When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Got the prelude tagged and registered so it is now my new daily. Super fun to drive. How I missed that slick Honda manual (puts the GTI to shame). Needs a muffler and resonator as the muffler that was on it fell off. Fun fact the muffler that was on it came from my 01 Civic and was a HKS Hi-Power. I gave it to my brother after I sold my Civic and he had a muffler shop modify it to fit. Hitting that VTEC is addictive. She burns about a quart of oil per tank of gas so it’s definitely needs a rebuild. GTI is still waiting for parts to be put on: Water Meth, intercooler and shifter kit.
TDI wagon is still broke but I have it listed for sale to see if someone else wants to deal with it. I want to put the Prelude in the garage next to the GTI and can’t with it in the way.
I think those Preludes are notorious for burning oil. Back in college I had a friend with one (I think a '98 with an auto). Only had like 140k miles and burned/leaked lots of oil. Still the only generation I don't hate the looks of.
Better to deal with a bum engine than a bum body - in my experience, at least. But yeah, those H series wear out pretty quickly. That’s really the only knock I have against the preludes.
My dad said it was something about the old VTEC and how it used oil more then the newer electronic VTEC systems. He said it wasn’t that bad but I just added a quart after 275 miles lol. Basically when I fill it I add a quart. The Pilot burns hardly any and it’s got the same about of miles but it spends it’s life in the lower RPM’s.
I agree would much rather deal with the motor then body work. I want to keep it NA but a part of me wants to throw a turbo in it. I figure I’ll daily it until the baby comes then maybe pull it in the garage so I can work on it.
Finally got around to installing the Unitronic intercooler. Had to basically take off the front of the car. Everything fit up nicely and heat soak is greatly reduced. Also installed a larger throttle pipe (intercooler exit to throttle body). Have one more pipe to do and that’s the one after the turbo to the intercooler.
Also did an oil change. Redline 5W-40 and Mann OEM filter.
The throttle pipe comes very close to the fan. Had to cut the mounting bracket as it didn’t line up and pushed it closer to the fan. That’s what I get for buying a cheap part.
Unitronic’s testing. I wanted to keep it factory looking so I went with an OEM location one. The front mounts do look cool tho.
Sold the TDI wagon. Never fixed it but was able to sell it anyway. Guy came down from NY and took it home on a Uhaul trailer. Now the Prelude can sit next to the GTI when I need to work on it.
GTI was due for inspection. Flashed it back to stock tune and did a test drive. CEL popped up for oxygen sensor (has a high flow cat). Cleared it and went to DMV so I could at least get the rest of the inspection done. To my surprised it passed emissions!! As soon a I got done inside paying and getting my new sticker the CEL popped back on. Apparently I don’t need to have all systems ready 🤷🏼♂️. Sounds good to me. Now to flash it back to Stage 2+ and not worry for another 2 years. I was going to swap on the OEM dp with the cat’s because I thought I needed the catalyst system to be ready. Glad I went first. They are also suppose to check the brakes and didn’t so maybe going on a Friday before they close is a good thing 🙃.
Hi GolNat Just stopping in, Nice Picss.!! that's one Nice Golf Dude.!" theres guys that can build in alot of power on a Golf". anyway as You know i traded my 07 Civic a few years ago for a newer 2012 VW TDI Low mileage Turbo Diesel.with these options that i just had to have. as a daily long distance commuter to work wich the TDI fit Perfectly..
-6 speed Stick
-Comfortable Leather interior seating
-Fender VW's sound system wich is amazing.
-225/45/17 alluminum wheells Cuhmo all weather Z rated tires
-bluetooth and much more features.- the way it should be.
-on screen Navigation
and boy am i glad the Jetta TDI has been amazingly reliable no different than owning a Honda i dont think i will ever want to pass up the comfortable leather seating ride and Performance it offers over any honda Civic on long commutes lol.. talking as in a 1 hour or more.. very impresed on how VW's or German vehicles in general are well put together there very structurally strong vehicles definatley not like owning any tin can Civic for sure. VW's are built like tanks i definatley feel safer in my Jetta than a Honda anyday. & if you hit the highway she's got the typical German top end speed performance its a no brainer these German machines are built for the Autobhan. lol i posted up some video's to show You what i mean about how safe & structurally strong these vehicles are built. anyways it was nice to drop by. cheers.!!
I mostly enjoyed my '96 Jetta for the few months that I had it. Got sufficient fuel economy (though kinda poor for being a 2-litre with 115hp), manual trans was solid, was fairly simple to work on, and the interior was pretty roomy. My back couldn't take it though. For whatever reason, every Volkswagen I've sat in has just killed my lower back, and I haven't found a way around it yet.
I mostly enjoyed my '96 Jetta for the few months that I had it. Got sufficient fuel economy (though kinda poor for being a 2-litre with 115hp), manual trans was solid, was fairly simple to work on, and the interior was pretty roomy. My back couldn't take it though. For whatever reason, every Volkswagen I've sat in has just killed my lower back, and I haven't found a way around it yet.
LOL. i had the opposite affect. On short trips it was not an issue on my 07 Civic sedan with velour cloth type interior. but... on long commutes to work it was uncomfortable & squirmy on the body. at the time of Purchase Diesel was 10 cents cheaper over gas now its much more but it is what it is. & i wont go back to Honda anymore i love my 2012 Jetta TDI Highliner sedan great fuel economy for commuting the 50 minutes hwy to work in the morning & longer on the way home bought my VW TDI with 100,000K's it now has over 247,000 Km's still
going very strong with one push start of the button it starts in any extreme cold temperature in winter has a block heater never used it always fires up. & Yes they are solid vehicles just close the door on one and you can "hear the difference" on German built cars. especially if its on a Mercedes Benz like my daughter has GLK 250 vehicle it sounds like your closing a Bank vault door.
Hi GolNat Just stopping in, Nice Picss.!! that's one Nice Golf Dude.!" theres guys that can build in alot of power on a Golf". anyway as You know i traded my 07 Civic a few years ago for a newer 2012 VW TDI Low mileage Turbo Diesel.with these options that i just had to have. as a daily long distance commuter to work wich the TDI fit Perfectly..
-6 speed Stick
-Comfortable Leather interior seating
-Fender VW's sound system wich is amazing.
-225/45/17 alluminum wheells Cuhmo all weather Z rated tires
-bluetooth and much more features.- the way it should be.
-on screen Navigation
and boy am i glad the Jetta TDI has been amazingly reliable no different than owning a Honda i dont think i will ever want to pass up the comfortable leather seating ride and Performance it offers over any honda Civic on long commutes lol.. talking as in a 1 hour or more.. very impresed on how VW's or German vehicles in general are well put together there very structurally strong vehicles definatley not like owning any tin can Civic for sure. VW's are built like tanks i definatley feel safer in my Jetta than a Honda anyday. & if you hit the highway she's got the typical German top end speed performance its a no brainer these German machines are built for the Autobhan. lol i posted up some video's to show You what i mean about how safe & structurally strong these vehicles are built. anyways it was nice to drop by. cheers.!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twyw8UdsWnY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqDel0CqAQo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44zp_ut_Jis
Thanks.
No doubt they are well built but they are over engineered IMO. My Golf is the last of the German made ones and it is a solid car, but had mechanical flaws that needed attention. The interior of the Prelude has held up better than my GTI.
A TDI VW is a different animal than a gas one as far as reliability. They are known to be strong engines. That being said I had a short ownership of a TDI Jetta SportWagen with 30k miles on it and the clutch slave cylinder failed on me and the pano sunroof leaked. I have 2 almost 200k miles Hondas that don’t have leaky sunroofs. MK6 Jettas we’re known to have weak slave cylinders (my Golf included) so no surprise but what genius put it inside the transmission!?!
No car is without its faults but I think Japan has still got the upper hand in reliability. After being in an accident with my Honda Fit and it protecting me as well as it did Honda will always be safe in my eye. A Mercedes hit me too and yeah it didn’t look as banged up but it was a full size sedan.
Now if you want to make stupid power cheap, VW is the way. It would have cost me way more money to make 350HP with say my Prelude. The GTI needs to be well maintained and is not as forgiving as a Honda.
My vote still goes to Subaru, especially if you can get one with an FA20DIT.
After watching the latest season of Hi-Low on Donut I don’t ever want to touch a subie lol at least a modified one. Idk what engine they had (bug eye WRX).
After watching the latest season of Hi-Low on Donut I don’t ever want to touch a subie lol at least a modified one. Idk what engine they had (bug eye WRX).
That's the EJ. They switched to the FA in 2015, and it was only the WRX. The STI still has the EJ.
The FA has actually been able to put down some serious power. They had a stock block on E85 putting down 600whp. I think that engine's still going strong, too.
A friend of mine took his modified '18 WRX with the FA20 to the track. I think he was making around 325 whp. Yeah, broke ringlands on all four pistons.
A friend of mine took his modified '18 WRX with the FA20 to the track. I think he was making around 325 whp. Yeah, broke ringlands on all four pistons.
Ringland failure is relatively uncommon on the FA's. I know some tunes had issues with detonation at low RPM so maybe that was his downfall. I'm guessing he also had a stock cooling system? These things love to run hot.
Well finally took care of my faulty intake manifold (common issue on the MK6). While it was off did a good carbon cleaning of the intake valves. They were very dirty. After that I had some issues getting ready status for emission's. After trying to complete the drive cycle I flashed it down to stage 1 and was able to get everything to pass. Good for another 2 years. Flashed her back to Stage 2+ and gave her a wipe down inside the engine bay and out.
3D printed adapter that helps seal everything while you blast it with walnuts.
Nice Picss.!! that's one Nice Golf Dude.!" theres guys that can build in alot of power on a Golf". anyway as You know i traded my 07 Civic a few years ago for a newer 2012 VW TDI Low mileage Turbo Diesel.with these options that i just had to have. as a daily long distance commuter to work wich the TDI fit Perfectly..
