So I ditched the Miata for a Honda

[altiain]

Wow. That's one helluva commute.

Meh. About 40 miles each way. It would suck in the Miata, but I won't be doing it in the Miata.

I've done worse. That, and we'll probably be looking to build a new home closer to Southern Oklahoma (and Mel will be looking for a job in Plano ISD for the '06-'07 school year) in a year to 18 months, so it won't be forever.

Did you consider the RAV-4? They've always struck me as pleasantly sporty.

I have to ask, though: why not a sport wagon?

S.

I don't know why, but the RAV4 has never appealed to me in the slightest. We did stop by a Toyota dealer and looked at one briefly, but the cargo area was smaller, not as well shaped, and a lot less flexible than the CR-V.

As for sport wagons - most of them were either too small, or too expensive. The Legacy and Forester were really the only vehicles that came close to the CR-V on price and cargo capacity... but I've owned four Hondas in the past. I guess I was just more willing to trust my money with Honda.

Besides, I wasn't looking for the wagon equivalent of the Miata with this purchase. I was looking for something that got good gas mileage, was comfortable to drive, could haul my family up to Winter Park or out to Sedona in winter or summer, and (hopefully) wouldn't spend a significant amount of time in the shop. I still have the Miata, so when I want something to really drive, I'm covered. When I want something to slog to work through gridlock in air-conditioned, 7 speakered, all weather, multi-cupholdered comfort, I'm covered.

[srivendel]

Fair enough. Those are honest, sensible reasons for buying the CR-V. Here's to hundreds of thousands of trouble-free miles.

And here's a good reason to respect Honda:

Decision by Honda to put crash, rollover ratings on window stickers stirs debate

AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

Posted Date: 7/7/05

The decision to put government crash-test and rollover ratings on window stickers of 2006 Hondas and Acuras was a no-brainer, Honda Vice President John Mendel said last week in announcing the move.

But the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents the Big 3 and six-import brand companies - not including Honda - worries about "information overload," spokesman Eron Shosteck says. A sticker shows price, accessories, emissions and fuel economy figures, domestic content percentage, origin of major components and assembly location.

Another question: How will Honda's decision affect pending legislation to make the ratings display mandatory? If automakers do it voluntarily, some will argue, there's no need for a law. On the other hand, Honda's move may be used as an example that such a law wouldn't be a big stretch for car companies.

In the ratings program, vehicles get one to five stars based on how well they protect crash dummies in front and side impacts and on how well they resist rollovers.
S.

[Kestrel]

My CR-V has been extremely reliable, reasonably comfortable (trust me -- you don't want to sit in the back for a road trip from Dallas to San Antonio ), and met my fuel economy expectations (meaning it's pretty good, but not astounding).

On the other hand, it's the single most boring car I've ever owned. Slow and buzzy. Automatic (not even the fun of one of those "gated manu-matic" thingy's). Lousy sound system (which admittedly could be fixed with a $200 aftermarket "upgrade"). Every time I get into the car, I just feel my heart sink knowing how dull the drive is going to be.

Now I have the older model... perhaps the newer one is better. And in any event, it'll certainly serve you well as a daily driver. Mine still does it's job.

[srivendel]

Every time I get into the car, I just feel my heart sink knowing how dull the drive is going to be.

That's the funniest thing I've read all morning.



We love our 9-2X Linear (exactly the same as the pictured car). They can be had right now for around $17,500. That's 165hp, 5-speed, AWD, ABS, side air bags, etc. Plus Saab good looks and a better suspension than the Impreza.

It wouldn't be as good in stop-n-go traffic as an automatic equipped vehicle, but it is a lot of fun to drive.

S.

[altiain]

[color=navy]
On the other hand, it's the single most boring car I've ever owned. Slow and buzzy. Automatic (not even the fun of one of those "gated manu-matic" thingy's). Lousy sound system (which admittedly could be fixed with a $200 aftermarket "upgrade"). Every time I get into the car, I just feel my heart sink knowing how dull the drive is going to be.

Now I have the older model... perhaps the newer one is better. And in any event, it'll certainly serve you well as a daily driver. Mine still does it's job.

What year is yours, Kestrel? I know they originally shipped with 126hp, which got bumped to ~140 in '00, iirc. The new ones have 160hp (and 162 lb-ft of torque), and the '05s have a 5-speed automatic. It's a little deliberate when pulling out to pass at 75mph, but it gets off the line just fine - in fact, I was suprised on the test drive at just how punchy it feels around town compared to my wife's Accord, which has a similar power-to-weight ratio. The 5-speed tranny kicks down much more quickly and willingly than the 4-speed auto in her car.

I actually suprised myself (and the guy next to me in the Forester) in the rain yesterday morning. :cool:

Don't get me wrong - it's not going to win any drag races, but I think it would get the jump on a Miata to 60mph, unless the guy in the Miata got a good launch. Road & Track rated the '02 CR-Vs (which made do with a 4-speed automatic) at 8.4 seconds 0-60mph... not much slower than an NB.

Seven speakers, in-dash 6 disc CD changer, and the one I bought is loud enough to make your ears bleed. It also has better sound quality than my '98 Prelude or my wife's '00 Accord does. The OEM stereo will also play MP3s, and is pre-wired for XM satellite radio. It's certainly not concert hall quality, but for an OEM stereo system this one will do me just fine.

[Kestrel]

What year is yours, Kestrel?

1999.
126hp.
Dull but reliable/practical...

[Treibenschnell]

Dull but reliable/practical...

[POS Racing]

Dull but reliable/practical...

Are we talking about you or your CRV? (Just kidding!)

[ccage]

Iain:

Congrats again on the job and new vehicle. Hey -- the Miata's my favorite car (that I own), but sometimes you've gotta do other things and the Miata loses out. You've now got the best of both worlds... Drive the Miata when it's nice, and use the other for people- or stuff-hauling, or for long trips.

I'm sorta with Channelmaniac in that I also have an old Jeep Grand Cherokee (a '97) that has 140k on it right now. I just spent a good $1k letting the dealer do a lot of little things that need to be done -- worn-out door locks and the like -- and plan on keeping it for a good while longer. Yeah, friends have said "that's two months of car payments -- buy a new car," to which I always point out, "yeah, but then there're those other 46 (or 34, 22, etc.) payments after those... That's what gives me the willies."

I also keep a '97 F150 around for hauling dirty stuff. Other than the mileage on the Jeep/Truck, they're great vehicles. Hey, at least they're less thirsty than an H2...

Anyway, enjoy!
Chuck