Anybody have a Honda Civic Hybrid?

[veteran_for_peace]

If so how are they?

[MrUnderhill]

1. Yes.

I love it!

Though I have to admit that I'm not the type to buy new cars and largely purchased it for the H.O.V. benefits VA had. I live in NC now and would not have spent that kind of money on it had I known.

They don't get quite the mileage you may see advertised, but they are VERY quite, VERY smooth, great for the environment, and DO get excellent mileage.



The technology on the new Prius, though, is superior. If both are equally attractive to you (the Prius loos a little quirky) and the prices are the same (they usually are). You should consider it.

[Huckebein the Raven]

5. What kind of transmission is available on the Civic Hybrid ? Can

you get a manual transmission or is it a CVT type transmission ?

[uberotto]

6. You have your choice...

I have the automatic CVT, but Honda also offers a Civic Hybrid with a manual transmission.

[MrUnderhill]

7. Either. Though the manual is a little harder to find... and a bit cheaper.

In fact.... that and color are just about your only options (other than aftermarket stuff like wheel locks and floor mats).


You'll find that as you get used to the car, you start to really play with things to tweak that mileage (air pressure in the tires, driving patterns, etc). The 5-sp gives you a few more options, because HOW you drive makes a big difference in your mileage.

But the CVT is another "newish" technology - if that's part of the attraction.

[veteran_for_peace]

9. I can get the Honda now

but I would have to wait on the Prius. The Prius from my understand is a couple thousand more. I am curious is it worth the wait and the money.

[Francesca]

2. I have a friend who has had constant electrical

problems and have heard this is common. The Toyota Hybrid has gotten good reviews...

[Rjnerd]

3. Have the Toyota

Its a better system than the one Honda uses. The Honda can't move without the engine running. The Toyota can run off just the batteries, as well as coast downhill, engine off, charging the batteries.

The Honda system builds the electric motor into the engine flywheel. Its very compact, and mechanically very simple, but it is also very limiting. The Honda system is two generations behind Toyota's. The Honda system can be summarized as an "electric turbocharger" - the motor gets a boost when it needs power. But when coasting, or creeping, the Honda still has to run the engine. It does cut back to only one active cylinder, but you are still spinning it, and all its accessories around.

Toyota has the electric motor (actually two of them in the same case) connected to its own input on the transmission. Either (or both) can be active at any particular time. Makes for a complicated transmission, and electronic controls, but it has a real benefit. The Toyota has electric ONLY operation available to it. It can do without the motor when demand is low. (in stop and go traffic, it can go minutes without the gas engine running). The electric motor will also act like the electric turbo that the Honda has.

The Honda is much better looking than the latest Prius. I have owned a (non-hybrid) Honda in the past. (two of them, if you count the two wheeled variety) Our prius has been pretty reliable (had a wire break in the ABS system). A friend who has owned the Honda for a few years should be by tomorrow, will ask him about it.

[uberotto]

4. Had mine for over a year now...

And have had no problems, except for a flat tire. I've been averaging just under 45 MPG since I've had the car. Gas milage has a lot to do with how you drive and where you live. I live in Florida, so I have no idea how the car will handle mountains or cold climates. Also, I live in a mid-sized city with not too much heavy traffic. If you live in a highly congested traffic area with a lot of stop and go traffic, you can expect to see average milage more around 40 MPG.

Best thing about the Civic Hybrid is that most people don't know it's a hybrid. Worst thing about the Civic Hybrid is that most people don't know it's a hybrid. The radio antenna on the top and the spoiler are the only differences between a regular Civic and a Hybrid.

Trading in my gas guzzling V8 Camaro for the Civic Hybrid was probably the best decision that I have made in a long time. The Civid Hybrid, to me, is a much more fun car to drive.

[Ready4Change]

8. I've heard they get better milage in stop and go conditions.

That they use regenerative braking to recharge their batterys, and use the gas engine less. But while cruising on the highway they need constant high engine output, requiring constant running of the gas engine.

Have you found that effect?