Does anyone here have a hybrid?

[EersSkins05]

Wife and I are looking into picking up a Honda Civic or Accord hybrid.

Anyone have any experience w/ hybrids?

[IONTOP]

No but yesterday I did see someone smoking a cigarette in their Prius... I thought that was ironic.

[coldpacker]

No but yesterday I did see someone smoking a cigarette in their Prius... I thought that was ironic.

ironic? no. Selfless? maybe.

He cares more about the world than himself =)

[rictus58]

No but yesterday I did see someone smoking a cigarette in their Prius... I thought that was ironic.

How so?

Eers,
I only know 1 person who owns one. They are pretty happy with it so far. It's an accord hybrid. From what I have read, because the techonology involved with the batteries keeps improving, they do tend to depreciate pretty quickly. I don't know how much that is a concern for you though.

[IONTOP]

More along the lines of they feel bad for destroying the earth by driving, yet they can't stop smoking and destroying their bodies...


This definition serves it well:
characterized by often poignant difference or incongruity between what is expected and what actually is

[TMK9973]

I have a 06 civic Hybrid.
I looked at the accord as well. I'm not a big enviorment guy, and even smoke sometimes IN my Hybrid.

I bought it for 3 reasons

1) I live 44 miles from my office. My daily comute is 88 miles round trip. I was spending $450 in Gas a month. Now I Pay $150.

2) In CA, Hybrids that got over a Est 45 MPG, were able to get a sticker to drive in the car pool lane. This saved me over a hour a day in commute time. (This was why I got the civic, not the accord, which is 38 MPG)

3) The Tax CREDIT off set the cost difference.

I love the car. Pick up is slow, but it's very quite. I no longer worry about gas prices. Once you are going over 25 it drives the same as all other cars (Even has nice pickup if your not at a dead stop).

I also got the Navagation unit with XM radio on it, so that added to it.

[Stophovr6]

No but my next car will either be hybrid or run biodiesel.

[Blighty Skins]

They usually keep the weight down on Hybrids by using wafer thin materials and plastics...so if you're after interior quality, beware. The engine will probably be good though...but when the Toyota Prius was tested on Top Gear, Clarkson said that it could never reach the advertised 60+ MPG under normal driving conditions, more like 40+ MPG. Or in other words, like a small engined diesel. :applause:

[Tarhog]

I looked at the hybrid civic, but decided to go with a Civic Sedan EX instead. Great pickup for a little car, you can get it with a NAV system, XM radio, sunroof, IPOD connection....AND it gets 36 mpg. Thats a lot of car for $22 - 23,000. I just am not sold on the reliability of the hybrids yet, and the pickup is significantly worse. Its noticeable.

[DWinzit]

Make sure you dealer has trained hybrid mechanics. You might ask to speak with their hybrid mechanic(s). There are few mechanics that will touch hybrids and many smaller dealerships do not sell them because they do not want to warranty them.

One other item I've heard is some people with small kids are leery of purchasing certain hybrids due to the location of the battery. The battery compartment often falls under the middle of the back seat, right below a child seat. It is not like a regular car battery set up as it is considered high voltage and is labeled as such.

Negativity aside, I know five people who own hybrids, two Accords, two with Toyota Prius' and one Ford Escape. They are all very happy with their vehicles.

Good luck which ever way you go.

[cjcdaman]

I don't really like the hybrids. I like my 7 wood, and on some courses I'll put the 3 iron back in the bag. :D

[chipwhich]

3) The Tax CREDIT off set the cost difference.




The tax credit is not quite enough to offset the cost difference... :2cents:

[Park City Skins]

I drove a Prius for a couple of weeks a few years ago when my old truck was in the body shop. I can give you my opinion based on driving it only. Great ride. Plenty of room, quiet, handled the mountain roads nicely, had good pick up, and considering the mountain roads I drove it on, the gas mileage was excellent at 48 mile per gallon. There is something like an eighteen month plus waiting list for them out here.

[Raub]

Might also consider a diesel. I have a 2006 Jetta TDI. It usually gets around 43-45mpg and I drive like a maniac. Has good pickup, is very smooth at speed, and has plenty of room.....and I don't have to worry about replacing batteries in 5 years.

[TMK9973]

The tax credit is not quite enough to offset the cost difference... :2cents:


It was very close. The cost of the Hybrid over the Non hybrid civic was $2800.
The Tax credit was $2100

Although I'll grant you - There was no negotiation on it since they have a waiting list of about 3 months.

[Zen-like Todd]

The current generation of hybrids are ok, but plug-in hybrids are going to change everything (think Chevy Volt).

Personally, I'm waiting on the next car from these guys. They are following the roadster up with a BMW 5-Series style Sedan, and then a less expensive mass market sedan.

http://teslamotors.com/index.php?js_enabled=1

[chipwhich]

It was very close. The cost of the Hybrid over the Non hybrid civic was $2800.
The Tax credit was $2100

Although I'll grant you - There was no negotiation on it since they have a waiting list of about 3 months.

In Virginia, there is talk of repealing the rule of the hybrid in the carpool lane. Plus most people don't realize that hybrid and highway miles = no benefit.

My friend has one and loves it.

[Thiebear]

Might also consider a diesel. I have a 2006 Jetta TDI. It usually gets around 43-45mpg and I drive like a maniac. Has good pickup, is very smooth at speed, and has plenty of room.....and I don't have to worry about replacing batteries in 5 years.

This is a great post.. I say the same thing..
Not only that their cutting back all the perks on hybrids now..

[skinsfan44]

A guy I work with has a Toyota Prius and he loves it.

He told me he spends less then half in fuel that he use to with his old car, which was a non-hybrid Toyota Camry.

He commutes between Charlestown, WV and Frederick, MD, which is a hilly and mountainess area.

[mboyd784]

It is my understanding that the only tangible advantage of a hybrid is in stop-and-go/low speed driving. Once you hit 35 mph or so, you'd probably be better off in a Diesel, be it VW or othwerwise. Hybrids do have their place though and are likely to get much better in the next few years. I might wait a little longer.

[chipwhich]

It is my understanding that the only tangible advantage of a hybrid is in stop-and-go/low speed driving. Once you hit 35 mph or so, you'd probably be better off in a Diesel, be it VW or othwerwise. Hybrids do have their place though and are likely to get much better in the next few years. I might wait a little longer.

Exactly, the mileage "estimates" on the stickers on the windows are the most unreliable of any type of car you buy. A hybrid car on highway travel gets the same mileage as its gas counterpart. Under 20 mph is where you run on battery and save on fuel. If you do alot of city driving it may be worth it. Plus nobody knows what the battery life will be like say at 100-150K miles? I know my laptop, cell phone, portable home phone batteries all die a slow painful death over time. I suspect the hybrid batteries will as well.

[TMK9973]

Exactly, the mileage "estimates" on the stickers on the windows are the most unreliable of any type of car you buy. A hybrid car on highway travel gets the same mileage as its gas counterpart. Under 20 mph is where you run on battery and save on fuel. If you do alot of city driving it may be worth it. Plus nobody knows what the battery life will be like say at 100-150K miles? I know my laptop, cell phone, portable home phone batteries all die a slow painful death over time. I suspect the hybrid batteries will as well.

Just not true. 85% of my driving is going over 35mph. I get 44 MPG. Also, I have 21k miles on my car and it's 1 year old. There are many Hybrids out there that already have 100k + miles on it.

[Mr. S]

we know someone who got an Accord hybrid recently. Apparently the gas mileage isn't as advertised for that because they put more into making its engine more powerful. He is happy with it nonetheless.

[sk1nzHEAD]

id go the TDI route

[ArmchairRedskin]

Smug alert!

[Rdskns2000]

Wish Subaru would come up with one.

Don't be fooled by the current low gas prices. Eventually gas prices will be over $3/gallon permanently.

[Zen-like Todd]

Wish Subaru would come up with one.

Don't be fooled by the current low gas prices. Eventually gas prices will be over $3/gallon permanently.


Subaru WRX hybrid FTW.