Hey guys. I finally bought a Prelude......

hey dudes, I finnaly bought a prelude today. I got a 1996 Prelude S 5spd. It runs like crazy, if an S is this fast than I cant even imagine how fast the Vtec is.... Are all S's that fast, or did I just get lucky with this one? It doesnt feel like it has only 130Hp, The engine says F22a1, so it is an S. Anyways, What can you guys tell me about the 1996 S ? Is there anything I should look out for??? it has minor scratches, rust on sunroof, and the front bumper is a little loose. How much would it cost to replace the sunroof, and to get a new front bumper, or how would I fix the front bumper???? by the way it has 130000 miles on it and I paid $3250 for it. Feel free to write comments on the S or just answer my questions. Thanks...

yeah, they do feel pretty quick, huh? it comes out kind of like a sleeper with the hubcaps and no spoiler.

think that thing is quick.. drive an si like mine :)

Or the VTEC like mine! I love the pull at 5k rpms....

im jealous, but at the same time I love the torque of my si. the Si isn't really a 130mph car (even though it does it).. more of a drag car

ok, thnks, but I sort of know that the SI and the Vtec are faster, is there any way that it could be a Vtec or a Si motor in mine but says its an S motor?? DO you guys thinhk I got a good deal? What can I do with my S ?? Are they good for "traffic light" racing?? now all I need is to learn how to get the car rolling smoothly from 1st gear, I got the 2nd and up gears worked out, but its still pretty hard for me to learn how to get the car to go smoothly from the first gear, any suggestions??
k, thnks

what do you mean by smoothly?. if you burnout a lot, then ride the clutch a little longer until you are confortable

ok,i just need to practice more I guess. Any info on the S?? hows its power compared to other cars, civics, maximas, mustangs, etc. Can my stick S beat an auto Si ??? My S REALLY feels/is fast, I drove my unckles auto maxima, other maximas, sentras, toyota tacoma 195 Hp truck, and some few other ones, and my S seems like it would kill all those cars. I'm very surprized, all that from 135 Hp??? IS it possible that its not an S?? It has a factory spoiler which I dont think S's have, but the engive says F22A1. Can the engine be different from what it says it is?? What are some good aftermarket stuff for the S's, power wise, and look wise. should I go the NA way with it (headers, CAI, Exhaust) ???
Any begginner stuff I should do?? I just got it. I changed the rims from stock to some nice alluminum ones i found at the junk yard for $500 with low profile tires.
ANy help is appreciated.

it may have some unknown aftermarket internals man. But on that note it'd be alot easier to upgrade to an H22 vtec, than H23. The H22 head sits on your same block.. but im not for sure about if the internals are different. i'd say they are

3250 for an S type with 130k miles? i guess thats not bad, even though i think if ud have waited a little longer u could have a found an Si for that price. I just recently bought a 93 prelude Vtec with 57k miles for $6000. Um....so ur a new driver, i guess stick always feels faster when u first start driving. Compared to most other cars out there, the S type is around as fast as the fastest stock civic. mustangs...u wont beat any mustang(stick or not) unless u really load ur engine. stick also doesnt necessarily mean its 10x faster than any auto, a lot of it depends on how good of a driver u are too. and if ur lookin to race, stock ur engine first. intake($115) headers(3-400) exhaust (3-600).

ok, kool. thanks for the info. Maybe I'll just fix up this car a bit and sell it to get an SI or a Vtec maybe. Vtecs are very rare to find them. but I'll keep looking.
ok thats it for now. thanks.

dont put any money into mods if your going to sell it, you will always lose money that way

I decided to keep it. It drives like a beast, I dont believe that its an S. I mean it says that it is, but there's no way a 130 Hp can pull like it does. Today, when my dad was drivin from work, He killed an Audi A4 2.8 L He said dat he was at a traffic light with the audi, and as they began to drive about 4 secs from the lights the audi floored it, and when my dad saw that it did, he wanted to see what the S can do, so he floored it, and in about 3 secs my dad passed it going 70 mph on a traffic free road, and the audi had no chance. I understand a Vtec doing this to a 190hp/200trq car, but an S??? (when I say "floored it", i mean flooring it with a manualk transmition). I know people will say, 'oh stop making up shit' and 'It probly was a 1.8 L audi' or other stuff like dat, but Im serious, and dont know how an S can be so powerful. It doesnt hav aftermarket stuff or turbo or anything, escept for it is a manual. is it possible that it could say one thing on the engine, and be tottaly different engine? What is a 0-60 and quarter mile times for a 1996 S manual???? Can I test it with a stop watch?? How much does a dyno test cost?? Ok, any suggestions on what I should do to my car?? appearance wize, or performance wise????

take a good look at your engine.. If it is a SOHC.. it's an S.. and if you cant tell the difference from sohc and dohc.. then god have mercy on your soul ;)

...O.K. listen up....if ur engine is the same that comes on a 90-93 Honda Accord and look's like most old hatchy cars then u my friend have a 16V f22 motor with 130HP not sure on Torque and if u think ur car's a VTEC it's NOT it would say VTEC on it and u would feel a turbo like kick in SICK after 6,000 RPM and u would know it's VTEC...if it's a Si then u would feel a very quick car that laggy's it compare to a VTEC (guys TRUST ME)...but to tell u the truth...this is what I think...

ur car's a 96 prelude S' with 130 HP but since it's ur first stick car u think it's the fastest car in EARTH DUDE trust me we're all like that for the frist time driving stick specially on a sports car like a Prelude(Auto is just too laggie) but don't worry ur car's isn't anywalk in the park compare to many car's but compare to eclipse,rx7's, etc, ur pretty weak like most Non-Vtec prelude's but cheer UP...a driver is half the CAR!!

to make it eaiser if u have don't have power door lock's or a wing on the back then u have a S...if u have a Si then u have ABS',power everything and a wing on the back...on a VTEC the all the Si feat's. plus on leather interior 94-96 on (93 r usually cloth) and ur wing on the rear as lights so when u step on the brake it comes on and it only says VTEC on the rear also...

Welcome to the club, man. Good job on pickin up on a 'lude. I agree it would be better for you to put Vtech head on ure -22 instead of trying to swap in a -23. My SI is pretty mean, but with 130hp, if you wanna race an Eclipse, go for it. If it's a GS, (and let's face it, like at least 50% of these Mitsus ARE GS's) it'll come down to the driver, not the car, so if you just drive it right, you'll be alright. I raced a 2000 Celica, (the one with 130hp) and my friend Wes walked all over my 160 hp (Auto, admittedly) because he was a much better driver than me at the time, but I eventually got to where I can blow his doors off. Just stick (pun intended) with it and play with your internals a bit. Anything can be made fast, it just takes a little dedication. Thankfully, the Prelude is VERY EASY to get attached to.

ok, thanks, im thinking of putting in a CAI in it. It is an S i guess. WHat kind would you recommend for a 96 prelude S ??? What kind of headers would you recommend and what kind of exhaust would you guys recomend for a 96 S??
p.s. my dad killed a 1997 Accord LX 2 door. IT was trying to pass my dad on the road and my dad just blew away from him, and the accord didnt even have a chance. do you guys think that I can compete with a 1996 Nissan Maxima Se??? ok kool, thanks.

do you do any driving? because it sounds like your dad is having way too much fun with a car that you bought.

drive it and enjoy. all sticks are fun.

ok, thanks, im thinking of putting in a CAI in it. It is an S i guess. WHat kind would you recommend for a 96 prelude S ??? What kind of headers would you recommend and what kind of exhaust would you guys recomend for a 96 S??
p.s. my dad killed a 1997 Accord LX 2 door. IT was trying to pass my dad on the road and my dad just blew away from him, and the accord didnt even have a chance. do you guys think that I can compete with a 1996 Nissan Maxima Se??? ok kool, thanks.

You, my friend, are toooooooooooooo excited :eek7: I can definately tell that this IS the first stick you have driven ( and your dad probably hasn't in awhile) If you are racing this car every second, I hope that you are saving for an engine. :cwm27: And the cars that you all are racing aren't all that fast and were probably automatics. Have fun with your new car and stop trying to beat everyone on the streets.