I have a base 6MT CR-Z, and it does have a VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist), including the on/off button. The VSA disabled indicator light come on when VSA is turned off, and my periperal vision also noticed a VSA system 'intervention' light blinking (especially when acceleration from stop into a hard right turn) during activation. Also, the VSA will always reactivate when restarting from the ignition key-off position. With the CR-Z 's short wheel base, I'll always have the VSA activated, except when I'm knowingly driving the car where its handling limits may be challenged, such as maximizing engine power to the wheel by restricting engine management and automatic brake intrusion from the VSA, which need not be deactivated for 90% of driving.

 

Sorry for not responding to my thread. I have been pretty busy the past week.



SFLA-Z,
Thanks for the clarification. I was unsure how the car could have a stability system without any indicator lights. I guess it is nothing more than an error on the Honda site.

At the dealership where I got my cr-z they told me the base does not come with VSA... Is that not true?

Also I noticed you are in the Atlanta area... What dealerships are you looking at?

bladeiai,
I actually live north of Atlanta. As for dealerships, I have not yet narrowed the search. I will most likely hit every dealer from Gainesville to Atlanta, and out towards Marietta. I am willing to drive a few miles for the best deal. As it stands right now, I am probably going to wait for the 2012 model release before I purchase.

Yeah, deal is full of it. When I was shopping for the car and asked the (best salesman of the year according to a Honda plaque) dumbass - he could only say "foglights and and better radio".

Honestly the EX of the CR-Z is a ripoff. I wish I had extra $1500+ in cash over the EX options. No idea what I was thinking.

Oh, and clootie - come and get it

zoltiz,
I agree about the EX options. The only option from the EX list I would actually like is the HIDs but I can add those later. There is nothing else I am willing to pay $1500 extra for that I cannot add if desired. I would much rather put that $1500 towards a set of wheels and springs.

So, you noticed my avatar. Are you a supporter of the 2nd or just familiar with ancient Greek?

 

At the dealership where I got my cr-z they told me the base does not come with VSA... Is that not true?

Also I noticed you are in the Atlanta area... What dealerships are you looking at?

 

Again, my base 6MT CR-Z has VSA and the VSA on/off button, and the VSA feature instructions and description on pages 214 and 215 of my owner's manual. I even pushed the off switch yesterday, where a lowered-out RSX-S with a fat 'ol exhaust pipe couldn't pull away from me. I let him go eventually, because he started to weave thru traffic. The salesman is apparently trying to sell the more expensive EX.

 

Yeah, deal is full of it. When I was shopping for the car and asked the (best salesman of the year according to a Honda plaque) dumbass - he could only say "foglights and and better radio".

Honestly the EX of the CR-Z is a ripoff. I wish I had extra $1500+ in cash over the EX options. No idea what I was thinking.

Oh, and clootie - come and get it

 

... asked the (best salesman of the year according to a Honda plaque) dumbass -...

Gotta watch the guys with the plaques - especially the finance guy. It usually means they are pro's at lying and ripping people off. Many F&I guys now keep their offices bare, because people see an award and don't want to become just another mark towards the next award.

 

I'm not supprised he was lying... He also told me that you couldn't get a 6MT with nav, and I already knew they had 2 on the lot...
I don't really care though, I already knew which car I was going to buy before he "helped" me.

 

The EX's leather-wrapped steering wheel and fat shifter knob is worth something.

 

and HIDs

 

360-Watt AM/FM/CD Premium Audio System with 7 Speakers including Subwoofer
Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®[5]
Fog Lights
High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Headlights with Auto-On/Off
Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel and Shift Knob
Textured Aluminum Pedals

Also there are metal interior accents

 

Compared to a Base CR-Z for $1500 you get:

360-Watt AM/FM/CD Premium Audio System with 7 Speakers including Subwoofer
200-Watt sub that is very hard to notice (the rest of the audio is the same)
Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®[5]
Bluetooth that doesn't do address book. At all.
Fog Lights
That cost $150/pop to replace if you drive on the hwy
High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Headlights with Auto-On/Off
Auto-On/Off that goes berserk in the morning if you happen to drive under a tree for 3 seconds
Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel and Shift Knob
Textured Aluminum Pedals
Pedals you only see when you vacuum your floormats

Not trying to be a bastard, just being objective - I bought into the whole EX thing myself and shelled out the cash for it

 

Compared to a Base CR-Z for $1500 you get:

High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Headlights with Auto-On/Off
Auto-On/Off that goes berserk in the morning if you happen to drive under a tree for 3 seconds

BTW, You can adjust the delay on the auto on/off. It is in the customize settings menu. Just shift it over to the longer delay and it won't turn on the headlights when driving through the occasional shadow (or short tunnel).

 

^ no worries. A good objective look is always a good thing....

 

...and the GT (EX) was a precondition for my leather seats and glass roof
(which you don't get in USA P: )

 

Bluetooth that doesn't do address book. At all.

Sure it does. What it can't do is automatically pull your address book out of your phone (unless you have the Navi, I believe).

It's more cumbersome than I would like (prefer to just use the iPhone's voice dialling when I can), but it's there.

 

~3-4 minutes per number to train the damn thing - I don't really consider this being a viable option.

- "I said FOUR, not OH, you witch!"

The speech recognition does not appreciate my Eastern European accent at all.

 

If it stands to other Hondas, you get a better % trade in on EX models then on the other versions of Honda cars. At least you did last time I looked at all the numbers.

 

Strangely, the OEM Bridgestone Turanza on the base costs $144 each at Tire Rack versus the OEM Dunlop on the EX at $108 each.

 

Right on!

 

Differences between Basic and EX model in the USA

Not ONLY the leather wrapped steering wheel, also the hand-free 'bluetooth' paddles, and voice activated phone (when paired to your own phone)on the left side steering column, the USB outlet the 360 watt (vs 160 watt) sound system with a sub-woofer that the Basic does NOT hav, and the fog lights.