Buying A Prelude

[LibrarySuicide]

Not sure if this is the right place for this but here goes, I love JDM cars and in March next year I will probably be getting my second car, I'm currently 18, 1 year no claims (Current is a 1.2 Punto Evo, Hideous) and I have narrowed it down to either an Mx5 Mk1 or a Honda Prelude (2.0 Sport), so I was just wondering if you guys think that the prelude would be a good idea, for some reason the insurance on a prelude even the 2.0 is a lot cheaper than anything else I've seen. Also, with the 2.0 what kind of speed can I expect to see? It's not a deciding factor, I'm just sick of getting overtaken by everyone and their grandma. Also if I was to get a prelude, hopefully stock, what starter mods would you recommend? Thanks.

[mercutio]

The Prelude has a great chassis and the 2.0 isnt a slouch its a decent engine and Mods? well in my opinion first you should upgrade the brakes and suspension then a decent manifold and catback and an induction kit

[lewd lude lover]

2.2 vtec or go home. the 2.0 gives very little in the way of mpg over the vtec and it doesn't sound like a million fire engines when its at full chat. it does have a half decent torque curve but it bottoms out up the top of the revs.

Also you will be forever saying ''no, its not the vtec, its the standard 2.0'' and people will forever be saying ''oh, oh well then. Its nice anyway.''

Mods on a 2.0 include putting a turbo on it. Tharts pretty much the only way you'll beat the vtec and any other money you put into a 2.0 will be trying to get it to the point a vtec starts at... I went through it with mine. Started on a Vtec vti and realised to get it to type S levels would take so much more money than just buying a type s would, so I bought a type s and started modding from there.

Drive both cars and see which makes you fizz in your gentlemans sausage. Then decide if the extra insurance is worth it. Also dont forget if its a second car you will have 0 NCB when you start insuring it. You cant cross NCB over two cars.

[lewd lude lover]

That said I got a fully comp quote on my type S yesterday of 215£ with 0 NCB as its all on the toyota. Getting a few years under your belt has its advantages.

[Sailor]

Many insurance companies would say "no" to an 18 year old who wants to insure a 2.2.
If the 2.0 is affordable, get one and keep it for a year or two while you build up knowledge of the car and its systems. Then upgrade.

The MX5 is a very different sort of car (image, comfort, driving character etc) and the decision is all about what you want out of a car. Tail-happy, fun at low speeds, wind-in-the hair ... versus comfy cruising. The Prelude will cost a little bit more in petrol but makes for a better commuter, especially in dodgy weather.

[LibrarySuicide]

2.2 vtec or go home. the 2.0 gives very little in the way of mpg over the vtec and it doesn't sound like a million fire engines when its at full chat. it does have a half decent torque curve but it bottoms out up the top of the revs.

Also you will be forever saying ''no, its not the vtec, its the standard 2.0'' and people will forever be saying ''oh, oh well then. Its nice anyway.''

Mods on a 2.0 include putting a turbo on it. Tharts pretty much the only way you'll beat the vtec and any other money you put into a 2.0 will be trying to get it to the point a vtec starts at... I went through it with mine. Started on a Vtec vti and realised to get it to type S levels would take so much more money than just buying a type s would, so I bought a type s and started modding from there.

Drive both cars and see which makes you fizz in your gentlemans sausage. Then decide if the extra insurance is worth it. Also dont forget if its a second car you will have 0 NCB when you start insuring it. You cant cross NCB over two cars.

Yeah I won't be getting a 2.2, I'm 18, cars like skylines and supras are well within my budget but insurance companies would just laugh at me, I'm with Adrian flux so I might have a shot at a 2.2 but honestly I don't have my hopes up.

[LibrarySuicide]

Many insurance companies would say "no" to an 18 year old who wants to insure a 2.2.
If the 2.0 is affordable, get one and keep it for a year or two while you build up knowledge of the car and its systems. Then upgrade.

The MX5 is a very different sort of car (image, comfort, driving character etc) and the decision is all about what you want out of a car. Tail-happy, fun at low speeds, wind-in-the hair ... versus comfy cruising. The Prelude will cost a little bit more in petrol but makes for a better commuter, especially in dodgy weather.

Thanks man, people often say things like "stick with the Punto until you've got a few more years out of the way" but I'd like to see anyone else drive that horrible thing around, if cars are you passion like they are for me then driving that car would literally be torture.

[nitin_s1]

2.2 is the one to go for.

[Jamie P 2013]

Try a few of the insurance companies on here like sky insurance for example. They may offer you a good price on a 2.2

[wurlycorner]

Insurance on a lude vtec will be horrendous for an 18 year old.
Merc and newkid have both owned 2.0 5g's (the same one in fact ) and 2.2's, so they will know what they're talking about in terms of living with the 2.0.
Several other people on here also have 2.0 ludes and are very happy with them. It'll be plenty quick enough for an 18 year old IMO so go for it I reckon.

As Sailor says, mx5 and lude are very different cars, so not easy to compare.

I guess one way of looking at it is do you fancy ending up going backwards into a tree with just your gf, or going in forwards with gf and up to 2 other friends also in the car...