The era came to an end in the early aughts as SUVs became dominant. It was a blast while it lasted, and Honda was arguably at the head of the class. During the 1990s, it consistently pumped out incredibly nimble and fun-to-drive cars like the CRX, Civic Si, Integra, and NSX. Even its mainstream offerings—like the Accord—came in sporty two-door flavors that added zest to daily commutes.
A Real Sports Car With Front-Wheel Drive
Since 1978, each generation of the Prelude got sportier. By the time the fifth generation debuted in 1997, it had evolved into its best and final form. Its high-revving 2.2-liter inline-four, generating 195 to 200 horsepower, depending on the year, was part of the equation. That might not seem like a lot of ponies, but the whole car weighed just 3,000 pounds, making it supremely tossable.
It also came with Honda’s Formula 1-derived variable valve timing technology, called VTEC. That kicked the valvetrain over to a more performance-oriented cam profile at high rpm. The accompanying boost in power pushed occupants back into the seats under hard acceleration.
However, the Prelude’s pièce de résistance was razor-sharp handling. Its tight steering and four-wheel double-wishbone suspension—also derived from Honda’s dominant F1 program—stuck to twisty mountain roads like super glue. It defied physics, especially for a front-wheel-drive car. But even that caveat seems unfair, as its FWD layout could out-handle many RWD cars.
The Prelude came with all the hallmarks that made Honda great during this era. Its five-speed transmission had the best feel in the business. Its ergonomics were intuitive and clear. It had quality and supportive bucket seats that, if swapped with leather, could have been at home in a luxury sports car three times the price. Although the rear seats, like those in many sports coupes of the era, were nearly unusable for anyone older than 12.
When not carving canyons, the Prelude was easy to live with as a daily driver. The Integra Type R took the Honda handling crown, but it crossed over into race car territory with concomitant levels of harshness and discomfort for the average driver. The Prelude could be your partner running errands as easily as it sliced up hairpins.
Someone Loved This Car
Well-kept sports coupes from this era are hard to find. They were almost too affordable, and their high performance made them irresistible to teens who thrashed and modified them into oblivion. That’s why the 2001 example for sale is such a gem. With only 13,750 miles on the clock, it’s basically brand new. The timing belt, a crucial and expensive maintenance item, was replaced already.
The engine bay looks weathered, so it may be prudent to inspect this car up close to determine the accident history, if any. If it comes back clean, the $26,000 asking price seems more than fair. Lesser Hondas of this era have sold for more (see the 1999-2000 Honda Civic Si), and the driving experience is well worth the cost of admission.
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