This is max Honda. Everyone’s been pointing at a few others, but this is it. Rev happy powertrain, sophisticated suspension, 4 wheel steering. Not the fastest car around, but a cheerful one. Right down to the racy looking seats this was just a pleasant little toy to drive. Just like a motorcycle or PWC from the other side of the company, these had that puppy playfulness that GM couldn’t successfully copy.
By the 5th Generation, the red top engine and electronic 4WS really made it something else that no-one else could match. Especially in atrocious conditions, where one must be a bit cautious in an NSX, one could press on with total abandon. Roundabouts cease to exist, much to the chagrin of tailgating Audi drivers…
Funny how ze Chermans seem to have subsequently ‘invented’ 4WS and applied it to so many things…
Thanks. Just a nice orange with a greyscale interior – but then there’s that wheel colour, I guess. I don’t plan these things, it must be subconscious. 🙂
That EXP was such an oddity. Would this Prelude have been in competition with it, or was the EXP smaller?
EXP was 82-88 (and missed ’85 I believe) with the first few years having the odd headlights then they got smoothed back when it got restyled for ’86(?), this generation Prelude debuted for ’88, although the prior generation looks very similar if perhaps a bit shorter.
The EXP wasn’t much smaller inside or out but it was less refined and had less power. We had multiple Preludes at our SoCal high school but zero EXPs (and few Escorts for that matter but multiple Mustang GTs). The Honda Prelude, especially in upper trims, had a bit of an upscale aura about it, it may as well have been badged an Acura. Other areas of the country perhaps were different in that regard. The Prelude was also popular with adults until they had kids (and again when the kids left home). I don’t think many people would have cross-shopped them irrespective of which one they started out looking at.
The reason I suggested the EXP should have had a similar hidden headlight nose, was because an EXP styling concept from 1981, had the nose it should have had from the beginning. Much more attractive, than the likely much cheaper to manufacture ‘frog-face’ the EXP was born with, in 1982.
The Prelude was also significantly more expensive than the EXP in the States, and was a pretty expensive car in general — an Si 4WS ran to around $17,000, which was about TWICE the MSRP of the 1988 EXP.
The EXP, like the American Escort on which it was based, never really had much credibility as a sporty car and was a fairly awkward-looking thing. The facelift was an improvement, but not enough of one, and I don’t think any version of the first-generation U.S. Escort ever established much credibility as a sporty car. Also, I think the EXP ended up competing with the four-cylinder Mustang, which wasn’t that fast either, but was after all a Mustang.
Another great Honda, Cars like the Prelude were bought by a wide demographic. Some people stretched to buy a car that they really wanted. Others could afford more expensive cars, but wanted to stay with the Honda reliability and non ostentatious image. Others had already played the field, and had their fill of high priced drama queens.
Self confidence is an appealing quality, both in people and in cars.
Much as I adored my BB8, that is the best-looking Prelude.
Prelude…
I cant’ tpye…
Whenever I saw a Prelude, I always thought “Prelude to what?”.
I don’t think anything really ever replaced the Prelude in the Honda lineup, so perhaps the final answer is “nothing”.
Still they sold a lot, mostly to “Honda people” who really wanted a Celica, but didn’t want a Toyota for some reason.
Maybe the “Prelude” was the prelude to “Having a family and buying an Accord”
This is max Honda. Everyone’s been pointing at a few others, but this is it. Rev happy powertrain, sophisticated suspension, 4 wheel steering. Not the fastest car around, but a cheerful one. Right down to the racy looking seats this was just a pleasant little toy to drive. Just like a motorcycle or PWC from the other side of the company, these had that puppy playfulness that GM couldn’t successfully copy.
By the 5th Generation, the red top engine and electronic 4WS really made it something else that no-one else could match. Especially in atrocious conditions, where one must be a bit cautious in an NSX, one could press on with total abandon. Roundabouts cease to exist, much to the chagrin of tailgating Audi drivers…
Funny how ze Chermans seem to have subsequently ‘invented’ 4WS and applied it to so many things…
The Charade is cool, but I don’t have one, so…
Great work, and colour scheme. This is the nose, the Ford EXP needed.
Thanks. Just a nice orange with a greyscale interior – but then there’s that wheel colour, I guess. I don’t plan these things, it must be subconscious. 🙂
That EXP was such an oddity. Would this Prelude have been in competition with it, or was the EXP smaller?
EXP was 82-88 (and missed ’85 I believe) with the first few years having the odd headlights then they got smoothed back when it got restyled for ’86(?), this generation Prelude debuted for ’88, although the prior generation looks very similar if perhaps a bit shorter.
The EXP wasn’t much smaller inside or out but it was less refined and had less power. We had multiple Preludes at our SoCal high school but zero EXPs (and few Escorts for that matter but multiple Mustang GTs). The Honda Prelude, especially in upper trims, had a bit of an upscale aura about it, it may as well have been badged an Acura. Other areas of the country perhaps were different in that regard. The Prelude was also popular with adults until they had kids (and again when the kids left home). I don’t think many people would have cross-shopped them irrespective of which one they started out looking at.
The reason I suggested the EXP should have had a similar hidden headlight nose, was because an EXP styling concept from 1981, had the nose it should have had from the beginning. Much more attractive, than the likely much cheaper to manufacture ‘frog-face’ the EXP was born with, in 1982.
My reply, went to the ‘Spam’ folder. Sorry, editors!
The Prelude was also significantly more expensive than the EXP in the States, and was a pretty expensive car in general — an Si 4WS ran to around $17,000, which was about TWICE the MSRP of the 1988 EXP.
The EXP, like the American Escort on which it was based, never really had much credibility as a sporty car and was a fairly awkward-looking thing. The facelift was an improvement, but not enough of one, and I don’t think any version of the first-generation U.S. Escort ever established much credibility as a sporty car. Also, I think the EXP ended up competing with the four-cylinder Mustang, which wasn’t that fast either, but was after all a Mustang.
Nice, I bought onw of those Prelude the 4WS didnt work nor did most things, paid $100 so didnt expect a lot, wrecking yard gave me $150.
Another great Honda, Cars like the Prelude were bought by a wide demographic. Some people stretched to buy a car that they really wanted. Others could afford more expensive cars, but wanted to stay with the Honda reliability and non ostentatious image. Others had already played the field, and had their fill of high priced drama queens.
Self confidence is an appealing quality, both in people and in cars.