[Guest]

I waited patiently for the Civic Hybrid to hit the dealerships before making my decision on which hybrid to purchase. After test drive, I was sold! Solid handling and more linear accel/decel than Prius' I've tested. Of course ICE/MG HP proportion is higher in Civic.

As for fuel economy, so far I've averaged 40.5 mpg. My typical driving is a surface street commute with 1/2 mile stops, A/C always on (I'm in Phoenix, AZ.) I'd bet on 4-5 mpg more without A/C.

Does anyone know where I can find out what Honda's sales volume estimates are for this vehicle?

--Dave

 

[Guest]

Civic hybrid sales

Hey Dave,
Good job. Keep us all abreast. CVT or 5-speed? And now that Honda has promised that the 2003 Insight is NOT canceled as many feared things continue to look up. As much as I love the Prius especially when I wish I weren't driving, on those occasions when I want to drive I really miss the artistry of gears.

Civic Hybrid sales.
Third hand, but sounds reasonable. April being the first month is probably not a great gauge.

""I asked Deedra Huzzard of American Honda about the new Civic
Hybrid......
"They have sold 1500 so far. I expect them to sell 2000 a month.
People are really excited about it.""

From:
<http://www.crest.org/discussion/ev/200205/msg00825.html>
Via:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/honda-hybrid/message/5584>
regards, nathan

 

[Guest]

Re: Civic hybrid sales

Nathan,

Mine is a CVT, as were all units on the lots I visited. I didn't ask, but perhaps 5-spd manual is a special order during introduction period. Literature says slightly less fuel economy with manual. I know what you mean about gear artistry. I traded in a 92 Civic (manual) with 130K miles and felt that car and its tranny were reading my thoughts (sounds X-File-ish, doesn't it?)

As for Honda's promise not to discontinue Insight. Any commercial enterprise, Honda Motorcars included, can only keep such promise as long as marketplace supports such. My guess, very few, say 5-10%, of potential hybrid buyers at a Honda dealership will drive off with an Insight instead of a Civic Hybrid. Price is near the same, mpg marginally higher with Insight. But Civic is a more functional 4-door, 5 seater, with a real trunk, not that little box that they call a trunk in the Insight. And the driveablilty and comfort of the Civic is totally superior to the Insight.

Despite choosing the Civic over the Prius, I still think the Prius will compete well in the specialized demographic of hybrid buyers. The Prius is a "purer" version of a hybrid. More HP from electric system, better mileage with similar body style.

--Dave

 

[Guest]

Re: Civic hybrid sales

Hi all,
The convoluted link I posted on Civic hybrid and sales was a third/fourth hand reference to a message posted in the EV section of this site some time ago by Pete H. My apologies for the omission. So for those interested in the full text please see Pete's message.
<http://www.priusonline.com/read.php?f=6&i=39&t=39>
nathan