07 armrests & other first impressions

[GUNTHER]

Hi. I have about 1300 km on my new 07 CR-V which I bought on March 30. This is my first CR-V, but my sixth Honda since 1984 (previous were 1 Civic & 4 Accords), and I would never seriously consider buying anything else.

So far so good on the CR-V but I have to agree with a few other posters elsewhere in this forum that the armrests are downright uncomfortable. I have solved the problem simply by leaving them in the Up position & forgetting they are there, but Honda could have done better on that one.

Overall I really like this vehicle and can see myself keeping it for a long time, but can offer a few other suggestions for future improvements:

The lack of lighting in the visor mirrors was not something I expected on a top-of-the line model - I think Honda's bean-counters should have been reined in on that call - it cheapens Honda's image. There are lessons to be learned here from the fall of the Big 3.

I was also a little disappointed that the dual-zone climate control we had become accustomed to in our 04 Accord is not even available on the CR-V.

The only other thing I would mention is that our Colour is Tango Red, which was not among the list of options when I registered for this forum. Is that a Canada-only colour?

Cheers

[2RedV's]

I just checked - no Tango Red. I asked the admin's to add it in. Shouldn't take long.

[Vaios]

I don`t understand this. In Cyprus you can order the CR-V basically in three versions. The ES and the EX with or without the safety pack (ACC, CMBS, active HID lightning). You can choose from eight colors and one or two interior colors depended on the outside color. Asking the slightest request, for example don`t want the navigation, or the sunroof or the privacy glass or the specific rims or perhaps just order the ES with leather, the answer is no. Period. End of discussion.
This way we have paid money for not only things we perhaps don`t need, but also not at the moment functional. We have paid $48000 for the CR-V including a navigation system and the DVD doesn`t have any map of Cyprus. It`s completely useless. I asked the representative company (Demstar) if Honda will supply in the future a DVD for us and they don`t know. When I say that it should be given to us free of charge, they change the topic. Any way, that`s irrelevant, my point is that. How come they are so strict with the accessories for one country or region, but in the same time the car has so many differences in the accessories from country to country. Here, we have standard in the EX, lightning in the vanity mirrors, dual zone climate control, the shelf at the cargo area, the fog lights, the big sun roof... We don`t have the service reminder, the tyre pressure sensors,the mirror to see at the back, the six disc changer... The last one exists as standard in the official booklet they gave us here. I was looking for the six disc changer for at least three hours. In the end, they told me it was written by mistake. For the subwoofer, although there is an adjustment for it in the audio screen I`m not sure yet if it actually exists.
And all these without mentioning the two different engines. 2.0 , 2.4 . I wonder how in the factories are not confused. If they accepted specific accessory orders in each car , they surely would...

Anyway, the car is so good, that the above are just minor questions by curiosity. I do complain a little when I drive over big bumps, but the car is so solid and balanced in the road. I have my left arm in the armrest, my right is at the armrest at the door and holding very lightly the wheel. The chair surrounds your body as if lying in bed covered. Even if you leave the wheel it doesn`t decline an inch from the straight line, you feel safe and sure that the car goes in the specific point you want it.
I think Honda deserves congratulations for the specific car. I just wish all people would buy cars that are oriented like the CR-V, towards safety, environment, noise reduction. I just hate it , in this country and particularly in the area that I live, you won`t believe that there are that many cheap japanese cars with lowered suspension, modified engine and exhausts which make unbearable noise and are driven extremely dangerously by young men. This, in one hand, in the other, over half of the cars are old small trucks, diesels of course, here are called twin cabs, you understand, like the Navara etc. Only most of them are old, Chevrolet, Isuzu etc. They make noise like a regular big truck, they leave behind them a black cloud and they are very dangerous also. When the matter is brought, they say that the are poor people using it for their work. Sure, only most of them have an E-Class in the garage which they use in the weekends to go at the weddings.

[Greenzter]

You get a lot of features that we don't. Sure would be nice if they offered dual zone climate control.
And the tire pressure monitors? You're better off without them. Just a pain in the rear. :D

[harborguy]

How about adding Whistler Silver also?

[drivezki]

So far so good on the CR-V but I have to agree with a few other posters elsewhere in this forum that the armrests are downright uncomfortable. I have solved the problem simply by leaving them in the Up position & forgetting they are there, but Honda could have done better on that one.

Overall I really like this vehicle and can see myself keeping it for a long time, but can offer a few other suggestions for future improvements:

The lack of lighting in the visor mirrors was not something I expected on a top-of-the line model - I think Honda's bean-counters should have been reined in on that call - it cheapens Honda's image. There are lessons to be learned here from the fall of the Big 3.

I was also a little disappointed that the dual-zone climate control we had become accustomed to in our 04 Accord is not even available on the CR-V.

The armrests in my 2006 are also not comfortable. I keep them folded up now.

Personally I don't care about lighted vanity mirrors, but come on Honda, get with it.

And what about headlights that stay on after removing the ignition key. Really! It's hard to believe they won't change that.

[rrbhokies]

One thing I have on my 05 Odyssey is when you press the unlock twice on the fob and hold it down, all the windows go down. This is great during the summer to air out the car as you approach it. I know the 06 Ridgelines have them also, as do the Pilots I believe. I'm surprised something that Honda is putting standard in most their other cars didn't make it on the CR-V.

Why is it that with all the cool features that Honda put in the CR-V, why cut corners on things like rolling down all windows, or auto-off headlights? $27K for a top of the line EX-L with Nav and missing simple features like that?

[SilverV]

Big mistake in design... I can't figure how Honda came up with the height level for the front seat console side armrests. If they were at the same level as those on the doors, they would be functional. I just leave them up all the time.

[dudley07726]

I wish it had a normal height center console like in the RSX instead of armrests. I also would like the transmission lever to be on the floor as opposed to where it is now.

[Hughesy]

How come they are so strict with the accessories for one country or region, but in the same time the car has so many differences in the accessories from country to country. Here, we have standard in the EX, lightning in the vanity mirrors, dual zone climate control, the shelf at the cargo area, the fog lights, the big sun roof... We don`t have the service reminder, the tyre pressure sensors,the mirror to see at the back, the six disc changer

CR-Vs are now made in four different factories, for different markets. US cars are from Japan for the time being, but are probably switching to the US factory (which will also supply South America & Canada). European vehicles come from Swindon, UK. So the factories aren't producing that many different specs. TPMS is mandatory in the US for new vehicles, which is why it appears on these.

The spec for most European countries is very similar, but quite different to the US. This is due to different market expectations: in the US the CR-V has a lower cost image than in Europe. The US top spec CR-V has a list price of $27,000; in the UK it is $50,000 (and only a 2.0 litre). Of course there are some difference in taxes, but Honda can afford to bundle a few more toys in Europe. The Landrover Freelander (competition to the CR-V) goes from $40,000 to $70,000...

The habit of Japanese manufacturers bundling loads of extras into a standard model without options is good for those with a lease. On a lease, extras are typically not calculated into the residual value of the vehicle, so work out very expensive.

Only the base model UK CR-V does not include lights in the vanity mirrors and dual zone climate.