Please Advise My 2007 Purchase

[XboxEboy]

Hi everyone.
My wife and I are expecting a baby in January, so we have decided to get the CR-V. She drives an '04 Civic and I will be trading in or selling my 2001 VW Golf.

I have test-drove the 2007 and my dad owns a 2005, so I definitely know the CR-V is for us (anything but a minivan!)

We plan on this being our last major car purchase (in other words, keeping this until it dies!)

I have a few questions that I was hoping you all could respond to.

1) Leather. We have a Lab who rides in the car a lot (in the back pack, not the seats). Currently, I have to vacuum out my Golf a LOT b/c even with him in the trunk, his hair flies around and sticks to the cloth. Does leather make it easier to keep clean? Those of you with cloth...have you noticed lint, hair, dirt, etc sticks easily to the material or does it come off easily? I have to vacuum the heck out of my Golf seats b/c the material is so "sticky." I'm just wondering if it's worth the extra $$$ for leather.

2) 4wd or 2wd. We live in Va where it doesn't snow more than 3-6 times a year (and less than 6 inches at that). We do get a fair amount of rain. But both of us don't need to commute in heavy snow, etc. Is 4wd or 2wd the better option for us? How does one decide?

3) Maintenance. Our dealer (in Charlottesville, Va), offers "Tires for Life" if you get your service work done there. So far, what have the service costs been at a dealership? For 5, 10, 15, 20K, etc. Just wondering what the first major service will cost and roughly when it should occur.

4) '07 vs '08 It is now nearly June. We could get the 07 now or wait out the summer (when gas goes back down and my wife is "more" pregnant) and get the '08. Can you get a better deal around September/October on either the 07s, 08s, or in financing? Also, does anyone know if there will be any changes at all to the 08 CR-V?

5) Navigation. I read in USA Today not too long ago, that the built-in navigational systems are actually causing some depreciation in vehicles, like built-in cell phones, tape decks, etc. Rather than spend the extra $$$$ on that, most people are just opting for the portable cheaper versions. I just thought I would throw that out there b/c I saw some discussion on that.

Thanks everyone!

[2RedV's]

Hi everyone.
My wife and I are expecting a baby in January, so we have decided to get the CR-V. She drives an '04 Civic and I will be trading in or selling my 2001 VW Golf.

I have test-drove the 2007 and my dad owns a 2005, so I definitely know the CR-V is for us (anything but a minivan!)

We plan on this being our last major car purchase (in other words, keeping this until it dies!)

I have a few questions that I was hoping you all could respond to.

1) Leather. We have a Lab who rides in the car a lot (in the back pack, not the seats). Currently, I have to vacuum out my Golf a LOT b/c even with him in the trunk, his hair flies around and sticks to the cloth. Does leather make it easier to keep clean? Those of you with cloth...have you noticed lint, hair, dirt, etc sticks easily to the material or does it come off easily? I have to vacuum the heck out of my Golf seats b/c the material is so "sticky." I'm just wondering if it's worth the extra $$$ for leather.

2) 4wd or 2wd. We live in Va where it doesn't snow more than 3-6 times a year (and less than 6 inches at that). We do get a fair amount of rain. But both of us don't need to commute in heavy snow, etc. Is 4wd or 2wd the better option for us? How does one decide?

3) Maintenance. Our dealer (in Charlottesville, Va), offers "Tires for Life" if you get your service work done there. So far, what have the service costs been at a dealership? For 5, 10, 15, 20K, etc. Just wondering what the first major service will cost and roughly when it should occur.

4) '07 vs '08 It is now nearly June. We could get the 07 now or wait out the summer (when gas goes back down and my wife is "more" pregnant) and get the '08. Can you get a better deal around September/October on either the 07s, 08s, or in financing? Also, does anyone know if there will be any changes at all to the 08 CR-V?

5) Navigation. I read in USA Today not too long ago, that the built-in navigational systems are actually causing some depreciation in vehicles, like built-in cell phones, tape decks, etc. Rather than spend the extra $$$$ on that, most people are just opting for the portable cheaper versions. I just thought I would throw that out there b/c I saw some discussion on that.

Thanks everyone!

1. Sure, it should be easier to clean, just don't let the dog get on the seats as the claws will scratch the leather. Get a pet barrier.

2. Sounds like you don't really need 4wd and if you plan on keeping the car forever, the extra $1200 in resale later on means nothing to you.

3. Does the dealer make you follow a specific schedule that is other than what Honda describes in the Owner's Manual?
Owner's manuals:
https://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/RJAAI001_OMANUAL.asp

4. No changes coming that I have heard of. Honda rarely makes changes in the first couple of years. The way they are selling, I doubt there will be many discounts, if any.

5. I would get aftermarket NAV. It's cheaper now and if you keep the vehicle a long time, what if it goes bad after the warranty goes out? Also, since you are planning on keeping it forever, why worry about depreciation?

[connermt]

Hi everyone.
My wife and I are expecting a baby in January, so we have decided to get the CR-V. She drives an '04 Civic and I will be trading in or selling my 2001 VW Golf.

I have test-drove the 2007 and my dad owns a 2005, so I definitely know the CR-V is for us (anything but a minivan!)

We plan on this being our last major car purchase (in other words, keeping this until it dies!)

I have a few questions that I was hoping you all could respond to.

1) Leather. We have a Lab who rides in the car a lot (in the back pack, not the seats). Currently, I have to vacuum out my Golf a LOT b/c even with him in the trunk, his hair flies around and sticks to the cloth. Does leather make it easier to keep clean? Those of you with cloth...have you noticed lint, hair, dirt, etc sticks easily to the material or does it come off easily? I have to vacuum the heck out of my Golf seats b/c the material is so "sticky." I'm just wondering if it's worth the extra $$$ for leather.

2) 4wd or 2wd. We live in Va where it doesn't snow more than 3-6 times a year (and less than 6 inches at that). We do get a fair amount of rain. But both of us don't need to commute in heavy snow, etc. Is 4wd or 2wd the better option for us? How does one decide?

3) Maintenance. Our dealer (in Charlottesville, Va), offers "Tires for Life" if you get your service work done there. So far, what have the service costs been at a dealership? For 5, 10, 15, 20K, etc. Just wondering what the first major service will cost and roughly when it should occur.

4) '07 vs '08 It is now nearly June. We could get the 07 now or wait out the summer (when gas goes back down and my wife is "more" pregnant) and get the '08. Can you get a better deal around September/October on either the 07s, 08s, or in financing? Also, does anyone know if there will be any changes at all to the 08 CR-V?

5) Navigation. I read in USA Today not too long ago, that the built-in navigational systems are actually causing some depreciation in vehicles, like built-in cell phones, tape decks, etc. Rather than spend the extra $$$$ on that, most people are just opting for the portable cheaper versions. I just thought I would throw that out there b/c I saw some discussion on that.

Thanks everyone!

Congrats on the coming baby!
Here's my take on it:
1) Leather is nice, but I have noticed that (for lack of a better term on my part) Japanese leather doesn't seem to last as long as European leather (take that for what you will). Leather with a dog might not be the beat idea. While it might be easier to clean, it won't matter if your dog scratches &/or rips the seat. You couuld always use a blanket or towel when takin' the dog somewhere (which is what I do). Cloth seems to gather dirt/dust/hair a lot quicker than leather. Leather (in my area) was an extra $2K. That $2K will buy some diapers &/or formula. So leather vs cloth: Leather = nice option, but not practical w/ dog & new baby in my opinion.
2) AWD is easier to get than FWD because most people want FWD (at least in my area probably because it's cheaper & a little better MPG) With traction control, EBD, ABS (etc) I didn't see much need for AWD. But for me, I didn't want to wait on a FWD so I bought an AWD.
3) Maint: Not so sure about this one, as it kinda' varies per a person's driving style, location, miles/year, etc. Being that I only have 1500 miles on mine & it's still @ 90% oil life, I won't have a maint. schedule for a while. Keep in mind I have heard that AWD needs a little more maint. than FWD due to is differintial, but not sure on that one.
4) 07 vs 08: Other than perhaps a few minor improvements that might make its way into an 08 (minor enough that could also make it into a current mfg'ing model year if it's beneficial), no major updates are scheduled. Honda usually does a redesign every 5 years or so, with a smart (what I call) "light-twist" about 2½ years into a model to keep it fresh. They like to horizontally or vertically flip the taillight design (& sometimes head lights styles) to "freshen up" a design with their cars; not so sure that would be beneficial with a CUV/SUV though, but we will see. Many times, it is color changes or material/texture changes that are changed from year to year. If you don't like the 07 colors, wait for 08 & see if they change. Pricing shouldn't change much if at all. In my area, there are no dealings on pricing & I don't expect that to change much at all, either. And usually when you see a Honda Specail Edition model or sale, it is the last model "close-out" (trying to rid them of extra older designs with special radio/trim/wheel pacakges).
5)Nav: In my area, another $2K option (so with leather & nav, a CR-V EX-L Nav will be about $4K more than a EX). It is nice & kinda' cool to play with & watch, but is Nav worth it? If you travel a lot, probably. If not, I would use that $2K on diapers & formula, but to each his own. The best thing about it is the backup camera (I found it quite useful), but you can also get backup sensors oon an EX for (in my area) $500-ish. Keep in mind that you wil need to periodically update your Nav unti to keep it current. Not sure if that's an extra charge or not....
If you want Nav & satelite radio, there are many aftermarket options available (although not as nicely integrated as the factory unit).

[XboxEboy]

Thanks for the replies so far.

When you mentioned the Japanese leather vs the European leather, are you implying that after a certain amount of time, the leather will need replacing/covering under normal wear and tear?

Our lab stays in the back and never tries to jump over the seats, so scratching isn't an issue. I just thought that leather (over time) will hold up longer than cloth. I really hate having to vacuum the seats 1-2 times a month.

[connermt]

Thanks for the replies so far.

When you mentioned the Japanese leather vs the European leather, are you implying that after a certain amount of time, the leather will need replacing/covering under normal wear and tear?

Our lab stays in the back and never tries to jump over the seats, so scratching isn't an issue. I just thought that leather (over time) will hold up longer than cloth. I really hate having to vacuum the seats 1-2 times a month.

Having cloth EX seats, I can verify they hold all kinds of stuff. You can vacuum them on Monday &need to again on Wednesday (if you are as anal-retentitive as I am anyway). Maybe that's because they are black & dark shows more than gray...?
In regards ot the European leather vs Japanese leather: If I look at an 8 year old BMW or Audi, its leather seems to always be in better shape than an 8 year old Toyota or Honda's leather. Granted you have to take care of it (clean, condition, etc) & some people don't. However, many people I know with leather have had better longevitity with leather from BMW, Audi, 'Benz, etc than with Toyota or Honda. For example:The in-law's 1984 'Benz's leather (that has so far survived 20+ years of Sarasota heat & sun) looks brand new. My coworker's 95 Accord's leather is trashed.
Maybe Honda's leather is better than 8 years ago....?
That's just my experience.

[07CRVOWNR]

Hello, I live in Northern Virginia and purchased a 07 EX-L due to similar circumstances that you have listed. Here are my answers:

1. Leather. I decided to get the leather due to the fact that the pet hairs that would make it up front would lay on top, thus making it easier to clean. I had also purchased the rubber all weather floor mats and rear floor cover. Combined with these purchases, I have found it much easier to keep clean than my old car with cloth seats. I recommend that you don't purchase the floor mats and cargo cover at the dealership until you compare prices over the internet. I purchased my mats at www.hondafloormats.com. HandA which is promoted on this website is comparable in price (if not the same or a little better). They also offer specials which could be better than the website I provided. I saved alot of money by going this route instead of at the dealership in Northern Virginia where I purchased my 07. If you get the cargo liner, I would suggest to also purchase the cargo net to keep things from sliding while you drive which could be distracting. I have found it worth the money to spring for the leather in combination with the above suggestions. My dog isn't a jumper so there isn't a need for a pet berrier.

2. 4wd. I choose the 4wd since I felt that Northern Virginia just gets enough snow, similar to Charlottesville as you described in the winter to justify this selction. In addition, I have a need for routine trips to Philadelphia, PA and New York. The AWD is a part time system and didn't take a lot more gas over a FWD version. Just keep in mind that it doesn't really matter if it is AWD or FWD if you hit ice, either one will still spin (my 07V is a replacement to my car that was totaled when it hit black ice).

3. Can't answer this one, maybe an internet site can be found that could provide a projected cost of ownership to compare.

4. I would be very surprised if there are many changes from 07 to 08 since Honda increased production of 07 to help meet demand. Meaning, why drastically change something that is popular after the first year of production.

5. Navigation. I choose not to get the Navigation. Too expensive of an upgrade ($2,000) over the EX-L. I just purchaded a Garmin Nuvi 660 which I should be receiving soon. I believe that getting a portable one is a better investment since I can use it in multiple cars. I have even seen an article that it stated that factory navigation units have actually hurt resale value. This is just one article that I have seen, so I don't know if it is actually true or verified. If you like the added safety, I would stick with the back up sensors.

In general, I have found it to be the most cost effective way was to buy the EX-L and then purchase the accessories via the internet. I also installed a roof rack which was very easy as long as you have a torque wrench and the proper bit (which can be bought at Home Depot).

Hope this helps.

[XboxEboy]

Hello, I live in Northern Virginia and purchased a 07 EX-L due to similar circumstances that you have listed. Here are my answers:

1. Leather. I decided to get the leather due to the fact that the pet hairs that would make it up front would lay on top, thus making it easier to clean. I had also purchased the rubber all weather floor mats and rear floor cover. Combined with these purchases, I have found it much easier to keep clean than my old car with cloth seats. I recommend that you don't purchase the floor mats and cargo cover at the dealership until you compare prices over the internet. I purchased my mats at www.hondafloormats.com. HandA which is promoted on this website is comparable in price (if not the same or a little better). They also offer specials which could be better than the website I provided. I saved alot of money by going this route instead of at the dealership in Northern Virginia where I purchased my 07. If you get the cargo liner, I would suggest to also purchase the cargo net to keep things from sliding while you drive which could be distracting. I have found it worth the money to spring for the leather in combination with the above suggestions. My dog isn't a jumper so there isn't a need for a pet berrier.


Hope this helps.


Thanks for your reply.

Do you mind me asking what you paid (total) on your car and what financing was and your monthly amount due?

Also, you said it was easier to clean with the leather...how much easier? Would you say it's worth the extra $$$$? Or do you still find yourself doing a lot of cleaning, etc. I realize the dirt has to go somewhere, but I just don't want it on the seats.

THe dealer in Cville includes the rear cargo mat and mudflaps in the price, but I will definitely get the floor mats from the site you provided.

THanks!

[connermt]

Thanks for your reply.

Do you mind me asking what you paid (total) on your car and what financing was and your monthly amount due?

Also, you said it was easier to clean with the leather...how much easier? Would you say it's worth the extra $$$$? Or do you still find yourself doing a lot of cleaning, etc. I realize the dirt has to go somewhere, but I just don't want it on the seats.

THe dealer in Cville includes the rear cargo mat and mudflaps in the price, but I will definitely get the floor mats from the site you provided.

THanks!

07CRVOWNR's suggestion about floormats is spot on! I always buy other floormats & put over the factory ones because I like to be able to sell the car with nice looking factory original floormats. Plus, I can whip out the other mats easily & vaccuum then up real easily. If you get rubber mats, just make sure that they don't smell like rubber real bad (that is, unless you like that smell).

[rxpbr]

I had a similar situation to yours also:
1: Leather. Although we don't have a dog, we do have kids. With our previous car, the kids always seemed to make a mess with the cloth seats that was hard to get out. Leather just seemed so much easier to clean and maintain. (unless you want to cover the rear seats in blankets which doesn't seem practical)

2: 4wd. I chose the 4wd because it seems to snow "just enough" in N Va to warrant it. Although the major roads are cleaned pretty well, our side streets are not, and I've seen many have a tough time on the side streets. (even though it was mild)

3: Don't know.

4: We were thinking about waiting also but I didn't think that there would be any major changes to the CRV in 2008. Plus with the way that they are selling I doubt you would get too much of a discount. If you are willing to wait until late 08 maybe you would. Plus we got a EX-L w nav which is very much in demand right now.

5:Navigation. We chose to get the nav. I have a Nuvi 660 in my other car but really wanted to get an integrated system. I was just getting tired of all the wires that drape all over the place. Even though the Nav option was pricey, you do get a few things with it including a backup camera, subwoofer, and better speakers I think. The Voice command feature is very cool too.

[07CRVOWNR]

No problem on the price. I received an internet quote of $25,500 (best quote by $500 dollars) plus tax tags and title. This was for the base EX-L package plus mud guards (the only dealer installed option). I paid for the paint and leather treatment, which I usually don't do but did so in this instance because of my dog. I also paid for the extended warranty that the dealer offered up to 125,000 miles due to the possibility of high mileage due to frequent trips. This brought the total price to just north of $30,000. I couldn't get it any lower through negotiations since the CR-V sell off the truck in my area, and royal blue pearl isn't that widespread in my area as other colors. The other dealers wouldn't match the quote I received. My family has always gotten a better deal through financial institutions than through any Honda dealerships for financing cars.

It is definitely easier to keep clean in my view, the dog hair sit on top of the leather and are easy to vacuum up since there are on the surface, not stuck in the seat. I don't have to stand there and vacuum the same spot for a while, usually one to three passes are enough if you have a strong enough vacuum. The all weather mats can be taken out and sprayed with water to rid them of hair.

Here are the prices that I paid for at www.hondafloormats.com which is owned by the same dealer I bought my roof rack from at www.collegehillshonda.com.

Cargo Tray (Black): $75.60 (My dealer wanted $105.00 w/o installation, Don't pay for installation. There are no special tricks except to just lay the tray down on the floor)
Front and Rear All Weather floor mats (Black Rubber): 99.60 (retail is $139.00)
Roof Rack: $202.00 (my dealer wanted $289.00 w/o installation)
Cargo Net: $35.00 (my dealer wanted $49.00)

The prices I listed above does not include shipping and handling.

Check HandA and you might get a better deal, pending specials to club members, than the ones I paid.

Since you are in Cville, which the last time it only took me about 2 hours to drive there you may want to submit a quote to Rosenthal Fairfax Honda (www.fairfaxhonda.com) which is the dealer I bought my CRV. May be a good way to compare prices if your willing to drive pending a large enough difference in price.

Hope this helps.

[rrbhokies]

Hi everyone.
My wife and I are expecting a baby in January, so we have decided to get the CR-V. She drives an '04 Civic and I will be trading in or selling my 2001 VW Golf.

I have test-drove the 2007 and my dad owns a 2005, so I definitely know the CR-V is for us (anything but a minivan!)

We plan on this being our last major car purchase (in other words, keeping this until it dies!)

I have a few questions that I was hoping you all could respond to.

1) Leather. We have a Lab who rides in the car a lot (in the back pack, not the seats). Currently, I have to vacuum out my Golf a LOT b/c even with him in the trunk, his hair flies around and sticks to the cloth. Does leather make it easier to keep clean? Those of you with cloth...have you noticed lint, hair, dirt, etc sticks easily to the material or does it come off easily? I have to vacuum the heck out of my Golf seats b/c the material is so "sticky." I'm just wondering if it's worth the extra $$$ for leather.

2) 4wd or 2wd. We live in Va where it doesn't snow more than 3-6 times a year (and less than 6 inches at that). We do get a fair amount of rain. But both of us don't need to commute in heavy snow, etc. Is 4wd or 2wd the better option for us? How does one decide?

3) Maintenance. Our dealer (in Charlottesville, Va), offers "Tires for Life" if you get your service work done there. So far, what have the service costs been at a dealership? For 5, 10, 15, 20K, etc. Just wondering what the first major service will cost and roughly when it should occur.

4) '07 vs '08 It is now nearly June. We could get the 07 now or wait out the summer (when gas goes back down and my wife is "more" pregnant) and get the '08. Can you get a better deal around September/October on either the 07s, 08s, or in financing? Also, does anyone know if there will be any changes at all to the 08 CR-V?

5) Navigation. I read in USA Today not too long ago, that the built-in navigational systems are actually causing some depreciation in vehicles, like built-in cell phones, tape decks, etc. Rather than spend the extra $$$$ on that, most people are just opting for the portable cheaper versions. I just thought I would throw that out there b/c I saw some discussion on that.

Thanks everyone!

Looks like Items 1-4 have been covered quite a bit. I will respond to #5, which is whether to splurge for the Navigation. In my case, I did. First, I like the integrated look. Second, there are a number of upgrades you do get for your $2K. That being an upgraded 270watt stereo system, a rear view camera, and a PC Card where you can store a 4GB Compact Flash Card and store up to 1,000 mp3 songs on it. It's like having a 4GB iPod Nano built-in.

If it was just the navigation, I'd say no. However, to get all the additional upgrades, I believe it was worth it for my purposes. I am certainly using the 4GB Compact Flash card, and I'm actually finding the rear view camera to be helpful. Not to mention that the 270watt system with 7 speakers and sub-woofer is a pretty darn nice sounding system for a Honda!!

As for the comments made about the Nav reducing resale, I don't buy it. Now, how much, if anything, will you get for the $2K investment into a nav system upon resale, who knows. However, the worst I see is you don't get any resale value. I don't see where the nav could ever decrease the value beyond the investment in the nav. So, if you buy the nav, consider it a sunk cost, and enjoy the benefits of the sights and sounds and be happy that you don't have portable GPS and iPods with cables dangling all over the place in your rockin' CR-V:D :D :D :D

[Black Pearl]

Then again there is something to be said for having 4 grand in your pocket. I would imagine that leather would be easier to clean. But my experience with leather seats soured me, I wouldn't have them. I have rented cars with leather seats and found them slippery and hot. My back and keester would sweat against the seat. There I was sitting in an air conditiond car with a sweaty posterior. I had the car for about two months and put an old blanket over the seat. Because the seats are slippery, the blanket would slide down and ball up behind my back. I was happy to be rid of that car. The seats did look great though. Spiffy and great looks wear thin over time. Comfort never does.

Regarding the Nav. I have used a Garmin GPS since 2002. The integrated unit has a far bigger screen and no wires. But you are stuck with the level of technology that is inherent in the unit. Most likey electronic upgrades will not be available, and software can take you only so far. A portable unit can be moved car to car, or some units can be used on a boat or taken in the woods. A friend of mine has his Garmin mounted on his bike. But the integrated unit is a neat installation.

There is something to be said for the other features that come with both leather and nav.

If the nav system is seriously outdated or non-functional I can see where it would have a negative impact on the value of the car.

Personally had I wanted the Nav system, it would not have been worth the discomfort of leather seats.

There is a lot to be said for extra features of leather and nav, but then again it is not like the EX is a plain jane. The EX has a lot of nice equipment for and extra 2 grand over the LX and the LX is no slouch. There is a lot to be said for having a very nice car and an extra 4 grand in your pocket.

Some one mentioned buying accessories from the net. If you want to save a lot of money and you are interested in the extended warranty buy it off the net as well or at least know the prices and ask your dealer to match the price.

Google Honda Care and you will find several dealers selling it for big discounts. I got the 8 year 120K genuine Honda Care for almost one thousand less than what my dealer wanted for it, close to 50% off. If you are interested in the extened waranty, check out the net before you go to the dealer.

[cwalti]

Hi everyone.

Thanks everyone!

You need a Honda Element!!!

[Imswtcrln]

I decided against the NAV when purrchasing my 2007 CRV, but once I began backing it out of my steep driveway, I decided the NAV might have been helpful to make sure all is clear out back. I read an article in Reader's Digest recently that convinced me that if I had small children, I would definitely want the NAV for the rear camera.