Lude Generation

hi everyone , im craig from south yorkshire and am interested in learning what to look for on a 5th generation prelude i just missed one today in sheffield a 1 previous owner , (wasnt quick enough) but probably best not to rush in , i know youre probably thinking why 5th generation only , i cant tell you why , just seem to like the shape over all the other previous models ( its the front lamps and square rear ) im drawn to
anyway back to the knowledge you guys have if i could ask please

what is the most important thing to look for in this model ie service history, rust, exhausts, ?
secondly are there certain models to keep away from ?
and i suppose the $64000 question how much to pay for a car in good overall condition with say 2-4 owners with paperwork and a current mot in a metallic colour

regards craig

i have posted before when i had the orion 1600e but tried to sell it and couldnt , so now its gone (thank god) im on the search for a decent car

OK, I'm probably the worst person to answer this on the forum, so listen to whomever corrects me but...

In the main:
Clean low owner models getting rarer.
Autos are slow.
1999 and later red top VTEC's are 197bhp rather than 183(?)bhp black tops that came before. Or you can get the 2.0 non-vtec.
VTEC is reliable, so don't sweat it too much, or give too much credit to advertisers who treat working vtec as some sort of bonus.
4WS is reliable, and most always a cheap and easy fix if not. It is also awesome.
Engines will handle very high mileages if well looked after. In particular oil starvation buggers them.
Many 5ths graunch slightly going into 5th gear with a fast change at high revs. I think this is not otherwise usually disastrous(?).
Rear arches in particular can rust, and should be one of the major checks. Repair panels are available, but obviously a pain. Under rear bumper and front arches also seem to rust now and then.
Can't think of many other obvious issues myself, but more folk will be along, no doubt....

Difficult to talk about prices, but they seem to start as low as £800 fish, and get cleaner after £1500 maybe. Get a way beyond £2k or £2.5k and they get pretty clean, hopefully. Criminally cheap, tbh. Just my 2p ..... many more knowledgeable folk might correct me, as I say.

Good luck.

I love the 5th gen myself, I wouldn't get to hung up on trying to find a gem, I didnt, I found an ole pig and started the slow process of bringing her back to life which is half the fun and you learn a whole lot about the car, as long as thers no rust and the engine doesn't smoke you can't go to wrong with the prelude

im seeing some 5th gen under £800 described as pretty good with not many owners, manual , metallic, straight bodywork, no rust , should i be worried .....should the alarm bells be ringing , although having said that i note that a dealer has a dk green one on at £995 in very good condition , not far from me ,

Auto boxes on 5th gens are in a word crap AVOID they will go sooner rather than later

Or...
Pick up a very cheap 5th gen auto with a knackered box and convert it to manual for a couple of hundred quids worth of parts?