Since I've been home (I fly back to Colorado tomorrow morning) my parents and I have been milling over the idea of getting mom a new car. She's wanted a hybrid since she saw them and hates paying for gas. The money savings really isn't the issue as much as never wanting to give the oil companies an extra dollar if she doesn't have to. :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

On that note, we went to Gillman Honda in San Antonio and purchased a brand new 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid in Magnetic Pearl. The color is real nice and comes with the Hybrid exclusive blue cloth interior. We had to pass on the NAVI as she has a hard enough time using the Direct TV remote...alone a NAVI computer in the car :lmao: :lmao:

As for pictures, you all will have to wait. I fly back to CO tomorrow and they won't take delivery until Monday. I had them throw in the Window Tint, Body Colored Edge Guards for the Doors, and they pin stripe as my mom wanted it.


Now for what you really want to know. How much did we pay?


MSRP: $23,195

I got them to $21,150 + TTL. That includes the tint job and the other things I had the dealer put on the car. So far, that is the cheapest we've been able to get a Hybrid Civic so we decided to jump. It is a little over invoice, but there are no incentives for this car. I also got the dealer to throw in the 8 year 100k extended HondaCare Warranty for $825. Not bad :banana:

Like I said, I will be slow getting pictures. My parents are only on 56k, so it will take a while, but I will get them to take the pictures and send them to me.

Back to regular modding tomorrow.... :lmao: :thumbsup:

nice buy

whats the mpg? and mpg on a regular civic?

49/51 for the Hybrid

30/40 for the Regular Civic

Also, the 2100 dollar tax credit is still on for the Civic Hybrid.

Great deal! Around here there aren't as many hybrids since the big savings is in city or slower driving - thus the mpg ratings being virtually identical with city and highway. Also, the jury is still out in the colder part of the country as to how well they do in very cold weather, esp when outside (of course, if we keep having winters like this, who will know!!)

Sounds like you snagged a great deal for your mom - especially with fewer dollars heading to ExxonMobil!

andy

The pictures came in.

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is it only me or are the civic hybrid wheels ugly. i like the design but i get turned off by the wheels. nice car tho! tint job looks nice

ewwww!! quick, get some 18's for it. ;)

but really really nice color choice. :yes:

Nice pickup.

I'd be curious to hear about updates on the actual mpg numbers. I hear hybrids aren't getting nearly as good of mileage as they are claimed to be getting.

One thing with hybrids though, it is said that the batteries need to be replaced at about 80k miles. It costs about $3000 to replace the batteries at this point.

ewwww!! quick, get some 18's for it. ;)

but really really nice color choice. :yes:

no i mean like i know the wheels are meant to be lightweight, but couldnt the design be better such as the civic ex wheels?

Nice. And at a good price too.

I didn't know that the hybrid Civic had turn signals/blinkers on the side mirrors.... kinda like how the hybrid Accord has them but the gas Accord doesn't. I wonder why?

And I agree with the post above... those wheel covers are ugly.

Guys, those are alloy wheels and the reason why hybrid wheels are designed like this is because it reduces the aerodynamic drag caused by open spoke wheels.

Steve, you got any interior pics? :)

Nice!

Am I the only one that likes those wheels? I'm tired of seeing thin spokes everywhere...

the rims are different, only cause for efficency IRT drag (reducing it).....

i can grow to like them, if the car was mine. but, then again, i can see people hating them too......

i know that they are not the best-looking wheels out there, but they serve a purpose, and that's what really counts...... :yes:

Guys, those are alloy wheels and the reason why hybrid wheels are designed like this is because it reduces the aerodynamic drag caused by open spoke wheels.

Steve, you got any interior pics? :)

I will ask dad for them. The car has the blue cloth in it.

who cares about purpose. i'd take a 1-2 mpg hit for some lightweight 17's or 18's. even 16's. :D

I think people who buy hybrids do so to get the max mileage, that is their purpose.. :banana:

The chassis doesn't touch the ground, so the wheels are doing a good job.. :lmao: What more can one ask.. :biggrin:

Actually they are similar to a lot of wheels found in the UK, spokes are not that popular or common here, neither are slim rims, huge wheels, or thin tyres. :)
.

So I sat in a Civic Hybrid today while we dropped by to ask how much a couple service items would be, and I thought the cloth felt really hard. It didn't feel very comfortable in the few minutes I sat in it. Is it just that specific car, or are all of them like that?

So I sat in a Civic Hybrid today while we dropped by to ask how much a couple service items would be, and I thought the cloth felt really hard. It didn't feel very comfortable in the few minutes I sat in it. Is it just that specific car, or are all of them like that?

Maybe they were trying to take the environmental-friendliness a step further, and made the cloth from hemp?

:D

Personally if it were mine I'd take a few MPG hit and put a different set of rims on it....lol. Either that or have them properly painted/powdercoated either black or gunmetal in colour (the alloy just sticks out way too much).

I do have to say though...thats a beautiful colour. Sure its gonna be hard to keep clean and will show scratches but if its treated well a colour like that will look great.

I really liked that color as well. It really has a lot of blue in it when you look at different angles. So far, the car has about 160 miles on it and the latest average is 46.2 MPG and climbing. My dad says that its the weiredest car ever as it gains mileage in areas where other cars lose it...

Interior Pics From dad

...

....

more

and more

more pics

much more

:thumbsup:

I love the new Civic. I just want more engine options :(, and more room. Hopefully the Accord coming out will be just as appealing.

last one

Stevencrosbie, do the new Civics, and Hybrids have timing chains or belts?

Chain. No more stupid belt changes.

Car and Driver Facts (http://www.caranddriver.com/roadtests/10393/honda-civic-hybrid-page4.html)

:thumbsup:

I love the new Civic. I just want more engine options :(, and more room. Hopefully the Accord coming out will be just as appealing.


IMHO, the Civic is Honda's best car. The Civic SI sedan is a gem in my book.

I really like the interior scheme. The dark dash and seats contrast nicely with the lighter lower dash and doors. I wish Honda would use it in more of their cars. A black/beige or black/taupe version would look sharp.

Nice car, and nice price also. Considering the tax rebates and FE you'll get that's very econimical transportation. I know we'll probably get someone posting how they get a million miles per gallon out of their V6 Accord due to their incredible driving skills, but for the average driver the hybrids can definatly save you some fuel especially if you're in the city. Like you said no incentives for the car (other than from the tax man), so I'd figure even a grand or so over invoice is fair enough as long as you had good service. Nice job getting it so close to invoice. Like the color scheme too.

I know we'll probably get someone posting how they get a million miles per gallon out of their V6 Accord due to their incredible driving skills, ........

<cough> xcel.... <cough, cough>

:lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

Nice pickup.

I'd be curious to hear about updates on the actual mpg numbers. I hear hybrids aren't getting nearly as good of mileage as they are claimed to be getting.

One thing with hybrids though, it is said that the batteries need to be replaced at about 80k miles. It costs about $3000 to replace the batteries at this point.

Oy! So many misconceptions!

If you want to get an idea of what kind of mileage people are actually getting with their hybrids, check out the database at

http://www.greenhybrid.com/

Lots of people do better than EPA, some do worse. I think the one thing that it is safe to say about hybrid fuel economy is that it has much greater variability with driving style than conventional vehicles.

Over the last 10,000 miles or so, my HAH has averaged about 32 mpg. I have a 50 mile commute to work and during the summer I was seeing average trip mileage of 38-42 mpg. Now that the weather has turned colder I'm getting 30-33 mpg for the same trip. EPA for the HAH is 28/35.

As to battery replacements, anecdotally, according to Honda, there have been no battery replacements outside of warranty other than for model year 2000 Insights. In 2001, the Insight battery control module was significantly improved to lengthen battery life and 2000 Insights that have experienced battery failure have had their battery and controller replaced at zero or nominal cost under goodwill. Honda's philosophy with the batteries is that they last the life of the car. The battery in my HAH is guaranteed for 10 years/150,000 miles.

i will never buy a HAH.....

the battery will be dead in 3-4 years... :lmao:

i will never buy a HAH.....

the battery will be dead in 3-4 years... :lmao:

In which case, Honda will pay to replace it .... :jumping:

Actually, the thing that kills the battery packs is repeated cycling them to the extremes of their capacity. The battery management software used in hybrids only allows the drive battery to fluctuate between about 40% and 80% charged. It also limits battery operation when the battery temperature is outside its normal operating range. There's no reason to think that Hybrid batteries will regularly fail after only 3 or 4 years. Anecdotally, there are also plenty of examples of 1st Gen Priuses used as taxi cabs that have gone well over 200,000 miles without battery failure.

only reason why i say that is cause a average 40-45k miles a year.... :yes:

Hi Steve:

___Congratulate your mother on her excellent choice. And thank her from all of us for limiting both the SMOG and GHG emissions from her HCH-II as she drives vs. most anything else she could have chosen! $19,050 is an excellent price after the $2,100 Tax Credit. Damn, that is one Hot Deal :D

___SCABADA, you might be interested in the HCH-II’s aFCD. Round trip too ;)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/504/103_0_mpg_19_5_miles.jpg

___An HCH-II can play beautiful music when pushed which is so far beyond our Accord’s capability it isn’t funny!

___Stiller Fan, just 3 - 4 years from an HCH-II’s NiMH pack? Do you really believe Honda would replace a California, New York, Massachusetts, Maine or Vermont warranted 10 year/150,000 mile pack or anywhere else’s 8 Yr./80K mile warranted one to the tune of ~ $2K 2 to 4 X’s over the life of the vehicle? Tsk Tsk Tsk.

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/11.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=11)

___Stiller Fan, just 3 - 4 years from an HCH-II’s NiMH pack? Do you really believe Honda would replace a California, New York, Massachusetts, Maine or Vermont warranted 10 year/150,000 mile pack or anywhere else’s 8 Yr./80K mile warranted one to the tune of ~ $2K 2 to 4 X’s over the life of the vehicle? Tsk Tsk Tsk.

Connecticut is also 10yr/150k miles.

So far, they love the car. Personally, I'm not the biggest fan...but that's b/c I drive the TL...a much much more powerful car....


Overall, that little car is amazing. The extra feature of the Hybrid sure do make it seem like nice all around car.

I would buy a civic any day with navigation, Great car, cheap, reliable, what more can you ask for.

Maybe if I wasn't so meterialistic I would own one. I need leather and heated seats! :lmao: But I would still buy one If Its all I could afford. :thmsup:

My friend drives a 06 Prius that he uses to commute from Castro Valley to Fresno (3 hours EACH way)...he says he averages about 40MPG on the highway :thumbsdow Maybe it would be better if he slowed down, but if you had to commute 6 hours a day you wouldn't drive 55 either is my guess.

how fast ben, if i may ask??? any idea?

how fast ben, if i may ask??? any idea?
No idea but the freeways leading up to there you could easily average 70-75 on good traffic without the cops taking a look at you. If you really wanted to push your luck you could do 85+ average...I set cruise control 85 for 2 hours with bursts to 100 for passing on the same stretch this winter. If you do the math, and assume you average 55 or even 65 instead, you will see both ways there is a significant time difference in your commute :yes:

oic..... very well then

i would set it for 80mph for still decent FE..... :yes: :banana:

Wow, currently the Civic is at 48.7 and it only has a couple hundred miles on it.

Its different. My parents say its so weired to see the mileage increase in town...

Hi Steve:

___Your parents may not be ready for it but here are two great articles about the HCH-II they (you) may want to read? They are both written by a wonderful contributor out of LA who is a great driver in her own right.

Adapting Basic Hypermiling Techniques to the HCH-II. (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/articles/t-adapting-basic-hypermiling-techniques-to-the-hch-ii-1306.html)

External Factors Affecting Mileage, or why “YMMV”. (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/articles/t-external-factors-affecting-mileage-or-why-8220ymmv8221-3168.html)

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/11.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=11)

I will forward these on. My mom loves watching that MPG meter. :nuts:

Latest tank: 52.7 :banana:

I think I remember hearing, or reading, that the Prius does better mileage in the city than on the highway.

Your parents will keep getting better gas mileage as the engine breaks in.(I think I may have used the wrong form of break.) I know my mom's Civic gets better mileage with every tank.

I just read both articles and they are great. It seems like my mom is getting mileage (almost 85% highway) as many members of the board over there. That is pretty good, but she loves that car.

I need to take some of that advice for myself. I've found myself indulging in the TL's HP a little too much lately as my tank is half full and I am only getting 25 mpg (100% city).

I will work on this tank, but frankly, I don't drive much this semester. I have a trip to the mountains this weekend (USAFA C/O 2007 is celebrating our 100 days until graduation) and I will get that mileage back to over 30 where it belongs.

Xcel, I think you'd love this little car if you had one. It really is the best compromise I've seen so far w/ the Hybrids. I wish the VW TDI was a more reliable car, but the Civic Hybrid is a wonderful car.

Hybrids are mostly effective in city driving. If you purchased a Hybrid to drive on the highway, you wasted your money.

Highly untrue and unrealistic. Your statement is what pollutes the market.

As you can see, we are getting better than the advertised mileage for the car.

Please get your facts straight before you make outlandish comments.

Hybrids are mostly effective in city driving. If you purchased a Hybrid to drive on the highway, you wasted your money.
People don't buy hybrids for the sole purpose of saving gas. They also buy them to pollute less, too. Even if most hybrids get less gas mileage on the highway, they still get much better gas mileage and pollute less than their non-hybrid counterparts. :yes:

Okay, I was thinking from a "saving" money point of view. What i meant was that it isn't as effective as city driving, unless your highway commute is mostly stop and go. But of course, it is better for the environment. :thmsup:

I sent my mom those articles and she's really getting good at it. The latest tank was over 58 MPG. Now, she was pissed b/c she was at 60 until she drove 70 miles in a head wind.

She won't let my dad drive it. He has a heavy foot. He kills her mileage so she makes him drive the V6 :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

I sent my mom those articles and she's really getting good at it. The latest tank was over 58 MPG. Now, she was pissed b/c she was at 60 until she drove 70 miles in a head wind.

She won't let my dad drive it. He has a heavy foot. He kills her mileage so she makes him drive the V6 :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:


*note: About 1800 miles on the car.

So....there are 10,000 miles on the car. Dad changed the oil for the first time at 9,100 miles with some 0-20 M1. That may be a little long...but he sent it into the labs for an analysis and the guys said that oil could have gone longer....mom drives 27 miles each way to work. (Keep in mind he changed it at 10% left too!)

Her lifetime average for the car is 56.7MPG and going up. Her last tank was 58MPG and she loves that little car.

Rain, non-Shell gas, A/C, fat people, and wind are the biggest factors that cause her to get the low EPA rating of 51 MPG. Good car, 1 rattle, 1 tow job was it would not shift out of park (bad brake sensor), and 2 wax jobs.

What lab? Have you posted the analysis?

I think he sent it to Blackstone.....

He has the results somewhere.....not sure where though. They were pretty enthusiastic with the results...but Honda might be filling them with synthetic since it is 0-20 oil....not really sure about that.

0W20 is indeed synthetic.

I think it's a very smart looking ride myself and the mpg is just astounding. The best part is that it makes your mother happy!

She loves her car....and dad loves the fact that she loves her car.

I like the interior. If blue cloth was available in the Truck I would have passed on the leather.

Im waiting for the CR-Z to come out. Its suppose to have the HCHII engine and IMA. Its not clear yet if it will have a CVT or a MT. If I comes out with a MT my Mazda3 will be gone! I learned my lesson with the Civic. You can't even buy a first year new gen from Honda.

So if the car is built to my standards I will get a second year production unit.

http://www.leftlanenews.com/honda-cr-z-future.html

Cool stuff. Mom loves her Civic Hybrid. I would refrain from the first model year as well...

The mileage you could obtain from that car would be astounding!

I wish lexus would have a hyrid SUV, not the tiny rx version though