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Santa Fe: Loved the quirkyness of the styling(am i the only one?), it had a v6 option, the interior color was nicer, smoother and quieter ride. CR-V: reliability since I have had great experiences with Hondas and Toyotas, fuel economy (i think thats about it). So i got the CR-V mainly for the reliability, since this was heavily valued in the long run. (kept my 92 camry for +200k miles until i got my cr-v in 2002.)
I loved the forester and rav-4 but the small size, especially the back seat, eliminated them. But after I got the cr-v, I suddenly realized that I could have gotten the Highlander (w/ 4 cyl). They are in heavy discounts now so you could get a higher trim probably. benefits: quieter and smoother ride, people say its almost equivalent to the lexus rx300, much better materials inside, similar reliability. But as a downside, the 4 cyl has little power and the rear seat was too low for me.
So now, the cr-v has been great these past 2 years with about 50k miles. I still once in a while imagine what if I had gotten the highlander.
Gas mileage isn't a huge factor for me. The CR-V is getting no more than 20, no doubt because we can't use it for commuting (35 miles one way, with most of the trip over 60 MPH) or long trips, 'cuz it just hurts my back too much. I'm OK for running errands locally, but anything beyond that isn't good. My wife and I just took a 2300 mile trip up to and around New England (the Cape, the coast of Maine, the White Mountains in New Hampshire), and we took our '04 Sienna since it's so darn comfortable ... and we averaged 26 MPG during the trip.
It seems silly to me to have a vehicle I can't drive or ride in for any length of time - it's great for my wife, but in terms of practicality, we need two reliable vehicles that both of us are comfortable in.
Thanks for your input!
I hadn't really considered the Highlander, based partly on cost but mostly on size. We're really sold on the small aspect of small SUVs. But maybe I'll have to expand my search to include those SUVs on the small side of mid-size ... if that makes any sense! :-)
Price isn't much more if you buy at year end with rebate and clearance discount and you get the money back at trade in time.
From what I see on Edmunds a bare bones SR5 invoices at over $26,000 and currently there are no cash back incentives. If you start to put a few options on a machine like that (most of what is sitting on dealer lots, they don't have strippies ordered for stock) you will start pushing $28,000 pretty quick at invoice price, '04 CR-V's are going for less than the $20,800 invoice price pretty routinely right now.
From my bank account's perspective $8,000 is a fair amount of ka-ching.
Not to mention the higher insurance premiums, and lower fuel economy on the 4-runner.
I agree with you though that the difference between vehicles is day and night but they should be, they are in completely different classes, kind of like comparing a 4Runner to a MD-X or a Navigator.
Apples and oranges.
Refereeguy
For anybody still driving on those OEM's: Get rid of them if you can afford it.
I am looking at a set of Michelin Cross terrains for the 2005 CRV I am planning on buying. Put them on at day one so at least I can sell the piece of crap duellers.
Thanks
Two year
Road noise is slightly higher on the new tires. I knew that going in. Traction was #1 on my list. Higher importance than road noise as I always blast music when I am driving.
Great truck for hauling, towing, but it's a lot of mass to have to carry around on a commute. The CR-V is more efficient and just easier to drive.
I really don't think people cross-shop these two very often, they are in different size (compact vs. mid), type (unibody vs. frame), and price classes.
Next up we'll compare the new Acura RL SH-AWD to the Toyota Echo. ;-)
-juice
I've been looking at used CR-Vs, and my understanding, from these forums and the Honda web site, is that a sunroof was not available on the older version CR-V (2001 and earlier). But, I keep seeing classified ads that mention a sunroof. Does anyone know anything about this? Would those be aftermarket, or Canadian, or what?
Thanks.
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We're gearing up for winter in these parts, and as a result, I'm ordering the all-weather floor mats from HandAaccessories.com. $90, yikes, but will be well worth it after just one winter here in western NY. Does anyone have these mats? It doesn't appear to come with the connector piece that goes in the middle of the seats. What do you do, just keep the fabric piece in the middle for the winter since nobody really puts snowy, muddy feet there? Also, do the rubber mats snap into place like the standard ones, or do they not because they are heavier and more likely to stay in place on their own?
I'm also ordering the touch-up paint. I'm going to "splurge" and go for the more expensive one that uses the pen-like tip instead of the brush. Their comparison photo sold me. I have a small paint chip on my passenger side that I want to touch up. I also have one on the driver side that is accompanied with a little dent... looks like it was caused by a projectile piece of gravel. Always disappointing to get that first dent, especially since there isn't anything you can do about it. Going to patch up the paint on that, too. Anyway, has anyone had any experience with the touch-up paint? Is the pen actually better than the brush, or does it not really matter?
In other markets (Japan, UK, and such), the CR-V came with a sunroof. Big caveat, though... it was not the same type we like here in the US. It was positioned between the front and second row seats and served the rear passengers more than the front.
I love the idea of a sunroof. Just trying to decide if it's worth it. Thanks.
Then it dawned on me that my wife had parked in what she considers the extreme right side of the driveway, and that everybody else "the center."
With dread and anxiety, and some choice words under my breath, I went out to look for the gash on the CR-V. Couldn't find anything. Not even a mar on the black plastic.
But my wife's 2000 Accord--the left-front fender over the wheel was a crumpled, along with the drooping plastic bumper cover and the warped trim that's riveted on the inside edge of the wheel well.
Couldn't believe there was no damage to the CR-V.
Overall, I was pretty lucky.
Except for when I had a conversation with my wife.
Now she parks in the center and I park about a quarter mile away.
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Ours has been good, no leaks or squeeks. At one point we disconnected our car battery for an unrelated reason, and it wouldn't open, but the ASC certified shop re-set it for us for free.
It comes with a lifetime warranty agaist leaks. We paid $900 for it, installed. They change the entire headliner and add bracing around it.
They also did my Forester and in the past they had done a previous car of mine. None of the 3 ever leaked or had other structural issues.
ASC has a new model out now, a friend of mine put one in his MPV and it's also been fine.
-juice
The driver's mat has 2 holes that attach the same way as your current fabric mats. The rubber mats are alot heavier as you stated and dont appear to wander as much as the fabric ones. I tossed my fabric mats already as I much prefer the rubber mats although there will be a strong rubber odor for 10 days or so.
I'm in New England and got the rubber mats for the winter also. Much easier to pull them out and hose them down.
Good Luck. You are doing the right thing IMO.
Yesterday sometime Mom hit a deer in her 02EX going around 65 (I'm in anouther state, so I don't know much), shes fine but the said the airbags didn't go off and they towed the CRV, we haven't received our airbag recall notice yet so maybe its related?
Anyways I was wondering if anyone has words of advice or list of things to watch out for with the insurance company and all that. Thanks.
Glad she's fine.
-juice
A deer is not very heavy and probably didn't cause the airbag sensors to go off.
I'm up to 500 miles, which is 5/6ths of the way through what Honda describes as the break-in period. Should I expect that mpg will increase a bit as the engine gets older?
Question: does the gasoline sold at mass-marketers like Costco and Sam's Club include ethanol or other non-petroleum fuels? How can someone tell? Is it marked somewhere on their pumps?
22.8 MPG is pretty good for around town on a new engine.
I try to always use a major brand of fuel... Shell in my case...
regards,
kyfdx
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Also reserve your judgement as to if the airbags should have deployed until you see the vehicle. It may not have been a direct hit.
I am interested in a 2005 CRV EX Auto with the Redondo Red Pearl. I am getting the impression that this color will not be built for a while. (I am in the Northeast part of the US).
Do you have any solid info on when that color will start coming off the assembly line, I suppose in England for me?
------------
Also, in your opinion what is a realistic pricing expectation for that vehicle in October - slightly under MSRP?
Thank you for any info you can provide.
As I recall, there is a crossmember running from side to side above the driver's noggin. Installing a power sunroof means either moving this support, or removing it. I think you're best bet would be to speak at length with several installers to see how they would handle it. Make sure they have a plan before you turn your car over to them.
I was never interested in this particular modification, so I'm afraid I didn't pay enough attention to the threads discussing it. Sorry!
I didn't hit a deer, but a deer hit me, once. Ran right into the side of a rental car I had. This was pre-airbag days but still, the air bag would not have gone off.
-juice
Unless the driver in this instance made contact with the steering wheel or windshield with their head, I'd say the airbags operated as intended.
regards,
kyfdx
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A friend of mine, and Edmunds member, ran into a deer with...a motorcycle! Ouch. He's OK now, but had to be carted off in an ambulance.
-juice
http://tinyurl.com/6fw8f
The Honda system changes somewhat this year.. The rear wheels will kick in with a mechanical system, rather than hydraulic.. This may shorten response times, but it still remains the same basic configuration.
Since you prefer the Escape, and the 4WD system concerns you... I think that is the way I would go.. It probably won't be as reliable as a CR-V, but it seems like it will meet your needs more fully. (I like the look of the Mazda Tribute better, it is a twin to the Escape, with a better warranty).
regards,
kyfdx
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-juice
Do you have snow to test on yet? - I know Anchorage and Wasilla got some already.
Steve, Host
For 2005, Ford improved their AWD system. It went from a rotary blade coupling to an electronically-engaged clutch patch. It's kinda like the fore/aft functionality of the VTM-4 system used in the Honda Pilot. Definitely an improvement over the old design. It's faster and engages just as smoothly as the old one. Apparently, it was designed to reduce the potential for binding (according to CanadianDriver magazine).
Still, based on what I've read, this is still a reactive system. Now that it reacts electronically, it is very fast. But it's still 100% FWD until there is slippage.
As mentioned above, the 2005 CR-V has an upgraded version of the RT4WD system. It uses a cam-driven design rather than the hydraulic system in the current model. According to Honda press material, this new design is supposed to be faster than the hydraulic unit. I'm sure it will be, but we really don't have any test data on it. This, also, is FWD until slippage.
If you are really concerned about AWD performance, you'd be best off avoiding any reactive design. That includes the VUE and Equinox as well as the CR-V and Escape. Something like a Subaru, the RAV4 would be better.
I have to disagree - the Escape went backwards in capability. Ford dropped the low range, so the Escape is not a true 4WD, it is now more of a part time AWD system.
It might be useful to consider a 2004 Escape, which has the old system, and has a design that has been in use for years.
Thanks!
You must be thinking Explorer. Some of those now offer AWD, vs. the traditional 4WD on other models.
But the Escape has always been part-time AWD, no low range.
-juice
Maybe?
Elissa
Having dodged a few of those beauties in cars and once on an M'cycle, they make deer look like housepets. BR,md
they Do have a big moose-like animal in Euro that they call an "Elk", though it looks like a moose w/bad DNA antlers to me.
Ya'neverdamnknow. Learn something everyday.
They are worth dodging,lol!
BR,md