Looking At New Hybrids...

A couple months ago I was trying to find either a Prius or a Civic Hybrid, which at the time both were tough to find. The Prius is still tough to get, and there doesn't seem to be many discounts. Anyway...



After driving the Civic Hybrid I decided instead to buy an 05 Civic EX Special Edition. For a few of reasons. (1) The mileage difference between the 2 was not that great - about 8 miles on the road, (2) the hybrid drove sluggish compared to the EX, and (3) total cost. The dealer was more aggressive with the pricing of the EX and it was ~$2k cheaper to start with and it had many more extras (sun roof, top of the line stereo, nice wheels, fully loaded).



I don't have my #'s in front of me, but it the projected total cost over 5 years was lower with the EX than the Hybrid, even considering I drive 150 miles per day. Of course gas prices were not nearly as high as they are today, and my numbers may very well reverse if the gas prices continue to rise. But my point is not the specific costs, rather that the total cost margin was not that great, and you can get a lot more car if you are willing to go with a traditional gas automobile. I also factored in a small penalty for projected higher maintenance on the hybrid.



I am a big Honda fan. When I got my Civic I traded in an Accord with over 300,000 miles. Prior to that I had owned 2 Civics that preformed very well for me. Regardless of which Honda you decide to buy you will be happy, I am sure.
 
in case people are wondering, the reason the hybrids have such great epa numbers and the actual performance is so much lower is because of the way the epa calculates milage. from what I remember reading somewhere they don't drive the car and then calculate the miles traveled over the amount of gas used. they actually just measure the emissions comming out of the car as is goes through a set course of acceleration, crusing, and deceleration. they then take the emissions output and through a bunch of historical data, determine the fuel economy. because of the way hybrids work, the emissions ratings are a lot lower than actual world usage would present itself. and becasue of federal law, manufacturers can't present any milage numbers other than those computed by the epa.
 
According to Consumer Reports, "Automakers conduct the government fuel-economy tests on a laboratory dynamometer. They use hand-built prototype vehicles, within the EPA rules, to maximize miles per gallon in simulated city and highway driving."



In other words they rig the test to optimize the miles per gallon rating they get to put on the sticker of each and every car.



CU states that if you buy a gasoline car your mpg will likely be around 9% less than the EPA estimate and with a hybrid expect 18% less than stated.
 
I think the reason people get such low mpg in hybrids is that driving style plays a much greater role in energy efficiency in hybrids than in regular vehicles. In a hybrid, if you drive with a lead foot you will be using the gas engine the majority of the time and therefore the benefits of the electric drive system will not be realized. Also if you wait until the last minute to brake as opposed to coasting to a stop, you will not activate the regenerative braking feature, therefore you will lose valuable battery charging time.
 
is what I bought. Looked at the Hybrids but could not justify the extra costs to get into one. Also found the hybrids sluggish in comparison to the 2006 Civics which drive like sweet Acura's. For those looking for good gas mileage small cars drive the new Civics. You will be surprised at its quality, value and quickness.



Color is a medium blue metallic (new color), interior is darker gray, 140hp I-VTEC, ABS, 6 air bags, anti-theft, 15" wheels, 30-39mpg, 16.6K out the door. Not bad. Not bad.



Also, ordered some PoorBoy's Natty's Blue this evening to wax this beauty. Told dealer not to wash/polish/wax/qd. I will wash with Z-7, clay with Z-18, polish with FP II, Glaze if needed with FTG and wax with PB's Blue Wax. Nothing like a new car.
 
AudiLikeA4 said:
I vote TDI, I get about 43-45mpg in mixed driving.
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Agreed, TDis deliver genuine fuel economy. Once you turn the A/C on in a hybrid, that quoted mileage advantage disappears real quik...especially when riding in city traffic.
 
tom p. said:
Agreed, TDis deliver genuine fuel economy. Once you turn the A/C on in a hybrid, that quoted mileage advantage disappears real quik...especially when riding in city traffic.
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Actually, on most newer hybrids, the A/C units are electric powered so they can run without the gas engine turning on. That said, I will agree that the TDIs are a better alternative for increased fuel economy, as long as VW's reliability issues don't offset any savings in the amount of money spent on fuel.
 
ddolat said:
Actually, on most newer hybrids, the A/C units are electric powered so they can run without the gas engine turning on. That said, I will agree that the TDIs are a better alternative for increased fuel economy, as long as VW's reliability issues don't offset any savings in the amount of money spent on fuel.
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From what I've read, the TDIs have excellent reliability and require much less maintenance than a gasoline engine. VWs reliability problems have only pertained to the gas-powered ones, I believe. :xyxthumbs
 
I bought a Toyota Prius Hybrid in 2002 as I was really intrigued by the new technology - better mpg and less pollution, not to mention quiet operation. Unfortunately, I felt like I was being penalized since the car had no power and was not very much fun to drive.



I recently bought a Honda Accord Hybrid and while it's no BMW, it does have a nice smooth ride and operates very quietly while delivering good mpg and low emissions. I admit that it doesn't deliver the 50 or 60 mpg that the Insight or the Prius delivers, but it feels more luxurious and powerful and for that, it's worth it to me. I have a nav system that is way better than the one on my BMW; it has practially every option already on it as standard equipment - including XM radio, the Homelink garage door opener and a passenger cabin noise cancellation device.



It DOES have regenerative braking. It shuts the engine down at stoplights while keeping the AC compressor and auto trans hydraulic pressure up electrically. It shuts down 3 of the 6 cylinders at cruise (most of the time) and uses the IMA (electric motor) for slight speed increases. Although I have not experienced the claimed 649 mile range on a tank, I have seen 450 to 500 miles to a tank without even trying. As long as you keep the speed below 70 mph, it's no challenge to reach 40 mpg or more. And it runs on regular fuel which (at least in my area) is cheaper than diesel.



I hope you find what you're looking for. I'm happy with my choice - at least for the moment.
 
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