Initial Impressions

[JMA]

I decided not to post any feedback about my new CR-V until I'd driven it at least a couple thousand miles and gotten through the owner's manual. Although I haven't had an opportunity to check out its handling in winter weather and haven't put it to the test in any emergency braking/accelerating conditions yet, I've put about 2,500 miles on it over the past couple of months and am ready to provide my unsolicited opinions/praise/complaints/suggestions.

First and foremost, I really like this vehicle. I have no regrets and am happy with my purchase. I think Honda did a great job. The quality is excellent. It's got a lot of great features. It's a good size, handles well, and is priced right.

Before I get into my list of likes/dislikes/suggestions, I need to say that I don't believe everything on my wish list should necessarily be done. For example, if a change is going to bump the price up or negatively affect the gas mileage, etc., then the pros/cons would need to be weighed. This is just a list of my initial reactions. Perhaps Honda will keep some of them in mind when they are looking to make some minor tweaks or when it comes time for a re-design, especially if they are hearing a lot of the same suggestions from many people.

So, here goes, in no particular order:

WHAT I LIKE:
Quality, Fit & Finish
Built in Ohio...felt like I was helping the local economy (although a supply problem resulted in mine being built in Japan)
Navigation System w/Rear Camera & Voice Commands (also see dislikes)
Smooth Coasting/Braking
Nice Cornering
Open space on the floor in front of the console (perfect spot for my purse)
Arm rests that move with the seat
Flexible interior
High seating position
Power adjustable driver's seat
Dashboard lighting (blue/white)
Interior lighting fade-away (just makes it seem classy)
Instant gas mileage readout (helps me to be a more conservative driver)
Light touch latch on tailgate (also see dislikes)

WHAT I DISLIKE:
Lack of a tailgate opener button on the remote (I hate having to set my briefcase or packages down in a puddle or snow so I can open the tailgate)

Blind Spots & limited adjustability of side mirrors (I'm hitting the stopping point and wonder if I could eliminate more of the blind spots if I could adjust them further outward) I also think it would improve visibility (and I might like the appearance better) if the rear side windows were larger and maybe wrapped around more.

Don't like having to turn the car on in order to adjust the side mirrors

Hood prop stick (seems cheap and a bit dangerous)

Lack of automatic on/off headlights

Lack of vanity mirror lights

Only 2 (rather than 4) screws holding rear license plate.

Lack of decent interior cargo holding options (those litttle metal loops and the optional flat cargo net are nearly useless)

Proximity of the cup holders to the CD changer (CR-V w/Navi) - I'm worried that a spilled soda will destroy the changer.

Water dripping off the tailgate onto me when trying to load the car in the rain. Couldn't the rain water be channeled to the sides?

Sometimes the sun reflects off the chrome Honda logo in the center of the steering wheel and right into my eyes! Has anyone else experienced this, or is it just me?

Lack of detail on speedometer. Would like to see numbers at every 5 mph, rather than every 10, especially since most of the speed limits here are 25, 35, 45, 55, and 65 mph. This could easily be accomplished by not having the speedometer use over half of its valuable real estate on illegal and unreachable speeds. How about a compromise...take it just to 120 mph and add 5 mile increments...or, better yet, add a digital mph readout.

AC does not seem to put out enough cold air. I tend to be cold most of the time and don't usually like AC blowing on me, but with this car, I have to keep the temperature set down to about 64 degrees to be comfortably cool when it's only in the 60's outside. I usually keep the temperature around 74 degrees in the office and about 77 at home in the summer. It will be interesting to see if the CR-V can pump out enough cool air this summer. Is this typical...or do I perhaps have a refrigerant/thermostat problem? You would think if I'm comfortable at 74 in the office, I would be comfortable at 74 in the car. The only thing I can guess might be a factor is the sun, but I've had automatic climate control in my last two cars and didn't have to set them so low. (Yes, the vents are fully open.)

"Unverified Areas" on Navi DVD: On my very first use of the navi system on my way home from the dealer, the navi system entered an "unverified area" and kept wanting me to make U turns and go way out of my way. (I have since learned to change the setting so that it won't try to direct me away from unverified areas.) My complaint is that this route from the dealer to my home is almost entirely on a state route that has been here longer than I've lived in Ohio (29 years), and my house is in a development that is just one mile off that state route on roads that are not new. The development I live in has been here for at least 15 years. Why is this area still "unverified"? I live just 6 miles from a major shopping mall and I-75, so it's not like I live way out in the country. Very disappointing, and it makes me feel like I won't be able to rely on it when I drive into unfamiliar areas...which is what I bought it for.

Some of the navi/climate control actions are not even close to my command. If I don't have the command right, it should tell me it's an invalid command, rather than perform some seemingly random action. For example, I might say something like "Display navigation," and instead of telling me it's an unknown command, or (better yet) performing something close to what I've said, it will do something like "Rear Defroster ON"! My passengers and I get a real laugh out of it, but it is rather annoying at times.

OTHER THINGS I'D LIKE TO SEE (depending on tradeoffs):
Better mileage/more economical engine/fuel choices (diesel, hybrid, something new?)
Bluetooth capability
Onscreen compass, even when in audio display or clock mode
Real-time navigation (i.e., road conditions, traffic accidents, etc.)
Power adjusting passenger seat (although not sure I'd want this added if it's going to jack the price up a lot)
Memory Seats/Mirrors (ditto regarding price)
More factory-installed options. I really would have liked to order the tailgate spoiler and fog lights, but the thought of having the dealer (or me) drilling holes through that wonderful factory finish, or having to pull the dash apart, taking a chance of introducing squeaks and rattles, just didn't make either option seem worth the risk. If I could have added them to my car while it was being built, I would have bought them.

A steering wheel that allows me to grip it at the 3:00 and 9:00 positions (and an armrest height adjustment, so that I don't have to drive with my wrist bent at an angle. (My wrist goes numb and I have to keep flexing it in the half hour drive to and from work each day. My doc thinks I'm developing carpal tunnel syndrome.)

OK...that's it for now! I'm sure I'll have more to say after I've had it a full year, driven it in snow, had it serviced, etc. All in all, it is a wonderful vehicle. I enjoy driving it and feel that I made the right choice for my driving needs. Kudos, Honda! And thanks for building many of them in the U.S.A.!

[Florida_Keith]

1) Water dripping off of rear hatch when open. Why wasn't the water channeled away? I use this vehicle as a work vehicle (computer and file cases in and out of cargo area in all kinds of weather). Its ridiculous that I get showered with water that has been standing in the area on top of the rear bumper and below the cargo hatch AFTER it has been raining.

2) Same issue with sunroof. I opened the sunroof after it had been raining and water gushed onto me and my front passenger seat. Mind you this happened two days after I purchased the vehicle. It was harmless water but I was PISSED that the salesman didn't warn me about the rain and the sunroof and rain and the cargo hatch.

3) Chrome on front grill is cheap. I washed my new CR-V for the first time and the "chrome" pieces on the front grille were cracking and squeaking from the mild pressure I was exerting. Cheap Cheap Cheap.

4) Look, I will never buy a Factory Navigation System so why can't you put an AUX jack on top of the dash above the air vents so I can avoid the spaghetti/rats nest of wires in my interior when I use my Garmin GPS??

5) Would it be possible to publish the maintenance schedules in either the owner's manual or on the website? I want to plan and budget for my maintenance needs. I really don't relish the idea of a light randomly flashing in my dashboard demanding that I bring my vehicle and money to the dealership. I know the idea is to build an annuity stream of income for your dealerships, but I would rather do more of the maintenance on the vehicle myself than pay the dealership. I AM YOUR CUSTOMER and you need to service MY NEEDS AND WANTS.

6) Its ridiculous that XM isn't an option in the 2008 EX 2WD.

[Black Pearl]

Originally Posted by Florida_Keith

1) Water dripping off of rear hatch when open. Why wasn't the water channeled away? I use this vehicle as a work vehicle (computer and file cases in and out of cargo area in all kinds of weather). Its ridiculous that I get showered with water that has been standing in the area on top of the rear bumper and below the cargo hatch AFTER it has been raining.

2) Same issue with sunroof. I opened the sunroof after it had been raining and water gushed onto me and my front passenger seat. Mind you this happened two days after I purchased the vehicle. It was harmless water but I was PISSED that the salesman didn't warn me about the rain and the sunroof and rain and the cargo hatch.

3) Chrome on front grill is cheap. I washed my new CR-V for the first time and the "chrome" pieces on the front grille were cracking and squeaking from the mild pressure I was exerting. Cheap Cheap Cheap.

4) Look, I will never buy a Factory Navigation System so why can't you put an AUX jack on top of the dash above the air vents so I can avoid the spaghetti/rats nest of wires in my interior when I use my Garmin GPS??

5) Would it be possible to publish the maintenance schedules in either the owner's manual or on the website? I want to plan and budget for my maintenance needs. I really don't relish the idea of a light randomly flashing in my dashboard demanding that I bring my vehicle and money to the dealership. I know the idea is to build an annuity stream of income for your dealerships, but I would rather do more of the maintenance on the vehicle myself than pay the dealership. I AM YOUR CUSTOMER and you need to service MY NEEDS AND WANTS.

6) Its ridiculous that XM isn't an option in the 2008 EX 2WD.

The hatch is poor design. But the sunroof? If you are opening it when the exterior is still wet, perhaps. But if the exterior is dry and you are getting water in the car when you open the roof, something is wrong. The channels have drain hoses. A small amount of water may pool in the channel where you could feel it, but no way should water be entering the car when you open the roof if the exterior is dry. We went through this last summer. A member had water dripping on his knee while the roof was closed. Under the category of strange things your dealer will tell you, his told him that on Hondas the roof is supposed to leak, and he had some document to back up his claim. Perhaps the sun roof will leak into the channels but the channels are to be drained. If water is pooling in the channels something is wrong.

Chrome? Cracking? If there are physical cracks in the chrome, (which is not chrome like your father's 57 Oldsmobile...but rather metalized plastic) take it back and demand a new grill. If you mean that it is making a cracking noise, well, it is metalized plastic and it will yield under pressure. I don't mean to be an apologist for Honda, but if you tear phone books in half for sport, mild pressure may create noises in plastic.

It would be nice to have two aux jacks. One on the dash like the LX for GPS and one on the tray like the EX for iPods and the likes. When I rig mine up to the aux I feel like I could hang myself. "Man found strangled in aux jack wiring on the parkway today." Much easier to use the internal speaker. I don't use the mp3 player.

Ah the maintenance schedule! Don't like the being in the dark do you? The maintenance minder is something like one of those eight balls that answers questions, except you have to wait until 15% oil life to ask. I use the 2006 as a rough guideline. It is available here:

https://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/...606O00187A.pdf

Again, a rough guide. The rear differential is totally wrong.

Honda Tech and 07exlowner posted a method to look ahead on the maintenance minder to see what is coming up. With the difficulty I have had resetting mine (it takes 4 or 5 attempts--each time I follow the instructions exactly and voila it resets on try 4 or 5), I am afraid to mess with the thing thinking I will reset prematurely.

Anyhow here is what we have discovered so far:

First (5,000 to 10,000 miles) Code A 1 where A= oil change 1= rotate tires

Second (13,000 to 20,000 miles) Code B 1 6 where B= oil & oil filter change, 1= rotate tires 6= rear differential fluid change (4WD) only. B also has a bunch of inspections--see your manual.

My guess on the third will be A 1 2. where 2= air filter and pollen filter.

[Black Pearl]

JMA very nice well thought out post.

I never thought about the plate bolts! If they give us four perhaps the rear hatch wouldn't sound like the plate is being ripped off when you close it.

I agree with you on the cargo net. What the hell is it supposed to do? But the little hoops (which seem a bit underrated) are very useful with bungee cords. I bought an assortment and you can tie things down that you don't want flopping about.

Again, nice post.

[Badgerland]

Originally Posted by Black Pearl

My guess on the third will be A 1 2. where 2= air filter and pollen filter.

Just looked mine up in the records, it was an A12 for my change at 29791. However, I replace my air and cabin filter every 15,000 regardless of the mm code because of dusty conditions here in the prairie and pollen which effects my family. At 15k the cabin filter in particular was very dirty!

[Black Pearl]

Originally Posted by Badgerland

Just looked mine up in the records, it was an A12 for my change at 29791. However, I replace my air and cabin filter every 15,000 regardless of the mm code because of dusty conditions here in the prairie and pollen which effects my family. At 15k the cabin filter in particular was very dirty!

If I remember right, you get the super mileage, was the A12 your third oil change?

I agree on the air filter and the cabin filter. I changed them on my second oil change which struck 15% at 15770 for me. The engine air filter didn't look too bad, but likewise the cabin filter was pretty dirty.

[gary696]

Originally Posted by Black Pearl

JMA very nice well thought out post.

I never thought about the plate bolts! If they give us four perhaps the rear hatch wouldn't sound like the plate is being ripped off when you close it.

I had the same problem with the rear plate noise when shutting the hatch. I found that it was the bottom of the plate rattleing against the bottom of the plate frame. To fix, I removed the plate and frame and drilled a small hole thru the plate at the bottom center. I then installed a small screw thru the back of the plate into the frame. No noise now.

[Badgerland]

Black Pearl, the A12 was indeed the 3rd oil change for me. I don't know why we get such long intervals on the changes...we (I at least) regularly take her and stretch her legs when I drive. I think it's partly due to our regular long trips which help.

[JMA]

Originally Posted by Black Pearl

JMA very nice well thought out post.

I never thought about the plate bolts! If they give us four perhaps the rear hatch wouldn't sound like the plate is being ripped off when you close it.

I agree with you on the cargo net. What the hell is it supposed to do? But the little hoops (which seem a bit underrated) are very useful with bungee cords. I bought an assortment and you can tie things down that you don't want flopping about.

Again, nice post.

Thanks, Black Pearl! I jotted likes/dislikes down periodically (most of them in the first week or two) and finally got around to typing them in. Maybe, by the time I'm ready to replace this one, Honda will have tweaked the CR-V into the perfect vehicle. Realistically, though, I know that what one person wants may be the total opposite of what others want.

Regarding the rattling rear license plate, much like gary696, we fixed it with added screws and nuts. We installed polyethylene (plastic) screws through the regular plate and plate frame holes, tightened them with polyehylene nuts and then snipped the ends of the screws off on the back. The nuts and the small amount of screw ends that remain sticking out are cushioned by the foam Honda installed behind the plate. The rattle is gone, but it still seems an odd way to design the thing.

I'll give those metal rings another try. I used small velcro tiedowns to try to hold my laptop in place, but it seemed too much for it. I'll try keeping some bungee in the car and see if that helps. It just seems like they need to add some hooks and rings higher up too. I believe the EX has some hooks. Does anyone find them useful?

I also considered buying a separate navigation system, but like many of you, didn't like cluttering up the dash with a bunch of wires (plus, backing is my driving weak point, so I liked the rear camera that comes with the installed system). My guess is that Honda won't want to make it too convenient for customers to buy third party navi systems, so don't hold your breath on that one. I also wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a salesperson to point out design flaws or annoyances on a car they're trying to sell, but I can understand your frustration, Florida Keith. Let us know if the dealer is at least able to correct the sun/rain roof issue. I haven't tried opening mine after a rain shower, and now I'm afraid to!

Regarding XM radio...I realize it's not a Honda product, but my 3 month free trial will be up in a couple of weeks, and I don't plan to subscribe...at least not until they start living up to their claims. It is annoying the heck out of me that they sent me a pamphlet advertising "100% commercial-free music" followed by a long list of channels...many or all of which feature commercials! Granted, it's not anywhere near the amount of advertising you get on commercial radio, but how can they say it's "100% commerical-free" when it's not?! So, forget it, if they're going to sell out and take money from advertisers, they're not going to take my money too. So take that, XM Radio! Whew! I feel better already!

[Black Pearl]

JMA, I never noticed the sun too much, but if you take a close look at my avatar, you will see my ugly mits holding the camera.

I don't know what hooks you are referring to. I have an EX and there are no hooks that I know of. Maybe you meant the LX. It doesn't have the shelf.

I enjoy reading your thoughtful and detailed posts, keep them coming.

JMA & Gary696, thanks for the tip on the plate. I am going to fix mine as well.