I'm looking at a 97 prelude...

[niqtorious]

I've heard a few things about the transmission breaking and costing upwords of 4000 to fix, is this a serious common problem or is it kinda rare?

Should i stay away from the prelude?

[jdmeg6hatchy]

I guess it depends on how you drive your cars? are you looking for something to race all the time, or something for a daily driver?

[niqtorious]

itll just be my daily driver i dont have any plans to do much to it

[Phateless]

Don't Buy An Automatic!!!

[jdmeg6hatchy]

Don't Buy An Automatic!!!

ill definetly agree on that one!

[Mkazm83]

Don't Buy An Automatic!!!

I agree.
Stick with the 5spd and you'll be fine. I'll say it again, its only a matter or time before the auto's go.

[Phateless]

1. automatics are stupid
2. preludes drop auto trannies all the time
3. automatics are stupid
4. you might as well buy an accord - no REAL sportscar is an automatic
5. did i mention that automatics are stupid? they're for people who don't know how to drive and don't care. or for people who only have one leg and one arm.

[Draconius]

4. you might as well buy an accord - no REAL sportscar is an automatic

I hate looking into a 350z, BMW M roadster, etc...and seeing an automatic. LEARN TO DRIVE STICK!!!!!

Thats why I am not a huge fan of Mercedes-Benz...the CL65AMG is awesome...BUT ITS AUTO JUST LIKE ALL THEIR CARS!!! I think even the SLR is auto.

[vassil3427]

I know I'm going to be scolded for this comment...but I want to offer a different opinion. The Slapstick automatics arent nearly the horror story many members here and elsewhere make them out to be. It's all a matter of "I read" or "I heard"..heresay...most of the time. True many of the slapsticks have met untimely deaths, but there are reasons that happen to be user related.

For instance I currently own a 1998 Prelude Auto with 143k miles on it, I drive it like a VTEC addict, I love it....True the 1997 Prelude 5 spd. I used to have a was a little more fun, sometimes it's more enjoyable just to be able to flip through the gears with the slip of the wrist....But you know what, its the origional tranny, no probs so far...wanna know why? I keep the fluid changed.
The auto trannies in the Preludes fails mainly because people dont follow the recommended service intervals... The Slapstick in the Prelude was a test of a technology Acura would be apply to many future vehicles in production today... The problem is the tranny was built with such tight tolerances that the fluid constantly gets very warm...and if you dont change it every 30k or so...the fluids loses it's lubricity and in tern causes wear.

Alot of you talk of how much the auto Prelude sucks, I've owned both, and though I love the standard with a passion... This automatic is one the greatest automobiles I've ever owned...If you havent driven on, dont rip on it.

If you're looking at buying an Auto, check the fluid in the tranny, check for service records, if the tranny shifts tight, feels good(make sure you run it hard to get it hot)...then dont be afraid...just make sure you have the fluid drained and filled(or do it yourself)...

143k miles, the worst issue I've had this far is having to buy a new valve cover gasket kit...not to shabby...

[F22B Prelude]

I know I'm going to be scolded for this comment...but I want to offer a different opinion. The Slapstick automatics arent nearly the horror story many members here and elsewhere make them out to be. It's all a matter of "I read" or "I heard"..heresay...most of the time. True many of the slapsticks have met untimely deaths, but there are reasons that happen to be user related.

For instance I currently own a 1998 Prelude Auto with 143k miles on it, I drive it like a VTEC addict, I love it....True the 1997 Prelude 5 spd. I used to have a was a little more fun, sometimes it's more enjoyable just to be able to flip through the gears with the slip of the wrist....But you know what, its the origional tranny, no probs so far...wanna know why? I keep the fluid changed.
The auto trannies in the Preludes fails mainly because people dont follow the recommended service intervals... The Slapstick in the Prelude was a test of a technology Acura would be apply to many future vehicles in production today... The problem is the tranny was built with such tight tolerances that the fluid constantly gets very warm...and if you dont change it every 30k or so...the fluids loses it's lubricity and in tern causes wear.

Alot of you talk of how much the auto Prelude sucks, I've owned both, and though I love the standard with a passion... This automatic is one the greatest automobiles I've ever owned...If you havent driven on, dont rip on it.

If you're looking at buying an Auto, check the fluid in the tranny, check for service records, if the tranny shifts tight, feels good(make sure you run it hard to get it hot)...then dont be afraid...just make sure you have the fluid drained and filled(or do it yourself)...

143k miles, the worst issue I've had this far is having to buy a new valve cover gasket kit...not to shabby...

We aint gonna flame ya.....they're just sayin that the manual tranny is better performance wise and such....I'd drive an auto or a stick

[Phateless]

i've driven both. quite frankly, the gearing of the 4-speed automatic sucks compared to the 5-speed manual. that motor would be even better with a lower-geared six-speed. yes, it's good technology, but i still consider an automatic transmission to be a waste of a perfectly good motor.

[Mkazm83]

Thats why I am not a huge fan of Mercedes-Benz...the CL65AMG is awesome...BUT ITS AUTO JUST LIKE ALL THEIR CARS!!! I think even the SLR is auto.

Those auto trannies are a little more advanced then your standard auto.

[jumpman83]

Hum... only tranny problems I've ever heard of in 4th or 5th gen, auto or manual is a mis-designed shift fork that makes 5th gear grind and a mis-designed syncro that makes 3rd gear grind in some Ludes. I've got the 3rd gear grind in mine
Oh, and BTW, replacing a tranny is not $4,000... $500 for a decent used tranny, $75 hour standard shop fee, 5 hour flag time for most FWD transaxles = $875.

[Kap TypeSH]

1. automatics are stupid
2. preludes drop auto trannies all the time
3. automatics are stupid
4. you might as well buy an accord - no REAL sportscar is an automatic
5. did i mention that automatics are stupid? they're for people who don't know how to drive and don't care. or for people who only have one leg and one arm.

[Kap TypeSH]

I hate looking into a 350z, BMW M roadster, etc...and seeing an automatic. LEARN TO DRIVE STICK!!!!!

Thats why I am not a huge fan of Mercedes-Benz...the CL65AMG is awesome...BUT ITS AUTO JUST LIKE ALL THEIR CARS!!! I think even the SLR is auto.

Double -

And yes, the AMG auto trannies are waaay advanced, well-engineered, etc. auto-trannies, but in the end, they're just that, auto-trannies in a car that's supposedly a 'sports-tourer' of sorts.