Well here it is..

[AcesHigh]

A lot has happened since this time last year.

I think that throughout the time that I owned my Prelude I have barely realized the full power of the fourth gen. As a platform that is lighter than the 5th but can still readily accept Honda's most underrated family of engine, the H series, I see definitely potential. I can out-accelerate nearly every car in my class and price range (from B16 Hatches to stock Turbo DSMs) as well as some that I probably shouldn't have beaten (SR20 240sx's, GSR swapped Del Sol) that I managed to do repeatedly.

The engine has definite power, though I feel the stock suspension has quirks.. It understeers quite a bit, and the weight of the car does tend to slide it around a bit. I feel that people shouldn't look at its weight (2740lbs) comparatively to other Hondas -- rather, compare its handling to cars like the new Altima SE-R, or turbo AWD DSMs and I think you will find that the modestly prepared Prelude will come out the champ. I have often felt that the engine gave me an unfair advantage in competition, especially when powering around a cone with VTEC.

I am sure you all caught the past tense use of the verb 'own' in the second sentence. For a little under a month now my Prelude has been with another owner. The car was beginning to fall apart -- Midwest weather had not been kind to it. I *had* to sell it, something like that would not have lasted me through med school.

One day I must come back to this car.. the engine is such a work of art, and going for prices far far cheaper than the K series (which I do not doubt is a fabulous engine). I feel very few people have done this chassis 'right' and the few that do have remained obscure or faded away into history. I think that the JUN Prelude is the perfect manifestation of the spirit this car should embody.

Turbocharged, supercharged, naturally aspirated, 2.2 or 2.6 liters, I have seen many forms of this engine and they all have the same racing spirit that make them truly competitive.

Okay, I guess that's my little spiel about that, now onto the new.

I've had this in my garage since late May, but have not been able to drive it since late August (it took that long to sell my Prelude).





It's a 1993 Mazda Rx-7 Touring Edition, in Brilliant Black. Yes it is twin turbo, all Rx-7's are, and it has 61k miles on the clock. Mechanically and physically perfect.



Dinky little camera phone shot.







Here it is with a buddy's red FD (FD3S is the chassis code for 3rd generation Rx-7's). I know almost all the Rx-7 owners in town by name now, perhaps one day we will form a select team of FDs.




Anyways this is what I have been occupying myself with lately, as our dinky little town has recently exploded with exotic cars, including Nissan Skylines brought in from Canada, NSXs, and more Subaru STIs than you can shake a stick at.

Aces

PS I will probably end up buying a second or third gen Prelude as a winter beater / daily driver so expect me back here again! (And you thought my tyranny was over..)

[SiGNAL748]

I hate you.

[honda_racing101]

Bastard.

No more lude?!?!

At least you replaced it with another worthy car. What are your plans for your new toy?

Please tell me you will buy another 4th gen lude. Ah, get a second gen for dirt cheap, they're not that bad.

Even tho you no longer have a lude promise me you'll be around more often?

I'll end with a congrats on a NICE car. Make a vid. or two.

[AcesHigh]

The FD is going to stay completely stock. One of these days I will buy another fourth gen and JUN it out, I am in love with the JUN H22. For now like I said I will buy a second (like the red one whose rear end is sticking out of one of the pictures) or third gen.

Right now I'm fairly devoid of money

[Schister66]

well if you're short on money, i'll take the FD off your hands.....

[honda_racing101]

Your really going to keep the FD COMPLETELY stock? Wow.

Second gens are cool.

I cant wait till you purchase another 4th gen lude!

I still say we need a vid or two of your RX-7.

[AcesHigh]

I mounted a removable camera mount on the rear strut bar that has been taping our cruises and spirited runs out in the country. One day we'll compile it all together and I'll get the video up here.

But yeah, completely stock. The other car will be my project, this FD really isn't to be touched.

[honda_racing101]

Cool. I cant wait to see that vid.

Promise me you will be around here every once and a while.

[AllmotorBB6]

rx7 > lude

[94PreludeJDM]

Yeah, as much as I'd hate to part with my lude, I could do it for an RX-7. That thing is in amazing shape, best of luck with it Aces.

[AcesHigh]

Thank you everyone, I'm really glad I bought it too. Though its somewhat annoying never to be able to drive more than one person around.

[honda_racing101]

Throw em in the back.