Cars / Honda / PreludeLive

✦ Shifty Estimate

$11,800

High confidence$7K to $27K

12 months median: $11K
Sales, 12 months: 6
Original MSRP: $12,345 · ▼ 4% since

Track this car in the app

Get its live Shifty Estimate, price alerts, and every sale on your phone.

1988 Honda Prelude

1988 to 1991 · Coupe

Price history

Sold Bid, not sold

60 sales · 4 unsoldmedian $11kupdated May 2026

Recent sales

60 sales

Specifications

Engine: Inline-4, 2.0L
Power: 104 hp
Torque: 111 lb-ft
0 to 60: 9.8s
Top speed: 115 mph
Transmission: Manual
Drivetrain: FWD
Original MSRP: $12,345

Common questions

How much does a Honda Prelude cost?

A 1988 Honda Prelude cost $12,345 new. Over the past 12 months, 6 have sold publicly at a median of $11,375. The Shifty Estimate for a well-kept example is $11,800. Cars have changed hands anywhere from $6,500 to $27,000, depending on mileage, color, and history.

What is a 1988 Honda Prelude worth today?

The Shifty Estimate is $11,800. Confidence is high: 6 public sales in a year gives a firm read.

What has a Honda Prelude sold for at auction?

The 3 most recent public sales we have on file:

$11,250May 16, 2026Gold · 98,000 mi
$5,100Mar 24, 2026Granada Black Pearl · 207,000 mi
$16,050Dec 7, 2025Red · 55,000 mi

The third-generation Prelude marked Honda's bold entry into the serious sports coupe arena, introducing four-wheel steering technology that would define the model's legacy. This 1988-1991 generation featured Honda's innovative mechanical 4WS system, which counter-steered the rear wheels at low speeds for tighter turning and co-steered at higher speeds for enhanced stability. The sleek, wedge-shaped body penned by Honda's design team represented a dramatic departure from previous generations, with pop-up headlights and aggressive proportions that screamed '80s performance. Base models came with Honda's reliable 2.0-liter SOHC four-cylinder producing 104 horsepower, while the coveted Si variant packed a 135-hp DOHC unit. Today's collectors appreciate these Preludes for their technological innovation and period-correct styling, with clean examples becoming increasingly scarce. The 4WS system, once dismissed as gimmicky, now represents fascinating automotive engineering history that makes these Hondas genuinely special among '80s sports coupes.

More Honda in the market

1997 Honda Prelude$14K 1992 Honda Civic Sedan$14K 1988 Honda Civic Sedan$11K 2006 Honda Civic Si Coupe$11K 1992 Honda Prelude$10K 1993 Honda Civic Base Coupe$10K