Good Deal??

I'm looking into buying a 97 5spd silver prelude for $14k with 45k miles...just wanted to get some opinions on what everyone thinks about the deal...thanks
Peace

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People say my tail lights look good...hmmm maybe its because thats all they see

That would be a good deal if you can find it, but without researching the prices, I would guess you would be lucky to find one even for $17K for that year with those miles. Best of luck though dude.

I already found one JD...so i guess you're saying it is a good deal right?? kewl...although it does have two small dings on the hood about one inch dings...i heard those can be fixed though right??? with like special magnetic detailing or something

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People say my tail lights look good...hmmm maybe its because thats all they see

Hmmm... sometimes small dings can be fixed, believe it or not, using a good toilet plunger (I have not personally tried this, but supposedly if you get a good seal with enough suction, you can actually suck out the dings). However, this technique usually works better for doors and other side panels, where a thinner layer of metal (or fiberglass) is used than the hood, which is often made of thicker, heavier materials. I say try the toilet plunger idea (you need to wet the suction cup to help get a good seal), but I have a feeling that your hood may have too much integrity for this level of force to be sufficient to pull out the dings. I dunno, give it a shot.

As for the magnetic detailing, I've never heard of that. But if it works, more power to you. I suspect that you may be stuck just accepting the dinks as imperfections in an otherwise beautiful Honda, having to use bondo to just fill in the dents and have the surface area repainted, or replacing the hood - not attractive, as I would guess this is a $400 to $500 part.

As for the pricing, I need to remember that when I was looking at Preludes as the price I mentioned as being what I though was good, that was in the fall of 1999. So projected out, I guess $14,000, especially given the fact that the car has blemishes, seems like a pretty good price to me. You might be able to do better, but not too much.

I am sure you already know of strategies to use when shopping for a used car, but if you need suggestions, let me know. There a few trouble spots I wish I'd looked into before taking my Integra home. I still would have gotten it, but I would have worked the price down a little more for the things that I needed to repair for it to be in tip-top shape.

Good luck, and I hope you enjoy your Prelude!! :D

Thanks JD...well it doesn't hurt to know some of your secrets on negotiating if you don't mind telling me...hey by the way you're on SHO too right?? I'm justin@SHO there, if u hadn't figured that out yet.

And oh yeah...those dings aren't too bad...but also what do u think i should offer the guy??



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People say my tail lights look good...hmmm maybe its because thats all they see

COOL!!! Yeah, I'm an SHO member too. I'm glad Igor doesn't mind me batting for both teams :)

I am in a rush right now, but I will get back to you later (maybe not until tomorrow with a few strategies). Also for price purposes, are you buying the car from a previous owner or a dealership?

Sorry for the late response. Okay, make sure you test drive it. First and foremost.

Try and hard braking test from at least 60 to 70 mph if possible to see if the brake rotors are warped.

Carefully look for any dinks on the doors or hood or anywhere else for that matter.

Look for uneven belt wear.

See if you can have a compression test and a leak through test done on your car. These may be pricey, but if either one does not measure up to where it should be (you want your compression to be first and foremost uniform or at least within 5 psi in each cylinder, and the leak through should be.. hmmm, probably between 75 and 85%. Most likely above 80%.. if it's below 75% you can use that for bargaining leverage or just abondon the car as an option).

Test your car through the entire rpm range to see if there are any catalytic converter/heat shield resonance spots.

If you want to really get crazy, open up the engine and look under the valve cover. You want the spacing between the cylinders to be clean and free of dirt or any liquids. If it is so, than that is a good sign.

Anyway, these are just a few tips that I can come up with off the top of my head that will help you in bargaining. Now I just hope that my help doesn't come too late, and that you haven't already gotten your Prelude!

[Edited by JD@af on 01-13-2001 at 01:40 PM]

Yo JD do u think i really need a compression test...those are expensive and plus the mechanics told me i didn't really need one unless its like over 80000miles...but its at 45k miles...so pretty good mileage and plus it wasn't abused and its a 97...Do u still recommend a compression test?? I had a mechanic check the car out and he says its in good shape..but he didn't do a compression test

Well the price i'm getting the car for is 13,500 plus tax and tag...Is that a good deal??

The 80,000 miles point is a good one. And no, you probably do not need one. Plus, you can hear a major lapse in compression when the engine is running (it is harder to hear with an untrained ear - but you can hear an uneven "stroking" if your compression lacks uniformity). But do you really know that the car was not beat up?? Especially if the car was beat up early on before the break-in period, you certainly could already have compression losses in your engine. But, no, its probably not necessary. If the engine sounds good at idle and also all the way up to VTEC, than you are probably good to go, with a good deal at $13,500 :)

Besides, if you catch the same disease as me, it'll only be a matter of time before you start running forced induction with high boost levels necessitating that you put forged pistons and rods into your block anyway!! :D No way you say? So did I about 15 months ago when I got my car.....

Yo JD

Well its 13,500 plus tax and tag which will come out to be like 14,500...but still a good deal??

Oh yeah he just added a pretty nice aftermarket alarm he said...Well i don't know for a fact that it wasn't abused but it was owned by a couple, in which the wife was the primary driver...So i'm guessing it wasn't abused...also it has no mods too. But better than it being from some teenage kid..Like ME haha

Yo JD

Well we negotiated down to 13,500 plus tax and tag which will come out to be like 14,500...but you think its still a good deal??

Oh yeah he just added a pretty nice aftermarket alarm he said...Well i don't know for a fact that it wasn't abused but it was owned by a couple, in which the wife was the primary driver...So i'm guessing it wasn't abused...also it has no mods too. But better than it being from some teenage kid..Like ME haha

Sorry my roommate has a 99 sentra and he signed up for AF on my comp so i forgot to change back to me when i submitted my reply...my bad

Sounds to me that you're even more in good shape because of this. Definitely go for it!!

aight thanks, I'm picking the car up tomorrow or wednesday...YES!!!

Bro - You got a damn good deal on your lude!!!!!
the 4 year residual on a base model Prelude is 89%
so for instance I paid $25,349.00 out the door but the car actually lists for $24,650 I believe? I'm doing a 4 year preferred payment program which is similar to a lease!
thing is.... after 49 months the value of the car in FAIR condition is projected to be $17,500 and that's damn near amazing - add to that - that this is the last model year for Prelude and the only model year availible in Electron Blue Pearl and wham!!!!! I feel I've made a great investment and you should feel like you got over on the previous owner because that's low wholesale blue book (what you paid) that's unheard of for even a dealer to pay so little for a Honda!!!!!!!!! it's a pleasure knowing such a smart fella J!!!!! talk to you later!

Thanks bro...yeah i think we got one of the tightest and rarest cars available...I would even put it as high as those rx-7s and supras...maybe going too far but still i hardly see preludes and i think they are one of the phattest looking cars...man i get soo many looks here at UF..peeps all jealous that we got ludes...haha


Peace

Yeah i woulda got an EBP lude but didn't have enough money for one...still gotta pay for college..But i think you really made a good investment seeing that that car is very rare and is only offered in 2001.

yeah very true - you can already tell I feel strongly about it! good luck in School and stay there til you're finished!
Some of my friends went to Gainsville back in the early 90s
wish they would've offered me a Scholarship for BBALL would've went but Gulf Coast was #7 in the USA today poll when I was pitching there! I miss the PCB clubs but I'll see em in March

I played alot of tennis..Got offered to play for alot of schools...but decided to concentrate on becoming a doctor instead of continuing tennis...thats why i came to UF for free...hehe

Peace

more reliable income for sure!
Florida is a good school to get a medical degree from!
I chose my primary care physician because he went to a big ten school! My parents were both athletes at Ohio State!
Just got back from the drag strip and I ran my car well but I did'nt get a new best time - I did find out my car with me in it and my system weighs 3295lbs! OUCH!

Dang is your car an SH??

already bought the car...i can close this thread