The 1988 Prelude 2.0Si is the Best First Car for *Most* Honda Nuts. 

The owner gets it. The reviewer doesn't.

You're clueless man. The prelude always got rave reviews from magazines back in the day. In 1984 it was ranked as the second best handling import car in USA beating out Ferrari, Porsches and lotus. In 1999 it won car and driver's best handling car under 30k beating a bunch of rwd cars. Nothing 'primitive' about it and not just a great first car, but a great car in general.

3rd gen preludes are such a sleek looking car when done properly

Flip up headlights = automatic dub

I remember as a kid in the early 90s whenever I’d see one of these it looked so futuristic and cool for it’s time, in the late 90s and up to the mid 00s was the last time I really saw a lot of them driving around and “souped up” by tuners if I see one now it’s old and beat to crap

Can never go wrong with pop up headlights 😊😊

My second car was an 88 Prelude si (when I was 19) and it was an amazing car. It took so much abuse from a young punk that didn't know shit. I put 120k km's on it in just under 2 years, and it only needed a set of brakes, an alternator, and a clutch. I think most of that was my fault. Lots of fond memories, and it always makes me smile when I see a clean one on the road! Thanks for showcasing this one Marcus, and great car Dane, take good care of it.

I always loved those, honda has some beautiful car designs from the 80s-90s

my dad had a ‘88 prelude si that he loved. I plan on buying it back for him soon

88' Prelude was my first car. I loved it. Had some legendary times in there

I've always been drawn to the design, especially the ultra low hood and cowl line. Try to find a hood that is lower and closer to the top of the wheel well then the 3rd gen Prelude. I had a 91 Si and really enjoyed everything about it, including how it drove.

The car is literally driving better than new cars after 30+ years… that is what its the best at.

Had a 91 si 4 wheel steer. Loved that car. Fun to drive. The 4 wheel steer made parallel parking so easy.. wish I had it now

Dam what a prelude ever did to you 😭🤣

I got a 97 prelude last year and I freaking love it, it’s been nothing but good to me and has taken all the abuse I throw at it 😁

picked one up years ago, had it for 3 mos.. never got to register it, thank you for this!

One of the most beautiful and reliable car, i've had several of them. Drive now a civic vtec '09, but nothing drives better than a prelude.

Ngl he sounds like me before I owned two Hondas and had an appreciation for them. (Not that he doesn’t lol) in their fuggly slow form, that everyone makes fun of and most people wouldn’t buy. Weather becuz it’s slow or cheap. But driving a car that doesn’t feel cheap drives well and IS cheap as hell to buy, you really can’t get a better driving experience. No mater how many cars I buy and how fast some of them may be, I’ll never be able to say it feels better than my first drive in a Honda. “My soap box”

I bought a pearl white 91 SR with the 2.1L engine as my first car back 2003 for $7500 and it was mint. Loved that car. I regret selling it till this day and wish i had kept it. Watching this video brings back so many memories.

Honestly i hated the prelude almost my entire life until i came across a1988 4WS (with a center armrest Haha) at the auto auction i was working at. It was all original with a1 inch layer of black velvet grime covering the motor and auto trans. Anyways, I've driven everything from 911 Porsche to V12 BMW. The 3rd gen handles just as good if not better. Eventually i swapped out the B20A5 (after spending 3000$ on rebuilding it and raising the MPG frm 15 to 25-30) with a H22, replaced all the suspension bushings with polyurethane, added tokico blue shocks/struts with a 1" drop from eibach springs. Using stock sway bars, the thing never moved while hitting corners. The 4WS helped the rear of the car come around much quicker and changing lanes felt like i was on a air hockey table. Man i fell in love with that thing! It was a total sleeper becaus the OG paint was spotty but it picked up from 0 to 45 in like 4-5 seconds. To this day i hate myself for selling it and even after buying a 1990 4WS, i still feel like I'm missing something. The 88 model is the last relic of the 80s styling with a easy to work on motor whereas the 90 prelude B21 is honestly a bit more complicated with some good upgrades. But to this day im still trying t0 find who i sold my 88 t0 so i can buy it back lol

I always loved the preludes 🔥

Bought a black Prelude 1988 in 2004, with 150 hp. Original, 110,000 km from a lady. I wasn't interested in this model at first, but I saw 0-60 in 7.9 sec as specs so I went to take a look. Bam, in love! Too bad I sold it because I was studying and had no money left for holidays, for 750 euros! Had so much fun with it, drove all the expensive cars out with it.

I remember probably almost 30 years ago the neighbor from across the street making a late left turn in front of a city bus that I was on, I never would have thought that a lil Prelude could move like that! When those Integras came out though nobody wanted a Prelude anymore!

Actually looks nice

I had a couple of these when I was younger, they are an absolute blast.

Hello!!...my name is Pablo..and I write from Argentina...I have one of this car 1989 with 42.000 miles very very original!!!...its a wonderful car...your Prelude is amaizing!!!...congratulations!!!!!

When I went to college, my Dad bought me a 1987 Honda Accord hatchback. I miss my car. I also love the 1988 Honda Prelude SI 4WS. I am looking for a 1988 Prelude 5 speed 4WS. I now have a 2018 Cadillac CT6. It has 4WS, All Wheel drive, all out board seats have messaging and heated / cooled seating. It also has night vision which amazingly sees through fog. Its a V6 3.0 L twin turbo producing 404 HP and 405 lbs ft of torque propelling the full size 4200 lbs all aluminum body to 60 in 4.5 seconds and can get 33 mpg with cylinder shut down so it can go from V6 to V4. It also has 34 Bose factory speakers. Back seats recline. It has built in hide away 10" dual DVD screens in the back. Rear sun shades and rear door sun shades. The rearview mirror also can stream live video of a 120 degree cam view instead of the mirror view. The 4WS functions like the Honda Prelude in that low speeds the steering is opposite of the main steering and parallel in high speed. It also has super cruise which will drive the car 100% autonomously on tge highway. Unlike Tesla's auto pilot where the drive is required to touch the steering wheel once every 2 minutes, Cadillac's super cruise will steer as long as your eyes happen to be viewing forward 75% of the time. There is an infrared camera on the top of the steering column monitoring the driver's eyes. It can see through sun glasses and will adjust speed according to traffic.

Yeah nobody want FWD that's why Honda is the most popular japanese brand ever 😅

Ok so you really don’t like the Prelude, but what other reliable cars do the competition offer?! Like having the same 80‘s looks, character, reliability and feel?

This 88 Honda is is a clean build by the way, big props to the owner bro! You inspired me.. Imma Go find me a 91 prelude now.

In the UK we got the B20A7, which is 150BHP standard and also 4WS. I had one for 4 years in the 1990's and have another which is exactly the same now, even the colour and only has 54K miles. I have spent a small fortune, but for me it's worth it. The car still feels special to me, makes me smile and is still a lot of fun to drive. If you imagine having that car in the early 1990s and what you were competing against, with someone who could drive it, then you would find that it could back then outrun and embarrass so many other sporty cars. I have an S20OO too, which of course is a beast in comparison, however the Prelude draws attention because of the look and I'm keeping both.

I bet this car was somewhat of a big deal when it was brand new in 1988. I love the fact that such an old car is today being used as a daily driver, that's the real test of time. Although I have a soft spot for certain Preludes, the key is to realise that they never were and never have been sports cars. Huge missed opportunity for Honda though. If they had done a RWD H22 turbo Prelude then they would of had a true iconic car that could have directly competed with S14 and S15's.

I'm definitely glad my 93 VTEC prelude is not an Integra. F20b swap with a tuner 2 cam and turbonetics T3T4,JDM LSD,full suspension on r888s all around reverse staggered. I smoke integras in all aspects of performance.

anyone who doesn't want one isn't a real honda fan

Those are very good looking cars. I'd say one of the best looking hondaa

Glad you enjoyed the seat time haha, awesome video!

I have a Canadian spec 3rd gen 4ws here in the US and its by far one of my favorite cars ive owned, Got lucky on getting it too, Picked it up running and driving for $1,400. I absolutely love it

I miss my 91 prelude so much. I wish I never got rid of that car. Them were the most comfortable seats I ever sat in.

BMW & Volvo didn't even have some of the features that this fantabulous beast had! No ABS was its major downfall! 91 4ws was the coolest Front end reminded me of a Ferrari

that my first own car before 30 years when i was 21😍

The last year of the 3rd gen was 91. Those cars were so good. They handle great and are fun to drive.

Thanks now they just rose in price by 5k

Stunning car! I love what you have done. I wish i had a poster of your car.

I have an 86 Prelude, 2nd gen. Small correction, 3rd gens were not the first fuel injected prelude, 2nd gen 2.0 Si like mine were fuel injected. 3rd gens did come with dual cams vs single cam in 2nd gens.

Car looks sick! . I love this body type era . So clean . I wish cars in 2024 were like this

I have a 1990 4WS manual with B20A7 motor. Owned for 22 years to date in New Zealand. Car is NZ new

My first car 😍 so many core memories forged in that car. 🤣

can tell that's looked after still has the clock cover

They absolutely DID make fuel injected preludes prior to that generation. 2nd Gen SI’s had Fuel Injected A20’s

😍 This Lude

to me 3'd gen is the coolest and has the most pretty shape ❤

Wym nobody wants one? I was gonna buy one but ended up with a toyota celica. FWD gang rise up 💪🏻

this generation prelude is really nice I remember it had a grand touring feel

We’re you on mushrooms doing this video dude 😂😂

bro actually has his fog lights

AHH YES IN THE CASE OF: MY FAVE HONDA CHASSIS ! PROUD 3RD GEM 💎 PRELUDE OWNER 😎

Still got mine since 1988 had it up to 230kms takes country corner great glued to road needs rebuild now

thing is sick AF. Daily'd a 2000 for 11 years

Lovely car and and a nice humble owner 👍🏻

I’ll take a manual one if there’s any left going in uk 😢

I always preffered rwd to fwd. I had a 1987 nissan 200sx(s12). Basically the same styling, just nissan rwd. Man i miss this car. Was also my first. Kudos to this owner! Keep this car forever!!!

I owned one from 97-05 And i loved it Still Love the design

For sure Honda looked at their Prelude when designing the NSX. Visibility immediately comes to mind as one of the biggest things NSX owners love and shares with the Prelude and both cars are low/flat.

Great lines, absolutely beautiful car!

when I see a nice prelude I geek out, doesn't matter the year. Loved my 92 (h22a swap with accord trans) and my 96(h22a and t2w4 trans) 4WS.

'88 Prelude was my second car, after an '85 Maxima. The Maxima was bigger and had a 175hp V6. I don't think that Honda had more than 100hp out of a 2L I never missed the Maxima. That Honda was so much fun.

No I haven't gotten a pic, but all the time I find myself thinking when, I get out of my car in parking lots I am always hoping to see a white prelude so I can see one in person.

Got mine about a year ago its carbureted and non 4ws. i am rebuilding the engine right now because it burned up some coolant over time. Still love this car without Fi and 4WS.

Hello, I’m from Germany and that’s why I’m asking why you didn’t clean it 😅 In Germany, this is a rather rare car 👌🏻 I have one and I love her because German cars are so extremely boring 😅

Man I’m in the market for a new daily driver and thus really tempts, always wanted one!

cant wait till you review the 4th gen!

this was the first car i bought new in 1988, had it for 12 yrs, it was plagued with electrical problems and rust when we finally sold it with nearly 300k on the broken odometer, never burnt or leaked a drop of oil the whole time we owned it. I noticed condensation in your rear tail lights, ours did the same thing and found that overtime the wiring will get corroded and cause major problems. Havent found a car yet that handles like a prelude, our scion tc is close but not a substitute.

The prelude may not be the flashiest, overpowered (stock atleast), sportiest sports car out there, but if there is one thing that brings zoomers like myself to this car it is one thing, and that is style. I don't think there is any dispute that this is one of the most stylish cars of it's era, and the flip up headlights on the 3rd gen really feels like icing on the cake. Stylish, practical, and unique, the Prelude will always have its own cult like audience.

Had the last 3rd gen 1991 cita as my first car and i loved it so much the thing that let the car down is it was never rwd even tho it felt like it was built to compete with nissan s13 silvia. Biggest regret selling it tho because now i would of k swapped it and made it awd

The JDM version had 160hp, same engine, 2.0si, DOHC. Hard to believe the rest of the world got such underpowered cars.

I had a 1992 version, second hand, final facelift with the white backlights. 150 hp and 4 wheel steering. 400.000 km with same engine and same manual transmission, without any problems.😊 Best car I ever had.😅 Had to let it go after some 30 years, underside rust problems, always slept outside in a seaside envirement. Since many years, Honda has not a single car that can seduce me, so I got me a second hand Porsche 968 Cabrio.❤ Great car, cabrio fun, timeless design in cabrio format, it suits me.

Very dope my friend had one i have a 5th gen

Appreciate that you did this review despite not being a fan. The 3rd gen Prelude happens to be my favorite Prelude. No it isnt an Integra and won't ever be, but then again it shouldn't be👍🏿

Theres a prelude that need some restoration on the overall selling for really cheap at my area, just wish i got the space to work on it as a project car, its beautiful peace of history

What size tyres and rims are these mate that’s perfect

I really want one as a first car, and to make clean, and probably stock other than non engine things.

This dude said I’m gonna wear my nice clothes today! Lol

I want one so bad

Now that you have made this video, prices wil double

3rd Gen prelude seems like a fun car to tune and swap. The engine bay looks like it got lots of room too. I really love the design too

Lush car, 80's tastic. Nice in red.

Genuinely, if I ever buy a Honda (and I hope I do), it's likely going to be either a 3rd gen or 4th gen Prelude. Ever since I was a kid, I was always drawn to their design. I had no idea there's apparently a lot of hate for them? I've never actually heard of anyone else hating on them. I'm seriously surprised you say this, given how good they look. I think the 3rd gen and 4th gen are up there among the best looking Hondas produced.

It's a cool looking car. I'd have one. Props. Luv and Peace.

Not all were carburated of the 2nd gen. They acually produced a 2.0si in the gen to. A20A4 engin. Verry mint, like it a lot!

Nice car What coilovers you using where you get them and what size rims you running?

I miss my Prelude 😭😭😭

"personal preference". Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and that's cool. Everyone likes what they like.

I think we had 150hp 4WS instead of Si in Finland. I had two to build one good but it never happened because it rusted faster than i had time to complete it. Now I regret selling them because the prices have gone up so much. And it's almost impossible to find them anymore.. It was fun car. And cool looking!

This channel is hella underrated can even do regular cars

Would it be possible to turn this into a 4 wheel steering car? Like for a colder climate?

Beautiful looking car, the 3rd gen is the best looking of the Preludes.

Love those c5's... But when I had my 3rd gen, they cost more than what I bought the car for...

I could see this car being built as KITT's Japanese cousin.

I applaud that you didn’t make it sound like a tuner fart can. 👍

I've been wanting to do a kswap and I cant decide between a integra and this. I personally really like how these look but it seems like it doesn't have much aftermarket.