Sport Compact Gold: 1996 Honda Prelude SI

If you are not old enough to remember the sport compact car crazy of the early 1990s, let me tell you something funny. There was actually a time when front-drive compact imports were faster than domestic rear-drive pony cars. It was a strange time because on paper they shouldn’t have been fast…but the American cars were so terrible at traction and power per cubic inch that a stock ’96 Prelude SI with a 2.0 liter 4-banger could beat a ’94 Mustang with a 5.0 V8 to 60mph by 0.1 seconds. That didn’t last long as domestic car manufacturers figured out how to push more air through their gigantic air pumps, but if you want to re-live the 90s sport compact car scene, do it with this 1996 Honda Prelude SI offered for $5000 in Scottsdale, AZ via craigslist.

From the seller:

1996 Honda Prelude SI
condition: excellent
cylinders: 4 cylinders
drive: fwd
fuel: gas
odometer: 150000
paint color: blue
size: compact
title status: clean
transmission: manual
type: hatchback
I am offering up for sale the nicest 4th gen Prelude this side of the Mississippi. This thing has all records going back to the year 2000 — it even has the original window sticker. I am going to let the photos tell most of the story, but this thing is absolutely sublime.

It’s just about as stock as you can get, minus a few tasteful updates like the stereo and the wheels/tires. The coil-overs add better handling and remove dependencies on Honda equipment that no longer exists. The throttle tune is just right: not too glassy or loud.

I have the original tires and rims — and the rubber on them is like new. It comes with new driving lights and air inlets that were never installed. It also currently has rear leather seats taken from a donor car, but I have the original rear seats as well.

The paint is all original, but it does have quite a few chips and dings all around, and the paint is peeling and cracked on the bumpers.

It needs absolutely nothing. When I purchased it, I fixed the A/C, replaced the glass, and purchased new floor mats. I purchased this car for my soon-to-be-of-driving-age son, in hopes he would get excited about cars — but it’s just sat there for two months. His lack of ambition can be your gain.

The price is firm. I am in absolutely no rush to sell it — this will only appreciate at this point. I am not open to trades on this.
do NOT contact me with unsolicited services or offers

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