LONGTERMERS #1: Update 4: FORD Telstar 2.0i4 DOHC 16v.

LONGTERMERS #1: Update 4: FORD Telstar GC6W 2.0i4 DOHC 16v.


Many things happened to my Telstar in the month of October. Firstly, my Telstar had been scratched 2 feet long from the right rear door to above rear tyres BY ANONYMOUS (see photo)


Secondly, my Telstar got ‘Kissed’ by a Kia Spectra driven by a Teenager in ROTHMANS ROUNDABOUT (in front of LISA DE INN Hotel). The teenager at first carried an "object" but put it back in the car after seeing a 200lbs BALD AND FAT MAN (that's ME) alongside 1 TALL Muscular SIZED INDIAN (my friend), he became a chicken, soft spoken, apologizing non-stop. At the end, he only paid me RM50. The rear bumper cracked, misaligned which also caused the BOOT difficult to close. (see photo below)


I set aside RM300 for repair. Ended up repairing the Brakes instead as I don’t have the budget to repair both. FYI, the bumper costs RM380 including Spraying and knocking the mounting back. Adding salt to the wound, the bumper’s sourced from Chop Shops.

The Ladyboss of the workshop which my boss recommended owned a lovely Mazda 626 V6. Here’s the picture:


Oh, I decided to keep my Telstar (below) for AT LEAST another year. Hence, I have plans for this car. 1) Eibach PRO-KIT sports Springs. 2) Simple Top overhaul, 3) New paint (Mazda 6’s Sparkling Silver) – while at it fix the scratches, dents, bumpers, rust blisters in roof (more on it in next month’s report) .



Without further ado, let’s proceed to the Logbook.

LOGBOOK:

Year of manufactured: 1998 (registered January 1999)
Purchase price: RM42,000 (Aug 2005)
Current value: RM18,000 (As at October 2008)
Depreciation per year (averaged): RM8,000


Mileage last month: 136790km.
Mileage now: 137483km.

Fuel consumption: Now using back to Mobil RON97. RM80 (33L as at RM2.45/L) lasts for 200km.

Expenses (this month)
1) RM169. Replaced rear right brake caliper kit and topped up brake fluid (see 2 photos below)







Picture above: Brake fluid also changed...

That’s all folks, do come back next month (End November) for further updates.

INSIGHTS - MALAYSIA'S AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY (SEPT 2008)

A PROFILE OF MALAYSIA'S AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

PREPARED BY ASIA PULSE ANALYSTS (UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008)

*******************************************************

OVERVIEW:

Malaysian auto sales climbed in July this year, driven by demand for compact cars as the fuel price hike a month earlier forced local consumers to shift to fuel-efficient cars.

Car sales jumped 10 per cent to 53,984 units in July from the preceding month and 20.2 per cent on the same month last year, the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) said.

The rise was due to good sales performance of smaller engine-sized cars, mainly Proton and Perodua, it added.

The MAA expects demand for cars with smaller engines to continue in August in view of the current consumer appetite for compact cars.

It said vehicle sales rose 25 per cent to 331,957 units in the first seven months of 2008 from 265,665 units in the previous corresponding period.

In July 2008, total industry production soared 28.3 per cent to 51,531 units from 40,149 units in the same period last year.

Total production in the first seven months of this year was 26.9 per cent higher at 314,753 units as against 247,975 units in the same period last year.

Of the total, passenger cars accounted for 287,248 units while the balance of 27,505 units were commercial vehicles.

OUTLOOK:

However, industry officials and analysts remain cautious on the outlook for the rest of the year.

The domestic auto sector is bracing for a challenging period as demand for cars and commercial vehicles may be adversely impacted by high inflation and soft economic growth.

MAA expects total industry volume (TIV) sales figure in the second half of this year to decline 16.5 per cent compared with the first six months. That means 45,874 units fewer than 277,973 vehicles sold in the first six months of the year.

The association, however, is maintaining its full year TIV target of 510,000 units.

MAA expects sales of passenger vehicles to be almost flat year-on-year in the second-half period. However, it forecasts demand for pick up trucks and delivery vans to plummet 28 per cent, a sign that the domestic economy may be slowing down.

MAA president Datuk Aishah Ahmad said the association would have lowered its sales forecast for the year had the central bank, Bank Negara Malaysia, raised interest rate to rein in inflation.

Many analysts expect sales volume to dip towards the end of the year, citing factors such as tightening of credit for car buyers amid deteriorating economic outlook.

RHB Research Institute said consumers would likely hold back big-ticket purchases, including new cars, amid rising inflationary pressure.

Analysts noted that Malaysia's consumer sentiment index compiled by the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) plunged to an all-time low in the second quarter after the government raised petrol and diesel prices by 41 per cent and 63 per cent respectively in early June.

Many consumers now have a lower disposable income due to higher grocery bills and petrol prices as well as stagnant wages.

Automakers including Honda Malaysia Sdn Bhd and UMW Holdings Berhad (KLSE:4588) also expect a slowdown in auto sales in the second half of this year.

UMW predicts total industry volume for motor vehicles to taper following the hire purchase interest rates hike and fuel price increase.

"Nevertheless, the group is well-positioned to meet consumers' preference for more fuel-efficient vehicles, with our range of models in the medium and small passenger car categories," it said.

Honda Malaysia's managing director and chief executive officer Atsushi Fujimoto said: "The overall market is expected to go down in the second half of 2008. The fuel price hike in the first half had forced Malaysian consumers to look for fuel-efficient cars, a feature that is well associated with Honda cars."

He expects industry sales of 520,000 units this year, 10,000 more than the MAA's forecast of 4.7 per cent expansion to 510,000 units from 487,176 last year.

Fujimoto is upbeat about his own company's sales. He said Honda Malaysia has revised its sales forecast upwards and expects to sell 35,000 cars this year up from the previous estimate of 33,000 units.

He said Honda vehicles are likely to make up 6.5 per cent of the overall market share.

As more Malaysian consumers turn to fuel-efficient cars, Honda believes it will sell more hybrid cars, especially with the waiver of import and excise duties for fuel-efficient hybrid cars, announced in the recent government's budget for 2009.

Honda Malaysia is one of only two domestic carmakers offering hybrid cars. The other company is Premier Hybrid Cars Sdn Bhd.

Premier Hybrid chairman Datuk Shahrin Zahari said the tax break is a big boost for the infant hybrid sub-sector.

"We are now expecting more players in the marketplace," he said.

MAJOR PLAYERS:

Proton Holdings Bhd (KLSE: 5304), Malaysia's national carmaker, is back in the black in the first quarter of its current financial year, helped by strong sales of its main models, Persona and Saga.

It posted a net profit of RM52.03 million in the quarter to June 30 2008 against a loss of RM46.75 million in the same period last year.

Revenue rose 49.5 per cent to RM1.71 billion from RM1.14 billion.

Proton also saw its overall vehicle sales increase 41.72 per cent to 39,888 units from 28,145.

"This is the fourth consecutive quarter of profitability for Proton as the company ramps up its strategy to recapture its leading position in the local automotive market," Proton chairman Datuk Mohammed Azlan Hashim said.

He said the results demonstrate the company's ability to turn around in a competitive market and proves that its strategy of having "the right car at the right price and at the right time" is working well.

The company expects to sustain the performance for the rest of the financial year.

As of 31 July 2008, Proton's share of the domestic passenger car market is 33.8 per cent, with 86,388 registered cars in the country.

Proton's much-awaited MPV model is slated for launch early 2009.

Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua), the country's largest car company by sales, expects to capture nearly 32 per cent of the market in 2008. This is slightly down from Perodua's 33 per cent share in 2007.

But the expected Perodua volume of about 170,000 units for this year will be higher than about 160,000 units last year.

"We have sold about 100,000 cars in the first seven months," managing director Datuk Syed Hafiz Syed Abu Bakar said.

The company's Myvi accounted for 52,724 units of the 100,000 units.

Hafiz said July 2008 was the best month in the history of the company with total sales of more than 17,000.

The Myvi, the country's number one car model in the past three years, had its best ever monthly sales in July at about 8,500 units.

The enhanced Myvi is expected to continue the model's dominance.

But Hafiz said the gap between Perodua and its rivals is expected to narrow further after this Hari Raya season in October, as car manufacturers usually resort to heavy promotions to boost or maintain sales in the slow year-end months.

"We already anticipated this to happen when our competitors launched new models and slashed the selling price of their outgoing models," he said.

UMW Holdings Berhad, the assembler of Toyota cars, has registered second quarter pre-tax profit of RM354.998 million, up 111.5 per cent from a year ago.

Revenue rose 42.5 per cent to RM3.57 billion from RM2.50 billion previously.

"Strong profit posted by the automotive segment as a result of higher Toyota and Perodua vehicle sales, robust performance from the equipment segment and favourable foreign exchange rates accounted for the higher group profit before taxation for the current quarter ended 30th June 2008," UMW said.

UMW said it sold 138,501 units of Toyota and Perodua in the six months to 30 June 2008, representing 49.8 per cent of the total industry volume of 277,974 units.

Tan Chong Motor Holdings Bhd (KLSE:4405), which assembles and retails Nissan cars, has booked a net profit of RM68.1 million for its second quarter ended 30 June 2008, more than triple that of the RM21.9 million in the previous corresponding period.

The improved earnings were made on sales of RM784 million compared with RM430 million previously.

Tan Chong said "demand for Nissan vehicles outstripped supply in the first half of the year, giving the group an unprecedented period of brand acceptance."

That enabled the group to lift its market share to 5.4 per cent in the first half from 3.8 per cent in the previous corresponding period.

Tan Chong attributed the growth in its net profit margin to 8.7 per cent in the second quarter from 7.1 per cent in the preceding quarter in spite of rampant cost-push inflation.

"Almost three months after the fuel price hike in early June, our daily bookings in June to August are still at a comfortable range of 100 to 150 units and our ability to timely deliver quality products has improved with the second shift," it added.

Although the MAA forecast the total industry volume to drop in the second half of 2008, Tan Chong said: "We endeavour to buck the industry trend."

Its directors have approved an investment of RM120 million to expand the Serendah plant capacity to 53,760 units a year from 28,800 currently.

GOVERNMENT POLICY:

The Malaysian government's budget for 2009 has several incentives for the domestic auto sector.

One of them is the waiver of import and excise duties for fuel-efficient hybrid cars. Another incentive is the reduction of the road tax structure for diesel-powered vehicles for private use, making it level with that of petrol-fuelled vehicles, effective from September.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi proposed the exemption of the 100 per cent import duty and 50 per cent excise duty imposed on fully-imported hybrid cars with engine capacity below 2,000cc.

The two-year exemption for franchise holders is to help them prepare for the local assembly of such cars, Abdullah said.

Motor vehicles from Asean countries now have zero import duty, while those from non-Asean nations are slapped with 30 per cent import duty.

There are also local excise duties of 60 to 105 per cent on Asean and non-Asean vehicles, on top of another 10 per cent sales tax.

Meanwhile, the International Trade and Industry Ministry is reviewing the National Automotive Policy (NAP) for consideration by the Cabinet before year-end.

Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the NAP, introduced by the government in March 2006, was biased towards protecting the local automotive industry and did not encourage the overall development of the industry.

He said Malaysia had missed many opportunities because of the NAP as many potential investors had diverted attention to other countries in the region.

"The policy seems to be too protective. It does not encourage development of the industry as a whole," he said.

KEY INDICATORS:

PROJECTED TOTAL LNDUSTRY VOLUME (UNITS)

1) 2O09, 2) 2010, 3) 2011 
Passenger vehicles 1) 481,000. 2) 499,000. 3) 512,000. 
Commercial vehicles 1) 49,000 2) 51,000 3)53,000 
Total industry volume 1)530,000. 2) 555,000. 3) 565,000.
 Growth (%) 1) 3.9. 2) 3.8. 3) 2.7.

(Source: Malaysian Automotive Association)

CONTACTS:

Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA)

Block 4, Plaza Sentral

Jalan Stesen Sentral 5

Kuala Lumpur Sentral

50470 Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

Tel: 603-2267 3633

Malaysian Automotive Association

Tel: 603-7955 0454

Fax: 603-7955 0954

Proton Holdings Bhd

Tel: 603-5191 1055

Fax: 603-5191 1252

Website : www.proton.com.my

Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd

Tel: 603-6092 8888

Fax: 603-6733 0289

Website : www.perodua.com.my

(Sources: Malaysian Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Malaysian Automotive Association)

SOURCE: Copyright (C) 2008 Asia Pulse. All rights reserved
News Provided by COMTEX

FULL REVIEW: Honda CRV 2nd Generation

In this blog entry, I’ll cover the Honda CRV 2nd generation. This is a special request by one of my loyal reader. The CRV’s on sale in Malaysia from 2001 to 2006. It’s Locally assembled in Malacca and priced at RM146,000 when new. Here’s the used car prices as at 10/10/2008.

Year: 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 (Facelift) 2006
Price:RM65k RM70k RM78k RM84k RM96,000 RM105,000

What to look out for:
See "Owner's Review".


As usual, I don’t have a car to test and/or brag about. Hence, I dished out a “Supertest” from GOAUTO Australia and a WHOOPING 11 Owner’s review from ALL OVER the WORLD.

MSN Auto Averaged user and/or owner rating (by 500 owners)
Source: http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/overview.aspx?year=2002&make=Honda&model=CR-V

User Reviews
8.7 Overall Rating
8.8 Styling
8.6 Performance
8.4 Interior
8.9 Quality
8.7 Recommendation

Source (a) – see references at the end of this review.

Model release dates: December 2001 - October 2003

Overview

HONDA's new-for-2002 CR-V has plenty to live up to. Coming on the back of a host of capable new alternatives and amid sliding overall sales, the 2002 model is the successor to the original that became Australia's top-selling compact off-roader. The all-new CR-V continues the tried-and-proven formula pioneered by its popular predecessor, with a very familiar, slightly more aggressive and angular bodyshell design that is both bigger and heavier. There's a more powerful engine to compensate, however, as well as what Honda claims are significant improvements to ride, handling and safety. The new CR-V is crisper, cleaner and even further refined, even if it's slightly low-key compared to some of its rivals.


It wasn't the first compact four-wheel drive wagon, having been beaten by compatriots Toyota RAV4 and Suzuki Vitara, but the original CR-V has been Australians' "soft-roader" of choice for the past three years. Released almost five years ago, the original was facelifted in March 1999.

The Car




MORE evolution than revolution, Honda's all-new CR-V has a pronounced V-shaped front-end that emphasises its revised grille and headlights. A high level of imitation chrome-plating is used on the grille and large central Honda badge, while the large cat-like headlight assembly, which incorporates turn indicators and park lights, is integrated with the front quater panel, bonnet and deeply sculpted bumper. The vehicle's overall dimensions have increased, along with the front track (distance between the wheels), which gives the CR-V greater road presence. Stronger lines and blunt edges around the bonnet and along the doors add to the rugged appearance without effecting CR-V's refined look. A stylish roof-rail runs the length of the roof gutter and turns down to meet the rear tail-light, which is mounted high on the D-pillar for good visibility.

The Car - Seat Plan

HONDA claims the CR-V's cabin space has increased by eight per cent. The high-mounted front and rear seating areas have plenty of head and legroom and the vehicle has generous window space all around. The centre console is still a foldable tray table, leaving enough room for front occupants to walk through to the rear. The walk-through facility limits the number of storage areas, which are nonetheless adequate in the standard CR-V - the Sport model adds seatback pockets. Sport and base models come with individual driver and front passenger armrests (automatic only) and the rear seat has a shared fold-down centre armrest with cupholders that can be used when the centre seat is free.

The Car - Seats


CR-V was among the first light-duty, recreational four-wheel drives on the market - what have become known as soft-roaders. Soft is a good way to describe the interior of the new CR-V Sport with its car-like velour seat trim, head restraints, door trim inserts and floor coverings. Both CR-Vs offer ease of entry and exit and driver's seat height adjustment, with the Sport's seat cushion wings finished in vinyl. The automatic transmission Sport model has in-board, fold-down armrests for the driver and front passenger.

The Car - Dash


HONDA designed an all-new dash for the 2002 CR-V, making it bolder with a taller centre section and adding larger climate control dials, an integrated handbrake that mates with the dash design when released and a matching grab handle on the passenger side. The centre of the dash has a large open compartment sized to hold music CDs for the stereo directly above. Below this is a covered compartment but the unlockable glovebox leaves the car with no lockable storage. Above the glovebox is a recess that runs the same width at an opening of about 10cm, otherwise the dash is simply a slightly curved, smooth surface void of storage wells. The instrument panel is sheltered by a hooded binnacle in the dash that keeps the sun off the instruments most of the time. There are four air vents and two front window demister vents, as well as the usual windscreen vents.
Did you know?
The rear seats in the CR-V move independently fore and aft to give passengers greater seating flexibility

The Car - Controls

IMPROVED window switchgear is positioned forward on the armrest of the driver's door and has auto up/down and anti-pinch function. The steering column is tilt-adjustable but no longer holds the automatic transmission lever, as was the case on the previous model - this is now dash mounted where specified. The pad for adjusting the external electric mirrors is mounted forward of the window controls, as is the window control lock button. Stalks for lights and wipers are located right and left respectively, while steering wheel-mounted cruise control is available on auto Sport models only. The tachometer is styled to match the speedometer and two smaller guages for fuel and temperature complete the set, one at either side of the larger central pair.

Did you know?
The CR-V has a dash-mounted handbrake that when released forms part of the dash design. The handbrake arm is matched on the passenger side with a grab handle

The Car - Wheels/tyres


FIVE-SPOKE, 15-inch polished alloy wheels, including a full-size alloy spare mounted on the rear tailgate, are fitted on the CR-V Sport. The base model CR-V is fitted with five-spoke styled steel rims and both models fit 205/70R15 96T tyres. Honda has two supply arrangements for tyres, so the brand of tyre fitted as new may vary between vehicles of the same year.

The Car - Luggage


THE rear cargo floor of the original CR-V did not escape the notice of Honda's designers. They turned this otherwise singular item (a lid to cover the cargo floor storage space) into a valuable piece of holiday equipment - a foldaway picinic table. The foldaway table remains on this model and is now larger at 759.4mm by 850.9mm and stands 680.7mm high. The cargo area has been increased by the use of a more compact rear suspension that intrudes less around the rear wheel arches. The area is fully carpeted and has four foldaway, tie-down anchors. The tailgate has three storage pockets and a rubbish bag hook, and the new tailgate window, which also opens remotely from the key fob, raises itself on twin gas struts for hands-free access.
Did you know?
Additional storage space is found under the cargo floor on Australian CR-Vs, as the spare wheel is mounted on the tailgate whereas some other countries carry the spare wheel inside the car

The Car - What's changed


A NEW 2.4-litre i-VTEC engine replaces the 2.0-litre non-VTEC engine, delivering 118kW of power and 220Nm of torque quietly and efficiently. Suspension was revised to increase front leg room and rear cargo space, and the braking system has been upgraded to discs front and rear with load balancing control and ABS on the Sport model. Styling is similar to the outgoing model but the many subtle changes make it a more ruggedly appealing design. The front of the vehicle is V-shaped and the grille, bonnet and headlight assembly are now striking features. The rear tailgate has a tailgate window that can be opened from the key fob for loading and unloading smaller items.

Did you know?
The CR-V is longer, taller, heavier and narrower than its predecessor but retains the same wheelbase measurement of 2620mm

The Car - Stand out features


THE original CR-V received high praise for its innovative seating design and this still features as one of the key selling points. This model sees a change to the rear seats from 50/50 split fold to 60/40 with a single fold-away centre arm rest and cupholders, while the walk-through area from the front to the rear seats remains unchanged. The back rests of the rear seats fold forward to form a low cargo barrier with the front seats and reveal a flat floor to the rear door. Greater interior space is achieved through improved suspension design and the rear cargo floor still converts into a picnic table, which is now considered part of the CR-V experience.
Did you know?
The column-shift automatic transmission has an "overdrive" button on the end of the gear lever for easy switching between D3 and D4. A light on the dash tells the driver when D3 is selected

The Car - Climate control


THE rotary dials for heating and ventilation control featured on the original CR-V re-appear in a revised style on the new model. Previously, the fan control was placed furthest from the driver but has now been moved closer. Air-conditioning is standard on both CR-V and CR-V Sport and its operation is made easy with a large central button at the bottom of the temperature dial. The air-conditioning cools the large cabin easily and cycles on and off without causing the engine to lose too much power.

The Car - Sound system

A SINGLE-CD player with AM/FM stereo is mounted high in the centre of the dash with its four speakers mounted in the front and rear doors. The system has six channel presets and a CD auxillary function. It provides good listening in the quiet cabin but operation is made awkward by the long reach to the dash centre when the seating position is set back. A large storage bin is located under the stereo in the centre of the dash for storing CDs and other items, but these items are in full view and there is no lockable storage.

The Car - Security

HONDA claims the CR-V's keyless entry system now incorporates a copy protection system that makes cloning the keyless entry code virtually impossible. This is achieved through the use of a random code that changes each time you lock or unlock the vehicle. The ignition key is cut to a new "wave key" design, making it difficult to copy. The key fob opens and locks all doors and a separate button opens the tailgate window. The fuel filler flap is opened via a remote lever mounted low on the driver's side kick panel.

Did you know?
The CR-V is fitted with two 12-volt accessory outlets, one cigarette lighter in the instrument panel and one in the rear cargo area. Both are rated to 120 watts, which means they will run a car fridge, air mattress or tyre inflator

We like: Roomy interior, refined/powerful engine, rugged styling

We don’t: Non-selectable 4WD, soft suspension, torque steer

Our Opinion

By STEVEN BUTCHER 25/04/2002

HONDA'S new-for-2002 CR-V is as close to the outgoing CR-V as you can get and still call it a new vehicle.

Styling changes are more a spruce-up than a full redesign but Honda claims the latest CR-V is new from the ground up with significant improvements to ride, handling and safety.

CR-V was Australia's top selling four-wheel drive in 2000 and Honda has sold more than one million units worldwide.

Honda's rival Toyota transformed the RAV4 in 2000 with a very angular style and in October 2001, Nissan launched the X-Trail with similar upright, sharp lines.

Both these vehicles are competitors to the CR-V and may have contributed to its new, more aggressive styling.


Honda has retained the overall shape of the old CR-V while introducing its own hint of angular styling to the bonnet, which dips down from the front quarter panels across the centre area, instead of rising up as before.

The quarter panels and doors have a sharper crease beneath the window area.

The front of the vehicle has been shortened and is more V-shaped. This new nose design has given the CR-V a tighter turning circle (10.4 metres) and Honda claims greater manoeuvrability due to increased driver visibility.

The headlight assembly is stylish, large and cat-like, incorporating the turn indicators and park lights as it moulds in with the bonnet, front bumper and quarter panel, thereby making it highly visible from a wider angle.

A generous amount of imitation chrome plating has been used on the bold grille, which is crowned with a large Honda badge.

CR-V's practical use of plastic in the flared wheel arches and along the door sills extends to the lower bumper/spoiler area, both up front and to the rear.

Despite an obvious strengthening of the design to create a more distinctive and rugged looking vehicle to compete in this hot market segment, the crisp, clean new CR-V remains slightly low-key compared to some of its rivals.

A new 2.4-Litre i-VTEC (intelligent-Valve Timing Electronic Control), four-cylinder, 16-valve engine replaces the previous 2.0-litre engine and provides greater power and torque while maintaining the CR-V's reputation for economy and low emissions.

The i-VTEC engine produces 118kW of power at 6000rpm and 220Nm of torque at 3600rpm, while returning 10.0L/100km in the city and 7.0L/100km on the highway, under normal driving conditions.

NOTE: In Malaysia, this 2.4L IVTEC Engine CRV was brought in by Naza and Mofaz in limited numbers.

The four-speed auto has an active lock-up button, or overdrive, on the transmission selector stalk to lock-up forth gear on the highway and improve fuel economy.

Honda has developed an exclusive Grade Logic Control for the auto, which constantly compares engine load and vehicle speed, computing the shift pattern required to meet the driving conditions and prevent the vehicle from hunting.

The gears are easy to find but correct engine speed is important to make a smooth shift and get the vehicle's bulk (1500kg) moving.

The CR-V Sport sits nicely on the open road with its wide front track of 1533mm giving it a sure-footed feel, but the ride is soft and less than sporty.

Being a high-sided wagon, it suffers from bodyroll on bends and tight corners when pushed - leading to vagueness through the steering.

Around town the soft suspension can be appreciated while the high driving position and large window area afford good visibility, making it is easy to manoeuvre and park.

An entirely new chassis is said to provide greater torsional rigidity, bending rigidity and reduced noise and vibration.

The CR-V features four-wheel independent suspension. Up front it is toe-control link MacPherson strut and to the rear, reactive link double wishbone.

Both are compact and do not intrude into the cabin, providing greater legroom for front seat passengers and greater luggage space in the cargo area.


The CR-V Intelligent RealTime 4WD system has remained unchanged, with its dual pump mechanism controlling a multi-plate clutch in the rear differential to provide drive to the rear wheels when the front wheels begin to lose traction.

It is this part-time four-wheel drive principle that allows the CR-V to exhibit a quieter ride, lighter handling and greater fuel economy than full-time four-wheel drives.

The down side to Honda's intelligent real-time 4WD system is the driver has no control over when it is active or inactive. Instead, you must wait for the mechanics of the vehicle to detect wheel slip before rear-wheel drive assistance can begin.

At the point where the vehicle begins to lose traction, you are forced to wait for the hydraulic pump to build up pressure and engage the rear differential before the drive train can be connected to the rear wheels.

The CR-V is, at best, a front-wheel drive with part-time rear-wheel drive assistance and as such is not a go-anywhere vehicle. (It has no low-range - L4 - four-wheel drive.) So while it's no Range Rover, nor does it require the fuss of shifting a lever, turning a dial or even getting out of the vehicle to engage an axle hub.

Producing 9.25 per cent more power and 20.85 per cent more torque than the engine it replaces, the new i-VTEC engine moves the CR-V briskly along - with the only negative being torque steer or tugging on the steering when accelerating.

Torque steer on this vehicle can be subtle or sharp, depending on the traction available (most noticeable on gravel and wet bitumen) and is a significant drawback of this new higher torque engine.

The versatile seating options and adequate storage space make the CR-V an alternative to be considered next to a traditional four-cylinder wagon or people-mover, as it seats five passengers with walk-through ability and all the usual creature comforts.

The driver and front passenger get bucket seats as before (with optional armrests on the auto model only) but the rear bench seat, which was 50/50 split-fold, is now 60/40 split-fold, providing greater flexibility and use of the cargo area.

Adding to the versatility is the foldaway centre tray table in the front and dual-purpose picnic table in the back (it acts as the floor in the cargo area), which owners of CR-Vs have come to expect and new owners should enjoy.

The dash is now the place to find the automatic shift selector that was formerly mounted on the steering console. The handbrake lever has also become part of the dash as Honda moves the interior styling forward several years in one step.

Honda's designers also greatly improved the style and functionality of its "three-dial set" of ventilation and climate control dials on the new CR-V to make it a strong feature of the sporty interior.


The tailgate or rear door still hinges correctly from the right-hand side and gets a new self-raising tailgate window that opens separately, giving access to the cargo area.

The floor height of the cargo area has been lowered, making it easier to load and unload goods.

The CR-V Sport comes with added features over the base model CR-V such as 15-inch alloy wheels, electric glass sunroof, hard type spare wheel cover, dual airbags, ABS brakes and front fog lightss.

Overall, the CR-V Sport is a comfortable package with its soft interior, elevated driving position, good visibility and smooth, economical i-VTEC engine.

Provided the intention is not to go too far off-road, it should satisfy the needs of an adventurous family or deliver two people and plenty of luggage to most destinations in style and with ease.


Mechanical - Engine


THE biggest single change in the CR-V is the increase from a 2.0-litre non-VTEC engine to a 2.4-litre i-VTEC engine. Apart from the increase in capacity, the difference is really the i-VTEC technology. Variable valve timing gives the engine a greater power and torque range as well as improved fuel economy and lower emissions. The i-VTEC engine employs two technologies: VTEC - a mechanism for switching cams between low and high-speed ranges; and VTC - a cam phase control system based on engine speed and load. The result is an engine that performs well under most situations. Around town there is plenty of torque available to move with the traffic, without the need to work the gears hard, and on the highway there is plenty of top-end power to overtake safely. The engine is quiet and revs freely to the higher end of the scale with no noticeable vibration.

Mechanical - Suspension

HONDA revised the fully independent suspension on the CR-V to introduce a new front and rear set up. Previously double wishbone all-round, the CR-V now has single wishbone with toe-control link MacPherson strut at the front and double wishbone with reactive link rear suspension. Both front and rear use stabiliser bars and Honda's progressive valve gas shock absorbers. The result is greater interior space through more compact design and a softer, quieter ride. But the suspension lacks the stiffness to hold the vehicle firmly when cornering at speed and body roll is noticeable to the point that it affects steering response.

Mechanical - Transmission


CR-V Sport is available in both auto and manual. The four-speed auto has a lock-up torque converter to provide greater highway fuel economy and Honda's Grade Logic Control - a system that automatically downshifts and holds a lower gear when climbing a steep grade. Honda has improved the shift quality of the five-speed manual to give it a more sporty, short throw feel but the gear knob is small and does not suit the larger proportions of the vehicle. Technical specifications have been upgraded with the use of triple or double cone synchronisers on all forward gears except fifth, which uses a single carbon-faced synchro. Fuel savings have been made by using less transmission oil to reduce losses caused by viscous friction.

Mechanical - Brakes

CR-V Sport is fitted with 282mm ventilated front disc brakes and 282mm non-vented rear disc brakes. An anti-lock braking system (ABS) comes standard on the Sport model but remains unavailable on the base CR-V grade. The Sport model also has electric brake force distribution (EBD), which optimises the front and rear brake pressure distribution to provide more efficient stopping power and greater vehicle stability.


Mechanical - Steering


THE CR-V has kept its high mounted power-assisted rack and pinion steering system. The turning circle has been reduced by 0.2 metres to 10.4 metres as a result of the change in front suspension. The turning circle compares well with other similar sized vehicles and requires 3.26 turns lock to lock. The amount of power assistance required is automatically controlled in accordance with the front wheels' resistance to steering force - increasing the steering assistance at low speed and reducing it at high speed. This helps maintain a positive steering feeling and straight-line stability.
Did you know?
Honda claims the new toe-control link MacPherson strut front suspension design delivers quick, responsive handling by helping maximise each front tyre's contact with the road throughout the range of suspension travel

Safety


HONDA claims its designers and engineers approached the body structure of the 2002 CR-V to provide "all-around protection". Engineers used computer-based stress analysis programs to add 50 per cent greater torsional rigidity and 30 per cent greater bending rigidity to the CR-V, resulting in improved ride, handling and safety. Honda's G-Force Control or G-Con technology enhances the vehicle's ability to absorb energy in a collision by the use of front and rear-end structures which help retain a crush-proof cabin for occupants. Twin front airbags remain and no additional airbags have been introduced with this model. Beneath the skin there are a number of items that improve the overall safety level such as fire retardant interior, fuel tank roll-over valve, progressive crumple zones, seatbelt pretensioners and side impact protection.

Rivals

1) Honda CR-V Sport 2) Toyota RAV4 Cruiser 3) Nissan X-Trail Ti


TRANSMISSION

1) four-speed auto 2) Five-speed manual or four-speed auto
3) Five-speed manual or four-speed auto

DRIVING WHEELS

1) Part-time four-wheel drive
2) Full-time four wheel drive
3) Switchable four-wheel drive

ENGINE

1) 2.354-litre front-mounted transverse 16-valve DOHC inline four-cylinder with variable valve timing

2) 1.998-litre front-mounted transverse 16-valve DOHC inline four-cylinder with variable valve timing

3) 2.488-litre front-mounted transverse 16-valve DOHC inline four-cylinder with variable valve timing

MAX POWER

1) 118kW 2) 110kW 3) 132kW

LENGTH

1) 4555mm 2) 4195mm 3) 4510mm

WIDTH

1) 1780mm 2) 1735mm 3) 1765mm

HEIGHT

1) 1710mm 2) 1680mm 3) 1675mm

WEIGHT

1) 1500kg 2) 1328kg 3) 1440kg

DETAILED SPECIFICATIONS (Malaysian spec): -updated Saturday (18/10). Source:(c)

Engine: 4 cylinders-in-line DOHC, I-VTEC 16v 1998cc, Honda PGM-FI fuel injection and engine management system. Light alloy block and head.
Bore/stroke: 86x86mm, Compression Ratio: 9.8:1.

Max Power: 115kw@6500rpm. Torque: 190Nm@4000rpm.

Transmission: Variable All-wheel-drive. Electronic controlled 4 speed automatic. Gear ratios:
1st) 2.684
2nd) 1.534
3rd) 1.081
4th) 0.695
Rev: 2.000
Final: 4.582

Suspension:
Front: Independent, MacPherson struts with coil springs and dampers.
Rear: independent trailing arms, double wishbones, coil springs and dampers, reactive link with anti-roll bar.

Steering: Rack and pinion, servo assisted. Lock to lock turn: 3.2. Turning circle: 10.4m

Brakes:
CR-V is fitted with 282mm ventilated front disc brakes and 282mm non-vented rear disc brakes. An anti-lock braking system (ABS) comes standard. So do the electric brake force distribution (EBD), which optimises the front and rear brake pressure distribution to provide more efficient stopping power and greater vehicle stability.

Other specification:
FUEL TANK: 50L
Ground clearence: 205mm

Performance:
Maximum speed: 190km/h.
0-100km/h 12 seconds (as tested by "Auto International" (Malaysian) Car Magazine)

END OF SPECIFICATION. Again, source: (c)

Without further ado, let’s proceed to the owner’s review: (b)

Owner 1: 2002 Honda CR-V LS review from UK and Ireland
"Reliable, practical family transport that's a bit different from the average estate car"

What things have gone wrong with the car?
Minor rattle from behind the radio - fixed immediately by dealer under warranty.

General comments?
The CRV might not set the pulse racing, but it's ultra reliable and does exactly what it says on the tin.

Having owned two Audi A4s, the CRV had a lot to live up to. If anything though, the engineering/reliability seems even better.
Dealer service is great - they pick it up from my home and leave a courtesy car whenever it needs a service.

The main benefit though is interior space. Leg room in the back is probably equal to that of a big luxury car and camping trips are a doddle thanks to the big load area.
For a 4x4 on-road performance isn't too bad.
Off road performance is (I've read) not that good - but who goes off road anyway?

Owner 2: 2002 Honda CR-V LX review from North America
"Not recommended at all"
What things have gone wrong with the car?

The drivers' door key cylinder became faulty at 40,000 - it started "sticking" when trying to unlock door. I was told by Service the cost would be $180.00. I opted not to replace and just leave CRV unlocked.

The steering wheel showed excessive wear around 37,000. Seems to be too soon for this problem.
The air compressor had to be replaced at 57,400. Replacement/repair by Honda was quoted $1000.00. We sought another source and paid $622.00. When this problem occurred, my decision was made to trade this vehicle due to poor quality and expensive Service Department.

General comments?

This vehicle has a very small gas tank (12 gallon), which placed me at a gas pump every 3rd day.
The head rests are not a comfortable angle - the tilt is the opposite direction it should be.
The road "noise" is very loud inside cabin. Even when the radio volume is turned as high as possible, the noise is still very prominent.

3 comments
9th Oct 2004, 19:54

The CRV is too noisy when driving.
The air compressor is dead on mine.
Its design and quality need improvement.

20th Jul 2005, 21:18
I feel more at ease to know that I was not the only one with serious problems with my CR-V. I bought a Honda because I thought they were ultra-reliable. A few days after I bought it it wouldn't start. The dealer couldn't find anything wrong with it. It started up fine later. It does this every few months and I've had this car almost three years. Can you imagine having to guess whether or not your car will start every time you get in it. I wanted to return it after a month, but couldn't. The interior noise is horrible at highway speeds. The car also needs a bigger gas tank because though it is pretty good on gas it is hard to go a day or two without needing a fill up. Three days after the extended 75000 mile warranty ended, the A/C compressor went out. Honda quoted me $1900 to fix it. I traded it in the next day for a Mercedes.
E.M.
Houston, TX.


30th Aug 2007, 10:19

I really am disappointed with my 2002 Honda CRV. Mine is a 5-speed manual with 175000 Km. The engine burns oil like it's a 2-stroke; I have to add a litre every two gas fill ups. The engine hesitates under moderate to heavy acceleration. So much for all the i-Vtec hype...

Air conditioning stopped working yesterday. At 175000 km I don't think I will be getting any "good will" from Honda Canada. The clutch makes a groaning noise when the pedal is depressed. I have had other Japanese cars (Mazda, Nissan) and never had these kinds of problems that the dealer can't or won't diagnose or fix. Their view is; if there is no fault code they can't fix it. Thanks a lot, but they still like to charge for the useless, unproductive check.

Oh yes; and I almost forgot; The SRS light was on and I had to pay $100 for them to turn it off and tell me there was no problem. There was a recall, and they fixed it, but I didn't get my 100 back. I will drive it as long as it starts, but no more Honda for me.

Owner 3: 2003 Honda CR-V 4WD LX review from Malaysia
"A High Performance Car which matches it value"
What things have gone wrong with the car?

Well, I owned a CR-V previously before

I bought the new CR-Vi series... I don't have much to complain about it as it gives me a good value for it.. a comfortable ride, but I would have to say it's not suitable for country crossing.. I changed the suspension a year after I got it.. whew, that's a huge suprise for me.. a change of suspension after a year of purchase and it's a new car and plus I need to bring it to alignment at the workshop every month.

General comments?

The car overall is a powerful machine
that responds to your driving skills
fast enough to make the driving comfortable and relaxing. It's a car that makes me safe and doesn't give me
much problem. Plus it's design is immaculately conceptual...

Owner 4: 2003 Honda CR-V review from Indonesia
"Highly recommended SUV"
What things have gone wrong with the car?

This is my second CR-V since I had the previous model of CR-V.
Nothing major problems happened to the car, only its relatively high fuel consumption.

General comments?

The space in the third row is too small for adults.

The engine is quite responsive. However it is done at the expense of fuel efficiency. However its fuel efficiency is still higher than other SUVs.
Air conditioning and other electronic functionalities are awesome.
The model is quite attractive and modern, just like other Honda cars.

Owner 5: 2004 Honda CR-V Auto review from Indonesia
"CR-V = Cr-ashy Riding Vehicle or Catastrophic Reliability Vehicle"
What things have gone wrong with the car?

The driver's side shock-breaker broke down twice in 9 months. I had to wait 5 days for the shock-breaker to be replaced the first time and more than 1 month for the second one!

The air-conditioning gives out a very unpleasant strange smell (smells like rubbish).
There is a rattling sound from the air-vents (has been repaired once, but it keeps coming back).

General comments?

I can't find any truth about all good things those people hyped about the car, the engine feels lazy and thirsty. The average fuel consumption is around 5.8 KM/L to 7.0 KM/L at it's best around the town.

There is not enough power for climbing up hills and the 4-speed automatic gearbox is lazy, you just have to do many gear-changing to 1st or 2nd gear constantly. The performance is RELAXED rather than POWERFUL or FAST.

The seats are way too hard to be described as comfortable. The ride is also ROCK-HARD and all my expectations of CR-V being a comfortable ride were no longer valid long before I could spend my first month with the car without complaining about anything.
Driving the CR-V can be quite an exercise for those without a good stamina. The steering is too heavy around town and is only good for long stretch of highways which
I don't use a lot.

To worsen the situation, there is a tremendously loud road noise on rough road surfaces at which point you can't even conduct a conversation at a normal volume. This is very annoying and distressing because I often end up with dizziness over a stretch of rough road surface.

The cabin is also not a very pleasant place to be. The dash design looks boring and not tasteful.
It's only best if you sit at the second row and not at the front passenger seat because of the strangely uneven floor and your legroom (width) is limited by the center console running down to the floor.

There is nothing to be complemented about the car except it's stability.
I would have been better off buying other SUV at the same price! This is the ultimate nightmare of my motoring life.

Owner 6: 2004 Honda CR-V Sport review from Australia and New Zealand
"Without doubt the best car I've ever bought"

What things have gone wrong with the car?
Nothing.

General comments?

Without doubt the best car I've ever bought.
It is very comfortable, handles well, has a tiny turning circle compared with my wife's Integra and looks like a large car for carrying people and goods, rather than a tank - which some equivalents do.

It is an ideal compromise between a saloon and a utility, with great looks into the bargain.

Hondas have always suffered in the past from hard seats, but the CR-V has outgrown this and you can travel large distances with no bum fatigue at all.

Owner 7: 2005 Honda CR-V SE Sport review from UK and Ireland
"Good all round car, backed by a reliable dealer"

What things have gone wrong with the car?
Nothing so far, but the car is only a few weeks old.

General comments?

Traded up to this from a Honda Accord, which had given faultless service.
The CR-V for 2005 (in the UK at least) comes with a number of improvements, for example, revised multi-pod headlamps, additional curtain airbags, 'drive by wire' throttle.

The car has so far proved to be more economical than I feared - expected 25mpg, but getting nearer 28 mpg, in a mix of town/motorway driving.
My kids love the extra space in the back, and shopping trips to the supermarket no longer involve squashed groceries - there is acres of space all round.

The 2.0 litre petrol engine has a lot of metal to shift, but the car still has a good turn of speed.

Overall build quality seems fantastic. It seems much better than my old Accord, and that proved very durable. Some of the motoring press say the interior is too dark and plain gloomy. I would admit that it is hardly exciting, but everything is well laid out and very easy to use.
Final selling point for me, is my local Honda dealer. The service they provide is just so much more friendly and efficient than those of other manufacturers that I've tried.

21st Oct 2005, 13:14
An update on my CRV.
My CRV is now 10 months old and has proved to be totally reliable. Averaging 28 MPG on what is more 'suburban' than true city driving. On a long run to Devon, I can average 33 MPG.

Luggage space has proved to be excellent, and everything is wearing well - I have 3 daughters that travel in the back and they can make a fair mess!

Only two annoyances: I discovered that the cap to the coolant reservoir had gone missing - how I don't know, but the dealer replaced it free of charge. Secondly, rear visibility when parking is really poor, and Honda should look at fitting a reversing aid as standard (it's an expensive option). These things can't cost much to fit at the factory, yet it would really make a difference.

Owner 8: 2001 Honda CR-V Ex review from North America
"I cant believe honda makes such a car"

What things have gone wrong with the car?

Oh my goodness. Should I say its my bad luck or is it that all CRVs are like this. I got this pre-owned vehicle 10 days back. I had put some 500 miles and phoohh the A/C is gone. It is all hot air blowing in the Dallas Heat at 5 PM in the evening. I did not realize first it was that malfunctioning AC, my wife said why did you open the windows... i said no I did not.. then we realized its gone. the world part is engine shuts off when I switch on the a/c, there is some funny sound in the front... not sure what to do.. just owned it for 10 days and its gone for a toss.. now need to
find out how to fix this.

General comments?

I always had good feeling for honda.. but not anymore after reading all the review commetns in this website..

6th Aug 2007, 12:24
CR-V's have had problems with the A/C compressors failing and sending bits of metal throughout the A/C system resulting in a costly repair. The good news is that Honda seems to be paying to have them repaired for some people. The bad news is they aren't paying for everyone so if they don't pay for yours it will probably be expensive to repair.

Owner 9: 2002 Honda CR-V review from Lithuania
"Well built and a pleasure to own. But…"
What things have gone wrong with the car?

The only major fault was a VTEC system failure, which left me with no car for a month. Had to return to dealer 3 times, before they managed to find what was wrong. The parts took two weeks to come. Very poor Honda and Citroen dealership in Lithuania.

General comments?

Otherwise CRV is a pleasure to own, it offers enough power and good offroad, though its not a real off- road vehicle.

Owner 10: 2004 Honda CR-V review from Philippines
"I love it to bits! (banal but true)"

What things have gone wrong with the car?
So far, nothing. Absolutely nothing.

General comments?

The first thing I can say about the car is that it has a very conservative look. I honestly think Honda played it too safe and made a boring looking car.
Despite the no frill look of this car, the same cannot be said for what is underneath the bonnet. OR SO THEY SAY. The truth is, the car's so called "genius" i-VTEC engine feels sluggish in this car. It doesn't go as well as my old 12 year old Nissan Altima did. And the the fuel economy was about the same. What I do love about the CR-V's engine is also its downfall: the high revving engine. It feels smooth and good to drive. The truth is, I don't think its the go that annoys me, its the cruise. When you press the gas, it goes well enough really. But when you release the gas to keep a constant pace, the car slows down very quickly. I initially thought it was due to the drag forces or maybe the low range gear box. But our Nissan X-Trail doesn't suffer from the same problems despite the bulk or the low range gear box.

The interior is better than the X-Trail's though. Whereas the Nissan used too much cheap high gloss plastic, the CR-V at least tries to mask the cheap look of its plastics. The gear shift is well placed, easily in reach. The seats are nicely shaped and molded, but too hard. (can't recommend this car for old people) But the car is very fuel efficient for a SUV or a Crossover as it really is, and very practical.

The drive is good, if a bit slow. The gears shift smoothly and quietly, without the "thud" of my old Nissan Altima's pathetic gearbox. The suspensions are hard, giving this car a sharp and responsive handling. But despite hardness, still doesn't punish you too much at the bumps or pot holes.

END OF A LONG REVIEW, THANK YOU for having the patience to read it…

REFERENCES:
Source a) http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/CFC9AB1697C0F7DACA256B7D0001E10D. GoAuto Supertest by Steven Butcher
Source b) www.carsurvey.org
Source c) Auto International (Malaysian Car Magazine) Buyer’s Guide 2003. For Specifications of the CRV.