^^^ The day we brought it home.
We bought this CR-V in July of 2011, with 46k miles on it. It has just recently crossed 100k miles, so I thought I'd make a few comments about the vehicle and how it has held up. In short, this is probably the single best vehicle I've owned. That includes the Acura we now have, a few minivans, two Cadillacs, two Toyotas, a Nissan truck, and even my first car, my beloved '84 Cutlass. The CR-V represents what is apparently the *perfect* balance for me of: size, efficiency, handling, and utility. The balance of these things just doesn't get any better for me. Sure, some cars handle better and some ride better, but this CR-V strikes this perfect middle ground that just leaves me with complete satisfaction every time I drive it.
The steering is light, yet extremely communicative (magazines at the time described it as "telepathic"). The ride is firm, but body motions are well controlled. The body structure is just TIGHT -- there are no real squeaks or rattles to this car. It's not subjected to the ever-rising belt line/window sill heights that many cars have these days...it's completely comfortable for 14 hour days (I've done that before in it).
Fuel economy has been consistent over time. My commute is generously probably 50% city/50% highway. I average about 25 mpg with it, which is near its official 26 mpg highway estimate. 100% interstate cruising @ 70-75 mph results in about 27-28 mpg. Lowest I've seen in the dead of winter is about 22 (20 is the official city rating).
This is an EX-L model. At the time, the only way to get a power seat was the leather-clad EX-L. I will say, however, that I appreciate other features exclusive to the EX-L, such as the very nice-sounding stereo w/ subwoofer. XM stays on channel 57, Y2kountry. EX-Ls also came with body-color heated side mirrors and a few other things that I can't remember at the moment.
How is the car wearing?
Paint: excellent. I keep it washed and waxed periodically. I clean it more than the average person, but I wouldn't describe myself as excessive. When I bought it, it had a Honda sunroof visor accessory installed, and there's a paint rub line under that where it contacted the body. That line might buff out in the hands of a professional, but you really can't see it just looking at the car, so I don't pay it any mind.
Bodywork: no issues. All of the plastic-chrome pieces shine like the day it left the factory floor. All body hardware is tight. The headlamps are still mostly clear, which is impressive to me with the sandblasting they get around here and all the UV from our southern exposure. I don't know if this falls under "bodywork", but I did switch the single, and very cheesy-sounding, horn with a dual horn setup from an Accord. So it no longer has a "beep", but a real honk.
Undercarriage: being a southern vehicle (it's lived in NC its whole life) means there's no rust anywhere. It's had some suspension components changed, some unnecessarily, which I'll describe in a subsequent post on the service/maintenance history.
Engine bay: looks like new. I've long been impressed with the material quality of Honda's components here. Most of the hoses are silicone, and there's no rot on any rubber/silicone anywhere. I do remove any engine modesty covers -- I like to see the engine. Look on that cylinder head cover: Honda has embossed-and-machined its name into the top surface. C'mon, who does that anymore?
Interior: excellent, though the front leather seats do show some wear. I will post a picture of that in a subsequent post. Everything else shows zero wear. The plastics look high quality and colors complement each other very well. I did add Honda accessory rubber floor mats and cargo mat, and those are excellent (and may have saved some carpet wear/staining over time). From when we bought it:
As I noted above, I will post the entire service/maintenance history a little bit later. I bought the car Certified Pre-Owned from the original selling dealer (Sanford Honda in Sanford, NC), so I have the full record set on it. In short, it really hasn't had any repairs over its first 100k miles. The folks in Ohio put together a pretty good car, and I cheerfully look forward to the next 100k miles.
Edit: Ha! Post #12345
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