My husband now estimates that he will save $7500 over five years with his Civic Hybrid.

[Writer]

Don't let the Oil Assholes control your life. When/if you can, buy a high mileage or hybrid vehicle! :hi:

[Doubtful Optimist]

1. Just be careful of the smug factor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smug_Alert!

[Writer]

8. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

It's really sad that Trey and Matt have to apply such negative qualities to those who are just trying to save a buck.



(Although I thought the episode was rather funny.)

[BOSSHOG]

2. We are in the market

My wife is looking at a Civic and is waiting for the 08 models to come out. The (non-hybrid) Civic gets 40 on the highway and its an eye catching car. We also will take a hard look at hybrids in the next five months. How does he like his new car? Comfort, mileage, pep?

[Writer]

4. Yes. He likes everything.

It's tailor made for the commuter. He commutes a total of 100 miles/day. There's an auxiliary jack for his ipod, it runs ultra-quiet, and there's steering wheel controls. It's an '07 model. Is there anything special about the '08?

[BOSSHOG]

25. We just started doing some serious looking

and believe that we would more likely get what we want at the start of a model year then at the end. The only Honda that will have a change of styling is the Accord which will have a BMWesque look about it.

[Richard Steele]

3. Is that just at current prices, or is he factoring in...

...the fact that it'll be $5- $7 a gallon before the 5 years is up?

[Writer]

5. Current prices.

The more gas rises, the more he'll save, certainly.

[OlderButWiser]

6. What is the cost

difference between the regular 40 MPG version and the hybrid version?

[Writer]

9. Maybe a few grand more?

There are two models - one with GPS and one without. He got the model without. We financed (with an extended warranty) about $23K.

[Sanctified]

17. How many passengers do you need seating for?

If he can get buy with a car that only has room for 2 passengers SmartCar will be officially releasing in the US next year, you can buy them currently in the US on the grey market and they get 50 mpg and start around $12,000.

I was looking to buy one because I do a lot of driving for my business but I want something that will run on BioDiesel not regular fuel.

[Writer]

19. Would smartcar be able to do 100 miles/day travelling at 80mph?

I'd love a smartcar, but it doesn't seem very safe on the highway.

[Sanctified]

20. It's maximum speed is 90 mph.

I see them zipping along the freeways and highways here in Oregon with no issues, it runs on regular gas and can go more than 100 miles in a day. And as far as safety they are built like turtle shells with a solid steel frame, in a head on accident at 35-40 mph the passengers should be fine, at 70 mph they will be dead even though the frame would not even be bent simply because the force would have damaged their internal organs.

here is a video

&t=OEgsToPDskL1c9KSMMc9awqEIB-bVBiJ

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. 3,000 dollars

and if you know how to negotiate you can knock that off the park anywah.

We own one, and due to our abiltiy the price when down by 4K

[Sanctified]

7. I am looking to get a hybrid but am waiting till the Diesel versions arrive...

on the market. I am going with BioDiesel and giving a big FU to the Foreign Oil Companies.

[Writer]

11. That's awesome.

:thumbsup:

[Bill219]

10. My wife and I have a 2007 Prius

After learning how to drive the thing to get the best MPG we are now averaging 54-55 mpg on a regular basis.

[Writer]

13. That's great.

My hub averages about 41-44mpg in real driving - but he's highway driving, and it's a 75mph zone on I-25. The mileage never reflects what you really get on the road, but it always will be better than a conventional car.

[Justyce]

12. I wanted a hybrid when I bought my last vehicle, but

they were so much higher than their gasoline counterparts -- the model I wanted was nearly $10,000 more for the hybrid. I'm hoping they come down at least somewhat so I can afford one.

[Writer]

15. It shouldn't have been that big a difference...

at least when we were shopping. Maybe a $3K difference, unless you were comparing something very small to a standard hybrid?

[Justyce]

21. This was 2 yrs ago,

and they may have come down since then -- I'm at the point in my loan where it wouldn't be smart to trade it in right now anyway -- but I was looking at the Ford Escape Hybrid compared to the gas model, and it was a big difference. But, again, that's when they first came out with the Escape hybrid, and the prices may have come down since then.

[nadinbrzezinski]

30. We bought ours three years ago and it was 3,000

serious

Honda Civic an they had ONE model

[Buzz Clik]

14. So, I was shopping for a new car...

My '99 4-banger Accord is going with my son to college for his senior year.

I looked at the Prius, and it was sweet. Peppy, quiet, hi-tech. I have read from the reviews that the mileage is down from previous versions, but 46 mpg is still awesome.

I was getting my old Accord serviced at the Honda dealer when the wife suggested we peek at the Honda offerings before we buy the Prius. The salesman recognized my love of Accords and took me out in the new Accord Hybrid. I bought it.

My old Accord got about 23 mpg in town and 29 on the highway. The new one (with a V-6, thank you very much) gets 25 in town and 37 on the highway. Ahhhhhh.

[Writer]

16. What's nice about Accord Hybrids is that you can get them completely outfitted...

leather seats, etc. My hub wanted the Civic because of it's better mileage, of course. :)

[Buzz Clik]

22. Agreed. The Civic is a fantastic alternative.

My Accord is, without doubt, a guilty pleasure. Great mileage, but not like the Civic.

[poverlay]

18. I'm nursing our current cars along so that I can get the latest and the greatest when they die. I

can't wait. Good for you folks and congratulations.

~P

[dmallind]

23. Still not sold on hybrids

Sure I like the mpg - but have any of you checked into long term battery life and cost of replacements? Not trying to say anyone should NOT buy a hybrid or that they are bad - merely that I as an individual have not been convinced to buy one yet, and it's because of the battery durability being questionable.

I'm more sold on the hydrogen fuel cells as a long term solution, and have very high hopes for the Honda FCX due out next year. Of course fueling is basically nont available outside CA yet, but the word is Honda is selling these with home conversion units running on natural gas until there are hydrogen stations. If they can handle safety concerns and get a decent fuel supply out there I may jump on that bandwagon.

Meanwhile we are looking st Smarts perhaps - at least as a second car for local use. I was passed by one on the Autobahn once - trust me they can handle US highway speeds just fine. Not going to get up there like a Porsche of course, but they'll do it.

[Sanctified]

27. Nissan is coming out with a new Hybrid that will have a battery with a

10 year lifespan. It also supposedly increases it's fuel efficiency by 20%.

[dmallind]

28. Cool - I'll look at that with interest. nt

nt.

[nadinbrzezinski]

31. Our battery is guaanteed for 10 years or 100,000 miles

folks do some research your muoths off

;-)

[dmallind]

32. ever research how much they cost after eight years normal mileage?

I expect my engine to last far longer than 100K, and the record for the brand says it will. We have little record yet of aging hybrids to know for sure. It's a $3000 gamble that you researched your mouth off about.

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. Your normal battery in the car also lasts that long

WOW?

It is not a 3000 gamble

It is helping out with the environment

And here is here, listen up

IT IS A BRIDGE TECHNOLOGY

Oh and if you read above, knowing how to negotiate we knocked off those 3,000 from the price

[dmallind]

34. And my battery costs about $60

so not really relevant.

EVERYBODY negotiates price discounts. You don't get extra discounts because you have an expensive battery of potentially problematic durability.

I hope it works out and I know it's a bridge technology. It's just not for me. I'm waiting to see what fuel cells do or the long term performance of hybrids. Given my driving habits and the vehicles I use now there isn't enough of an mpg difference for me to be sold on them yet, even from an environmental POV (and again the batteries are problematic here).

I haven't entirely given up on hybirds. I just don't approach them with the messianic zeal some do. For example The Venture concept (www.flytheroad.com) has some promise. Yes the batteries are still a nagging doubt, but there is SUBSTANTIAL mpg benefits and they look like fun. Could be a good choice for a commuter car depending on street price.

[Bill219]

36. Nissan is actually going to using Toyota's hybrid system

I remember reading an article about it in an issue of Popular Science a few months ago

[SCDem]

37. My friends bought the 2000 Prius

It is still running fine - no major problems - no battery problems. Knowing that and knowing that I didn't have the money for a Prius in 2005 I bought my Honda Civic Hybrid for 2k under the MSRP - about 4k cheaper than what they are currently selling them as. I secured my quote online then took it to the dealership.

Usually I got 44-46mpg but since Earth Day - my Earth Day pledge was to drive more fuel efficiently - my car is now at 52 - 53 mpg.

[Greyskye]

42. Prius taxi in Vancouver w/ 200,000+ miles on it

with no battery problems. Battery durability sure doesn't seem to be an issue.

[Wcross]

24. It doesn't make sense for me to get a hybrid.

I do a 82 mile round trip commute but it is almost all highway driving. I am in the market for a new vehicle and on the top of the list is a honda civic (non-hybrid).

[Sanctified]

26. You should look into a Diesel.

The Volkswagen TDI's get great gas mileage if you are doing all highway travel.

[ima_sinnic]

35. link to a very handy chart of 30 fuel-efficient cars

Mother Earth News published a chart of "30 fun and fuel-efficient cars" that I think is really neat:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/uploadedFiles/Pieces/DecJan-cars.pdf

These are 2006 and 2007 models that get at least 30 mpg

on edit: meant to add: this is a pdf of 514 KB (fyi for dial-up users)

[LiberalFighter]

38. I would say that your previous vehicle must had only about 15 MPG

I get about 30 with my 7 year old car.

I'm all for getting a vehicle that has the best mileage for the job. There have been times I wish I had a bigger vehicle to make it easier to transport materials. But over the long run I don't need it.

How much more did the Civic cost than a non-hybrid vehicle that you might had bought instead? Just as others have posted there are too many other factors to consider that may end up costing more in the long run.

[CottonBear]

39. I want a Prius but can't afford one. I need a new car desperately though.

My 1993 Corolla has over 185,000 miles, needs work, the AC is broken and very expensive to fix. Driving in the Georgia summer heat with no AC is hell on earth.

I've never bought a new car. I always buy a slightly used car and then drive it until the car is worth $500!

I may buy a late model (2000 -2005) used Corolla.

Used Priuses are almost non-existent.

[musiclawyer]

40. Buy a 2004 or 2005 Elantra instead

Just as good a car as the Corolla if not better and costs less money in the used car market.

[CottonBear]

41. What make is an Elantra? n/t