Civic Hybrid Mileage

Our Accord hybrid gets about 27 mpg in my wife's mostly stop and a little go
commute to work. Since they are not selling well you can get a healthy
discount on one. Plus the tax rebate. On a 300M she used to get 20 mpg.

 

That is a pretty good improvement over the stock V-6 Accord. Ours gets
around 20 mpg in that sort of driving.

Honda missed the boat on the hybrid Accord. They should have gone more
maximum fuel economy by mating it with a small 4 cylinder engine instead
of going for very high performance.

John

 

I think the real sad part is that now there is prejudice that a
performance hybrid is a bad idea. I think a hybrid boost to a Civic
Si could be a real improvement - a much better match than the V6.

 

What V6?

--
Joseph M. LaVigne

http://www.thelavignefamily.us/MyPipePages/ - 8/8/2006 3:37:32 AM
Tobacconist Brick and Mortar Database: http://bam.tobaccocellar.org/

"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither
inclined nor determined to commit crimes...Such laws make things worse for
the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage
than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater
confidence than an armed man."
-Thomas Jefferson, quoting Cesare Beccaria

 

in the Accord

 

Ahhh. I read your statement as the V6 in the Si which doesn't have one...
;-)

Really, I like the Si just as it is now. Hybrid doesn't really sound like
the way to go. At least not yet.

--
Joseph M. LaVigne

http://www.thelavignefamily.us/MyPipePages/ - 8/9/2006 2:07:18 AM
Tobacconist Brick and Mortar Database: http://bam.tobaccocellar.org/

"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither
inclined nor determined to commit crimes...Such laws make things worse for
the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage
than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater
confidence than an armed man."
-Thomas Jefferson, quoting Cesare Beccaria

 

It isn't a no brainer, but here is my thinking. The high revving 4 is
a great performer, but it could use a little help off the line. The
electric motor is strongest at low rpm. the two complement each
other. The high performance engine is not as thrifty as the
mainstream Honda engines so the gain in mpg might produce greater
savings in the Si than in the already efficient Civic and the fuel you
save is premium. If you think of it as a performance enhancement that
pays for itself, it could be attractive to the enthusiast buyer. It
could have even been an Acura version, although Honda has indicated
that they don't want to sell to sell Integra-class Acuras anymore.
OK, fine

Personally, the Si is the first Honda car that makes me want to swap
my '94 GS-R. Maybe in a couple years...

 

I love mine, and can see what you're saying, but the launch of the Si is
pretty snappy to begin with. 0-60 in 6.7 and a hard time keeping the tires
from chirping when entering first and second.

I have been playing with more efficient driving. Shifting at 3000-3500 for
most conditions, and I am still finding myself outpacing the cars in front
of me, and having to slow down a little... ;-)

It is a great car, IMO. And it gets a lot of looks and comments, too. Had
a WWII vet walk up to the car the other day and ask me about the car. Said
that it was the first Japanese car he'd ever seen that would make him
consider buying it. That's a haughty compliment, coming from a vet of the
Japanese theater, and a pretty old guy to boot... ;-)

But I do agree that a high performance hybrid would be nice to see. If I
could save fuel AND have the performance, it would be a definite plus.

--
Joseph M. LaVigne

http://www.thelavignefamily.us/MyPipePages/ - 8/11/2006 1:29:15 AM
Tobacconist Brick and Mortar Database: http://bam.tobaccocellar.org/

The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of
thinking that created them.

-- Albert Einstein

 

The Hybrid Accord is a performance Hybrid.
Remember that the electric motor, although only a 15 HP boost over the
top of the line V6 standard Accord, gets its max torque at very low
RPM, so it smooths the power band. I had a 2003 Civic Hybrid and
several co-workers have the Prius. The 2005 Accord Hybrid, as an all
around town and trip car, is the better choice for me.

It has much better performance than my old 302 V8 Comet GT with an
overall MPG of 31 for both trip and town with 18,000 miles in 1 year
of ownership. I love it.

CC..