Originally Posted By: Lead Shoes
I'm sorry but the stereotype is long lived, its really the racism of the car world when people call "rice". You should not be afraid of what looks to be a properly modified Prelude, that intake alone is over 250 dollars when an ebay piece has the same "specs" but someone has spent the time and money to do it right anyway. The exhaust looks to be an HKS exhaust (from what I can see of the tip length and silencer can lip) which would also be an expensive excellent sounding exhaust. Whats the point of avoiding an enthusiast owned properly modified car, isn't that what most drivers would consider themselves/their cars after a bit of time?
The H22a is not the most reliable or fuel efficient engine of the Honda line up, I suggest you do some research on chassis specific sites to get better information to base your judgement on. On a side note the white is a very cool color and uncommon to see from my time in the Honda community.
I agree with the above. Check the car over well. I'm familiar with that particular dealer as im in Florence often. They usually only carry decent cars. Sure it would be nice if it was stock, but just because someone put and intake and exhaust on the car does not mean it has been beat on. The white is a rare color for that car.
I have a cousin with a bone stock Mustang GT that he beats the living [censored] out of, never checks the oil or maintains it. It looks immaculate and has beautiful wheels. Meanwhile another friend of mine has a GT as well. His has and intake, Headers, X-pipe, Exhaust, etc. But he babies the car. never dumps the clutch, redlines it, races it, etc. He Keeps the oil changed with synthetic, changes the Diff fluid annually as well as the transmission fluid and just maintains the car well.
I would buy my friends car all day over my cousins car even though by appearance my cousins car looks like the cruiser and my friends looks and sounds like a hot rod. Just because the Prelude has a few minor mods doesn't mean it is reamed out. I've replaced and exhaust with and aftermarket before because it was cheaper than a stock system. In the Cincy area rust can be a factor. The stock exhaust could have gotten a rust hole and someone decided to install a nice stainless system.
I would check the car over and make sure it is accident free, rust free, and make sure the driveline appears to be in good shape. If it all checks out offer them $5k cash and see what happens. Ask them if they will let you take the car for the weekend. Take it out of town and put some miles on it, so you can get an idea of how reliable it seems to be. JMHO.
