Help me soup-up my 2002 Honda CR-V
April 14, 2022 10:51 AM Subscribe
Floor mats! Dashboard accessories! Trunk separators! Improved lights! Trash cans! Glove compartment things! Unexpected-but-cheapish improvements?
My husband's got a 99 CR-V with that grody yellow headlight film and the Turtle Wax Headlight Lens Restorer Kit made them look a million times better. Cool throwback tire covers don't hurt either.
posted by jabes at 11:00 AM on April 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by jabes at 11:00 AM on April 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
Tiny flashlight that charges in the 12v (cig) port.
1st aid kit.
Basic tool kit.
Ziplock bag for all the extra fast food napkins. If you are stuck waiting for roadside assistance, use them with water to clean vinyl and even interior windows. If you have kids, you already know this.
Sugarless gum.
Granola bars in a mouseproof container.
Whisk broom.
posted by theora55 at 11:10 AM on April 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
1st aid kit.
Basic tool kit.
Ziplock bag for all the extra fast food napkins. If you are stuck waiting for roadside assistance, use them with water to clean vinyl and even interior windows. If you have kids, you already know this.
Sugarless gum.
Granola bars in a mouseproof container.
Whisk broom.
posted by theora55 at 11:10 AM on April 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
I put an organizer caddy in my back seat footwell with all kinds of useful stuff: protein bars, napkins, wet wipes, sanitizer, masks, spare kid toys, lint roller, reuseable shopping bags, scissors, pen, $20 tucked away in case I forget my wallet, etc. I like that style because it keeps things upright and organized so I can reach behind me at a red light and feel for what I need. The handles make it easy to move the caddy when I have a passenger.
I also keep a case of bottled water in my car, an umbrella, a dark colored picnic blanket (also great to cover expensive-looking items that I leave in the car), and a change of clothes for my kid.
And a microfibre cleaning cloth for when the windshield interior gets fogged up in winter.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 11:11 AM on April 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
I also keep a case of bottled water in my car, an umbrella, a dark colored picnic blanket (also great to cover expensive-looking items that I leave in the car), and a change of clothes for my kid.
And a microfibre cleaning cloth for when the windshield interior gets fogged up in winter.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 11:11 AM on April 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
You could replace the interior light bulbs with LEDs, if that was a thing you wanted to do.
For floor mats and trunk separations and whatnot, the word you're looking for is Weathertech.
posted by box at 11:14 AM on April 14, 2022 [5 favorites]
For floor mats and trunk separations and whatnot, the word you're looking for is Weathertech.
posted by box at 11:14 AM on April 14, 2022 [5 favorites]
Respectfully, with a car that old, you're better off saving the money for repairs. You're going to need them, and have a working alternator is going to make your car more enjoyable than fancy floor mats or a trash can.
That said, a double USB charger (one for you, one for any potential passenger) that plugs into the lighter is helpful.
posted by kevinbelt at 11:15 AM on April 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
That said, a double USB charger (one for you, one for any potential passenger) that plugs into the lighter is helpful.
posted by kevinbelt at 11:15 AM on April 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
+1 to headlight restoration
car kits (first aid; basic tools; cleaning/tidying with armor-all type glass and cleaning wipes, mini vacuum w/screen, small trash bags), phone holder, seatbelt cutter/window breaker tool, decent reflective shade for windshield
posted by Iris Gambol at 11:41 AM on April 14, 2022
car kits (first aid; basic tools; cleaning/tidying with armor-all type glass and cleaning wipes, mini vacuum w/screen, small trash bags), phone holder, seatbelt cutter/window breaker tool, decent reflective shade for windshield
posted by Iris Gambol at 11:41 AM on April 14, 2022
Get a cheap multitool for every vehicle and one for the kitchen. Good ones are expensive and if they get left at the scene of a minor roadside repair, generate anguish. Having even crappy pliers, screwdriver, knife handy is so useful, even if you just use the knife for cheese & crackers.
Corkscrew, if you might ever have wine and no corkscrew.
Matches, because birthday candles.
posted by theora55 at 11:41 AM on April 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
Corkscrew, if you might ever have wine and no corkscrew.
Matches, because birthday candles.
posted by theora55 at 11:41 AM on April 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
Little ms flabdablet got me to make replacement floor mats for our Subaru Forester out of fake grass, and they're just the best thing. All I did was lay out the existing floor mats upside down on the back of the fake grass sheet, trace their outlines onto the sheet with chalk, then cut the new mats out with a pair of heavy shears.
If you ride or drive barefoot as I do, they're super comfy underfoot. The rubberized backing grips the car's floor at least as well as the factory mats did. The fake grass pile can absorb a tremendous amount of grit and assorted floor crap and still look clean, and most of that crap comes out very easily just by taking the mat out of the car and banging it on the ground.
And when we take the Forester down to the local swimming hole, it's pure luxury to have little patches of fake grass to stand on while changing out of wet swimmers into car clothes again; no more sand in the underpants for this family!
posted by flabdablet at 11:45 AM on April 14, 2022 [4 favorites]
If you ride or drive barefoot as I do, they're super comfy underfoot. The rubberized backing grips the car's floor at least as well as the factory mats did. The fake grass pile can absorb a tremendous amount of grit and assorted floor crap and still look clean, and most of that crap comes out very easily just by taking the mat out of the car and banging it on the ground.
And when we take the Forester down to the local swimming hole, it's pure luxury to have little patches of fake grass to stand on while changing out of wet swimmers into car clothes again; no more sand in the underpants for this family!
posted by flabdablet at 11:45 AM on April 14, 2022 [4 favorites]
that grody yellow headlight film and the Turtle Wax Headlight Lens Restorer Kit made them look a million times better
Lets more light out onto the road, too, so it's a definite safety improvement.
posted by flabdablet at 11:47 AM on April 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
Lets more light out onto the road, too, so it's a definite safety improvement.
posted by flabdablet at 11:47 AM on April 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
a double USB charger (one for you, one for any potential passenger) that plugs into the lighter is helpful
More helpful still if it's also a Bluetooth to FM radio adapter.
posted by flabdablet at 11:56 AM on April 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
More helpful still if it's also a Bluetooth to FM radio adapter.
posted by flabdablet at 11:56 AM on April 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
A guy on my block has a CRV from that era or a little earlier and he's got a sweet grille guard and roof basket that makes it look like a jurassic park ratrod.
posted by stinkfoot at 1:00 PM on April 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by stinkfoot at 1:00 PM on April 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
I found a CarPlay enabled stereo for ~$150 (DO NOT try the sub-$100 ones you see on Amazon or Ebay) and with the various wiring harnesses and trim pieces it was probably less than $200 total. I installed it myself and while it wasn't easy, it wasn't that tricky either. HUGE difference in terms of feeling like you are in a modern, fun car.
posted by Rock Steady at 1:19 PM on April 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by Rock Steady at 1:19 PM on April 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
My previous Ask on ways to organize a car may be helpful here.
posted by FencingGal at 1:23 PM on April 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by FencingGal at 1:23 PM on April 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
I have a 2005 and am very very happy I got the weathertech floor mats. Also upgraded the radio and added a backup camera, which I now can't live without. Haven't used the roof rack in a while but have in the past. The double USB charger is also essential.
posted by sepviva at 2:30 PM on April 14, 2022
posted by sepviva at 2:30 PM on April 14, 2022
Looks like the stereo/car entertainment form factor is a "double DIN". 6 years ago I got a double DIN Android tablet thingie for my late '90s Ford Ranger. It doesn't seem to be available any more (it's a Joying Android 5.1 quad core device). I didn't bother to get a cellular subscription for it, and I don't tether it often to use Google Maps (easier to just put my phone in the holder), but having real integrated Bluetooth (rather than the cigarette lighter adapter) and a backup camera is awesome.
It takes a little bit of mechanical ability and a willingness to drill through the body somewhere around the cab, but if you don't have a backup camera, a replacement for the entertainment console that gives you Bluetooth and a backup camera is pretty darned cool.
posted by straw at 2:30 PM on April 14, 2022
It takes a little bit of mechanical ability and a willingness to drill through the body somewhere around the cab, but if you don't have a backup camera, a replacement for the entertainment console that gives you Bluetooth and a backup camera is pretty darned cool.
posted by straw at 2:30 PM on April 14, 2022
The most useful thing I have added to my car of late is a Anker USB C Car Charger, 50W. Chargest my phone infinitely faster than the old charger did. about 27 bucks. I believe your phone has to be capable of fast charging for it to be of use however.
posted by jcworth at 2:39 PM on April 14, 2022
posted by jcworth at 2:39 PM on April 14, 2022
Little red plastic valve stem caps. A luxury you didn't know you needed.
posted by credulous at 7:13 PM on April 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by credulous at 7:13 PM on April 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
I just got this glove box box wallet, after years of thinking “I should get something to organize all this stuff.” It’s a serious upgrade.
Other tiny upgrades: Seat gap stoppers. Tiny plastic crates from Daiso to organize my center console. Adhesive cord organizers to keep things tidy once you’ve added all those USB chargers. I took my carpool lane transponder off the windshield and now it sits on one of those sticky pads on the dashboard. Never would have bought one on my own but it came free with the aforementioned gap stoppers, and now I’m really glad I have it.
posted by assenav at 8:23 PM on April 14, 2022
Other tiny upgrades: Seat gap stoppers. Tiny plastic crates from Daiso to organize my center console. Adhesive cord organizers to keep things tidy once you’ve added all those USB chargers. I took my carpool lane transponder off the windshield and now it sits on one of those sticky pads on the dashboard. Never would have bought one on my own but it came free with the aforementioned gap stoppers, and now I’m really glad I have it.
posted by assenav at 8:23 PM on April 14, 2022
Oh! I also found this cereal box languishing in my house, took off the flap part of the lid, and now it’s my trash can. It lives in the passenger seat back pocket. I like that it doesn’t take up floor or cup holder space.
posted by assenav at 8:28 PM on April 14, 2022
posted by assenav at 8:28 PM on April 14, 2022
Nthing the sound system head unit upgrade + backing camera combo.
Cheapish, DIY-able, massive increase to quality of daily life.
posted by McNulty at 12:36 AM on April 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
Cheapish, DIY-able, massive increase to quality of daily life.
posted by McNulty at 12:36 AM on April 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
The second best thing(s) in my car are the seatbelt clips for my dogs.
posted by phunniemee at 11:00 AM on April 14, 2022 [1 favorite]