We have the EX Auto. When we were shopping I wanted the 5 speed and my
wife wanted the auto.

I was skeptical as heavy 4cyl cars with auto trans are usually dogs but
Honda did a good job with the CRV. She drives it mostly and around town
and on the highway between 50-70mph and it does very well. Im sure the
5speed would be more fun and a bit quicker but Im happy enough with the
auto. Im sure the extra hp for 99-01 helped a lot. Were I to buy a 98
or older CRV with the smaller motor, I would definately get the 5 speed.

Ive only had one complaint about power and that is on a few trips where I
set the cruise to 80mph. On a windy day on a highway with hills the car
does lose speed and downshift a lot. Sometimes holding 3rd gear at 4500
rpms for quite a while. That is somewhat annoying and a V6 would certainly
fix that but I realize its just a 4cyl and my 80mph stints on cruise are
about 1% of my driving so.....

Thats my take on it


I guess with the extra hp for 99-01,
Jeff Gatcha; Mail

The 5-Speed doesn't have the Cruise Control problem due to the fact that it
only works in the particular gear you are in when you activate the Cruise
Control. If you change gears the Cruise disengages, a feature with all
manual transmission Cruise systems. Imagine if it didn't disengage, it
would create an interesting driving experience to say the least LOL!!!!

The 5-Speed is exceptionally nice in the mountains. I can remember placing
an automatic transmission in low while descending steep mountain grades,
only to have the transmission overheating soon. An automatic transmission
equipped Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera SL (3.8L V6 engine) I owned was nice at
downshifting and up-shifting through the mountains with the Cruise set at a
specific speed, truly exceptional performance.

AUTOMATIC PLUS: I recently drove through the night to Texas in my Toyota
T-100 equipped with an automatic transmission. I drove 250+ miles non-stop
by manipulating the Cruise, not once did I have to touch the brake or the
gas pedal. CAUTION: My friends laud my driving skills, and I-20 was mostly
sparse of vehicles during the late/early travel hours.

When you buy a vehicle with a relatively small engine, the transmission is
going to shift more, maybe even A LOT MORE!! I owned a 1997 Civic EX coupe
with an automatic transmission, it constantly shifted into low gear on small
hills. The automatic robbed valuable power from the engine, essentially an
around town commuter. I drove a friends 1997 Civic 5-Speed, two days later
I sold my 1997 Civic!!
My girlfriend complained that she enjoyed driving my Civic automatic and WHY
did I sell it in favor of a 5-Speed. Everyone has their own driving style,
requirements, and tolerances. When I merge into Atlanta, Georgia traffic, a
70+mph REQUIREMENT AT TIMES!!, I greatly appreciate the extra power and
drive ability I get from the CR-V 5-Speed!! I go to the mountains, in
what?, my CR-V 5-Speed!! My girlfriend has always gladly left the driving
to me in these situations and neither her nor I want to take her NEW Civic
automatic LOL!!! She does BEG to go in my 1997 Toyota T-100 SR-5 automatic
(3.4L V6), but I think that has something do with a big front bench seat (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

5-Speed or Automatic; Consider the drivers involved, passengers, where you
will drive, your personal preferences, requirements, and tolerances, and
above all TEST DRIVE!!

SALTMAN