Hi!

As I posted in the other forum, I am trading in my Honda Prelude (2001, auto) for a S2000. I have loved the Prelude, and have had a blast in the S2000 on a couple of test drives, so I am looking forward to this decision. I'd love to hear any thoughts or experiences from S2000 owners here who owned Preludes, on similarities, differences, opinions, things I should get used to. This will be a daily driver for the summer and probably part of the fall. Am I making a wrong decision? Any input would be heavily appreciated.

PS. No prelude or S2000 bashing! Both are fine cars IMO. I'm just wondering how they compare from a drivability/livability perspective.

 

My best friend owned a 98 Prelude that I had frequently drove. Here's what I think

S2000 vs Prelude
-S2000 WAY better handling (RWD)
-S2000 is WAY faster (until the prelude got a custom T3/T4 turbo @ 8psi)
-S2000 is a convertable
-Prelude can fit 2 more people
-Prelude has a way bigger trunk
-Prelude= lower insurance

In my opinion the S2000 is much more fun of car to drive around town. The prelude is more useful though.

Drivability
S2000 *****
Prelude ***

Livability
S2000 **
Prelude ***

If you get the S2000 you will have to get used to people jocking your car!

 

I currently own both. I'm not sure what you really want as far as an answer, but I'd be happy to answer any questions.
Some quick thoughts on the Prelude:
Con: S2000 is the A #1 car for the beach
Pro: Prelude is exponentially better suited for the seven hour drive to the beach
Pro: Prelude can hold a weeks worth of groceries.
Con: S2000 looks better parked in front of nice restaurants.
Con: S2000 wins on the straights & in the corners
Pro: You don't have every guy with a coffee can exhaust and a home-made spoiler trying to race you

I love my Prelude, but this should tell the tale. It's now my wife's car. Didn't trade it in....to good for that fate, but I drive the S2k unless the trip is over three hours

 

I traded in my 00' Prelude SS for the S2K and there are a lot of differences.

The S, out handles, out brakes, out accelerates the Prelude. You hear the engine all the time. In the Prelude, if you don't have an aftermarket exhaust, you wouldn't hear the engine until vtec but with the S, you hear the engine almost in any rpm. I've only had a few taste of vtec in the S, and it pulls way harder and faster than the Prelude SS and plus now you have 2000 more rpms to work with. The performance goes to the S for sure.

I've miss my prelude a little but for its practicallity. I can drive it in any weather condition without thinking twice about it heading out. With the stock tires, the S is limited to dry and semi wet conditions only, absolutely no snow. With the prelude it can hold one more passenger in my opion. I hate when someone sits behind the drivers seat in the prelude, not nice. so really only one more carrying capacity in the Lude. The prelude is a great car but not with the auto, that is why I traded mine in and have no regrets about it.

Even a fully modded prelude will not get stares like a stock S2K, you'll have to get use to people asking what car it is and just giving the stare, on the streets, in the car, parked, just basically everywhere. Actually, I haven't had riceboys try to rev me, they just pull along side and gawk and then go on their way. I think they have some respect for the S. However, if you need to teach them a lesson, you'll have no problems with the S, where the auto Prelude might have problems with even a Civic Si.

One last thing to consider, the Prelude SS tranny is weak, if it ever breaks, you'll be in a vicious cycle of rebuilding rebuilt trannys.

 

I had a 99 Prelude(auto) and I had troubles with stock Civic Si. S2000 vs Prelude....S2000 is faster, louder, handles better, more fun to drive, looks better. These are two different cars. However, Prelude wins in comfort and space

 

I sold my 97 type SH in Jan.02 and bought the S because IMO it was the car I thought would be the next step up. The prelude had (AEM CAI, DC sport 4-2-1 ceramic headers, Greddy Evo, H&R race springs, Hydrolic AL. spoiler and erebuni front lip). I personally found it to be the best handling FF car and probalby the best honda to put a turbo on (never got around to it). As far as the comparison goes the Lude was a lot more forgiving through corners, the S if driven right....alot more fun, the Lude in low rpm's feels more torque(y), the S once you reach your powerband.....alot faster. The Lude on the hywy, very fast, the S...still faster, braking, no comparison, the S stops almost like a porsche,...... almost. The Lude gets more attention than most hondas, the S2000 gets more attention than cars twice its cost. Space....well to put it simply the S has none. Aftermarket is larger for the Lude at the moment and is simply a more practical car, but once you go to the S you dont look back. Both are great cars it just depends what you want it for.

 

My wife and brother-in-law both have modded civic SI's, the Lude was significantly faster and a way better handler than both of them.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by S9Krpm
[B]

 

I use to own a 99 prelude with the Fmax kit. That thing was FAST, ran low 13s on 18s and full interior. Could give a comptech equipped s2k a run for its money. I traded it in, cause i decided that RWD is the way to go. Plus the handling of the s2k is much better...but for a FWD, the prelude is probably the best out there. I prefer it over the ITR cause it just feels better IMO. Plus its also got all the luxuries the ITR doesn't have. But if you have a chance to get an s2k, by all means, get it!

 

I traded my 1997 Prelude (1st new model year) in for my current 2000 S2000. I can tell you from experience that it is like comparing apples and oranges. Sports car - S2000 wins hands down. Every day driver with sporty attributes- Prelude wins hands down. if your looking at the S2000 as a second vehicle go for it. If your looking at the S2000 as your only car then keep the Prelude.