what is the difference between the 5th gen prelude and the 5th gen prelude type-sh?? i always thought i knew, but now im not so sure anymore?

 

Look it up in www.edmunds.com or some similar site. I think the main difference is that the base was available as an automatic and the type-sh was just manual.

 

I thought the type-sh included some new handling feature that honda was experimenting with.

 

"This year, Prelude Type SH shows off Honda's active torque transfer system, which effects the controlled cornering characteristics of a rear-wheel-drive vehicle on one that applies power to the front wheels. A car with front-wheel-drive power delivery system may provide a traction advantage over rear-wheel-drive on slick or wet pavement because the front steering wheels can pull the vehicle through a curve rather than push it, exerting engine torque directly to wheels that steer for more precise traction control through the turn. Enter a corner with too much speed, though, and a front-wheel-drive system can fail as tires break traction and slip toward the outside of the turning arc. It's called understeer, and performance drivers describe the motion as a tendency to push away from the desired direction. Prelude's device counters this inclination to push. On-board sensors sample Prelude's wheel speed, steering angle and any lateral slippage, then a computer analyzes the data to see if the car actually follows the driver's chosen steering line. If understeer is detected, the computer sends more engine torque to the outboard front wheel to compensate for slippage and point the nose back into the turn. The autocross course demonstrated this effect in the first tight corner: As wheels began to push, the system took over in a subtle, magical way, seemingly pulling the car back into the turn to keep front wheels on course. It also accomplished the impossible for a front-wheel-drive vehicle by virtually eliminating torque steer, whereby the car pulls to one side when rapidly accelerating or drifts to the other when braking hard."

 

Same guy who developd SH-AWD developed the SH system on the lude. And the SH was only available with an MT.

 

I also think the SH Prelude along with the ITR was considerd to be the best FWD handling cars of all time.

 

Yup, Civic Type R is also. The PreludeSH will one day be worth a pretty penny. They still maintain high value and are very rare compared to other honda vehicles.

 

To be honest i still favor the ITR over the SH in overall handling. What's everyone opinion on this?

 

I wouldn't go as far to say it was night and day but the R handled FAR better than the SH. Perhaps that had alot to do with weight but it wasn't close IMO.

 

the Prelude SH definitly handles amazingly for an FF car! probably one of the best, but you will still notice a difference if you jump into a Type-R. the SH maintains a bit of luxury though, its not as raw and harsh as the Type-R series.. which is just straight racing setup.

the SH is forgiving on bumps and not as raw. its a very useable car for everyday driving. the Type-R drones and will give u headaches on bumpy roads.. but the prelude did cost more during its time, plus the bigger engine definitly helped out when just cruising in low revs..

SH is still a cornering monster, basicly a civilized ITR.

i test drove a prelude SH not too long ago, and a friend has an ITR (stock)..

 

oh and yes, the prelude base and the prelude type SH is a big difference. while the prelude will feel kinda boaty and understeer quite a bit, like the base integra.. although its still considered to be one of the better FF handling cars, but you'll notice that the SH is a lot sharper and darts into corner alot better. the handling characteristics of the SH are similar to the ITR but you know, like i mentioned before its not as raw. the SH is probably the same setup as the ITR too, its just that it definitly weighs alot more, and the higher displacement of the engine makes it more civilized (reason why it revs lower than the ITR's also)

 

the SH is super handling, duh...

 

Didn't they also have cosmetic differences as well?

I think the SH got painted side skirts as well as different 17" Wheels

 

I'm pretty sure it had that and a lip spoiler to boot.

 

no it didnt come with the lip spoiler.. that was a factory option that costed an extra 1500-2000 more. i remember since that was the time when i was in high school and kids were debating on which cars to get.. many got preludes, but didnt get the lip because of the extra cost.

the only exterior difference was the factory painted sides, rims, and the SH badge.

 

someone post some nice pix of the PRELUDE SH

 

The SH was one of my favorites back when it was out...never drove one though..

 

Part 1 is correct. Part 2 is not, however. The SH had an optional manumatic. The 5MT was standard. My first car was a 5MT Prelude SH. (Well, not my first, but the first car that wasn't a handmedown). I agree with the people saying that the ITR was a superior handler. The ITR felt alot more nimble than my old car did, but I think my car inspired more confidence. It felt more stable to me pushing it hard. A bit more refined and smoother around the edges. Maybe, if I get some free time this weekend, i'll post some pictures

 

No I'm right actually.

From Edmunds

I came within a few finance percentage points of picking up a lude back in 97.

 

Argh. Go to cars.com and search for used prelude SHs. I found 3 that claim to be automatics. I tried to paste a link, but the link sends you to a blank page

http://www.theautochannel.com/vehicl.../solo0133.html

"Fortunately, Honda fits Prelude SH models with its Active Torque Transfer System (ATTS), a hardware unit that can send as much as 80-percent of the engine's torque to the lest front wheel, which can spin as much as 15-percent faster than the other side. It's a seamless system that is virtually invisible to the driver unless the car is being powered hard through a turn. A crisp-shifting five-speed manual transmission is standard, while a four-speed automatic with Sequential Sport Shift "manumatic" operation is optional."


Carpoint agrees with you though
http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Sp...lude&trimid=-1

Someone call honda and ask!

 

I checked 3 sites. 2 made specific mention of the SH being available with the MT only and one said the AT was optional. I at first thought that maybe the AT became an option in the latter years but the Edmunds review is an 01 which was the last year it was made. I'd trust Edmunds, and my memory.

 

Alright. Fine. You guys wanna settle this outside. Let's settle this on the blacktop. You win, you get the slip to my car... if I win, I get the cash AND the respect!

 

The Prelude Type SH was never offered in anything but 5MT.

Specs on the 2001 Prelude from Honda.
http://www.hondanews.com/CatID2094?m...&archives=2001