2001 - 2006 Honda CR-Vs

varmint · August 2003

Tobykoz - Your speed doesn't matter as much as the engine rpm. Avoid long trips on the highway or using cruise control. Don't abuse the car (fast starts, short stops, etc.) After the first 1,000 miles, you shold be fine.

robr2 · August 2003

Boston to the South Coast of MA almost every weekend growing up. Luckily only 2 kids but as we grew older, the cars grew smaller.

1969 Pontiac Executive hardtop
1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass hardtop
1975 Chevy Vega hatchback
1979 Pontiac Sunfire coupe (ever try stuffing 2 teenage boys in the back of one of those)
1981 Pontiac Phoenix hatchback - a 4 door w/ AC but we were too old to visit aunts and uncles at that point
1987 Dodge Caravan - Dad finally got something with room once we vacated the nest.

We used to sleep on the floor of the Executive and Cutlass and nibble on our knees in the Vega and Sunfire. Seat belts - HAH!! Now Dad has a CRV with car seats firmly installed to transport the grandchildren and it doesn't move until everyone is buckled in.

icvci · August 2003

That's funny. I think I have the safety thing beat here though. My dad and grandpa made a thing we called "The Board" for the back of the Valiant. It was a piece of plywood cut to sit on top of the back seat perfectly. It had one leg of 2x6 so it wouldn't sag into the floor behind the front seats. (The other side was used for storage.) It was covered in bright green shag carpet. My sister and I would sit on top of this thing and it was great fun. We had our own little play area. Coloring books, Etch-a-Sketch, cars, dolls, the whole nine yards. We'd put our pillows around us and make tents in the back seat. We stretched out and slept. Safety? Thank goodness we never got in an accident!

Of course, the seat my girl rides in looks like it's the most comfortable seat in the world! And it's safe.

ateixeira · August 2003

The important thing is not to put too much load on the engine. In other words, don't apply wide-open throttle when going up hill carrying a load. Even below 4000rpm that strains a new engine.

Also be gentle on the brakes until the pads are properly seated, i.e. try to avoid slamming them for a while.

Generally, just drive smoothly for the first 1k miles.

-juice

tomsr · August 2003

THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKING IS DRIVING ME NUTS.
WHEN I PARK MY 02 CRV EX IN THE GARAGE THE DOORS
LOCK BY THEMSELVES AFTER I LEAVE IT.LATER ON WHEN I WANT TO GET SOMETHING OUT I HAVE TO FIND THE KEYS TO UNLOCK IT.IT IS DESIGNED THAT WAY BUT I WOULD LIKE TO OVERRIDE IT.ON THE POSITIVE SIDE
I RECENTLY GOT 27 MPG ON A 300 MILE TRIP DOING
80MPH WITH A/C ON.

andrelaplume · August 2003

What is a fair price for the Honda 75K warranty (the Bumper to Bumper one) Must I but it were I purchase the CRV?

stevedebi · August 2003

Don't know about the 75K warranty; I bought the 7 year / 100K warranty, for which I think about $900 is a fair price, though I have seen less.

You can purchase the warranty within 2 years without a penalty. After that there is a small charge (around $75, I think). You can purchase the warranties up to 42 months after your purchase.

You can purchase it online, but the best thing to do is find the best online price and ask your dealer to match it...

I found good prices at www.hondacare.org, but I couldn't find any contact or dealer information (warranties are only sold through dealers, and the online sites are actually various dealerships), so I didn't consider them a viable alternative source. They show $595 for the 75K warranty.

The people at http://www.hondaextendedwarranty.com/?source=overture seem to be pretty good, but I couldn't vouch for the price (they send you an E-Mail instead of posting the prices).

kyfdx · August 2003

Your doors shouldn't be locking automatically. The only time they are designed to do this, is if you unlock with the keyless entry, and then don't open a door within about 30 seconds. This is so you don't inadvertently unlock your car with the keyfob after you've locked it. If you are locking your car, then unlocking it with the keyless entry (maybe to ensure its unlocked?), then going in the house, then you are causing this yourself. If you get out of the car when you get home, and don't touch the keyless entry, it shouldn't lock.

regards,
kyfdx

cls6spd · August 2003

Tomsr - First off, your alarm is not a Honda alarm. Kyfdx correctly described how the Honda autolock feature works (post 11090). The Honda alarm booklet specifically states that the passive-arm mode will not automatically lock the doors. In other words, you never have to worry about the alarm locking your keys in the vehicle. Your dealer-installed alarm is in a passive-arming mode. This means that when you leave the vehicle (keys out of the ignition and all doors closed), it automatically locks the doors and arms the alarm. You should be able to place your alarm in a manual-arming mode. If the Dealer did not give you the instructions, go back and ask them how to do it.

vs4 · August 2003

Any info on what will be changed on 2004 Honda CRV?

Any possibility of 2003/4 Accord type instrument cluster(LED type).

arizonajoe · August 2003

I called a Honda dealer yesterday. He thought the 2004 model might have a new trim level called SE, and that leather seats might be part of it.

ateixeira · August 2003

SE? *Just* leather?

What about the Open Air concept? They could do so much more with the SE...

How about 16" rims, leather, and that nifty glass roof? Maybe a few more HP while they're at it?

Pilot is bigger and doesn't even offer a moonroof, so I can't see how they would compete with each other.

-juice

crv139 · August 2003

7 yr 75 grand cost me 750 zero deductable. I think they are going at 790 now.

varmint · August 2003

Arizonajoe - Anything is possible. Factory leather and painted bumpers are already options in Canada and other markets. It wouldn't be tough to add them to the US market.

That said, the CR-V is still selling well enough in its current configurations. They usually bring on the SE model when the design is looking old. That hasn't started to happen, yet. For that reason, most are expecting the SE in 2005, not 2004.

denise31 · September 2003

Does anyone have any information on the 2004 Honda CR-V yet?

I am curious to find out if they moved the antenna to the roof of the vehicle, like the picture that I saw on Honda's Canadian website.

The launch date for the NEW 2004 Honda CR-V is September 15th 2003.

ateixeira · September 2003

Why on the roof? That blocks roof rack access.

Put it in the window. Best aerodynamics, noise, weight, and it never gets in your way.

-juice

varmint · September 2003

1. The tan interior changes to a different shade.

2. Interior door locks are changed.

That's it, folks.

denise31 · September 2003

I just wanted to say thank you to -juice and varmint for the info.

Unfortunately, someone ran into my 2003 Honda CR-V and destroyed it. The body shop has been working on it for almost a month.

ateixeira · September 2003

Everyone was OK, I hope?

Did the air bags go off? Did the insurance company total it?

-juice

hawaiiguy · September 2003

On the vtec.net website, it states the changes for the 2004 are the following 2 items:
1. enhanced saddle interior color
2. front passenger power door lock switch added.

that's it...

robmarch · September 2003

they can't stop messing with "tan", can they?

that passenger door lock switch might find it's way onto my 2002.

ateixeira · September 2003

Go with a neutral beige instead. Other Hondas have done this color nicely, IMO.

-juice

denise31 · September 2003

No one was inside, it was parked. The air bags did not go off. I am very fortunate that I was not getting anything out of the back of it. The "backhoe" operator, said he hit my vehicle by accident trying to avoid an oncoming vehicle. To make a long story short. If I was getting something out of the back of it, I'd be in a wheelchair or dead right now.

No, the insurance company did not total it, and I am glad they did not. I still owe quite a bit on it. The body shop is trying to convince me to keep it, even though they had to "cut/sawder" the vehicle to put it back together.

But, most of the damage is too close to the gas tank. In other words, I might NOT be so lucky if it is hit in the same place again.

ateixeira · September 2003

Solder, you mean, it is pronounced your way though. :-)

I hope the body shop does a good job. Tell them to take their time and get it right.

-juice

robr2 · September 2003

Hmmm - I don't know if soldering a car back together would provide the best repair!!

mam9 · September 2003

My friend just got a new Jeep Grand Cherokee, and although I would rather have my eye poked out than drive one, the seat comfort level is FANTASTIC. Sitting in the driver's seat is like parking your tush on a fluffy cloud. Wonderful.

Why can't Japanese designers take a cue from American auto maker on just this one teensy thing?

kentkmok · September 2003

Wait until your friend's Jeep starts leaking oil at 30k miles and needs a major overhaul at 50k miles. Now *THAT* is the difference between Japanese and US automaker.

denise31 · September 2003

Soldering a vehicle back together is NOT a good thing. That is exactly why I'm waiting for more information on the 2004 Honda CR-V. I am really worried about what the trade-in value will be for my 2003.

scname · September 2003

Agree. Grand Cherokee has the best seat I've ever sat in. CRV on the other hand is the worst. I own an 02 CRV, its too hard and poorly contoured.

stevedebi · September 2003

You are going to be way upside down even without any accident factors. Trading a 2003 for a 2004 is always going to be problematical. You lose a couple of thousand $ when you drive the car off the lot, and with price pressure even on Honda, the trade in is not worth as much as you might think (trade in value is affected by how much the new cars cost). Honda's aren't near as bad as domestics, but it is still a factor.

got_vtec · September 2003

The CR-V seats are a bit stiff, but OK for short trips. Long trips are not as comfortable as we would like. Aside from that, we love everything from the storage capacity along with the decent gas milage, but we are afraid that it may not be quite big enough going forward, as we'd like to be able to take 4 adults and a baby seat. I hate the idea of trading it in on something (say, a Pilot), but I just don't think it's going to quite do it.

In the meantime, we have a '99, and I read that you could purchase a part to add a mounting point for a carseat. Is this worth looking into?

As for leather seats, you can pretty much get aftermarket leather seat covers installed on anything. The seats still might be a bit stiff, but might be an improvement. (I really liked doing this on my Prelude.)

It's been a long while since I posted here at Edmunds. I remember Varmint. :-) I guess I got everything on the CR-V set up the way I like it, so I haven't felt the urge to look up more info. about it. (Unless y'all wanted to read posts like, "Yup, still runnin' great...." each week. Haha.)

andrelaplume · September 2003

Thanks, just got back on-line....I will post my questions one more time...perhaps others will chime in...$790 sounds a bit high but what do I know...

I need info on Honda Extended Warranties Hondas have a only a 3/36 base warranty and I know they are suppose to be great cars, nevertheless I want to protect it for at least 7/75K with bumper to bumper protection. This cost me $675 on my Camry. I am replacing my RAV with either a Liberty, Sante Fe or CRV...obviously the CRV is the way to go but the warranty stuff needs to be made clear before I go to a dealer...

1) Is a 7/75 BUMPER TO BUMPER available?
2) What is a fair price to pay?
3) Must it be purchased at the time the car is purchased? Can it be purchased any time during the first 3 years?
4) Must it be purchsed at the dealer where the CRV is purchased?

I hope I have not come off as harsh, I was told if blunt answers to these questions exist, then this is the place to find them!

robmarch · September 2003

my favorite seat for comfort has been the 96 pathfinder. it was actually pretty firm padding, but was in the right places. big fluffy seats aren't comfortable to me in a car...watching TV maybe

ateixeira · September 2003

Yes, they even offer 7/100 Bumper-to-Bumper. I know because my cousin got one for her Odyssey. Neat thing is you get roadside assistance plus a loaner for the whole duration, so you benefit even if you don't make a warranty claim.

You definitely do not have to go back to your dealer, in fact I'd shop on the web for a Honda warranty from any dealer, I'd just make sure it's from Honda.

-juice

icvci · September 2003

According to Automotive News -

CR-V: A power boost for the 2005 model year is slated before the expected 2007 redesign.

icvci · September 2003

Just got back from our road trip to Colorado. 3814 total miles. I didn't keep track of mpg though. I was really happy with the comfort of the seats. I can't say they were any less comfortable than any other seat after 28 hours and 1594 miles of straight through driving.

We drove on some pretty rough roads (Cumberland pass, the road to the Alpine Tunnel, and the road to Mirror Lake) and I can't see why anyone would buy anything more than a CR-V unless they are really in to going over boulders and always in a two feet of snow.

The intuitive auto tranny was great. Going down mountain passes of 5, 6 and 7 degrees, it's nice to have some engine braking.

Most of the time road noise was very minimal and I could here Douglas Adams voice reading The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy on tape without any problems. I noticed that road noise really depends on the road. Which, seems to me, is a tire noise problem. Wind noise was never a problem.

I looked at a Mazda MPV as we drove past it in Nebraska (boooooring) and told my wife that had I been working for Mazda when we bought the CR-V I may have opted for the MPV. NAH! I'm more and more pleased with this vehicle every time I drive it.

Juice, Subie owns Colorado.

ateixeira · September 2003

I know, 6% market share vs. about 1% nationwide. John Elway owns a Subaru dealer, LOL.

Good to hear about the power boost, I wonder if it'll get that engine tuning varmint was suggesting, what was it, 180hp on regular fuel?

-juice

robmarch · September 2003

I'd like to keep the 162 lb/ft, but get the TSX's 200hp top end. If anyone knows the parts that are different to make that happen, I'd be interested in seeing what it entails.

varmint · September 2003

The euro Accord has the same 2.4 block rated for 190 bhp. Dunno if the euro horsepower standards differ from ours as I've also seen it listed as 185 hp. The advatage to using that block is the use of regular grade fuel. The 200hp TSX requires premium for optimal performance.

Both the TSX and euro Accord are made in Japan, but I'm not sure if they are in the same plant as teh CR-V. Because the US also gets CR-Vs from England, they'd have to ship engines over there so that both factories could continue the east coast/west coast shipping scheme.

2005 is also the year everyone is expecting the return of the SE model. If this power boost does come through, it might be applied to only the SE trim.

varmint · September 2003

Got rear-ended on the way to work this morning. Just a fender bender, but pesky nonetheless.

Damage is almost an exact repeat of what happened when my mother-in-law drove my wife's TL into the back of my CR-V. The offenders hood buckled upward and pushed the grill into the radiator. The CR-V has a small gouge on my aftermarket hard spare cover (and I spent so much time painting it to match the Sebring Silver of the 'V). There is no other visible damage to the CR-V, but when I started it I heard a rattle from the back. I think maybe the muffler mounting was bent or snapped.

<rant>

At the risk of jinxing myself before the adjuster makes an estimate... This once again reinforces my concerns about the real world validity of the IIHS bumper bash. It's a parking lot test. Their results using tall barriers and posts do not correlate with my experience getting stuck by the relatively low front end of a car.

</rant>

kyfdx · September 2003

I was rear-ended twice in my '98, at very low speed... both times, torn spare tire cover for me, and buckled hoods, grills on the rear-enders.. A Cavalier and a Ranger... Both torn up pretty bad for a 3 MPH collision. Hope all is well with yours.

regards,
kyfdx

ateixeira · September 2003

Could have been worse - at least noone was hurt.

On the road, when you are rear-ended usually both cars are on the brakes (the rear car a bit too late, obviously). So brake dive on both vehicles would explain why their hood accordioned like that, it probably dove under your bumper. The spare cover might have been hit by the hood after it folded.

I hope they had insurance? Demand OE replacement parts.

-juice

icvci · September 2003

Sorry to hear about your misfortune varmint. Thank goodness the lower portion of the V isn't painted. It's so difficult to find a body shop that can do a decent silver match.

robmarch · September 2003

sold. I'll take the 185 or 190 on 87 octane. Do you have a list of parts that are different?

ps...sorry to hear about the accident.

rdworski1 · September 2003

I have a 1998 LX Auto 4X4 in Good to Excellent Condition with Minor Dings and 79K. One owner, no extras. I was asking $9500 and was offered $8500 in the DC-Balt area for it. Is this a fair price; it is a little above the Private Owner TMV but I am not sure how accurate that is. Thank you.

stever · September 2003

Sounds pretty good to me - I don't know about your area, but used car sales are pretty soft in general. You did the Customized Appraisal for your TMV, right?

Bummer Varmint!

Steve, Host

kyfdx · September 2003

I was stationary both times I was rear ended. Its the spare tire above and extended out from the bumper that kills the hoods on the back car. At least with the CRV.

regards,
kyfdx

ateixeira · September 2003

That's also what hurt the IIHS bumper-basher results. As they say, YMMV.

Reed: I'd take that offer. Your mileage is not particularly low, and I agree that the market is soft. It's more than I would expect to be honest.

-juice

rerenov8r · September 2003

lately Honda has been playing with increasing output by revising the the intake manifolds & the exhuast side. I don't have the parts list in front of me, but I recall that the change A LOT of exhuast pieces (things like triple catalysts vs a single). Of course this is MOSTLY to make the higher output motor STILL get good EPA marks (pollution & MPG) so it is NOT cost effective to do "just for power".

If you are serious you ought to investigate the magazines devoted to "import tuners" where you'll see the most "bang for the buck" comes from bolting on aftermarket parts (which of course voids your warranty...)

icvci · September 2003

Actually, I've heard that many aftermarket companies are challenging manufacturers who claim add-ons void your warranty. I read that on a VW site about chip mods. There was a link to the chip makers site and it gave the details.

2001 - 2006 Honda CR-Vs

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