What does Car & Driver say about the steering in the 5th generation Prelude SH? Is it really as good as they claim?
The steering is really good, but the Prelude SH isn’t a great first car. It has a lot of maintenance issues with the ATTS system, and many of its suspension and exhaust parts are hard to find. The H22 engine also tends to burn oil as it gets older. If you find one that’s had a proper transmission swap, it might be less of a hassle. It could be a good second car, but for daily driving, especially as a first car, you might want to consider something like a K24 Accord.
If you really want a 5th gen Prelude, go for a manual base model and stay away from the automatic version.
Some models of Preludes have rear-wheel steering.
The chassis is very light, which helps the steering perform better.
The 5th generation Preludes have Super Handling (the Type SH badge), which is an advanced torque system that helps the car grip the road.
The suspension, especially at the back, is very advanced for a front-wheel-drive car. It has a wishbone suspension in the front (not sure about the rear). The camber can be set aggressively as well.
I’ve driven the Type-SH 5th generation Preludes. They sit low, giving you a great view of the road. The light chassis makes them feel faster than they really are. Honda put a lot of effort into developing the steering and handling with advanced technology. When pushed hard, these cars handle power very well.
I can confirm that Preludes with rear-wheel steering are a unique experience and shouldn’t be compared to the ineffective rear bushings on FC RX7s, which only slightly changed the rear toe under load and didn’t work well. (I had to replace those with solid Delrin bushings in my FC.)
It’s comparable to the new ND MX-5s with their automatic trailing brakes.
It’s a great car, but an SH model isn’t ideal for a first car. The ATTS system is tricky to maintain, and it has rare and hard-to-find suspension and exhaust parts. Also, the H22 engine can burn oil as it gets older. If you find one with a well-done transmission swap, it’s a bit easier to manage. It’s a good choice as a second car, but for a daily driver, especially as a first car, consider a K24 Accord instead.
If you really want a 5th gen Prelude, go for a manual base model and avoid the automatic version.
I’m thinking about getting a 5th gen SH as my first car and I’ve been reading reviews. The reviews are so positive that I’m starting to wonder if they’re being sarcastic. It’s hard to believe a 90s sport compact could be this good, but then again, Honda was really good in the 90s and even in F1.
I used to have a 2001 Prelude that I really miss. I’ve been looking for one in good shape, but most of them are in bad condition. My S2k feels lonely without another Honda beside it.
The Prelude was a blast to drive—low to the ground and had great handling.
I had a 2000 prelude dark green. It drives and handles nice but burns oil like crazy and it’s extremely expensive to get repaired for such an old car