Faults:
We purchased the car from a private owner who was desperate for money (paid $1,000). It was in need of a head gasket, and had been poorly cared for. My husband is a mechanic, so we went ahead and replaced the whole motor.
I'm not sure if the following is a result of poor ownership or poor quality craftsmanship. The vehicle seems rickety, like a tin can when driving on a highway. I have owned several vehicles in my lifetime, and this reminds me of a cheaply made old style Hyundai (before they became reliable).
I am slightly disappointed to find that although this is an EX model, and my other Honda is a year older (97 Accord SE), it has less convenience options on it. For instance, the windows do not work once the key is off, and there is no gas cap holder. It may sound petty, but I have become well adjusted to these in my Accord. I would have expected a car that is newer and technically better option wise, to have these in it.
I have seen others complain about the lack of power, but it is sufficient enough for my needs, and is exactly what I would expect from a 4-CYL in an SUV. I am still a loyal Honda owner, and I don't expect that to change. They keep their value better than most other makes of car and more than surpass the 100K mileage mark with no problems. (my Accord currently has 260K on it)
General Comments:
It has excellent storage space, cup holders, and the picnic table that comes standard is a neat extra.
I'm a loyal Honda owner, I have had several different models (CRX, CR-V, Prelude and Accord) Honda is the most reliable manufacturer of cars around today.
It seems to be good at handling corners, and is excellent on gas.
9th Apr 2009, 02:01
I would have loved to have bought a Honda Prelude, they're very in demand in NZ. Excellent record of reliability, a 96 Honda can see NZ$ 4500.
Regards.