Great car........but........ . (Honda HR-V in general)

Member Name: Geezer

Product:	Honda HR-V in general
Date:	13/07/00 (1375 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Looks, reliability, Looks

Disadvantages: Service and parts cost, lack of power

When I saw the H-RV on the launch day last year, I fell in love with it. It
looked 'the biz'. I test drove it the next day, nothing special, handled OK, not
much roll in the corners for a car with a high center of gravity, not that quick,
but I felt the looks of the thing made up for those little niggles. Just over a
year later and 17000 miles down the road, how do I feel about it? Lets start
with the gripes: Firstly my major moan is the fact that this car needs more
power, a lot more......I understand Honda have rectified this a little by
bringing out the CVT version with around 20bhp more than the standard 1.6,
which should go a little way to solving this, but it was too late for me! Honda
parts and service, PLEASE take into account if your thinking about buying an
H-RV the fact that Honda cars are very expensive to run and maintain. The
first service (9000 miles) cost around £150 and that was an intermediate
service, the main service(16000 miles I think) is more expensive than that.
Also tyres, the H-RV has a unique sized tyre which I gather from enquiring
only Bridgestone and Yokohama make, the fact that they are unique makes
them VERY expensive. I managed to get two tyres (Bridgestone) for £191.00
+VAT, this was only after sho
pping around for almost three weeks, the
majority of quotes I had were in excess of £300.00 +VAT. The smaller, yet
annoying things such as the lack of rear speakers, seats that are not
anti-submarine, rear windows that don't open and paint that chips REAL easy
also go someway to giving the car a bad mark or two. The car though is no
good for a couple and two older childern, there is just not enough room in the
back. (Although my H-RV is the three door version, there is now a five door
version which I have not sat in) On the other hand the car does have a good
side, Air Con is standard, all electrics (mirrors, windows), decent interior and
stereo, air bags for both driver and passanger, stable, smooth ride, good fuel
consumtion and the usual Honda reliability ( I have not had one mechanical or
electrical fault in over a year!) But why would anyone want the H-RV, it has
so many bad points? Quite simply, and obvious to all that see the
car.............. ITS THE BEST LOOKING CAR AROUND!!!!!!

Summary: