What do you guys think I should do with my Lude? My dilemma. - Honda Prelude Forum

ludestarbai · 02-01-2011, 06:52 PM

Basically I have my project Prelude sitting and collecting dust.

I dont need it as a daily. I'm not desperate for the $1000 I assume I can get for it in current condition.

Its a 93 Vtec 5spd. Its got 5 lug conversion, Projector Headlights, 5th Gen Sunroof, S2000 Wheels, Coilovers, and I've got all kindsa parts for projects I intended on doing but never getting around to. The car has a perfect body and is in in excellent cosmetic shape.

The bad though is that its got a very rough idle, and a few syncro grinds in a few gears. My guess is it will take me paying someone around $2500 to do a complete overhaul of it. Or, $1500 to have someone tear both down and fix whatever is causing it to behave this way (hopefully not finding anything tooo serious wrong)

The goal of the car was to be a project that I could work on and learn on in my spare time. And if I pay someone to do all the work, and not work on it myself, kinda defeats the whole purpose I've had for the car from day one. But it doesn't look like the spare time is going to happen anytime soon since I'm going back to school. And the location is the bigger issue since I will be going into a condo and not a home where I will have access to a garage.

Option 1: Keep the car at a family member's place, it'll sit and continue to collect dust for probably a few years till I obtain a place that i can work on it again. I will not be able to really work on it there, it'll just be a safe place to store it indefinitely.

Option 2: Attempt to part it out completely, would be a damn shame beacuse its body and overall package is in awesome shape. Just needs someone to give its motor and transmission the TLC that it needs.

Option 3: Attempt to sell it as is and just cut my losses. Not too keen on this idea since I'm not desperate for the few bucks that it could bring in. (My guess is around $1000 with all the aftermarket goodies on it)

Option 4: Pay someone else to fix it, My guess is around $1500 to get it running right... and hopefully get around $3000 for it in its new better running condition... But thats a pie in the sky dream I think (to get $1500)

I've got a 2011 5.0 Mustang now thats replaced my S2000 and Accord as my daily driver. Its a great car, more power than Ill ever need and plenty practical (not nearly as bad on gas as most would assume) -- So paying someone to fix the Prelude for regular use daily immediate use is not necessary at this time.

What are your thoughts guys?

minilogoguy18 · 02-01-2011, 07:04 PM

I wish I had another car to drive, since you do, now is the perfect time to expand your love and knowledge of cars. Take it apart and learn to fix all of it's problems. It kinda blows me away to hear about people who own multiple cars and even modify them yet they pay someone else to do it.

Idle can be a couple of different things requiring some trial and error but all of the usual solutions are incredibly easy. The trans, not simple but not as hard as most think.

If you decide not to fix it find a diehard prelude fan to buy it and give it a good home.

ludestarbai · 02-01-2011, 08:02 PM

I absolutely would love to keep it and work on it on my own. The problem is I have no place to work on it now, and I dont forsee myself having a place any time soon.

I think I have decided that if I do keep it, I will not spend the cash to have someone else work on it, it will sit there and collect dust for god knows how long till I get around to it. But like you said, completely defeats the purpose if I let someone else fix it.

Given my current situation, the car would likely sit there for at least a year if not longer till I found a suitable location and time to work on it.

If I decide that letting it sit there for however long it takes is the wrong way to go, and selling it is the best option of for me.

The question is how can I get the most money for it?

Complete Part out (a damn shame since its in great shape otherwise)?

Pay someone to fix it just so I can sell it (Would only pay someone if it was to accelerate the time it would take for me to be able to sell it, and I could recoup the cost to fix in the selling price) ?

Sell as is? What would it roughly be worth? KBB isn't worth anything in a case such as this... so what would be a reasonable price? For a grand, for example, I'd rather let it sit there for a 5 years if I have to. I'm not saying a grand isn't a lot of money, its just that I have a lot more into it than that, and I'm not in dire need of money so its not really going to hurt me or cost me anything to have it sit there till I get around to it. For 3k with all the aftermarket stuff I have on it, it maybe something I consider, but a pie in the sky dream most likely.

minilogoguy18 · 02-02-2011, 06:57 AM

I love Preludes, I couldn't part out one that was in that good of condition. Even if I couldn't get much for it I'd rather sell it to someone who's going to take good care of it and appreciate it.

whiteonblacklud · 02-04-2011, 09:23 AM

you could just save the car till u got older and just to take time off by fixing your car. also if you'd liek u could get like ur sone to help u out, if u have a son and just restore it and let him learn to fix a car for future perposes

bamaland · 02-04-2011, 06:42 PM

lets see some pics!
i would tell you to keep it but im willing to make a drive for the right price

but keep it.. lol these are getting hard to find it'll be worth some good money later on