DanThMan
08-14-2003, 05:38 PM
Hi All,
This is my first post, so please don't yell at me if I'm breaking any rules.
I've had my Prelude since it was new. It's a 1998 model with the "Type SH" package, which I think means it's supposed to have "Super Handling," but some people have come up with less flattering interpretations as well.
Anyway, the car does handle well, at least for a front driver. What I like the best, though, is that the steering wheel, pedals, and shifter are so carefully engineered. There's no torque steer to speak of, no slop in the brake pedal, and no vagueness in the shifter. The throttle response and steering are both quick and the suspension is well damped. What this all means is that its easy to this car hard.
The problem is, good engineering can get only take a front driver so far. Even though the steering is very precise, it still feels kind of reluctant when I'm trying to accelerate and steer at the same time. Another issue is that the Prelude is the anti-BMW when it comes to front overhang. It's long, and this means lots of extra braking to avoid chin scraping when pulling in and out of parking lots and driveways. Similarly, the turning radius is just wide enough to be a nuisance.
Otherwise, the car is sort of middling. The interior pleases me with its minimalism but it's far from Audi TT beautiful. The exterior has clean, sharp lines, but again, you won't find anyone drooling over it. The car is comfortable and quiet enough for long trips, but a "Grand Tourer" it is not. The engine is very high tech and fun to rev, but its gutless below 2,000 RPM. Finally, real people can fit in the back seat and real luggage can fit in the trunk, it just better be short people and small luggage. So, all in all, the Prelude has been a pleasure to own, but it's beginning to lose its luster.
So, now my challenge is to find a worthy replacement. The ideal car for me would be a Performance Packaged BMW 330i...if someone else were paying for it. With price as a consideration, that leaves but a few choices. The Mitsubishi EVO, Subaru WRX STi, Infiniti G35, and, of course, the RX-8. On paper, the EVO and STi strike me as cartoonish outside, cheap inside, loud, and breathtakingly fast. In other words, great in town and on the back roads, exhausting on trips, and somewhat embarassing to be seen in. The G35 sounded good on paper, then I drove it. I came away disappointed with its "big on the outside, small on the inside" packaging, reluctant shifter, long doors, wide turning radius, and most importantly, it's utter lack of lightness.
So, without further adieu (I know, that was a *lot* of adieu), on to the RX-8. Before driving it, I was expecting great things from the suspension, a Miata-like shifter, sharp steering, and an engine that never gets sick of revving. I also thought the "Freestyle" door system and reasonably roomy back seats, all in a lightweight, compact body, were just what the doctor ordered. On ther other hand, I kept asking myself, Where's the torque? And, What's with that fuel economy? I had also hoped the trunk would be a bit larger and that the back seats would fold down.
So, driving by my local Mazda dealership yesterday, I did my now customary "RX-8 check," and for the first time, I didn't come up empty. In fact, they had several. In a flash, I was behind the wheel of a black stripper RX-8 with a 6-speed. The first thing I noticed was how close together the pedals were. Then I noticed how well they worked. The throttle was responsive and the brake pedal felt taught, just like my Prelude, only tighter. The steering also felt right, and the shifter was precise and engaged with just the right amount of resistance.
And then it dawned on me how seriously lacking the torque was, and how little I seemed to care. I proceeded to experiment with various combinations of high gears and low speeds, and I came to a most remarkable conclusion: the rotary engine is one smooth operator. I was doing things that would cause my Prelude to shake itself to pieces or throw a rod, and the engine just kept purring. True, it wasn't doing much in the way of accelerating, but I was thinking, "I could get used to this." With that revelation behind me, I put my foot into it and let the revs climb to the far reaches of the tach. *Now* I was accelerating, yet the engine continued to just purr nonchalantly. Amazing.
I began slowing down, realizing that I was going a tad fast for the road I was on, then I looked over and noticed that the motorcycle cop sitting on the side of the road also thought the same thing and was waving me over. Unable to sweet talk my way out of the ticket, I sheepishly pulled away and resumed the test drive, albeit with somewhat less enthusiasm. At least I could still test the handling without getting myself into any more trouble. As we entered a long highway entrace ramp, the familiar 30-MPH left hander beckoned, and we rapidly approached. The car turned in beautifully, but then I began to notice a strange pulsing sensation. I wasn't sure what it was, since I didn't think base models had stability control, but whatever it was, it didn't upset or noticeably slow the car, it just felt wierd. The rest of the drive was pleasant but uneventful.
And that pretty much sums up my experience. I still can't figure out if I should love any car that's good enough to get me in trouble, or curse it for being unlucky :) All in all, I came away surprised with how much I liked the rotary but a little confused about the handling. Everthing else was as good as I was expecting, although the fuel economy and trunk are still issues. So, I guess I'm still up in the air on what my next car will be.
So, if anyone out there has comments, explanations, or advise for me, I'd love to hear from you.
Cheers,
-Dan
This is my first post, so please don't yell at me if I'm breaking any rules.
I've had my Prelude since it was new. It's a 1998 model with the "Type SH" package, which I think means it's supposed to have "Super Handling," but some people have come up with less flattering interpretations as well.
Anyway, the car does handle well, at least for a front driver. What I like the best, though, is that the steering wheel, pedals, and shifter are so carefully engineered. There's no torque steer to speak of, no slop in the brake pedal, and no vagueness in the shifter. The throttle response and steering are both quick and the suspension is well damped. What this all means is that its easy to this car hard.
The problem is, good engineering can get only take a front driver so far. Even though the steering is very precise, it still feels kind of reluctant when I'm trying to accelerate and steer at the same time. Another issue is that the Prelude is the anti-BMW when it comes to front overhang. It's long, and this means lots of extra braking to avoid chin scraping when pulling in and out of parking lots and driveways. Similarly, the turning radius is just wide enough to be a nuisance.
Otherwise, the car is sort of middling. The interior pleases me with its minimalism but it's far from Audi TT beautiful. The exterior has clean, sharp lines, but again, you won't find anyone drooling over it. The car is comfortable and quiet enough for long trips, but a "Grand Tourer" it is not. The engine is very high tech and fun to rev, but its gutless below 2,000 RPM. Finally, real people can fit in the back seat and real luggage can fit in the trunk, it just better be short people and small luggage. So, all in all, the Prelude has been a pleasure to own, but it's beginning to lose its luster.
So, now my challenge is to find a worthy replacement. The ideal car for me would be a Performance Packaged BMW 330i...if someone else were paying for it. With price as a consideration, that leaves but a few choices. The Mitsubishi EVO, Subaru WRX STi, Infiniti G35, and, of course, the RX-8. On paper, the EVO and STi strike me as cartoonish outside, cheap inside, loud, and breathtakingly fast. In other words, great in town and on the back roads, exhausting on trips, and somewhat embarassing to be seen in. The G35 sounded good on paper, then I drove it. I came away disappointed with its "big on the outside, small on the inside" packaging, reluctant shifter, long doors, wide turning radius, and most importantly, it's utter lack of lightness.
So, without further adieu (I know, that was a *lot* of adieu), on to the RX-8. Before driving it, I was expecting great things from the suspension, a Miata-like shifter, sharp steering, and an engine that never gets sick of revving. I also thought the "Freestyle" door system and reasonably roomy back seats, all in a lightweight, compact body, were just what the doctor ordered. On ther other hand, I kept asking myself, Where's the torque? And, What's with that fuel economy? I had also hoped the trunk would be a bit larger and that the back seats would fold down.
So, driving by my local Mazda dealership yesterday, I did my now customary "RX-8 check," and for the first time, I didn't come up empty. In fact, they had several. In a flash, I was behind the wheel of a black stripper RX-8 with a 6-speed. The first thing I noticed was how close together the pedals were. Then I noticed how well they worked. The throttle was responsive and the brake pedal felt taught, just like my Prelude, only tighter. The steering also felt right, and the shifter was precise and engaged with just the right amount of resistance.
And then it dawned on me how seriously lacking the torque was, and how little I seemed to care. I proceeded to experiment with various combinations of high gears and low speeds, and I came to a most remarkable conclusion: the rotary engine is one smooth operator. I was doing things that would cause my Prelude to shake itself to pieces or throw a rod, and the engine just kept purring. True, it wasn't doing much in the way of accelerating, but I was thinking, "I could get used to this." With that revelation behind me, I put my foot into it and let the revs climb to the far reaches of the tach. *Now* I was accelerating, yet the engine continued to just purr nonchalantly. Amazing.
I began slowing down, realizing that I was going a tad fast for the road I was on, then I looked over and noticed that the motorcycle cop sitting on the side of the road also thought the same thing and was waving me over. Unable to sweet talk my way out of the ticket, I sheepishly pulled away and resumed the test drive, albeit with somewhat less enthusiasm. At least I could still test the handling without getting myself into any more trouble. As we entered a long highway entrace ramp, the familiar 30-MPH left hander beckoned, and we rapidly approached. The car turned in beautifully, but then I began to notice a strange pulsing sensation. I wasn't sure what it was, since I didn't think base models had stability control, but whatever it was, it didn't upset or noticeably slow the car, it just felt wierd. The rest of the drive was pleasant but uneventful.
And that pretty much sums up my experience. I still can't figure out if I should love any car that's good enough to get me in trouble, or curse it for being unlucky :) All in all, I came away surprised with how much I liked the rotary but a little confused about the handling. Everthing else was as good as I was expecting, although the fuel economy and trunk are still issues. So, I guess I'm still up in the air on what my next car will be.
So, if anyone out there has comments, explanations, or advise for me, I'd love to hear from you.
Cheers,
-Dan