Auto Purchase Advice

6-12-2006 | JamesP81

[JamesP81]

I am going to be replacing my car with a newer one sometime early next year. I've done extensive research and test driving, but I'm having trouble finding a Honda Prelude to test drive. I was wondering if anyone has ever driven or owned one, and what their experiences with the vehicle has been, as far as reliability and fun factor.

The vehicles I'm going to be comparing it to are the 2000-2005 Toyota Celica GTS and 2002-2006 Nissan Altima V6. I like the Altima's raw power, but it doesn't handle as well as I'd like and it's styling is too conservative. The Celica GTS has style going for it in spades and it can take sharp curves at insane speeds, but it's engine doesn't deliver any real performance until around 5500 rpms, a speed at which the engine is screaming like a banshee. I also really liked the 2000-2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse, but I distrust its reliability. I don't want to start sinking a bunch of money into a vehicle after it hits 125,000 miles, so unless there is a specific trim of the Eclipse that's noted for dependability, I'll probably avoid this vehicle. It's too bad; it's one of the prettiest cars on the road today, and I do like the way it drives in spite of its weight.

Given what I'm looking for in acceleration, handling, style, and dependability, do any of you Prelude owners think that the Prelude fits what I'm looking for? I admit, I like the Celica's and the Eclipse's styling better, but I guess something has to give somewhere.

[doodad]

GTO. They are not selling and you can get a deal. 400 HP and interior like a Corvette with handling that is tight. Try it you'll like it!

[martin_fierro]

Try ePinions.

[JamesP81]

Actually, I write for epinions. But yes, it is an excellent site. It's where I've gotten most my info. Problem is, you can never really know until you've test driven one, and Prelude's are hard to find.

[JamesP81]

GTO. They are not selling and you can get a deal. 400 HP and interior like a Corvette with handling that is tight. Try it you'll like it!

While I'm a fan of pontiac performance, I'm still a bit concerned about dependability. The GTO is a new design car, and newly designed cars generally have problems. Also, it's a GM vehicle. While I would seriously consider purchasing a Pontiac Grand Prix if they offered it in a 5 speed manual (I can't imagine why GM doesn't offer the GP, which is billed as a performance vehicle, with a manual) let's be honest: GM cars cost more in maintenance as they age than imports. It's just a fact, and this one may have even more problem since it's new and the kinks probably haven't been worked out yet.

OTOH, 400 HP would definitely rock your face off.

[Yo-Yo]

The Pontiac GTO is really the Australian Holden Monero. Reliability should be better than the average US GM product.

[JamesP81]

The Pontiac GTO is really the Australian Holden Monero. Reliability should be better than the average US GM product.

Hmm. Interesting. I checked autotrader.com for prices on them though; still in low $20k range. Well above my spending limit, unfortunately.

[annie laurie]

You didn't ask for the opinions of Celica owners, but I'm going to pipe up anyway ;-)

I have a 1990 Celica, which is finally (16 years later) on its last legs. It has been the most reliable & fun-to-drive car you could ask for.

On the other hand, I know nothing about 2000+ Celicas, but I'd be surprised if they were anything less than what I've described.

Good luck on your search :)

[Rhiannon]

Preludes are discountinued for a while and had a lot of rust prolems The performance was not that great. Some of the sporty civics are hot for the young racer crowd. Th Tiburon has a great warranty very sporty and easy to handle. Inexpensive too. New under 20K

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Mazda's new cars ROCK!!!

[JamesP81]

I'm a former Celica owner myself. Had an 87 for a while. Great car. It's the main reason I'm considering another one: because it's a proven vehicle.

[JamesP81]

Th Tiburon has a great warranty very sporty and easy to handle. Inexpensive too. New under 20K

I test drove a Tiburon 'Tuscani' V6. Truth be told, it was a lot of fun. The acceleration would literally pin you in your seat, which was surprising coming from a mere 172 horsepower V6 (the Celica GTS's 4 cylinder has 180 hp and doesn't feel anything like that). However, it's the same problem with Mitsubishis: I don't trust the reliability of Hyundai as much as I do Nissan or Toyota. I know that they are a lot better starting with the 2003 model year, and they probably will at some point be the equal of Toyota, Nissan, and Honda on reliability, but the newer Hyundais aren't yet old enough to know how well they are going to hold up over the long term. I've heard enough horror stories about Tiburon's (admittedly, these were the older ones) to be a little leary of buying one.

But they are a hardcore driving machine.