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New Civic Hybrid Owners - Give Us Your Report
Congratulations on your new car! This is the place to give us your first impressions.
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Very interested with any aftermarket XM installations and how well they integrate into factory (non-nav) system.
Have not noticed the hyped gas engine shutdown on level cruise below 35, wouldn't the mpg gauge max out? Any insight on that?
From Honda website "For 2006, the electric motor can propel the car from a stop to speeds up to 35 mph." I wish...
Love the better acceleration, I always felt the previous HCH just lacked a little. The auto stop tweaks help much in stop and go traffic jams (almost daily for me)
Anyone else wish there could be more user input into the amount of assist? I live in a hilly area and end up fully charged a lot, wish I could expend a little more electric on the climbs.
Getting aftermarket leather, anyone else done that? I got galaxy gray exterior, love that new color.
Anyone changed the factory wheels? Would it seriously affect the economy?
I did question the dealer about this point before buying the '06 HCH and they disclaimed any knowledge of it. Still it does appear on the website leaving one to wonder if it was an oversight.
My XM radio was installed by the Honda dealer and so far the performance is excellent. The antenna is mounted on the upper right of the front windshield and I still haven't found out if the factory installed version would use the roof antenna or not.
I have reception about 98% of the time except for the obvious dead spots such as tunnels and thick tree cover.
It's still a mild hybrid, in other words.
By the way if you could send me an e-mail, I am the one with the problem of my ave mpg reseting at 63.5 just like you, I have a call into Honda, and supposedly a factory rep is supposed to know about it this week, if you send an e-mail to my private e-mail, I can give you phone # and case # to reinforce the complaint if your interested.
"During acceleration, the engine or the engine and electric motor propel the vehicle. During cruising, the gasoline engine and/or the electric motor can propel the vehicle."
While most of the time the electric motor works in assist mode, 2006 Civic Hybrid can run completely on electric power as well. Especially during cruising, there isn't much of HP requirement anyway. How many horses do you think a typical sedan is using under constant speed cruising on a highway? Not much.
I have the NAV display and the dealership wants to charge me $700 parts/labor for XM. Dose this sound right? XM ready I thought its pre wired.
Also what kind of display you get on the XM i.e. band name song name?
:confuse: :confuse:
I love the car, but I think the electric-only mode was just thrown in so Honda could claim the car is a full hybrid.
For the news channels there are also three display modes, first is for channel name(i.e. Fox News), the other two identify the program and host(i.e. The Big Story, John Gibson)
A button on the instrument panel enables you to switch between the display modes, you can leave it locked in on any one mode.
The display mode has large type and is well illuminated, its easy to read while driving.
Occasionally you will see brief text messages such as phone numbers.
I paid $700.00 for installation by the Honda dealer.
The Civic looks, feels and drives like a traditional car
The instrumentation panel of the Civic is simple
The starting procedure for the Prius feels weird
The Civic interior looks richer
The Civic feels, overall, like a better built vehicle
The Civic is a sharp looking car!
One thing I didn't like was that the Civic doesn't have a fold-down rear seat, but after consideration I thought I could live without that.
The Civic hybrid is not the Civic of my youth. Back then, I considered the Civic a cheap import. Now, it's a model for the American car industry to emulate. The car is loaded with cool features - power windows and doors, smartkey, CD player, climate control, cruise control, and extensive safety features including 8 airbags and ABS, to say nothing of the enviable gas mileage.
My primary considerations in buying a hybrid? I average 35K miles per year and want to spend less $ for fuel while making my contribution to the reduction of carbon emissions and reliance on foreign oil.
The car was purchased at Clinton Honda in East Annandale, NJ. Don't know if the manager was feeling great that day or they were looking for an end-of-year sale, but I bought the car for $500 under MSRP and will take delivery in 2006 to get the estimated $2100 tax credit.
I reaaly like the car, but I chose it over the Prius thinking I would get 45-50 mpg. I've heard the Prius really only gets 48-50, and for that difference the Civic is a much nicer looking vehicle with the new design.
The only issues that we have noticed is that the engine "autostop" feature is a little jerky when it starts back up, and that when the engine goes into the battery charge mode, it also makes a little jerk to the drive line at speed.
The radio/navigation system is very good. We just wish that the unit had bluetooth integration, the radio supported RDS data, and that the voice control prompts supported more of the cars controls. So far we are averaging 44.3 mpg.
Today, two weeks later and around 230 miles, I have a quarter of a tank left and I'm averaging only 32.6 MPGs.
My highest "score" so far, was 44.3 MPGs on a 50 mile highway trip.
In this city I'm getting 22-27 MPGs, haven't been higher than that so far.
I love the car. It's comfortable, quiet, and quite peppy, but I'm not getting anywhere near the EPA estimates of 49/51.
I'm not convinced the MPGs are better than a regular civic at this point, but the emissions are certainly lower (considering the auto-stop feature at stop lights).
The dealer indicated that the full mileage potential isn't reallized until after 1,000 miles, but I'm not sure if I buy it.
I've read all of these other posts claiming 40-50 mpgs, but I'm just not seeing it, and I'm a conservative driver.
Maybe the 2007 doesn't have the MPGs the previous models have?
Give the car a chance to break in and yourself a chance to get accustomed to driving it!
Hang in there - you will learn how to use the instruments to max your MPG - give it some time.....be patient....:)
Love the look, driving feel, and interior of this vehicle. I haven't purchased a new vehicle in 12 years. I am glad I bought this one because of looks, low emissions and just being able to give less money to the price gouging oil companies and OPEC.
Two questions, if anyone knows: how accurate is the mpg computer calculation of the vehicle and when are you suppose to get the first oil change? I remember the salesperson saying something about waiting longer than usual to change the oil the first time but I can't find it anywhere in the owner's manual.
Now in the dead of winter, I am in the LOW 30's.
I almost wish I had bought the EX
I drive conservatively, and live on fairly level ground.
Tire pressure, about 40 PSI.
Temp in the 60's to 70's.
I saw 43.3 MPG on the highway for about a minute once.
My overall average hasn't been over 28.2 yet. My daily average never topped 30, and I'm lucky to see 40 on the freeway.
There's just no way this car will come near 49/51 MPG's.
If you're a 2007 HCH owner in L.A. and can prove that you're getting better mileage, let me know. Otherwise I just don't believe it.
But your situation is not an indication of the best a 2007 HCH can do.....
Something may very well be wrong with your car. 28.2 is very poor for the technology.
Greenhybrid.com lists some drivers as high as 65 mpg and VERY FEW as low as 28 MPG.
I'd say take thyself to a Honda dealer and get the car checked out.
My 2004 HCH, the first tank was a poor 38.4 and I ended up after 29K miles at 48.2 for the lifetime number. My best tank was a 56.7 MPG tank.
So the technology is there. Using it is something to learn. :shades:
36.7 is the lowest I've ever had on that meter. It's been dropping about one mile/gal every month. Booked it in for 45K service next week to check it out - but then I re-read the owners manual, which said that tire pressure was an important factor. (My excuse for memory loss is that I've had a lot of health problems over the last couple of years!) Anyhow, sure enough, only 25 lbs in three of the tires. Hoping that will reverse the trend.
Auxiliary Interface, to connect a portable music player to the compatible Honda factory receiver. (1998-2005 - there's another one for the 2006).
From that, I can connect a Directed Car Connect
Universal Add-On HD Radio Tuner. I'm still not 100% sure where to attach the Interface, the tuner, or the display. Don't want to have to reposition them twenty times. Wish someone could tell me exactly where each would fit the best.
I've followed the tips, use the instruments, but still average about 28-30 overall (mostly city).
If it does not, than you can easily lose your MPG economy when sitting a lot in bumper to bumper traffic. When you are sitting with the engine running, you are getting ZERO mpg because you aren't moving but still using gas, even though it's only a small amount. That can easily take your averages down.
Now if it goes into electric only mode then you should be getting good MPG economy because it's not using any gas to just sit there, right?
Just a thought. We are considering a HCH and just knowing from watching my Nissan Murano's fuel economy meter, I get zero MPG when sitting at a light or in traffic. The longer I sit, the worse my fuel economy.
To those getting worse mileage, you have to drive this car differently than a normal car to get high mpg. You can't punch the gas and hit the brakes all the time.
On acceleration, keep the rpm at 2000 and let the battery assist do its job. Maintain several car lengths from the vehicle ahead of you so you don't have brake and accelerate every time the other guy does. Let off the gas and coast to red lights and stop signs to boost mileage and let the battery recharge.
Watch the mpg meter next to the speedometer. It continuously tells the tale.
The hybrid isn't the magic solution to gasoline consumption. It offers a more efficient platform, but requires a little skill and patience from the driver. If you work with the technology, it will deliver as promised.
You might have to spend one or two more minutes getting where you're going, but that's a choice you'll have to make.
How much do you like jackrabbit starts and speeding through traffic? How much do you hate OPEC, Exxon, and all their cronies in the government?
The answer will determine your driving style and your mpg.
I am not driving different other than do watch the MPG gauge too much. Its a fun distraction. The only thing that unnerves me is the small flutter when you stop and the battery kicks in. I have had junkers in the past and thats what they did when they died. I guess its something you have to get use to.
Anyone here have the XM on theirs?
http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35956
This is mixed city/hwy driving, with full use of a/c (I live in Texas), full use of cruise control, 65 mph highway speed, and 36 psi in the tires.
So don't over-inflate your tires or drive like your grandmother. Just give your engine and battery time to break-in and get more efficient, and you'll see numbers like this, too!
Overall I'm pleased with the quality and comfort of a Honda, and if it only ever gets 36 mpg I'm happy. She was getting 14 mpg with her Forester using premium gasoline. This is much easier on the pocketbook.
I USE CRUISE CONTROLL AND WATCH IT GO UP AMAZINGLY. I RUN THE AC ALL THE TIME.
DOES ANYONE AC BLOW WARM? ON HOT DAYS MINE WILL BLOW COLD THEN WARM. DEALER SAID THAT WAS NORMAL. ITS AGRAVATING TO SAY THE LEAST. I LIKE A COLD CAR IN THE SUMMER NOT LUKE WARM.
ONLY GRIPE I HAVE IS THAT AND NO AUTOMATICE HEAD LIGHTS SHUT OFF.
HAD A DEAD BATTERY FIRST WEEK I HAD MINE.
But don't worry about lower-than-expected mpg on the hybrid. You'd be getting a lot worse with a gas-only car.
Remember, the 49/51 EPA rating is only achieved by driving at low speeds with low engine loads. I get those numbers ( http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35956 ), but I drive slower than most folks.
The NEW EPA rating for the HCH is only 42 combined, so you're not far off that.
Also, the CVT doesn't have a low gear. It continuously varies according to the load placed on the engine. So if you lay heavy on the accel. pedal, it'll rev higher in response until the load lightens.
Please respond to Chintan Talati at ctalati@edmunds.com no later than Wednesday, September 12, 2007 with your daytime contact information and the hybrid model you own.
38-39 in harsh winter weather and I expect the MPG to get better as it warms up.
I love driving it with regards to squeezing mileage out of it... It's like a video game for old farts. Simple to apply rules and a reward at the end (fill-up time).
I'm lucky to have a best friend who purchased a Prius within days of me buying the Honda Hybrid so the contest is on. I don't think there is much of a contest of fit and finish between the Honda and Toyota.. Both very nice but the Honda is miles ahead on interior quality.. Paint is beautiful. The Prius is certainly nice but if I chose a car to live in it would certainly be the Honda.
What was the burden of proof (the Honda's TBS shows a detailed procedure)? Did you have to fight to get it fixed?
Honda (and my dealer) seem in no hurry to fix this problem while it obviously puts Civic owners and their families at risk. A recall is obviously needed and I've complained to NHTSA but slow wheels...
Take it to another dealer. Or a local shop that you trust. It's NOT a characterisitic of the vehicle !!
Gave the 2003 and 2004 to my daughter (no trans problems yet?)and had to get rid of the 2006. 2006 and 2007 had upper control arm problems. Just had the TSB done on the 2007 for rear upper control arms and now in the post wonder if this will works phase. Anyone have any long term results with the rear control arm replacement and other tires than the factory ones?
Because the wear was not enough to worry about, I had the upper control arms replaced by the dealer (Honda covered), but did not replace tires.
I just had the 16,000 mile oil change and tire rotation done and the rear tires (formerly the fronts) showed no sign of unusual wear.
The control arm fix seems to have solved the problem.
Regards,
Jonathan