whoster

If I've got the AC on, it's on because I want it on--it's a dealbreaker no matter where you live.

Akachan LS

If I am not mistaken, the only real Honda that I know of that had a low rating by CR was the old Del Sol of the early-mid '90s. I believe they claimed that it had poor body integrity and that reliability was below averge.

With all of the problems that Honda has had with automatic transmissions in certain models (ie. late 90's early '00s Accords and Acura TLs), I'm surprised CR still recommended those.

mmarshall

The Honda Passport of the mid-1990s was Not Recommended by CR, mainly because of poor reliability. However, the Passport was not a true Honda, but simply a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo. Honda, back then, had not (yet) introduced any of their own-design SUVs in the American market.

The Del Sol, as you note, was indeed worse-than-average in body-integrity issues (and, IMO, it was a poor replacement for the superb CRX). That's because Honda, at that time, had little or no prior experience in designing and building that type of vehicle (T-Tops, semi-convertibles, removable roof panels, etc...). And, it showed in the Del Sol, which was plagued with rattles, squeaks, water-leaks, etc.....around the removable-top panel.

jadu

iTrader: (42)

that's a blow to honda!

and the CRX gets 35+ mpg

jadu

iTrader: (42)

an even better CRZ:

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/13/v...meant-to-have/

Kira X

iTrader: (24)

The car sounds like a piece of crap to me...

I'd take a Civic or an Accord coupe.

mmarshall

Not really. I've reviewed and driven it. It's actually a very well-built, well-crafted car (one of the best in its class, quality-wise), but with a somewhat under-engineered and rough-running drivetrain that needs some work, so that it can better-compete with Toyota hybrids.

Joeb427

iTrader: (1)

Mike,doesn't the A/C thing bother you?

mmarshall

On the CR-Z I reviewed, I remember it having a choice of Normal/Economy modes. I don't specifically remember the A/C cutting off at a stop with the gas-engine on the one I drove. It's possible (but I don't remember for sure) that the A/C cutoff at idle is only in the Eco mode. In fact, many hybrids have A/C compressors that are run by small electric motors, not the regular gas-engine.

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

This is how it should have been from the factory. Honda has the resources to add the K-series as a performance model. I'll gladly pay an extra $1500 for this option, even if it meant my mpg would go down a bit.

LexFather

^^^ I think Honda has a serious problem b/c those cool 180-200hp cars that were gret in the 1990s and early 2000s would be overpriced and underpowered tons today. I would guess a 200hp CRZ would be a 23k-28k car. That's the price of a 300hp 30mpg highway mustang or camaro. The Genesis coupe also would embarress it.

So they wouldn't even have much of a MPG gain over real RWD sports cars! Unless u just are a Honda nut the K20 wouldn't do much.

That's another reason why the future ft-86 has it's work cut out for it.

mmarshall

Not sure what you're getting at here, Mike, but Honda, to my knowledge, never did a stock 180-200 HP CRX in the American market. Even the sporty Si model, from what I remember, had around 125 HP and, of course, the low, peaky torque typical of Honda fours.

I agree that, in powertrain and roadability, the Genesis Coupe, especially the 3.8 Track model, easily smokes the new CR-Z....in fact, its powertrain/chassis enginering, IMO, is comparable to that of a number of BMW 3-series products. But the 3.8 Track model can run over 30K (the one I reviewed was 31K). That's roughly 50% more than what a typical CR-Z would run.

GS3Tek

iTrader: (8)

I think most of us know that it doesn't take CR to know that it's "not recommended"
I saw it at the auto show and I couldn't run away fast enough

mmarshall

Did you at least sit in one and examine the interior, craftmanship, and sheet metal? This car may not have a well-engineered powertrain, but, IMO, it is built like a Swiss Watch.

Joeb427

iTrader: (1)

Mike,the SI has 197 HP.The newer SI's,anyway.