Civic Hybrid Performance

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

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