I'm kinda looking at a 1st gen 98-? CRV. Should I go with auto or manual?


Yeah I know its a personal preference but I was wondering if there are maybe any notorious problems with the one or the other? Maybe drastically worse performance in auto?

I have always owned manuals but if the CRV does nicely with an auto, I might go that route. I know its a little vaugue- just give me your opinions.

 

The manuals are geared low , it's not uncommon to drive around town in 4th gear. When you get up to higher speeds and shift into 5th you'll find yourself wanting to shift again because they rev pretty high about 3000 rpm @ 60mph.

The autos don't rev as high.

From 99 - 01 the autos had an overdrive on/off button.

Btw... 99 -01 horsepower was about 140 ... 98 and older were 120hp.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by golf &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The manuals are geared low , it's not uncommon to drive around town in 4th gear. When you get up to higher speeds and shift into 5th you'll find yourself wanting to shift again because they rev pretty high about 3000 rpm @ 60mph.

The autos don't rev as high.

From 99 - 01 the autos had an overdrive on/off button.

Btw... 99 -01 horsepower was about 140 ... 98 and older were 120hp.</TD></TR></TABLE>

k, so 99-01 auto. I guess manuals are more for sporty or semi sporty cars...imo.

 

I too am looking into getting a 1st gen CRV. I have a few questions: Just how high are the rpms at say, 70 mph on a 5spd? Also, what kind of fuel economy are you CRV owners getting? Finally, how durable is the suspension? Does it do OK offroad or atleast on unpaved roads? Sorry to semi-thread jack Agent 99, but perhaps you too would be interested in hearing an answer to some of my questions.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CivicWagonRUS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I too am looking into getting a 1st gen CRV. I have a few questions: Just how high are the rpms at say, 70 mph on a 5spd? Also, what kind of fuel economy are you CRV owners getting? Finally, how durable is the suspension? Does it do OK offroad or atleast on unpaved roads? Sorry to semi-thread jack Agent 99, but perhaps you too would be interested in hearing an answer to some of my questions.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hell yeah. Bumpage.

 

i would get a manual, because the problem im haveing now is that i want to do a vtec head swap and i cant figure out how to make the vtec work with the auto tranny other than that i dont mind the auto i guess its just borring
i wish i had a manual then it would already be vtec

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by crvpimpin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i would get a manual, because the problem im haveing now is that i want to do a vtec head swap and i cant figure out how to make the vtec work with the auto tranny other than that i dont mind the auto i guess its just borring
i wish i had a manual then it would already be vtec</TD></TR></TABLE>

How involved is the vtec head swap? What engine do you source the head from? Easy to install?

 

the swap with the conversion kit is fairly simple from what i get the head i have is from a 99 civic si
my problem is just the ecu that is dohc vtec and auto
so all i need is the conversion kit and ecu and im golden

 

It'll rev about 3300 + rpm at 70 with the manual which will increase the noise inside the cab.

Gas mileage depends... average on mine as high as 30mpg.

The suspension is basically a car , it'll be fine wherever you would take a car with a little more ground clearance , remember IT"S NOT a 4x4.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by golf &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> IT"S NOT a 4x4.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yes it is

 

i think what he meant was the crv is not all-time all wheel drive.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ScruffyTheJanitor &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Yes it is</TD></TR></TABLE>Well here we go again... since the four wheels are not providing 25% of the available torque all the time and at times not at all ... they are not considered 4x4 ( 4 wheel drive ).

They are in the class of Automatic asymmetric AWD which in this case is full time front wheel drive.

When the front wheels loose traction then by hydraulic coupling engages the rear axle assembly to provide torque required to try and have both front and rear wheels spinning at the same rpms. Once this happens it reverts to full time front wheel drive.

It works ok in my CRV , but I do know it has limitations.

ScruffyTheJanitor ( aka MooCow3 , Ross 4107 ) aren't you also the one that posted CRV's don't have overdrive transmissions ?


Modified by golf at 7:27 PM 1/31/2007

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by golf &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">.

ScruffyTheJanitor ( aka MooCow3 , Ross 4107 ) aren't you also the one that posted CRV's don't have overdrive transmissions ?


Modified by golf at 7:27 PM 1/31/2007</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yep that's me. Go to your local honda parts dept and ask for an overdrive gear set, let me know how that works out.
But i'm sick of beating that horse.
Now if you'll excuse me i'm going to drive my 4x4 cr-v and not use overdrive

 

Well, if you can wrench on your own car, I'd get a manual just for simplicity sake.

Only reason I'd get an automatic is for heavy city-only driving, and even then it would be a tough compromise.