Honda Hybrid -Can anyone share experiences?

[bamacre]

I am wanting to go and test drive one these this weekend.

I was looking at a Toyota Corrola S Model, they got great gas mpg, 30/38. But I was looking at Honda's site last night, and the Civic Hybrid looks nice. 47/48 mpg and a sticker around 21K.

Does anyone own a Honda Hybrid and care to share their opinions? Or can someone think of a reason why I shouldn't buy one?

 

[eelw]

I love my 2003 Civic Hybrid. I only need to fill up gas once a month. During the summer, I can routinely get 1000km on a tank of gas. But with the colder weather right now, I can only get like 800km on a tank. The only problem that I have encounted so far was the release cable to the gas tank cover ceised up and was replaced under warranty. As the service advisor joked, I don't just the gas release lever enough

 

[Phokus]

Originally posted by: eelw
I love my 2003 Civic Hybrid. I only need to fill up gas once a month. During the summer, I can routinely get 1000km on a tank of gas. But with the colder weather right now, I can only get like 800km on a tank. The only problem that I have encounted so far was the release cable to the gas tank cover ceised up and was replaced under warranty. As the service advisor joked, I don't just the gas release lever enough

Wow, that's pretty impressive, i have to fill up every one and a half weeks

 

[iamwiz82]

The added cost of a Civic Hybrid outweighs the savings pretty heavily.

 

[Colt45]

I don't think the extra cost of the car vs. the cost of a few extra litres of gas makes it too popular at this time.

 

[gluck]

One of my friend owns a civic hybrid and he is very satisfied. I own a civic LX and now repent that I did not get a hybrid. Anyway I love the civic and would prefer it over a corolla any day. I would personally suggest you to get a camry instead of corolla. They are having some gr8 deals in cal. and it makes sense to get a camry than a corolla. The diff is like 1000 or 1500.

 

[vi edit]

A civic HX pulls 37/44(5 spd) and 35/40(CVT auto) and is $5,000 cheaper.

At that rate it would take 500,000 miles to make up the difference assuming gas is $2.00 a gallon.

Hybrid = .04/mile to run (2/48))
HX = .05/mile to run (2/38)

5,000/.01 = 500,000 miles

 

[Jzero]

As others have said, it's not worth the extra cost considering the Civic's already-solid fuel economy. I really wanted one, but I could not justify paying Accord price for a Civic just for slightly better fuel economy.

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: gluck
One of my friend owns a civic hybrid and he is very satisfied. I own a civic LX and now repent that I did not get a hybrid. Anyway I love the civic and would prefer it over a corolla any day. I would personally suggest you to get a camry instead of corolla. They are having some gr8 deals in cal. and it makes sense to get a camry than a corolla. The diff is like 1000 or 1500.

Well, the Corrolla is actually a bit cheaper than a Camry, and gets MUCH better mpg.

Thanks all for sharing, I really think the mpg on the Civic may be worth another 2k over the Corolla. Gas prices have gone up so high, and I fear they will get higher in the coming years.

At current pries, I figure I'll save about $500 a year on gas, times 4 years is $2000. The Civic is about $2500 more than the Corolla.

This is going to be a close-call. It may come down to who offers me the better interest rate and more money for my trade in ('98 Grand Am GT).

 

[preslove]

Lots of information on hybrids.

 

[ElFenix]

31/39 = $.057 per mile
47 = $0.043 per mile
$0.014 saved per mile driven
178,571 miles driven at $2 a gallon before you see any savings
edit: and that isn't even counting the fact that the civic will probably get no where near that mileage

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
A civic HX pulls 37/44(5 spd) and 35/40(CVT auto) and is $5,000 cheaper.

At that rate it would take 500,000 miles to make up the difference assuming gas is $2.00 a gallon.

Hybrid = .04/mile to run (2/48))
HX = .05/mile to run (2/38)

5,000/.01 = 500,000 miles

Wait til you see gas prices this summer. I hear its going to skyrocket.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog

Originally posted by: vi_edit
A civic HX pulls 37/44(5 spd) and 35/40(CVT auto) and is $5,000 cheaper.

At that rate it would take 500,000 miles to make up the difference assuming gas is $2.00 a gallon.

Hybrid = .04/mile to run (2/48))
HX = .05/mile to run (2/38)

5,000/.01 = 500,000 miles

Wait til you see gas prices this summer. I hear its going to skyrocket.

At 3.00 a gallon it would take around 70,000 miles to make up the difference. And at that point you would be thinking about battery replacement fees.

 

[sygyzy]

I think that at this stage, there isn't anyone who actually believes they are buying a hybrid because of long term cheaper cost. So that argument is out. The same people that buy hybrids are willing to sacrifice some performance, and yes, money, for being able to help out the environment and paying less for gas on a more immediate basis.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog

Wait til you see gas prices this summer. I hear its going to skyrocket.

better buy oil futures!

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
I think that at this stage, there isn't anyone who actually believes they are buying a hybrid because of long term cheaper cost. So that argument is out. The same people that buy hybrids are willing to sacrifice some performance, and yes, money, for being able to help out the environment and paying less for gas on a more immediate basis.

because disposing of batteries has no environmental effects whatsoever!

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog

Originally posted by: vi_edit
A civic HX pulls 37/44(5 spd) and 35/40(CVT auto) and is $5,000 cheaper.

At that rate it would take 500,000 miles to make up the difference assuming gas is $2.00 a gallon.

Hybrid = .04/mile to run (2/48))
HX = .05/mile to run (2/38)

5,000/.01 = 500,000 miles

Wait til you see gas prices this summer. I hear its going to skyrocket.

That same argument pops up every year around this time.

 

[KEV1N]

I remember while doing my taxes this year, you can deduct some amount for buying a Hybrid or EV in CA.

 

[preslove]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: sygyzy
I think that at this stage, there isn't anyone who actually believes they are buying a hybrid because of long term cheaper cost. So that argument is out. The same people that buy hybrids are willing to sacrifice some performance, and yes, money, for being able to help out the environment and paying less for gas on a more immediate basis.

because disposing of batteries has no environmental effects whatsoever!

Yup.

Hybrids usually have several hundred more pounds worth of heavy metals. It's not really worth it to get a hybrid, just trendy.