1992 Honda Prelude Si 4WS | Retro Review

The 4th gen Prelude drops all hints of previous edgy 80's styling and helps usher in a definitive 90's look for Honda. Has it aged as well as the 3rd gen?
Show 1125 | Original Airdate 03-13-1992
Want to help keep our weekly Retro Reviews alive? DONATE NOW: mptevents.regfox.com/motorweek
Find airdates on your local PBS station HERE: motorweek.org/watch/
Want to watch full episodes of MotorWeek? Download the PBS video app for FREE or watch here: www.pbs.org/show/motor-week/
Stay connected with MotorWeek on social media!
Twitter (X): / motorweek
Facebook: / motorweektv
Instagram: / motorweek
MotorWeek, PBS' award-winning weekly automotive magazine provides unbiased, consumer-oriented car news with feature stories on related topics.
To license this video or any content from MotorWeek, please visit:
www.parsintl.com/publications...

[@cdldriver2348]

I went to high school from 1987-1989, if you drove a Prelude to school, you know your parents had money and you knew that the driver had taste in a great car!

[@billymays7210]

I was exactly a decade later but the same applied 😂

[@bobysimpson]

😂😂

[@RabbiJesus]

Not really. Owning a red Honda showed a lack of character and originality.

[@cdldriver2348]

Most had the Silver Prelude, this red is only for the review of an Ancient Motorweek video & definitely NOT an automatic.@@RabbiJesus

[@EvilTwinRC51]

Congratulations on finishing high school in 2 years.

[@frankm7707]

This Prelude was about 10 years ahead of its time.

[@DEIFAN]

Now I don't even know if I want one. The inside reminds me of my EM2

[@blanchardc]

I still have my '96 Prelude VTEC. I have a hard time parting with it. Every time I take it out for a drive, I'm reminded of how great it is.

[@Jeff_F7]

that's a rare car. Most preludes of this gen that I saw on the roads in NJ were the mid-level Si. Back in the mid-90s when i was in college, the prelude VTEC a dream car for me. I had a 95 civic coupe, which was also a fun ride, but the prelude vtec (especially in azure green) was the car that you would aspire to get once you graduated college, got your first professional job and could afford an approx. $25k sports coupe. At that price, you got a really nice ride back then and cars of that price range were considered nice cars in the 90s. Then cars in the $40k range were the next step up and if you were seen in cars of that price range, it meant you were considered decently affluent. As far as japanese offerings, we're talking cars that were involved in the Japanese sports car wars: nissan 300zx, mitsubishi 3000gt, toyota supra, etc. Honda, unfortunately didn't offer a true sports car to compete with these cars at the time. If you wanted a nicer sports car than the prelude but wanted a Honda (or Acura) badge, you'd have to graduate to the Acura NSX. But I loved the prelude, especially this gen and the one before it. Hang on to this one. I hope the paint is in decent condition. Unfortunately, so many Honda's of this era have paint that is now in less than decent condition, especially with the awful-looking peeling clear coat.

[@endlesstwisties]

​@@Jeff_F7wasn't the real Sport car for poor drivers. On twisty roads can wipe the floor with most cars ever made

[@bryanwashington9511]

This is my favorite generation Prelude styling was different and ahead of its time!

[@Zreik20]

Its crazy that the dash in that ends up being the norm today just with screens

[@calicocalthecopperkid7230]

I still own mine! She still runs like right out of the factory!

[@LiohJuney]

My 3rd grade teacher in 1998, Mrs. Cleary (late 50's at the time) drove a 94 Prelude Si in this same red color with dark tints. My friends and I had no clue who owned it but would pass it everyday admiring its looks and wanting to take a ride. When we left school late one day and saw our mousy 5 ft nothing teacher revving the hell out of her Prelude before zipping out of the parking lot, that's when we really learned you can't judge a book by its cover.

[@larkt6693]

One of my favorite Hondas.. it was always a step ahead in its class.. Mazda MX6 & Toyota Celica was probably it’s main competition..so happy it’s coming back into production..

[@lordmaster5522]

I’ll say Integra, Eclipse, Probe, and 240SX was the main competitor.

[@endlesstwisties]

The new one has nothing to do with this. Just another disgrace like most new cars

[@larkt6693]

@@lordmaster5522 yeah I forgot about the eclipse ..

[@remypascal4872]

Maybe buying one of these and in case asking a latino or sop worksop to build a sustainable, fuel safing motor of our time in it.

[@Inlitener]

One of the most beautiful cars Honda has ever made!

[@len6482]

Timeless design

[@HAL-dm1eh]

I'll never forget being taken for a ride in one of these at the time. Even the smell of the interior was better than other new cars. I asked to drive it and not only was the ride very pleasant, shifts and power delivery were very smooth. It was so good I didn't mind the lack of power in the 4 cylinder. All that reminded me of an Audi I had driven previously. And it's not everyday a Japanese vehicle reminds me of a European.

[@frederickmiller5492]

the dashboard design was so 'crazy' back in the day. They could easily throw some digital screens into this layout and have a current interior.

[@HiFiInsider]

I love the Prelude. I am enjoying my 95 Civic coupe right now.

[@Shotter]

This was one of my favorite cars as a kid. I sketched it in my notebooks over over. Perfect proportions, perfect curves. ETA: holy crap that's $49K in today's money!

[@endlesstwisties]

I also did some designs and own this car for 17 years. The front wheels are closer to the door than front of the bumper while the rears are slightly to the tail. Not perfect proportions but still a very good looking car

[@fry.master]

the vtec version did a 6.3 0-60 and 14.6 @ 98mph… nuts for 1993

[@DStabs720]

People have no idea how spoiled they are today. So many basic cars are this fast now. I still look at 6 seconds as very quick

[@TheBb6prelude]

​@@twhalenthey literally got 14.6 out one in 1993

[@larkt6693]

Yes it was ..

[@RacingHeartMedia]

3rd gen - 5th gen prelude awesomeness

[@noseefood1943]

Pinnacle of 90’s Honda

[@rmp5s]

Such a great car. I had an immaculate 2001 back in the day...I ADORED that car. Was the first nice car I got on my own. It was totaled on a Thanksgiving night coming home from work and I hadn't even made the first payment on it. I was absolutely heartbroken. LOVED that car. That was 15-20 years ago now (my God...how time flies...) and is probably why I'm so paranoid about my cars to this day. One little "oops" and you're flipping through the trees. One thing I CAN say is that Honda DOES make one HELLUVA safe car!! Flew off the road, rolled at least once, flew through a bunch of trees and I literally didn't have a SINGLE SCRATCH on me!!

[@roddydykes7053]

I lost a ‘06 RSX Type S in much the same manner as my first grown up purchase in 2012. My life was a downward spiral for years after that lol

[@rmp5s]

@@roddydykes7053 Brutal, man. Hope you pulled out of it!

[@genericsomething]

12 years ago, I had a Prelude Si 4WS exactly like this! Same color and everything! It was converted to a manual before I got it, and the stereo was missing, but the car in this review looks like it could be the same car. Sadly, I ran into some money problems and I had to sell it. I'd love to find another one, but clean ones are getting harder to find.

[@TingTingMelody]

Looks good even today, def don't see too many on the road these days.

[@alabama2uz]

I had a '93. The only car I regret selling and not restoring. Sold it with 290k miles.

[@HAL-dm1eh]

I've learned in the last few years that these days if you have a car you already know and love and are comfortable with, it's better just to restore it than get something new.

[@alabama2uz]

@@HAL-dm1eh I drove a 2000 Toyota Tundra for work from 08 until last year. At 270k, it got a face-lift, and my 16yo started driving it. I bought a like new '04 with 48k that was AC garage kept and dealer maintained to replace it.

[@hellkitty1014]

My son had a '94 that we bought him used in '97 for college. He drove it from New Hampshire to Georgetown for 5 years. And of course this was around the era when everybody seemed to want a JDM ride to mod. He really tricked it out. White w/ 5spd and loaded. He got about 240K miles out of it before selling for a 2008 Acura TL Type S 6spd. He loved that car.

[@TheBb6prelude]

​@@hellkitty1014nice 👍

[@chanosocarras8720]

I daily drive a 1994 Honda Prelude S with auto transmission. Dead on reliable, good on 87 octane and fun to drive. Parts are getting more difficult to find but I keep her going!

[@The_Notorious_CRG]

Ive had 2 of these 4th gen Preludes. By far my favorite cars to drive.

[@user-ok5xp9bf8d]

Been waiting for this !! Prelude was a phenomenal car

[@hoosierdude7102]

Wow! I had a ‘92 S automatic. I was young, married, in college, and working two jobs. I bought it from a flight attendant that commuted it lots of highway miles. We owned it for a year, added on 18,000 miles, and sold it when we needed a bigger vehicle. The folks I sold it to LOVED it and drive for another eight years or so.

[@hellkitty1014]

Used to love the Prelude, even the model before this one. Honda/Acura really had a great styling direction in the early to mid 90s. They had a focus on fun cars like this, Civic Si, Del Sol(remember that!?), and others...

[@lordmaster5522]

CRX Si, Civic Si, Del Sol VTEC, Integra GS-R, Prelude VTEC, Accord SE, NSX, S2000

[@hellkitty1014]

@@lordmaster5522 even Legends with 6 speeds!

[@mr.butterworth4216]

I still see a Del Sol locally in that signature metallic M&M green that was shown in the ads frequently.

[@444mopar]

That small sporty 2-door market was huge in the 90s. All the manufacturers had their competitors for those buyers. A shame that same segment is all but dead today.

[@alexbellotti8423]

The last scene with the car driving down the country road had me going for a second. I was thinking the engine was buzzy, that is until I saw the guy with a leaf blower on the side of the road!

[@juschill7]

The prelude is one of my favorite cars of all time.

[@stbrian1861]

At the 5:58 mark..., I was wondering why does it sound like a gas-powered leaf blower ? ..., Then, I saw the landscaping guy off on the side of the road 🤣🤣🤣

[@TheBreakfastLover]

You can clearly see how the new Prelude's design is a natural evolution from this generation.

[@TheBb6prelude]

Spot on

[@johnjones393]

I didn't appreciated this generation Prelude when they were new, but they were truly excellent cars. It's peak Honda right there.

[@qmto]

My aunt used to buy a new Honda Prelude every 5 years from 1983 until they stopped making them. She then drove a 2003 Acura CL for almost 20 years.

[@AO-mx9tk]

Still a good looking car.

[@cameronkennedy5056]

Maannnn I had a 94 si and I loved that car. I regret getting rid of it everyday.

[@endlesstwisties]

I own one for 17 years. Very reliable, very beautiful and for twisty roads is better than most cars ever made. Double wishbone front and rear. 10 ball joints. Perfect weight distribution, good wheelbase. This car was made for cornering. Just as fast as my s2000 but much easier to drive for average drivers. The only bad points are the rusty rear arches and sunroof . Once you change quarter panels and glass sunroof from next gen car is basically faultless. Of course properly maintained ones not ghetto "masterpieces" like most of them are these days Very very underrated car .

[@user-mh3rq7zd1h]

I have a 92 Si, with an H22 and A/T. Her name is Blue Beast!

[@kingmarz3635]

Brilliant cars I’ve had 5 of them their handling is fantastic

[@kirkpatrick84]

Delicious car through and through.

[@ergosteur]

This Prelude has always been my favourite. I think they look great, and as MW says handles great as well. Add the 1990s Honda quality and it’s a real winner. The ‘94 VTEC Prelude is my starter car of choice in Gran Turismo 2 as well.

[@interstate366]

I’ve owned 3rd, 4th, and 5th gen Preludes. I’ve got a 2001 and love it, but sometimes I think about going to find another 4th. Think I’m just going to wait for the new one to come out.

[@revvolutions]

5th gen interiors were a definite downgrade.

[@nwezetx1]

Ah, Bubble Economy engineering perfection! Honda brand's first car with a passenger airbag in 1991 and a much safer system than the competition back then. 4:10

[@IROCMAN666]

My first car... in Gran Turismo 2 on PS1. It was an used car. ;) But I love this car !

[@endlesstwisties]

I also had this in Gran Turismo before i got one for real

[@jefferysmith3930]

I was lucky enough to find one of these…albeit a lowly “S”…2 years ago. Lovely car to drive. Looks different than anything else on the road today

[@DigbyOdel-et3xx]

As of 2024 this car still looks classically beautiful and timeless. Many cars of that era did. Playing Gran Turismo video game the first time back in 1997. The first car I bought was a metallic gray 1992 Honda Prelude.😄

[@TheBb6prelude]

By far the best looking generation of prelude. My brother has a F20b swapped 94 Si with pro2 cams and i have a 93 prelude VTEC with the original h22a1 but getting built for turbo. My brother got his with 156k all stock in 2008 and it's 226k now. I got my VTEC model 2 years ago. I'm keeping it until the wheels fall off and I'll rebuild it as many times as I have to to keep it on the road

[@fernandorocha901]

I love the Honda Prelude, best and nice generation

[@joshuayammer1994]

I have a 94 prelude si with a jdm h22a swap making 230hp love it

[@dohc1067]

This particular model was a nice car, according to a couple of my coworkers, and red seemed to be the most color. Hondas have rich paint schemes. That being said, I never saw a lot of these like the ones prior to and after. The 90s and last gen were my favorites. Now that I look at the video, from the rear, it reminds me of a Del Sol. Imo.

[@Jeff_F7]

this generation 1996 model year prelude VTEC in azure green was my favorite.

[@TheRamGuy]

One of my favorites from Honda especially because of the interior

[@thomasmacgruber6701]

I had a 94 with Prelude Si with the 4 wheel steering in a 5 speed. I was 20, put a intake, head unit, 5x9 and two 8inch in a custom box in trunk. Nothing too crazy, was the blue/green color and clean as hell. Top 3 cars I have owned. Put 140 thousand miles on it then it developed a ghost cam Rev issue, spen 800 bucks fixing it but it came back so I traded it in for new corrola s. Worst decision ever.

[@zoobs80]

Had the exact same Prelude color and all. I miss that car!

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Man I always loved the looks of them preludes!👌🥰👍

[@marymorenomariposa]

such a pretty car ❤

[@tungstun1977]

Still lovely!!! I was in grade 10 when this came out!

[@Grasshopper.80]

My brother had one in early 2000’s and I must say this was one of the best handling cars I’ve ever driven. Lots of fun. Not to mention the gearing in the 5spd was great.

[@philsmgb4393]

I really wanted one of these and then I saw the dashboard.

[@kristxlaw]

This was the best looking generation of Preludes.

[@kirkpatrick84]

Man, this thing really hustled through the slalom! Looks almost sped-up. Terrific handling car.

[@fb3824]

The glory years - 90s honda.

[@jameswhite1319]

I had one it was one of the best cars I ever had went to ND , Texas, Louisiana, and to Arkansas, Illinois, with no problem, it was below 10 degrees in ND , and I never had 1 problem out of it ! These cars are worth a lot of money now !

[@82_KID]

I always wanted a car with an H22. LOVE this car.

[@rookietoprobuildz]

Perfect timing for this upload, since the new one has been announced. Only question now is if it'll be a good replacement for the Prelude name!

[@777jones]

Honda should have consistently built new Preludes. A luxurious 4 cylinder beautiful coupe would still sell to refined buyers like me.

[@AllyMcLesbian]

The golden age of Honda.

[@gibememoni]

People still drive these around today, ripping on them. Honda is amazing

[@90boiler]

This one looks better than newer gen Prelude

[@bradleymeyer9775]

The 2004 Honda Odyssey my family used to have had wheels that looked nearly identical to the wheels on this Prelude.

[@ak2112]

always loved the super low dash in these

[@jareknowak8712]

I keep my fingers crossed for the new one!!!

[@EDAVA10]

Owned one 5 speed manual 1992, I loved that car

[@blairbrown4812]

It's gratifying to see my Hometown Heroes at MotorWeek are lining up to get their first shot at the new Prelude.

[@Trance88]

Beautiful car. Timeless design. That 4WS option makes it stick to the road like glue through the slalom coarse. Hard to believe this is a 30+ year old car.

[@KartKing4ever]

I had no idea these had a 4 wheel steering option.

[@nighthawkj30A4]

4WS is amazing on the Prelube this car was ahead of its time.

[@Gr8thxAlot]

Such as nice car and very rare here too. I think I've seen two example of this generation my entire life in the wild.

[@RSRS-ws3px]

That was considered quick and fun back then and now I have a pickup that is 4 seconds quicker in the 1/4 mile! Awesome times we are living in for automobile enthusiasts! Except for the prices.

[@BadBackOz]

The prices were worse in the 90s for what you got. This Prelude is the equivalent of 48k dollars today. Even 35k today buys you a significantly nicer vehicle.

[@flyjarrett]

Awesome times, except for crossovers and SUVs that are everywhere and look the same.

[@RSRS-ws3px]

@@BadBackOz You are right and luckily I can afford a $100k pickup but I sometimes stand back and think, I paid how much for this thing!! Especially since I also use it as the farm truck I bought it to be but it just seems crazy sometimes.

[@jdmguy44]

Great cars that had style and substance. My mother had this version which replaced a Mk3.

[@fhowland]

awesome car. Hondas rule.

[@bjbg6838]

I bought the Probe GT I should’ve gotten the Prelude.

[@kgthegreatone943]

Sweet ride

[@Surreyredneck]

Looks like the test drive driver was just as excited as I was to see that it was an automatic.

[@redneon06]

I wish the new Prelude was more like this.

[@edwardaquinoelric5935]

Honda Predule Modelo 1992 No Se Comercialian Aquí En México Sólo En Estados Unidos Es Coche De Japonés 🇯🇵

[@mdavisyates]

I got a red '94 in college, about 2002. I totally had two girls rubber neck as I was driving onto campus. It unfortunately met a Michigan deer 2 years later...

[@BReal-10EC]

I didn't even remember that you could buy the Si with an automatic gearbox. Yeesh. Why?

[@444mopar]

I remember the automatics were depressingly common.

[@tacticalrenegade327]

I miss mine everyday

[@liquidx831]

This was the first car I picked in Gran Turismo 1.

[@julioibarra7156]

Def the best prelude

[@davidmazzini783]

These cars had some Gusto in the Early 90's

[@davepeach6832]

A lot better than the junk buried in useless Electronics today

[@6time686]

Honda also needs to bring back some of it's best selling colors. Copper Brown metallic is one of them.

[@djkramit]

🔥🔥🔥

[@jareknowak8712]

❤ Prelude

[@jamescarter6318]

Over 22k that's insane.

[@jonw6262]

Honda could release this car today and it would not be able to be kept in stock. Providing the dealers didn’t pull their usual nonsense.

[@vinnybruce2874]

I miss my Prelude I had this generation a lot of younger buyers including tuners like to modify them up

[@Grasshopper.80]

Nice.❤

[@Mabeylater293]

Is 7.8 0-60 the automatic or the manual? They never said.

[@JamesSmith-sw3nk]

$23k for a nice new car. We didn't know how good we had it.

[@marshalmagooo3899]

Owned a 94 non 4ws. Fun car, absolute craftsmanship, but.... Make sure you change the timing the belt....or pay

[@Spheredalai]

honda was so into 4ws back then almost all of their mid and full size sedans has it, from sporty legend to mundane accord

[@Spheredalai]

in different market at least

[@joshriver75]

That isn't accurate. Other than Prelude the only Hondas to ever get 4WS was the Accord and Ascot and not available for the north american market.

[@TSi99999]

No mention at all of the 4 wheel steering? Wrong title perhaps? I wonder did this tester have it?