Thanks for the info on the Blizzacks -- sound like they have served you well!
Regarding the latitude coordinates, seems to me that good bets would be either Detroit or Boston (or Medford, Oregon for those West-coasters). Of course, it could also be Chatham, Ontario, but I suspect the US sites are more likely suspects.
My CRV has about 1500 miles. I am consistently getting 24-25 mpg at 75 mph. My Acura MDX, weighs at 4500 lbs, seats 7 people, has a 3.5L V6 and getting 22-23 mpg at 75 mph. My Nissan Quest, weighs 4000 lbs, seats 7, has a 3.0L V6 and getting 23-24 mpg at 75 mph. My question is how does a little CRV with only 3300 lbs, a 2.4L I4 and just myself (a 160-lb driver) get so poor mpg? Similar engine in 03 Accord gets 33 mpg. Honda must have done something wrong here?
The Quest is FWD and probably more aerodynamic due to the sloping front end, vs. the boxy SUVs.
Accord is FWD and also much more aerodynamic, plus it's geared taller.
The MDX is probably geared very tall, so the big engine is revving much lower than the CR-V. If you measure rpm at the same speeds, I bet the CR-V is revving 1000 rpm higher or so.
ggu - Highway fuel efficiency is greatly influenced by aerodynamics. In addition to the shape of the sheetmetal, the amount of air turbulence under the chassis is a signifcant factor. This is where the CR-V's ground clearance and SUV shape are a problem.
BTW, if those numbers boggle your mind take a look at how much lighter the RAV4, Forester, Sportage, and others are in comparison.
Foresters are as light as 3080 lbs, but they also get 27mpg on the highway with a 5 speed, and they have a slightly bigger gas tank to boot.
My guess is his real problem is poor range. 25*15.3=382.5 miles, but that's sucking fumes. 27*15.9=429.3, still not Grand Touring levels but a much more useful range in my opinion.
If you compare automatics, mileage is the same at 26mpg, but the Subie still has a sligthly bigger tank.
We get anywhere from 26-30 mpg on the highway on our Forester, so our real-world range is 400 miles before we chicken out and fill up.
But if you want range, wait for the Hybrids coming soon. There should be an Escape and a CR-V, and my guess is they'll get close to 40mpg, which would put range at a bladder-busting 600+ miles.
is one thing I dislike, actually about the only thing. Would be nice if it had a 20 gallon tank instead. We averaged 24 mpg on our 5500 mile trip in the summer. Going 80 on the flats and 65-75 through the mountains.
Most I filled up on gas was 14.1 gallons. That was our scary episode in barren Utah. There's not to many gas stops through there. We ended up driving 35 miles with the light on. My one fear was going up a hill and all of the sudden have the engine cut out on us. Luckily the last 15 miles was mostly downhill as we headed down the pass. Finally reached our destination (for gas at least).
The CR-V is one nice little SUV, but we're either selling it to my parents or one of our friends to get an Odyysey.
Honda CR-V Hybrid please, please, please WHEN? How much extra? Civic Hybrid extra cost versus gasoline cost savings takes way too long. Also, concerns about batteries...
To the best of my knowledge, there is no official plan to release a hybrid CR-V. It has been mentioned by Honda only as a possibility. I'm sure they are working on concepts, but, so far, there is nothing ready for the press. The Escape HEV is currrently slated to be the first available hybrid SUV.
Personally, I've gone as long as 401 miles on a single tank, but I was driving with the light on for quite a while. Rangewise, I average 340-360 miles per tank.
In the Winter, my average drops down to 23-24 mpg. In the Summer, it climbs back up to 26-27mpg. My overall average is 25mpg+.
And I'll admit it - even 15.9 gallons isn't enough. My wife's Subaru Legacy (same EPA numbers as my Forester) holds 16.9 gallons, and believe it or not that extra gallon makes a noticeable difference. Her tank basically lasts an extra day or two.
I remember the previous generation Passat TDI had a big fuel tank and a range of over 700 miles. With the redesign, the diesel fuel tank is now smaller than the gas tank, which is a shame. That would be a major selling point to me.
Why would Edmunds care about another forum being discussed?
First, there is no problem with mentioning other sites. Second, if we're discussing other sites, then we are off topic. Finally, everyone here agreed not to promote other sites with message boards when we signed to the Town Hall.
All of the above are standard practice for most sites. I hope that helps.
The CR-V IX no longer goes by that name. It's now HondaSUV.com and registration to the forum is free. You can also register as a contributing member and gain access to articles and other perks.
Different forums have different flavors. I like the conversational tone of this one and the interaction with members who own different cars. While I love my CR-V, there are other good cars out there, and they're worth learning about. And then, of course, there's Steve and Tidester who sweep up the body parts and clean up after the flame wars...
Of course, I also like HondaSUV.com, but for different reasons. Many members post in both, so the information makes the rounds eventually.
I can understand why most car companies aren't too concerned with the gas mileage for their US market vehicles. They don't take a big marketing hit if their vehicle goes from 30mpg to 25mpg.
Over 100,000 miles, a car that gets 25 miles per gallon uses 4000 gallons. A car that gets 30 mpg uses 3333 gallons. if gas is 1.50 a gallon, that translates to $6000 vs $5000. over 100,000 miles, which takes most people at least 4 years. That's $250 per year, or $22 a month. not too bad, considering the CRV adds ground clearance, AWD, flexible space, and a significant amount of weight to the accord it would compare to.
I think a lot of people consider fuel economy, but when it comes down to selecting their vehicle, they shop features, performance, versatility, looks, etc. first. Europe is significantly different, since the fuel is significantly more expensive.
Hello there. So I take it from your numbers that the old gen. CRV get about 2 mpg better than the new ones, right? (the downside of more power in a larger engine) In Canada here where gas is twice the price of US, this makes a difference to me.
Every reviewer complained of a lack of V6 power in the CRV.
I've looked at the Jetta TDI diesel car, gets about 60 mpg highway, 50 in town, (on cheaper diesel fuel) but of course the tradoff is 1)noisy engine 2) stinky fillups and exhaust smoke 3)mediocre quality 4)low power.
If this is addressed, and it can be, it can be a great vehicle.
The mileage is the same, something is right here. I found my highway mileage on the 2002 is higher then the 98, around 28 to 29 mpg. My city mileage in th 02 is lower around, 21 to 23 mpg.
Robmarch - You are correct, though in this class, the difference is generally less than the 5mpg you cited.
Juice mentioned another case where the affects of aerodynamics are illustrated. The Forester and Outback get about the same ratings despite the Outback weighing about 400-500 lbs more and being larger overall. I suspect that weight is the greater factor in city driving, and not a big deal for highway mileage. Once the weight is moving, it isn't as big a factor. Moving it from a standstill is the greater challenge to fuel economy.
FYI. According to an internet poll (Consumer Reports, I think), the top three criteria for car selection are styling, performance, and price.
My new CRV is the shortest (lengthwise) vehicle I have ever owned...by quite a bit. I have always been able to parallel park in the tiniest spaces.
Now,I can't tell where the back of this vehicle is! I am also having trouble knowing when to stop when backing into my garage! Once again, this car is much shorter than my previous vehicles! I can't figure this out..... Neither am I confident in parking it....
Any thoughts on why I am having this problem?
Any suggestions on how to compensate for this? I live in an area where parallel parking is a must!
I bought one of those stick on plastic things that goes on the rear windshield for my wife. They come in 3 different sizes at pep-boys, I sure you can get them elsewhere too. Cost is $10 and I haven't had any problems with it fading or falling off. I bought the one that's about 6x8 inches and it works great.
It enhanced our viewing area of blind spots dramatically and doesn't interfere with everyday driving. For testing purposes, I found that I can see a 35 gallon trashcan that's only 2.5 feet behind my rear bumper. My wife loves it. We also bought small round convex mirrors for the side mirror so that she can see curbs and parking lines without adjusting the mirrors.
I spent an hour or so one Saturday afternoon parking between two plastic adirondack chairs...to my neighbors' applause!
But once the chairs disappeared behind the tailgate and the spare tire....it was a guessing game. I nudged the chairs several times....Not a problem however, from what I am reading here, nudging a stationary object will causes a lot ($$$) of damage!
I've already done the side mirror addition, but it hasn't helped the backing problem.
I'll check out the other item you mentioned tomorrow. Is it a "mirror" or something that acts like a mirror...I'm a little confused by your description.
It probably doesn't seem like it from my posts here; however, after a rough beginning....I think this vehicle is GREAT!!!
And since I researched it so well before buying it... anyone who asks me about my car gets more info than they bargained for. I give them a full "tour"... show off its tricks (seats,compartments etc). I've sold them on it before they even approach the dealer.
A good friend bought a Subaru Outback a few months before I bought my CRV. If it weren't for such a huge money hit that Outback would have been traded for a CRV immediately!
FWIW Phil Edmonston also rates winter tires that are readily available in Canada. His top picks are Futura Euro-Metric, Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice, Michelin Arctic Alpin, and Pirelli Winter Ice Assimmetrico. We live in Ottawa and have used the Michelin Arctic Alpins on an AWD Mazda 323 and can vouch for those. They are available at Canadian Tire, Sears, and Honda. We bought them last year and at that time Sears had the best sale (yes then we sold the car - Doh!). We are planning on putting some on our CR-V before the snow flies.
I convinced my sister and brother-in-law, my father, and two of my friends to getting CRV's over the last 4 years since I got my first CRV in 1998. My other sister likes it so much, but refuses to get a CRV because everyone else has one.
I actually received 50 bucks from the local Honda dealer (where I got my 98) when I convinced my sister and brother-in-law into getting a 99!
It's made of a optical vinyl material. Any auto parts store or maybe even walmart should carry it. You may have seen them before, especially on full size conversion vans or motorhomes. Hope that helps.
Sure the reviewers complain about the lack of a V6. They are often comparing SUV's with towing in mind when they make that statement. Comparing the pick up of a "30mpg" 4 cylinder accord and the "25 mpg" 4 cylinder CRV was the comparison I was trying to make. I don't think the CRV feels significantly more sluggish than the accord, and I think it's perfectly adequate around town and on the highway. It definitely doesn't feel wheezy at highway speeds to me.
I do agree that the lack of a V6 is a big downer for towing. If you look at the amount of non-towing versatility that the CRV provides over a comparable accord, I think it's an attractive trade for a lot of people to give up the 5 (or less) mpg to gain the utility.
Rocky - if 2 mpg makes a difference to you, and you don't need AWD, legroom for 5, and a large cargo area, and are willing to trade power for mileage, the diesel TDI sounds like a good choice. My personal opinion is that VW is fighting a losing battle with the TDI's here in the US because the Gas is so cheap.
Also, The hybrid civic is a great idea. But, practically, until it is actually cheaper to drive for the average commuter, I think it's going to be a niche market car sold primarily to the highly environmentally conscious. 93 hp - 46/51 mileage...it takes a lot of miles to make up the price difference between that and the 115hp 32/38 base sedan or even the 127 hp 32/37 sedan. Toyota's 70hp 52/45 is even more expensive. These people must be very environmentally conscious.
Like Wellresearched, I am very uncomfortable with the back window visibility of my 02 CR-V LX. The "visibility frame" is too high and won't let me see the bumper or lower grille of the car behind me when I parallel park.
My 93 Suzuki Sidekick provides much better rear window visibility than this new Honda. In fact, I've noticed several of the new model small SUVs have very cramped back window visibility areas, which are further obscured by seat headrests. This surprises and alarms me. I immediately removed my rear seat headrests, but it doesn't help with the parking visibility problem.
I'm going to look for this plastic thing-y that Seguy is talking about. Any idea what it's called?
I'm also with some of the other posts on wanting a hybrid CR-V. Although my CR-V is brand new and very nice, gas mileage is very important to me, and I would trade what I have in a heartbeat for the hybrid's gas mileage and conservation benefits. Hope Honda decides to offer us "environmental allies" a break!
Did a bunch of research and test drives and narrowed down list for new family vehicle to Subaru Legacy, Outback, Forester; Honda CR-V; and VW wagons. 600+ miles on the '02 silver CR-V EX and enjoying it. Next up is replacement for my commuter '92 Civic VX (37+ MPG ave.)in next couple of years. The VW diesel TDIs are very attractive. The higher MPG and ability to use U.S. grown and processed B100 instead of imported dead dinosaurs are very attractive features. Environmental and foreign policy issues... two birds with one stone. A Honda Latitude or CR-V with a good CTDi or a better quality B6 Passat wagon TDI are choices hoped for in next two years or so. With lower sulfur petro-diesel available in U.S. in 2006(?) perhaps we'll have some choices. If a diesel CR-V was made available next year I would have to get a second job and then choose a color (eternal blue pearl?).
Sorry, forgot the name of it, but look at pepboys in the mirrors aisle. It works really good. If I have time tonight, I'll take pics of it through the car, although my wife doesn't get home til later and it gets dark by then. I'll see what I can do.
The CRV is shaped like a brick, if we drive it at 75-80mph I doubt if we can get the advertised mpg rating of 26. I was getting 23-25 driving around 80mph but after we hit a deer with the beat up front end we went 60 to 65 and got over 30mpg on three consecutive tanks of gas! I have improved my in town mileage to the advertised 22mpg by inflating my tires to 35psi. Yes, it rides rougher. I would not sacrifice the peppy low end and available torque for better mileage.
Wellresearched - There are aftermarket mirrors that may solve your problem. They mount on the rear of the car much like the ones you'll see on the back of delivery vans.
However, you might like a backup sensor. If Slugline pokes his head in here, he can tell you more about them. He did a write up on the SmartPark 2000, but there are other models. I think the cost (minus installation) is about $50.
I was going to move up to a Pilot, Highlander, or something similar, but my wife and I just bought a house. It looks like I'll be driving my '99 for a while. But if Honda were to introduce a hybrid CR-V... I'd be willing to take the financial hit.
In unrelated news... My CR-V has been rear-ended. :-( Worse part is the CR-V was hit by my other car, an Acura TL! It happened while we were moving into the new house. I was driving the moving van, my wife was in the CR-V, and her mother was driving the TL. Mom smacked the back of the CR-V while adjusting the radio.
The CR-V is nearly undamaged. I have a small gouge in the plastic bumper and the spare tire cover (which I just painted) got scratched up.
The TL took the brunt of the hit. It hit low and impacted the bumper more than the spare tire. The grill and hood were pushed back. Both will need to be replaced. The CR-V's muffler also gouged the paint on the TL's bumper.
I regularly drive from Rochester, NY to Indianapolis, IN and have varied speed, use of A/C, and tire pressures in my '99 EX 5 speed to see how they affect mileage.
At 75 MPH the best mileage I've achieved was 27 MPG (with A/C on, 30 PSI in the original tires).
At 65 MPH the best mileage I've achieve was 31 MPG (A/C off, 30 PSI in the original tires).
The last trip at 65-75 MPH using A/C about 50% of the time and tires at 30 PSI I averaged 29 MPG for the trip.
Anyone out there have a 5-speed CR-V? There are many used ATs around here, but I was thinking of getting a manual. How's the gearing? How smooth is it? I know it won't be anything like my Miata, but I hope its better than my old 1990 CRX.
that makes you swear you'll never do it again. Congrats on the move.
I was involved in a minor accident a few months back. Traffic stopped suddenly and the guy five cars back didn't. A little Ford Aspire got pushed into my rear. No damage on me at all (not even a scratch) but the Aspire lost a headlight and had a nice crumple to the hood. It felt like a light tap when he hit.
Wanna talk about parking? I'll let you drive my Suburban first, then you'll marvel at the ease of parking a 'V.
P.S. My average for my '99 EX auto is a consistant 24. I did pull down 31mpg on some highway only trips this year.
Thel - I have a five speed, but it's a 1999 model. The gearing for the CR-V is very low, but shifting is nice, good clutch, solid feel, etc. Supposedly, the '02 CR-V was designed with an even smoother shifter, but I have yet to drive one.
Juice/Beatfarmer - Thanks. This is the second home buying experience in the last four years (the last was a townhouse). I'm hoping we stay here a little longer.
The accident was apparently not a love tap. My wife claims she was hit pretty hard. She was was kinda surprized that the airbags didn't deploy in the Acura, but I don't think the damage intruded far enough.
We're discussing the possibility of having the CR-V's spare tire professionally painted. I did it the first time. It looks fine, but not up to factory spec. We're probably going to make a claim for tha Acura, so we may try to add the tire cover into the repairs. We're already paying the deductible, but I haven't investigated the policy, yet.
The local Chevy dealer has a 99 LX (I think its a 5-speed). How much shifting is required in town? I don't need to shift much at all in my CRX because of the really tall gearing. The shifter looks kinda low, is it hard to reach at all? Thanks for the reply.
No shifter will match your Miata. If you ever take the shift lever out, you'll notice that its base sits in a pool of gear oil (75w90 BTW, and yes you should change it when you do the tranny and diffy fluids). The lever is about half the length of most shifters, too. It's the shortest, smoothest throw in the industry.
I drove my Miata to the Honda dealer when we test drove a CR-V. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the CR-V's shifter, mind you, but it doesn't come close to the Miata's.
But take one for a spin, with the '02s you can chirp the tires in 2nd gear.
Comments
Steve, Host
There's a lot of longitude at 42°18' 51.9" N!
tidester, host
Regarding the latitude coordinates, seems to me that good bets would be either Detroit or Boston (or Medford, Oregon for those West-coasters). Of course, it could also be Chatham, Ontario, but I suspect the US sites are more likely suspects.
We're not supposed to advertise its competitors anyway.
-juice
If you must search for greener grass, try google.com....
Steve, Host
Similar engine in 03 Accord gets 33 mpg. Honda must have done something wrong here?
BTW, I hate the 15.3L gas tank. Really hate it.
Accord is FWD and also much more aerodynamic, plus it's geared taller.
The MDX is probably geared very tall, so the big engine is revving much lower than the CR-V. If you measure rpm at the same speeds, I bet the CR-V is revving 1000 rpm higher or so.
-juice
BTW, if those numbers boggle your mind take a look at how much lighter the RAV4, Forester, Sportage, and others are in comparison.
My guess is his real problem is poor range. 25*15.3=382.5 miles, but that's sucking fumes. 27*15.9=429.3, still not Grand Touring levels but a much more useful range in my opinion.
If you compare automatics, mileage is the same at 26mpg, but the Subie still has a sligthly bigger tank.
We get anywhere from 26-30 mpg on the highway on our Forester, so our real-world range is 400 miles before we chicken out and fill up.
But if you want range, wait for the Hybrids coming soon. There should be an Escape and a CR-V, and my guess is they'll get close to 40mpg, which would put range at a bladder-busting 600+ miles.
-juice
Details?
MPG?
USA-bound?
Arrival Date?
I drive almost 100 miles a day -- sounds like it would be great for me!
Thank you.
Most I filled up on gas was 14.1 gallons. That was our scary episode in barren Utah. There's not to many gas stops through there. We ended up driving 35 miles with the light on. My one fear was going up a hill and all of the sudden have the engine cut out on us. Luckily the last 15 miles was mostly downhill as we headed down the pass. Finally reached our destination (for gas at least).
The CR-V is one nice little SUV, but we're either selling it to my parents or one of our friends to get an Odyysey.
Honda CR-V Hybrid please, please, please WHEN? How much extra? Civic Hybrid extra cost versus gasoline cost savings takes way too long. Also, concerns about batteries...
VW Passat Wagon B6 with TDI in April 2005 ?????
HoA please offer diesels in a year or two.
check out this topic....
baggs32 "Upcoming Hybrid SUV's" Oct 29, 2002 8:46am
Personally, I've gone as long as 401 miles on a single tank, but I was driving with the light on for quite a while. Rangewise, I average 340-360 miles per tank.
In the Winter, my average drops down to 23-24 mpg. In the Summer, it climbs back up to 26-27mpg. My overall average is 25mpg+.
1999 5 speed EX
And I'll admit it - even 15.9 gallons isn't enough. My wife's Subaru Legacy (same EPA numbers as my Forester) holds 16.9 gallons, and believe it or not that extra gallon makes a noticeable difference. Her tank basically lasts an extra day or two.
I remember the previous generation Passat TDI had a big fuel tank and a range of over 700 miles. With the redesign, the diesel fuel tank is now smaller than the gas tank, which is a shame. That would be a major selling point to me.
-juice
First, there is no problem with mentioning other sites. Second, if we're discussing other sites, then we are off topic. Finally, everyone here agreed not to promote other sites with message boards when we signed to the Town Hall.
All of the above are standard practice for most sites. I hope that helps.
tidester, host
-juice
Different forums have different flavors. I like the conversational tone of this one and the interaction with members who own different cars. While I love my CR-V, there are other good cars out there, and they're worth learning about. And then, of course, there's Steve and Tidester who sweep up the body parts and clean up after the flame wars...
Of course, I also like HondaSUV.com, but for different reasons. Many members post in both, so the information makes the rounds eventually.
Over 100,000 miles, a car that gets 25 miles per gallon uses 4000 gallons. A car that gets 30 mpg uses 3333 gallons. if gas is 1.50 a gallon, that translates to $6000 vs $5000. over 100,000 miles, which takes most people at least 4 years. That's $250 per year, or $22 a month. not too bad, considering the CRV adds ground clearance, AWD, flexible space, and a significant amount of weight to the accord it would compare to.
I think a lot of people consider fuel economy, but when it comes down to selecting their vehicle, they shop features, performance, versatility, looks, etc. first. Europe is significantly different, since the fuel is significantly more expensive.
Every reviewer complained of a lack of V6 power in the CRV.
I've looked at the Jetta TDI diesel car, gets about 60 mpg highway, 50 in town, (on cheaper diesel fuel) but of course the tradoff is 1)noisy engine 2) stinky fillups and exhaust smoke 3)mediocre quality 4)low power.
If this is addressed, and it can be, it can be a great vehicle.
My 98 CRV had 126 HP.
My 02 CRV has 160 HP.
The mileage is the same, something is right here. I found my highway mileage on the 2002 is higher then the 98, around 28 to 29 mpg. My city mileage in th 02 is lower around, 21 to 23 mpg.
Juice mentioned another case where the affects of aerodynamics are illustrated. The Forester and Outback get about the same ratings despite the Outback weighing about 400-500 lbs more and being larger overall. I suspect that weight is the greater factor in city driving, and not a big deal for highway mileage. Once the weight is moving, it isn't as big a factor. Moving it from a standstill is the greater challenge to fuel economy.
FYI. According to an internet poll (Consumer Reports, I think), the top three criteria for car selection are styling, performance, and price.
The TDI engine makes just 90hp, but torque is good. Around the city, it feels peppy, but it gets wheezy at highway speeds.
There are more interesting diesel alternatives in Europe.
-juice
Now,I can't tell where the back of this vehicle is! I am also having trouble knowing when to stop when backing into my garage! Once again, this car is much shorter than my previous vehicles! I can't figure this out..... Neither am I confident in parking it....
Any thoughts on why I am having this problem?
Any suggestions on how to compensate for this? I live in an area where parallel parking is a must!
Thanks in advance.
Practice....
It enhanced our viewing area of blind spots dramatically and doesn't interfere with everyday driving. For testing purposes, I found that I can see a 35 gallon trashcan that's only 2.5 feet behind my rear bumper. My wife loves it. We also bought small round convex mirrors for the side mirror so that she can see curbs and parking lines without adjusting the mirrors.
But once the chairs disappeared behind the tailgate and the spare tire....it was a guessing game. I nudged the chairs several times....Not a problem however, from what I am reading here, nudging a stationary object will causes a lot ($$$) of damage!
I've already done the side mirror addition, but it hasn't helped the backing problem.
I'll check out the other item you mentioned tomorrow. Is it a "mirror" or something that acts like a mirror...I'm a little confused by your description.
Thanks for the info.
however, after a rough beginning....I think this vehicle is GREAT!!!
And since I researched it so well before buying it... anyone who asks me about my car gets more info than they bargained for. I give them a full "tour"... show off its tricks (seats,compartments etc). I've sold them on it before they even approach the dealer.
A good friend bought a Subaru Outback a few months before I bought my CRV. If it weren't for such a huge money hit that Outback would have been traded for a CRV immediately!
Truely, a very versatile vehicle.
You wanna talk about comissions!
I convinced my sister and brother-in-law, my father, and two of my friends to getting CRV's over the last 4 years since I got my first CRV in 1998. My other sister likes it so much, but refuses to get a CRV because everyone else has one.
I actually received 50 bucks from the local Honda dealer (where I got my 98) when I convinced my sister and brother-in-law into getting a 99!
I do agree that the lack of a V6 is a big downer for towing. If you look at the amount of non-towing versatility that the CRV provides over a comparable accord, I think it's an attractive trade for a lot of people to give up the 5 (or less) mpg to gain the utility.
Rocky - if 2 mpg makes a difference to you, and you don't need AWD, legroom for 5, and a large cargo area, and are willing to trade power for mileage, the diesel TDI sounds like a good choice. My personal opinion is that VW is fighting a losing battle with the TDI's here in the US because the Gas is so cheap.
Also, The hybrid civic is a great idea. But, practically, until it is actually cheaper to drive for the average commuter, I think it's going to be a niche market car sold primarily to the highly environmentally conscious. 93 hp - 46/51 mileage...it takes a lot of miles to make up the price difference between that and the 115hp 32/38 base sedan or even the 127 hp 32/37 sedan. Toyota's 70hp 52/45 is even more expensive. These people must be very environmentally conscious.
My 93 Suzuki Sidekick provides much better rear window visibility than this new Honda. In fact, I've noticed several of the new model small SUVs have very cramped back window visibility areas, which are further obscured by seat headrests. This surprises and alarms me. I immediately removed my rear seat headrests, but it doesn't help with the parking visibility problem.
I'm going to look for this plastic thing-y that Seguy is talking about. Any idea what it's called?
I'm also with some of the other posts on wanting a hybrid CR-V. Although my CR-V is brand new and very nice, gas mileage is very important to me, and I would trade what I have in a heartbeat for the hybrid's gas mileage and conservation benefits. Hope Honda decides to offer us "environmental allies" a break!
I completely agree with your assessment about bringing a diesel Honda to the U.S. The CRV would be awesome as a diesel!
The lower sulfur petro diesel does look like it will make the 2006 standard also!
However, you might like a backup sensor. If Slugline pokes his head in here, he can tell you more about them. He did a write up on the SmartPark 2000, but there are other models. I think the cost (minus installation) is about $50.
In unrelated news... My CR-V has been rear-ended. :-( Worse part is the CR-V was hit by my other car, an Acura TL! It happened while we were moving into the new house. I was driving the moving van, my wife was in the CR-V, and her mother was driving the TL. Mom smacked the back of the CR-V while adjusting the radio.
The CR-V is nearly undamaged. I have a small gouge in the plastic bumper and the spare tire cover (which I just painted) got scratched up.
The TL took the brunt of the hit. It hit low and impacted the bumper more than the spare tire. The grill and hood were pushed back. Both will need to be replaced. The CR-V's muffler also gouged the paint on the TL's bumper.
At 75 MPH the best mileage I've achieved was 27 MPG (with A/C on, 30 PSI in the original tires).
At 65 MPH the best mileage I've achieve was 31 MPG (A/C off, 30 PSI in the original tires).
The last trip at 65-75 MPH using A/C about 50% of the time and tires at 30 PSI I averaged 29 MPG for the trip.
Speed matters. JM2C
Bummer about the damage, though.
-juice
I was involved in a minor accident a few months back. Traffic stopped suddenly and the guy five cars back didn't. A little Ford Aspire got pushed into my rear. No damage on me at all (not even a scratch) but the Aspire lost a headlight and had a nice crumple to the hood. It felt like a light tap when he hit.
Wanna talk about parking? I'll let you drive my Suburban first, then you'll marvel at the ease of parking a 'V.
P.S. My average for my '99 EX auto is a consistant 24.
I did pull down 31mpg on some highway only trips this year.
Juice/Beatfarmer - Thanks. This is the second home buying experience in the last four years (the last was a townhouse). I'm hoping we stay here a little longer.
The accident was apparently not a love tap. My wife claims she was hit pretty hard. She was was kinda surprized that the airbags didn't deploy in the Acura, but I don't think the damage intruded far enough.
We're discussing the possibility of having the CR-V's spare tire professionally painted. I did it the first time. It looks fine, but not up to factory spec. We're probably going to make a claim for tha Acura, so we may try to add the tire cover into the repairs. We're already paying the deductible, but I haven't investigated the policy, yet.
I drove my Miata to the Honda dealer when we test drove a CR-V. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the CR-V's shifter, mind you, but it doesn't come close to the Miata's.
But take one for a spin, with the '02s you can chirp the tires in 2nd gear.
-juice