The differences between years. - Honda Prelude Forum

Tse · 01-23-2002, 09:20 AM

I have decided I'm gonna trade my 92 si 4ws for a newer one in a few more months because of the miles on it and because its not manual transmission. It has like 139k on it. I know it doesn't seem like a lot for some of you but it is to me and they get hard as hell to sell them with that many miles for a good price. Anyway I still want a 4th generation lude but I hear that there are major differences that the older ones have that the newer ones don't have. Help me decide.

1. First off I hear lots of people saying that the 93 SI VTEC is the fastest out of the 4th gens.

2. I also heard that the newer ones don't come with the 4ws. Is this true?

3. 95's are the only one that come with leather seats. I want to avoid that then.

4. I have no clue OBD II is but it comes with the 96's, and people say they don't like it.

5. That storage compartment is missing in the 94's and up. I liked that thing, is there anouther storage place besides the trunk that I would be able to use.

6. I also heard that the 96 si has a better engine than their vtec, if you were to take the vtec out. I have no clue if this is true. If this is true I'll just get a 96 si and just get a vtec seperate, would this be a good or bad idea.

Well that's it. Thanks in advance.

Mark94 · 01-23-2002, 10:09 AM

I'll try to answer all your questions.

1. That is the rumor, but it has never really been proven.

2. The last year 4WS was produced in the United States was 1994.

3. Leather was an option from 94-96 and came STANDARD on 94-96 Prelude VTEC models. I don't think leather was option on 93 models.

4. OBD II stands for On Board Diagnostics II. All the newer cars have to have OBD II because of stricter emission laws. People don't like it because cars that have OBD II don't react as well to modifications. After adding a modification, the OBD II system will eventually reprogram itself back within factory spec which robs you of horsepower. OBD II was introduced in 1996 and anything previous was OBD I.

5. That rear storage compartment that you are referring to is only found on the 1992 Preludes. 1993 Preludes have no storage whatsoever (just the glove box, which you can only fit a few papers in). The 94-96 Preludes have a storage compartment located between the two front seats. They also received a cup holder which was well needed.

Here you can see the storage compartment and the cup holder which is in front of the storage compartment.

6. Not sure what you are asking.

A few other pieces of information which might be helpful are:
â€¢ 94-96 Preludes came with clear/orange front turn signals. 92-93 came with all orange signals.
â€¢ 94-96 Preludes came with lighter directional wheels. They weigh in at 18 lbs. while the 92-93 alloys weigh in at 22 lbs.
â€¢ 94-96 Preludes came with an electroeluminscent speedo, tach, and odometer (has the same look as your gas and temp gauge).
â€¢ This is a small thing but the small grills beside the headlights were different in the 94-96 Preludes. 94-96 had two lines going through them while the 92-93 had only one line.
â€¢ 92-93 Preludes have the power mirror controls on the door panel while the 94-96 models have it in the center console (which can also be seen in the picture above).
â€¢ 94-96 VTEC models came with a 7th speaker which was located between the two rear seats. This was a 6 X 9" sub which is powered by its own small amplifier.

That's all I can think of right now.

I would definitely look for a 94-95 Si or VTEC model (preferably a VTEC model, but they are very rare).

Good luck with your search.

Mark

94VTECLude · 01-23-2002, 10:15 AM

Hey im not sure if I can be any help but here goes, I just bought like 3 weeks ago a 94 Vtec and I love it, its great, everything i was looking for. Got any questions about it, just ask!

pter · 01-23-2002, 10:22 AM

Damn Mark, you really got your **** together.
That's an excellent summary! Should be FAQ'd!

Tse · 01-23-2002, 10:32 AM

Is there a way you can take out the OBD II in the 96's? Or should I just go 95 VTEC? I really want the 96 but I'm not sure how much it would cost if you could take it out.

red92s · 01-23-2002, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pter
Damn Mark, you really got your **** together.
That's an excellent summary! Should be FAQ'd!

How about we make the list complete first?
-94 and up have a map light located in front of the sunroof. 92-93 do not. . .just a dome light behind the sunroof.
-94 and up have diferent covers over the tweeters in the corners of the dash. Dont think there is any functional differences, they just look different.
-The console on 94-96 models locates the e-brake differently. Some people prefer the new location, some think it interferes with shifter movement.
-Mark was right about the storage compartment: it only came on 92's. I'm not sure if it was standard or optional. . .I just know I have one and I like it:

-Models without the long storage bin have the soft thing shown in this picture between teh rear seats. Also visable is the metal bracket for the VTEC 6x9 "sub".

-SE models are just Si's with limited edition wheels, paint colors, and have standard leather (I think the only tan leather interior ever offered?)

Mark94 · 01-23-2002, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pter
Damn Mark, you really got your **** together.
That's an excellent summary! Should be FAQ'd!

Thanks pter

Tse, there are ways to convert to OBD I but I'm not sure what is involved. I know you need a new harness and you have to do some rewiring but it is more complicated than that.

I would just go with a 95 VTEC. You'll have no worries because it came from the factory.

Why are you so hung up on a 96 model?

Mark

JDM Lude · 01-23-2002, 10:41 AM

Leather was a option, though rarely purchased, in '93. It is not the same leather as in '94-'96

whitesiprelude · 01-23-2002, 12:28 PM

Just a note it is illegal to change from an OBD II to an OBD I. It's possible but you'd be better off getting the OBD II and upgrading it with ecu work offered by different companies if your really hung up on the 96 if not def. go with the 95 you won't be let down with OBD I.

Peace

illusion · 01-23-2002, 12:29 PM

wow you guys got everything covered!

Quote:

Originally posted by red92s

-SE models are just Si's with limited edition wheels, paint colors, and have standard leather (I think the only tan leather interior ever offered?)

not sure about the SE's..
i do know that the 94 azure blue green vtec had black leather. the 95+ azure blue green vtec had tan leather. maybe it was the same for the SE models.

pter · 01-23-2002, 12:56 PM

My 95Si doesn't have a map light?

Jordan_4WS · 01-23-2002, 03:23 PM

Also...
-92-93 has one vertical line on the airvents/nostrils (next to headlights), while 94-96 has two.
-92-93 has slightly flatter 'nose' on the front bumper than the 94-96. Not noticable, but you can tell if you really look closely having a 92-93 and 94-96 side by side.
-On car with a factory spoiler, 94-96 has 3rd brake light on spoiler and 92-93 has 3rd light on roof. All 92-96 cars with no factory spoiler have the roof spoiler.

Everything else I can think of was already mentioned.

My conclusion is avoid 96 cause of OBDII. The difference between 92-93 and 94-96 is a toss up. The 94-96 has a cup holder and luminescent gauges; but the ebrake is kinda in an annoying place. Also the 92-93 has a better center storage compartment. As for the rims, I prefer the look of the 92-93 but that is just personal taste.

Id say no matter, stay away from an S; and try your best to get a VTEC or 4WS model. If not, settle for an Si.

-Jordan

EpDarks · 01-23-2002, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pter
My 95Si doesn't have a map light?

Only VTEC's do

Tse · 01-23-2002, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mark94

Why are you so hung up on a 96 model?
Mark

I'm not so hung up on the 96 model, its just that with most cars the last car of its generation is usually the best one. The bugs get worked out as you go up in years, but not the prelude.

While I was looking for more information on changes I found this:

http://prelude.vtec.net/gen4/specs/changes.html

On here it says that there are no changes from 95 to 96 except color name changes and the OBD II. Is this true? Thats kinda stupid of Honda to do that.

This might sound dumb but, It says on here on the 95's that Prelude Si with 4WS gets axed. Is this with the VTECS to? I just wanna be extra sure, cause I like my 4WS.

One last thing I just remembered no one ever mentioned the back windsheild wiper. That would be nice if mine came with one. What year did those come out.

illusion · 01-23-2002, 06:15 PM

true the last year is usually the best.. but when there were no big changes throughout, there shouldnt be any problems. 95 -> 96, no changes except OBD2.

4ws was axed and it was only available in the SI models anyway. no VTEC model in the US ever had 4ws.

no rear windshield wiper in US 4th gens. only overseas got that. =\

Tse · 01-23-2002, 06:59 PM

Damnit Euros and Japanese get everything. I must be looking in some of the wrong places. I was getting all excited for nothing. Heres the back windsheild wiper.

Not 4th generation, but it just looks cool.

red92s · 01-23-2002, 08:06 PM

Not 4th generation, but it just looks cool.

[/B][/QUOTE]

. . . No, It dosn't. A 5th gen prelude with "Type-R" stuff all over it just looks plain stupid to anyone who knows their Prelude history. . .

Tola · 01-23-2002, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by red92s
-SE models are just Si's with limited edition wheels, paint colors, and have standard leather (I think the only tan leather interior ever offered?)

Don't forget the ugly gold emblem

. And black leather comes with a black SE. I think all other SE's come with tan leather. I think SE's are only 95-96, I'm not sure about 94.

EpDarks · 01-23-2002, 10:09 PM

I disagree about the "Type R" Prelude looking stupid. At least if their was a Prelude Type R, thats what it would look like. As long as the motor has some solid mods, I think the car is cool.

To each his own. No sake in

Tse · 01-23-2002, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by illusion
4ws was axed and it was only available in the SI models anyway. no VTEC model in the US ever had 4ws.

no rear windshield wiper in US 4th gens. only overseas got that. =\

I was originally thinking about getting a 96 VTEC. But with Marks info i thought about getting a 95 VTEC. Now you say that their is no 4ws on the VTEC's. Geez now I'm thinking about getting a 94 SI 4ws and just putting a VTEC on it, or can get a 4ws and put it on a 95 VTEC somehow. Is it possible or am i stuck with the 94 si idea.

Anyone know where to get the back windsheild wiper. I can really use it here in VA. Damn dew.