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- Apr 12, 2005
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My 97 Honda Prelude is really pissing me off. In the cold snap a while back it blew an oil seal on the balancer shaft. So I had to replace that, along with the timing belt, water pump and all other seals and gaskets in that area. But I didn't realize that the power steering high pressure hose also developed a leak (and actually, my windshield washer hose actually completely broke from the cold in 2 sections forcing me to replace that damn thing, but that was easy and cheap). And of course the PS leak occurred directly above the PS & alternator belts, which means everything on the front end of the engine is soaked in PS fluid (I heard the stuff is flammable - one can only hope). It's even seeping out of my front grill and through the headlights. And this is all after I spent last summer changing the master brake cylinder twice and my clutch master cylinder 3 times (because the first units ALL LEAKED). Luckily the clutch slave cylinder went smoothly as did the brake caliper and oh ya, the leaky fuel injector too.
So anyway, the car needs to go back to the shop because it sounds like the timing belt auto tensioner is going. It should be under warranty because they changed it back in January with all that other crap. But still, I'm getting kinda sick of this car. My 20 year old Supra had fewer problems than this (it eventually died due to rust, the thing still ran great otherwise. But it looked so decrepit it just wasn't popular with the girls anymore even though it had a very spacious back seat
).
I was hoping to keep the Prelude running until the fall and then I'd see what was available in terms of a replacement. But now I'm thinking I need to find something sooner. First thought is to just get something cheap and expendable. Of course, once you actually sit down and look at cheap cars you quickly start thinking that maybe cheap isn't the greatest idea.
So I don't know if I'll ever buy another Honda. And I love Toyota reliability, but they're all boring. So I'm thinking the best match for me right now is probably a Subaru product. WRX to be precise, although any 2.5L Impreza would probably do me fine. Not the most fuel efficient, but loads of fun to drive all year round. It's also a 4 door which means putting Sophia in the back isn't a major chore that only I can do properly. They also come as hatchbacks which is great for hauling stuff. I just don't know much about Subaru and how reliable they are. Turbos used to be a major point of failure, not sure if that's still true these days. And their horizontal 4 motors are a totally different beast, although from what I hear they are simpler and thus more reliable (but changing spark plugs can be a real chore). I might have to take one out for a test drive to see if I like them.
Other options I've considered: Nissan Altima, Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte. None of those really draw me the way the WRX does, but the WRX also costs a lot more.... I hate car shopping.
So anyway, the car needs to go back to the shop because it sounds like the timing belt auto tensioner is going. It should be under warranty because they changed it back in January with all that other crap. But still, I'm getting kinda sick of this car. My 20 year old Supra had fewer problems than this (it eventually died due to rust, the thing still ran great otherwise. But it looked so decrepit it just wasn't popular with the girls anymore even though it had a very spacious back seat
).I was hoping to keep the Prelude running until the fall and then I'd see what was available in terms of a replacement. But now I'm thinking I need to find something sooner. First thought is to just get something cheap and expendable. Of course, once you actually sit down and look at cheap cars you quickly start thinking that maybe cheap isn't the greatest idea.
So I don't know if I'll ever buy another Honda. And I love Toyota reliability, but they're all boring. So I'm thinking the best match for me right now is probably a Subaru product. WRX to be precise, although any 2.5L Impreza would probably do me fine. Not the most fuel efficient, but loads of fun to drive all year round. It's also a 4 door which means putting Sophia in the back isn't a major chore that only I can do properly. They also come as hatchbacks which is great for hauling stuff. I just don't know much about Subaru and how reliable they are. Turbos used to be a major point of failure, not sure if that's still true these days. And their horizontal 4 motors are a totally different beast, although from what I hear they are simpler and thus more reliable (but changing spark plugs can be a real chore). I might have to take one out for a test drive to see if I like them.
Other options I've considered: Nissan Altima, Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte. None of those really draw me the way the WRX does, but the WRX also costs a lot more.... I hate car shopping.
