Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Honda CRZ

iGav said:
I'm not so sure it's just this car that's lacking in focus to be honest and not more the whole company generally lacking direction. It's a shame really.

To be fair to Honda though, it's not just them.
Click to expand...

Look no farther then Toyota for a company that has lost direction. Corolla's redesign wasn't a redesign. It still looks like the aging vehicle it replaced. Scion is lost besides the tc. Lexus is moving away from what made consumers flock to the brand( lf-a, etc). And I don't think I need to mention Toyota hiding defects and having ex-NHTSA employees try to stop investigations, etc.

But, if we are talking about the most lost brand that title comes down to Lincoln or Cadillac with leaning towards Lincoln. Though BMW might be replacing them by coming out with the X5/6M and now FWD vehicles.
 
steviem said:
How does tuning the car stop it from being hybrid? If the batteries and electric motor is still there, it's still a hybrid.
Click to expand...

Batteries and an electric motor = power? hmmm I think not. Maybe in another 10 years when you can't buy a gas powered car... but right now, there is no way the everyday tuner can make that fast, and still a hybrid. Yes I'm sure someone has build a sick, fast electric car, but the available parts, just aren't there right now. Do an e-bay search for "electric turbocharger" and tell me if you think that will do anything but make your alternator work harder.

Like I said, in 10-20 years, sure you can make a Hybrid fast while keeping it a hybrid.
 
CW Jones said:
Batteries and an electric motor = power? hmmm I think not. Maybe in another 10 years when you can't buy a gas powered car... but right now, there is no way the everyday tuner can make that fast, and still a hybrid. Yes I'm sure someone has build a sick, fast electric car, but the available parts, just aren't there right now. Do an e-bay search for "electric turbocharger" and tell me if you think that will do anything but make your alternator work harder.

Like I said, in 10-20 years, sure you can make a Hybrid fast while keeping it a hybrid.
Click to expand...

Correct me if I am wrong. It has a gas engine plus electric motor. The gas engine is what people talk about possible tuning.
 
Johns12 said:
Correct me if I am wrong. It has a gas engine plus electric motor. The gas engine is what people talk about possible tuning.
Click to expand...

True, but isn't the gas engine super small? I was under the impression that the gas engine was only for things like getting up to highway speed. Also, I am sure there are some "odd" ways the electric and gas engine work together. I can understand a gas engine, and probably an electric engine... but I would be very unsure of how they worked together. I would love to see someone with a budget make one of these fast, I just can't see it happening anytime soon.
 
CW Jones said:
True, but isn't the gas engine super small? I was under the impression that the gas engine was only for things like getting up to highway speed. Also, I am sure there are some "odd" ways the electric and gas engine work together. I can understand a gas engine, and probably an electric engine... but I would be very unsure of how they worked together. I would love to see someone with a budget make one of these fast, I just can't see it happening anytime soon.
Click to expand...

Parallel hybrids like the Prius are powered by pure electricity through the electric motor up to around 25 mph where the gas engine starts up and takes over. The electric motors will help out still if battery charge will allow it, but it is mostly the gas engine.

Now series hybrids like the upcoming Chevy Volt( the only series hybrid so far) are constantly driven by the electric motor. The gas engine will turn on when the battery drops to 30%( the volts battery only charges to 80%) and will run at optimal RPM for best efficiency and power a generator to maintain the 30% charge and power the electric motors.
 
quagmire said:
Parallel hybrids like the Prius are powered by pure electricity through the electric motor up to around 25 mph where the gas engine starts up and takes over. The electric motors will help out still if battery charge will allow it, but it is mostly the gas engine.

Now series hybrids like the upcoming Chevy Volt( the only series hybrid so far) are constantly driven by the electric motor. The gas engine will turn on when the battery drops to 30%( the volts battery only charges to 80%) and will run at optimal RPM for best efficiency and power a generator to maintain the 30% charge and power the electric motors.
Click to expand...

Parallel hybrids aren't able to run on purely electric. Honda's IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) basically boosts the gas engine but can't power the vehicle by itself. The Prius uses a series-parallel or power-split hybrid design. It can completely turn off the gas engine and run on the electric motor alone. This is also called the "two mode hybrid". The Volt is a series hybrid. Some people also call cars like that a extended range electric vehicle.
 
Decrepit said:
May I ask two questions?

How tall are you?

How is the rear visibility?

I love the style and concept of this car. I drive an Escape Hybrid, and I love it. But I would like something to use for a daily driver, so I can save the Escape for the weather.

I am trying as hard as I can not to go to the dealership, because I might do something rash.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I am 5'9

Window visibility is fine, just takes a bit to get use to. The rear windows are a joke. I don't even bother looking there. The back window along with my side mirrors give me enough view to cover the blind spots.

If you don't wanna do anything rash, I suggest you not test drive. Because it really is a fun ride, but at the same times has enough in it to feel quite luxurious for a Honda. Much more so than my Mazdaspeed 3 and just as smooth as my parents BMW 3 series which is what surprised me most.

I never thought I'd own a Honda because I grew up in a civic and accord and was over it.
 
iGav said:
I'm not so sure it's just this car that's lacking in focus to be honest and not more the whole company generally lacking direction. It's a shame really.

To be fair to Honda though, it's not just them.
Click to expand...

quagmire said:
But, if we are talking about the most lost brand that title comes down to Lincoln or Cadillac with leaning towards Lincoln. Though BMW might be replacing them by coming out with the X5/6M and now FWD vehicles.
Click to expand...

Add in Acura - back in the days of the Integra and NSX they had a recognizable image, but now look at their lineup: a couple facelifted Accords and a smattering of horrific-looking crossovers.

Can we boil it down to a broader pattern of behavior? Certain cars, like the Porsche Cayenne & Panamera, the Aston Martin Cygnet, the BMW X series for example, seem to be attempts to take a special brand and dilute it. A focused sports sedan design becomes a crossover, a pure sports car becomes a sedan or crossover, or even a city car!

For the record, I hate crossovers, and while I love sports sedans, I can't stomach cars like the Panamera. It's just not right.

Lotus still makes a focused car in the Elise and Exige - Honda would have done better to model their CR-Z on a similar philosophy.
 
I think perhaps you guys should try a test drive. Really.

The only thing I think honda messed up on was marketing this as a sports car. Now people think it should look and act like one. It's not. It's a hybrid car with a little bit of zing.

Not the best hybrid for gas mileage, but it's certainly the most fun to drive.
 
MigsVuitton said:
I think perhaps you guys should try a test drive. Really.

The only thing I think honda messed up on was marketing this as a sports car. Now people think it should look and act like one. It's not. It's a hybrid car with a little bit of zing.

Not the best hybrid for gas mileage, but it's certainly the most fun to drive.
Click to expand...

I'm sure it's a good car. But I think the problem many of us have with the CR-Z is that it could have been so much better had they been more careful with their goals. As a rebooted 1st-gen Insight it could have made one of the most frugal hybrids on the road, and one of the cheapest. Or, as a succesor to the CRX it could have been a very focused, corner-carving lightweight sporty hatch. In the end, it is neither of those things. It's merely a decent little hybrid with some sporting pretensions. Not necessarily a bad car - but it could have been a great one.
 
Lord Blackadder said:
I'm sure it's a good car. But I think the problem many of us have with the CR-Z is that it could have been so much better had they been more careful with their goals. As a rebooted 1st-gen Insight it could have made one of the most frugal hybrids on the road, and one of the cheapest. Or, as a succesor to the CRX it could have been a very focused, corner-carving lightweight sporty hatch. In the end, it is neither of those things. It's merely a decent little hybrid with some sporting pretensions. Not necessarily a bad car - but it could have been a great one.
Click to expand...

Understood and agreed for the most part. I still think you should test drive it for kicks. Not so much to prove a point because you may still feel it lacks and besides, like someone mentioned, internet calls for millions of opinions, but buddies of mine are genuinely surprised in sport mode. It carves corners rather well.

I may also be reading too much on the CR-Z forums, but seems to be driving well for most car enthusiasts. I am not an enthusiast so I cannot comment technically about it.

I think it's one of those things "you just have to try"
 
So people are talking about the battery losing charge when going uphill and lose all the torque. sucks to be stuck with a 1.5l with *eco* vtec.
 
I got to sit in one today. Interior is smallish but not bad. Exterior is ok except for the huge ass. But $25K for a loaded one? That's just madness. I would buy an Accord over it any day. Or better yet a Civic Si and keep the change. Or better still a nice used WRX.
 
MigsVuitton said:
And what do you drive?
Click to expand...

I'm curious about this too. Looks are a subjective thing, but I'm a Honda guy (which includes Acura), and for the dollar, I'll put the quality of the interior up against anything else on the market.
 
Synchromesh said:
I would buy an Accord over it any day.
Click to expand...

A big, fat, wobbly FWD V6 sedan? No thanks.

dmr727 said:
I'm curious about this too. Looks are a subjective thing, but I'm a Honda guy (which includes Acura), and for the dollar, I'll put the quality of the interior up against anything else on the market.
Click to expand...

Personally I'd take a VW interior over Honda, though I agree that Honda interiors are generally very good, especially the mid- and high-level trim. I will say that the base model Civic interior, while durable and solid, looks and feels pretty cheap.
 
Synchromesh said:
I got to sit in one today. Interior is smallish but not bad. Exterior is ok except for the huge ass. But $25K for a loaded one? That's just madness. I would buy an Accord over it any day. Or better yet a Civic Si and keep the change. Or better still a nice used WRX.
Click to expand...

An Accord with the same features that a 23K (it's not 25k) CR-Z will set you back more than you think.

CR-Z EX standard comes with:

bluetooth hands free
Steering wheel phone controls
navigation w/ voice recognition and touch screen interface
7 speaker system (360-watt) with 8" subwoofer
auto headlights
day lights
climate control
USB connection
HIDs
fog lights
alloy wheels
heated side window with integrate turn signal
LED brake lights
sport bucket seats
leather trim steering
One touch power windows
Oil/tire pressure/tire rotation/eco/etc/etc status via MID

All these things I thought were kinda random in prior car purchases, but now that I have them actually appreciate it.

Accord can have all these settings but you're looking at the 29K model.
 
MigsVuitton said:
Accord can have all these settings but you're looking at the 29K model.
Click to expand...

Not to mention that the CR-Z is much lighter and surely a lot more fun to drive. The Accord has over 270 horsepower but it's the size of a containership and about as maneuverable.

Also, I would trade everything on that feature list for a mechanical limited-slip diff.
 
Synchromesh said:
I got to sit in one today. Interior is smallish but not bad. Exterior is ok except for the huge ass. But $25K for a loaded one? That's just madness. I would buy an Accord over it any day. Or better yet a Civic Si and keep the change. Or better still a nice used WRX.
Click to expand...

Or a Ford Fiesta with the same options (heated leather seats, Sync, etc) and a free back seat but the Fiesta will still be cheaper. And deliver about the same gas mileage. (29/40 for the Fiesta vs. 36/39 for the CRZ)

I don't know what Honda's sales goals for this car are, but I hope they didn't set them very high. Non convertible two seaters generally don't sell very well.
 
Lord Blackadder said:
Not to mention that the CR-Z is much lighter and surely a lot more fun to drive. The Accord has over 270 horsepower but it's the size of a containership and about as maneuverable.

Also, I would trade everything on that feature list for a mechanical limited-slip diff.
Click to expand...

Enjoy your torque steer then...

The Toyota fx-86 (I think) looks much more compelling. Light, small coupe with rear wheel drive and an LSD... Basically recreating the ae-86. Drifty fun times :)
 
CW Jones said:
True, but isn't the gas engine super small? I was under the impression that the gas engine was only for things like getting up to highway speed. Also, I am sure there are some "odd" ways the electric and gas engine work together. I can understand a gas engine, and probably an electric engine... but I would be very unsure of how they worked together. I would love to see someone with a budget make one of these fast, I just can't see it happening anytime soon.
Click to expand...

Look at 1980s formula one cars. 1500cc engines with turbochargers.

I'm sorry, but just because a car has an electric motor and some batteries doesn't disqualify it from being tuneable. I'm sure that with some porting and polishing, cams, exhaust system and ecu tuning, you could get some nice performance gains. If there's room under the bonnet for a REAL turbocharger, then you'll get some higher power gains.

Look to European and japanese engine development and you'll see 'super small' engines that are efficient and powerful without necessarily even needing forced induction.

Then look at those highly strung Italian V10s, amazing german V8s, the old VR6, an great little V6 engine that is able to be simple yet have four valves per cylinder due to all cylinders being under one head.

Look at the diesel engines in the SEAT wtcc car, Peugeot and Audi le mans cars.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back