If you must absolutely have to have the manual transmission, then the new CR-V is not your answer; they don't come with a MT, at least not the US models, which is too bad because this is a GREAT vehicle. They did come in MT version in past years; my daughter drives a 2003 with a MT. Good luck!

 

You should try going to the manufacturer websites and compare specifications. Find out which models offer a manual transmission (MT) option. There are less available these days simply because ATs sell better. Most drivers prefer the convenience of an AT or drive in stop-n-go traffic most the time.

Of the 3 you mentioned, only the Tiguan offers a MT in the US. I hear they are nice in many ways BUT…I think they have less interior space than a CRV (if that’s important to you). If you’re going to hold on to the vehicle a long time keep in mind VW doesn’t have a great reputation for reliability.

I tested a Rogue a while back. They have a CVT (auto) transmission. It drove nice but I didn’t care for the interior.

You may also want to look at the Subaru Forester. I think they still have a MT option.

 

I won't go with VW Tiguan or neither any VW cars.

As for Rogue I heard same comment regarding the interior and chairs. I have to check Subaru they always have MT option.

 

I understand your wish for a manual transmission. However, I think you would be giving up quality to buy the VW and I would never be able to do that.

 

From what I understand, the VW has turned into somewhat of a maintenance nightmare.

 

I never own a VW car but I also heard that too. What really going on with them?

 

I think I would stay with Honda/Acura cause I'm currently owning an Acura in MT and really enjoy it. I'm just wondering why CR-V stopped making manual transmission in North America cause in Asia and Europe every car is only in manual transmission considering streets are smaller and population is huge in most of Asia countries. Is there anything to do with the culture and mentality overthere vs here?

 

RAV4 would be my choice

I work at a dealer and drive all these cars. The Tiguan is very nice regarding initial quality and flawless German ergonomics, but it's expensive! I actually like the Rogue interiors, but the exterior just screams "cheap chick car" and I think is overpriced.

The CRV's are great but underpowered compared to the RAV4 - I think the interior thoughtfulness and quality of the CRV is exceptional and they are great looking vehicles, but I owned a V6 RAV 4 sport for three years - drove it all across country, and took it snowboarding in the mountains with four people and all our gear. The 5 speed AT with 269 horsepower with 0-60 in 6.7 (that's almost Mustang level acceleration) was just an astounding powerplant, and I got 28 mpg combined and I never drove it with fuel mileage in mind. What a sleeper!

I don't think the interior materials are quite as nice as the CRV or Tiguan, but I put 60k miles on it, not a single problem and you just can't beat the power and configurability for the money.

Carmax in Baltimore Maryland is a new car Toyota dealer - just call them and get an out the door price for the RAV4 - that's what I did. I got it for $26k out the door, flew there for $150 and drove it home to Florida.

You have got to LOVE the Carmax no haggle pricing! You can just get the loan, and they'll write a check for Carmax and you just take it there. It was sooo easy!

Just Googled to get this info: there is a Carmax dealer in White Marsh Maryland that sells new Nissans, but no Carmax dealers that sell VW's.

 

Not a big fan of automatic transmission

The CRV's are great but underpowered compared to the RAV4 - I think the interior thoughtfulness and quality of the CRV is exceptional and they are great looking vehicles, but I owned a V6 RAV 4 sport for three years - drove it all across country, and took it snowboarding in the mountains with four people and all our gear. The 5 speed AT with 269 horsepower with 0-60 in 6.7 (that's almost Mustang level acceleration) was just an astounding powerplant, and I got 28 mpg combined and I never drove it with fuel mileage in mind. What a sleeper!

I don't need V6, don't skiing and don't drive everyday so it's waste for me. Besides the cost of gas nowadays. All I want it's AT I hate automatic stuffs cause you don't feel and have total control of the car...

 

crv or others

After reading your post, it is a no brainer: Go DRIVE all three, compare what you like, (not anyone else), as you are the one that is going to drive it, and make your decision!

 

Blah

Stay away from the VW

Nissan only comes in an AUTO and the transmission is a CVT - not your typical automatic....

 

Cash is a factor

Before the economy crapped out, I always had new cars with the V6's, turbos, or whatever was the highest trim level. Now both my cars are 4cyl gutless wonders, so I can understand not forking over the cash for the bigger engine.

Have you considered the Hyundai Tucson? That is a slick little SUV!

 

I was almost ready to buy the vw tiguan too. I heard rumors that vw has been increasing their quality and I love german cars. However i decided to ask a mechanic that i trusted. He said everyone that owns a vw says the same thing- the car was great for 4 years and then out of the blue ot started falling apart. He said ots everything from 1k alternators to nickel and dime stuff like sunvisor clips.

I asked after hyundai and he said its the same thing for korean... Maybe marginally better. Maybe. Then i realized my bmw hit 80k miles and everything broke. Same goes for my gf's hyundai which had been falling apart since 80k too.

He said if i wanted a vw, just be prepared to sell it in 3.5 yrs or it will bury me. I asked about the "new" "better" vw and he said its possible, but the trouble in believing that would be because when check engine lights are constantly going off over plastic and rubber emissions parts breaking, it comes down to a queation of whether its just the engineering or the materials too... Are they sourcing better materials? Well seeing as how the latest jetta is a downgrade from the 2010 in terms of interior materials, the outlook isnt great.

Not wanting the big hit on depreciation, or any more car problems i sacrificed the manual transmission i wanted, the german steel, and bought an awd 2011 crv. Total cookie cutter car- i think honda sells 200k of them each year in this country alone. And theres great reason for that!! Im so happy in my crv and i smile evrey time i see another one because it just makes it seem more obvious i made a great choice!

So lets see.. My most recent past vehicles in chronological order: jetta, element, 540i, crv.. When will i ever learn!?


Sent from my Autoguide iPad app

 

Thanks for sharing your experience very appreciated. I think you made a great choice of buying CRV 2011 Congrat!

I'm not the kind of guy that needs change his car every 4 years simply because I don't need it and like to keep things in long term used. Btw, I'm currently owning an old Acura EL (MT) and it still works perfectly after more than 10 years, sure I did change brakes, links and filters but the engine and parts have never failed or fell apart in middle of no where. But due to its age, it's time for a change.

I think this time I will sacrifice the manual transmission too and will stick with Honda/Acura cause they are reliable car, great exterior and interior spacious. Beside I like the interior looks of CRV 2011 a lot better than Nissan Rogue (I don't like the interior) or Subaru Forester and it fits for my budget. Still no rush for a change yet I could wait CRV 2012 came out then compare with 2011 version then made my decision.

 

I would stick with Honda or Toyota for reliability. The Hyundai seems pretty good too. I love German cars but the cost on maintenance is over the top. My 2011 CRV replaced a 2009 Porsche Cayenne and I couldn't be happier.

 

If you go to the Toyota rav4 forum you'll find lots of people complaining about the quality of the rav4. Not everyone, but many more than I've seen in the crv forum.

My parents bought a rav4 a few years ago. They had a problem with the electrical system which turned into a replaced alternator that didn't solve the problem and then a fuse "for the alternator" which did.

I had borrowed the rav4 for a couple weeks when I was in between cars. I hated it. Pedal cluster too close together (my father has the same issue often hitting the brake and gas at the same time), feather light touch of the gas pedal and the hyper sensitivity of the drive by wire system of their throttle, my feet having to angle to avoid jamming into the lower dash cowling, etc. Plus the numb Toyota road feel... No thank you!!

My mother had a 6cyl camry in the 90s that cracked a flywheel with under 60k miles.

Compare that to my honda element - 99,970 miles with just end links, brakes and plugs. And that was an 03- the first year of production! Oh - yeah it ate 2 batteries and 3 windshields in 7 years (lower corners of windshield frame where a bit high in some places in the understructure causing stress fractures- I finally got a glass tech to knock em down based in a TSB before the new shield went in).

Sent from my Autoguide iPhone app

 

Why your parents have choosen Rav4?

Personally I never like Toyota Rav4, Corolla or Camry for the look, style and interior. Never tried the Matrix. I though Toyota had brakes issues a few years ago, the company was in trouble.

Since you have CRV 2011 can you share some of your experiences. What did you like the most and also the worst of this car?

 

My mother chose the rav4... For my dad... In white... My poor dad lol.

She has a solara that she's in love with and it's been a great car. It's pretty much a Lexus level Toyota. Still don't like it myself aside from the fact that Toyota built a large 2 door car which I find unusual and neat.

The crv is ex-l. I really had to have the center console and moreover- the leather seats. My last car was leather (BMW 540) and i liked my honda elements seat material better.

But the fabric seats in the crv werent as comfortable. Maybe a different foam is used, maybe the tautness of leather vs fabric. Either way i sat in a used crv w leather and sank in about an inch and "dug" in.

So comfortable! I was really surprised- I'd never felt so comfortable in any prior car. Those BMW sport seats were amazing for their purpose, but for the crv they put money where it matters. (I'll take seriously cheap carpets, sound deadening and floor mats over sacrifices in mechanical integrity and seat comfort any day!)

Case in point- the transmission is really smooth. Yes it does that shift too soon thing that the latest crop of cars are doing to get mileage figures up, but it really shifts so smooth tgat I just give it a little push and the car downshifts or gets into overdrive gearing. Very effective. I don't miss the manual transmission at all. It was getting to be a real pain and source of worry- am I going to fudge this one and on the verge of overtaking get caught in a place on the road I don't want to be??

So when I say the crv is so nice to drive- I mean it.

The biggest surprise was the stereo. It's the subwoofer optioned non nav one. And speaking as an audiophiles I can say this- no it's not a custom system, no it's not the best of upgraded systems that you'll get in a Lexus, but it really sounds good. That's because they replaced the rear door speakers which only serve to pull your soundstage back into the car (the orchestra or band is in front of you, not behind -right?!. So they basically put in two sub speakers where the rear speakers would be and put an 80 watt amp under the passenger seat.

iPod integration is seamless.

I'm 6'2. I could use a little more visibility of traffic lights- the top of the windshield frame doesn't extend back far enough. But nothing like sitting in a scion xb or Toyota fj cruiser.

The only thing that sucks is the swept back side mirrors. They are swept back for aerodynamics but when you drive you don't want to have to look any further sideways to see than you have to. A mirror check shouldn't be such an issue- but then I may only just have to acclimate.

I'd even consider hunting down older mirrors that I could retrofit w power and heat functions, but well see.


Sent from my Autoguide iPhone app