From the land of the rising sun

[MikeKnight]

I scrapped the 1999 Rover 200 monstrosity this morning. Right into the jaws of the scrapyard it went. I feel better for getting one more of those hateful little rolling kettles off the road. Problems with the gearbox meant it would cost more to repair it than getting another car would cost, so off it went to its death. £70 seems generous as I would've gleefully pushed it off a cliff by this point, no charge.

 

Then I bought another horrible car!

 

Pics tomorrow as it's 11:38pm and brass monkies outside, but it's a 1990 Honda Prelude Mk3 (with the pop-up headlights) and it is delightfully shite. Actually really nice to drive but it's an auto and as I've never driven an auto before I was stalling and spluttering all over town making people at junctions and lights very cross indeed. It's gunmetal grey and it's almost immaculate except for a terrible scratch on the nearside wing, though nothing a lot of buffing and cutting compound can't hide away.

 

Good points:

[*]Drives very nicely.

[*]Auto box seems fine.

[*]Interior is immaculate!

[*]All the electricals work.. to a point.

 

Bad points:

[*]The power aerial extends to the point where it's in the running for tallest man made structure on earth.

[*]First gear on the auto box is hesitant but that could be me just getting used to it.

[*]One indicator smashed (but replacement on order).

[*]Interior smells like old people and farts.

[*]Speakers make musicians sound like they're underwater.

[*]I can't touch anything inside without my hands coming away black, despite it looking immaculate to the naked eye.

 

So tomorrow it's clean-up time and time to install the newer speakers I ripped from the Rover before it met its death.

[Leyland Lawrence]

I still view a 1999 car as "new" for some reason!

 

New =1999- present

Not too old = 1995-1998

Old = 1990 -1995

Classic = -1989

[ashmicro]

£45 or so would get you a working R65 Rover gearbox. I fear you may have been hasty.

[MikeKnight]

£45 or so would get you a working R65 Rover gearbox. I fear you may have been hasty.

 

The R65 is a horrible gearbox that should have never been inflicted on the world. In my opinion anyway. I've never scrapped a car and felt so good about it before. Horrible little chavvy grindy leaky thing that bubble was.

 

ANYWAY, PICTURE TIME.

 

Ignore the wonky headlight, I've fixed that already. It works, it was just stuck on a piece of trim that had come loose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

Those Preludes had a really nicely resolved shape - I believe LJKS was a big fan of that particular iteration.

 

Not a fan of the autobox or wheels but that's down to personal preference more than anything else. Being a Honda they're most likely 4 x 100 - so lots of subtle aftermarket or manufacturer rims to choose from. Just don't go buying a 'sleepy eye kit' for it - mainly because they're fucking gash.

 

I still view a 1999 car as "new" for some reason!

 

New =1999- present

Not too old = 1995-1998

Old = 1990 -1995

Classic = -1989

 

Interesting - that's about the same timescale I apply to old rammle.

 

By that reckoning I have a new car, one old car and four classics. Hmmmm. Most of my contemporaries at Uni consider anything made before 2008 'old'. A girl I know bought a 2003 Corsa which she describes as 'ancient', and my 460 was around before most of them were even born.

 

My neighbour (the one who's managed to spend £20k on a Kia, somehow) reckons my 2006 C4 is a 'banger' and 'completely past it'. Yes mate, I actually use it as a car, rather than something with which to further my Kenneth Anger OCD cleaning obsessions. Twonk.

[vulgalour]

Perfect. Those seats look delightful* and it's a shame you fixed the dodgy light, that sort of thing adds character.

 

Anyone else amused by the rear wiper?

[Felly Magic]

You can laugh at your neighbour too, as he will no doubt have it on't never never, and being a Kia, will lose its value faster than a Steinway falling off a cliff.

[MikeKnight]

I described it as "awful" and "oh god no" when a friend showed me the advert for it, but I have to admit it's grown on me quite a bit and I love it now.

 

it's a shame you fixed the dodgy light, that sort of thing adds character

 

Had to! Battery was flat this morning, either the battery is knackered (unlikely) or the motor for the light was trying to shut it all night long.

[skattrd]

I do like these Preludes and believe not enough cars are fitted with rear wipers.

My Volvo & VW (both saloons) would benefit from rear wipers.

[vulgalour]

So, do I get to have a little drive in it? Because these are actually one of those cars that when new I REALLY wanted and I want to know whether or not one (in manual form, obvs) should be in my future.

[ashmicro]

That Honda is a belter. Well bought, looks in excellent condition.

[MikeKnight]

So, do I get to have a little drive in it? Because these are actually one of those cars that when new I REALLY wanted and I want to know whether or not one (in manual form, obvs) should be in my future.

 

As long as your insurance will cover you driving it, sure, I see no reason not to let you. You'd also be able to tell me if the auto is acting up because it's the first auto I've ever driven and I think first gear needs altering slightly (or the carbs are out of balance) as it's very hesitant when pulling away. Maybe I'm just rushing it as I'm used to manuals and do tend to pull away rather quickly in those.

 

I managed to wheelspin it last night which I'm rightly proud of. Accidentally.

 

RE the wheels I'm going to run them for about a year or until the tyres need changing, then go for some nice (but not chavvy) alloy rims with new tyres all around. Got to treat a lady right.

 

Also noticing little touches that're making me smile; like how the washer bottle has a return pipe so all the air rushes out of it while filling, thereby allowing you to fill it quicker.

[Shep Shepherd]

That looks like a pleasant car. Same age as The Volvo, too

[Felly Magic]

Nice motor, in full 'John Major' grey, with shite-tastic Honda wheeltrims. The pube haired gob on legs liked Preludes too I believe.

[vulgalour]

You want to put it on some of these lovelies.

 

[MikeKnight]

YES! Where did you find those??

 

I can hold off buying a better stereo (the one in it is just.. awful.. and I like my music) if those wheels are the right price.

[phil_lihp]

Nice buy, I like that a lot! The colour really works too, suits the shape. I'd really like one of these for some reason, let me know when you're done with it

[vulgalour]

I found them on the interbutts, they're just normal factory standard Prelude wheels. Probably very cheap and undesirable too if you can find a set.

[trigger]

I do like those Preludes, mind you any car with pop up headlights is cool in my book

 

 

What's happened with the other car? I thought you'd swapped the GT6 for something for erotic?

[MikeKnight]

Decided not to swap the GT6 as I much prefer it.

 

That and the Mk1 is rare enough for me.

[trigger]

Oh Christ! that was meant to say more exotic above, not erotic!

[Mike D]

Im pretty sure those ones will be 4x114.3 VA therefore wont fit... Muchos rim choice available in 4x100 mind... BMW E30 offset rims fill the arches a treat.. My mate had one, albeit, it didnt end up in the best autoshite flavour....

 

 

I loved it mind, it was a right laugh!

[mk1_4dr]

I fully loved my BA2 Prelude. It was a properly nice car to drive, not quick, but smooth and very 'chuckable' with its multilink suspension.

 

Mine was a 2lt 12v twincarb EX with a manual gearbox.

 

 

I dare say I'd still own it now if this hadn't happened,

 

 

Bent valves ahoy. Maddeningly, I had been told that the belt had been changed recently, but obviously not.

 

I still have some parts boxed up at home, a freshly recored radiator (manual though, so no good for you), 3 wing mirrors and those tasty turbine wheeltrims (which took some finding let me tell you...)

[MikeKnight]

Ouch! Both to the snapped belt and that pink and white.. thing.

 

I need to do my belts ASAP, as I noted the alternator belt was whining quite a bit and as they're normally changed together and look a bit old.. the cam belt is probably ancient too.

 

Mine's the twincarb EX too, just the auto version.

[Station]

All the big Hondas are 114.3 PCD (Accord, Rover 800), as is this.

[Mike D]

^^ WRONG! They're 100% 4x100

 

I'll add an edit - the later generation 4 stud ones are 4x114.3 - these however arent.

[Felly Magic]

Is it wrong to think those turbine trims look the mutts nuts?

[MikeKnight]

Anyone have any idea with the "S4" button is for on top of the shifter?

 

I suspected an overdrive button, but the S makes me think it's either Sports Mode only overdrive on gear 4 or it turns normal gear 4 into a sport gear 4 (though that would make no sense logically).

[vulgalour]

According to one poster on the Honda Prelude forum...

 

S3 and S4 are the electronic overdrive feature on the car. I believe (though not positive) that it works this way:

 

-S-system off: Normal cruising mode, engine will shift at lower revs. Quieter.

-S3: Sport mode, 3 gears only. Harder shifts, and engine revs higher before shifting. Us this for passing and descending hills, etc.

-S4: Sport mode, all 4 gears. Same as S3, except 4th gear is also used.

[MikeKnight]

That sounds really ass-backwards and illogical. O_o

 

Anyway I think these alloys will fit and cheap too. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/14-Genuine-Honda-used-alloy-wheels-x-4-6x14-4x100-ET45-8808-/281020420687?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Trims_Car_Rims_ET&hash=item416e1f524f