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Comments
Judy, that does sound like an issue with the steering wheel lock. Might have the dealer take a look at it to see if it is releasing correctly.
Varmit, dangnabbit, I won't be able to make it to the June meet. I have a graduation party for a family member the same day. Can't get out of it.
This is annoying because the meet is just about in my back yard. Glen Burnie is 20mins from my house. Arrgh. Oh well, have fun without me and don't let the success go to Allan's head. Enjoy your time in B-More.
Well, minues the rattles C&D complained about.
-juice
When the new Civic came out last year Honda went to do some hot weather testing in the Southwest and who happened to be there but Brenda Priddy, spy shooter extraordinaire. And, who did Honda just happen to come to a stop right in front of? Brenda Priddy.
My point is this, companies will use spy photographers to promote their products by whetting the public appetites. If Honda wanted to test the CR-V for a billion miles, it would simply take it to the Transportation Research Center in Ohio, a 7 mile banked loop that companies rent to test new vehicles. Honda owns TRC and can use it any time it wishes. I kow for a fact the new Civic was tested there for months on end with people in the plant seeing them driven around the East Liberty and Marysville plant grounds.
So, my guess is that we will be a spy shot of the new CR-V in June or July just in time to begin the frenzy before the September introduction.
There are also dual-cones, which are really just a woofer with a paper cone attached. The sound from them is not so good.
Funny thing is I prefer two-ways because I like highs and lows more than mids.
I just swapped my dual-cones for two-ways. Here is a side-by-side photo. Note the two-way one has a real tweeter in the middle.
-juice
Bob - You are correct. There is a certain amount of legitimate spy photography (unlike my own) that gets out before a vehicle's public introduction. However, Honda tends to be most successful at preventing it until they decide it's the right time. Often this is accomplished simply by doing track testing at night. My personal favorite was done by Porsche. They disguised their latest concept with a Ferrari-looking plastic skin. LOL.
There should be "legitimate" spy photos this Summer. Which is good, because I'm getting tired of debunking all of the airbrush masterpieces that have been floating around the internet.
Steve
Host
Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Maybe Bob was right and pics are available sooner than I thought... These were provided by a member at the CR-V IX. He reports that these came from a Japanese magazine. He's trying to find someone to translate for us.
Varmit, a pre meet meet?
Dunno about the bulbs either. You could try asking in the forum at the CR-V IX. There's an owner there with so many lights on his rig, we've nicknamed it "the mothership".
Beatfarmer - Yeah, if you're interested. That was what happened when I went to the Bradford, PA meet. Those of us who were staying overnight got together on the night prior to the offical meet. I'm sure it'll happen again. Most attendees are staying at the Hampton and Days Inn that are suggested on the website.
dvader - With the '02 model coming out in a few months, there should be good deals to be had. You might have to wait until closer to September before they start giving big discounts, though.
First of all, you got raped if you purchased a '99 for $23K. While I didn't opt for the automatic, my '99 only cost $19.5K with the roof rack. I purchased in April, when the '99 (with the 146 hp engine) was still in demand. In October, you should have been able to get a better deal given that the 2000 models were about the hit the sales floors.
According to Edmunds, with 42,000 miles on mine, it is still worth $14,037 as a trade in,
$15,095 as a private sale, and $16,868 for dealer retail. An automatic would be worth approx $500 more. Anyway, in a worst case senario, we're still talking about $5,000 and not $10,000.
Sounds to me like you paid through the nose to have your dealer install aftermarket options. Any car would depreciate like a rock after a purchase like that. Aftermarket stuff is worth nothing when it comes time to sell a car and in some cases will actually detract from the car's value.
Factor in the CR-V's low operating costs and you can't beat its value.
As far as the photos your posted.... They are, in a word, interesting. It seems a bit conservative, almost like the "redesign" of the Civic in 1996 or so. You could tell it was still a close relative of the previous generation. But, some sketches and distant grainy photos would need more. But, on a whole, I think having fog lamps integrated into the bumper is a good idea and on par with most other SUV's
Regarding the '02 renderings...
Remember that we're looking at a supposed drawing of a Japanese spec '02 CR-V. There are many differences between markets; such as brakes, spare tire location, fog lamps, bumpers, rims, trim levels, etc... (Bob - notice the fog lamps and bumper on the white CR-V in the top corner of the ad.)
To my eye, the biggest changes are the headlamps, the tail lights, the rear bumper, and integrated spare.
However, I think the more subtle changes have a bigger effect than you would think. Notice that the trailing edge of the roof has been rounded off. Also note that there is a section of painted sheetmetal in between the rear window and the taillights. These two changes have the effect of making the rear section look shorter. The integrated spare also adds to this.
At the other end of this rendering, it also looks like the front bumper has been shortened. In the current CR-V, the front bumper sticks out quite a bit. If that's true, then the front will have a more compact look to it. Once again the new lights will add to that affect. This may be the source of those new headlamps:
Note the hinge-looking gadgets at the top of the rear glass. (Also note the lack of a rear wiper.)
Looks like they are keeping the split gate design, though the gate handle looks just like the door handles. That should be better. The first time some people use the rear gate, they have difficulty finding the handle. Maybe the left-hand drive models will have the gate reversed this time.
One other interesting tidbit: I used a decent paint shop program to enlarge and sharpen the actual photos that are on the edges. The white one that appear to be backing out of a garage does not look like it has a spare mounted on the back. Can't be sure.
If I had to guess, I'd say that the 120% figure means that the CR-V will either:
(a) Have 20% more horsepower or power in general
(b) Grow in size 20% or
(c) Cost 20% more.
Also, note the rear amber lights in the blurry photo. They aren't where the sketch says they ought to be. In the photo they appear to be sandwhiched bwtween two lights.
In addition, the vehicle may also be going towards a cab-forward design, ala the current Civic. So, interior space may grow without the wheelbase growing too much.
With regard to the lack of a spare on the back of the blurry photo...It could be a test mule lacking one.
Finally, what is the "enclosed space" that has been mentioned?
:-)
I can't load the photos any more. Can you re-post or provide a link?
I think the 20% change would be to the engine, most likely. 2.0l -> 2.4l.
-juice
For whatever reason, pics posted on this board often do not display for some web browsers. Try this link to Temple of VTEC. You may be able to view the pics there.
While I personally find these renderings to be the most "realistic", I should repeat that these are still not a reliable source. These were provided by a member at the CR-V IX who gets copies of Japanese subscriptions. He's working on a translation of certain parts. This is the same person who scanned and shared the pics of the blue airbrush masterpiece that we had here a month or two ago (also from a Japanese magazine). He correctly states that just because they are in print, does not make them reliable.
How did they get close enough to photograph the engine, but they can't get a better shot of the outside?
What are the blow ups of the bumpers for? Are they advertising damage resistance? Note that the pic of the rear bumper part suggests that the entire rear section, including the license plate, is covered with body cladding.
I was hoping that the 120% was part of a claim about better fuel economy.
The notes about the engine include mention of i-VTEC, but someone commented that it reads "2.0L". Dunno if they could read the Japanese or if they simply misread it
No offense to your friend and all, but I think the vehicle photographed was a camo'ed mule testing out the new engine and suspension parts. That or it is a ruse...
And, I read 2.0 as well. Hmm.....Isn't Honda getting 200 HP out of a 2.0 VTEC-I for the new RSX????
Steve
Host
Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Looks taller and shorter, or at least the overhangs are shorter. Still looks like 15" rims from the sketch, but it's hard to tell for sure. It's begging for more tire. The headlights will fit right in with the Civic family.
The very top of it looks like the Freelander. I wonder if Honda of Europe had some influence there, given the Freelander's success (high price, small size, big time sales in Europe).
I'm sure that's the JDM version, else the hatch still won't be opening curb side.
It could be 2.0l for the JDM and still offer a 2.4l in the US. Subaru does this with the Forester (2.0l overseas, 2.5l for USA).
On another subject - I heard both Acura and high-end Subaru models will offer OnStar, so don't be surprised to see that trickle down to this price class soon.
-juice
No offense about the pics. As stated above, no one is trying to pass these off as "real". I just find discussing them to be entertaining.
It very well could be a test mule as you wrote. A few months before Acura released the production version of the MDX, they showed a concept car that had little to do with the production version. The MDX concept was a five seater and about the same size as a JGC. Instead of that, we got a production version that's a seven seater and almost the size of a Tahoe. These renderings could be a smoke screen just like the MDX concept.
The i-VTEC 2.0 has been tuned to produce power ranging from 156-200hp and 138-142 ftlbs. There is also an RSX Type R that is rumored to make 220hp with the same block.
I doubt that the CR-V will get the high revving version. Earlier myself and others were guessing that the CR-V would get a (possibly larger) variant that would put more umph in the low rpm band. A few weeks back there were rumors that the CR-V would use a 2.4L version of this block. No power figures were provided, but it seemed to support my suspicion.
Aint rumors grand?
Look at what we got. 100% different. Fire that spy photographer (or artist)!
I agree that more displacement would be better suited for the CR-V, which is meant for utility, not 0-60 runs with an empty passenger compartment.
-juice
It may have a hard time in the crowded US market, where gas is cheap and size is far more important. Will people spend $30 grand on such a compact SUV?
Then again they are such a small niche player, I'm sure they'll find enough buyers.
-juice
http://www.landrover.com/content/freelander/index.html
Juice makes a good point about the possibility of a 2.0 for the JDM and a 2.4 for North America. I would hope that the new space saving Mac strut desgin would leave more room under the hood for engine options.
I'm with Bob. The Freelander is a good looking truck. I think that the Liberty will be good competition for the Freelander, though the Jeep's price range will give it a big advantage with the average buyer. Still, there will be buyers that will pony up for the prestigious LR decals on the Freelander.
Lows are price/size ratio (starting under $30k means it'll be $35k well equipped) and power from the small V6 (FoMoCo's own Escape has 25hp more).
It looks better with the roof rack. IMO, all SUVs do.
-juice
It is definetly a small Ute, not a mid-size. Comparing the measurements, it is just a tad bit bigger than the current CR-V.
Here's the Edmunds review:
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/roadtests/firstdrive/45788/article.html
Despite similarities in size, I don't think that the Freelander will be cross-shopped with the CR-V all that much. One of the big reasons why people walk onto the lot at a Honda dealership is their reputation for reliability. OTOH, that is one of the biggest reasons why people avoid Land Rovers.
Wonder where it is going? Seems like the wheelbase is large enough to have more room.
1. The larger engine with short overhangs will force the passenger compartment farther back in the vehicle.
2. I suspect that all that fancy-schmancy 4WD equipment takes up quite a bit of space around the rear axle. I haven't seen one up close, but I'd guess that the cargo floor is rather high.
With regard to the styling (that's how we got on this tangent), it's possible that Honda was looking to the Freelander for ideas. Honda was heavily involved with Rover back when the Freelander was being developed.
Someone once suggested that a Honda-badged Rover was going to replace the Honda-badged Izusu Rodeo. They reasoned that the CR-V was a hasty replacement when Honda lost their interest in the Rover Group. I have my doubts about this theory, but who knows...
I guess it'll have to compete with bigger utes, similarly priced. That means Grand Cherokee, Blazer, and Explorer.
Land Rover better hope people see it as a bargain priced RX300 or X5 instead of an expensive Escape.
Rover did use a Legend platform for the Sterling, remember those? Definitely was a connection there for a while. Honda was smart to bail, if you ask me.
-juice
I may be wrong, but I think that Honda was pretty miffed about losing their position with Rover. I have no idea why. Maybe they saw Rover as a way of buying into the Euro market?
And, as atexeira noted, it all comes down to sitting in the vehicle as a determination of purchase or not. I don't care how much I love the Discovery or the Escape, the fact that both hit me wrong in certain areas when I sit means I won't be purchasing either. Looks are one thing, comfort another all together.
I strongly recommend going to car shows. You can sample the interiors of dozens of vehicles and pick out what you find comfortable, plus what cargo areas can meet your needs. Plus, no sales pressure.
Then, among the ones that "fit", test drive those, and pick the one that brings you the biggest smile.
-juice
Comfort is probably one of the most important things to look at when purchasing.
There are many fine manufacturers of many different fine pieces of equipment. The first thing you do is decide on caliber and price and
the next thing you want to do is find one which fits your hand properly and "feels right". Given these factors, the selection group should narrow all by itself VERY fast.
Anyone have something to say about them?