.
Props to you for your attitude. I cant stand anything more than all closed mindedness that seems to be all over the tuning scene on both sides these days. I've personnally owned 7 camaros, a mustang gt, a corvette, an omega(nova), and many other american vehicles as well as 2 300zx's, an accord and now this prelude. The accord really impressed me and I started tuning it just for kicks but it kinda turned into an obsession. It now serves duty as my wifes daily driver and kid hauler, complete with all the bolt ons, a fully revamped suspension, and a wet nitrous kit. When the time came a few months ago that I finally had the money to buy a car just for weekend fun, I wanted to go back to another z-28 so bad but was bored with what had become to me a simplicity of building american cars after years of doing so.....so I found a 97 prelude that was a rebuilt wreck for a very good price and thats where I'm at now. Hopefully it wont be a mistake. LOL. Anyway, the point is that it really agrivates me when people argue senslessy over import/domestic crap. Just do what you want with what you want and have fun with it.
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Sure...I'll take the bottle outta my trunk....as soon as you take the turbo outta your engine compartment!
I actually agree with you. This thread got real stupid real fast.
Stock for stock, you are right, I would win, but he isn't stock! My whole reason for posting was to learn more about the abilities of the SH's and their POTENTIAL (like, what would he need to beat me), which I haven't got much of yet. So is it 220hp or 195hp? Are they basically like normal ludes?
As for the road course thing, I would still take him. It's amazing how import drivers assume american cars handle extremely bad. Stock, my stang shouldn't have any problem hanging with a stock prelude, but I have a couple suspension mods as well anyways. Plus any straight aways in the course are at my advantage.
Your right, standard mustangs com with solid rear axles. Only the cobras have IRS. The solid rear holds up a lot better on launching hard.
(And by the way, a stock mustang is slow too )
Basically he is, as the mods he has are minute and are not going to transform a 15 sec lude into a Mustang GT killer.
Prelude's have 200ish HP from the factory and around 165whp depending. This idea of mods vs. mustang, driver vs driver is ridiculous.
Like I said pointless race
You will win unless...
-your reaction time to when the race starts blows
-you are poor at launching
-you make a horrible shift into the wrong gear
-forget to shift all together
-forget to start out in 1st
-engine blows, stalls, tire explodes, wheel falls off
I actually agree with you. This thread got real stupid real fast.
Stock for stock, you are right, I would win, but he isn't stock! My whole reason for posting was to learn more about the abilities of the SH's and their POTENTIAL (like, what would he need to beat me), which I haven't got much of yet. So is it 220hp or 195hp? Are they basically like normal ludes?
As for the road course thing, I would still take him. It's amazing how import drivers assume american cars handle extremely bad. Stock, my stang shouldn't have any problem hanging with a stock prelude, but I have a couple suspension mods as well anyways. Plus any straight aways in the course are at my advantage.
Your right, standard mustangs com with solid rear axles. Only the cobras have IRS. The solid rear holds up a lot better on launching hard.
(And by the way, a stock mustang is slow too )
Alright, so you wanna know about the SH and it's potential? I'lloffer what I know as a proud SH owner .....
First thing the SH (or all 5th gens in general) needs is a lot of weight reduction. around 3k stock weight is quite on the heavy side, especially for a sport coupe... It's not the worst by far, but still could use to go in a diet...
Second, everyone has this assumption that the SH is slower than the base really depends car to car just like any other. I have a buddy who has a 99 base, mine is a 98 SH, and he had the same mods: CAI, catback... Keep in mind the 99 has 5 more stock hp, we went to the track and I consistently beat him by 4-5 tenths of a second. Now to make sure it wasn't driver error, I took his car down the track a few times and on still could not beat my own time after about 6 runs. Closest I came was still 2 tenth too slow... long story longer, don't assume the SH might be slower... But do keep in mind it's fairly simple to convert to base tranny
Then to come down to the power issue... he'd have to have some pretty aggressive mods done to the engine itself to come close to winning. Either some serious, and I mean SERIOUS N/A mods to come close, or a turbo or LARGE shot of N2O.
However, you said your buddy's 4th gen with an H22 swap and cams etc loses, then unless this SH has some serious work, it should be no problem. I'd say put some money on it, LOL.
I hope this somewhat answered your initial question haha
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