--- title: "Car Enthusiasts Hate on the Honda Prelude, But the Real World Loves it" date: "2026-06-22" modified: "2026-06-22" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/car-enthusiasts-hate-on-the-honda-prelude-but-the-real-world-loves-it" categories: - "Honda News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "Coupe" - "honda" - "hybrid" - "prelude" --- # Car Enthusiasts Hate on the Honda Prelude, But the Real World Loves it ![]() *\Jerry Perez\* Last week, I wrote a blog post about why the 2026 [Honda]() Prelude and the Honda Civic Type R [have gas caps](). Today, I have another little anecdote to tell you from my recent extended time in the sleek and somewhat controversial coupe, which involves a clash of opinions between The Car Enthusiast and The Real World. The [uproar]() over the Prelude's performance—specifically its horsepower figure, its price, and even its place in Honda's lineup has been, uh, big. Furthermore, the comparisons to the last-gen Prelude are non-stop, with some folks arguing that it's not a natural evolution of the iconic sporty coupe. Well, I'm here to tell you that after spending a few weeks with the Prelude, I've learned that most normal people just absolutely don't care about any of the above. I mean, sure, pricing is always going to be a concern for anyone who is not a bazillionaire, but everyone who's approached me at parking lots while I'm trying to get in or out of the Prelude absolutely digs this thing. Over the course of almost three weeks, not a single day went by without someone taking a photo of the car, whether it was from one car to another while driving down the highway, while it was parked, or just a honk and a thumbs-up from a passerby. While I was in Montreal for the Grand Prix over Memorial Day weekend, driving the Prelude downtown literally caused a commotion, with pedestrians stopping wherever they were to snap a photo. I even had a guy who was crossing the street stop, take his sweet time to frame the Prelude and its surroundings, and take a photo with a real camera, not even a smartphone. Now that's dedication, brother. ![]() ![]() Another time, a guy driving an orange McLaren 720S looked at me and gave me a thumbs-up at a stoplight, only to realize a few seconds later that someone was taking a picture of me and not him. He just giggled. The conversations I've had with folks have been fun, too. I've talked with young guys, old guys, women, and everything in between. However, I will say that the large majority of the people who have approached me to pay a compliment or ask me a question have not been hardcore car enthusiasts, per se. How do I know? Because when I'd bring up a few points about the car, some popular arguments, or just use gearhead jargon in general, I'd see that puzzled look on their face like, huh? And listen, this is not to say that one group is more important than the other, or that there aren't valid arguments on the Prelude's value proposition. As much as I love it and, in many ways, it's the ideal car for someone at my current stage in life, I will agree that there are some question marks over some aspects of the car. What I am trying to say here is that sometimes car enthusiasts get too into their heads and take a large dump on something that isn't worth it. Sure, maybe it's not the car for you, and maybe you'll never even consider buying one because it "only has 200 hp" or because it's more money than you'd like to spend on something with limited practicality, and that's *totally okay!* From where I see it, Honda's given us a gorgeous sporty coupe in a time when every returning nameplate (and even the new ones) comes in the shape of a coupe-fied crossover. So, perhaps we should just be glad we didn't get another one of those and enjoy it for however many years it stays in production. **Car Enthusiasts 0 - Normal People 1** *Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]()