PSA: CRZ Drivers, it's just not as quick as you want it to be

[ShawnD1]

I've seen a bunch of them around here. I have yet to see anyone flogging one like you say.

What does that even mean? Redlining the engine all the time is what small cars do. Does it count as flogging when someone drives like a normal person and it sounds really dramatic?

I like them in white. I saw a red one today and it didn't look too great IMO. I've never been in one but I do agree they seem a little pricey all things considered.

Being a terrible idea is how you know it's a fun car to drive. It goes in the same category as the Miata and the S2000 (you want $40,000 for this fucking car??)

I find my wife's WRX hatchback (the "wagon") to be very small

Yep, the impreza is small alright. My friend has a non-wrx impreza and that thing definitely sucks in the back seats. Because of the AWD, the engine is in lined up different, and the drive shaft puts a big hump in the floor.

 

[RichUK]

Lol, my dad has a white '11 CRZ.

 

[exdeath]

What does that even mean? Redlining the engine all the time is what small cars do. Does it count as flogging when someone drives like a normal person and it sounds really dramatic?

It means you're flooring it all the time, in any gear, just to keep up with those around you, because your car is slow.

eg: how I have to drive my Camry just to keep up when traffic takes off from a stop, merges onto the highway, etc. The sad thing is nobody else is going WOT, they are just taking off normal as far as they are concerned.

Foot to the floor in 3rd gear at 60 mph...61 mph... 62 mph... etc

Sure you can downshift to 2nd maybe, but you're acceleration won't change, just your engine noise will get louder

 

[DivideBYZero]

This, tbfh. If you're in the fast lane and someone's tailgating you, move over.

That wasn't the issue, it was one lane in each direction road with moderate traffic. If he's got the juice, he can use it to pass. Except he hasn't got anything to back it up.

 

[alkemyst]

That wasn't the issue, it was one lane in each direction road with moderate traffic. If he's got the juice, he can use it to pass. Except he hasn't got anything to back it up.

You are one of those tools that immediately gets on it when I try to make a pass aren't you?

DBZ gave clarifying information with no personal attacks and you're trying to escalate. Stop now.

Zenmervolt - AnandTech Moderator

 

[Doppel]

I've seen a bunch of them around here. I have yet to see anyone flogging one like you say.

Actually, you did see them flogged if you saw them accelerate.

CRZ is Honda's answer to the question: "How could we usurp the SmartForTwo for biggest piece of sh*t in America?" I think they did a great job.

Small (very), slow (very), crappy mileage for a tiny hybrid (the smallest on the market by far and yet far from the best mileage).

They do not actually look bad. I just think they should either cost $15k out the door or at their current price be much faster (7 second 0-60) or get 65 mpg city minimum. The Prius C will seat 4 and get approx 60 mpg at a similar price point, based on what I've read about it.

 

[Eli]

Harsh man, harsh.

Though true. I want the CRZ to be the awesome car that it should have been so bad, I admit that I overlook all the bad and hope the driving experience is just that good......

Though in all fairness, it's most certainly not the slowest thing on the road...

 

[Eli]

Being a recent CR-Z buyer (and probably the only one on this forum), I'll attempt to explain some of this

I will first state, that I have no misconceptions about the CR-Z being fast. It does reasonably well on a mountain road, the main limitation being the tires. As stupid as it sounds, putting it in sport mode really improves engine response. But 95% of the time it doesn't matter since I'm stuck in traffic or cruising at freeway speeds. To be fair, there's no way I would have even considered the car if it didn't have a 6MT.

Through about 1500 miles I'm averaging about 38-39mpg in mixed driving; my daily commute is almost exactly 50/50 highway and surface street.

It is rather small, but why do I need a bigger car for commuting? For times when space is needed, we use my wife's WRX wagon.

I don't really see $20k as being terribly expensive. Yes, I could have gotten a Civic for similar money with a bit more "stuff" but honestly this was more comfortable. I did look at a Focus for similar money but had to sacrifice options to get an MT, which is an absolute requirement.

So really, the CR-Z is without question a niche vehicle. Even Honda has stated a modest sales goal of 15k per year.

Cool. Didn't know we had any CRZ owners here.

I wanted the CRZ to be the successor to the Insight really bad, but Honda wanted nothing to do with that apparently... I hate to bash on it because I do like it overall, but what was Honda thinking? I just don't understand. They could have done better. I hope they release Eco and Si versions? The MPG needs to be bumped up to ~55 or the horsepower needs to be bumped up to ~180.

I'll probably own one some day. Maybe in 10 years when they're cheap used. Mostly because I'm in love with Honda's IMA system. Our next non-project car will probably be a 1st generation Honda Civic hybrid.

Dreaming about a CRZ 6MT in an Insight....

 

[Doppel]

Harsh man, harsh.

Though true. I want the CRZ to be the awesome car that it should have been so bad, I admit that I overlook all the bad and hope the driving experience is just that good......

Though in all fairness, it's most certainly not the slowest thing on the road...

I just really truly cannot get it in my head how this thing is a two seater, marginally faster than an insight, and yet gets worse mileage. The Ford fusion gets better mileage, is much bigger, and much faster. Was Honda trying to make this car suck? I don't mean it in jest, either, I don't know how they can put their name on this sh*t. An original Insight which, yes is slower than this, can get 50-100% better mileage and is running on decade-older technology.

 

[Eli]

I agree totally.. It really actually almost makes me angry.. I mean just.. WTF HONDA?

FFS.

I don't think it's ever been more appropriate:

 

[Viper GTS]

I've been thinking about buying one for a month or so now. I need a practical car to daily drive to free me up to buy a completely impractical car.

The CR-Z is pretty much at the top of my list:

It's reasonably attractive (interesting, at least)
It's reasonably tech filled (in EX NAV trim)
It's not completely soul sucking to drive
It has great headlights in (in EX trim)
It gets reasonably good gas mileage (at least compared to my Mustang)
It's reasonably cheap

It's just a good mix for me, particularly with the HID headlights. It's not a fast car by any stretch of the imagination but it will never be my only car. It just needs to be a great daily driver to get me through the dark/rainy parts of the year when I can't see and a high HP RWD sports car isn't appropriate.

Say what you will about the CR-Z, but being the most practical, the cheapest, getting the all out best gas mileage, etc. just aren't real considerations for some people.

Viper GTS

 

[ShawnD1]

CRZ is Honda's answer to the question: "How could we usurp the SmartForTwo for biggest piece of sh*t in America?" I think they did a great job.

Small (very), slow (very), crappy mileage for a tiny hybrid (the smallest on the market by far and yet far from the best mileage).

They're not that slow. Top speed is 129mph
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffkMramzHbM

To put that into context, the top speed on a honda civic is 125mph (tested by me). My corolla's top speed is 108mph (tested by me). The Prius is also 108mph (according to youtube video).

While the gas mileage sucks and it's a small car, it's definitely the best performing. It's the fastest, has the best transmission, best handling.

 

[NutBucket]

I think Viper pretty much nailed it. It was designed to be a "sporty hybrid", not a hot hatch.

It's a sub 9 second 0-60 which is noticeable faster than any Prius and it's definitely not mind-numbing to drive. Typical Honda, the 6mt is a wonderful transmission and I average over 40mpg on the highway without trying to hard. If it had better tires it would certainly be more entertaining in corners...but would likely have a pretty negative effect on fuel economy.

I think where Honda may have missed the mark a bit is by trying to make the car a "jack of all trades". And obviously, being a small 2-seater means that it just isn't practical for a lot of people.

 

[ShawnD1]

I think where Honda may have missed the mark a bit is by trying to make the car a "jack of all trades". And obviously, being a small 2-seater means that it just isn't practical for a lot of people.

That's what kills it. I would have a hard enough time justifying a 2 door car with 4 seats. 2 seats is a definite no. The only 4 door hybrids Honda offers are slower than the Prius, which is slower than the CRZ! GRRr!!!11

 

[NutBucket]

LOL!!! You're barking up the wrong tree if you're worried about the 0-60 time of a hybrid!

 

[Doppel]

They're not that slow. Top speed is 129mph
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffkMramzHbM

To put that into context, the top speed on a honda civic is 125mph (tested by me). My corolla's top speed is 108mph (tested by me). The Prius is also 108mph (according to youtube video).

While the gas mileage sucks and it's a small car, it's definitely the best performing. It's the fastest, has the best transmission, best handling.

People on priuschat have confirmed speeds in the 100-teens at least, but in any case I was referring to more meaningful speed, 0-60. motortrend gave it an 8.3 but C&D a 9.6 (about prius performance, maybe fraction of a second better) and another publication 10.5. The thing is butt-ass slow--as is a Prius and other hybrids that know what they are.

There just seem better cars suited to everything this does, which is probably why it's not selling many.

I think where Honda may have missed the mark a bit is by trying to make the car a "jack of all trades".

I can hardly tell if you're serious. It's not like it compromises in various areas, it literally, objectively, compromises in all of them and sucks in all of them. So it's more fun to drive than Prius, so is virtually anything, except that Prius seats five and gets 50 mpg combined. And when this this is outfitted with a manual its mileage takes an even more substantial hit.

 

[Doppel]

LOL!!! You're barking up the wrong tree if you're worried about the 0-60 time of a hybrid!

This is basically my point. They are the epitome, the paragon of utility at this price point and nothing more. So get one that is functional and efficient, the CR-Z is neither. The Prius, and even the current Insight are both better cars in spades for satisfying in the utility arena.

 

[ShawnD1]

LOL!!! You're barking up the wrong tree if you're worried about the 0-60 time of a hybrid!

I just want a car that gets me around in such a way that I don't need to wait for a 200 mile gap in traffic before I can make a right turn at an uncontrolled intersection. My 140hp 2006 Civic with a 5 manual never had a problem with this. My current car has 132hp and 4 speed auto and it sometimes struggles, but overall it's ok. Anything less would really really suck.

For more perspective, a little tiny 2011 Ford Fiesta can do 0-60 in 10 seconds. That's about the same as my Corolla. Acceptable. The Insight and Civic hybrids are both slower than this, even though they cost a lot more :'(

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Golf TDI?

 

[ShawnD1]

Golf TDI?

Doesn't VW have a reputation for being brutally expensive to fix?

 

[Eli]

I guess I can see that perspective, Viper.. But I still think they could have done better..

It would be very interesting to know the reasons behind the trade offs.

So they couldn't have given it more power without murdering fuel economy, or what? And they couldn't have given it better fuel economy without murdering it's power? Hmm...

 

[dbk]

my gf has one.. it sux.. can't see shit through the back when it rains.. blindspots everywhere.. i prefer my Fit to it

 

[hanoverphist]

I have to get my relief in the Cobra. Instead of racing however, I just get to enjoy them acting humble and sedated like they just had their balls removed, because they won't try to instigate with the Cobra. What's the matter, can't hear your 220 hp engine over the sound of my idle exhaust? Status symbol flaunting bitches.

generally i laugh when other civics or tuned rice cars floor it when they get next to me. my exhaust is busted before the muffler so it sounds like a tuner, but its not. it will also get fixed this weekend lol. its also had its suspension leveled, which i think im going to keep. i kind of like the look. the most fun i have is goading people with fast cars into showing off. there was a guy in one of those 2 seater acuras next to me at a light last week, it only took my son chuckling at his car and me revving the engine a couple times before he did a nascar take off when it turned green. my car is dead stock (107hp) and hell of a good time to drive, but i dont have any misconceptions at all about how slow it really is in the grand scheme of things.

 

[hanoverphist]

another thing... they went from CRX to CRZ. what happened to the CRY?

 

[Kroze]

Seriously? Why are you flogging the crap out of your Hybrid like it's packing 250hp? All of you. Not one owner of these things has yet to prove this hypothosis incorrect, and yet it can barely pull skin off milk.

Stop tailgating like I'm holding up some F1 car. Really, it's sad to watch as even my Diesel pummels your daft looking 'sports car' into the tarmac, while using even less fuel.

You know what's ironic about this?

Honda CRZ Hybrid - 122hp 128tq. 39mpg HWY
Honda Civic Gas - 140hp 128tq. 39mpg HWY. Not to mentioned having more cargo room, seats 4 people, and no $8k batteries to replace