Which generation are you looking at? Any 'lude made before 1992 I wouldn't suggest, mainly because they are overly complex, and as a result they are quite pricey to fix should things get wrong. That is true mostly for the 3rd generation (88-91), because the 1st and 2nd gen cars are way too old to be considered today, so that's why I won't bother with them. These 3rd gen cars had 4 wheel steering. Basically, the rear wheels could turn 1.5 degrees in the direction the front wheels did under normal driving, but once the steering turned 245 degrees or more, the rear wheels would turn up to 5.3 degrees in the opposite direction. But it was really complicated, and didn't work most of the time.
The Preludes you want to look for are the ones made after 1992, and up to 2001, basically the 4th and 5th gen ones. I myself have a 5th gen, although it's technically not mine anymore (but that's a long story). The 4th gen (1992-1996) came with a few engine choices (a 2.2l, 135hp SOHC engine, which was the base model, a 2.3l, 160hp DOHC engine which was available in the Si and VTEC (yes, that's what the model was called) versions, and the bad boy, the 2.2l H22A, rated at 195 hp, which was in the SR-V.) The 5th gen had only one engine, the 195hp H22A, which got bumped to 200 in 1999. Stay away from automatics, which were rated at 190 hp, but actually made closer to 165 hp. Don't let the Tiptronic like buttons impress you, it's not all that cool.
The Type-SH had the Active Torque Transfer System (ATTS) which is supposed to neutralize understeer in corners, by sending power to the outside wheel. A bit like a limited slip diff, but more complex, and weightier. It was supposed to make the car handle better, but it didn't. The base model Prelude was faster around the corners, and in a straight line, which made the pricey SH a bit of a dud. It's rarer, obviously.
The interior was the weak point on the 4th gen. To say it was horrid would be a compliment. It was odd and uncomfortable. Nothing to say on the 5th gen's interior, it wasn't bland, but it wasn't stellar either. The styling really is the best part on the 5th gen. Simply, I think it's the best looking coupe to ever come out of Japan. A tad biased, but still.
Think of it this way, the Prelude was Honda's development mule. Honda developped most of its technologies on it... double wishbone suspensions, twin cam engines, 4 wheel steering, ATTS, etc. In fact, the only system they didn't develop on the 'Lude was VTEC... and that came from the NSX.
You're young, you've got a few years before you can buy your first car. I'm sure the early 4th gen cars will be a bit more affordable by then.
Edit: Wow, 5th post in this thread, and it's the first one with actual content.
