Prelude or 04 TL--which to keep? - Honda Prelude Forum

yellow_aspen · 07-22-2010, 12:00 AM

Hey,

I have a 97 Prelude (no suspension mods, 5 mt) and recently bought an 04 TL (6 mt with nav) and can't decide which to keep. Here's the dilemma:

I love everything about the Prelude's driving dynamics...the sound, how low and flat it is around corners, its nimble, the tightness and communication of the steering, and the precise shifter. The downside is that it's tight inside, I'd like to have a functional back seat, interior is not bad but dated, and it doesn't impress the ladies (I'm 38 not 24).

On the other hand, the TL is everything the Prelude is not. It is aesthetically, one of the best interiors I've ever been in. It's relaxed when you want it to be, its kind of sporty when you want it to be, safer, roomy, I like that it has 4 doors. However, it is nowhere near as engaging to drive (at least in stock form) as the lude. The steering is numb, the higher hp translates into torque steer in 1st, its roughly 500lbs heavier, and its made for the luxury/sport market so its just more divorced from the environment.

I'm going to tighten up the TL chassis by putting a rear sway bar on and maybe the Neuspeed Super Cup kit to drop it 2".

So, what do you think? Is this a lost cause to try and get a TL to handle like a Prelude? What would you do in my situation?

Thanks,

Tee-Dot · 07-22-2010, 12:01 AM

Tl

RomPirate · 07-22-2010, 12:53 AM

TL

or keep both. ?

Built_5thGen · 07-22-2010, 05:39 AM

I almost bought a TL after test driving an 05 model. Very nice interior that wraps all the way around the front. Sharp car all the way around. However, if you look at it my way, TL's are a dime a dozen. They're everywhere. I think it would be generous to say that you would probably see 5 to 6 TLs for every one prelude on the road. To me, it's all about driving something that's unique. And a TL is far from it.

The prelude is it's own beast, derived completely new from Honda, not from the Accord like the TL. It comes down to:

Sporty, unique, and stand alone Prelude

vs.

Versatile, luxurious, popular, Sport version of the Accord.

Nobody knows more than you when it comes down to what you prefer to drive. But I hope I've helped a smidget.

johnpreludebb6 · 07-22-2010, 06:32 AM

keep both, a good prelude could be a great summer car.

I <3 My BB6 · 07-22-2010, 09:57 AM

I say keep the lude and sell the TL. You will get much more money from selling the TL as opposed to selling the Prelude. I say put a grand or two into the prelude and make sure it is as close to mechanically PERFECT as possiible. And then put the left over TL money in the bank. When parked next to each other the Prelude looks about 10x sexier and is much more of a classic, not to mention the cost of ownership is lower; however props for getting the 6mt version of the TL. But still overall prelude>tl, just for financial reasons as well as personal preferance. Obviously I have a biased opinion lol.

thegamettt · 07-22-2010, 10:20 AM

do you owe money on either car? sucks you can't keep both but if it was my choice i'd keep the prelude. I kinda have the same situation now with the tsx and the s2k.

donnyinlakai · 07-22-2010, 11:11 AM

Oh, you can always just give me the s2k gamet.

SH DRIVER · 07-22-2010, 11:44 AM

I have a Prelude and a Lincoln, and like your two cars, they give me every thing I need for any driving situation.Here is how I see your situation.

2004 TL:
1: Great car for long trips
2: Great car for hauling more the 2 people.
3:Because you have a Prelude for getting it on , you can purchase a tire like the Michelin X radial for this car that will last 80k miles which helps hold down the long term costs of driving.

97 Prelude:
1:Great car for spirited driving
2: The blue book value of this car is now down to the point that it does not make since to have collision insurance on it and your property taxes are pretty low too which lowers its cost of ownership as a 2nd car.
3:Because you have the tl as a long distance hauler,you can better afford to have and maintain a set of high performance, but maybe as low as 35k mile life, tires on your Prelude which will mostly be used for driving relativity short distances.
4:If you sold the Prelude , you would not get much for it at its age so why not keep it.

Also when you have to bring one car in for maintenance and leave it, having a 2nd car to drive is a major plus.I guess the biggest factor is the repair history of the two cars.If one of the cars is costing you some big $$$ to keep it going, then you might have to get rid of it.

Tee-Dot · 07-22-2010, 11:48 AM

Collusion insurance?

indylude18 · 07-22-2010, 04:19 PM

Trying to make the TL drive like the Prelude is a lost cause. It doesn't have the fancy smancy double wishbone suspension that the Prelude does and it has 500lbs more weight to lug around through corners. Unlike the Prelude, the TL's chassis was not purpose built for good handling. It's chassis was built to be cheaper to produce and to be sold as a grocery getter/soccer mom Accord, then just dressed up a bit for the Acura badge.

On the other hand, you can always dress up the interior of the Prelude to make it closer to the one in the TL. It will never be quite as nice as being inside a TL, but some better seats can go a long way. I don't think the Prelude is uncomfortable for 2 people once your in it (I'm 6'3" and my prelude is less than 5" off the ground, getting in and out looks kind of funny), but it does lack most of the electronic interior do-hickeys that are now standard on most newer cars.

Obviously I'm a little biased...but I would keep the much cheaper to maintain and more fun to drive Prelude.