Handling

Well currently I have a 1996 Acura Integra LS and I m currently trying to sell it right now. Cars that I looked at to replace my Integra was a 1997 Honda Prelude Type SH and 1997 Honda Prelude base. I know the Type SH has something similiar to the LSD and it could corner very well. But my main question is does the Prelude base corner better than the LS integra and handle better? Another reason why I want the Prelude is because of straighline performance and I know it would beat a LS anyday. So how's the handling like on the Prelude base compared to a Type SH. Overall how's the performance on both Preludes?

This is the Prelude Type SH that I m planning to look at. Is this a good price for that car? What problems should I look at buying a Prelude?

http://used-cars.autos.yahoo.com/usedcars/detail/index.html?cid=automobiles-184382150&dst=12.90&rsr=bWFrZT1IT05EQSZtb2RlbD1QUkUmY2xfeT0xOTk3JmNoX3 k9MTk5NyZjbF9wcmljZT0mY2hfcHJpY2U9JmNsX21pPSZjaF9t aT0mY2s9Jmd1cj01MCZjc3o9OTQ1NjAmdnR5cGU9YXV0b3MmbW s9SG9uZGEmbW89UHJlbHVkZQ--

Well I did some research and found a thread at Honda-Tech.com about the base prelude vs. type SH and now I m not very sure if I want to get a Type SH anymore. Since the base is much faster than the type SH and performance on a Type SH is limited. Well heres the link: http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=762014

The Prelude Type-SH has ATTS (Active Torque Transfer System), which gives the lude awesome handling/cornering. The SH also weighs about 100lbs. more than a Base model though, so you might wanna keep that in mind. If I were you, I would just get a Prelude base and get a lowering kit if you want to upgrade your cars handling. I think $8300 is alot for a Prelude with 105,000 miles, and its a '97. KBB price is only $7,645. Good luck choosing.

Around where I live that's the only 5th generation Predude I could find that's under $10,000 and a manual.

So then don't buy a lude from your area.

Believe it or not but that's the only Prelude I found in the radius of 300 miles from my area code 94560. Do you guys want to help me look for one?

At CARS.COM I found about twenty 5th gen ludes within 50 miles of zip code 94560. Here's a 98 for $8999 (except it's an automatic):

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&searchType=21&paId=173590814&pageNumber=0&numResultsPerPage=50&largeNumResultsPerPage=0&sortorder=ascending&sortfield=SORT_INDICATOR+ascending%2CPRICE+descend ing&certifiedOnly=false&recnum=22&leadExists=true&criteria=K-%7CE-%7CM-_18_%7CD-_217_%7CN-N%7CR-50%7CI-1%2C3%7CP-SORT_INDICATOR+ascending%2CPRICE+descending%7CQ-ascending%7CZ-94560&aff=recycler

Here's a 5 sp:

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&searchType=21&paId=175086378&pageNumber=0&numResultsPerPage=50&largeNumResultsPerPage=0&sortorder=ascending&sortfield=SORT_INDICATOR+ascending%2CPRICE+descend ing&certifiedOnly=false&recnum=21&leadExists=false&criteria=K-%7CE-%7CM-_18_%7CD-_217_%7CN-N%7CR-50%7CI-1%2C3%7CP-SORT_INDICATOR+ascending%2CPRICE+descending%7CQ-ascending%7CZ-94560&aff=recycler
...most of the 5th gen ludes in CARS.COM are over $11000. It's rare to find one in good shape that's below KBB.

Do you think that Type SH from yahoo is a good buy compared to the base 5 speed from Cars.com? The Type SH has 105k miles and it's a 97 and the base has 116k miles and it's a 99. From the pictures the SH looks like its in excellent condition. When I bought my Integra last november is came with 117k miles and I guess I now want a car with less miles. When I get the car I don't plan on doing anything besides some i/h/e and maybe lower it. Could I just lower the base and will it have the same handling capabilities like the SH? I don't really plan on racing my car, but do some free spirited driving in winding roads and taking corners at high speeds. Do you guys think the SH will be necessary for that or good for that?

I've never driven an SH so I don't know how an SH would handle when compared to a non-SH with a built suspension. But I can say for sure that I'm happy with how my car handles - I drive a 4th gen with a slightly built suspension (springs and shocks). I don't feel any need for an SH.

From other posts I've read on this board the SH is a pain in the ass to work on, expensive to repair, and doesn't respond well to mods. But obviously, in stock form an SH would outhandle a non-SH, and I don't think the extra weight of an SH would make that much of a difference in 1/4 mile times. :2cents:

How is a SH more expensive to repair than a base? Its the same car except for the ATTS, and that hardly ever needs work. And how doesnt an SH respond to mods as well as a base? Once again, its the same car except for the ATTS.

How is a SH more expensive to repair than a base? Its the same car except for the ATTS

You answered your own question...the ATTS parts are expensive (as are all Prelude parts), but the real expense comes from labor - if a mechanic works on your car he refers to a chart that tells him how many billable hours it should take for a particular job. If the car has ATTS the chart adds several hours to the job (depending on what the job is). That's because it's a pain in the ass to work on - it seems to be a very complicated system.

I know you can save the money by doing your own work, but if you work full time (like I do) then you've got more money than spare time, so it's more convenient to hire a good mechanic.

Yes, our Preludes hardly ever break down. But they do break down, and ATTS is just another component that could potentially go wrong.

ATTS doesn't know how to handle a lot of hp and tq (beyond stock) - it just stops working if you're putting out a lot of power.

Like I said earlier I don't have any experience with ATTS - just what my mechanic told me (he did show me the chart I referred to) and what I've read in other posts on this board.

Not to mention the fact that good exhaust system parts are a harder to find, and a bit more expensive for an SH. (And if you're wondering why this is. Its because the exhaust system has to be routed differently to accomodate the ATTS system underneath. Some companies don't even bother to make parts for the SH.)

I found a Prelude! Is this a good buy?

http://www.craigslist.org/sby/car/85555459.html

Ehh, its a decent price, but i'd say a little high considering the miles it has. Also make sure its been well maintained, becuase if you see a car with mods you'd better make sure the owner took care of the car. Sadly, some don't.

I doubt that car was never raced, it has a short shifter so I m assuming that raced it.

I found a Prelude! Is this a good buy?

http://www.craigslist.org/sby/car/85555459.html

too many miles for the price.

That is a lot of miles, but you'd have to look real hard to find any 5th gen SH for under 7g's...especially in California.

I'd buy it, but I don't mind overpaying a little for a car I like.

How about this white 2000 Prelude Type SH?

http://www.craigslist.org/eby/car/83660586.html

and here are the pictures:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/share/landingA3?i=EeENmbdu4btHDw&x=1&sm=0&sl=0

Post expired - no details except for price. But from the pictures it doesn't look like it's worth $5500 more than the other one you posted - especially with that bumper damage.

You're jumping from a $7200 Prelude to one that's almost $13000, so you don't seem to be limited financially. Most 5th gens will be in the same good condition unless the owner really thrashed on the car. You should just figure on spending around $10000 and finding one that you like.

BTW I wouldn't pay $13000 for that car with that bumper damage, there are too many out there that cost less and don't have any damage. It's not like good ones are scarce.

Yeah, and the bumper damage only reflects the driver if you ask me. So always think of that too.

Is it true that, the base will handle the same if you're a good driver and the SH compensates for the drivers ability?