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i am anxiously waiting for the first snow here in NY, to test out my theory. if i induced the rear wheel rotation by pulling the parking rake in the turn, would the rt4wd kicking in starighten me out. now, after driving FWD for years, i have practiced on parking lots enough to be able to perform these tricks on the road while avoiding collision. i would have to re-learn the tricks for the cr-v
Bob
Thanks.
With the exception of the standard black cladding, I think the new CR-V is quite an eye-catcher. It no longer has that box-on-wheels look. And I still think it's a blatant copy of the Escape in terms of the overall silhouette.
btw, on twisted wet hilly roads, i am more comfortable in driving a rwd vehicle 'coz i can use the rear wheels to steer the car. with the fwd setup, i had a couple of situations where i almost plowed to oncomming traffic.
practice in empty parking lots: experience is the best teacher.
3000 miles is a waste for synthetic oil. The whole point of using a synthetic is to extend the change interval. Overkill IMHO
In fact, Honda has sometimes been referred to as an "engine company that happens to make cars..."
Bob
The new engine seems to have paid off. C&D hit 60mph in just 8.4 seconds, a new benchmark for 4 bangers in the class. Not bad, especially with the extra weight. I bet that's better than an auto Liberty. Only the V6 Escape and a 5-speed Liberty would be quicker.
I think the secret is gearing. A 4.77 final drive ratio, I had never heard of anything even close to that high! Wow!
I also noticed that 4th and 5th are overdrive gears. The catch is 70dB at 70mph, same as the last one. I thought they added sound insulation? Hopefully the sound quality is better, even if the quantity isn't.
750 lbs payload is pretty low, if that article is corrent. That is a bit disappointing given the huge cargo area, are you supposed to haul helium balloons in there or what? 5 adult passengers will most likely surpass the payload limit even with no luggage. I'd have to diet! ;-)
The brakes were a bit surprising, but it could be the tires or the pavement they were on. Lateral G's were good, though, so maybe not. The extra weight could offset the benefit of the rear discs. Discs are still better and more fade resistant.
I like the styling. Looks more substantial, and it's grown on me. Just get a dark color so the grille wrap-around isn't as noticeable.
Check out the review, it's generally very positive. They ask for more power but they are gear heads that don't pay their own gas bills. I disagree - the 4 banger does an admirable job balancing performance with fuel economy.
We'll see how the automatic performs, noone's tested one yet. I'd recommend the 5 speed, though.
-juice
There will be a ride & drive in the new CRV for local dealers here at the end of October. My dealer tells me that is the usual practice for new models, and that the dealer will subsequently should expect delivery within 2 weeks following.
Bob
CR-V was excluded because they couldn't get their hands on one.
The Honda CR-V is in the running for SUV of the year by Motor Trend.
But I think it's going to the Toyota Highlander.
"And where's the popular Honda CR-V? Despite its popularity, it was in our last test and didn't finish first (it was second). And, although a redesigned 2002 model goes on sale this November, we couldn't get a sample from Honda in time for our comparison test."
Steve
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Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Envoy wins ?
http://www.auto.com/industry/iwirh10_20011010.htm
Saturn price announced. I will have to give it a good look over. Very competitive compared to CRV.
http://www.auto.com/industry/irep10_20011010.htm
BTW, some gov't agency announced Pontiac Aztec least likely to rollover SUV on the market. Anyone wants one ?
Yep, I was surprised to see it too. Such a final drive ratio is nothing new to Honda (S2000 uses a 4.756:1 final drive, but using a primary axle of 4.100:1 and a secondary axle of 1.160:1). What is really unique is the gear ratio (especially, the first). With 3.53:1 first gear ratio, the overall drive ratio comes to about 16.84:1! That is going to make the manual transmission equipped CRV very satisfying vehicle. Automatic is also geared well, but not nearly as much.
I also noticed that 4th and 5th are overdrive gears.
Thats because of the use of a very short final drive (4.77:1). The overall drive ratio in those gears is still quite short, especially with the manual (hence slightly lower gas mileage).
As I feared, an '02 CR-V didn't make it, and I think that makes the results not as useful as they should be, considering that it should easily be a strong contender in this market. In fact, I would guess that if the '02 CR-V was in this shootout, it would have only placed a solid second. After all, to an auto journalist, a 200 hp V-6 would be too hard to resist.
Edmunds, if you're listening: Please, please, please consider calling a rematch when the new CR-V and the Saturn VUE are ready to tangle with the gang from this comparo.
I do think the editors have a point, however, when they say that the vehicles are "complete strangers." Depending on how you weight your priorities, a different vehicle can rise to the top each time.
Envoy has that sweet in-line six with 270hp. The media loves it, so no surprise it won Motor Trend's top honors.
Saturn's prices seem low, but they have to set them that way because dealers charge full MSRP. When the initial demand for the CR-V calms down, they'll be selling near invoice. So I'd compare Vue retail prices to CR-V invoice prices.
I haven't read Edmunds new review yet. If the rematch will happen one year from now, they could add the new CR-V, Vue, and even the new Forester. I think Mitsu is supposed to bring a Montero Sport replacement, too.
-juice
VTEC isn't very forgiving when anything goes wrong with the power system.
I'm surprised Edmund has good word on Escape quality. They havn't been reading Escape/Tribute problem board. I was 100% in love with the Tribute until I read all those posts and more on the Yahoo Tribute club. I've kept note of over 100 different problem with the twins. Near a dozen potential death causing afflicting dozens of owners. That doesn't include the recalls which I consider resolved.
Steve
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Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
You are correct that the first entry into N. America was in the RSX.
They had a rather scary recall early on, and ordered owners to stop driving because suspensions could collapse. I don't like their interiors much, and their space utilization is awful, but the rest of the product is pretty solid.
I too was frightened by the Escape/Tribute problems board. Pretty wild. They look excellent on paper.
We have to remember that automotive writers don't pay gas bill, or repair bills. They simply don't factor in reliability and fuel efficiency. That's up to buyers.
-juice
The Liberty would have dropped a few spots.
12mpg. Yikes!
Our 440ci Dodge motor home used to get that on a good day.
That eliminates the V6s, basically. Some 4WD 4 bangers, too. The best 3 left are the CR-V, Forester, and RAV4, which IMHO are also the most car-like trio.
-juice
what links could you recommend for me to be able
to comprehend your discussion?
thanks
re the warantee: I'd buy a Honda with NO warantee before I'd buy GM with 3 years.
And about that Motor Trend Car of the Year biz: I heard once that MT awards are basically up for the highest bidder. Seems to me they've picked some real dogs in the past.
Drew
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Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
bar: generally, you can look at the power-to-weight ratio of any given vehicle to estimate acceleration figures. Gearing is a wild card, and can give you extra pull for towing or accelerating, while trading off a little extra noise and perhaps more gas usage.
Why would you want a numerically higher final drive ratio? Well, for off road, it's a plus. The engine spools up quicker to produce torque. Same for towing, or quick launches from a stand-still.
Motor Trend picked the Caprice, remember? There are even worse examples.
Bill: I agree, but wouldn't a Honda with 5, maybe 6 years, be nice? 10 years? Can you imagine?
-juice
I know, I also have a '95 S10.
-juice
MT certainly has picked some, ah... interesting cars, but they've also picked some good ones (the new Bug, the LS...). Sometimes, it's just a problem with there being a lack of good competition.
I picked up a copy of the C&D review in O'Hare airport last night. It's a fair article, though I have wonder about the comments on the e-brake. Has anyone else seen a review that mentions the brake being tough to pull? Might just be a problem with how it was adjusted.
in 1995 i started college, and needed transportation, it was an 1985 honda civic hatchback dx. i bought it with 200,000 miles on the odometer, and once again i enjoyed driving. ever since then, i have driven mostly hondas, except for the jetta that i owened for a few years. if placed on the timeline, it would be : chevy, no driving, civic, accord, jetta, civic, cr-v.
honda made me realie that it wasn't the driving that was a drag, it was the car that made it sem that way.
Actually I shouldn't talk. I drove a 2nd hand '75 Civic from grade 11 to all the way through university. It didn't impress too many babes either. But because of that car, I've become a lifetime Honda convert! It was rough around the edges, but had great throttle response and I could make like Mario Andretti bombing around town!
I discovered Hondas while shopping for my last car. I ended up buying a used Mazda MX6, but all the Hondas I drove felt consistently solid. When I started shopping new, I remembered all those used Hondas. Now I own a CR-V and a TL.
One of the coolest things about that car (and I am sure other wagons of that era) was the tailgate design. You could lower the back glass into the door from the driver's seat with a switch, you could also either open the rear door swinging to one side, or (with the window down) as a tailgate like a pickup. It was very versatile. How come none of the modern SUV's has a feature like that?
My other Chevy was a 1980 Chevy Citation that I drove in college. It was a piece of junk. Awful interior, terrible radio, very unreliable. It got me through college, though. When I got out I sold it for $400. The next day I spent $450 on a mountain bike. I always found that somewhat ironic.
My dad had an Olds Custome Cruiser with the 2nd and 3rd row that would fold into a 4'x8' flat bed. Useless, though, since it scared off the ladies. Had that same versatile tail gate. Jack it up, add 4WD, and you have your basic full size SUV. ;-)
He also had a Z28 T-top with the 6.6 liter and the screaming chicken on the hood. I was 12 so to me that was cool.
Fish bowl, LOL.
I bet your mountain bike could get you to class more reliably. Maybe even quicker.
Remember the Citation X10, something like that? It had a V6 and everything. The Beretta replaced it, but really only offered better styling.
My first car was a Rustang. It had so many cooling problems and eruptions that we nicknamed it the "Volc".
-juice