HI everyone, i have been lurking here for a few days now and i finally decided to join in. i'm in the market to buy a 2002 cr-v EX. i live in the albany, ny area, does anyone know of a good dealer? and i'm new at this, i'm sooo worried about being taken advantage of at the dealership bc i'm young and female, so any tips are welcome. ALso, should i look online for my cr-v? any particular sites? Thanks a lot for your responses!
Now I understand where the 3750 and 7500 came from. It seems dealer do not know the new model change the service interval.
I will do the first service at 5000 mi as severe condition, though I belong to normal condition. But i do not want to wait to 10k for first service, that is too long.
BTW, i am living in south carolina. it is 75F today.
Your best defenses against being taken advantage of are preparation and patience. Monitor the Edmunds TMV for any model you are interested in. Be wary of any bogus charges for stuff like "paint protectant."
Hit the websites of all of your local dealers and get in contact with a manager of Internet/fleet sales at each. The dealers that are "with it" should answer you with a decent price from the get-go. Perhaps you can even attempt to start a bidding war. Remember that no one can tell that you're young and female through email . . . unless your address really is something like Young@Female.com <GRIN>.
If you intend to finance the vehicle, seek pre-approval from other lenders before walking into the dealership. I did this and the finance guy gave me a better rate than he would have otherwise.
And if you're not convinced that you're getting a good value for any reason, be prepared to hold firm to what you think is reasonable. To borrow from the old Doritos ad, "Walk away all you want. They'll make more."
Varmit: Thank you for your suggestion to the "Long" parking break. I will wait to the oil change service to request and adjustment
I guess the clicking noise mystery has been solved. In my car, it is audible if you pay attention to it and the radio is off, but I agree, shouldn't that have been informed to the customers and specially, the Honda technicians? C'est la vie!
I just tried to buy a CRV from Sunset Honda in San Luis Obispo. In late December I started discussions with the Internet Sales Manager. I had wanted a 5sp EX so the dealer said they would have to order it. Finally I was ready to go down and place my deposit so they would order it, when out of nowhere I am told that I "have" to get the "Perma-Plate". He said they don't sell a car without it, NO exceptions.
Well, I won't pay for something I don't want. Especially when I am told I "have" to buy it. Funny, its not listed on the Honda Brochure. All this and I was willing to pay MSRP!!
I have to strongly recommend not using Sunset Honda in San Luis Obispo!! If I end up getting a CRV I will be sure to spend the extra 20 minutes to go to the next closest dealer.
I live in Mass., dealer is telling me change oil at 3500 miles and every 3000 miles/4 months after that. Check oil first 3500 miles carefully...you might have to add a quart of 5-20 before the first change...dealer telling me this is normal for CRV.
and it will tell you what the intervals are for your vehicle, based on year and model. The very first thing it says is:
Following the factory-recommended maintenance schedule in your Honda Owner's Manual is the best thing you can do for your vehicle.
For a '99 Milano Red CR-V EX 5 spd (what I own now) the oil change interval is 3750 mi/6 months for severe, or 7500 mi/12 months for normal. This information is from the Owners Manual. The web site linked above doesn't specify months.
From the above website, an '02 Eternal Blue Pearl CR-V EX 5 spd (what I wish I owned) the oil change interval is 5000 miles/8000 km for severe conditions, or 10,000 miles/16,000 km/1 year for normal conditions. It doesn't specify months for the 5000 mi/8000 km change.
Your dealer's 3000 mi/4 month suggestion sounds like he wants more of your money.
Who are you going to believe? Honda that made your CR-V? Or your dealer that sold it to you?
And no, the color of your CR-V doesn't make any difference.
I've been a loyal Accord owner for 12 years and have now been seeking a CRV replacement for the old reliable... But I find that in upstate NY, the dealers want $1000 over MSRP for the damm vehicle... Also,,, I find most honda dealers in upstate as sleazy as toyota dealers,,, and that's pretty bad. By Honda limiting the supply to make the car over priced, they are both trying to make it another Odyssey situation and take advantage of loyal buyers who believe in their product... I emplore anyone who is thinking of buying a New CRV to put it off for a while. I just put $700 into my old accord to keep it longer.... I do think Honda Builds a great vehicle in the CRV but their marketing people should be hung out to dry.. I will wait thru spring so see if deals become more reasonable. I have never paid sticker in my life and will absolutely not now pay MSRP or any overcharges the dealers are imposing... If necessary,,, I will go the Forester route as I hate auto makers that take advantage of buyers in this fashion... I know that there are some,, especially car salesman, who say no foul has occured because people are paying what the market will bear. Well, you may be able to get the weak minded to swallow that, but I've been around for a while and know what fair pricing is.... As far as I'm concerned, the current price of CRV's is blatently unfair, unreasonable, and a ripoff of loyal customers. Fair warning honda,,, I may not be with the majority out there,,, but I'll bet there are a lot of buyers out there that might agree with me... People with intelligence,,, stand up and be counted.
Unfortunately, you're blaming the wrong organization. Honda sets the MSRP, but the dealers decide how much they will charge. Blame the dealerships, not Honda. And as with any item in short supply, prices are currently inflated in some markets. Patience. This too shall pass.
Take a drive (Or frequent flyer free trip) to OK and pay $316 over invoice on any CRV. No gimmicks-dealer policy and I have used this Honda dealer frequently due to great reputation. www.autoinvoice.com to get (800)phone number and see price policy on their web site. If interested ask for Mr. John Page. Sorry your local dealers are so bad. INKY
I've received some reasonable offers using autobytel.com. All the pricing is upfront. Really a good service for anyone who hates going to a dealer to hassle, and the service is free. Take a friend with you to the dealer, preferably a male friend who's experienced at buying. Luckily for you, the new CRV is a hot seller, so there isn't much haggling. The dealer will give you his inflated take it or leave it price.
You seem like my father. He absolutely refused to pay MSRP for a vehicle, even without comparing that price to competing vehicles. He couldn't believe it that I paid MSRP for the Odyssey in Nov. 99. He understood though after I showed him the prices of other mini vans.
I agree with theracoon, it's the dealers who inflate the price, not Honda. You can't fault Honda for building a vehicle that so many people want. Shop around and wait for prices to come down. Good luck.
At least for my Miata, the manufacturer's specification for the parking brake is 5 to 7 clicks with a normal amount of force. You may want to ask if anyone has a service manual for the CR-V.
Rick in NY: check out fitzmall.com. Sounds like you are ready for a no-haggle dealer. They set internet prices that are very competitive, and even include freight. Plus they add no extra fees, nothing at all. My cousin and my dad have bought cars there, and the only surprise was - no surprises!
Go elsewhere, and odds are, even if they advertise "$100 over invoice", you get there and they add a $400 processing fee, then freight, then a fee to get you tags, then the accessories they already put on without your consent (like perma-plate for example). This is certainly not unique to Honda, BTW.
It's a shame they (Fitz) don't have a Honda franchise, but they do have Toyota and Subaru. And FWIW, the 2003 Forester will debut next Wednesday, so it's worth a wait to see it.
This is taken directly from Honda Owner's link: "Your Honda engine was delivered with an oil that is specially formulated for new engines that have not yet developed their "natural" wear patterns and may contain minute particles from the manufacturing process." I guess it is a good a idea to wait until the recommended mileage (5k severe/10k normal) to have the first oil change. Any idea what is so special about this "specially formulated oil"? Honda suggests using 5W30 all year long. The dealer I purchased my V suggested 10W30 or even 10W40 for the summer. I am in Texas so it gets hot here in the summer. I think a thicker oil probably makes sense for the summer. Any opinion on this issue?
Handsome - Are you stating that Honda is deliberately keeping supplies short so that the dealers can make more money per unit? I'm afraid you've been mislead. It makes absolutely no sense for Honda to do that. If anything, the dealers hate it because they lose customers to other models that are more readily available. They hike up the prices because they have to make a good profit on each one. They don't have enough to replace the ones they sell.
Let me put another spin on it for you. If reduced production were a good thing, then why would Honda be expanding their Ody production with a new line and have added the CR-V to the production lines in England?
Even if you take your time, clean up the area with isopropyl alcohol, and put the pieces on, it should not take you more than 45min - 1hr. Be sure to do that, as the instruction suggested, when the outside temp is above 65F. The double sided tape will work better at warmer temp. Like I said pay more attention to the piece on the radio/cd. All the other pieces fit perfectly. Good luck.
Juice - Good suggestion. I wasn't aware that there were specs for hand brake travel.
I'll be looking for that Soob.
Tmanmiata - I would double check that recommendation with another Honda mechanic. It seems pretty reasonable, but a second opinion would ease my conscience.
Perma-plate is supposedly a paint sealer. I have never had it on any car I own, and if you take care of your paint job it should be a problem. It certainly should not be "required".
I think it's really just dealers taking advantage of the new model start-up, where, for the time being, demand is exceeding supply, therefore, soak the consumer......rather than Honda intentionally keeping supplies low. Saw a blurb in Canadiandriver.com re: a NHTSA 2002 CR-V recall for front seatbelt pre-tensioners ....is this the "official recall" of the earlier problem, or is it something new?
artdeco: since the article says the recalls were announced in November 2001 I would think it is the original and only recall due to the seatbelt pretensioners. My V was built on November 26 and was held up at port while the seat belt was fixed before it was shipped to Canada.
I did a test drive of the automatic and manual CRV. It is a good car. I am concern about the high engine RPM (over 3000 RPM) for 60mph on the kind of flat freeway. I am interested in the manual CRV EX. It is uncomfortable to have no arm rest on the manual CRV.
The dealer in the Seattle area is charging over MSRP which I have no interest in paying. I am now considering the Toyota Highlander because of special financing (2.9%) in the Northwest and with the Highlander selling below MSRP. The gap between the Highlander (4 cycl) and CRV EX (4 cycl) is close.
The engine is quiet. I was told high RPM can impact the life of the engine. The normal RPM is around 2000-2500 RPM at simular speed (including my Accord and Caravan) on the same road. I don't know if it is something that I need to worry about.
It's a good question, but the answer is, "no". Honda has made itself a name with high revving engines. If their history is any idication, they know how to make it work.
The previous generation CR-V actually revs higher than the new one. It's been rated as the most reliable vehicle on the road. There are now a number of us with high mileage CR-Vs that never had engine problems.
My 02' EX AT is just under 2800rpm at 75mph. I understand that the MT is a little higher. But like varmit says, Honda is known for high revving engines. IMHO, it shouldn't be a concern.
According to the Dow Jones Newswires, the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has issued several recalls. "Honda will recall 340,202 Lifes and 41,950 Life Duncs because seat belts may come off in crashes." I am not familiar with these Honda cars, but in view of the November CR-V seatbelt problem, you have to wonder if there is some larger seatbelt problem in the Honda world.
Varmit, are you familiar with the Life or Life Dunc?
I'm in Texas, too. (Brrrr cold snap hit today -- high temp will only be around 70F) 10W-30 should be fine unless you're going to be offroading on the Galleria ice rink with a load of liquid helium. I'd be hesitant to use the 10W-40, though. We presume that a thicker oil protects better. But does anyone really know if a 40-weight oil will be able to get into all the nooks and crevices that need protecting in the first place? As for me, I see the "5W-30" printed on the oil cap and don't give it a second thought. I think our choice of change interval has a much greater impact on the engine.
I don't see how Honda (or any other carmaker) would benefit from artificially limiting supply. Don't the dealers buy them for the same unit price whether they get five or fifty? Besides, there are downstream revenues from financing and parts that would missed.
On my Accord. It had something to do with the plastic button getting jammed and causing problems in an accident. I still have the recall notice and if I remember the supplier of the belts was involved. Maybe that's the Life or Life Dunc they refer to. Bad me, I never did anything about it. I don't recommend the same for anyone else.
As a owner of a 98 CRV with 53,000 miles I can tell you the vehicle has been flawless mechanically. I purchased the vehicle for $200 over invoice, the price was approximately $17,000. If the prospective purchasers will exercise some patients supply will quickly catch up with demand and or competition will reduce demand. Since we have all been the victims of our government run school system our grounding in economics is somewhat week. The most important signal in the marketplace is the price signal. It tells producers what and how much to produce and consumers what and how much to consume. A high price will either cause the manufacturer to produce more and or create more competition. Paying over MSRP is a voluntary transaction between the dealer and consumer. For those of you who bemoan the dealers good fortune right now with the CRV let me ask you a question. If you decide to sell you home in a sellers market where demand exceeds supply will you take less than the market rate for your house??? Or will you help yourself to some of that extra money??? Simple economics.
So far, they are saying that the Model X will include the suicide doors and styling that closely resembles the concept cars (I have doubts about that). Power is most likely provided by the 154 hp and 141 lb-ft 2.0L engine from the Stream.
I like the Model X (dunno that I'd buy one), but I would rather have seen the Stream brought over.
I prefer the Stream, too (3 row seating). But I can understand that Honda would want to offer something a little different here, if only to stir things up.
From what I've seen and read of the Model X it looks interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing it. Sounds like almost a year until that happens, though.
The '02 CRV does NOT turn at 3000 rpm at 60 mph! My CRV clocks about 2500 rpm at 60 and about 2800 at 70 mph. You might have driven one with the Overdrive/Off button accidently engaged. The button is at the tip of the gear shift lever and is easily depressed. You're not the only one this might have happened to- Dan Hedlicka, a auto reviewer at Carpoint also reported erroneously that the CRV engine was high-revving at highway speeds. I E-Mailed him to correct his assertion- of course I have yet to recerive a response.
My favorite error from the press comes from the many reviews where they claim that the '02 CR-V is the first Honda engine to produce a higher torque number than horsepower. They seem to be forgetting the very first CR-V (126hp vs 133lb-ft) and the 99-01 Odyssey. I sent a few messages with corrections, but nothing ever came of it.
slugline - Yeah, you are in Houston if I remember correctly. Temperature wise Houston is even hotter than Dallas. I guess I don't have worry using 5W30 then. Thanks!
juice - Did you check out the many different editions of the Forester on that Subaru web site. They are quite cool! Unfortunately, like the S/tb-STi II version, they will only make 500 of them.
Since you guys are on the subject of the Stream, I thought I'd share some observations, having checked out the Stream and the 5 door Civic during a visit to Japan last year. I find the Stream not so attractive for the following reasons: 1. The Stream interior seemed more cramped, less airy than the Civic 5-door. 2. The 2nd row has significantly less leg room than the 5 door Civic. 3. The last row in the Stream, with 2 seats for small children is not likely to be used, except in a pinch. In effect, I found the Stream to be more of a 4 seater than a 7 seater(because the center seat in the middle row is not that great). 4. The Stream has a hint of minivan styling, even though it is lower in height than a minivan.
Nevertheless, I think both the Civic 5 door and the Stream would have a market in the US. The Stream would be a good choice for parents of small children looking for an entry level minivan, while the 5 door would be a good vehicle for those buyers who want a stylish utility vehicle like the Mazda P5 or Toyota Matrix. Being a Honda loyalist though, I'd settle for the Stream if that were the only one that Honda decided to bring in.
PS. The Fit subcompact would be a big hit in the US, IMHO. Sometimes, I think it must be a no-brainer being a product planner for Honda in the US!
There are several dealers in the Capital District, so you can fine tune your buying approach several times. Mostly, remember this is YOUR MONEY and will be YOUR CAR. There is no sale until you decide its a sale. In my humble opinion, you shouldn't buy during a first trip to a dealer. What's the hurry? They will be getting new shipments of the CRV's regularly. Don't buy until you get YOUR deal...not their deal.
The articles about buying in Edmunds as well as Consumer Reports magazine are excellent! Read them! The more informed you are the better.
AFTER reading the articles, you'll recognize the saleman's bull befor he finishes his pitch.
Decide what you want, what you are willing to pay. Let several area dealer's know you are price shopping. When one meets your requirements...go for it. If the terms "change" when things are being finalized......WALK OUT!!
There are dozens of salesman throughout the Capital District to buy that car from. Good Luck!!
If someone purchases a CRV (or any vehicle for that matter) for MSRP (sticker) plus $500-$2000, and has the misfortune to total it soon after...
I don't think their insurance company will cover their purchase cost...just the car's value. Am I right? Wouldn't the owner be out anything over MSRP??
My favorite error from the press comes from the many reviews where they claim that the '02 CR-V is the first Honda engine to produce a higher torque number than horsepower.
LOL. Now that is a great way to review vehicles. I never thought that CRV would have any less torque than it does if it made 143 lb.-ft @ 6000 rpm (instead of 140 lb.-ft @ 6000 rpm) resulting in 163 HP.
tman: I'm hoping the US gets a few of the more interesting Forester variants next time around. Japan gets a screaming 250hp model. Prodrive custom builds a Forester to pre-run rally events for the WRC. The parts exist, just put them together and offer them at dealerships, please!
But it's the same with Honda, we don't get the Type R models here.
BTW, comparing torque to horsepower isn't even relevant, because they are in different units of measure. It's like saying 10 pounds is more than 9 miles. LOL!
Took delivery of a 02 V Ex Manual today. It revs at exactly 2800 @60mph. Much quieter than previous model and lots more powerful. I had a dealer CD of the CRV that is used for press stories etc. In it, they state that although the V had not been safety tested yet, its engineers specifically designed it to get the highest test results in all of the major tests e.g. offset, side etc. I hope this comes to pass. Since it is related to the new Civic, it should not fare any worse, and the Civic is very highly rated safety-wise.
Comments
i have been lurking here for a few days now and i finally decided to join in. i'm in the market to buy a 2002 cr-v EX. i live in the albany, ny area, does anyone know of a good dealer? and i'm new at this, i'm sooo worried about being taken advantage of at the dealership bc i'm young and female, so any tips are welcome. ALso, should i look online for my cr-v? any particular sites? Thanks a lot for your responses!
I will do the first service at 5000 mi as severe condition, though I belong to normal condition. But i do not want to wait to 10k for first service, that is too long.
BTW, i am living in south carolina. it is 75F today.
http://www.edmunds.com/advice/
Your best defenses against being taken advantage of are preparation and patience. Monitor the Edmunds TMV for any model you are interested in. Be wary of any bogus charges for stuff like "paint protectant."
Hit the websites of all of your local dealers and get in contact with a manager of Internet/fleet sales at each. The dealers that are "with it" should answer you with a decent price from the get-go. Perhaps you can even attempt to start a bidding war. Remember that no one can tell that you're young and female through email . . . unless your address really is something like Young@Female.com <GRIN>.
If you intend to finance the vehicle, seek pre-approval from other lenders before walking into the dealership. I did this and the finance guy gave me a better rate than he would have otherwise.
And if you're not convinced that you're getting a good value for any reason, be prepared to hold firm to what you think is reasonable. To borrow from the old Doritos ad, "Walk away all you want. They'll make more."
parking break. I will wait to the oil change service to request and adjustment
I guess the clicking noise mystery has been solved. In my car, it is audible if you pay attention to it and the radio is off, but I agree, shouldn't that have been informed to the customers and specially, the Honda technicians? C'est la vie!
Well, I won't pay for something I don't want. Especially when I am told I "have" to buy it. Funny, its not listed on the Honda Brochure. All this and I was willing to pay MSRP!!
I have to strongly recommend not using Sunset Honda in San Luis Obispo!! If I end up getting a CRV I will be sure to spend the extra 20 minutes to go to the next closest dealer.
http://www.ahm-ownerlink.com/
and it will tell you what the intervals are for your vehicle, based on year and model. The very first thing it says is:
Following the factory-recommended maintenance schedule in your Honda Owner's Manual is the best thing you can do for your vehicle.
For a '99 Milano Red CR-V EX 5 spd (what I own now) the oil change interval is 3750 mi/6 months for severe, or 7500 mi/12 months for normal. This information is from the Owners Manual. The web site linked above doesn't specify months.
From the above website, an '02 Eternal Blue Pearl CR-V EX 5 spd (what I wish I owned) the oil change interval is 5000 miles/8000 km for severe conditions, or 10,000 miles/16,000 km/1 year for normal conditions. It doesn't specify months for the 5000 mi/8000 km change.
Your dealer's 3000 mi/4 month suggestion sounds like he wants more of your money.
Who are you going to believe? Honda that made your CR-V? Or your dealer that sold it to you?
And no, the color of your CR-V doesn't make any difference.
I do think Honda Builds a great vehicle in the CRV but their marketing people should be hung out to dry.. I will wait thru spring so see if deals become more reasonable. I have never paid sticker in my life and will absolutely not now pay MSRP or any overcharges the dealers are imposing... If necessary,,, I will go the Forester route as I hate auto makers that take advantage of buyers in this fashion... I know that there are some,, especially car salesman, who say no foul has occured because people are paying what the market will bear. Well, you may be able to get the weak minded to swallow that, but I've been around for a while and know what fair pricing is.... As far as I'm concerned, the current price of CRV's is blatently unfair, unreasonable, and a ripoff of loyal customers. Fair warning honda,,, I may not be with the majority out there,,, but I'll bet there are a lot of buyers out there that might agree with me...
People with intelligence,,, stand up and be counted.
INKY
I agree with theracoon, it's the dealers who inflate the price, not Honda. You can't fault Honda for building a vehicle that so many people want. Shop around and wait for prices to come down. Good luck.
Rick in NY: check out fitzmall.com. Sounds like you are ready for a no-haggle dealer. They set internet prices that are very competitive, and even include freight. Plus they add no extra fees, nothing at all. My cousin and my dad have bought cars there, and the only surprise was - no surprises!
Go elsewhere, and odds are, even if they advertise "$100 over invoice", you get there and they add a $400 processing fee, then freight, then a fee to get you tags, then the accessories they already put on without your consent (like perma-plate for example). This is certainly not unique to Honda, BTW.
It's a shame they (Fitz) don't have a Honda franchise, but they do have Toyota and Subaru. And FWIW, the 2003 Forester will debut next Wednesday, so it's worth a wait to see it.
-juice
"Your Honda engine was delivered with an oil that is specially formulated for new engines that have not yet developed their "natural" wear patterns and may contain minute particles from the manufacturing process."
I guess it is a good a idea to wait until the recommended mileage (5k severe/10k normal) to have the first oil change. Any idea what is so special about this "specially formulated oil"?
Honda suggests using 5W30 all year long. The dealer I purchased my V suggested 10W30 or even 10W40 for the summer. I am in Texas so it gets hot here in the summer. I think a thicker oil probably makes sense for the summer. Any opinion on this issue?
Let me put another spin on it for you. If reduced production were a good thing, then why would Honda be expanding their Ody production with a new line and have added the CR-V to the production lines in England?
Good luck.
I'll be looking for that Soob.
Tmanmiata - I would double check that recommendation with another Honda mechanic. It seems pretty reasonable, but a second opinion would ease my conscience.
Saw a blurb in Canadiandriver.com re: a NHTSA 2002 CR-V recall for front seatbelt pre-tensioners
....is this the "official recall" of the earlier problem, or is it something new?
For those intested, here is the article:
http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/020131-1.htm
The dealer in the Seattle area is charging over MSRP which I have no interest in paying. I am now considering the Toyota Highlander because of special financing (2.9%) in the Northwest and with the Highlander selling below MSRP. The gap between the Highlander (4 cycl) and CRV EX (4 cycl) is close.
Until demand on the CR-V settles down, I would be taking a serious look at the Highlander as well.
The previous generation CR-V actually revs higher than the new one. It's been rated as the most reliable vehicle on the road. There are now a number of us with high mileage CR-Vs that never had engine problems.
Varmit, are you familiar with the Life or Life Dunc?
I don't see how Honda (or any other carmaker) would benefit from artificially limiting supply. Don't the dealers buy them for the same unit price whether they get five or fifty? Besides, there are downstream revenues from financing and parts that would missed.
Your right about the seatbelts. While the CR-V's recall was a while ago, I wonder if there is a problem with the supplier?
BTW, the Model X was approved for production (and it's CR-V based). I wonder if they'll keep the suicide-style doors. That thing is wild!
-juice
I like the Model X (dunno that I'd buy one), but I would rather have seen the Stream brought over.
-juice
http://hubcap.clemson.edu/~wstef/hist.html
Actually it seems they had alot of models with more Torque than horsepower, I guess that just goes to show how much research reviewers actually do.
http://www.honda.co.jp/LIFE/
slugline - Yeah, you are in Houston if I remember correctly. Temperature wise Houston is even hotter than Dallas. I guess I don't have worry using 5W30 then. Thanks!
juice - Did you check out the many different editions of the Forester on that Subaru web site. They are quite cool! Unfortunately, like the S/tb-STi II version, they will only make 500 of them.
1. The Stream interior seemed more cramped, less airy than the Civic 5-door.
2. The 2nd row has significantly less leg room than the 5 door Civic.
3. The last row in the Stream, with 2 seats for small children is not likely to be used, except in a pinch. In effect, I found the Stream to be more of a 4 seater than a 7 seater(because the center seat in the middle row is not that great).
4. The Stream has a hint of minivan styling, even though it is lower in height than a minivan.
Nevertheless, I think both the Civic 5 door and the Stream would have a market in the US. The Stream would be a good choice for parents of small children looking for an entry level minivan, while the 5 door would be a good vehicle for those buyers who want a stylish utility vehicle like the Mazda P5 or Toyota Matrix. Being a Honda loyalist though, I'd settle for the Stream if that were the only one that Honda decided to bring in.
PS. The Fit subcompact would be a big hit in the US, IMHO. Sometimes, I think it must be a no-brainer being a product planner for Honda in the US!
The articles about buying in Edmunds as well as Consumer Reports magazine are excellent! Read them! The more informed you are the better.
AFTER reading the articles, you'll recognize the saleman's bull befor he finishes his pitch.
Decide what you want, what you are willing to pay. Let several area dealer's know you are price shopping. When one meets your requirements...go for it. If the terms "change" when things are being finalized......WALK OUT!!
There are dozens of salesman throughout the Capital District to buy that car from. Good Luck!!
I don't think their insurance company will cover their purchase cost...just the car's value. Am I right? Wouldn't the owner be out anything over MSRP??
LOL. Now that is a great way to review vehicles. I never thought that CRV would have any less torque than it does if it made 143 lb.-ft @ 6000 rpm (instead of 140 lb.-ft @ 6000 rpm) resulting in 163 HP.
But it's the same with Honda, we don't get the Type R models here.
BTW, comparing torque to horsepower isn't even relevant, because they are in different units of measure. It's like saying 10 pounds is more than 9 miles. LOL!
-juice