Would You Pay Almost $50,000 For This Pristine, Low-Mileage 2001 Honda Prelude?

With COVID-induced shortages in supply, sales of used cars have reached new heights over the past 18 months, although sporty Japanese classics from the 1990s and early 2000s have been experiencing a huge surge in prices even before the pandemic. Take this Honda Prelude, for example.

This particular Prelude is a 2001 model and has been listed up for sale from Sanford Honda in Sanford, North Carolina. It has an eye-watering price tag of $49,100 and remarkably, isn’t even a performance version of the car.

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Just two variants of the fifth-generation Prelude were sold in the United States, the base model and the Type SH. Both feature a 2.2-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder with 195 hp. However, the base model lacks the innovative four-wheel steering system that some variants in other markets had and this example is also equipped with a four-speed automatic, rather than the more desirable 5-speed manual that was also offered from the factory.

The base model Prelude also makes do without the Active Torque Transfer System that was found in the Type SH and was designed to reduce understeer.

What this Prelude does have going for it is the fact that it has only ever been driven 2,245 miles (3,612 km). The listing doesn’t provide any details as to where the car has been stored for the past two decades but the silver paint appears to be in excellent condition and free of any major scratches or dents. The interior has also been well maintained and the cloth seats look practically brand new, as do all the dashboard plastics.

However, is this base Prelude really worth almost $50,000? We’re not convinced…