I’m deciding between an old Subaru Forester and a Honda CR-V. I’m leaning towards the CR-V because it’s more reliable compared to the Subaru, which has some common problems like head gasket issues and timing belt issues. Even someone on a Subaru forum suggested I go for a CR-V.
I’m looking at a 2004 Honda CR-V 4×4 with a 2.4L engine and a 5-speed manual transmission. It has 121,000 km (81,500 miles) and costs $4,600 AUD ($2,900 USD). It has a full service history and looks well-maintained. I need something reliable with few problems, and this seems like a good option, but I’d appreciate some reassurance. What do you think?
I also plan to lift it a little, add bigger tires, and put on a roof tent in the future.
I have a 2003 CR-V and I really love it. I’ve put it through a lot, and it hasn’t let me down. I’m actually looking to buy another one because they’re very well made.
If it’s been well cared for, it should be reliable. Since it’s quite old, you might need to do some basic maintenance like replacing ball joints and suspension parts. For that price, the car might not be perfect, but if it runs well, it could be a good choice.
I traded my CR-V for a 2007 Civic Type R, and while the Type R is great, I really miss my CR-V!
It’s such a fun car to drive and, if you’re good with tools, it’s easy to work on. My CR-V had a 2.0 K20A3 engine with 150 horsepower—nothing extreme, but it could be quite loud with an open air filter.
It had 230,000 km on it and never let me down. So, if you’re thinking about getting one, go for it—you won’t regret it!
This is my dream car. A CR-V with low mileage and a manual transmission is a rare find! This generation still looks great, unlike the new ones, which I really don’t like.
