Considering a Civic Hybrid...need help/advice

Discussion in 'Civic' started by Buhda, Apr 2, 2004.

  1. Buhda

    Buhda Guest

    My wife has been considering a hybrid vehicle b/c she has a 80 mile RT
    commmute every day....she stopped by a dealership ( not sure if it was honda
    or toyota) and was told there was a 1 year waiting list!!!! She was also
    told that this was the way it is for ALL hybrid vehicals. We live in
    Houston, TX.....is this true everywhere in the country? Also what are the
    best dealships in the country price-wise to get a hybrid vehical?

    Thanks in advance

    Alok
     
    Buhda, Apr 2, 2004
    #1
  2. Buhda

    dold Guest

    A co-worker says there is a four week waiting list for the new Toyota Prius.
    http://www.hondaofstevenscreek.com/ where I bought my Civic Hybrid, shows
    three manual and eleven CVT in stock. I would recommend the CVT.

    The 2004 Prius is rated for better mileage than the Civic. The fact that
    it is a new model may be why there is a bit of a wait, but one year doesn't
    make sense.
     
    dold, Apr 2, 2004
    #2
  3. Probably because it is a midsize hatchback, with a price roughly
    comparable to that of other midsize cars. Other high fuel economy
    cars (Honda hybrids and VW TDIs) are smaller inside.
     
    Timothy J. Lee, Apr 2, 2004
    #3
  4. Buhda

    dold Guest

    Although I didn't even consider the Prius before I bought my Civic, I would
    take a look at the new one. I am quite happy with my car, but the Prius,
    as you note, is larger, gets better mileage, and has better performance.

    The "one year" part of the wait doesn't make sense, and is certainly an
    exageration. I waited about two weeks for my Civic, and there are now
    plenty in stock around here, so that part of the original sales quote is
    certainly incorrect.
     
    dold, Apr 2, 2004
    #4
  5. Buhda

    Rex B Guest

    ||My wife has been considering a hybrid vehicle b/c she has a 80 mile RT
    ||commmute every day....she stopped by a dealership ( not sure if it was honda
    ||or toyota) and was told there was a 1 year waiting list!!!! She was also
    ||told that this was the way it is for ALL hybrid vehicals. We live in
    ||Houston, TX.....is this true everywhere in the country? Also what are the
    ||best dealships in the country price-wise to get a hybrid vehical?

    Get the Prius instead. Less funky looks, bigger and gets better fuel economy.
    Rex in Fort Worth
     
    Rex B, Apr 2, 2004
    #5
  6. Buhda

    dold Guest

    The OP wasn't sure whether the dealer was Honda or Toyota. I assumed it
    was Toyota, since there should be no shortage of the Honda Civic.

    Get the Prius because it has less funky looks?
    Less than a Honda Civic? That would be an odd thing to say, even for the
    current generation Prius, which is far less funky than the earlier Prius.
     
    dold, Apr 2, 2004
    #6
  7. Buhda

    Randolph Guest

    Rex B wrote:

    Perhaps you are thinking of the Honda Insight, which is kind of funky
    looking. The Honda Civic Hybrid looks like any other Civic sedan, and is
    to my eyes much less odd looking than either first or second generation
    Prius.
     
    Randolph, Apr 2, 2004
    #7
  8. Buhda

    TCS Guest

    Don't get either. Even at $2.50/gallon, it'll take over 100,000 miles for the
    extra cost to be recouped. If you factor in interest on the car loan and
    battery maintenance, the thing will *never* break even.
     
    TCS, Apr 2, 2004
    #8
  9. Buhda

    Buhda Guest

    Well we were looking at cars that run around the same price...$20k......and
    since we already have a note we'd just be swapping ( and for less). We
    avg ~20K+ miles a year on her car due to her commute so a hybrid would be
    of some benefit. As I understand it (and I may be wrong) the the battery
    and all "hybrid" components are warrantied for 10yr/100K miles.

    Alok
     
    Buhda, Apr 2, 2004
    #9
  10. Buhda

    Hai Pham Guest

    My friend told me his Honda Civic has 7yrs warranty on battery and no
    shortage in PA. He paid around $20K but he got $2K tax credit, he said this
    year tax credit is $1.5K so the price is about the same if you factor in the
    tax credit. He is very happy so far. I sit in his car, I don't notice any
    different.

    Hai
     
    Hai Pham, Apr 3, 2004
    #10
  11. Buhda

    Keith J Guest

    I was thinking that myself. always look at the big picture. To be more
    reasonable, look at the Honda Civic HX... about 40mpg. not bad and at
    ~$15k, pretty good deal.

    I have been considering that for myself... :)

    Keith
    '99 Accord V6
     
    Keith J, Apr 3, 2004
    #11
  12. Buhda

    monkey Guest

    Houston's gas prices arent anywhere as high as Californias.
    I know gas prices goes up and down quite often but in
    California, the peaks seem to be much higher then the
    rest of the country. Demand for hybrids are probably
    much higher in that part of the coutnry then in Houston.

    Call around to a few Honda dealers and see if they have
    any Civic Hybrids in stock. If not, then consider buying
    a Civic sedan LX or EX. You may get a discount due to
    high demands for the hybrid. The discount plus the lower
    price might offset the gas savings over say a 5 year term.
    Also you will have a better performing car.
     
    monkey, Apr 3, 2004
    #12
  13. Buhda

    Pars Guest

    Considering that Honda is probably taking a loss on the Inight, I'm sure they
    wouldn't be in any big rush to sell more of them.

    I hope Honda doesn't scrap the Insight...that's one amazing little car.

    Pars
     
    Pars, Apr 3, 2004
    #13
  14. Buhda

    CCSI Inc Guest

    I'm driving a Civic Hybrid. I have about 1000 miles on it, and have been averaging 42
    MPG. I love it!! Almost as much pickup as the 2003 CRV that I had.
    Warranty on the batteries is 8Yrs, 80,000 miles.
    Local Prius dealers are saying they will not be able to fills the orders they already
    have.
     
    CCSI Inc, Apr 3, 2004
    #14
  15. Buhda

    Robert Eden Guest

    Sounds like the Prius. Toyota has never made lots of them (both old and
    new), presumably to keep the prices up. I've tried, but have never been able
    to test drive one. They typically sell at or above list!

    I've heard reports the new Prius gets no where near the EPA ratings in
    normal driving. Since you're in Houston, most of the time you're at 60+
    MPH, you certainly wouldn't get over 45MPG.

    I'm in Dallas and have had a HCH for 2 years. The HCH is very easy to get
    now, sometimes selling below "invoice". I never get below 40MPG, average
    about 45MPG not trying. Best trip (17mi, 50mph) to downtown 65MPG

    Quick tips to good MPG on HCH (CVT) (in order of decreasing benefit)
    Speed below 60. (I drop almost 1MPG for each MPH over 60!)
    Minimize AC use (give up in Houston!)
    Tire pressure at least 35.
    I find constant pedal position rather than constant speed helps (CVT)
    use higher gear to max assist (manual)
    brake slowly to max regen.

    Getting the best MPG in the HCH takes practice... the trade rags (nor my
    wife) play the game, so MPG suffers.

    Don't get any Hybrid right now based on cost savings.. at current gas prices
    at best you'll break even. I wanted something more "interesting" than a
    standard Civic, and I've been happy with my HCH. Note the hybrid US Fed tax
    deduction has started to roll back (currently $1.5k I think... was $2k)

    Robert
     
    Robert Eden, Apr 4, 2004
    #15
  16. Well if your are attempting to buy a new car just to reap some short term
    savings in fuel you will be greatly disappointed in the long term results.
    The fact is if you bought a Civic EX, which is cheaper than the Hybrid by
    several thousand dollars, you would be getting 38 mpg per the EPA sticker on
    the car.

    If gas is $1.80 a gallon and your wife drives 80 miles per day it would take
    10 years of driving that Hybrid to save $3525. If you drive it less than it
    takes longer to realize the $3500 in savings and vice-versa.

    I am sure in that time period you would be replacing the batteries and maybe
    even the motor since it will have 200,000 miles on it in 10 years if your
    wife drives 400 miles a week for 10 years.

    If you do the math correctly you won't be buying a hybrid.

    CaptainKrunch
     
    CaptainKrunch, Apr 4, 2004
    #16
  17. Buhda

    dold Guest

    sounds familiar. 46mpg over 20,000 miles on a Honda Civic Hybrid.
    I'd say 65, not 60. And it depends a lot on the flow of traffic. I have
    been over 50mpg at 70+ for a 20 mile stretch of level road with no other
    traffic. As soon as there is any traffic, the acceleration back up to 70+
    is what kills the mileage.
    Yes. I see 2-2.5mpg drop with A/C, either in the summer, or the
    defroster. After turning off the defroster, the A/C stays engaged unless
    you push the button.
    The 30psi suggested is a softer quieter ride, but too mushy for me. a
    friend with a Prius got 7,000 miles on his original tires, inflated to 30.
    I'm over 20,000 on the Honda at 35.
    I saved $576 last year in gasoline from my old truck. $2000 tax deduction
    not credit, varies in actual impact. That's not why I bought it.
    It's not a standard Civic, and I wouldn't own a standard Civic. It's
    smoother, quieter, better equipped, and it gets great mileage.
     
    dold, Apr 5, 2004
    #17
  18. Buhda

    Honda Man Guest

    I know where I can get one today for $19,500 w/CVT. in Raleigh NC
     
    Honda Man, Apr 5, 2004
    #18
  19. Buhda

    KiNGME Guest

    A friend with a Prius got 7,000 miles on his original tires, inflated
    to 30. <<

    7,000 miles? Were these tires made of fiberboard or something?

    !^NavFont02F0077000BJGJHG41HG78BD26
     
    KiNGME, Apr 5, 2004
    #19
  20. Buhda

    KiNGME Guest

    I know where I can get one today for $19,500 w/CVT <<

    Yes, that is about the going rate out here in CA for the Honda Civic
    Hybrid with automatic transmission. The Toyota Prius is AT LEAST $2,000
    over sticker and there are waiting lists for them!

    Frankly, the Prius' look good but I hate that artsy-fartsy interior
    where the standard information (like your speed) aren't positioned in
    front of you, but up in the middle under the base of the windshield.

    !^NavFont02F0175000DJGJHGrJGtHH76F80C
     
    KiNGME, Apr 5, 2004
    #20
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