2026 Honda Prelude

[Blueprint]

Yes, I managed to skip to the head of the line and got assigned to the new 'Lude !

Early impressions: while not a Type-R, it's fast, it handles and despite driving it like my 23 y.o. self, it sits at 5.5 l/100 km at the moment.

Need to download pics for you guys... Already posted one on fb.

[GreatBigAbyss]

You've driven a Civic Hybrid, and now you have this.  Is it worth the upcharge over a Civic Touring?

[Blueprint]

Well, the test is over.

Driving to work this morning, driving carefully due to strong winds / iffy surface / all-seasons, minding my business in the right lane of the highway and nearing my exit and WHAM! All of a sudden I have the grille of a semi pinned to my window and I'm skidding sideways in front of the truck at 70-80 km/h.

The truck never saw me and changed lanes into me, punching the car on the driver's side right in front of the rear wheel, pivoting me like in a police chase and pinning me to the front of the truck. Not a fun ride.

No airbags deployed, the car never stalled. After police report etc. done, I drove it to the Honda dealer the fleet manager indicated - it ran fine, but for the dangling mirror, whose cap was sent flying into traffic at impact. To my major surprise, the electric door handle works, and the door is fully operational. Had this thing had a higher center of gravity / high profile tires, it would probably have flipped. I was afraid of skidding into the other lanes but managed to stay pinned and steer into the skid, foot hard on the brakes as not to plow into traffic in front of us.

IIHS results aren't in, but I'm giving it a 10 for safety. Shaken, but intact.

[Fobroader]

Holy crap buddy!! Good to hear you are ok, should have worn the brown pants today.

[Gurgie]

F'n Montreal drivers 

Good to hear you're all good, must've been a scary surprise for you.

[GreatBigAbyss]

Well that's just about one of the craziest things I've heard. 

I bet this is your first 'issue' in a fleet car like that.

[Blueprint]

My only "previous" was a grandma backing into a parked, brand-new press Camry at the supermarket and cracking the bumper.

The Crosstrek would probably have flipped instead of skidded.

[Blueprint]

F'n Montreal drivers 

Good to hear you're all good, must've been a scary surprise for you.

In related news, driving back home on Monday a RAM driver nearly changed lanes into me - seems people aren't used to low cars anymore. And yes, my brain went full WTF? as I was suddenly driving sideways with a big effin' grille in my face. It did occur to me that with the TR6, I'd be dead.

[RRocket]

How exciting!

For all the wrong reasons..

[Blueprint]

How exciting!

For all the wrong reasons..

I need a beer. Makes that beers.

[Bridgecity]

Crazy.  Glad to hear you're OK. 

St. Patty's Day.  Perfect day for drinking beers.  You don't even need an excuse.

[Revelations]

Whoa! Glad you're ok. Looks like you enjoyed your time with the Lude!

[HannibalSmith]

Glad you're good. That must have been scary!

[Firm]

Wow, glad it wasn't worse, and it does look like the car took the hit pretty well. The last few years I was in Toronto I had gotten pretty leery driving low cars on the congested major highways. Had a similar thing happen in Mrs.Firm's red Firebird, we were just creeping along in a traffic jam at like 5km/h and the semi next to me didn't see the low car at all and slowly changed lanes right into us. Rear wheel took most of the hit, some damage to the rear quarter (insurance repair). I realized then that these trucks really can't see, and are not watching out for lower vehicles, in tight quarters.

[Johnnymac]

Glad you are okay Blueprint and that it wasn't your fault that this occurred.  I fully expect this to get all the points when talking about the safety.  I wonder why the air bags didn't deploy with such a hit, but I'm sure you and Honda Canada are likely happy they didn't, a high five to the side of the head would have added to the confusion and would have put this car on the shelf a lot longer.

Can't say I see much of any reason why someone would pay the amount they are charging for this thing when they could just get the Civic Hybrid and have a trunk load of toonies in savings.  This car should have always came with the 2.0T out of the Civic Type R and paired with a proper manual OR they should have priced it just slightly higher than the top trim Civic Hybrid.  By doing neither, I expect this to have a similar fate as the CR-Z from a decade or more ago.