Car Talk 6: Best of times and Worst of Times

[CaleDeRoo]

Every non car enthusiast thinks this is the way cars work.

Lisa used to have a Tiguan. She never took it over 3k rpm. I coaxed her to floor it once. It shifted at redline. She said it was scary and never did it again lol.

My friend had a RSX-S manual and never hit VTEC

[Huckleberry]

Every time I hit 7+ in the tsx the baesian starts about how I’m “hurting” the car

Every non car enthusiast thinks this is the way cars work.

"It's not meant to rev that high!"

That's literally why it is called the redline.

[wap]

hate loud noises. High revs make loud noises.

[D Griff]

Lisa used to have a Tiguan. She never took it over 3k rpm. I coaxed her to floor it once. It shifted at redline. She said it was scary and never did it again lol.

My friend had a RSX-S manual and never hit VTEC

That is downright depressing.

[Johnny_P]

Lisa used to have a Tiguan. She never took it over 3k rpm. I coaxed her to floor it once. It shifted at redline. She said it was scary and never did it again lol.

My friend had a RSX-S manual and never hit VTEC

Oh wow. They’re massively slow cars outside of vtec.

[max225]

I’m raw dogging a Tessie without ppf, I’ll only do it if I’m keeping it … yet.

[coogles]

I’m raw dogging a Tessie without ppf, I’ll only do it if I’m keeping it … yet.

[CaleDeRoo]

I’m raw dogging a Tessie without ppf, I’ll only do it if I’m keeping it … yet.

Here's a less permanent matte ppf option that you can install at home.

[CaleDeRoo]

My friend had a RSX-S manual and never hit VTEC

Oh wow. They’re massively slow cars outside of vtec.

I absolutely hit VTEC in that car and it felt like a 50 shot of nas. It was so much fun.

[Desertbreh]

I’m raw dogging a Tessie without ppf, I’ll only do it if I’m keeping it … yet.

I have never ppf'd and you would think I would but I don't really live in the rock zones. My 40K mile 5.5 yoa BMW has zero front chips.

[D Griff]

So, I rented an HR-V.

I planned a bike ride around Zion for this past Saturday - I rented a gravel bike in north Las Vegas and I needed to pick it up at the shop by 6 PM, then drive up to St. George, UT for the night. As I also had to report to our booth at the trade show I was working all day, I figured I'd grab the rental car the morning before and be ready to at 5 PM, keys in hand.

I awoke that morning quite hungover from wining/dining a customer and going out with my coworkers, and had to pack, grab a Lyft to the airport, get the rental car, drive back to the convention center, be ready to talk to customers by 9 AM. When I got to National, I opted for a Mini Cuntryman - I figured it would be rather fuel efficient, somewhat fun, and could hold the bike. Well, I go to leave and all of the electronics were fucked. The shifter on those things is horrendously complicated for no reason and that was kicking my ass, but to top it off, the windows wouldn't go up/down, the locks weren't working, all of the electronics were FUBAR. The agent tells me to go back and get something else. By this point, I'm running late and just grabbed the closest thing that looked like it would hold a bike and sip gas. Enter the HRV.

This car was TERRIBLE.

The bad:
- Slow as balls - any sort of hill whatsoever and the CVT would roar up to 6K RPMs but still no acceleration would happen
- CVT sucked
- Pretty much 100% highway fuel economy averaging 70ish over 400 miles was 27... pretty bad IMO, for a compact car with shit power
- Interior is super cheap, everything is crap plastic, ergonomics were horrible, steering wheel was gross
- Camera resolution is awful (I've always thought y'all were weird to bitch about this but my god, just embarrassing)
- The lane change cameras come on every time you activate your blinker and you lose your map/CarPlay. The switching time is also very long so after you turn off the blinker, the screen just goes black for multiple seconds when trying to follow maps
- USB connections are hard to find, nowhere to put the phone once connected, and they don't charge the phone, it went up 10% over three hours
-It lacked the most basic info on the gauges - miles to E, cruise control speed, etc. One third of the cluster is just blank 98% of the time unless the car is flashing a big warning at you like BRAKE or HOLD STEERING WHEEL
- Lane keep assist was worst in the business I've experienced. Ping pongs and the wheel just jerks around in your hands constantly

The good:
- Ummm.... it was blue?

[ChrisoftheNorth]

I’m raw dogging a Tessie without ppf, I’ll only do it if I’m keeping it … yet.

I have never ppf'd and you would think I would but I don't really live in the rock zones. My 40K mile 5.5 yoa BMW has zero front chips.

Use (mileage and road conditions) is an important thing to consider here. I've never PPF'd either, but I've never had a car worthy of it.

[Desertbreh]

I have never ppf'd and you would think I would but I don't really live in the rock zones. My 40K mile 5.5 yoa BMW has zero front chips.

Use (mileage and road conditions) is an important thing to consider here. I've never PPF'd either, but I've never had a car worthy of it.

Lots of dudes would PPF that Toyota that's a hot truck.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Use (mileage and road conditions) is an important thing to consider here. I've never PPF'd either, but I've never had a car worthy of it.

Lots of dudes would PPF that Toyota that's a hot truck.

I know they would. I don't get it. I really like the truck, but it's a truck. The days of waxing with diapers are over for me, and the thing was basically totaled when it was delivered in Northern Michigan, so it's not like I can preserve resale at all.

[D Griff]

Lots of dudes would PPF that Toyota that's a hot truck.

I know they would. I don't get it. I really like the truck, but it's a truck. The days of waxing with diapers are over for me, and the thing was basically totaled when it was delivered in Northern Michigan, so it's not like I can preserve resale at all.

I am in this camp as well. I like to keep my cars clean (especially the interior) but I'm not going to cry over scratches/chips here and there. It's a tool for a job. I am cool with a thing that looks great from 10 feet and I am not scared to take on trips, occasional track days, you name it.

[CaleDeRoo]

My corvette's fresh painted bumper is peppered to hell already.

Meanwhile I'm slowly restoring the Audi.

[Johnny_P]

So, I rented an HR-V.

I planned a bike ride around Zion for this past Saturday - I rented a gravel bike in north Las Vegas and I needed to pick it up at the shop by 6 PM, then drive up to St. George, UT for the night. As I also had to report to our booth at the trade show I was working all day, I figured I'd grab the rental car the morning before and be ready to at 5 PM, keys in hand.

I awoke that morning quite hungover from wining/dining a customer and going out with my coworkers, and had to pack, grab a Lyft to the airport, get the rental car, drive back to the convention center, be ready to talk to customers by 9 AM. When I got to National, I opted for a Mini Cuntryman - I figured it would be rather fuel efficient, somewhat fun, and could hold the bike. Well, I go to leave and all of the electronics were fucked. The shifter on those things is horrendously complicated for no reason and that was kicking my ass, but to top it off, the windows wouldn't go up/down, the locks weren't working, all of the electronics were FUBAR. The agent tells me to go back and get something else. By this point, I'm running late and just grabbed the closest thing that looked like it would hold a bike and sip gas. Enter the HRV.

This car was TERRIBLE.

The bad:
- Slow as balls - any sort of hill whatsoever and the CVT would roar up to 6K RPMs but still no acceleration would happen
- CVT sucked
- Pretty much 100% highway fuel economy averaging 70ish over 400 miles was 27... pretty bad IMO, for a compact car with shit power
- Interior is super cheap, everything is crap plastic, ergonomics were horrible, steering wheel was gross
- Camera resolution is awful (I've always thought y'all were weird to bitch about this but my god, just embarrassing)
- The lane change cameras come on every time you activate your blinker and you lose your map/CarPlay. The switching time is also very long so after you turn off the blinker, the screen just goes black for multiple seconds when trying to follow maps
- USB connections are hard to find, nowhere to put the phone once connected, and they don't charge the phone, it went up 10% over three hours
-It lacked the most basic info on the gauges - miles to E, cruise control speed, etc. One third of the cluster is just blank 98% of the time unless the car is flashing a big warning at you like BRAKE or HOLD STEERING WHEEL
- Lane keep assist was worst in the business I've experienced. Ping pongs and the wheel just jerks around in your hands constantly

The good:
- Ummm.... it was blue?

Yeah I think these share a chassis with the Honda Shit. So twist beam rear end and a very slow motor.

Honda's electronics and driver aids are probably the worst in the business at this point. Honda's lane keeping system... ugh. The CRV jerks the wheel and jackhammers it if it thinks you're going off the road. Its a totally useless feature that we turned off last year and haven't turned back on. The lane change camera was idiotic and I think it can be turned off, but good luck navigating Honda's infotainment menus to actually do that.

Agreed on the steering wheel. I have the same one. It feels ok to touch but the buttons and overall look are horrible.

Interesting comment on the ergonomics. Honda usually gets ergonomics and packaging correct, and most of their cars are fuel efficient. Maybe the SUV/truck division is staffed by their lesser engineers.

Yeah there's literally no reason to buy this thing over a Hyundai Kona. And even the CRV, although it rides/drives well, is a mess of ugliness and poor electronics (i.e. usability) compared to almost anything else on the market.

[Desertbreh]

So, I rented an HR-V.

I planned a bike ride around Zion for this past Saturday - I rented a gravel bike in north Las Vegas and I needed to pick it up at the shop by 6 PM, then drive up to St. George, UT for the night. As I also had to report to our booth at the trade show I was working all day, I figured I'd grab the rental car the morning before and be ready to at 5 PM, keys in hand.

I awoke that morning quite hungover from wining/dining a customer and going out with my coworkers, and had to pack, grab a Lyft to the airport, get the rental car, drive back to the convention center, be ready to talk to customers by 9 AM. When I got to National, I opted for a Mini Cuntryman - I figured it would be rather fuel efficient, somewhat fun, and could hold the bike. Well, I go to leave and all of the electronics were fucked. The shifter on those things is horrendously complicated for no reason and that was kicking my ass, but to top it off, the windows wouldn't go up/down, the locks weren't working, all of the electronics were FUBAR. The agent tells me to go back and get something else. By this point, I'm running late and just grabbed the closest thing that looked like it would hold a bike and sip gas. Enter the HRV.

This car was TERRIBLE.

The bad:
- Slow as balls - any sort of hill whatsoever and the CVT would roar up to 6K RPMs but still no acceleration would happen
- CVT sucked
- Pretty much 100% highway fuel economy averaging 70ish over 400 miles was 27... pretty bad IMO, for a compact car with shit power
- Interior is super cheap, everything is crap plastic, ergonomics were horrible, steering wheel was gross
- Camera resolution is awful (I've always thought y'all were weird to bitch about this but my god, just embarrassing)
- The lane change cameras come on every time you activate your blinker and you lose your map/CarPlay. The switching time is also very long so after you turn off the blinker, the screen just goes black for multiple seconds when trying to follow maps
- USB connections are hard to find, nowhere to put the phone once connected, and they don't charge the phone, it went up 10% over three hours
-It lacked the most basic info on the gauges - miles to E, cruise control speed, etc. One third of the cluster is just blank 98% of the time unless the car is flashing a big warning at you like BRAKE or HOLD STEERING WHEEL
- Lane keep assist was worst in the business I've experienced. Ping pongs and the wheel just jerks around in your hands constantly

The good:
- Ummm.... it was blue?

Wow.

[D Griff]

So, I rented an HR-V.

I planned a bike ride around Zion for this past Saturday - I rented a gravel bike in north Las Vegas and I needed to pick it up at the shop by 6 PM, then drive up to St. George, UT for the night. As I also had to report to our booth at the trade show I was working all day, I figured I'd grab the rental car the morning before and be ready to at 5 PM, keys in hand.

I awoke that morning quite hungover from wining/dining a customer and going out with my coworkers, and had to pack, grab a Lyft to the airport, get the rental car, drive back to the convention center, be ready to talk to customers by 9 AM. When I got to National, I opted for a Mini Cuntryman - I figured it would be rather fuel efficient, somewhat fun, and could hold the bike. Well, I go to leave and all of the electronics were fucked. The shifter on those things is horrendously complicated for no reason and that was kicking my ass, but to top it off, the windows wouldn't go up/down, the locks weren't working, all of the electronics were FUBAR. The agent tells me to go back and get something else. By this point, I'm running late and just grabbed the closest thing that looked like it would hold a bike and sip gas. Enter the HRV.

This car was TERRIBLE.

The bad:
- Slow as balls - any sort of hill whatsoever and the CVT would roar up to 6K RPMs but still no acceleration would happen
- CVT sucked
- Pretty much 100% highway fuel economy averaging 70ish over 400 miles was 27... pretty bad IMO, for a compact car with shit power
- Interior is super cheap, everything is crap plastic, ergonomics were horrible, steering wheel was gross
- Camera resolution is awful (I've always thought y'all were weird to bitch about this but my god, just embarrassing)
- The lane change cameras come on every time you activate your blinker and you lose your map/CarPlay. The switching time is also very long so after you turn off the blinker, the screen just goes black for multiple seconds when trying to follow maps
- USB connections are hard to find, nowhere to put the phone once connected, and they don't charge the phone, it went up 10% over three hours
-It lacked the most basic info on the gauges - miles to E, cruise control speed, etc. One third of the cluster is just blank 98% of the time unless the car is flashing a big warning at you like BRAKE or HOLD STEERING WHEEL
- Lane keep assist was worst in the business I've experienced. Ping pongs and the wheel just jerks around in your hands constantly

The good:
- Ummm.... it was blue?

Yeah I think these share a chassis with the Honda Shit. So twist beam rear end and a very slow motor.

Honda's electronics and driver aids are probably the worst in the business at this point. Honda's lane keeping system... ugh. The CRV jerks the wheel and jackhammers it if it thinks you're going off the road. Its a totally useless feature that we turned off last year and haven't turned back on. The lane change camera was idiotic and I think it can be turned off, but good luck navigating Honda's infotainment menus to actually do that.

Agreed on the steering wheel. I have the same one. It feels ok to touch but the buttons and overall look are horrible.

Interesting comment on the ergonomics. Honda usually gets ergonomics and packaging correct, and most of their cars are fuel efficient. Maybe the SUV/truck division is staffed by their lesser engineers.

Yeah there's literally no reason to buy this thing over a Hyundai Kona. And even the CRV, although it rides/drives well, is a mess of ugliness and poor electronics (i.e. usability) compared to almost anything else on the market.

Maybe I'm just an outlier as I am with the seating position in a small hatchback. I just couldn't get comfy in the thing.

The one saving grace I guess was the packaging. It was really easy to fold the seats down and throw a large gravel bike in the back without taking wheels off or anything. Lots of room in the car for the size, but then the lackluster fuel economy makes that a bit less

[Desertbreh]

Yeah I think these share a chassis with the Honda Shit. So twist beam rear end and a very slow motor.

Honda's electronics and driver aids are probably the worst in the business at this point. Honda's lane keeping system... ugh. The CRV jerks the wheel and jackhammers it if it thinks you're going off the road. Its a totally useless feature that we turned off last year and haven't turned back on. The lane change camera was idiotic and I think it can be turned off, but good luck navigating Honda's infotainment menus to actually do that.

Agreed on the steering wheel. I have the same one. It feels ok to touch but the buttons and overall look are horrible.

Interesting comment on the ergonomics. Honda usually gets ergonomics and packaging correct, and most of their cars are fuel efficient. Maybe the SUV/truck division is staffed by their lesser engineers.

Yeah there's literally no reason to buy this thing over a Hyundai Kona. And even the CRV, although it rides/drives well, is a mess of ugliness and poor electronics (i.e. usability) compared to almost anything else on the market.

Maybe I'm just an outlier as I am with the seating position in a small hatchback. I just couldn't get comfy in the thing.

The one saving grace I guess was the packaging. It was really easy to fold the seats down and throw a large gravel bike in the back without taking wheels off or anything. Lots of room in the car for the size, but then the lackluster fuel economy makes that a bit less

4 cylinder cars that have CVT's but the mileage starts with a 2? That is straight up seppuku territory.

[max225]

So, I rented an HR-V.

I planned a bike ride around Zion for this past Saturday - I rented a gravel bike in north Las Vegas and I needed to pick it up at the shop by 6 PM, then drive up to St. George, UT for the night. As I also had to report to our booth at the trade show I was working all day, I figured I'd grab the rental car the morning before and be ready to at 5 PM, keys in hand.

I awoke that morning quite hungover from wining/dining a customer and going out with my coworkers, and had to pack, grab a Lyft to the airport, get the rental car, drive back to the convention center, be ready to talk to customers by 9 AM. When I got to National, I opted for a Mini Cuntryman - I figured it would be rather fuel efficient, somewhat fun, and could hold the bike. Well, I go to leave and all of the electronics were fucked. The shifter on those things is horrendously complicated for no reason and that was kicking my ass, but to top it off, the windows wouldn't go up/down, the locks weren't working, all of the electronics were FUBAR. The agent tells me to go back and get something else. By this point, I'm running late and just grabbed the closest thing that looked like it would hold a bike and sip gas. Enter the HRV.

This car was TERRIBLE.

The bad:
- Slow as balls - any sort of hill whatsoever and the CVT would roar up to 6K RPMs but still no acceleration would happen
- CVT sucked
- Pretty much 100% highway fuel economy averaging 70ish over 400 miles was 27... pretty bad IMO, for a compact car with shit power
- Interior is super cheap, everything is crap plastic, ergonomics were horrible, steering wheel was gross
- Camera resolution is awful (I've always thought y'all were weird to bitch about this but my god, just embarrassing)
- The lane change cameras come on every time you activate your blinker and you lose your map/CarPlay. The switching time is also very long so after you turn off the blinker, the screen just goes black for multiple seconds when trying to follow maps
- USB connections are hard to find, nowhere to put the phone once connected, and they don't charge the phone, it went up 10% over three hours
-It lacked the most basic info on the gauges - miles to E, cruise control speed, etc. One third of the cluster is just blank 98% of the time unless the car is flashing a big warning at you like BRAKE or HOLD STEERING WHEEL
- Lane keep assist was worst in the business I've experienced. Ping pongs and the wheel just jerks around in your hands constantly

The good:
- Ummm.... it was blue?

I mean that's essentially... expected. Cheap car... that was made into a cheap hatchback ... cost cut everything to make it start with a "2" in the MSRP and in order to hit a sub $400 lease for the poors. You give up a lot.

Cost+ reliability are first, rest is second.

[D Griff]

So, I rented an HR-V.

I planned a bike ride around Zion for this past Saturday - I rented a gravel bike in north Las Vegas and I needed to pick it up at the shop by 6 PM, then drive up to St. George, UT for the night. As I also had to report to our booth at the trade show I was working all day, I figured I'd grab the rental car the morning before and be ready to at 5 PM, keys in hand.

I awoke that morning quite hungover from wining/dining a customer and going out with my coworkers, and had to pack, grab a Lyft to the airport, get the rental car, drive back to the convention center, be ready to talk to customers by 9 AM. When I got to National, I opted for a Mini Cuntryman - I figured it would be rather fuel efficient, somewhat fun, and could hold the bike. Well, I go to leave and all of the electronics were fucked. The shifter on those things is horrendously complicated for no reason and that was kicking my ass, but to top it off, the windows wouldn't go up/down, the locks weren't working, all of the electronics were FUBAR. The agent tells me to go back and get something else. By this point, I'm running late and just grabbed the closest thing that looked like it would hold a bike and sip gas. Enter the HRV.

This car was TERRIBLE.

The bad:
- Slow as balls - any sort of hill whatsoever and the CVT would roar up to 6K RPMs but still no acceleration would happen
- CVT sucked
- Pretty much 100% highway fuel economy averaging 70ish over 400 miles was 27... pretty bad IMO, for a compact car with shit power
- Interior is super cheap, everything is crap plastic, ergonomics were horrible, steering wheel was gross
- Camera resolution is awful (I've always thought y'all were weird to bitch about this but my god, just embarrassing)
- The lane change cameras come on every time you activate your blinker and you lose your map/CarPlay. The switching time is also very long so after you turn off the blinker, the screen just goes black for multiple seconds when trying to follow maps
- USB connections are hard to find, nowhere to put the phone once connected, and they don't charge the phone, it went up 10% over three hours
-It lacked the most basic info on the gauges - miles to E, cruise control speed, etc. One third of the cluster is just blank 98% of the time unless the car is flashing a big warning at you like BRAKE or HOLD STEERING WHEEL
- Lane keep assist was worst in the business I've experienced. Ping pongs and the wheel just jerks around in your hands constantly

The good:
- Ummm.... it was blue?

I mean that's essentially... expected. Cheap car... that was made into a cheap hatchback ... cost cut everything to make it start with a "2" in the MSRP and in order to hit a sub $400 lease for the poors. You give up a lot.

Cost+ reliability are first, rest is second.

True, but I have rented Elantras, Corollas, etc. and they somehow are significantly less

[max225]

I mean that's essentially... expected. Cheap car... that was made into a cheap hatchback ... cost cut everything to make it start with a "2" in the MSRP and in order to hit a sub $400 lease for the poors. You give up a lot.

Cost+ reliability are first, rest is second.

True, but I have rented Elantras, Corollas, etc. and they somehow are significantly less

Correct but Elantra+Corolla have been going Upmarket and HRV going downmarket. So we up marketed the small sedans and we down marketed the larger SUVs which were traditionally more expensive etc.

It has been a bit of a bizarre trend.

[D Griff]

True, but I have rented Elantras, Corollas, etc. and they somehow are significantly less

Correct but Elantra+Corolla have been going Upmarket and HRV going downmarket. So we up marketed the small sedans and we down marketed the larger SUVs which were traditionally more expensive etc.

It has been a bit of a bizarre trend.

Hell, even my buddy's 2008 Honda Shit is a far better vehicle than this HRV - same room inside but much more efficient, better ergonomics, and drives a lot better.

[max225]

Correct but Elantra+Corolla have been going Upmarket and HRV going downmarket. So we up marketed the small sedans and we down marketed the larger SUVs which were traditionally more expensive etc.

It has been a bit of a bizarre trend.

Hell, even my buddy's 2008 Honda Shit is a far better vehicle than this HRV - same room inside but much more efficient, better ergonomics, and drives a lot better.

Yea I feel like what Honda did circa 2015... is really double down on SIZE and go much bigger in the cars/cuvs and try and keep costs down by cheaping them down... and now they moved a lot of the sedans Upmarket... like a Civic is bigger than an Accord of the past. Essentially they tried a hybrid Nissan/Mazda approach. Nissan being another example of sizing up cars and cheaping them down and making them garbage....

Hyundai as a brand is still overall moving like Mazda trying to go more and more upmarket and I think it's picked up by the general public. I feel like Honda has moved downmarket in a lot of ways. Toyota kind of is doing this in pockets also... Rav 4 feels "cheapened" to me.