Top 10 cheap classic sports cars - Honda Prelude 4th Gen ?

Seems like these days everyone is looking for bargain sports cars - cars like the Honda Prelude 4th Generation are fast becoming classics.

I've always had fun running cheap sports cars for under £1000 - so why get a Honda Prelude?

9 Top Tips for avoiding cheap sports car disasters

1/ Do your research - start by reading this article - then Google most common problems with the motor of your choice

2/ Don't buy the first car you see unless you absolutely have to; stick to your budget

3/ Don't buy a car with cheap modifications - it's likely to be a big expense to put right

4/ Low suspension may look great, but if it's not done properly, it'll be bouncy enough to throw you off the road

5/ Big exhausts and cone air filters sound good, but will become annoying unless it's a pure track tool (cone air filters can just suck warm air too, blunting performance)

6/ Check the fundamentals before you travel to view any car - does the owner have documented proof / receipts for the timing (cam) belt changes at the right interval?

7/ Allow within your budget for changing service parts - spark plugs, oil filter, air filter, fuel filter, brake pads etc

8/ Don't expect utter reliability (it's an old car, but you might stand a better chance with certain makes - I've run Hondas and Volkwagens with no problems).

9/ If you're after a modified car, it's always cheaper to but an unfinished project with most of the right bits fitted

So let's start with my current runabout, the Honda Prelude 4th Generation

What you get...

Cheap Honda car insurance - for the performance you get

Reliable - it's a Honda

Economical if driven gently.

The Honda Prelude 4th Gen is great fun to drive, with one of the best chassis ever made on a production FWD car - if you've ever driven a Honda Integra Type R like I have (i used to sell them for a living) a BB4 lightweight Honda Prelude is just a cut price version, a little less focused, but loads of smiles per mile.

Let's take a quick look at the range and why you would consider a Honda Prelude 4th Generation

STOP PRESS! Honda Prelude wins the 2009 Practical Performance Car £999 challenge! Check it out now!

Practical Performance Car

Quick overview of the 4th Generation Prelude lineup;

Uk cars

2.0i, 2.3, 2.2 VTEC

The 2.0i was the base model, with pretty good power @ 130 BHP and great Prelude handling and cornering, also Honda Prelude 2.0i have cheap Honda car insurance

The 2.3i was introduced, with around a 30bhp power hike, probably best avided though in my opinion, since the engines are not the best in range.

2.2 VTEC this was the cream of the crop, with @ 187 bhp and four wheel steering, which you either love or hate; some say it makes the car a little nervous but great for parking - a lot of people disable the 4WS.

Japanese import ( JDM ) Honda Preludes

These are the most sought after, with extra features like electric folding mirrors, climate control and options such as seven speaker sound systems right out of the factory.

My own car is an Si two wheel steer which is a JDM dohc non VTEC running around 160 BHP, it's lowered and now runs on ultra lightweight Integra DC2 alloy wheels which improve the handling even more.

I've also lowered the car and the thing handles likes it's on rails, so much fun.

This was the base Japanese model, with the Si VTEC coming up the range.

Si VTECs run the more powerful JDM motor at around 197 BHP and are rapid cars, with the addictive VTEC kicking in at 5000 RPM.

The Honda Prelude you really want is the Si VTEC BB4 lightweight - this is where you get towards Integra Type R performance.

No sunroof, no 4WS means these cars have an excellent power to weight ratio and are the ultimate Credit Crunch sports cars.

The lightweight models are getting sought after now, with Ebay BB4 Honda Preludes starting at £600 for a tatty example.

Cheap Honda Car insurance is more of a challenge with these cars since they're Japanese imports, but still chaep considering the awesome performance these 4th Gen Preludes give you a big adrenaline rush when the rev needle screams past 5000 RPM, the exhaust note hardens and the VTEC launches you forwards!

Buy a Honda Prelude 4th Gen now!

Vote for your top cheap classic under £1000 !

There will be more cheap classic sports cars featured soon! - place your comment now to get your top bargain classic sports car featured!

By the way...

Did you know why I love Squidoo so much? - it's because it's a great training ground where you learn how to make extra income online, so you can pay for your cheap classic sports cars.

Why not find out more about me and how I'm learning to make a better living?

No wheel spinning now!

Adam :)