Kap TypeSH

Definitely the Prelude. Best car from Honda short of the S2000 or NSX...

ryan22_2

Prelude

ryan22_2

toyota suck i used to own a MR2 it was always in the garage

CEN7272

When I was buying a car a few years ago I first drove an AT '01 Celica before the prelude. I didn't think that the Celica was too bad. In the end I personally chose the 97 Prelude because it was MT, not as common and cheaper. Where I live I see Celicas all over the place but Preludes are more scarce...it makes me feel like I'm in an elite club I've known people that have had Toyotas and they've loved them, one of my uncles swears by them. In the end I chose the Prelude and I'm extremely happy with it. BTW I have a non-SH and it has a spoiler also. I don't really think the spoiler is a good determining factor

tegbooster

the MR2 is a technical nightmare, that should not be based on toyotas performance. It is like basing all of toyotas cars power on the TTsupra.

Both cars have their good and bad...
PRELUDE:
+Looks better IMHO
+has a more "distinguished" look to it
+better aftermarket catering
+I'm assuming your gf is a daily driver (never see track time) so the lude is quieter/more comfortable
+will attract less police attention if she decides to have a lead foot
+friend had a non-sh lude AllMotor which could piss on M3's with mediocre modification
-longer nose/tail than her old SE-R, so will take some getting used to
-has more mileage

CELICA:
+faster
+more "track ready" (if she's into it)
+personally i've seen toyotas last FOREVER
+will handle boost better
+less mileage
+fun as hell to drive (it's like a little go-kart)
-looks good.... but it's no lude
-very loud
-OEM suspension is already very stiff and will make for a less comfortable ride

it's late and im tired... but that's all i can think of for now... i've extensively driven both a Lude (SH and NON), as well as a celica in all shapes and trim levels, and my personal pick is the Lude b/c i am a honda-whore for life... but it's a good battle

if i have gotten anything incorect... feel free to let me know but like i said... it's late...

good luck on the purchase

Fira!

HOLD ON!!! I can KINDA understand a Celica beating a Stock Prelude because it's lighter, but with mods n all that you're tellin me a Celica will always beat a Prelude?????? I really hope i just read that wrong.

F22B Prelude

Yeah you read it right...but as tegbooster said he's tired...and it also depends on whose driving...I have never driven a Toyota..I think ill have to give it a try.

EDIT: The prelude only weighs 400 more lbs. than the Celica...so how can the Celica be faster?

Fira!

Wow! thats crazy! It dont matter too much to me though cuz any Lude will look better than a Celica in my eyes. And as long as im spankin the competition i'm GOOD!

Hatchbak89

go celica, they are sooo fast, faster than the lude.

tonysaur

I say go for the celica, girls love that car and its way more unique looking than the prelude. Plus the celica is smaller and "cuter". I myself own a 94 vtec prelude and have driven my friends 97 prelude many times. I also drove my friends 2000 celica and to tell you the truth, I really like the celica. here's a list of things I liked about each car:

Prelude:
looks clean and aggressive
lots of extra interior room

Celica:
insanely unique sporty look
cosey economical interior

from personal experience toyotas are the most reliable cars ever, my mom's toyota minivan 350k miles and still running strong untill I busted the clutch trying to learn how to drive a standard, so we just chucked the whole car since it was old and ugly haha.