My Black Beauty

[Passfeller20]

Hi all,

glad to have stumbled upon this fine fresh board. Collected my 2026 Prelude in Crystal Black yesterday. It is one of the very first Preludes to run here in Germany and one of only 500 that are planned to be imported from Japan to western Europe (so the Honda dealer told me).

I have been driving Lexus hybrids for the last eight years now (IS 300h & ES 300h). Their new models do no longer speak to me, plus: they do not offer a sporty coupe any more (at least where I live). When I learned about the new Prelude around Christmas of last year, I was hooked. Since then I must have read/watched every single review in any medium possible.
And despite so many people clearly not understanding what this car is about, claiming it does not offer enough power etc., I came to the conclusion that I am one of the exact people this car was made for: Someone who

– mainly drives alone or with one passenger

– wishes a comfortable and composed ride with the possibility to have a little fun now and then

– does not want to spend a fortune on fuel

– loves a stylish coupe (that nearly no other manufacturer offers nowadays)

– does not care if the Prelude is "too expensive". (I would have bought this car even if it costed more. You only live once.)

So I traded in my ES 300h and am now the proud owner of a Honda Prelude. Have been driving Hondas in the late 1990s and early 2000s & always loved them, so I do quite enjoy to return to the brand.
(Maybe I'll do something about the rims in the near future – not sure about the black on black look. Might try out some Mugen-style wheels in a matte bronze tone … we’ll see.)

Looking forward to driving this beauty & reading lots of interesting stuff about the most interesting new car of the year (at least in my eyes).

Have a great day, enjoy your Prelude & always drive safely!

View attachment 332

 

[OldCoupeGRGuy2]

It does look lovely in black.
I also went down the rabbit hole of you tube videos and generally found the European reviewers much more possitive.
You described me above now I am in mid 60s and also feel that this beautifull car will go under the radar due to the thousands of comments from people who only look at numbers. Good reviewers review the car first and then mention the numbers.
My other car is a GR Yaris so have the quick rally car and wanted a smooth GT coupe to replace my daily Yaris Cross which is lovely but life is too short.
Get mine in 4 weeks.
My task now is to find a spare wheel - probably a non-Honda as my dealer says they don't supply them. I will leave the back seat down permanently and put it in a wheel bag. I don't feel comfortable driving up into the North Yorkshire dales where the phone signal is lost without a spare.
Have you looked into this?
My last coupe which I regretted selling was a Celica T-Sport so getting the Prelude will bring that feeling back and I can't wait.

 

[Passfeller20]

It does look lovely in black.

Thanks mate! Test drove the blue colourway - that one's a looker, too!

You described me above now I am in mid 60s and also feel that this beautifull car will go under the radar due to the thousands of comments from people who only look at numbers. Good reviewers review the car first and then mention the numbers.

Right, but also many pre-occupied reviewers with rather antiquated views over here (Germany). Plus: Many of them peeps are too young to understand that the Prelude was never a race car but more of a stylish alternative for a kind of settled down, wealthy gentleman driver which used to introduce new tech (4-wheel steering, V-TEC etc). Exactly what the new one does today.

My other car is a GR Yaris so have the quick rally car and wanted a smooth GT coupe to replace my daily Yaris Cross which is lovely but life is too short.

Love the GR Yaris, what a great car to go out and have some fun!

Get mine in 4 weeks.
My task now is to find a spare wheel - probably a non-Honda as my dealer says they don't supply them. I will leave the back seat down permanently and put it in a wheel bag. I don't feel comfortable driving up into the North Yorkshire dales where the phone signal is lost without a spare.
Have you looked into this?

Good point. Haven't thought about that nor spoken to the dealer about it. May do so when I get back there to have an oil change at 1000km (not recommended by the dealership, purely my decision for some more peace of mind).

My last coupe which I regretted selling was a Celica T-Sport so getting the Prelude will bring that feeling back and I can't wait.

God, I love the Japanese coupes of the 90s. Your Celica (as well as its predecessor, which also was beautiful) were cars in a similar vein as the new Prelude: not overly fast, but elegant, not too harsh on your back, sleek, stylish and at the same time practical as a daily driver. The kind of car exactly *nobody* builds anymore ... except Honda!

 

[nicki91]

It looks really beautiful in black, but it's hard to keep clean.

 

[Passfeller20]

It looks really beautiful in black, but it's hard to keep clean.

Same with white. Beauty is pain. ‍

 

[Alfettaman47]

...My task now is to find a spare wheel - probably a non-Honda as my dealer says they don't supply them. I will leave the back seat down permanently and put it in a wheel bag. I don't feel comfortable driving up into the North Yorkshire dales where the phone signal is lost without a spare.
Have you looked into this?
My last coupe which I regretted selling was a Celica T-Sport so getting the Prelude will bring that feeling back and I can't wait.

Have you thought about getting a space-saver spare wheel? If you gave these people a call, they could probably help...

https://www.thewheelshop.co.uk/

...or...

Home

No Spare Wheel? Check your boot. Be Prepared,

www.roadhero.co.uk

 

[El Chorizo9]

Looking nice and clean, congrats!!!

 

[supersix7]

Nice photos! Welcome to the forum!

 

[Jusbs54915]

Sharp! With that black black, maybe consider getting Xpel PPF installed...will sure help to keep swirls and rock chips off!

 

[CiceroGirl]

I also have a black one (purchased at the beginning of February) with OEM spoiler and tinted windows. I drove a 1999 Gen 5 Prelude (also black) for 12 years and absolutely loved it, but then I needed a car with an actual backseat (but I regretted not keeping it)! I was willing to buy the 2026 in red, black, or blue (but only with a black interior) -- in that order of preference -- and my black one is the only one that my long-time dealership has received (edited to correct that they are actually getting their second Prelude at the beginning of September (blue with black interior)), so I'm glad that I didn't wait to try and get a red one!