Hello everyone I'm a 26yo guy from Italy, here the Prelude isn't that popular and the 3rd generation is more than rare, actually I discoverd this car like 2 months ago, and i fell in love with "her". She has a beautiful design, so rational, so japanese (other car i'd like to buy is the Miata) and I think it's a pretty modern car despite of her age, those jap engineers putt everything a 2011 cars needs in a 1987 one
I found a nice one, it's a 1990 2.0 4ws (but 88/89 model), seems to be in brilliant condition from the photos I've seen, 160.000 km (like 99.500 miles) and the seller told me they have put on it new air-conditioner compressor, clutch, clutch pump and alternator. Biggest problem is that the car is like 550 miles far from me so I need to collect more information I can about what to ask and look if I'll go to see the car, I don't know this model and never bought a car with more than 50.000 miles.... can you help me?
Unfortunately I can't view your pictures. But in my opinion, the single most important thing to look for in a 3rd gen is rust. I can fix pretty much anything on the car, but rust repair is not one of them. Look for signs of rust around the rear wheel wells, tail lights, the fuel filler door, around the front and rear glass, and also around the sunroof. Rust can occur anywhere on the car, but these areas are the most common, and also the most difficult and expensive to repair.
If you do buy it, be sure that the first thing you do is replace the timing belt if they don't have documentation showing that it has been replaced. Then change all fluids and do a complete tune-up.
Good luck with the lude if you decide to buy it.
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89 Prelude 2.0Si 4WS
91 Prelude Si - SOLD
So what year is it exactly? It looks like an 88/89. Really clean and love the color.
Ask if it is eating oil between changes will be a suggestion I would make.
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PreludePower.com is a joke and is ran by kids. The Off Topic Whores and the MODS who require being respected and threaten people when they feel they are not. What a joke. BTW, don't ask them a question as they will answer with a ban.
SoCalPrelude.com MODS only inforce rules on some and not on all. Kyle is a joke.
BTW, Eric Schultz in CA is a known scammer. He did it to me, he can do it to you. Just a heads up. Know as "backinblue92" here on PO.com
it was registered (bought) in 1990 but of course it's "the previous" model
don't seem to have rust problems but I'll check live if I'll decide to go there
seller told me it's in perfect condition... but I want to be "prepared" about the car when I'll see it because I'll need to go, check the car and buy it in the same day if it's ok
I guess I should have mentioned that I can't view your link because I am using my work computer, and Image Shack is blocked for us. Same with Photo Bucket. I'll see if I can view it from home later.
Of course any engine can use oil, especially one that's more than 20 years old. But the b20a engines used iron cylinder sleeves, which are much less likely to cause ring wear than the FRM sleeves in the b21a1 that came in a lot of 90 and 91 ludes.
If it does use oil, it will more likely be from leaky seals or gaskets than from burning it.
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89 Prelude 2.0Si 4WS
91 Prelude Si - SOLD
So, I was able to look at your pics, and I have to say that it looks very clean. It's easy to hide flaws with pictures, so definitely make sure to look it over very closely.
The other thing I noticed is that it looks like it's got manual side mirrors, and in the US for 88/89 models, that would indicate that it's an S model, and have the b20a3 dual carb'd 2.0 liter engine. I think in Europe it would be a b20a4, which is also carb'd. But I don't know what models were available in Europe, so hopefully that one is fuel injected.
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89 Prelude 2.0Si 4WS
91 Prelude Si - SOLD
judging from the pics it definitely looks clean in and out. That color is my favorite on 3rd gens. Great price too.
Check everything. Take it for a long test drive. Do the stop and go thing, then go on highway. After 15 minutes of driving on highway pull over somewhere safe, keep the engine running, pop the hood and listen to the motor. Listen for any unusual sounds etc. When you drive back to the place, do the same thing.
Make sure you drive it enough and feel comfortable that they are not ripping you off. That price seems too low for a clean car like that, but I also don't know how things flow in Italy, so maybe that is a normal price idk.
Second... that side mirrors thing is annoying... I can live without electric side mirrors but I want a fuel injected one
I'm sure that in Italy Preludes had different equipment, for example I read that US 4ws comes with cruise control but I've seen a "sure" 1990 4ws without it... tomorrow I'll ask the seller
Talking about the price I know it's low () but as I told before here the 3rd gen is "unknow" and not much wanted, probably if I'll buy one I'll be the only one in my city riding one, and I'm from Milano, 2nd biggest city in Italy
Last edited by lazy_sunday; 09-16-2011 at 06:30 PM.
hey LS.im a newbie too.bought my daughter one [88 2.0 SI 4ws] a couple weeks ago.it had been sitting for awhile so there are some issues, but it runs great. very fun to drive and pretty good on gas. unfortunatly we live in minnesota so there is some rust. to my surprize i checked to see the spare tire tire, and lo and behold there was a hole you could put a soccerball thru! there was rust behind the mudflaps too which wasn't visible till i started lookin real good.but anyways, you listen to these guys, they are very knowledgable about the ludes.
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I'm a 26yo guy from Italy, here the Prelude isn't that popular and the 3rd generation is more than rare, actually I discoverd this car like 2 months ago, and i fell in love with "her". She has a beautiful design, so rational, so japanese (other car i'd like to buy is the Miata) and I think it's a pretty modern car despite of her age, those jap engineers putt everything a 2011 cars needs in a 1987 one 
BTW, don't ask them a question as they will answer with a ban.
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