Wife needs a new vehicle, and the CR-v is her choice...so far. EX model, AWD. Anyone have one and if so, impressions? Thanks in advance, I may be off-line for a while (been a tough last 6 months). JB
Honda CR-V , own one and likee? or not?
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Nothing to add about the Honda, but it's good to hear from you.
Good luck with whatever life is throwing at you.
Good luck with whatever life is throwing at you.
HollowHill
Minister of Fire
I have one and love it. Drive on hilly, snowy, rural country roads and the all wheel drive handles anything you throw at it. Very safe car. T-boned an 8 point buck and lived to tell the tale. Highly recommend.
firefighterjake
Minister of Fire
Definitely following this thread . . . my wife is looking for a new vehicle sometime between now and the end of the year (most likely it will be bought towards the end of the year to see if we cannot get a better deal) . . . right now she is trying to narrow down the list. The CR-V is on the list as is . . .
Subaru Outback
Subaru Forester
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Crosstek
Mazda CX-5
Nissan Rogue
Toyota Rav4
. . . and I think three or four others from Mitsubishi, Kia, Hyundai, etc. As you can tell we still have a ways to go to narrow down the list.
Subaru Outback
Subaru Forester
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Crosstek
Mazda CX-5
Nissan Rogue
Toyota Rav4
. . . and I think three or four others from Mitsubishi, Kia, Hyundai, etc. As you can tell we still have a ways to go to narrow down the list.
We had an older Forrester, (2004?) that got totaled and we bought a new 2010 CRV for better gas mileage. Loved the Forrester, like the CRV. Gas mileage is hovering less than expected, acceleration is weaker, and handling in ice and snow is not as sure footed as the Forrester.
My wife drives a 08 CRV and its been great. We have no complaints about how it handles snow(although we dont get as much as upstate NY) and we average 27mpg. I cant compare acceleration since its the first non pickup truck weve owned but when I merge onto a highway I dont feel like its lacking power.
Wife now owns a 2013 CR-V.
Our short list was down to the CR-V, Toy Rav4, and Mazda CX-5. Subaru and Hyundai were contenders, but she didn't want a 'Roo for some reason, and the Hyundai was not to her liking also. So, after test driving the top 3, the Honda came home with us.
The CX-5 had a nice transmission, 6-sd auto with manual mode. Good power but the interior was lacking. Timing belt vs. chain and 19" wheels put it 3rd. place.
Rav4 had a nice interior, diff. lock was a big plus for me, power tailgate a plus for her. Trans. was hunting on a 6% grade at highway speeds, but not bad. A close 2nd.
CR-V had the best steering. Braking was controlled and the ride was good. Revs. a bit higher on that 6% grade, but no problems keeping 65-70 on the highway. Interior is good, lots of cubbies for stuff, seats are comfortable, and the dash was less cluttered than the other two. Rear seats fold down on their own with a pull of a latch, back up camera is handy, and the Honda is tough to beat in the reliability arena. It's not head and shoulders above anything else, but overall a good fit for her.
All in all, I liked all three for different reasons. I would like the Cr-v to have had 1 more mid-range gear, maybe another inch of ground clearance, but that's about it.
FFJake, these days they're all so close to one another, it's a chore to make a final decision. The Honda track record was what really sold me.
jeff-t, thanks my man, I'll fill you in later. take care. JB
Our short list was down to the CR-V, Toy Rav4, and Mazda CX-5. Subaru and Hyundai were contenders, but she didn't want a 'Roo for some reason, and the Hyundai was not to her liking also. So, after test driving the top 3, the Honda came home with us.
The CX-5 had a nice transmission, 6-sd auto with manual mode. Good power but the interior was lacking. Timing belt vs. chain and 19" wheels put it 3rd. place.
Rav4 had a nice interior, diff. lock was a big plus for me, power tailgate a plus for her. Trans. was hunting on a 6% grade at highway speeds, but not bad. A close 2nd.
CR-V had the best steering. Braking was controlled and the ride was good. Revs. a bit higher on that 6% grade, but no problems keeping 65-70 on the highway. Interior is good, lots of cubbies for stuff, seats are comfortable, and the dash was less cluttered than the other two. Rear seats fold down on their own with a pull of a latch, back up camera is handy, and the Honda is tough to beat in the reliability arena. It's not head and shoulders above anything else, but overall a good fit for her.
All in all, I liked all three for different reasons. I would like the Cr-v to have had 1 more mid-range gear, maybe another inch of ground clearance, but that's about it.
FFJake, these days they're all so close to one another, it's a chore to make a final decision. The Honda track record was what really sold me.
jeff-t, thanks my man, I'll fill you in later. take care. JB
Treacherous
Minister of Fire
I am really hoping Mazda brings the dual turbo diesel CX-5 to the US market. 300 lb ft of torque and mileage in the 40-50 range would be awesome.
Treacherous
Minister of Fire
It would be nice if it was a chain but I believe the 2.5l is a non interference motor so possibly less of an issue for some.
Treacherous, that might have swayed me had the sales rep. let me know that. I asked him-
Me- Is the motor a timing chain or timing belt?
Rep- Oh don't worry, they don't recommend changing the belt until you hit 90K miles.
Me- Ok, so it's a belt. What's the average cost for a belt replacement?
Rep.- I wouldn't worry about that, you can go to 90-110K without a replacement.
Me- yeah, got that. But what's the cost when we hit that mark?
Rep.- Don't concern yourself with that. You can go 90-110K before that happens.
At that point, his sales pitch was over as far as I was concerned. And the CX-5 dropped to 3rd out of 2.
Me- Is the motor a timing chain or timing belt?
Rep- Oh don't worry, they don't recommend changing the belt until you hit 90K miles.
Me- Ok, so it's a belt. What's the average cost for a belt replacement?
Rep.- I wouldn't worry about that, you can go to 90-110K without a replacement.
Me- yeah, got that. But what's the cost when we hit that mark?
Rep.- Don't concern yourself with that. You can go 90-110K before that happens.
At that point, his sales pitch was over as far as I was concerned. And the CX-5 dropped to 3rd out of 2.
Treacherous
Minister of Fire
We looked at 2011 CRVs when they were new, wife wanted to stay with a Honda. She pitched a fit because it did not have the console dividing the front floorboard. Said what if her purse rolls under her feet? 
. Thought it was a nice driving vehicle, bummer there is no V6 option and was a bit small to accommodate a growing family. We took home a GMC Terrain instead and she's been very happy with it.
. Thought it was a nice driving vehicle, bummer there is no V6 option and was a bit small to accommodate a growing family. We took home a GMC Terrain instead and she's been very happy with it.
xman23
Minister of Fire
Had a 2002, at 189,000 I just gave to my granddaughter. Almost no issues. Now have a 2013 for 8 months. I think the CRV has had 3 makeovers since 2002. Loaded, very nice everything, tons of electronics. Not great gas mileage 24-27. We need 4 wheel drive and non of them get great mileage. My other car is a Prius. Nothing beets a Prius. Not the most power, but fine for me.
TMonter
Minister of Fire
We owned a 2008 (4WD) CRV for two years before we transitioned to a van when we had another baby. It was a very nice car, got good mileage and drives like a car for the most part. It did not handle as well as the Subaru Impreza in snow we owned before it. I wouldn't hesitate to own another CRV if it was a large enough vehicle but I would consider a Subaru as a better alternative depending on the snow situation where you live.
Real quick- we made a good choice. Close to 1K so far, it's getting better than 30mpg. The wife is happy. I'll report back in 156 weeks, should be broken in by then.
ColdNH
Minister of Fire
Wife has a 2007 CRV (mid level one) (forget the model) hands down the best vehicle I have ever owned.
It does everything it says it does exceptionally well.
Right now hers is pushing 160k miles, runs and drives like the day we bought it. hasnt had anything except for brakes, tires, oil changes and car washes.
The thing is great in the snow, its great in the rain, it gets pretty decent gas milage for an SUV, it handles more like a car then an SUV, it holds 4 people comfortably, it fits alot in the back.
It truely is an amazing little machine for what it is and what it was intended to be.
I was truely impressed when we came home to 14" of heavy wet snow last year and the driveway was completly snowed in, I was pretty sure there was no way we were going to make it up to the house, due to ground clearnace issues and not the greatest tires.
Well the CRV proved me wrong and we were able to blast through the snow bank at the end of the driveway and made it all the way UP the driveway.
I cant say enough good things about that car.
It does everything it says it does exceptionally well.
Right now hers is pushing 160k miles, runs and drives like the day we bought it. hasnt had anything except for brakes, tires, oil changes and car washes.
The thing is great in the snow, its great in the rain, it gets pretty decent gas milage for an SUV, it handles more like a car then an SUV, it holds 4 people comfortably, it fits alot in the back.
It truely is an amazing little machine for what it is and what it was intended to be.
I was truely impressed when we came home to 14" of heavy wet snow last year and the driveway was completly snowed in, I was pretty sure there was no way we were going to make it up to the house, due to ground clearnace issues and not the greatest tires.
Well the CRV proved me wrong and we were able to blast through the snow bank at the end of the driveway and made it all the way UP the driveway.
I cant say enough good things about that car.
I recently test drove the Subaru Forester, the CX-5, and the CR-V. The CX-5 was the nicest. However the Forester had far fewer blind spots and a much better overall view in all directions. I bought the Forester.
Oregon aloha
Feeling the Heat
Had the CRV. It was under powered and didn't handle as well in poor conditions and my wife feels safer in her current 2008 RAV4. She couldn't make up her mind between the Forester and the RAV4 at time of replacement, but she loves this RAV4 Limited. The only thing she dosn't like is the rear door is heavy if the car is leaning to the left.
My wife had two previous CRV's. When the ac compressor went on the last one, at <100k miles we took it to honda for a trade in at a couple of places. We determined that the car was just too expensive. We ended up with a Subaru Forester. The salesmen lost our sale. We were happy CRV owners. They couldn't get us in a car and make us happy. IMO the CRV is a better quality car than the Forrester. The Forester is adaquate. They are all over priced!
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