2001 Honda CR-V: the Oppositelock Review

"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee) 10/12/2013 at 11:13 • Filed to: oppo reviews, honda, essextee

5

84

In 1994, Toyota debuted the first-ever CUV. It was a smash hit, and other automakers rushed their own versions into production to cash in on this new market segment. Some were better than others, but just how well did Honda's answer to the RAV4 measure up?

Honda made its name with reliable, basic, and wallet-friendly transportation. The CR-V is no different. It's nothing fancy, but it's still a good vehicle all-around. Some might even say that it's the Honda Civic of small SUVs!

Note: Due to the inaccessibility of our CR-V, which is a 45 minute ferry ride away from me, I'll just be filling this review with pictures taken off the internet.

Exterior: 5/10

Styling on this car is very Honda . Nothing too exotic or radical, but still nice to look at and overall a very handsome vehicle. It looks sort of like a very tall Civic or Accord. As far as aging is concerned it still looks modern, but it's quite obvious that this is not a new vehicle. Those chunky grey bumpers are an immediate give-away that this was a product of the 90's, as are the thin pillars and large glass area.

Interior: 3/10

Much like the exterior, the interior of the CR-V looks like someone took the dash out of a Civic or Accord and stretched it upwards a bit. It's very functional, with a bare minimum of features and a very plain center console. Button placement feels a bit poorly planned. You really have to feel for the panel brightness wheel, and the buttons for the A/C, recirculator, and rear defroster are too far away. They also feel exactly the same so you have to take your eyes off the road to see which one you're trying to hit.

One of the biggest complaints I have about this car is the driver's window switch. The driver's control for the windows is on the dash, and the switch on the door where it should be (all other doors have the window switch in that location) is the power lock. I've spent probably close to 8,000 miles in this car and I still hit that switch almost every time I go for the windows.

I do like the golf-ball patterned material on all the "gripping" surfaces though, and the visibility is excellent. The interior isn't a bad place to be, but there's just nothing special about it. It gets low points because it's boring.

Acceleration: 5/10

The engine in this car is basically a punched-out version of the Integra's 4-cylinder, displacing 2 liters and delivering a modest 147 hp and 133 ft-lbs of torque. This engine was added for the 1999-2001 model years to address complaints of the original 126hp engine being too anemic. The CR-V's not exactly fast, but despite the car's size and heavy 4wd system it makes the 0-60 run in 8.5 seconds. It's more than capable of getting out of its own way, and it's economical too! Even with an automatic, careful driving will return about 22 city/26 highway mpg.

Braking: 4/10

What can I say? They're just brakes, nothing fancy. They operate very oddly, though, and it takes some getting used to. As you press the pedal it's nothing... nothing... nothing... and then suddenly they grab and everything in the car lurches forward.

Ride and handling: 3/10

A sports car this is not. The body rolls like a much heavier vehicle, and the ride manages to be both wobbly and jarring at the same time. Every little bump in the road results in a loud BANG and the whole car shaking like a bowl of Jell-O. Handling isn't dangerous, but it's scary enough that you'd want to avoid exploring the limits of grip. The steering is decently sharp and has a nice weight, but not a whole lot of feedback.

Comfort: 2/10

Oh, dear. Ergonomically, this car is a disaster of such proportion that they should be offering FEMA trailers to people who have to drive them for extended periods of time. Tall people need not apply, I'm a modest 6' and even with the seat all the way back my knees don't fit under the dash and they start to ache after driving for a while. The steering wheel is also low and far away, so you're basically driving with you arms outstretched on your lap.

The seats are horrible as well, they offer no support whatsoever and have little bolstering. After a long trip in the car, you get out and it feels like someone's kicked you in the tailbone. On hot days you might even start to chafe on the back of your thighs due to sliding around on the seat because of the aforementioned lack of bolsters.

Gearbox: 4/10

It's not the worst automatic I've experienced. The car's got a 4-speed with overdrive, so there's plenty of ratios to make use of the rev-happy Honda engine. It seems to have trouble deciding when to shift when you mash the pedal, but otherwise it's fairly unobtrusive to the driving experience. Unlike other cheap cars, you don't spend the whole ride constantly wishing for a different transmission.

Toys: 2/10

Again, we're talking basic transportation. It's got A/C, power mirrors, and a 6-disc CD changer. That's about it. There is a handy, dandy, totally-not-useless-at-all folding picnic table under the trunk floor, though.

Audio: 6/10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=…

Perhaps the CR-V's strongest point, aside from its price and practicality, is the way it sounds. Even though it doesn't have VTEC, it's still a Honda engine so it sounds great at high revs. Get it above 5k and let your ears thank you.

Value: 8/10

This one actually is ours:

Only three things will survive the nuclear holocaust; cockroaches, twinkies, and Hondas. Ours is currently boasting 234 thousand miles on the odometer and everything, save for the tiny clock on the dashboard, works. Aside from the typical parts like exhausts and motor mounts, we've never had to sink a large amount of money into its upkeep. Not bad for a car purchased for $1000, eh?

See? I wasn't lying about the mileage!

Final Score: 44/100, not great but not too shabby either.

So, guys, how did I do on my first review?

GhostZ > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 01:37

7

These make amazing first cars/winter beaters/college road trip vehicles. They're cheap, economical, and amazingly good value for how long they run. They're... uh... just not very good at much else, especially if they get hit with rust.

I had a friend who took his to Montana. It was right at home there.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > GhostZ 10/12/2013 at 01:44

4

It's actually pretty decent offroad. It's got a real AWD system, not that sissy part-time crap, so it handles snow and ice relatively well. It's got nothing on a real offroader, but it can hold its own.

GhostZ > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 01:49

0

He'd take his up trails occasionally and it held up great. Not sure if he still owns it though, it would be pushing 250,000 miles by now if he did.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > GhostZ 10/12/2013 at 01:51

1

It's a Honda, so it's definitely possible.

offroadkarter > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 02:47

0

I drove a 2006 CR-V that belonged to a fellow schoolyard chum back in high school. Dubbed the CR-Speed, it had the 2.4L I-vtec. I didn't really find the engine noise to be "glorious", but I do remember remarking that the transmission in first gear sounded like the straight cut gear transmissions in gran turismo.

webmonkees > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 10:32

0

Lots of grannys driving these around here. I keep an extra two car distance back and watch the chaos bubble mess with traffic.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 11:07

2

Very good review. Down in my area, all the older CRVs are expensive or have very high mileage.

BTW, we have an 07 Pilot. The brakes act the same way. Nothing, nothing, nothing, BAM! Through the dash! Drives me crazy.

JCAlan > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 11:43

2

How did you manage to avoid your red paint turning pink?

Milky > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 11:46

0

Errr .... snow on the road, and off road are very different things. I don't for one second believe that a CRV can make it anywhere I took the Jeeps I had in high school.

Squabbler > JCAlan 10/12/2013 at 11:48

0

Night photography.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Milky 10/12/2013 at 11:53

0

We used to live up a large hill down a dirt road. You couldn't just power up it, either because our long driveway was halfway up the hill. You had to slow down and turn while going up an icy slope. Not many cars could make it, but the CR-V could.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > JCAlan 10/12/2013 at 11:53

3

The roof is pink. You just can't see it in that photo.

MooseKnuckles > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 11:58

0

I can't remember if it was a CRV or Rav-4 I drove way back, all I remember is the steering was like when having a rookie steer a boat at low speeds. You can pretty much bet that they will over correct and be zig-zagging because the steering is not intuitive at all. That's how whichever CUV I drove was. I might as well have been using/pulling ropes to steer, at least then I would have physically known the car should start changing direction.

Hshsjsjshsksjsk > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 12:01

10

I miss non-painted bumpers and huge amounts of glass.

Milky > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 12:08

0

Just for the sake of argument it sounds like anything with AWD could make it . But either way that is still not "offroad".

'It's actually pretty decent at difficult driveways.' - fixed it for you.

bsparks > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 12:18

1

I feel like you are missing something out of the "toys" category. Being the picnic table and watertight storage container beneath it! About the only real great thing from the CR-V anyway.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > bsparks 10/12/2013 at 12:23

0

We've never found a use for the picnic table, actually.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Milky 10/12/2013 at 12:24

0

As I said in my previous comment, it's nothing compared to a real offroader but it's pretty capable.

Built BMW Tough > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 12:30

0

HOW CAN YOU FORGET THE PICNIC TABLE?!

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Built BMW Tough 10/12/2013 at 12:31

1

BECAUSE IT'S FUCKING USELESS!!!

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Milky 10/12/2013 at 12:51

0

Obruni > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 12:58

1

2007 wrangler unlimited driver here.

those acceleration and economy figures make me green with envy.

Obruni > Milky 10/12/2013 at 13:03

0

for the tiny little sliver of americans that go offroading on a regular basis, fine.

but the CRV will still be on the road after 200,000 miles. The Grand Cherokee would not (and if so, all the electrics would be dead, not so in the Honda)

Built BMW Tough > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 13:07

0

I disagree. If you're tall and you are planning on eating on it, probably useless. As a table for just putting drinks, food, condiments, a stereo, or random shit? It works very well.

bpands > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 13:09

1

Its not even like the rear-bumpers on the SUVs/SUV wannabes of the era were worth anything with that spare wheel jutting out there. Hit anything and you're risking the whole cargo door assembly getting thrown out of whack before the bumper sees any damage.

BMW_Bastard > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 13:09

1

We have an '06 that I recently purchased, and I'd up the scores a bit for our particular generation. The seating room is great, enough to fit my 6'4 frame in the driver's seat, with room behind me for the infant car seat. Steering is actually excellent in this vintage. I would say the interior is a little more intuitive too - the window buttons are in the right spot, but the seat heater buttons are on the dash right near the ignition. Odd. But it does appear that Honda learned a bit from their first time out.

Glad to see yours has 234k. I just picked ours up with just under 72k on the clock, with the intent that it will be my DD/kidhauler indefinitely. The main reason was the engine and drivetrain. The CR-V/Element drivetrain is bullet-proof. Looking forward to many well-maintained, error-free years.

GLHS457 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 13:45

0

How can you give the poor CRV a 2/10 in the toys department? When I first heard that it had a removable fold out table integrated in the floor I nearly fell out of my seat. And since the table will already be out for tailgating or pick-nicks, throw some ice down in the 'spare tire' area and BAM! integrated cooler. That's at least a 6 in my book. Overall, good review!

65vette > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 14:33

0

I have a 97 with a 235000 on the clock. great car. My parents bought one as soon as they came out. shame for them though because they released the 5 speed model in 98 which they would have preferred. The seats really are shit but the car is incredibly purposefully built. The entire front area is open and spacious due to column shifter. The worst part is no arm rests on passenger seat. Love the fold flat split seats

Milky > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 14:39

0

Haha, well played. I'm still doubtful though.

Enite > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 14:40

0

I've got a '97 CR-V, and despite our near identical heights I don't share any of your comfort complaints. I was more comfortable in my CR-V in my last 9 hour road trip than I was in my dad's '08 VW R32 for a 2 hour trip. Then again, I switched from a '99 Miata to this, so maybe it's just a case of the CR-V being several orders of magnitude roomier than a Miata.

Union of Smog Techs of CA > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 14:41

0

From a mechanical perspective, it's really a lifted 4wd Integra. B20 engine, the OBD connector is in the same place, etc.

CRV Type-R:

Milky > Obruni 10/12/2013 at 14:46

0

Not going to argue reliability with a a jeep. I loved my Cherokee, thing ran like a champ ..... HATED the grand cherokee, everything broke.

But either way, the reference he used later on in our conversation was his driveway. That is a blatant miss use of the road "offroad".

raptureinla > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 15:45

0

Have one for a winter car.. could not be happier with it! Few small upgrades to the brakes, some Pirelli AT tires, and a factory skid plate to bust through plow ridges. Manual trans makes it much more fun. The clocks always break, but re-flowing the solder connections to 3 small resistors got mine going again and saved me $240 (list) for a new one.

bsparks > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 15:48

1

Never finding a use doesn't disqualify it as a nifty addition though, does it?

But overall it is still a very sub-par vehicle for the class it is in. Especially that body roll issue, it's damn near pathetic. I think the first gen Odyssey vans drove better!

TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 16:04

0

This was the first car I'd ever ridden in, in fact I was brought home from the hospital in a red CR-V. When my parents had to move, family friends fought over our CR-V.

timateo81 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 16:54

6

interior 3/10? either you weren't alive in the nineties to remember what interiors were like back then, or you've never driven a Chevrolet.

downforce > GhostZ 10/12/2013 at 17:06

1

My girlfriend has this CR-V model in black. It's very, very good at off-roading (not crappy like most city SUVs on the market), we regularly use the folding picnic table and it's a really nice feature to have if you are young people going often to picnic (don't listen what the review says about it), it's cheap to maintenance and repair, the interior is pretty comfortable (although not modern-looking and quite basic).

cluelessk > timateo81 10/12/2013 at 18:21

4

Compared to other vehicles from the era there's nothing wrong with the interior.

Writer was reviewing this things as if it came out yesterday. Also with the brake issue that could be maintenance related. I worked at a Honda dealer and never once thought the brakes felt weird.

Corey > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 19:04

0

"Handling isn't dangerous, but it's scary enough that you'd want to avoid exploring the limits of grip."

I disagree. My first car was a '97 CRV that saw back road twisties quite a bit and taught me a lot about driving on the limit :)

I remember a couple times when the back end came loose. Good times, good times.
I sometimes miss having a car with wobbly suspension and a higher center of gravity because you can really explore the handling characteristics to their fullest.

reddude7 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 19:43

0

This was my first car. I would find it hard to say anything bad about the car and I'd have to disagree with almost all the negatives you wrote about it!

I even had the '97 model and i freakin loved it. Engine could definitely be a little weak-feeling at times, but I thought it felt pretty good.

IMO if felt amazing to drive. Because of the huge glass area, I felt like I knew exactly where the car was on the road at all times, down to the inch. Such a great sense of the car's position. I could squeeze that car in anywhere; I could back into a parking space and know exactly how far the bumper would be away from the wall.

There were lots of great places in the car to put things, like the small compartments under the center panels. Lots of storage in the trunk if you needed it, the picnic table was fucking awesome and yes i did make a point to actually use it once.

I also got a great feel for the handling, and I felt that it was quite responsive for such a large and heavy car. I didn't ever find it uncomfortable, but not excessively luxurious either.

Even with 160k miles, the thing ran brilliantly. I will never forget it. When I had to sell it, a teenage girl new driver in Tennessee bought it. I'm almost sure it's dead, I've seen and heard about one too many accidents involving new teenage girl drivers :(

Juryrigged > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 20:23

0

This is my first car. (Well mines a 2000, but same thing). I have a Red EX version of it, and it's slower than molasses. One thing it does do well though, it handles snow. You can actually go off roading with it. It is a shame you guys didn't bring that up. Now I might be only 5'10" but this car is actually more comfortable on long rides than I think you give it credit for. I've been in many worse cars for long drives. (Toyota Corolla from Seattle to Boise anyone?), and this was significantly more comfortable (the headroom is nice).

brianbrannon > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! 10/12/2013 at 20:36

0

Have you tried using a Honda OEM brake pad?

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 22:11

0

A grand for that? Wow. You can't even touch a CR-V for less than $3000 down south — and that's for a faded, beat-to-shit 2wd 98 model.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 10/12/2013 at 22:23

3

The previous owner thought there was a serious problem with the car, so they were selling it for next to nothing. All it really needed was two spark plugs.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Juryrigged 10/12/2013 at 22:28

1

It might simply be that the foam in the seats has just worn out due to the mileage. Other tall people might be fine in it, but most of my height is in my legs so I find it particularly uncomfortable.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Corey 10/12/2013 at 22:31

0

Honestly, the body roll is the problem. I've never been able to see just how well the CR-V handles because it feels like you're going to roll over well before the tires lose traction.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > timateo81 10/12/2013 at 22:37

0

I've updated the interior section to explain my decision. It doesn't score low because it's bad but because it's boring.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > cluelessk 10/12/2013 at 22:39

0

It doesn't score low because it's bad, but because it's boring. Also, my parents (who own the car) happen to run a shop so I doubt think it's a matter of maintenance.

DIRTEE30 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 22:58

0

My Mom was looking at the CR-V to buy and almost signed on the dotted line in 2003, until I told her to go check out the Subaru Forester. She lives in western NC, near the Blue Ridge Parkway, so snow and trails are part of her daily routine in the wintertime.

To this day, she thanks me for telling her to look at a Forester. At almost 215k miles, it's still trouble free. The only thing that went out was the alternator.

Secondhand News > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 23:36

0

I have owned a new SE version MY 2001 (bought it after helping a friend get one exactly like the one I eventually bought) and think the review numbers are a bit low. I am tall and the long distance comfort was well passable, Stereo meh, space good, fit and finish very Honda like as in pretty good. The picnic table makes a good impromptu rifle bench rest as well as a wicked tailgating surface.

The worst thing about the 2001 and earlier ones that had the automatic was the lock up torque converter was pretty manic on anything other than lightly hilly roads. It was constantly locking then unlocking on a trip in the mountains of Co. I also owned a manual trans 2002 and currently own an auto trans 2003 and a 2009. Put a set of cheap snow tires on the 02 and it was a surprise in the deep (17") snow, very good traction, MUCH better than I expected. It is not Audi sophisticated in it's awd system being part time (get "realtime") but as I mentioned good in the snow with a set of winter meats.

Mileage never quite touched 30 on the 01, 30+ in the 02 sometimes and about 28 or so on the 03 (all highway figures, the boxy shape has a lot of parasitic drag issues with speed as you would expect). The 09 has easily topped 30MPG (33.6 mpg over a tank, as measured from a topped tank, not the computer) often. Be sure to change the rear diff fluid with the fancy Honda Dual Pump Fluid every 30k miles. They have proven absolutely reliable for me.

Secondhand News > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 23:37

0

Honda "realtime" IS part time as needed, activating when slippage is detected...

Secondhand News > Hshsjsjshsksjsk 10/12/2013 at 23:41

0

Good point about the non painted bumpers, they fade out and look like crap on the early 2 generations.

Secondhand News > bsparks 10/12/2013 at 23:42

0

Take up varmint hunting and then cook dinner and pour the drinks on a overnight camping trip.

Secondhand News > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/12/2013 at 23:44

0

I found the susceptibility of sway from crosswinds and raging semi's more bothersome than body lean. Something overlooked is that you cannot do handbrake turns on an AWD CRV, dammit!

4wsprelude > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/13/2013 at 02:31

0

I think you are comparing this vehicle to modern vehicles. This was actually top of the heap of interior design, space, and finish back in 2001. Please be careful of judging it now.

lucky's pepper > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/13/2013 at 07:31

0

The wife bought herself one without telling me. Wouldn't get out of it's own way, transmission constantly hunting for the right gear, brakes just as described. I hated that thing. But when she sold it to one of her nieces, with 180000+ miles, it still ran like new.

cluelessk > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/13/2013 at 09:48

0

It was never a sports car though. It was a a people carrier. It did it's job super well.

Name one vehicle from this category and era that did it better.

Biostar01 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/13/2013 at 12:39

0

I remember when our next-door neighbors in Philadelphia (we're in Houston now) got one of these in 2002. They never realized that our Sienna had a spare tire; they though their CR-V was the only car on the street with a spare tire.

Our 2001 Sienna LE has outlasted their CR-V. Glorious retribution!

Hallpass > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/13/2013 at 13:15

1

We had a 2001 copy that I inherited through marriage. We traded it a few months ago because it was dying the death of a thousand cuts — a/c died, suspension needed work, brakes were die and tires gone. It had plenty of life in it, but passing the state inspection was probably a $1,500 prospect and I just didn't want to spend that much to keep it. Plus it had been in a number of small bumps and a savage hailstorm that left it looking like an Iraqi taxicab.
The review is pretty spot on. It was perfectly happy zipping around town. On the interstate, it was best off hanging out in the right lane. It seemed to feel a bit stretched above 75. The driver's seat had the feel of a delivery van, and the back bench felt very upright.
With the seats down, it was a good hauler; six full-size garbage cans full of free municipal mulch? No problem. The rear mounted spare was great for carrying bikes. Plenty of room for camping gear.
I didn't hesitate to take it down the relatively tame jeep trails we have in some of the state forest here in Pennsylvania.
It did a lot of things that the Outback that replaced it won't do.

Hallpass > bpands 10/13/2013 at 13:22

0

In my experience with the CR-V, the door skin panel deformed enough to avoid damage to the actual gate before the bumper took over.
We took a healthy shunt from a much larger SUV that had to be towed after the crash. The tire mount and door panel were deformed, but the gate opened and closed normally afterward. In fact, we never bothered with the repair since the car was so old.

Juryrigged > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/13/2013 at 16:25

0

Fair Enough. Mine has ~150k miles on it, and I'm taller from my torso, so that might explain it. One thing I might have lowered was "Toys". The clock keeps going out on it.

ab310 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/13/2013 at 18:37

0

Around my parts, the first gen CR-V is snapped up people that would, in other areas, be driving old Subaru and Volvos.

kowskey > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/13/2013 at 18:43

0

"as are the thin pillars and large glass area"

This is not a bad thing.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > GhostZ 10/13/2013 at 18:46

0

Apart from the weird AWD system, I could safely say yes to this. It's a damn good beater to take around town.

alexlam24 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/13/2013 at 23:12

0

I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm 5'11 and I fit perfectly in the front of my 1999 Honda CR-V in pearl blue(Discontinued :( ). The buttons are also quite intuitive and the brakes have better feel than the 2010 Honda Pilot that's sitting in the garage. I guess maintenance and how you drive the car matters.

alexlam24 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/13/2013 at 23:16

0

Depends on what tires you have. Originally had Dunlops(Bad grip), went to Michelins(Best I ever had) and now on Yokos(Fuel economy went down)

alexlam24 > bsparks 10/13/2013 at 23:16

0

I remember back in 2002, at six flags, picnic table was useful for foods and sheet

alexlam24 > Hshsjsjshsksjsk 10/13/2013 at 23:17

0

The bumpers are more durable than a Nokia 3310

wholetitties > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/14/2013 at 00:13

0

Nothing close to a civic's 4cyl. It is in fact a punched out integra engine though.

eovnu87435ds > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/14/2013 at 01:42

0

The clock on the dash takes about 5 minutes to fix. The solder joints in it break down. use a soldering iron, heat the big joints and add a little bit more solder. Now you can make it up to 45/100!

My 99 CR-V EX has just about the same mileage. The thing is unstoppable and off road it really holds it own. If only I had one of the elusive 5 speed models that are available in the states...

I also vote for bonus points for 2 horn buttons that you can hit with your thumbs. It's always fun when you see someone you know and send them about 40 short and fast beeps in 2 seconds. Nobody could beep like I could.

eovnu87435ds > JCAlan 10/14/2013 at 01:48

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I was beginning to think I was the only one. I have the EX, so my handles and mirrors were also red. On my 99, nearly every body panel is a different color. Car guys look at and ask what kind of accident it has been in and who did the horrible repaint. I've since painted the handles, mirrors, and all that horrible grey trim flat black. it looks 1000 times better.

Look at the grey door guard vs the kickboard trim here.

front bumper and grille done here:

And here you can see the back licence plate holder(which was the most pink) was done, but the back bumper was not yet.

eovnu87435ds > Hshsjsjshsksjsk 10/14/2013 at 01:51

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Agreed. I was rear-ended in my CR-V and the bumper cost under $100 for a new one. And it was a tool-less replacement too!

Jeff Chabotte > Built BMW Tough 10/14/2013 at 08:55

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My wife had a 2001 (sold it to her dad to pay for a Volvo V70R, good deal) and that picnic table was indeed a useful item! Especially seeing as the spare tire well was still in there, and it had the rear mounted spare. This led to a nice spot to hide your contraband (i'm talking about fireworks, FYI!) because most cops didn't even know it was there. If they even investigated your holdings in the back, they found a totally hard floor and didn't second guess it!

dyrtdawwwg > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/14/2013 at 09:54

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personally i see tough rubbermaid bumpers and thin pillars with lots of glass as very good things. you can hit things and not worry about paint or holes like you would on a modern cuv with thin little bumpers that may look pretty but can't take a hit. and lots of big glass, low belt line and thin pillars means better visibility and easier to park. I can't stand the modern trend of super high belt lines and slivers of glass, how the hell are you supposed to parallel park when you can't see a goddamn thing?

Psychoboy > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/14/2013 at 10:18

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The cone killer you have pictured to show how terrible the handling is was actually quite competent at the job. It surprised an awful lot of BMWs and Porsches at their own events.

It was also regularly driven by 6 foot tall guys as their daily driver who seemed to have no problem operating all three pedals under the dash in all conditions. I lost mine to a divorce, the one above was passed around several friends.

The motor in the V is not a punched out Civic motor. Civics of that era came with SOHC D-series and VTEC DOHC B-series motors. This 2 liter B is a punched out non-VTEC Integra motor.

Most of the issues you describe are maintenance issues that are probably fairly exclusive to your example. If two spark plugs knocked two grand off the value, you can bet that the previous owner didn't do much for maintenance.

lowflyin > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/14/2013 at 10:56

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The autoX pic is of my old CRV when the previous owner still had it.

A little work to the suspension, and it handled just like a Civic >

Go, Grün, Go! > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura 10/14/2013 at 12:53

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I was very happy to see a review of the first gen CR-V. I picked up an AWD 5 speed about a year ago for $700 with 190,000 and in need of some work. My crazy rusted out Protege5 was a lot more fun to get around in but I have to respect the Honda. They can't be called great drivers cars, but I see these first gens as great compliments to drivers cars. I average 24 - 28mpg typically in rural Maine, great in the snow, fits a lot of crap in it. Daily drive an old CR-V and get a fun car for on the side.

I have actually converted mine into a " camper ", ripped out the back seats and built a sleeping platform. I will be moving from Maine to Oregon in February, going to make an 8,000 mile trip out of it and camp out of the CR-V for about 3 - 4 months. I have to respect Honda, it just keeps going.

v8corvairpickup > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/14/2013 at 19:56

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I know that I'm late to the game with this "toys" hint but one of the finest features found on the CR-V is the ability to lay the seat cushions flat to make a large bed surface. The lower rear seat cushions can be raised by the levers on the sides and then you fully recline the rear seat backs. Remove the front headrests, slide the front seats forward and fully recline the seats... Viola, one big bed surface. Hence the RV part of CR-V. ( I just made that last bit up.... )

v8corvairpickup > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/14/2013 at 20:00

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And... our clock doesn't work...with only 130k on the odometer but everything else does, too. I don't think we've ever changed a single bulb on the '98 CR-V...although we may have put in 4 batteries and 3 sets of tires in 12 years of ownership.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > v8corvairpickup 10/14/2013 at 20:05

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That was an option. Ours doesn't have that, so it wasn't included.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > v8corvairpickup 10/14/2013 at 20:08

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The clock is a known issue with CR-Vs. Sub-par soldering or something like that. There was also a defect where the airbag mechanism was over-pressurized and would shatter when deployed, sending shrapnel into your face. Honda had to issue a recall, luckily ours wasn't one of them.

v8corvairpickup > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/14/2013 at 20:15

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Didn't know that it was an option, interesting!

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > v8corvairpickup 10/14/2013 at 22:13

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Pretty sure it was an option. I remember seeing instructions for it in the manual, thinking that it'd cool to go and try it out, and then being unable to find the lever.

Corey > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/15/2013 at 11:17

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Believe it or not I had more confidence pushing the CRV until body rotation than my friend's early 90s Thunderbird. The Ford pushed AND rolled, where as the CRV kind of just rolled to where you pointed with an excessive amount of front end scrub. I love how I'm hyping the Honda sound like it has S2000-like sharpness haha.