Help Decide Which Model....

[XboxEboy]

At first, I thought we would get the model with leather, but now my wife is pregnant, so we are really trying to tighten our budget and only get what we need.

We do need a bigger car, so we want the CR-V. If we get the base model, what are the major things we are missing out on? Sun-roof and alloy wheels?

Sun-roof is kind of important to me, but I can live without it if it saves us $50 a month. Wireless entry is important to me. Alloy wheels aren't a big deal.

Does anyone have the base model and can comment on it? How does it compare to the next model up?

In terms of having a baby and a dog that will ride in the way back, I can't decide which to get.

[Carvingbarn]

I have been shopping for CR-V also. I have looked at the Honda web site, standard features, for both LX and EX. I could not see any thing other that the things you pointed out. That would lead me to believe there would be no difference in performance and safety.

[Greenzter]

Does anyone have the base model and can comment on it? How does it compare to the next model up?
Features vary in different countries. State where you live.

[Black Pearl]

Assuming that you live in the US, you can find all of the differences in this list:

http://automobiles.honda.com/cr-v/specifications.aspx?group=all


I bought the EX primarily for the privacy windows, thinking that some of the other features were nice but certainly not worth the extra cash in themselves. The moon roof and the alloy wheels were at the bottom of that list. Now owning it I like both, but I am not strapped for cash either. Two things on the EX-L model that I would like to see on the EX was the heated mirrors (care less what color they are but mine match Nighthawk Black Pearl rather nicely) and the storage console rather than that lame tray. However I hate leather seats and I am cheap, although the hatred for leather was a bigger factor.

Quick list of differences between LX and EX (US Models-I don't know about state differences)
privacy glass
moon roof
alloy wheels
shelf in rear cargo
chrome grill and plate frame (actually I like the LX better in that regard)
variable intermittent wipers
security system
better cloth (well at least different cloth) on the seats
6 CD changer with 6 speakers (& no place to hide the cd cases)
exterior temperature
steering wheel audio controls

The LX is actually a very nicely equipped vehicle. I am not sure that I could justify the extra goodies in my younger years. If the LX had privacy glass I would have never went for the EX, but having it now I like all the extra trinkets. But that is about it, trinkets.

If you are thinking about buying an extended warranty, check the net for genuine Honda Care Warranties at big discounts over dealer prices (illegal in Florida) and if you are a do it your selfer, you can install some genuine Honda accessories bought from H&A or others at discount prices and save dealer fees.

You need to go to the dealer and get one of those glossy CR-V brochures. Then you can properly make a choice while mooning over it sitting on the can. Some of my best car buying insights have occurred there. "What is ambient console lighting?" "Tilt feature?"

Good luck.

[07CRVOWNR]

I have purchased the EX-L version a few months ago with my wife being pregnant and we also have a dog. We are also wasn't too flush with cash but we opted for the EX-L since we both really liked the sun roof (which I had in the car that the CRV replaced) and leather seats. I particularly like the leather seats because it is so much easier to clean the dog hair off of the seats. Besides the heated front seats, being able to clean them easier is what I found to be the biggest benefit. My wife loves the passenger mirror that is part of the sunglass holder, but I believe all CRV's have this feature.

I had bought the stock EX-L and bought the following over the internet afterwards (saving a large amount of cash).

1. All weather floor mats and cargo tray (easy to take out and wash all of the dog hair and dirt). Do not have them installed, if ordered through the internet, these are shipped rolled up in a box. Just unroll and place them in the appropriate place.

2. Cargo Net. This is a nice accessory that keeps things from rolling around in the cargo area. This is easy to install yourself once you can figure out the instructions. Not quite intuitive as the floor mats and cargo tray.

3. Roof Rack. This is very easy as long as you have a torque wrench. You can get the torque bit listed in the instructions at Home Depot.

If you decide on any of the accessories pending which model you get, I saved about 15 to 20 percent on each item (conservative estimate) by ordering them on the internet and installing them my self.

[XboxEboy]

What exactly is the "privacy glass?" Can anyone post pictures of the difference? I take it there is just a tint color difference?

Yes, I live in the States (Virginia).

Finally,
I can't decide which of our cars to trade in!

We have an
04 Honda Civic with 75K miles
and
01 VW Gold with 80K miles.

The VW has never missed a maintenance and runs great. It is a manual.
The Civic has only had the most critical servicing (skipped flushing fluids sometimes, etc), and is an automatic.

After my wife goes back to work, she will drive not drive the CR-V b/c she needs to use her car for work and we don't want to put the mileage on it. While she does know how to drive a manual, I would feel better with her in an automatic.

We can get more for the Civic, though, and I would know in the back of my mind that we have taken great care of the VW. The VW also holds the dog and the baby b/c of the trunk space and the Civic can't do that.

With the Cr-V, though, I'm not sure we need two cars to hold both the dog and the baby. Also, I bet the Honda will outlast the VW in the long run.

Can't decide!

[Black Pearl]

What exactly is the "privacy glass?" Can anyone post pictures of the difference? I take it there is just a tint color difference?

Yes, I live in the States (Virginia).

Finally,
I can't decide which of our cars to trade in!

We have an
04 Honda Civic with 75K miles
and
01 VW Gold with 80K miles.

The VW has never missed a maintenance and runs great. It is a manual.
The Civic has only had the most critical servicing (skipped flushing fluids sometimes, etc), and is an automatic.

After my wife goes back to work, she will drive not drive the CR-V b/c she needs to use her car for work and we don't want to put the mileage on it. While she does know how to drive a manual, I would feel better with her in an automatic.

We can get more for the Civic, though, and I would know in the back of my mind that we have taken great care of the VW. The VW also holds the dog and the baby b/c of the trunk space and the Civic can't do that.

With the Cr-V, though, I'm not sure we need two cars to hold both the dog and the baby. Also, I bet the Honda will outlast the VW in the long run.

Can't decide!


We shall use the 3rd best looking 07 V in the forums (after Joeew's & Tayjenn's) to show you privacy glass which is nothing more than a fancy term for dark windows in the back.

Below is a photo of the magnificent Black Pearl. You will note that the driver's door and windshield is relatively clear compared to the back windows. On a LX all the windows will look like the front windows.

While we are on the subject, beware in Virgina of being tempted to tint your front windows. A friend of mine bought a truck in Florida and was driving it back to Pennsylvania. The Va state cops pulled him over measured the amount of window tint with some contraption and fined him $175 eventhough the car had PA plates. I don't think we are allowed to tint ours either but I really don't know, and could care less.

As to your other dillemmas, you have too many permutations for my small brain. You may want it to send into "Ask Marilyn" in the Parade magazine, or send the problem to one of Department of Energy's National Labs. When they get some down time on one their Cray's they may be provide you with the best logical answer. But due to the fact that your wife has to drive the car, you may want to start with her, and the basic question auto/stick? In the mean time good luck with your purchase and trade in.

[drivezki]

I have a '06 EX. Sure wish it had leather seats. Honda's seat fabric is almost like Velcro. Every bit of lint sticks. Certainly not dog hair friendly. :D

BTW, LX seat fabric is not the same quality as EX. Another point is if you get an LX and intend to upgrade rims in the future, pressure monitor valves add a fair amount to the cost.

Accessories profit is almost criminal. When making your deal, try getting some items, if you want any, at dealer cost. Worked for me.

[jocal62]

At first, I thought we would get the model with leather, but now my wife is pregnant, so we are really trying to tighten our budget and only get what we need.

We do need a bigger car, so we want the CR-V. If we get the base model, what are the major things we are missing out on? Sun-roof and alloy wheels?

Sun-roof is kind of important to me, but I can live without it if it saves us $50 a month. Wireless entry is important to me. Alloy wheels aren't a big deal.

Does anyone have the base model and can comment on it? How does it compare to the next model up?

In terms of having a baby and a dog that will ride in the way back, I can't decide which to get.

Because of the 1.5% lease rate here in BC, we got the LX because it saved us $30 from the previous 2005 EX we had. The sun/moonroof is a nice touch, but it's not a necessity. The alloy wheels aren't a necessity either, and that cuts you back about $1500-2000 I think, and actually the Chrome wheels are easier to clean and do not require all that much maintenance as alloy wheels. Who needs a 6 CD changer when you can rip 255 of your songs into 1 CD? So single CD player it is. We found leather is uncomfortably hot during summer, and so cold during winter that you have to run the seat heaters and therefore use more gas, so who needs that luxury? Time to be practical, so we stayed cloth seats. We already have the Garmin Nuvi 360 and that's enough for a GPS. We don't have use for the Cargo Shelf as most of our stuff require high clearance (Bass guitar amp, bass guitar, drum set etc), so the retractable tonneau cover will suffice. Roof rack reportedly only adds wind noise when you're driving at high speed, but you can always add that later if you really need it. Most of the 'nice' additions we didn't really need to have, the basic necessities would only be the door visors (so you can still open the window a notch in the rain), all-weather mats, cargo tray and the cargo cover. Stayed simple and elegant at the same time. You can even save more if you purchased all the add-ons mentioned from HandA instead of from your dealer. I didn't know of HandA before I joined this forum so I bought everything from the dealer. Had I known about HandA, I would have just bought from them, as I had $1000 Cash Back from Honda from my old 2005 CRV.

Now, if I wanted to add something more, I'd probably just go for the Body Side Mouldings and the Rear Door Deflector, which I can get anytime I have the cash for it, this time from HandA. So for us, the LX 4WD is enough and sufficient. Save your money for the more important things, your wife and baby.

[Greenzter]

you have to run the seat heaters and therefore use more gas, so who needs that luxury?

Amazing what you learn here. :D

[2007crv]

why not go to the dealership, look at the lowest end and the higest end, then read the borshure about colors and accessories. just remember the differences that the standard has VS the loaded options. I have a black '07 CR-v LX. standard with a single CD/WMA/MP3 player with a audio input port (actually lame on sound really) basic cloth seats, a center consol that drops down in the middle front 2 seats, that also can hold larger drinks and standard drink cups, a center consol int he back seat to hold 2 cups. 2 12V plug in ports, 1 in front, 1 in back. basic alloy wheels. really hot heater, good cooling system. standard tinted windows. gets relitative good gas milage. easy to get in and out of if your older. take your wife with you, let her try to get in and out. heck, let her drive it, adjust the seats. then tell the dealer, you are going to need a broshure to decide on what you feel you need with it and decide on color. the basic package will do for most. but who really needs to spend the big money on a NAV system, when you can get a TOMTOM or other GPS system to take on long trips, a 6 CD changer, when standard system has the option to create you own MP3/WMA disks to play your music on. anyone should be happy with CR-V. it almost gets better gas milage than a toyota prirus running only on the gas engine. out own has gotten up to 34 MPG on a trip. beats my old 2000 Accord buy at least 2-4 MPG. hope you like what you choose, it is the best ride to have.

[sleeksilver]

You should go test drive both and decide for yourself. I can't live without a sunroof so I would be happy paying the extra $50 a month.

[dougthug]

I just bought my 08 EX in December. I wish I had gotten the EX-L. I hate leather. Actually, I loath it. I don't like cleaning and maintaining it and I just don't like the feel. That was the big reason I got the EX. The things I missed out on that aren't availabe in any model but the EX-L are:


leather seats (hate them)
automatic climate controls (I miss having this option most of all)
heated front seats (can live without. never seen cloths seats with this option anyway)
color matching door handles (the LX and EX have black handles, no big deal)
center console (much better than the flip-down tray the LX and EX have)
navigation option (wouldn't get this anyway)
heated side mirrors (neat, but not important)

Now that it's almost a month later, I really wished I would have gotten the EX-L so I could have these other features. Also, I wouldn't get the ivory interior. Dirt shows up too much. I would have gotten the gray. That's just my opinion. Hope it helps. Thanks.