2001 - 2006 Honda CR-Vs

varmit

Darry110 - It's okay to recommend other cars when appropriate. We've seen a lot of posts here about the Forester and with new competition on the market, I expect to seen many more "off topic" comparisons. Just remember the audience here and try to keep your posts within the boundaries of "appropriate" however you see them.

BTW, I also took a look at the SF. I didn't drive it, but I got in one and took a look around. I was pleasantly surprised by the cabin space and materials used. I was not surprised by the way it was put together. Getting into it revealed a rattle in the door and the switchgear was both stiff and cheap. Fabrics were good and the seating was comfortable up front. Based on the reviews, I've read, the V-6 is not worth the extra gas. The extra power is sapped by the extra weight of the vehicle. The manu-matic tranny is a nice touch, given the relatively low price. However, the one I looked at was MSRP'd at nearly $26K. I got my CR-V EX for less than $20K back in '99. If I were going to spend that kind of money, I'd probably get the top of the line Tribute.

darryl10

The V6 is mandatory if you want awd. I liked the switch gear, felt good. The one I drove felt real good. I like how the seat front adjuster was a long easy to reach bar, rather than a hard to find lever. Also,nothing was present that screamed "Cheap!" like the CRV (like the cheap speakers,cheap tires, or that under passenger seat tray that rattles around)As for $26K, there has got to be a lot of dealer mark up there. A fully loaded one with leather, abs, tration control,awd goes for about$23K-$24K tops.When the CRV first came out, it too suffered from dealer gouging. I considered myself fortunate to pay $500 above invoice. Also, some dealers will claim not add "dealer markup", but instead will load down the car with crap like alarms, roof racks,paint protection, etc. When I shopped for my CRV, I saw a few whored out CRV's, and they were selling for around $25K! Even to this day, the local dealer never has more than two CRV's, and that has more to do with availablity, than sales. I suspect the same applies to the Santa Fe. Hyundai hasn't never had a red hot winner of car and I can see dealers getting excited over the prospect of being able to really gouge the consumer. Hyundai is hoping the Santa Fe can rebuild their sales, but the dealers can trash that idea in a hurry. Honda has many dealers selling lots of product and that helps them from doing that. I am also surprised that when I shopped for my CRV, and whenever I read these boards, no one mentions the greatest attribute of the CRV- its phenomenal resell value! After seeing all the problems with the Escape/tribute, I would bet its resell value is pretty bad. Back in '98, I could have spent $3,000 more on a Jeep Cherokee and my CRV would still be worth more. I do have to say that Hyundai quality is good and getting better (based on JD Power, journalists, and my own opinion), Mazda is getting worse (What could they learn from Ford about quality?) and Honda quality isn't getting any better (some of the parts in the CRV are pretty chinzty, but the thing is put together well and doesn't break). Subaru? Like I said before, the mechanic at a Honda Subaru dealer says that Honda is in a totally different league than Sube, in quality. The CRV is revered for how rare they come back, while the sube is often cursed for having brakes and O2 sensors fail, then having to explain to the customer why the parts take so long to get in.

darryl10

Here is a site to see a pic. Is it fake? You be the judge.
http://www.j-cars.net/newcar_mar00.htm

varmit

Thanks for the link. I'm afraid that's a fake

The info may be correct, but the picture is one that I mentioned above. That's a current generation CR-V with aftermarket add-ons. Notice that rims are the same as the EX, as are the windows, grill (though painted), door handles, head lamps, and hood. The only things that are noticeably different are the bumpers.

That pic has been around for at least a year. Someone at Hondasuv.com was able to tell us who the manufacturers of some the parts are. Part of what sets it apart are the fact that it's a Japan spec model with sidemarkers and forward mounted rear view mirror. Though is doesn't show in the picture, that car doesn't have a rear mounted spare either. That site isn't the first to have been fooled by it.

carguy62

Catching up. I believed you when you named the Accord price, it's the dealers I don't trust (did he buy for that price?)

carguy62

warning: very little CR-V content, others may skip (it is Honda related of course).

In post #386 you said "forced Honda to do things like ruin the weight distribution of the Accord by
dropping in a V-6, or removing the double wishbone suspension from the Civic to make room in the cabin."

Totally agree about the Civic, all so they could get a few more cubic feet of interior space (the flat floor looks really weird in my opinion), but the Accord statement made me think. The current Accord (I have an '01 V6 sedan) is much larger than it was in the past (my '89 Accord is about the same size as the current Civic) so I think the V6 engine is justified. I'm not sure about throwing off the weight distribution but the vehicle weighs 3500 lbs. so a V6 is not out of place imo. They could have gotten away with only the I4 but many people are scared to rev an engine like that one needs to be revved. Most Honda owners know this is how their engines are meant to be used (which is why I don't think the CR-V lacks "get up" for my taste), but others don't.

spycygrl

97 was the first year they made the CRV. The horsepower on that engine was 126. They are now 150 I believe. Anything the first year will more than likely have a few issues. But in the long run, the 97 CRV was still a great car.

& the new ones are flying off the lots.
--C

slugline

Competition is good for consumers. If Mazda, Ford, Hyundai etc. have indeed raised the bar in this market, then bravo for them. (I'll get to see for myself when the Houston Auto Show comes to town in January.) I love my CR-V and still feel like I made the right choice last winter.

Even if you are a diehard Honda fan, take solace in the knowledge that the current CR-V has more than proven itself as it enters its fifth model year. I wouldn't expect the "newcomers" to fall short if they've had this much time to draw a bead on their target, right? Now, just as it seems that the competition has taken an edge over Honda, the next generation CR-V prepares to debut. . . .

crvowner1

Hi. I'm new to this board. Bought a Honda CRV about 5 weeks ago, and so far just love it. Wanting some input. I live in the Midwest. Have other CRV owners had their Honda's rustproofed? As you know lots of salt and other chemicals are put down on the roads when it snows. Was wondering if other people had theirs rustproofed or if anyone knows if it is a gimmick like some people I have talked to claim. Want to do whats best to keep my car in good shape. Any info would be appreciated.

doubting_tom

Hi all,

I am researching about CR-V SE and I liked what I learnt about the vehicle. I test-drove it once and I was satisfied with its performance. I couldn't get enough information about the security & anti-theft features of CR-V. A dealer told me that it has engine immobilization and steering column lock. He offered to install a security system which is nothing but forced-entry alarm for $495. A friend of mine confirmed the existence of steering column lock. I couldn't find any info on this feature in the web sites. Does anyone have any information on the anti-theft features of CR-V SE? Is it wise to go for that $495 alarm?

coxmcse

did you ever get the "honk if you have large breasts!" sticker put on your bumper?

heheheeee....

beatfarmer

No but I still have a picture of the sticker you had on the bumper of your lime green '76 Chevette.

To answer a few other questions, If you live in the rust belt, rustproofing (when properly done) can help. I had it done on mine since the SHA tends to salt the roads around here whenever it rains hard. Your mileage may vary. If you live in a warmer areas, just wash and wax often.

Doubting Tom, any alarm system can be defeated. The audible alarm is there to deter but also to notify you that someone is trying to break into your car. The imoblizer is what will help prevent them from actually taking the car. ( I didn't know this was standard now) For example, someone center punches a window in the middle of the night to grab some stuff from the interior (stereo, air bag, etc.). With the alarm, they might run and you might wake up to investigate when it goes off. Without the alarm, you wake up the next morning to survey the damage.

varmit

Carguy - I agree. The new, larger Accord is better matched with the V6. However, I believe the engine was demanded before the Accord got so big. The increase in size was made possible by the increase in engine, not the other way around. BTW, the Civic also gained better crush zones with the 'revised' suspension. I'm giving Honda some slack for that. IMO, the space increase was not necessary (but might come in handy for the CR-V based on the new platform). ;-)

Slugline - "Now, just as it seems that the competition has taken an edge over Honda, the next generation CR-V prepares to debut. . . ."

Yep. I have to wonder what Toyota was thinking when they redesigned the RAV4. It has waaaay too much in common with the current CR-V (styling aside). They should have been aiming for the Escape instead of the five year old CR-V. I remember reading a lot reviews on the CR-V saying "Great car. Where's the V6?" Ford/Mazda and Hyundai have answered, but Toyo seems to have missed the boat. I'm wondering if Ford/Mazda are going to make as big an impact next year as they are now. Many people are waiting a year before they purchase their Escape/Tribute so that the 'bugs' have been worked out. By then we'll have a new CR-V, a new Jeep, and the new Saturn may squeeze into this class. I'm wondering if the new RAV4 and Escape/Tribute will be "here today, gone tomorrow". They don't have much time to make an impact in sales before the market gets competitive again.

Tom - You might try LoJack if it's offered in your area. It's a vehicle recovery system (not theft prevention), but mine came with an audio alarm included. Total cost; about $500. It paid for itself with insurance deductions.

darryl10

The immobilizer is standard equipment in some questions, but not the U.S.U.S. Federal law does require all cars made after 1970 or so to have a steering lock.

hondabro2000

I just test drove a fully loaded Escape with V6, leather, sunroof, etc ($24K) and was quite impressed. It was powerful (201hp), refined and transmission was smooth. The interior was roomier than my CR-V and quite comfortable. The dash layout was impressive and didn't look cheap at all. I would definately recommend it to anyone.... except for one obvious downside..... it's a FORD! Plus, the dealer didn't seem willing to discount a dime.

If it was made by Honda or Toyota (or Ford had a 10 year warranty), I'd definately recommend it over the CR-V.

reiner4

It may have nice amenities but with all the recalls - what is it 5 now - I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. I think FORD has been given new meaning - Fix-Or-Recall-Daily.

I don't even think KIA's had that bad of a track record that soon out of the starting block.

Just proves that one should be patient and not jump at a first year model. I don't know specifics, but I can only imagine the CR-V had it's bumps when first introduced to the Japanese market prior to it's release in the US. The US and other consumers were fortunate in this case.

As for FORD products, the Japanese and other non-Ford markets are the fortunate ones.

newdriver2

IS Ford a bad motor company? How bad is it? Can you tell me more?

varmit

Newdriver2 - Ford isn't a bad company. Many of their products are good designs. Ford seems to have a knack for building their cars the way that Americans want cars to be built. The Taurus, Focus, F150, and new Escape are all well thought out packages.

That being said...

They can't seem to get the quality or reliability right. Many Fords are rated average for reliability, but there are also quite a few that fall below the industry average. There are very few that are consistently above average and none that I know of that are exceptional.

If you don't mind dealing with a few breakdowns and/or unscheduled trips to the dealer, then the Escape is a good little SUV (personally, I prefer the Tribute). However, don't expect it to last as long as a CR-V, RAV4, or Forester. While I don't often predict the future, I'm willing to bet that the resale on an Escape is going to be poor.

darryl10

I think the Santa Fe is well designed and well built. However, the memory of the Excel is still fresh in people's minds and that will keep the resell on the Santa Fe down. Ford could fix the Escape and make it the best build car next year, but that will not erase the shame with the recall history of the Escape, ant they will have poor resell regardless. I remember when Audi ggot so fed up with the bad rep of the 5000 that they changed the name to the "100"! Ford, in the past has a good rep for trucks (this coming from a Chevy man!), but the Escape is a easily spotted blemish. Mazda, sorry to say, has gone down the toilet. In quality, I would rank them below Hyundai, above Kia.

hondabro2000

Recall isn't a death penalty nor detrimental to future success. Saturn, for example, got off to a rocky start. Several recalls, including engines catching on fire.... almost 10 years later, it's rated as the most reliable domestic.

Escape definately has all the attributes of a
winner.... looks, power, comfort, and
affordability. The only thing keeping it from
dominating the small SUV segment is the bad
publicity from the recalls. As long as it works out all the bugs and achieves just an average reliablility, people will flock to it, just like the Explorer (#1 best selling SUV for 9 years in a row).

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Ford fan. Family owned several Fords which broke down often. I've test driven several Fords lately and the ONLY one I like is the Escape. Being a Lexus/Honda owner, it takes a lot for a domestic to impress me and the Escape certainly did.

gonzo1124

I have a '01 CRV that my wife drives most of the time. I have a '00 Mustang GT that I drive all the time. Like both a lot. GT is a blast to drive. Not comfortable or handy, but a real american muscle car (one of the few left in production). I paid the same for my GT than what I paid for the CRV SE. Two different cars, for two different reasons. By the way, 15-months of hard use on the Mustang, not one single problem!
I do enjoy driving the CRV on week-ends.

hobbs05

Can anyone tell me when Honda's 02 CRV is scheduled for sale? I have, of course, researched the Tribute and am very reluctant to pull the trigger. Any idea what the new CRV will look like? Will it still have the tire on the back? Is it going to be a total body overhaul? Any info would be helpful. Thanks.

beatfarmer

Your guess is as good as any. No real pic out there yet.

varmit

The current CR-V has been such a sales success, I doubt that the next gen model will be a radical departure. Expect an increase in engine volume (most likely no more than a 2.2 or 2.4), some interior tweaking, and additional equipment.

I would not expect a model with 200hp, leather trimmings, GPS, sportshift, etc... Honda is supposed to be releasing a Honda version of the MDX in 2003. A decked out CR-V would be too competitive.

sobers

Has rated CRV as the BEST Car in USA as far as reliability goes. It ranks THE 1st in USA for last 3 years. Negligible problems reported by vast # of users.

rfarhaj

Hi,

I have got a 2001 SE CRV. I had recently gone on a trip of about five hours and though a nose cover would be a good idea. So I got that from my Honda dealer before leaving on my trip. And I've left it on for about since Thanksgiving. But I've read some emails about nose covers/masks in this list saying that this can spoil the paint job. Could someone tell me if this can be prevented in anyway? And secondly does waxing under it belp? Or do I have to take it off often. In case if I have to take it off often, I think I would stick to the idea of just putting it on for long trips.
Any info on this?

beatfarmer

or bras can cause paint damage if they are left on the vehicle without removing them for cleaning or when they ge wet. Debris builds up underneath and works like sandpaper to scrach the paint. You should remove the covers often to clean any accumulated debris and apply a fresh coat of wax to the hood. Another option is the hard acrylic hood deflectors that do not rest directly on the paint and can be left on for extended periods of time.

darryl10

The CRV has super thin paint that can quickly be chipped and sand blasted away. I got the Macneil bug deflector ($70) Took me 15 minutes to install, helps keep the lower part of the windshield clean, protects the hood real good and it lookssharp! I have it on a red CRV and it gives a sporty look. Highly recomend it.

hondabro2000

From my experience, bra's don't damage or cloud the paint. I had one on my Chevy for years without removing it, and when I took it off, the paint was in better condition than the rest of the body. Same thing on my Honda, had one for a year and no "clouding" whatsoever. I think manufacturers exaggerate just to protect themselves from possible lawsuits.

isellhondas

Any smart car appraiser will cringe when a car comes in with a bra on it. They will peel back the bra to check for paint clouding or scratching.

These miserable things do more damage than good...UNLESS they are removed very often. Even then, I've seen paint bubbled when trapped moisture gets too hot under them.

I'll take a few rock chips instead!

tomsr

I put a bug deflector on my new 98 Explorer
thinking I was protecting the hood from rocks.
Well, guess what? It touched the paint at one
point on the fender and it rubbed the paint off.
So I don't have a rock chip but a 3/16 hole in the paint under the deflector.I thought it was interesting about CRV having thin paint.I have a
98 Acura also and the paint is thick and tough.
We need a high quality small SUV for 20 grand but
it's not made.Would it cost that much to put a couple of coats of paint on my Explorer?I guess
industry wide it's build them cheap as you can
and sell them for as much as you can.GREEd!

mihai1

I have a 93 Del Sol and I decided it would look cool with a 2 piece bra (it does look cool). Biiig mistake. As soon as I put it, it damaged my paint pretty bad. Waxing won't help much. You will have to take the bra off every day to clean it off. Also if it rains, you will have to take it off ASAP. It's good for the highway, but take it off right away when you arrive at your destination. A bug guard will probably look better on the CRV and it won't damage the paint either.
I tried to clean the paint with McGuiars' cleaner but it will not come off. I could use a clay bar, but I am afraid it would damage the paint even further. Any ideas? Thanks

medhonda

I recently purchased a CRV and was amazed at the amount of road noise transmitted to the interior. I had the vehicle undercoated, which helped a bit. The salesman said that the problem was with the tires and that there are much quieter tires. So, my question is, what is the collective thoughts on replacement tires. I also need tires that have good traction and rain capabilities. (I live in Oregon and at the end of a steep 1/5 mile dirt driveway). My old 85 Camry used Michellean X tires that I thought were pretty good.

hondabro2000

isellhondas,

From my PERSONAL experiences, bras didn't damage any of my cars' paint. I did clean & wax prior to putting them on, which may help. But I guess it also depends on the quality of the bra and the paint job.

=============================================
med,

Quieter tires may help a little, but not much. CR-V's generally a noisy car with poor sound insulation. For me, I think the engine buzzing is more annoying than the road noise. But I always drive with the radio blasting, so neither noises bother me.

I've read somewhere that someone with a noisy car had more insulation put in. But I probably wouldn't want to drill holes in the car and risk rusting. I would just chaulk it up as a lesson learned and buy a new car with more insulation next time.

hondabro2000

Another thing about the noise.... I just test drove a '01 Accord EX V6, which is much quieter than the CR-V.... BUT, it was noisier than my Lexus. I guess my point is, if you worry about the noise, you'll never be satisifed with any car, because I think my Lexus isn't quiet enough either. I guess a good sound system with lots of bass would be the best solution!

reiner4

I don't find the road noise offensive. I normally have the music on (not necessarily blaring) or have my loving 4 & 10 year old daughters in the car - which helps drown out the noise. B-)

One of my other cars, which I drove constantly prior to buying the CR-V, is an '83 Porsche 944 which definitely allows you to feel / hear the road, so in this regard the CR-V is quieter. I almost fall asleep while driving our '98 Grand Caravan - it's so quiet.

I currently have the stock BFG TA's, which I find to be relatively quiet compared to comparable tires.

medhonda - welcome to the 'club' !!

varmit

Sobers - Which issue did you read that in? The last time I read their reliability ratings, the top dog was an Infinity or Lexus. The CR-V was only the top SUV. Of course that was almost a year ago...

Tomsr - If I recall correctly, your Integra has a 3 coat/3 bake paint job. That's about as good as it gets. For comparison, the TL only gets a 2 coat/1 bake finish. I don't recall what the CR-V gets, but it's easy to see why the Integra would be better.

Medhonda - As long as everyone else is piping in... Changing your tires may reduce NVH somewhat, but noise from the tires is only part of the problem. There is also noise form the engine and wind noise. The wind noise isn't too bad considering that the CR-V has the aerodynamic grace of a brick wrapped in a slice of lemon. However, changing your tires may only reduce tire noise and call your attention to the conversation coming from your engine. If you decide to change them, go with a good tire like the ones suggested by Darryl10 (not the el cheapo Walmart special). It sounds like you'll need good traction to get out of your driveway in the snow. And what good is a quiet car if you can't get out of the driveway?

Oh yeah, add one more vote against the use of a bra (on your car). They will hold water against the paint and, unless you wax the area once each month, it will abrade the finish. Besides, they look silly.

darryl10

I have San marino Red. It consists of red tinted primer, red paint, and red tinted clear. Everything is tinted to allow a super thin coat of paint. It is applied fine, it is the thickness that makes it so easy to chip.
BFG tires. If you look them up on tirerack.com, they are among the cheapest tires available in that size! They have all around bad grip. One reason I believe that the Nailguards are better in snow is that I can feel the awd kick in less than with the old BFG tires. Admittedly, this only obvious when I am parked in a 6" of snow and gun it, but hey! Also, they have way better dry grip. I like them because there have been many a time when I drove on ice coated road that was so bumpy that i thought I had a flat. With nailguard, I don't have to worry!
My CRV has a horribly chipped and pitted windshield. This is partly due to the high stance of the CRV and lack of aerdynamics. The Bug guard has helped a little, it would be worse without it.So, get it. Also, I notice that mine helps divert some snow toward the top of my windshield, helping my visibility.Plus, it really looks so sporty!

lmahler

Hello everyone. I have asked this question before, however, whenever I get updates, I like to post the question again. When I bought my EX 2000 in May, I received the CRV with tires that had a pressure of 30PSI per tire(standard Bridgestone). When I went for my first oil change the Honda mechanic lowered the pressure in each tire to 26PSI. (which is the capacity recommended on the sticker inside the door). On Sunday I pulled a flat tire. (I actually loved the Michelins I had on my 87 Accord. One flat tire in 11 years). However, the mechanic at the gas station I went to raised the tire pressure to 32PSI (Going by the specifics on the tire itself). Can anyone shed some light on this subject for me? I truly love my CRV, however what is a good tire pressure for this vehicle???
Thanx, as always, Lmahler

mooc

does anyone have any experience with a 1997 honda crv, good bad or indifferent

thanks

darryl10

Honda says 26lbs. I think this is too low, and it sacrifices handling for a softer ride. More air will make your tires last longer and improve handling. I keep mine at 30 lbs. Remember, in the winter, a tire can lose a lb or more of air a month, so check them often. Too much air isn't as bad as not enough. Also, check them when they are stone cold

reiner4

I've got the BFG's on my '99 EX Auto - when I had it serviced recently they set the pressure to 32 PSI all around. When I inquired the Service Manager stated that Honda was now recommending this PSI vs. the 26 PSI stated on the door panel. Not sure if geographical location has anything to do with it - be it altitude and / or distribution of new service manuals / requirements. 8-)

Though the ride may be firmer I think it has better handling overall and I have actually been getting 25 MPG consistently. It's all good !

Cheers !

medhonda

Thanks for all the responses! It is definitely the tires making the noise. When I drive on I-5 (a cement surfaced) freeway, in the slow lane I can REALLY hear the noise (almost drowns out the radio!). The big trucks chew up that lane. If I split it or drive on ashpalt surfaces it quiets right down. Heck, my Ford F250 Diesel is quieter!
As for windshield "pocking", it kinda depends on where you live. I moved from Colorado, and I think that that state used some form of diamond rock to "salt" their roads in winter.

Windshields last about 1 yr there
Bug shields (or whatever you want to call them) proved to be quite usefull in keeping the front edge of the hood from being sand blasted.

I agree with the writers about bra's. I'm real suspecious about their long term effects. The only valid use I saw for one was when a kid put it on his TransAm to cover up front end crash damage

kar_man

My wife's '98 CRV EX has started having a high pitch squeal coming from the front wheels when a very sharp turn (backing out of a parking place, etc..) is made. She asked about it (over the phone) and was told that it was the brakes. The sound does not appear however when the brakes are applied in normal situations, only on the very sharp turn.
Anyone else hearing this?

tomsr

I tend to get drowsy on long trips in super quiet
cars.I never got drowsy in a VW beetle or VW van.
So for safety you need noise.A Buick with cruise
control on is a disaster waiting to happen unless
you have Hard Rock blaring full blast.

hondabro2000

Noise is good????? You'd make a great salesman!

------------------------
It seems majority of anti-bra sentiment are from ppl who never had em. Like I said, I had them for two cars and neither suffered damage from it, even tho I hardly ever removed them. The majority of covered area is plastic (i.e. bumper) anyways....

Why did I get the bra's? I bought them for mainly looks (no different than gold packages, chrome wheels, etc), but thinking about getting one for my Lexus, since my car looks like a bug zapper with bugs splattered all over the front bumper. I also get lots of stone damage, which the bra would've prevented.

beatfarmer

Does the noise only occure when the steering wheel is turned all the way to the stop? Does the noise only appear with the brakes applied?

I would also take a look at the power steering pump. You may be low on fluid or the drive belt may be worn/loose. The brake noise theor by itself doesn't make sense to me.

Hey Bro, I don't use a bra because I had friends who did and had bad luck. As always, YMMV, so if you have had good luck in the past, knock yourself out.

isellhondas

Hondabro...I see the damage on cars that are traded in from these bras. I'll take a few paint chips anytime. Not all cars have bra damage, but most do.

As far as looks...that's subjective. Personally, I don't think they do anything but I despise gold kits too!

To each his own...

mikefm58

Anyone know the cheapest place to buy an extra remote for my keyless entry system for my 1999 CRV? The dealer wants $151.00 and the best price I could find on an internet web site was about $66.00. Please respond via email if you can, MikeFM58@hotmail.com.

Thanks.

varmit

I have an aftermarket alarm system and have gotten an extra remote for $15.00. The devices themselves are dirt cheap. The only "problem" is programming it to match the key fobs that you already have. I'm told that this takes about five minutes and shouldn't be a "problem" at all.

I dunno what the OEM remotes are like, but based on my experience, I wouldn't pay more than $20-$30.