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| The Power of Dreams. Is it a chic car? |
Anyhow when they brought out the third generation CR-Vs in 2007 (the year I bought mine) there was a lot of moaning that the vehicle had changed. Its appearance went from vaguely Jeep like to vaguely Lexus like and a lot of the members were not happy. The fact of the matter is that the 2007 was no less of an "off the road" vehicle than the previous models. The CR-V is basically a Civic with a boxy body and a half assed "automatically engaged" four wheel drive system. It is an excellent snow vehicle but not an off the road boulder basher by any means.
To add insult to injury to our CR-V club membership, Honda targeted the new vehicle to women as indicated by this passage from Edmunds:
Although the all-new, third-generation 2007 Honda CR-V is likely to appeal to buyers of all ages and both genders, Honda's target audience for its redesigned small SUV is women in their early 30s with a child under two. And when you drive the new CR-V, it's obvious the company had this audience in mind from the very beginning. The size of the previous-generation CR-V, for instance, was a major selling point for owners (60 percent of whom are women), so the new one hasn't grown any larger. It shares a platform with the latest Civic, yet has a shorter wheelbase than even the coupe. From nose to tail, it's 3 inches longer than a Ford Escape and 3 inches shorter than a Toyota RAV4.
With the dimensions set, company designers focused on making the Honda CR-V more practical for the owner with a toddler in one arm and groceries in the other. Accordingly, the previous model's side-hinged rear gate and exterior-mounted spare tire were dumped in favor of a lightweight overhead liftgate and an under-floor spare. A foldable, removable shelf (available on EX and EX-L models) was fitted to the 35.7-cubic-foot cargo bay to allow two-tier loading. Additionally, the rear doors open a full 90 degrees and have numerous detents within their opening range to keep them from swinging back while you're bent over buckling in an infant. Unlike last year, all three rear seating positions have the LATCH setup for car seats, and once you're on the road, a front-seat sunglasses holder with a built-in conversation mirror takes the neck-twisting out of being an attentive parent.
Well you can imagine that the lads were not happy with the changes in the generation three Vs. Myself I was very much delighted with the spare tire being under the floor (but inside the vehicle) and the lift gate opening vertically. But for some of the "old timers" (CR-Vs have been around since 1998) the 2007 V was an abomination. Then we had some new members who wanted to buy the V but was afraid that it was a "chic car".
Since I turned 50 I have noticed that my macho levels, always flagging at best, have kind of fallen off. Yes I still talk like a man but I am finding as time goes on that I can often identify with the fairer gender. While I have not taken up knitting, I no longer possess the overwhelming macho thoughts that I once did regarding cars and horsepower. I have come to like warm and cuddly. In one of my previous posts, I questioned firm gender assignments:
Navigating The Finite, Which of The Following Best Describes Your Gender?
As you can see from the visual aids, gender identification should be relatively easy, yet it seems to be compounded by many factors. So way back in 2007, I was feeling my oats and I decided to publish a photo essay on the car forum to allay any fears that the generation 3 CR-V is a chic car. In the spirit of continuing my self investigations of gender, I present for your edification and enjoyment a re-publish of that post. BTW the car's color was black pearl. My handle on the forum was Black Pearl and I called the car the Black Pearl.
Is The CR-V Really A Chick Car? A Photo Essay.
We have this ongoing debate as to whether the CR-V is a chick car. To help the reader decide I have included a number of photos that I think will prove beyond a doubt that the CR-V (third Gen at least) is truly a manly vehicle.
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| Photo 1 A Manly Stance |
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| Photo 2 Manly Filth |
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| Photo 3 Manly Objects Thrown Carelessly On The floor |
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| Photo 4 Macho Dash, GPS, Nuke Sub Hat |
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| Photo 5 Oopsie! |
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| Photo 6 My CR-V is very pretty. |
End of original post.
A week or so before Christmas, while my wife was Christmas shopping I stopped into our local Dodge dealer to kill some time. I cozied up to a Ram 2500, I could barely see the top of the hood. A guy who looked a lot like Sam Elliot approached me. He had an adams apple the size of a grapefruit, and he swaggered in that way that having 17 pounds of swaying testicles acting on one's center of gravity will cause. He spoke to me in a 23 hertz baritone.
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| 2012 RAM 2500, Guts-Glory-RAM |
I replied "Ah, ah, um yes, its very nice."
"Nice? Tell me son, do you aspire to achieve greatness?"
I replied "Well sir, ah um..."
"Do you possess the guts and the glory to handle a 390 horse power 5.7 liter Hemi V-8 power plant."
Getting a little ballsy, I replied "Um sir, well sir I operated 8,000 cold horse power electrical motors driving 100,000 GPM pumps. That required some guts but a lot more smarts than glory. Say, what's the gas mileage on this truck?"
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| Guts - Glory! A Hemi for his foot? I wonder what that does for the gas mileage. |
"Son did you say gas mileage? You know what they say about having to ask..."
Admonished, I replied "Why yes sir, silly question on my part. Of course 390 horse power requires substantial fuel."
"Son, let's make this easy, do you have the $35,000 that this here truck will cost you?"
I replied "Well what would you give me on trade in for my 2007 CR-V?"
"A CR-V? Son that's lady's car. We won't even look at it. Why don't you come back when you are man enough to afford a real vehicle with the guts and the glory to move heaven and earth."
He then swaggered off, ponderous balls almost clanging, and left me, a quivering effeminate girly man, choking in a cloud of secondary testosterone.
I slowly retreated to my chic car CR-V, returned to the Kohl's parking lot, got out my Kindle and picked up where I left of in Naomi Wolf's Vagina, A Cultural History.
OK, I admit the Dodge dealership is fictional except the Kohl's parking lot and the Kindle. I had contemplated taking a look just for something to do but I feared that such a conversation would take place. Besides, I really do doubt that I am man enough or have the pockets deep enough to drive a RAM 2500.
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| 59 Dodge, Macho? No, but somewhat manly. |
When I was in the Air Force I did own a 59 Dodge pick-up that looked sort of like the truck to the right. It had a flathead straight 6 that probably was rated for 70 horsepower. It had trouble maintaining 60 mph, but had enough low end torque to pull out stump.
You know if I had a lot stumps to pull out, I would lay money on that 59 Dodge lasting longer than the mighty RAM 2500 with the sissy excuse of a transmission that Chrysler uses these days. That is one of the reasons I chose that girly CR-V. I have this odd belief that a transmission should aspire to achieve greatness and last longer than 5,000 miles over the extended warranty that I paid near two grand for. Guts-Glory-Cash. I think I will stick with the Power of Dreams. Long live the girly Black Pearl
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| The Girly Black Pearl |
IMAGE CREDITS:
2007 Honda CR-V: American Honda Motor Co. Inc
Photos 1 thru 6: yours truly.
RAM 2500: Chrysler Group LLC.
http://www.ramtrucks.com/hostc/bmo/CUT201214/models.do
Guts-Glory Ram: David Tucker Blog, Dodge Guts and Glory
Note, watch the video on Tucker's blog. It is rather entertaining.
59 Dodge Pick-up: TurboDodge.com, Forums
Girly Black Pearl on the Honda H logo: yours truly.
Links:
CR-V Description: Edmunds.com, 2007 Honda CR-V
Original Chic Car Post: CR-V Owners Club, Forum, 2007 CR-V, "a chick car"?
Note, I am the Black Pearl on that site.
Is it a chic car? I dunno, my daughter Sarah owns one. What does that tell you. Probably nothing.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking from my personal experiences....although it is a Honda...and we've owned our fair share of Hondas over the years, I hate to say it but it has to be one of the more uncomfortable vehicles I have ridden in. The seats, at least to my rear end are brutal. My right knee keeps smashing into the hard plastic console/dashboard. The ergonomics to me are just not there. Mind you...I'm 6'3" and I have a dickens of a time folding myself into some vehicles for sure. Our 95 Toyota Corolla is way more comfortable than the CR-V.
Now that said, we also own a 2009 Honda Fit.....and it is a little more seat-able than the CR-V..but not much. BTW did I mention we are thinking of selling the Honda Fit? Way too low to the ground and other issues.
But getting back to your question about being a chic car. I don't think so. I notice vehicles a lot and I would say..that the CR-V is gender neutral in my eyes. This opinion comes from a relative newbie who's owned about 85 or so vehicles
since I started driving, so maybe I'm not the best one to ask about that..:) lol
BTW...I like the look and paint on your CR-V.
DeleteBussman,
DeleteI am pretty much like you the car is gender neutral. Most cars are. The photo essay was parody on these young guys writing in that they really like the car and would like to buy one but they heard it was a "chic car". So it was for them that I was trying to establish the firm male identity of the car and of course for them that I intentionally failed. A chic car! C'mon! If you like the car buy it, who gives a shit?
I agree with you about the comfort. I have never owned a car that I like so much and pisses me off so completely. Best handling vehicle I have ever owned. Even my spiritual advisor on automotive affairs was impressed with the handling on his wife's CR-V. He is a young guy that buys all these European and Japanese hot rods. Your comment on the shifter is spot on. I am a good bit shorter than you but I am all legs and that shifter is where my right knee goes and that gigantic stupid door handle is where the left knee goes. What the hell is wrong with putting the shifter up on the column out of the way where it belongs? You can't even buy a manual in the US, so why piss everybody off with a stupid shifter being where your knee belongs? Cool lasts about 1 hour, comfort never gets old. But get this of all the vehicles I looked at, the CR-V was the most comfortable with the exception of possibly the Element and my wife put the kabosh on that because of the way the back door opened. I sat in the Rav-4 for 30 seconds and had excruciating pain in both legs because of hard plastic sharp edges strategically placed. The one on the door was nothing but some frill and it hurt like hell. The Forester was equally uncomfortable. Remember I made the big deal about the ass tests? I ruled those other cars out in less than a minute. Didn't even bother with road tests. The back seat however I thought was very comfortable for a small car. I let my buddy and his wife take a spin and we rode around for about hour and a half. I let them both sit in the front. I really thought the back seats were comfortable.
Exceeded 4096 characters...boy I am full of shit today. Continued below.
Continued from above:
DeleteThe Fit I totally agree, that was another sit in-no way. I needed a crane and the jaws of life to get my fat ass out of the thing. That is one thing I do like about the CR-V the seats are high. Not as high a my mini-van. That was the most comfortable vehicle I ever owned. I loved the thing. It just didn't go through snow which I could accept to some degree, but that transmission was unforgivable. I religiously maintained the transmission per Chrysler's maintenance schedule at the dealer and bought an extended warranty because I had heard they had transmission problems. The tranny went out at 105,000 miles. 5000 over the warranty and several years still within the time limits. Chrysler didn't knock a buck off the replacement. Due to the MS rage issues I only argued slightly, no use of getting into a homicide over a transmission, but Chrysler lost a customer forever over that transmission. No big deal. I buy a new vehicle once a decade, so I am not going to bust Chrysler.
Oh speaking of transmissions, if I was going to buy a Ram truck and had a decent set of knees (I am pissed at God about the shitty knee and back design on human beings--he basically took a four wheel drive animal and made it a two wheel drive, without properly beefing up the knees or the spine, then took us out of the trees, mammalian spines are designed to be horizontal, most of the primates get away with a somewhat vertical orientation because their spines are in tension when swinging about in the trees. The human spine is in compression 100% of our waking lives piss poor design. Then of course we could mention the huge headed children passing through a relatively small pelvis, human adolescence, human sexuality, propensity for war, and human avarice. Good God the intelligent life on this planet is the worst I have ever seen, design flaw on top of design flaw. Pathetic!) Where was I. Oh Ram trucks. The manual transmission is 950 pounds heavier than the automatic in GVW. What does that tell you?
Tells me two things. One) that all these guts and glory dudes drive sissy automatics rather than a manly manual. Auto makers have to meet Federal fuel economy on AVERAGE fleets. You don't have to put a lot of money in weight reduction on a option that you sell very few units.
Two) 950 pounds is a lot. I would say the manual transmission is still made out of quality materials rather than plastic and light gauge aluminum. Sending 390 horsepower through a candy wrapper is ill advised. Hope they have beefed up the floor in the transmission region. Remember the scatter shield? You don't hear much burning of tires these days.
Well what you save on replacement transmissions you blow in fuel costs.
Bussman thanks as always for your prairie wisdom.
When my children were in need of car seats I was driving a VW bug--not a young mom getting her kids to daycare with all the required equiment-friendly vehicle. I wish I still had that car though.
ReplyDeleteOlga,
DeleteThe cars and child seats today are amazing. Someone at the club sent in photos of their sister's CR-V after it was in a head on collision at 55 mph. The front of car was completely demolished, yet the interior only had a minor crack in the dashboard and of course the air bag deployed. The woman suffered a broken collar bone from the seat belt retractor, and judging from the stain on the seat, peed her pants--a God given right for anyone involved in a head on collision. The man in the Cadillac did not have his seat belt on and was killed.
So indeed cars today are much safer for both adults and kids in properly restrained car seats. The old cars seemed to be more fun though. Was it the car or just that we were younger?
The car,,definitely the car...every time I sit in the 56 Dodge Regent...I get a smile on my face. Matter of fact..I started her up today and took it for a short spin on the driveway......however..I don't want to do any head ons in that car.. all that metal that surrounds you......and that metal dash and non collapsible steering wheel in the chest...Ouch. OK...I'll go slow. Just putt putt around town.
DeleteWayyyyy more comfortable to sit in though, than the Honda CR-V.
You are right, Bussman, the old cars are cool but what death traps if you got in an accident. Does your Dodge even have seat belts?
DeleteI am still amazed that the old slush box still works.
Speaking of old cars did you see this one?
http://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/automotive-history-the-short-and-odd-life-of-the-two-door-station-wagon/
Yes..I did...kind of partial to the green Plymouth...Rickerts Art Centre..one...handsome set of wheels. Would go good with the Plodge.
DeleteMy favorite is that first ratty blue one, a Plymouth I think, look at the fins.
DeleteI do like the Chevy Nomad Wagons. I thought they were cool.
Ah yes...the 1960 Plymouth wagon.........yep...I'd take that one too.
DeleteI read this post at a most opportune time. My sister is going shopping today for a car. She wants an SUV. I recommended the Toyota Rav4 or the CRV. Her husband recommended the Toyota Camry. Why the Camry you ask? Because his wife is a girl and girls don't drive SUVs! Geesh! If he wasn't my favorite brother in law (he's my only brother in law) I would kick him in the...well somewhere very unladylike, not that ladies kick anyway!
ReplyDeleteThe car doesn't make the man, the man makes the car! And a man that will wait patiently in the car while he reads his kindle whilst his precious wife shops til she drops is my kinda man! Maybe I can clone you? A little younger and hispanic with a mustache but the heart and mind that makes Sextant would be a wonderful man to have!
Alicia,
DeleteBest not show this post to your brother in law, he will be revoking my manhood license. Anyhow the CR-V or Rav 4 are not very "SUVy". I see women driving huge Lincoln Navigators, Suburbans and Hummers, and 18 wheeler rigs so your BIL needs to take his head out of his behind (where like me it is the 1950s forever) and realize that yep in the 21st century women are doing it all.
Tell Lisa to pay careful attention to her derrière when shopping. Sit in the frigging car without the idiot salesman distracting her. As Bussman and I discussed above the CR-V and Rav 4 were (at least in 2007) rather uncomfortable. Have her do a lot of sitting in the car by herself paying very close attention to comfort. The salesman will do everything in his power to distract her with all the "wow gee whiz" bullshit that impresses you for about 5 minutes. Driving comfort is critical especially if she has relatively long commutes (let me guess your BIL "allows" Lisa to work). She should sit in the thing. Pretend to back it up, looking out the back. When she takes it for a road test, when the salesman turns on the radio turn it back off. You can listen to the radio in the parking lot. Road tests are for accessing vehicle noise and handling. Again the salesman will chatter and try to distract with all sorts of cool features and just bullshit.
The ass test, by yourself, car not moving (one is too distracted driving) is critical. Get past the novelty and think long term comfort. She should spend a lot of time just sitting in the vehicle meditating about her butt, lower back, knees and legs. Make sure you can live with the comfort of the car. Get right down nasty with the salesman about leaving you alone. The frigging salesman knows a lot more about selling you a car than you know about buying one. It is a very asymmetrical war. At least be sure the car is comfortable. I found the Honda salesmen (and yeah they were all men) to be much more polite than Toyota, who try to convince you how stupid you are for not buying this car at the great price they are giving you. Honda salesmen just politely refuse to budge on price and will let you walk out the door with your self esteem intact. Toyota beats the shit out of you. Well that was what I found back in 2007. I stay the hell out of dealerships except when I am buying. It is not a bad idea to "build" your desired vehicle on the car websites before you shop. This will give you a good idea of the models, options, etc before you get to the dealership. Also the fate planet does NOT hinge on her signing a deal today. Everyday in car dealerships through out the world a deal HAS TO BE MADE RIGHT NOW OR _________ WILL HAPPEN. We made it through YK 2000 and the end of the Mayan calendar surely the world will survive if Lisa buys 3 weeks from today.
I wish her good luck. I hate buying cars and despise car dealers.
As for a clone of me, I think you would be dourly disappointed, even with a younger mustached, hispanic version. I have that Irish abiding sense of tragedy and love for rainy days that I think you would find rather stultifying. BTW he would need a hispanic stomach also. I could never tolerate real Mexican food. Thank you for the kind compliment though. Anyhow a lovely vibrant woman needs an original... not a worn out old clone.
I downright disagree with you on the lack of cushi-ness of the RAV-4! I have to say that when I owned one, they were the easiest no brainer of a drive and they were very cushy.I actually drove one the other day and was feeling carsick due to the marshmallow bounciness of the car!
ReplyDeleteHaving said that my husband claims I barely make a dent in the seat as I weigh 108lbs. But seriously I would rather have a car with really good handling (and torque) than a comfortable car and I say that even though I do a lot of miles in my car. (NB: I drive a diesel Peugeot 308 Touring).
Perspective,
DeleteThank you for visiting my blog and commenting. A couple things, what year is the RAV-4 you are driving? The one that failed my sitting test in less than minute was a 2007.
I did not waste my or the dealer's time with a test drive. It had a sharp edged console digging into my right knee and thigh. On the drivers door there was a sharp edged hard plastic swirly doo dad, that had absolutely no function, digging into my left knee and thigh. It was very painful, I really had no interest in enduring the pain for the test drive.
I think you are comparing orange and apples. You are 108 pounds. As such I would guess two things about you. 1) You are probably considerably younger than me, I am 63 now. 2) You do not have the physical stature that I have.
I am almost 6 foot tall and double your weight. I have very long legs for my height. With the seat all the way back I can hardly sit straight legged. So as a result I am a sprawler. My knees splay wide apart while driving. Also I am a man. There are technical reasons of an endocrine nature why men can not keep their legs together when seated like women can. Our voices may go up several octaves--from pain.
As I say apples and oranges.
Again I am guessing your age to be a fraction of mine. You will find when you get older comfort will play a bigger role in your decisions, especially if you have a bad back and arthritic knees. Many adventures await you.
My CR-V handles very well, and is not bouncy at all. It rides rather hard, which I don't mind. It could use a bit more power, but at my age power is not that big of a deal.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.