Honda Car Forum

 

Go Back   Honda Car Forum - Accord Parts Civic Tuning Acura Racing > Honda Acura > Honda 3
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Honda Parts Search  


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 05 Sep 2004, 10:03 am
Travis
 
Posts: n/a
Default My '82 Prelude, restore or replace?

Hi, Folks,

I'm the only owner of a 1982 silver Prelude (automatic [sorry], with
AC and the four-spoke mag wheels, dead "moon roof"). The car has only
118,000 miles on it, spent all its life spent in Virginia, and I have
every receipt the little bugger ever generated for service, etc.

I've had two paint jobs, same color, with body work chasing the usual
rust sites in the wheel wells and leading/trailing edges of the cab. I
crumpled the passenger door recently, which has hurried forward the
third rust-chase/repaint (last done in '99). Now, with factory, Maaco,
and '99's base coat/clear coat, I have three layers and a piece of
work ahead.

I have about $5K to put into a car, and that's what a local,
lacquer-only Richmond, VA gentleman wants for a
bumpers/windshields/light housings dis-assembly, rust-plug (with
metal), and then a sand-to-metal, four-plus coats silver lacquer,
three coats clear coat. He seems to do very good work, and it will
take a month. (Second old car available.)

I could go for it, or buy a $5K "pre-wrecked" ten year-old something
or other.

My best guess is to do the restore and hope to recoup a few pennies in
the antiques market down the line. Will there be one? Should I finally
say goodbye to the old girl?

Many thanks,

Travis


Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 05 Sep 2004, 12:18 pm
Keith E. Loyd
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: My '82 Prelude, restore or replace?

Do this thing only if you are comfortable with the idea that is an act of
nostalgia.

Under no circumstances is it economically feasible to sink $5k into this
relic. It is also unlikely that any Japanese quasi-sports car like this
will ever have more than token antique value. The only Japanese old car
that will likely have a significant following is the old Z's from
Datsun/Nissan, imho.

Otherwise, get your mind in a place where you can part with this car so that
it can rejoin the circle of life. Sheet metal never goes away forever; it
just gets freed up for some other purpose, just like our atoms after we
exceed our .

regards,
KL


Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 05 Sep 2004, 12:44 pm
Carl Saiyed
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: My '82 Prelude, restore or replace?

IMHO, an 82 Prelude won't ever be worth very much (sorry!). I would
replace the door with one from a junkyard and get another macco paint
job if I was going to go the repair route. IF you decide to sink another
5k into your car, you probably will never get recoup that on the market.

I'd get something else, and keep it around as a project.

Just my .02, it's worth what you paid for it.

Carl


"Travis" <travis_at_charbeneau_dot_net> wrote in message
news:9ZKdnZ_UdoJSt6bcRVn-sw@comcast.com...
> Hi, Folks,
>
> I'm the only owner of a 1982 silver Prelude (automatic [sorry], with
> AC and the four-spoke mag wheels, dead "moon roof"). The car has only
> 118,000 miles on it, spent all its life spent in Virginia, and I have
> every receipt the little bugger ever generated for service, etc.
>
> I've had two paint jobs, same color, with body work chasing the usual
> rust sites in the wheel wells and leading/trailing edges of the cab. I
> crumpled the passenger door recently, which has hurried forward the
> third rust-chase/repaint (last done in '99). Now, with factory, Maaco,
> and '99's base coat/clear coat, I have three layers and a piece of
> work ahead.
>
> I have about $5K to put into a car, and that's what a local,
> lacquer-only Richmond, VA gentleman wants for a
> bumpers/windshields/light housings dis-assembly, rust-plug (with
> metal), and then a sand-to-metal, four-plus coats silver lacquer,
> three coats clear coat. He seems to do very good work, and it will
> take a month. (Second old car available.)
>
> I could go for it, or buy a $5K "pre-wrecked" ten year-old something
> or other.
>
> My best guess is to do the restore and hope to recoup a few pennies in
> the antiques market down the line. Will there be one? Should I finally
> say goodbye to the old girl?
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Travis
>
>



Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 05 Sep 2004, 03:02 pm
SoCalMike
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: My '82 Prelude, restore or replace?

Travis wrote:
> My best guess is to do the restore and hope to recoup a few pennies in
> the antiques market down the line. Will there be one? Should I finally
> say goodbye to the old girl?


id just drive it as-is. maybe replace/fix the door and get another maaco
special. save the $5k for something else, ya know?

why spend $5k on a car thats only worth $2k in mint condition?
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 06 Sep 2004, 05:28 am
Acertaingirl
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: My '82 Prelude, restore or replace?

>>I'm the only owner of a 1982 silver Prelude (automatic [sorry], with
AC and the four-spoke mag wheels, dead "moon roof"). The car has only
118,000 miles on it, spent all its life spent in Virginia, and I have
every receipt the little bugger ever generated for service, etc.<<

I understand your dilemma. I just parted with my beloved 1982 Prelude (blue,
also auto) in June. It broke my heart, as it was my first car. I had no choice,
as it was rusting and the seats were literally disintegrating. I have a great
mechanic, so it ran fine, but it was still underpowered for today's highways
(and forget about accelerating with the a/c on!).
I got a Civic EX sedan with all the bells and whistles, so that made my
decision a little easier. Good luck in whatever you decide. I agree with the
poster who said you have to get your head in the place where you're ready to
give it up.



Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Searching for recommended ways to restore carpeted floormatts piclistguy@yahoo.com Honda 3 2 06 Nov 2006 08:19 am
94 Prelude Prelude - Gearshifting on a manual Silkyjigga Honda 2 4 29 Nov 2005 02:08 am
where and how to replace VSS? sagiv13@gmail.com Honda 2 5 17 Dec 2004 10:44 pm
My '82 Prelude: restore or replace? (2nd post attempt) Travis Honda 2 4 12 Sep 2004 09:29 am


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:51 pm.


Attribution:
Honda News | Autoblog
Powered by Yahoo Answers




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
LinkBacks Enabled by vBSEO 3.0.0 © 2007, Crawlability, Inc.