Need advice. Sold my Supra, planning on Prelude SH

MKIV95 · Mar 29, 2001

Hi guys, I just need a little advice on your part. I recently sold my Supra NA (non-turbo) 5-speed because it was getting pretty expensive. I'm 19 and have a clean driving record and insurance was still around $300/month. So I just decided to sell it.
I've been looking around at different cars and one that attracted me the most is the Prelude Type SH.
I just have a few questions regarding Preludes:

1. Which car has more parts available if you plan on doing bolt on modifications, etc. SH or regular prelude?

2. Whats difference in engine between SH and regular?

3. How reliable are these cars?

Any advice/opinions are all greatly appreciated.

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Ray D.
'95 Supra 5-spd

MKIV95 · Mar 29, 2001

For sure I will be getting a 5-speed car, should I get a Prelude SH or just a regular Prelude? Whats the difference.....thanks guys.

atlxchink · Mar 29, 2001

If you really want to mod the car to its limits, get a base model and not the SH. THe SH is great if its your daily driver, but if you want to go turbo or supercharger, etc, you should get the base. Its a little lighter than the SH (which has the ATTS system). Both cars handle great. If YOU ARE buying a new Prelude, you can save the 2-3k extra for the SH model and use that money towards an aftermarket LSD (Kaaz, Quaife, etc), which will be way better than the ATTS. The base model prelude has more mods available for it, I believe. The cars are extremely reliable and fun to drive, but not comparable to a Supra (not sure about the N/A ones though). Hope I've helped.
SAM

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OG H-A Member

Former Lude owner, now pimping my mom's 1987 Cutlass Supreme w/ custom rust paint job for now

[This message has been edited by atlxchink (edited March 28, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by atlxchink (edited March 28, 2001).]

99prelude · Mar 29, 2001

if you plan on heavily modifying the prelude I say get the base model. If you are going to leave it basicaly stock or light modifications then get the SH.

the main difference is the ATTS which helps handling...reduces understeer. and of course the aesthetic differences, spoiler, rims, painted sills... etc.

i'm sure some other ppl on here have more to say. so i'll leave it at this.

good luck

why dont u drop a turbo in ur supra?

ThatPreludeGuy · Mar 29, 2001

Coming from an SH owner I agree about getting a base model. When I first lowered my car I was tripping ATTS lights like crazy until I went around and got all the corner near PERFECT in height. Plus a Quaife on a base model would probably give a better "feel" then the ATTS does.

gLudeous · Mar 29, 2001

Main difference is SH's ahve ATTS, a sort of active tourque transfer system that sort of pulls the car through corners better, and a slightly different front suspension to go along. Oh, the SH gets it's own style wheels. But the ATTS often causes trouble to people who think of getting turbos.

Many parts are the same for either, or at least most companies make parts for each. I'm skipping a few peculiar examples, but they would be anomalies. The engines are almost exactly the same, the differences don't effect performance at all.

Check all the previous posts to get ideas on all of these.

Prelude's pretty reliable, there are a few annoying things about it, but they are mostly annoying, not serious or dangerous. There must be thousands of posts about things that annoy people here, but it doesn't mean it's a less reliable car than any other.

Joon525 · Mar 29, 2001

http://www.honda2001.com/models/prelude/index.html?honda=intro
Start there.....more parts might be available for the base model but it's not SO much that it should deter you from an SH should you really want one.

by the way....welcome

anubyss · Mar 29, 2001

The ATTS (active torque transfer system) on the SH is for handling. It provides more power to the outside wheels during cornering so that the handling is better. There is only one engine for the '97+ Preludes. Five more horses for the '99+ Preludes due to less restrictive exhaust.

If you are planning to upgrade the suspension and put in a LSD, then get the base and not the SH. You'll save money and the car will handle better.

The bottom line is base model is better suited for modifying. The more you plan to mod, the better it is to get the base. Oh and the car is VERY reliable.

jkoc · Mar 29, 2001

damnnnnnnnnn
i love the supra

MKIV95 · Mar 29, 2001

thanks a lot guys. I am now leaning towards a base model. Hopefully I find a good one...preferrably under ~20K for a 98-00. If you anyone has any leads, let me know. THanks again for all the help!!

Raymond

checkmate58 · Mar 29, 2001

Get the Base...too bad you sold your Supra.. I woulda traded you cars..hahahaha...

--Sam
PS-All Your Base Are Belong to Us.

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With Great Powers Come Great Responsibilities--Never Underestimate the Power of the VTEC

atlxchink · Mar 29, 2001

Originally posted by MKIV95:
thanks a lot guys. I am now leaning towards a base model. Hopefully I find a good one...preferrably under ~20K for a 98-00. If you anyone has any leads, let me know. THanks again for all the help!!

Raymond

Raymond, if your looking for a used 5th Gen, you can get one w/ low mileage for around 15-17k. I'm in the market for one too, I wrecked my other one

Go to autotrader.com and look for cars. Good luck
SAM

Gabe · Mar 29, 2001

Originally posted by MKIV95:
thanks a lot guys. I am now leaning towards a base model. Hopefully I find a good one...preferrably under ~20K for a 98-00.

You should be able to find a used base model for well under 20K. You could probably drive a new 2001 off the lot for a little over 21K with enough haggeling.

Gabe

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97 Prelude
see it here:Hondaprelude.com

Two-Five Boy · Mar 29, 2001

u could go to the classifieds at hondaprelude.com as well.

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01' Base 5-Speed
Stock for now
Parts to be installed-
AEM CAI, Neuspeed Sports & KYB AGX, Neuspeed Front STB, Apex V-AFC

Wicked2G · Mar 29, 2001

i have a question for you.....

what do you mean it was getting expensive? mods? gas?

ive been debating between a supra and a prelude. im 19 too.

MKIV95 · Mar 29, 2001

Here is why it was getting expensive and why I sold it:

1. Gas would give me 15-17 MPG, AT THE MOST.
(I would have to get a full tank 2-3 times a week) I commute only 35 miles a day.

2. Insurance was more than $350/month, and thats on a naturally aspirated car. Drive with a clean record....through Geico.

3. Parts are extremely expensive, plus there is no room for more horsepower advancement. no aftermarket headers, intake, etc. only suspension and Turbo kit.

4. Engine is totally different from the Twin Turbo Supra engine. TT are inline 6, 6-speed tranny, better braking, better suspension, 17" stock rims, etc. etc.

5. To top it all off, this car was just as fast as any other Honda that gets 20+ mpg, with more efficiency and lower maintenance.

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Ray D.
'95 Supra 5-spd

gLudeous · Mar 29, 2001

Another reason to get a base is that there are just more of them out there, though many are autos, so that cuts a bunch out. But I see probably 10 bases for every SH around my area.

Gabe · Mar 29, 2001

Originally posted by MKIV95:
Engine is totally different from the Twin Turbo Supra engine. TT are inline 6, 6-speed tranny, better braking, better suspension, 17" stock rims, etc. etc.

Huh? The engines are exactally the same. 3.0L inline 6 cylinders. The only difference internally is the compression on the NA motor. I know the NA version has 1 less gear but there aren't that many differences.

Gabe

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97 Prelude
see it here:Hondaprelude.com

SHhhhh · Mar 29, 2001

You better check with your insurance company. Before I bought my SH, i checked the insurance against a 1995 Supra TT. The insurance was identical between the two cars. $220 a month. Go figure. I was shocked too. If you want a significant drop in your insurance payment either:
1) turn 25 years old
2) get married
3) try to get on your parent's insurance and put your dad as the primary driver of the SH (or new car you will be getting)

(#1 might be hard to do)

And to answer your questions about the Prelude:
1)Base and SH both have same amount of parts available. If you want a turbo/supercharge, don't go SH. The ATTS won't really handle it from what I hear.
2)This is covered extensively on this board, so do a search on "ATTS" or "BASE VS SH" etc.
3)This is not an issue with the Prelude

Godspeed.

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http://www.geocities.com/typeshhhhh/MAIN.html
[email protected]

[This message has been edited by SHhhhh (edited March 28, 2001).]

joedaddy · Mar 29, 2001

Originally posted by SHhhhh:

1) turn 25 years old

(#1 might be hard to do)

HAHA

Need advice. Sold my Supra, planning on Prelude SH

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