<p>I am close to approving purchase of a new Honda CR-V for a male college student.</p>
<p>Think it’s a good deal? They’re pretty safe, practical, efficient, and apparently are good with insurance premiums. Sound right?</p>
<p>I was eyeing one for myself the other day. Haven’t read consumer reports on it recently but they do have a good rep, I think. Love Hondas.</p>
<p>Check out the Subaru Forrester as a comparison. 2009 Motor Trend Compact SUV of the Year.</p>
<p>We love our 2004 Honda CRV - 104K miles, very reliable. I expect we’ll eventually replace it with another one. One of our daughters drives a 2006 CRV and feels the same way about hers.</p>
<p>I have a 2006 CR-V and love it. Can’t imagine getting another vehicle. Just hit 70,000. This week I’m finding the only downside: not enough room to move my D to college ;)</p>
<p>A friend’s D (age 25) just relocated fr. east coast to west coast. She bought a new CR-V to make the cross-country drive. My friend reports that her D loves the car. Previous to that purchase she had been driving a '98 Accord for the last seven years that had been very reliable but had a ton of miles on it so she thought it time for an upgrade for the long trip and new life in CA…</p>
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<p>Wow…nice car for a college freshman! The CRV is terrific but I think it’s pricey. I would also suggest the Subaru Forester. A new base Forester is about $4000 less expensive than a new base CRV (I’m looking at both).</p>
<p>I know you arent’ asking for economic advice…but we know someone who got a one year old CRV via Carmax for a GREAT price…low mileage and fully equiped. </p>
<p>RE: the car…for a college freshman…if you have the money and you want to spend it, it IS a reliable and dependable car. Personally I think it’s a bit of “overkill” for a college freshman. Is there some reason he needs a SUV?</p>
<p>How about a HOnda Fit? Cheaper, better gas milage, and has flexible storage space…Nice little car, and I bet the cargo space is about the same.</p>
<p>*This week I’m finding the only downside: not enough room to move my D to college *
We had an plymouth voyager le ( extended version) when we moved D1 into college freshman year- & a Jeep Liberty when we moved her out.
Had to get a rack and a box for the top o’ the Jeep- just to go camping!</p>
<p>But still most of time, you don’t need that much room.</p>
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<p>Thank you for the laugh. The more room you have, the more “stuff” they take!! Mantra: Pack light.</p>
<p>Now back to the subject at hand. The CRV is a well rated, great car. It’s comfortable and nice. I just think it’s a bit of overkill for a college freshman, but if the family is comfortable with the costs and such…it IS a good car.</p>
<p>We are a three CRV family. Are big fans.</p>
<p>huge fan of my CR-V; liked it soooo much I wouldn’t give it to my daughter</p>
<p>RobD: Just purchased a waterproof soft roof bag that can go on top of the cr-v or other cars…</p>
<p>[RoofBag.com</a> - Car Top Carrier - Soft Car Top Carrier - Quality roof luggage cargo carriers by RoofBag](<a href=“http://www.roofbag.com%5DRoofBag.com”>http://www.roofbag.com)</p>
<p>Might consider a dodge Caliber. 5star crash test rating, small, economical, and Made in Illinois, USA.</p>
<p>We bought a CRV for our college graduate and she loves it. My dad just bought one too. Go for it.</p>
<p>You can’t go wrong with a CR-V. My college junior looked at it, but ended up choosing the Subaru Forrester.</p>
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<p>Only the OP can determine if the new CRV is a good deal. The car costs upward of $27,000 new…in my book, that is not a “good deal”. Efficient? Well…if you feel that 22 miles to a gallon on the highway is efficient…then it’s efficient. I think that is horrible gas mileage but it’s not bad for a SUV I guess.</p>
<p>The insurance premiums are going to be high regardless of what you buy. You are getting a dedicated vehicle which is being take TO college by a boy. They are expensive to insure.</p>
<p>But is it a great car…yes…the CRV is a terrific car.</p>
<p>“Might consider a dodge Caliber. 5star crash test rating, small, economical, and Made in Illinois, USA.”</p>
<p>I’m not one to care - but the CR-V is made in North Liberty, Ohio.</p>
<p>Actually - if anything, I’d go for the reverse. I get the impression that cars manufactured in Japan tend to hold up better for some reason than same spec models manufactured in US, China, Mexico, Canada, Thailand, or wherever. After all - the Toyota recalled vehicles only applied to those with a VIN number indicating they were put together in America, and not the ones from abroad.</p>
<p>And besides, isn’t Dodge one of the least reliable cars out there today?</p>
<p>“Only the OP can determine if the new CRV is a good deal. The car costs upward of $27,000 new…in my book, that is not a “good deal”. Efficient? Well…if you feel that 22 miles to a gallon on the highway is efficient…then it’s efficient. I think that is horrible gas mileage but it’s not bad for a SUV I guess.”</p>
<p>Woah where did you get those numbers? Cherry picking, much? The upper price ceiling for any car out there is as high as the sky depending on what trim and options you put in it. The one we are looking at costs less than $21,000, and gets 28 mpg on the highway and 21 in the city. The city rating is just about the same as any other midsize sedan (such as Accord, Camry, Fusion), and the highway rating only a few ticks away. I doubt the difference will amount to anything more than a few hundred bucks over the first few years of ownership.</p>
<p>I think the CR-V is an awesome car. </p>
<p>Just curious…did the male college student choose this car? Or is it a surprise purchase? I know 8 girls who drive one, but not a single boy.</p>
<p>The CRV we bought for our D was the lowest, cheapest model except that we got it with AWD since she goes up to the mountains frequently to snowboard. It has cloth seats and not many bells or whistles. Invoice price right now is $21,215.</p>
<p>My dad drives one DougBetsy and he picked it himself. Does he count as an old boy? He was thrilled to qualify for Cash for Clunkers last year.</p>