From: lantham@utagraph.uta.edu (lantham russel dean)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Does anyone like the new Prelude?
Date: 19 Aug 92 21:53:41 GMT
Article-I.D.: utagraph.1992Aug19.215341.17051
    <1992Aug12.192351.5256@mprgate.mpr.ca>
Organization: University of Texas at Arlington
X-Bytes: 4099

In article <1992Aug12.192351.5256@mprgate.mpr.ca> kam@mprgate.mpr.ca (Danny Kam) writes:
>I was looking for a new car a month ago.  Initially, Prelude is at the
>top of my list. But after sitting in one, I have changed my mind. The 
>styling looks cool; the engine is ok; the handling is great; BUT interior
>is awful. Seat is not comfortable for a big guy like me (over 200 lb) and
>the worst about this car is the rear seat leg room and the trunk size.

I have one of the new preludes.  The majority of comments I receive on
it are positive.  Most people think it looks really cool.  Park it
side by side to a 300Z, and you will see many resembelences.  The 
biggest difference is in the back end of the two cars.

As for the interior, I think it is fvery comfortable.  But I'm only
5'9".
It has lots of leg room for the driver.  I've had one person drive the
car who didn't think the seat went forward far enough for her 
to reach the pedals.
The back seat is much more usable than the ones in a 240, Eclipse,
or the Geo Storm.  But there is a problem with feet space.  The front
seats need to be pushed forward quite a bit to have four passengers
in the car.

The ride is extremmely smooth, and it handles very well.  Even at
100 mph, it is still a very smooth ride.  And it corners well also.
At least for a front wheel drive car.
As for gas mileage, I've gotten 34 MPG maximum out of it on the highway,
and typically it is raround 2528 MPG when driving the car hard.
(It has the 2.2 Liter engine)

When looking at the car at the dealership,  I started reading the
salespersons info on the car when he was busy.  It stated that the
new styling was to appeal to males also, because the past preludes
have sold better to females.

As for disappointments,  I've had a problem with the air conditioner,
but it has been corrected.  The glove box is not really a glove
box.  It has enough room for insurance verification form but thats
about it.  The reason is because some models of the car coeme with
an optional d passenger side airbag, and the unit fits behind the
dash where the glove box would typically be.
The engine idle needs to be adjusted on my car, but I haven't had
time to take it in yet.

One big plus about the car is everything that comes standard. I.e.
the power sunroof, power windows, a decent stereo system, cruise
control, power door mirrors, etc.  I had a Toyota dealer 
trying to sell me an equivalently equipped Celica for about 
a thousand more than the prelude.  And if you compare the two cars,
at least in my opinion, the prelude is a whole lot more of a car.

My original plan was to buy an MR2.  But I had problems finding 
one that wasn't completely loaded and out of my price range.
And after driving the Prelude, I was sold on it.
 
As for the Mitsubishi Eclipse line of cars, I was originally interested
in those, until I subscribed to the Talon mailing list and started
reading about all the problems people were having with them.  My
opinion now is that Mitsubishi has done a very poor job in the 
design.  The latest discussion is about how easy it is to dent
the cars, even by just pressing your thumb against the side of the
car.

 
>
>I remember when I was looking at the rear seat and the trunk, the salesman
>has two comments (Just thought I should share with you):
>
>1) Who cares about the people at the back as long as you two are comfortable
>   in the front!!


I wasn't really concerned about the back seat either.  Probably
because I was planning on buying an MR2 with no back seat.

>
>2) When I ask to see the trunk, he said and I quote: "Sure, go ahead, it won't 
>   take long."
>
>Well, although I think the new Prelude is a better car than the new Mazda MX6,
>it is not pratical.  Instead, I have bought the new BMW 318i and it is a great
>car. Check it out.


I like the new BMWs.  They are nice looking cars.  I did notice one
problem with them the other day.  I was behind one that had a spoiler on
the back, and it pretty much blocked the middle brake light in the 
back window.
Maybe it wasn't a factory installed one....who knows....