Hi everyone.
Won't bore you with my life story but found this site trying to hunt down Prelude details having been (maybe) offered a P reg prelude by a friend of the family.
Now looking around there's tonnes of different body shapes etc... so I am not sure if it's a 96 or 97 as it's on a private plate right now.
I can't find a photo that looks like the one that I may be offered so I'll just describe it best I can.
It's Blue , has an automatic gear box with the sequential type option should you wish. 2.0 litre with nothing non standard, no kits etc..
Been garaged from nearly new by the same owner and now has 120,000 miles on it. Other than normal service work and tyres etc... he's not had anything go wrong with it. No rust or evidence of, other than small spot by rear boot lock which has been rubbed back and treated and re-painted, not neatly but it's eradicated the rust. Very very tidy. Engine bay in same very good order, just some slight weepy oil residue from around the rocker gasket.

Basically current owner is upgrading to a new Honda and is waiting for how much the dealer is offering as part ex, he's thinking peanuts so may offer to me to get a little bit more / so he knows the car will be appreciated a bit more in it's journey through life.

My questions is value?
I'm riding around in a Renault Megane (laugh away) that I hate but I've only had a year so shouldn't lose out on much as we got £300 less than book price.
I have to take into account higher fuel consumption, higher tax and repair bills (possibly), although reliability factor is not an issue I don't think.

I'm not one to care about mileage. My first car was a Fiat 127 Sport that did 274,000 albeit on 2 engines once i'd re-conditioned a spare one I had and changed it. My 3rd was an Audio 100 that did 285,000 on the original gearbox and still outlasted the car an my last before the Megane was a Vectra that did 180,000+ before it started getting too expensive to keep on the road but was a great car.

I can't seem to find a rough price of what I should be looking at paying max so was after some advice if you would all be so kind.
Also maybe some tips on what I should be looking out for?
Also it's my first automatic, I'm not a huge fan, but also not scared to go for a change.

Thanks for reading (and sorry for any spelling issues, this wireless keyboard keeps tripping out!)

hi there and welcome the link you posted is a 4thgen which from what i have read the auto boxes work very well on them compared to the 5thgens as for miles if its bin cared for like you said you shouldnt have a problem as the 2ltr ones parts and such dont cost as much as the 2.2 all depends what your wanting there good cars and great fun to drive ask any one they will agree

Thanks for the quick reply.
Just wanting a reliable comfy motor. Live in Scotland with a couple of long trips South per year. Don't use the car much during the week as I have a works van and the wife uses the train, so it's really weekend trips, shopping and the holiday trips.

Any ideas on valuation if I get offered it?

I have no idea?

hi and welcome to PUK
does it have the long headlights with the nostrils or does it have the big square headlights?

4thgen


5th gen


i would say your looking at around the £1000 mark for a well looked after example

Hi again, thanks for the welcome.

Definately not the long thin headlights. Wish I'd taken some photos now, no idea why I didn't in retrospect, what an idiot I am.

Looks more like the 2nd photo by a long way. A lot less sporty.

hello there and welcome to the forum

i would say its a 5th gen from your description, 4th gens didnt have the tip-tronic box. you should expect to pay between £1500 and £2000 for a good example like the one you are on about its a bonus that it has been garaged for so long.

LOL I described it as less sporty but I prefer the look of it over the thin headlamp one

Is that me banned yet?



Thanks for all your replies, keep them coming.
Still waiting to hear back from the guy and I will keep you all posted.

Bigboy's post alluded to 5th gen not being as reliable for auto boxes over 4th? Is this a problem or just expensive should it go wrong?

5th auto boxes when they haven't been looked after are a problem, but a well maintained one should be fine.

Personally I wouldn't touch an Auto lude in any shape or form, but that's cos I hate auto's and would open up a whole can of worms on here lol

the 5th gen in the pic has the motegi kit which is probably why it looks a bit more sporty.

as for the gear box, if it has been looked after by the previous owner, and had regular fluid changes you shouldnt have a problem, but can be quite expensive should it go wrong. when i first got my Lude with tip tronic box, i was losing fluid through the oil cooler line which had corroded. this made it a bit tempremental. but after replacing it and filling up with new fluid, so far (touch wood) i have had no problems

Thanks again or the replies.

I was of the same view on autos, but I wasn't even looking for a new car (I call it new as in new for me, but would never buy "new").
However if I get this offered to me at a good price when it's in great condition and well looked after I'm sorely tempted to go for it, hence my posting here and sounding various bits out. So it's all very much appreciated, as are any other bits of information and posts from you all.

Thanks for taking your time to read and / or reply.

Right may i but in here. So the 5th gen you say is an Auto which on a 5th gen makes it the sequential triptronic auto boxand you say its a 96 or 97. Thats basically a very very early 5th Gen model were they had issues on the auto box and many had to be recalled. On the 98 + Preludes the auto box was a little bit more reliable.
Now you say nothing has gone wrong with the example your looking at that means its been very well looked after and hasnt been abused.
Now it being a 2.0i i rekon the 2.0 engine will be a bit more kinder on the auto box than the higher power and higher torque 2.2 VTECs which probably explains why its been reliable.
But being 120,000 miles on the early model auto transmission id be a bit hesitant.

By the way i own both the 2.0i and a 2.2 and it cost the same in parts, fuel, tax and only a small difference in insurance. Both are great cars and the F20 in the 2.0 is so so reliable and strong but the performance from the H22 VTEC, similar reliability and similar running costs mean the 2.2 would be the choice.
And again id stick with the reliable manual gearboxes.


Just my 2p.

Welcome to the forum.