Over the years, and especially throughout the ’80s, ’90s, and noughties, US-based consumers had access to an impressive array of Japanese-made sports cars, hatchbacks, and coupes. We don’t have to think about it very long to come up with a few iconic names, such as the Toyota Supra, the Nissan 300ZX, and the Honda Del Sol, among many others.
Honda
Japanese automaker Honda rose from the ashes of WWII and set about its business as a manufacturer of motorcycles initially, only launching its first car, the T360 kei truck, in 1963. Founder Soichiro Honda targeted the American market as the most important nut to crack, leading to generations of iconic nameplates like the Civic and Accord being among America’s best-selling passenger cars. Today, Hondas are renowned for their safety, practicality, and reliability, with a sprinkling of performance from models like the Civic Type R.
- Founded
-
24 September 1948
- Founder
-
Soichiro Honda
- Headquarters
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Hamamatsu, Japan
- Owned By
-
Publicly Traded
- Current CEO
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Toshihiro Mibe
Another iconic sporting Japanese model worthy of mention was the Honda Prelude. Its timeline began in the late 1970s, and the first models to hit US shores did so that same year. The Prelude’s recipe didn’t change much over the course of its 23-year life and five generations, and based on the amount of love the nameplate has received, that’s probably a good thing. These days, should you find yourself looking for a fifth-gen Prelude, you’d be surprised as to what the current used market has to offer – and for how little money.
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In this article, we cover the last model year of the fifth-generation Honda Prelude – 2001 – on the eve of the upcoming resurrection of the iconic nameplate. We also look at how much you’ll have to spend, should you want to own an example of the Prelude’s final model year before its axing. Our pricing is just a guide, so you’ll have to check what’s available in your area.
The Original Honda Prelude’s Final Year
2001 Honda Prelude Key Points
- Currently has an official used market average used price of $3,031
- Used pricing varies widely and can be much more expensive
- Marked the final year of the fifth-generation Honda Prelude
- The Prelude spanned a total of five generations
Following a relatively successful 23-year run, Honda decided to discontinue the Prelude following the 2001 model year. This final Prelude, consisting of the Prelude’s fifth generation, was the most technologically advanced Prelude ever built. Of course, you’d expect that, seeing as it was the last one. A litany of features went into the fifth-gen Prelude to help position it as one of the bigger players in the post-1990s Japanese sports car segment.
Ownership & Maintenance Costs
So you’ve made the decision: You’re going to buy a reasonably well-kept example of a 2001 Honda Prelude for yourself. A noble and respectable purchase, especially seeing as the Prelude is sometimes skipped over when folks find themselves in the market for an older Japanese sports car. As with any used car, there are some factors to consider, such as how much maintenance will roughly cost, how much insurance will be, and, of course, how much buying the actual car will cost.
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Below we break down all of these inevitable expenditures using averaged data gathered from various sources, in order to compile a comprehensive list of figures that paint the entire financial picture when it comes to buying, owning, and maintaining a 2001 Honda Prelude. However, it’s worth noting that used pricing for the 2001 Prelude varies widely, with some sources claiming a fair market purchase price of just over $3k, while other sites show 2001 Prelude sales touching the $20k range. In order to cut the difference, we’ll combine five value sources and give the resulting figure:
|
Average Used Market Price (Overall) |
$7,940.80 |
|---|---|
|
Avg Annual Fuel Cost |
$1,570 |
|
Avg. Annual Insurance Cost |
$850 (approx.) |
|
Avg. Annual Maintenance Cost |
$375 |
|
Total First-Year Cost |
$10,375.80 |
*Info courtesy of Cars.com, Classic.com, KBB, J.D. Power, Edmunds, FuelEconomy.gov, Insuranks, and RepairPal.com
Bear in mind that while sources such as Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, and Cars.com are respectable locations for car value research, because the Prelude is older and quite popular among tuners, values reflected there don’t usually correlate to the actual used market. Sources such as Classic.com are better-suited for giving real-world values, especially when it comes to older models such as the Prelude. In that vein, Classic.com currently lists the 2001 Honda Prelude as carrying an average sale price of $16,082, while Kelley Blue Book lists the 2001 Prelude as boasting a resale value of just $3,031.
As you can see, we’re not kidding when we say Prelude pricing can be quite tricky to nail down.
Specs And Features
In the 2001 model year, Honda offered a sole powerplant for use within the North American-spec Honda Prelude. It was a 2.2-liter mill belonging to the H-series of engines, and boasted Honda’s iconic VTEC variable valve timing. Along with this, a choice between either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission was available, both of which were built by Honda themselves. Its chassis, while somewhat related to the Accord’s, had its wheelbase shortened and suspension stiffened in order to give the Prelude more sporting prowess than its distant, pedestrian cousin. The auto is generally accepted to lack the magic and excitement of the manual, and the latter is a better bet if you want a bit of sporty spice in your Japanese coupe.
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2001 Honda Prelude Specifications |
|
|---|---|
|
Engine |
2.2L NA H22 I4 |
|
Horsepower |
195 hp |
|
Torque |
156 lb-ft |
|
Bore x Stroke |
87.0 mm x 90.7 mm |
|
Compression Ratio |
10.0:1 |
|
0-60 MPH Time |
7.1 seconds |
|
Top Speed |
130 mph (limited) |
|
Curb Weight |
2,954 lbs |
*Specs courtesy of Honda
The Honda Prelude was offered with a unique, sportier version of itself called the Type SH, which stood for “Super Handling”. The Type SH package consisted of upgrades such as a single, manual transmission option, along with Honda’s ATTS (Active Torque Transfer System). The unique system allowed the Type SH’s front differential to independently send torque to each of the front wheels, allowing for better cornering poise and handling.
The Prelude Left Us In 2001, But It’s Coming Back
Following the 2001 model year, Honda decided to ax the Prelude for several reasons. One of the main ones, like many other failed nameplates, was declining sales. The fifth-gen Prelude wasn’t much of a sales hit, and failed to meet Honda’s goals. Another issue facing the Prelude was the rise of the Acura brand’s popularity in the US, which the Prelude’s overall look and feel aligned more closely with. Ultimately, the decision to lay the Prelude to rest was made.
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However, recently. Honda has confirmed the rumored Prelude’s return. According to the Japanese automaker, the Prelude will be returning as a hybrid-electric sports coupe sometime in 2026. In addition to bringing back the Prelude name, the incoming Prelude will also fill the market gaps left by the discontinuation of the Honda Accord Coupe and Civic Coupe, which many die-hard fans have been saddened by. Fortunately, the Prelude will be getting a second go at things, and it definitely deserves some time in the spotlight once again.
Sources: Cars.com, Classic.com, KBB, J.D. Power, Edmunds, FuelEconomy.gov, Insuranks, RepairPal.com, Honda.
