1999 Honda CR-V LX, 2WD from North America - Comments

None.

This is by far the best all around car I have ever owned and could only hope to ever get this lucky again.

I purchased this car in 2000 when it had 15,000 miles on it. It now has 149,000 miles and I have put every single one of them on there in these 7 years.

I never even dreamed any car could be as reliable as this car has been. I have serviced it regularly, put on new brake pads when needed, new tires when needed. I have replaced the battery once in 7 years and other than that, not one single thing has ever gone wrong with this car. Not so much as a light bulb and the clock still keeps perfect time. I think that is what impresses me most about Honda, they pay attention to the quality of every part.

It's very fun and easy to drive, handles great and is easy to park and turn in tight spaces.

I have always felt very safe in it. It has great ground clearance, but not enough so that I ever thought of it being a rollover hazard. I also think that the design of the taillights is brilliant. I think of just how smart my brake lights are every time I pull up behind a vehicle at a stoplight and cannot see their brake lights below the front of my car.

The cargo area is spacious for the size vehicle. In fact I believe it's the largest cargo area for an SUV it's size. I can haul most anything that I ever need to. I have even managed 12 foot shelving by letting it rest on the dash next to me and allowing the other end to hang out the back. It's great!

The fuel economy is fantastic! Every time my family and I take any sort of trip, everyone wants to take mine. It's has the most room in back for everyone's stuff and is the very best on gas.

I do admit that at times I would like a little more power under the hood. Most of the time it is just fine, but sometimes, when the air conditioning is on and I'm going up a hill or trying to pass someone, I could use just a boost.

I am also amazed at the smoothness and stability I get at 90 MPH as well as 55 MPH.

Interior looks I think are great. I have always loved the seat fabric in mine. I think it's beautiful and holds up amazingly well. I am in my car alone 90% of the time and have been since the day I bought it and yet the drivers seat fabric still looks every bit as great as all the other seats.

Recently I have been looking around thinking about trading vehicles. Simply because I've never had any vehicle this long and because I THINK I would like something just a little bigger. The only thing is that this car has spoiled me to anything else. I know that I will never be as fortunate with any other vehicle in the future as I have been with this CR-V. I am considering moving up to a Honda Pilot. It would be very tough for me to go with anything other than a Honda now. It's the best money I have ever spent.

I also have a 99 CRV and have an entry here. Just recently at 146,000 miles I had my a/c compressor mess up. It sounds terrible when it happens, but you can cut the belt and continue on as I did as I was on a trip. Honda wanted $1500 to fix it, but a shop I use did it for $700 changing the compressor, dryer, and condenser, cleaning the system and freon. Since I have a friend who has a 97 CRV with 240,000mi.on it I am keeping the car as, like you I just love it. While in the shop I decided to have the water pump changed and the timing belt and have the valves adjusted. Since you have to take the timing belt off to change the water pump you might as well do it together. I also had all the belts changed. I also changed the transmission fluid. My total bill{including the A/C} was $1598. I travel a lot so I should be good for another 100,000 as otherwise the car appears new. Like you, I can't get over how the seat fabric holds up. Mine is the dark green with black interior. It is such a well thought out vehicle I just can't part with it.

I have a '99 CR-V EX AWD with 135,000mi and the compressor blew. It happened on a 108-degree day in Las Vegas. I've received two different estimates to fix the problem - one for $2400, one for $1300. Guess which one I'm going with?

I'm willing to invest a little more in this gem of a vehicle based on its already impressive record. I've had virtually no repair costs on this car - only routine maintenance. Nothing else has failed, except a blown fuse and a cracked seat folding lever.

I've been a little worried by what I read about the 2002 model compressors blowing up after about 50,000 miles. Those owners sound absolutely irate with Honda. But I'm going to give her another investment in maintenance and see if I can get her up to 200k before I go shopping.

I, like some of the disappointed '02 Honda CR-V owners, am looking to the Pilot as a future replacement vehicle.

If anyone that owns a '99 had bad luck after replacing the compressor, let me know.