Thinking Of Selling My Prelude

[EnglishRob 0]

Hi folks,

 

I feel really bad posting this (especially since I haven't really been an active member of the forums since getting my Prelude in Feb)...

 

Basically I'm thinking of selling my Prelude. I've got a 1997 R reg 2.2 VTI Prelude which I got back in early February this year. It has the full leather interior in beige (with some scuffs on the drivers seat), the paintwork needs a bit of attention (some of the laquer has come off and there's one or two spots of rust on the bodywork).

 

As much as I love the car I've found it to be a bit of an expensive experience and tonight a little mistake has made me think about if I should sell the car to someone else who has the time and money to spend on it (rather than it going to waste).

 

Since I got the car in February I've had the windscreen replaced (it cracked the day after I bought it, possibly down to a small chip in the windscreen and the cold spell), it's had brake discs and pads changed all round, rear calipers done (my mistake, I left it a bit too long due to lack of funds which cost me dearly). In total it cost me about £700 for the MOT about 2 months ago.

 

This evening though I had a bit of an incident with a a central reservation where I thinkk I may have hit the kerb and it blew out the front drivers side tire. It also took a slight chunk out of the alloy wheel. Luckily I managed to get the car off the road (and I'm glad it wasn't a major road or in rush hour). The steering now doesn't feel right (when going stright the steering wheel is pointing to the right, when I straighten the week it veers left).

 

So after spending so much on the Prelude (on repairs and running it as it sure does drink the fuel!) and having 3 kids (which isn't very practical in itself with a 4 seater car) I'm thinking maybe it's time to sell it and get something else (maybe another 205, as my other 205 is still in need of TLC).

 

I suppose really I should be asking on the Lude Behavior forums, but I'm a newbie on there and don't know anyone, I figured I'd ask the knowledgeable folks on 205GTIDrivers (who I sincerely trust when it comes to cars) for advice.

 

Looking at eBay, good examples of the Prelude are going for about £1,500 to £1,800 ish, and those don't have the full leather interior. With the tax also being due at the end of the month I wonder if I should fork out yet more money on getting it sorted out and taxing it another 6 months or if I should just bung it on eBay and see what I get for it (maybe with a starting price of say £600 ish).

 

I've tried looking at the Parkers price guide web site but it seems it's a subscription site so I can't seem to find a price on what an average condition one is worth.

 

Of course this is about 3 hours after it all happened but I'd have to admit I have been mulling over my options for a good couple of months (it seems like the 205 was much cheaper to get parts for) and I wonder if owning a Prelude isn't such a practical idea for me.

 

Rob

[GLPoomobile 958]

Sorry to be negative, but I'm surpised if good examples are going for £1500 to £1800 very often. I've wanted a Prelude for years (except that now that they are affordable to me, I'm not interested anymore). Certainly when I've looked at them they don't appear to be fetching much money these days.

 

You know what they say - better the devil you know. After spending that much money on it maybe it's better to weather the storm, ride it out, and see if you can get some value out of it for a while. Of course it then becomes a catch 22 situation if it never improves. That's how I felt with my current 205 - hated the bastard but didn't want to get rid of it because of all the money I'd spent.

Edited November 11, 2010 by GLPoomobile

[EnglishRob 0]

Sorry to be negative, but I'm surpised if good examples are going for £1500 to £1800 very often. I've wanted a Prelude for years (except that now that they are affordable to me, I'm not interested anymore). Certainly when I've looked at them they don't appear to be fetching much money these days.

 

You know what they say - better the devil you know. After spending that much money on it maybe it's better to weather the storm, ride it out, and see if you can get some value out of it for a while. Of course it then becomes a catch 22 situation if it never improves. That's how I felt with my current 205 - hated the bastard but didn't want to get rid of it because of all the money I'd spent.

 

Fair enough, I must admit I just did a bit of a browse on eBay so it could be a case of sellers asking for more than they are worth.

 

I suppose in a way I'm trying to think of a good excuse to get another 205 (I've had my fair share of issues with 205's, usually down to my own stupid fault) but deep down I still want another 205.

 

I'm going to get a mechanic friend to have a look this weekend hopefully, another friend said the steering could be due to the fact it has the spare wheel on there (it does feel okay apart from that) so I might have a re-think if I've not done too much damage (say just need to get a new set of tyres on the front).

 

I've also had a quick browse for 205's too, I do wonder if I could be in the same situation with my 205, maybe I'd be better getting that fixed up rather than buying another one and possibly a new set of issues (although my 205 has been sat for 2 years and still needs putting back together and no doubt some other work doing to get it MOT worthy).

 

Rob

[GLPoomobile 958]

Chances are that the impact could have caused a little bit more damage and knocked out the alignment. Bent track rod for example. Doubt it'll be anything too bad though (rest assured it won't be as bad as the damage that's just written off my Saab 9-3 after bouncing it off a roundabout at 30mph )

[EnglishRob 0]

Ouch!

 

I'll see what my friend says when he's had a look. I'm hoping it's not going to be too expensive.

 

Rob