Rare, but not rarely good.
The mileage is not that special, because just over a quarter of a million is not very much, especially for a diesel. Yet this Honda CR-V still has a tough life, because almost half of these kilometers are covered with a trailer of 1,300 to 1,800 kg. It is logical that owner Geert-Jan is curious about the condition of his Japanese SUV.
What is wisdom? Does my Honda still have a future? Geert-Jan Dierdorp from Eindhoven has all kinds of questions and we will try to answer them today. But first a nice idea: Geert-Jan offers to let Klokje Rond judge Joep Schuurman listen to the cold start of the Honda diesel. “Cars always arrive at the inspection station thoroughly warm for this section. How about I come with the car ambulance, with a cold Honda on it?” We’ve never done that before, so bring it on!
It is not without reason that Geert-Jan has a car ambulance, because he sells it as an importer of – as he calls it – ‘car transport vehicles’. These are trailers or trucks that are comparable to the vehicle that Geert-Jan is coming up with today. The Carrec men take a break from work and come outside on this sunny day to listen to the cold start, but especially to admire that car ambulance. The unloading of the cargo is quite special to see. It’s completely automatic!
That cold start produces nothing special, because the Honda four-cylinder diesel sounds perfectly healthy. “The car ambulance is a beautiful device, but the cold start does not add nearly as much value as a thorough test drive,” says Joep. “So we’re going to do that first. In any case, the engine sounds good.”
Great tractor
As an importer of heavy trailers, Geert-Jan delivers his products to the dealers himself. He travels across the country for this. Hence all those trekking kilometers. Officially, the Honda is allowed to tow 1,800 kilos and the owner regularly visits that line. “I think this car pulls surprisingly well, even though it is only a 1600 with 120 hp. In addition, Honda is not a renowned diesel manufacturer at all.” Geert-Jan deliberately chose the smaller self-igniter, because the stronger alternative is linked to an automatic. He didn’t want that. If it has nothing behind the Honda, the SUV consumes approximately 1 in 17. “With a heavy trailer that becomes 1 in 12. I think that’s still good, because I don’t spare it. I just keep driving.”
The owner is very happy with his Honda, but does encounter some things that make him uneasy with a view to the future. Such as the dealer network, which seems to have little knowledge of this scarce Honda diesel. “I once had a problem near Frankfurt. The Honda switched to an emergency running program without power. They couldn’t help me at the local dealer because they had never seen a CR-V diesel before!” However, it could be worse: “My Honda dealer can no longer inspect it because he no longer wanted to invest in new equipment to test diesels. So I’ve come to the point where I have to make choices. Drive until I’m no longer allowed to enter the city? Then he is certainly worth nothing anymore. Invest in a PHEV, because they are allowed to tow trailers, or will plug-in hybrids soon also be heavily taxed? Or switch to a full EV and get a commercial vehicle to tow the trailers?”
Furthermore, the availability of parts for a Honda CR-V diesel is certainly not easy. That bothers him. “You are almost always stuck with original factory parts, which are quite expensive.” Joep has now returned from the test drive and looks back on it with mixed feelings. “I almost have a cramp in my left calf, that clutch is so heavy. And it doesn’t drive very well, because it pulls too much to the right.”
More misery
On the bridge, Joep disassembles the engine protection plate under the power source, because he notices oil leakage and wants to find out where it comes from. The oil leak then turns out to be quite serious. Geert-Jan: “The block was hosed down once to trace where the leak came from. Unfortunately it is now completely dirty again.” But something has to be done about it now. Just spray it clean again and then immediately locate the leak, is Joep’s advice.
Joep also finds shock absorbers that are worth the effort. Together with various other problems, such as the mediocre air conditioning condenser, there are quite a few expenses on the horizon. Owner Geert-Jan still sees the glass as half full. “I take care of those urgent things immediately, because I want a good, safe car. As for the longer-term choices, I will think about it carefully, because it is quite an investment, a new or a different car.”
Owner Honda CR-V
Name Geert-Jan Dierdorp
Construction year 1963
residence Eindhoven
Profession Importer of car transporters
First car Subaru Justy 1.0
Previous car Toyota Avensis 2.0
What would you like to change about your car? “The availability of parts.”
What is your longest trip with this car? “To Slovenia.”
Maintenance history
The car is from 2014, Geert-Jan got in in 2017. This CR-V was initially maintained by the Honda dealer, but because it no longer approved diesels, it moved away. Maintenance usually comes down to oil, oil filter, windshield wiper blades and a tire check.
- 114,000 km Service, rear brake pads, gearbox oil
- 133,000 km Service, oil, filter
- 171,000 km MOT and service
- 192,000 km Oil
- 199,000 km MOT
- 209,000 km Oil, wiper blades
- 219,000 km Oil
- 228,000 km Turn
- 239,000 km Maintenance plus gearbox oil
- 249,000 km MOT
- 252,000 km Turn
- February 2024 MOT plus rear brake pads
What’s wrong with it?
- Pedal rubbers of the clutch and brake are worn through
- Clutch is very heavy to operate
- Wiper blades all around are bad
- Car pulls to the right
- Gearbox whines and rattles a bit, but this could be a product feature
- Rear shock absorbers are noticeably weaker than the front ones
- The air conditioning condenser is going bad
- The engine is leaking a lot of oil
- The rear brake discs are worn below normal
- The left rear light is full of water
The opinion of Carrec Technocenter
“Not an inch, because there are quite a few things to come and repairs are not cheap. The brakes and clutch need serious work, but the engine leakage is also a concern. That certainly needs to be addressed quickly. Then there are those shock absorbers. Quite an expensive repair list.”