Ray Ho 08/23/2026

If you have been paying attention to new car prices in recent years, you will notice they are spiraling out of control. The average new car transaction price is hovering around $50K. No wonder we are keeping our vehicles longer and longer—not by choice, but sadly, by necessity. But that is not what I want to talk about today.

I am talking about keeping old cars because we want to, not because we have to. Old cars provide a much more analog driving experience and invoke that nostalgic feeling. No wonder more car manufacturers are increasing their efforts to revive classic nameplates. But, more often than not, these new cars are nothing like their older counterparts and risk tainting their legacy. Cough: Prelude. Just limiting production on a “niche” vehicle does not justify its high cost! You know what is even more scarce? A 1999 Model!

Granted, given their age, many of these older Preludes are on life support. As with other vintage Hondas, they are often heavily modified, resulting in good stock examples very hard to come by. Luckily, I am fortunate to own a completely stock 1999 Prelude that is still in very good condition… except for a minor oil leak… plus an intermittent brake light on the dash. No, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the brakes themselves; it’s just some electrical demon in the indicator. Nothing that cannot be fixed with a small piece of electrical tape on the dash. Er, I mean, putting the tape on the electrical short. As for the minor leak, I already replaced the distributor seals. Ditto the VTEC solenoid gasket. Did that fix the problem? No. But I did learn that cat litter works wonders for cleaning up the driveway. What’s that, honey? The cats need the litter? Alright, I better revisit the “expert” Honda mechanic soon.

Sure, old cars, like long-term marriages, do have their “issues” when they are not properly maintained. But driving them (old cars) makes you cool. No, not the Keanu Reeves “I pretend that I can only afford to sleep in my car” cool. I mean the Keanu “riding a vintage motorcycle” cool. Vintage cars are typically smaller, nimbler, and feel more connected to the road. They are lighter without all the modern high-tech gadgets and driving aids. Backup camera? Yeah, that helps if you woke up with a stiff neck. Lane centering? Isn’t that what your hands are for?

All kidding aside, these tech features are a major reason why new cars are so expensive. If you can live without modern amenities, nothing beats an analog car with a 6-speed manual transmission for pure driving fun at a fraction of the cost. The fifth-generation Prelude is a good example: its H22 engine pumps out a healthy 200 horsepower. That is just one less horsepower than a 1999 Porsche Boxster, which cost almost double back then. Let that sink in for a second. Moving on. The H22, especially when the VTEC kicks in, generates a high-revving fun that simply is not available in modern cars. The infamous Honda manual shifter only adds to the overall experience. It is a shame that there are only a handful of stick-shift new cars left on the market today. Did you know a recent study found that driving a manual car actually improves brain function? Right, besides playing Mahjong, of course.

So, to get your brain properly stimulated, forget about caffeine. Just go for an early Sunday morning drive in a vintage Prelude, pop a Prince CD into the dash, and party like it is 1999!