Hi everyone

I joined here to hopefully find a Prelude and then I can be an active member more often here
So, I've been having an extremely hard time finding a good deal on a Prelude. I suppose you all probably know that. I lost out on a deal locally a few days ago. It was a 2000 with 150k and he wanted $3500. I drove it and loved it and said I would call him later in the day if I wanted to buy it after I looked around some more. Within hours he had sold it. Ugh.
I know it's hard, but I'm looking for something under $4000. Preferably 5th gen... manual transmission... under 200,000 miles.
Also, is there anything wrong with the older 4th gens with the H23? Because I have one locally I could buy for $2300. But everyone keeps telling me to hold out for that H22 DOHC VTEC in the 97+ ?