Undoing Honda's Stealth Approach to Hybrids

[Mr. Pixel]

The Prius is the in-your-face, Birkenstock hybrid. The HCH-II is the unknown hybrid.

In my small rural town there's a bit of motivation to rub the rednecks' noses in it. But only the guy/gal stopped behind me at the stoplight has any clue it's a hybrid, and that's subtle. The funny wheels and the mirror turn signals don't mean squat to a Chevy pickem-up driver... or anybody else, for that matter. So...

...does anybody know if there's a reasonably-factory-looking "Honda Hybrid/IMA" decal that I can slap on the side of it, like the iVTEC stickers the modders have?

[Jayhawker]

I am pretty sure the Canadian models have a "hybrid" logo that goes on the front fender.

[02civicsi]

Go to your dealer & buy two more "Hybrid" badges & install them under the sidemirrors so that people along side you can see to that you're driving a hybrid.

[Agnt004]

Why do you want to display that you drive a hybrid? You know you drive one, isn't that enough? Does it make you feel better driving a hybrid? Its not like your saving money driving one.....

[sk33ny]

Originally Posted by Agnt004

Why do you want to display that you drive a hybrid? You know you drive one, isn't that enough? Does it make you feel better driving a hybrid? Its not like your saving money driving one.....

Over time it will save him money. I think he needs to own the car for atleast 6 years though.

[civicracer32]

When people talk about how long it will take for a hybrid to "pay for itself" over a non-hybrid civic or the "break even point," they need to remember that idea is pertaining to someone who pays cash up front for the car which nearly no one does! When financing a car, you pay for it monthly and gas is a monthly expense. Extra $$$ spent on the hybrid car pymt. is saved every month at the gas pump. I'll give you my example.

I have two honda civics, a 07 ex, and an 07 hybrid. The EX gets 28 mpg avg and the hybrid 40 mpg. I drive 2500 miles per month. I save $80 in gas each month in the hybrid over the ex. The extra money I pay monthly to the hybrid is saved in gas every month. This allows me to break even over the next 5 years while the car is financed, and after that the savings begins. Yeah, yeah...the battery pack. Well, I'm one of those people who think that gas will go higher than it is right now, and at least the battery pack is mch cheaper than the Prius battery pack.

All civics are good, rational choices =)
Dave

[Jayhawker]

Originally Posted by Agnt004

... Its not like your saving money driving one.....

That's kind of a bold statement. There is a $2100 tax credit on the Hybrid that a lot of people don't mention. I said it in another post but I bought the Hybrid to travel solo in the HOV lane. To me, less time in traffic (about an hour saved daily) was worth the premium. Getting over 500 miles out of a tank is great, but like I said, time is important to me.

[02civicsi]

When you say 500 miles out of a tank how many gallons is that? What kind of MPG are you getting from your hybrid?

[Agnt004]

In a consumer reports magazine I read about 6 months to a year ago it said that the higher price of hybrids with extra expenses on repair and more depreciation (probably because of batteries) would not save you money in the long run. You would break about even or lose a little. This was an older article mind you and I don't remember if it took into account tax breaks (does everyone get these or some select states?) but If it costs the same amount to own a regular car over time I would prefer the regular car with the better acceleration over the hybrid. Unless your a hardcore environmentalist it doesn't seem logical if there are no savings.

[Kurz]

Look at this comparison...

http://www.edmunds.com/advice/fuelec...3/article.html

Until Hybrids come down in price I am not going to touch one.

[CameronJr9]

Originally Posted by 02civicsi

When you say 500 miles out of a tank how many gallons is that? What kind of MPG are you getting from your hybrid?

500 miles on a 13.2 gallon tank would equal roughly 38 mpg. That's not a bad average, even for a hybrid. I drive conservatively in my EX and I've had 40 mpg days. My average is more like 34-35 mpg.

[Jayhawker]

Originally Posted by CameronJr9

500 miles on a 13.2 gallon tank would equal roughly 38 mpg. That's not a bad average, even for a hybrid. I drive conservatively in my EX and I've had 40 mpg days. My average is more like 34-35 mpg.

I am getting 500 miles on a tank averaging 70-75mph, with the A/C on. If the hybrids weren't allowed in the HOV lane with a single person, I would have never
traded in my Si for it. I can honestly say sitting in traffic sucks balls.

The Edmunds comparison doesn't include the tax credit that a lot of hybrid owners will get. Not everyone will qualify. So, back out the tax credit, and the gas savings happen much sooner than expected.

The hybrid isn't for everyone. It's slow and boring. But everyday when I am bypassing everyone that's sitting still in traffic, it makes every penny worth it.
The batteries have a 8 year 80k mile warranty so we'll how well they last in the AZ heat.

[mO 64 StAnG 06]

Hybrid stickers plastered all over your hybrid like a stock car = Huge inflation of ego.

Go for it. Look's like that's what you want anyways. You are better then everyone else. You do matter now that you drive a hybrid. Your a big deal! So flaunt what you have and feel smug!

[02civicsi]

Originally Posted by CameronJr9

500 miles on a 13.2 gallon tank would equal roughly 38 mpg.

The current gen Civic Hybrid has a 12.3 gallon fuel cell.

[Powered by Honda]

Saves you time which is life (HOV lane) worth 1 million dollars right there.

Tax credit 2000 dollars right there.

Save on gas right thur thur...I like it when they do that right thur right thur...


Most importantly your saving the air. Notice I said air.

[Powered by Honda]

BTW if I owned a civic hybrid I would buy it in white and put hybrid stickers at least 4 of them....

and a sticker at the back that says, "i'm better then you"

not a joke.

[Clutchmaster]

Originally Posted by sk33ny

Over time it will save him money.

yeah ALOT of time

[brdhouse]

better mileage, tax breaks, etc... don't forget that hybrids have lower CO2 emissions, so the environment benefits (albeit slightly) every time someone buys one of these. that's also got to be worth something, if only for one's concience.

[Agnt004]

Originally Posted by Jayhawker

The Edmunds comparison doesn't include the tax credit that a lot of hybrid owners will get. Not everyone will qualify. So, back out the tax credit, and the gas savings happen much sooner than expected.

The hybrid isn't for everyone. It's slow and boring. But everyday when I am bypassing everyone that's sitting still in traffic, it makes every penny worth it.
The batteries have a 8 year 80k mile warranty so we'll how well they last in the AZ heat.

Reread the Edmuns article:

"The numbers here include the Prius' gigantic $3,150 federal tax credit, which will drop to $1,575 in October, because the number of total Toyota hybrids sold has reached a 60,000-unit-per-manufacturer cap."

It included a very large tax credit. Also, after the battery warranty goes your resale value will too. You need to sell it early to get a good value for it, and selling it early loses your savings. So if your gonna buy one to save the environment, go for it. If your gonna buy it to save money, you better be keeping it for over 8 years or the savings aren't high enough or justified to be driving such a slow vehicle for a very large price (It costs more than an SI!). I for one will never buy one until the power goes up and the price drops, and that may take a while.

[CameronJr9]

Originally Posted by 02civicsi

The current gen Civic Hybrid has a 12.3 gallon fuel cell.

Didn't realize that. Thanks for the info. +rep!

So, instead of 38 mpg, he's averaging 40.7?