question about possible prelude purchase
 

Hey, I am look at getting a 2nd car. I just saw last night a blue '89 Prelude Si for sale with 63k miles. The car looked like it was in awesome shape. Probably a one-owner car that was well taken care of. So anyway, what would you guys pay for this car? The owner is asking $3500, but that seems pretty high. I was thinking like $2300 or so, if the car is in really good condition. What price do you guys think and why? Just trying to get a rough estimate before I go check it out up close.

Wow 63k miles on a car that old, Wow just wow. I used to have an 86 Lude Si with 250,000 but I got tired of babying it but it was a great car to drive..

Just test drove the car. Runs A-1! It seriously looks practically brand new! Apparently it used to be owned by an old couple from California, but has been bought and sold a few times since then.

Here's some info on the car:

Light blue 1989 Honda Prelude 2.0 Si

$3200 obo
63,000 original miles
5-speed manual
Power sunroof

Positives

car ran very well.
clutch seemed good.
car didn't bog or hesitate.
paint looks awesome/no rust or dings.
interior looks like it has barely been sat in.

Negatives

took a little bit to start (bad starter or just hadn't been started in a while?).
a little bit of grinding, but only going into reverse.
weird intermittent clicking noise sometimes coming from relay,even when car is off (like turn signal was blinking or something).
oil stain on top of valve cover.
a bit of rust on underside of muffler, but no holes or anything.
brakes seemed a bit soft (i heard this is pretty normal for hondas though).
a/c needs recharged.

Please let me know what you guys think? Should I go ahead and make an offer or what? I thought maybe I could offer them $2700 or something. Please give me some more input. Thanks!

-Randy

you from cali? make sure it passes smog.

negative on that one. I live in Indiana. No smog testing here! :D

Got some pics! Should I offer like $2700 and try to buy it? Lemme know what you guys think.


http://portfolio.iu.edu/rprobers/P4190145_resized.jpg

http://portfolio.iu.edu/rprobers/P4190144_resized.jpg

http://portfolio.iu.edu/rprobers/P4190147_resized.jpg

http://portfolio.iu.edu/rprobers/P4190148_resized.jpg

http://portfolio.iu.edu/rprobers/P4190149_resized.jpg

(The rust on the last pic isn't actually on the muffler, its like around it.)

If that Beautiful Lude only has 63K miles ... oh boy .. i don't think is expensive .. :D ... if those miles are real .. you're a lucky man! ... is really realy hard to find a low mile 3th gen ...
OScar

lol, 3th Gen., just messin with ya, :p . Car looks good and great price for the mileage. If those are the only things wrong with it I say go for it. I've heard a few 4th and 5th Gen guys says their cars grind in 5th gear and going into reverse for some reason, I'll try to find out if and how they fixed it.
EDIT: Found this on H-T, it's mostly about 5th gear grinding in 5th Gens, but might be able to help you out, it's all I could find:
H-T Grinding Thread

Hey thanks for the info and advice...but I called the seller just a little bit ago and sadly she had already sold it like 20 minutes before for $2900. I am really bummed.

That really sucks man .. that was a good milage prelude ,,, i saw one on Ebay yesterday .. red 1990 69K miles .. 2 days to go $3.400 ... you could buy and resale and still making some bucks ... that's sad ... the thing is the miles ... 69K miles in a lude is nothing .. really nothing ..