8th Generation Honda Civic Forum - View Single Post

Logan176 · 05-28-2008, 12:58 AM

I'm no hypermiler by any means, but lately I have slowed down a lot and I'm getting 36-38 mpg with a best of 42.3. The price difference between the LX and the HCH is about $6,700... that's a lot of money to make up.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but according to my calculations, it would take almost 175,000 miles to break even when taking in the account of the price difference between the LX and the HCH. Here's what I did...

According to CarsDirect.com, an LX is $16,517 and a HCH is $23,235. That's a price difference of $6,718.

LX at 32mpg with gas at $4.25/gal will cost $132.80 per 1,000 miles
HCH at 45mpg with gas at $4.25/gal will cost $94.40 per 1,000 miles
HCH fuel savings per 1,000 miles is $38.40

Original cost difference of $6,718 divided by savings of $38.40 per 1,000 miles is 174.947. Now multiply that by 1,000 and you get... 174,947 miles!

I know that there are government rebates available and that as the price of gas goes up, so does the mpg savings return with the HCH. But I also know that batteries don't last forever, so the batteries in the HCH will need to be replaced eventually and they will be expensive. On the other hand, that $6,718 could make a small return in a high yield, online savings account or mutual fund.

Now, if going "green" for the environment's sake is your goal, I salute you. If my math is wrong please correct me, but if saving money is your main goal, based on these numbers the HCH doesn't seem like a good way to save.

05-28-2008, 12:58 AM	#39 (permalink)
Logan176 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Fishkill, NY Age: 31 Posts: 164	I'm no hypermiler by any means, but lately I have slowed down a lot and I'm getting 36-38 mpg with a best of 42.3. The price difference between the LX and the HCH is about $6,700... that's a lot of money to make up. Correct me if I'm wrong, but according to my calculations, it would take almost 175,000 miles to break even when taking in the account of the price difference between the LX and the HCH. Here's what I did... According to CarsDirect.com, an LX is $16,517 and a HCH is $23,235. That's a price difference of $6,718. LX at 32mpg with gas at $4.25/gal will cost $132.80 per 1,000 miles HCH at 45mpg with gas at $4.25/gal will cost $94.40 per 1,000 miles HCH fuel savings per 1,000 miles is $38.40 Original cost difference of $6,718 divided by savings of $38.40 per 1,000 miles is 174.947. Now multiply that by 1,000 and you get... 174,947 miles! I know that there are government rebates available and that as the price of gas goes up, so does the mpg savings return with the HCH. But I also know that batteries don't last forever, so the batteries in the HCH will need to be replaced eventually and they will be expensive. On the other hand, that $6,718 could make a small return in a high yield, online savings account or mutual fund. Now, if going "green" for the environment's sake is your goal, I salute you. If my math is wrong please correct me, but if saving money is your main goal, based on these numbers the HCH doesn't seem like a good way to save.