Can anyone verify that the new 2002 CRV's have been recalled due to
a potential problem with seat belts? I was given this information
from a Honda dealer on Wednesday and was told that the CRV could not
be shown to any potential buyer until the problem was remedied. Yet,
I find 2002 CRV EXs on dealer websites with no indication of a
problem or delay in obtaining the vehicle.

Thanks.

Not yet, but I am getting anxious to see or hear about it.  I asked a local dealer.  They aren't talking yet.
 
Chuck

2002's are coming out on nov.15th

OK.  You seem very sure of the date.  Now how about the redesign/improvements?  What will it look like and what improvements?
 
Chuck 
 
2002's are coming out on nov.15th

Your use of

First, have you read the reviews on the '02 "V"? They say it is much
quieter, and larger inside.

I'm probably biased, but here's my list of things to compare:

Space- Honda probably has more storage bins, and better ergonomics
Power- Escape with V6 has more, CR-V has more power than Escape
4-cylinder
Environment-Honda has lower emissions
Resale- Honda dominates resale value
Colors- Ford has bright red and yellow, if that's what you want
Reliability-Ask almost any Honda owner!!
Other- Who has a picnic table, and cooler?
Economy- If you're comparing a V6 with a 4-cylinder, the Honda
wins hands down!

The great rates are good, but if you actually do a comparison of APR
rates, you'll find that on $20K, the payments might not vary more than a
few dollars per month. Even with that, when you go to trade it in, or
sell it in the future, Honda has a much better record of having high
resale values. So when you factor that in, the few bucks that you save
per month are much more than offset by the value of the vehicle later
on.

Just my $0.02

David Miller
dmiller@...
'89 CRX DX, white, 185K miles
'90 CRX Si, yellow, 45K miles
'99 CR-V EX, white, 98K miles

Proud (and happy) owner of a 2001 Red C-RV here:

Regarding the Escape and the CR-V question...

When I bought my CR-V in June, the word on the CR-V groups was that the Ford
Escape was already into it's second or third "recall," so why would anyone
even consider buying one?

...now that was the word from a very biased group of CR-V folks to be sure,
but there was also some truth in it.

So far, the only limitation I've found on my CR-V is that it doesn't like to
climb up a slight, but continuous, grade at 6000" ASL, into a good head
wind, trying to maintaining 80 mph. THAT was more performance than it was
happy to give me.

Rick
...from the plains of Colorado

A friend of mine just bought a loaded 01 Escape V6
I have an 00 CRV EX.

Ive ridden in both and driven both. They are pretty close in
comparison with each having pros and cons.

Pros for Escape: V6, sunroof, leather, great stereo if you get the
top of the line CD with amp and subwoofer.
discounts and rebates.

Cons for Escape: All the Recalls, prob Lower resale value, poor Ford
Quality and problems havent been limited to the Escape, look at the
recent launches and redesigns of the Explorer, Thunderbird, lincoln
LS, mustang Cobra, just to name a few. I honestly wouldnt buy a ford
if they gave me 0% financing and a rebates forever. Loaded up the
escape costs about $2,000-3,000 more MSRP than the CRV BUT you can
get the bigger motor, sunroof and leather that you cant get on the
older CRV. You CAN get a sunroof on the 2002 CRV I think. Also IMO
if you dont get leather in the Escape, the alternative is akin to the
cheapest nylon/polyester you could possible find. HORRIBLE.

Pros for the OLD Crv: Quality, fit/finish, more interior room, more
cargo room. Prob better reliability, and higher resale value.

Cons for the OLD CRV: Tire noise, Motor with the automatic a bit
lacking in power IF you drive on the highway in hilly areas and want
to maintain 80+mph. motor works hard at times and can be noisy.
Sound system nothing to write home about.

Pros for the NEW CRV: More power than older model, 160hp is much
closer now to the Escapes V6 of 200, quieter, roomier and overall a
better vehicle IMO than the older CRV and the Escape.

CONS: still no leather, no rebates or financing. Possible glitches or
problems with new vehicle/redesign

We have owned our CRV EX for over a year and drive it mostly around
town with occaisional long highway trips. Under 80 mph highway and
around town even the 140 hp motor with the auto is fine and has more
than enough power. the only thing that I find I dont like is the
tire noise but that can easily be fixed with a different set of
tires. Winter or summer I dont have anything to complain about the
CRV so far. Oh and when in hilly areas especially on cruise on the
highway the CRV tends to work really hard to maintain speed. Still
getting 20mpg in town and 25+ on highway running 70-75mph.

Ive owned 5 Hondas, 4 GM cars and drove them all well into
100,000mile territory, I also have a lot of friends with Fords and
the interior on hondas seem to last longer and hold up better than
their american counterparts. I now have a 90 Accord EX with over
125,000 miles on it and the drivers seat is nearly as supportive as
it was when new. Usually the seats in the american cars Ive had
wither and die after about 25-30,000 miles. You can have leather
installed on an old CRV for about $600 and I would imagine someone
will do it for the new one as well.


Id go for the 02 CRV even if they dont discount it much

Jeff

Affirmative.  I saw 2002 CR-Vs at a dealership.  A friend of mine works in the Honda dealer service department and he told me that the seatbelts have a problem and no 2002 CR-V is being delivered until the problem is corrected.  He did not described the problem in detail.
 
Chuck