Prelude ?'s

[beatboxn420]

Ok, Im buying a 5th gen Prelude. I havent found out the year but its a 97-00 and I have a few questions about it. 1) It has leather and my buddies say they never heard of a Prelude with leather, is that an opition or a Limited version? 2) It has a 5speed Sportshift (tiptronic) automatic. Once again my buddies say, that having a modded Prelude with 350-500hp with an automatic is a shitty combonation. Like the computer taking over when you get into redline and also the auto-lag, so what are your guy's imput on this?

[J-Wat]

5th gens are 97-01

none came from the factory with leather but several dealers had leather installed to increase the sale value

DO NOT buy an auto if you have plans of massive power... its not so much that the power loss is a big deal but the tranny is already so weak that you will immediatly start to break parts

[beatboxn420]

what can you do to beef up the tranny? so its stronger? or can i take a 6speed from an NSX and swap it?

[ShoofIsLudin]

you cannot use the tranny from the NSX, S2000, TSX or anything other than for a prelude or older accord, The SportShifts go out on people who pretend to drive a stick shift car. It needs loving care, not 300+ hp.
The 5 speed is pretty strong as long as you're not shifting gears w/o the clutch. But i've seen the auto trannies fail in less than 80k miles when they're beat on.
An auto transmission can't be beefed up to my knowledge, but with the 5 speed you could put a better clutch on it so you can put the power to the ground when you have it.

[beatboxn420]

What are the weak points to the 5th Gen auto transmission?

[J-Wat]

Originally Posted by beatboxn420

What are the weak points to the 5th Gen auto transmission?

the transmission is the weak point

its internals are not designed to take the abuse off high hp...

you can have it beefed up for twice the price of a 5speed swap and theres still no guarantees it won't break on you

[Sitruc_bc]

I thought the SH model of the 5th gen came with leather seats?

[J-Wat]

as an sh owner i can guarantee the answer is no...

from honda north america
"any 5th generation prelude destined for the us market with leather was a dealer option and not installed from the factory."

[Sitruc_bc]

I don't know what I was thinking. Oh well. Long live the Prelude!

[Sitruc_bc]

I've never heard of the 5th gen having an automatic with a five speed sportshift in it. :S

[J-Wat]

yeah its just a 4

[beatboxn420]

well its a 5th gen. it has the bug eyes. its an SH w/ sports shift. it doesnt like anything from 1996 and under

[J-Wat]

if its got an auto its not an SH... the SH is only 5speed

[ShoofIsLudin]

Originally Posted by J-Wat

if its got an auto its not an SH... the SH is only 5speed

x2