3/29/03 - Update on my Honda CR-V - here it is almost 3 years later and I have yet to take this SUV in for anything other than its routine oil changes. Oh, I forgot did have to buy a windshield wiper for the rear window, started to come loose I guess because of all the snow build-up it and I think from me trying to use it when it was half-frozen to the glass. Hey! I'm a girl what do I know about wipers sticking to frozen windows!

That I love my SUV (sports utility vehicle) Honda CR-V so much. About a month ago we realized that it was time to trade my Monte Carlo in. We had looked at light trucks, full-size trucks, full-size SUVs and mini-Suvs. We weren't even going to look at 4 cylinders... only 6 cylinders. At first we had stuck to "American Labeled" but not necessarily made in the U.S. vehicles.

I was an unhappy camper. All I saw was the cheaply made Chevy Tracker that even came remotely to what I wanted in an SUV as far as price and looks. But their safety record was the pits and the seats were cheap-looking as well as the rest of the interior. People on Epinions did not seem to care for them either.

I thought, Ok, Mrs. All-American will peak into the foreign-made SUVs and see how people rate them. I was astounded!! People loved their Honda CR-Vs more than any other of the SUVs. There was one person who said there was more room on the inside than outside. I know it sounds silly, but it is absolutely right. So because of you guys we end up spending $20,667 for our next car.

So let me launch in to all it's features and what we like:

*Tech features*


* 146hp 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine

* 4-speed automatic transmission with Grade Logic Control which means that the 4 forward speeds are electronically controlled for smoother shifting.

* front disc brakes with 4-Wheel ABS

* Double wishbone suspension (this rides better than my Monte Carlo)

* front and rear stabilizer bars

* speed-sensing power assisted by rack and pinion steering (if you exceed the maximum speed you are in, the engine speed will enter into the tachometer's red zone. The engine will cut in and out until you adjust your speed).

* 18 to 20 mpg in the city - 25 mpg on the highway

* zippy not sluggish like previous 4 cylinders I have tried.



*Safety features*

* driver's and front passenger's air bags

* front and rear crumple zones that are designed to crumple and absorb energy during a crash.

* collapsible steering column

* front seat belt tensioners that are designed to tighten in the event of a crash.

What's inside you ask?

This is the best part. It has Sooooo... many features.

* air conditioning with micron air filter which allows you to recirculate the air going through the system instead of bringing fresh air in from outside. (Like say your going through a refinery area and don't want to smell the stink.) Also when you select the defroster control your air conditioning switch comes on. Little known fact is that taking the moist air out of the interior your car will clear up your windows faster, which I did not know but made sense.

* am/fm cd stereo with 4 speakers - has all kinds of neat little buttons to use that I'm still learning about.

* Driver's 8-way adjustable seat - even the height is adjustable.

* Cruise control

* Tilt steering column

* Power windows and door locks

* 50/50 reclining front and back seats - what this means is that both front and back recline to make a long bed the length of the vehicle - neat huh!

* map lights

* removable picnic table in the back!

* There is a drawer under the passenger seat to put your cds or whatever in.

* The music system really is anti-theft. If it is disconnected from your car it won't work. Once disconnected from the battery, you have to have a code number to reactivate it.

* front and rear beverage holders with a center tray table

* 12 volt accessory sockets - they have one up front where the lighter use to go and one back by the tailgate which is really handy.

*Exterior features*

* rear window wiper/washer - never had one of these before - with the rear defroster it will make getting rid of snow a breeze!

* rear window lifts up and tailgate swings out so you have full access to the rear of the vehicle.

* all-season BF Goodrich tires (no stones for me!)

The Honda CR-V is easy to get in to. You don't have to actually climb up or slink down to sit in your seat. There is more of feet room in the front for the passenger than there was in my Astro mini-van, which is good because I have long legs.

The only thing I really don't care for but can live with is you can hear the tires rolling on the pavement. They need to put more insulation in the next ones to deaden the sound. If you have your stereo system on though, you shouldn't hear it.

For your information: The TV show Dateline featured this week ratings on rollovers of SUVs.
http://msnbc.com/news/480570.asp
My CR-V rated a 3 out of a possible 5.

I expect to get a lot of good years out of this vehicle and I understand the trade-in values are excellent on Honda vehicles.