Hubby's new car

<p><font color="#cc0000">Ok , so it 's not a muscle car or an old classic. We wish we could afford one of those but can't. Anyway, we ordered it in November and it finally arrived , a 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid. The mileage is fantastic, around 45 mpg. And it's one of just 2-3 cars that qualify for the HOV lane. It will cut about 20-30 minutes off hubby's commute each way. He drives approximately 120 miles per day into NYC. Let me tell you for a small car, it has a very quiet ride. I'm impressed. These cars are very scarces on Long Island. We didn't even get to test drive one and this black was our 2nd color choice. Anyway, we're happy.<br><br>Now Detroit needs to buy a few of these and take them apart, study them and see if they can put out an American made hybrid that delivers 45 mph and costs less than $25,700. We also looked at the Prius but hubby needs a locking trunk for his tools. The Prius is a hatchback. <br><img src="http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr126/mingotoy/civ.jpg" alt="image"><br><br><br>maribell</font></p>

maribell, what's a HOV lane?

<p>High Occupancy Vehicle</p>

<font color="#0000cc">It's the carpool lane. If you have this Civic Hybrid or a Prius , you can use the HOV lane with just the driver. It was a plan to encourage people to buy hybrids that qualify and to help keep the air cleaner because these cars pollute less. These are the only 2 hybrids that qualify and the original 2 passenger Insight. No other hybrid qualifies in NY. Sometimes, my husband takes 3 hours to get home because the traffic is so bad. <br><br><br><br><br>maribell</font>

I have two neighbors who've got those and they've been consistently thrilled with their cars. For some reason, I don't think I've ever seen a black one(?). The new Civic Hybrids look better than the previous generation, too. Well-bought.

Japanese GREEN, LOVE IT!!!!!! But black?????? Get some COLOR baby!!!!

<p><font color="#0033cc">We wanted the blue that is called Magnetic Pearl. That one comes with navy blue leather seat but we were tired of waiting. I figure any color but silver is fine. (Too me, silver is an unpainted car. I just abhor that color.) It doesn't come in many colors unfortunately. I would've killed for a red one but it's not available in that color in the USA.. Honda has boring colors in the USA. That is my criticism of Honda.<br><br><br>maribell</font></p>

<strong>Now Detroit needs to buy a few of these and take them apart, study them and see if they can put out an American made hybrid that delivers 45 mph and costs less than $25,700</strong><br><br><br>They know how to do it. <br>I used to get 45 mpg in CANADIAN gallons,with my wifes old 86 Nova 4 cyl/5 spd...lol.<br><br>For those not familiar, 86 Nova = GM/Toyota collaboration.

<blockquote><strong class="quote-title">MINGOTOY wrote:</strong><hr><p><font color="#0033cc">We wanted the blue that is called Magnetic Pearl. That one comes with navy blue leather seat but we were tired of waiting. I figure any color but silver is fine. (Too me, silver is an unpainted car. I just abhor that color.) It doesn't come in many colors unfortunately. I would've killed for a red one but it's not available in that color in the USA.. Honda has boring colors in the USA. That is my criticism of Honda.<br><br><br>maribell</font></p></blockquote>With ya M!!! Except for my Gold Wing bikes!!! Illusion Blue, Sunburst Yellow, Orange, MANY bright vibrant colors, they need to get these over to the cars Japan offers!!! I'm with ya on the silvee EXCEPT!!! For soem weird reason I always wanted a silver Boxster with a red leather interior!!!! I also love blue with tan leather interiors!!<br><br>

"Too me, silver is an unpainted car"<br><br>
In the Hot Wheel World, we refer to that as "Zamac" and it is in high demand.<br>
Wouldn't be my choice of car or color. I'm glad the two of you are happy with it and that is all that counts. I could use the fuel savings myself.<br>
Congrats to the both of you,<br>
Tim

<font color="#003333">I wanted the magnetic blue color. It was a dark grayish-blue. I wanted that color because the interior would've been navy blue leather/pale gray. That color interior is awesome. The wait would've been longer for the blue one. A silver one had actually arrived 2 weeks earlier and I rejected it despite the fact that the interior was also blue. Anyway, I haven't seen too many Civics in black. I'm not thrilled with the tan interior but the bottom line, hubby is the one that will drive it and he's very happy with the interior and the exterior colors. Today he was home by 4 pm. The HOV lane does make a big difference.<br><br>I will say that I am very, very impressed with the accessories that the car comes with and the fit and finish and the ride. Detroit has a lot of work too do to catch up to Honda and deliver similar product at a similar price.. The Mercury Milan and Ford Fusion hybrids don't compare to this Civic Hybrid. I had actually seen a Mercury Milan hybrid and with a few added options, the dealer wanted nearly $35,000 for it plus delivery plus tax. That is freakin' crazy to pay that kind of money. I left that Mercury dealership in a hurry and went straight to Honda.<br><br><br>maribell</font>

Sounds like an good buy for your needs. I'm not knocking them by noting this but it seems to me that we should be able to do better than 45 out of a Hybrid. I had a 84 VW that got 40-42 mpg on the road. After nearly 20 years we should have improved more than .5%. <br> <br> <img src="http://www.cardcow.com/images/set199/thumbs/card00384_fr.jpg" alt="image">

<p>"40-42 mpg on the <u>road</u>"</p>
<p>Big difference.... the Honda will get 45 <u>combined</u>. That's like Chevy's ridiculous ads with ol' Howie claiming that the Chevy (whatever) gets better <em>highway </em>mileage than a comparable Honda. So what? Give ANY car a high enough final-drive gear ratio, and of course it'll get great highway gas mileage - that's no challenge. It's the real-world, tank-o-gas to tank-o-gas, stop-n-go mileage that matters.<br><br>Great buy, Maribell - I've had 3 Honda's in a row, and exactly ZERO problems in 20 years.</p>

<font color="#0033ff">Today, hubby averaged about 44 mpg today. That's excellent considering about the first 10-15 miles of the commute was in NYC traffic. The car is loaded. If I recall correctly, the curb weight is still close to 3,000 lbs. Factor in leather seats w/ heat, and all of the other accessories in the car, then 45 mpg is great. Keep in mind that it's an old design too. There should be a new one coming out in the next year or two. I'm sure that the mileage will be closer to the new Prius.<br><br>I know that some of the older small American cars did great with mileage but I bet most of those didn't have anywhere near the amount of stuff in today's cars (A/c, power windows, automatic transmission, power steering, etc etc. PLus all of those safety features (airbags, etc) All of those things add weight to a car. My first car was a 1970 NOVA and there was nothing inside that car except an AM radio and the seatbelts. No rug. Nothing in the trunk. No power windows. No power brakes. I didn't know back then how to calculate the mpg. But gas was 75 cents a gallon and dad paid for it so I didn't care about mpg back then.<br><br>I'm happy. This is the 3rd Honda in the family. Hey, if I had another kid and was into those weird names, I would name the kid Honda. My son inherited the 2004 Honda Accord with nearly 147,000 miles. The only problem had been 1 ABS sensor. I drive a leased CR-V. <br><br><br>Maribell</font>

<blockquote><strong class="quote-title">groggerbug wrote:</strong>
<hr><p>"40-42 mpg on the <u>road</u>"</p>
<p>Big difference.... the Honda will get 45 <u>combined</u>. That's like Chevy's ridiculous ads with ol' Howie claiming that the Chevy (whatever) gets better <em>highway </em>mileage than a comparable Honda. So what? Give ANY car a high enough final-drive gear ratio, and of course it'll get great highway gas mileage - that's no challenge. It's the real-world, tank-o-gas to tank-o-gas, stop-n-go mileage that matters.<br><br>Great buy, Maribell - I've had 3 Honda's in a row, and exactly ZERO problems in 20 years.</p></blockquote><br> We still should have made larger strides in over 25 years. That's not knocking the car. I'm just sayng that we should be further along. I'd get 50+ in the old diesel VW's. <br>

Perry,The operative word there is diesel. THAT my friends,is the way to go,and the direction North American cars should be going..not hybrids.<br>
You want mileage,you want long term useability..DIESEL engines are the way to go.

<em>Turbo</em>diesel, and I'll agree with you, Frank! That little compressor is what really makes 'em worthwhile.<br>

Hybrids shine in city driving much more so than out on the open road. On the road, they're just another gasoline-powered car, carrying the extra weight of the unneeded electrical components. I drive a slightly larger Toyota Matrix with a manual tranny, and regularly get 38 mpg on the road. A tail wind on a couple of trips pushed it over 40. :-)<br><br>
I read an interesting article a while ago about why the diesel just doesn't win people over around here. Unfortunately, I forgot all the reasons, and forgot where I saw it. I hate it when that happens....! :-)

I would really really like to hijack this thread about those ridiculous HOV lanes aka carpool lanes...<br>But, I'm an uneducated hijacker so it will have to wait until I'm King of America and make some exciting announcements!!!<br><br>I like the Civic hybrid as well having been in them as well as the Prius...I've never been in the big three hybrids though...never see them around. Haven't heard good or bad about them, but it seems you can't go wrong with Honda or Toyota, unless the Toyota has a certain throttle piece made in the USA...geeeee...<br>

The hybrids are indeed great cars. I would think and there may be one somewhere but I'd think someone would create a diesel hybrid. They likely won't as one would likely last 4-500,000 miles easily. <img src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif">

<p><font color="#990033">I've always believed that somehow the oil companies are influencing the American car companies to not make a fuel efficient car. Look at the European car brands, all of their cars are efficient. Even the sporty ones. Yes, I am aware that many of the European cars are diesel and I know that gasoline over there is 2-3 times the cost of the USA. The bottom line is that the mileage of the smallest American cars isn't that great when you look at what Renault, Fiat, Peugeot,Seat,VW,etc are getting for their small cars. I just can't believe that Americans don't want fuel efficient cars. <br><br><br>maribell</font></p>

To A LOT of people, gas mileage isn't at the tops of their list. Utility, power, comfort, and style are important also...something certain cars can't deliver....unless you are short and your idea of utility is carrying a few grocery bags. :)

Hmmm.... I'm 6'-4" and am perfectly comfortable in a Honda that averages 32-33 mpg, and I recently moved, using mostly my car, which, being a hatchback, has an unbelievably large cargo capacity... And it's also cool looking (that being largely a matter of personal opinion) and acceleration is more than adequate for traffic needs. So let's tally it up here.... utility, power, comfort, style... whaddaya know??

Any Honda I've sat in my head was through the roof. Just because you can get on the interstate doesn't mean its powerful....not even close. Cargospace? Rrriiiiiigggght. Won't even get started there. We all know you both have a hardon for all things unamerican but it really gets old, comparing apples to oranges.

Well, Maribell's complaint that or statement that they bought the Honda because it was nearly 10K less than the Ford is valid. My first choice would be the Ford but I wouln't pay that much difference either. The price of the Ford hopefully will soon get in line with the other Hybrids.

<font color="#cc0000">$10,ooo less and also ONLY the Civic HYBRID and the PRIUS (and the original Insight and Tesla) qualify for the HOV lane in NY. Adam, you're single and very young and by your posts, you make a lot of money and you don't have as many obligations as myself and others on this board. So 10 grand is alot of money. To me, gas mileage is very, very important. I just can't spend money on a car that delivers poor mileage. If you're happy spending hundreds of dollars per week gassing up your truck and Magnum wagon, good for ya! To me, I need to save that money to spend it on my mortgage, heating oil, kids college, etc, etc. The cost of living on Long Island ,NY is much higher than in Texas too. <br><br><br>maribell</font>

"We all know you both have a hardon for all things unamerican " <br> <br> Ooh, low blow Adam. By the way, where is your computer made? Your phone? your TV? The radio/stereo system in your truck? Anyway, for Honda, if you were referring to me, well yes I have a "hardon" for their cars. Guilty. I also love Toyotas . I know that I can buy one and sell it in 2 years and recover the majority of the selling price. How much can you get for your Magnum when it's 2 years old? If you took a loan out on your Magnum, make sure that you have gap insurance because if it's stolen or wrecked, you are going to owe more money on the loan than what the insurance is going to pay ya. Your truck, well , it's worth alot cause you have made many modifications to you. But if you had that truck all stock and original,how much would it be worth now? I'm guessing that you know your way around the engine compartment. So if you have a problem with either of your cars, you can easily fix it. Or you have friends that are mechanic. Well , can't do that. We have a car problem, we have to go to Goodyear or STS or Firestone. I have discovered that the best way to avoid those shops is to own a Honda or a Toyota.<br><br>Adam, not everyone has money like you do. Bless you and enjoy it but once the kids come , you have other obligations. We just can't throw money away.<br><br><br>Also personally, I would drive the smallest car that fit my needs just to avoid the oil rich companies/countries from making extra money. I would rather spend my extra money on anything but gasoline. All 3 of our Hondas fit our needs perfectly . We're a small family. We don't go camping or have big dogs to transport or tow a boat. If we did these things, of course, we would have to buy a bigger vehicle. By the way, 2 of the 3 Hondas that we own were made in Ohio... and our Camry was made in Kentucky.<br><br><br><br>Anyway, the post was supposed to show off the new car. Just like others have shown off their new cars, I wanted to show this one off. <br><br>By the way, when hubby had an accident in 2008, he was given a free rental car . The car was a Magnum. It was costing him nearly 20 dollars in gasoline a day! After a week, he returned it for a Corolla. Driving into NYC everyday is very expensive if you have a car with poor gas mileage.<br><br><br><br>maribell

<blockquote><strong class="quote-title">MINGOTOY wrote:</strong>
<hr><p><font color="#990033">I've always believed that somehow the oil companies are influencing the American car companies to not make a fuel efficient car. Look at the European car brands, all of their cars are efficient. Even the sporty ones. Yes, I am aware that many of the European cars are diesel and I know that gasoline over there is 2-3 times the cost of the USA. The bottom line is that the mileage of the smallest American cars isn't that great when you look at what Renault, Fiat, Peugeot,Seat,VW,etc are getting for their small cars. I just can't believe that Americans don't want fuel efficient cars. <br><br><br>maribell</font></p></blockquote>Maribell it is funny because Chevy once bought all the Cable/Trolly car companies and shut them all down so people would need to buy cars. I agree something is up as I cant figure out why in 100 yrs we cant make a more efficient engine? I also own "Forieng" cars - A CRV for the wifes long commute and a Nissan Titan that was cheaper than any other truck that was an extended cab. I have to say Adan that the American car companies screwed up and have been for 30 yrs, since the oil shortage. They let the others compete and deliver great reliable cars. Just recently Toyota was selling more cars than GM. Though toyota just screwed up and may end up at the bottom of the heap with this crazy recall. In Consumer reports every Honda , EVERY ONE, was recommended as a buy car....no other car company can say that. And they are quite roomy. I am 6'1" but have a long torso and have nothing but room in my wifes crv and lots of room in the back. And double the room of my Chevy truck in head room in the Titan.<br><br>Congrats on the buy, but I think Hybrid and electric cars arent the answer. Especially Electric cars because they are powered by horribly ungreen batteries and you need to plug them in, which uses electricity which comes from coal and oil.<br><br>

I dpnt spend "hundreds a week on gas", your blind claims about me and my life couldn't be further from the truth. I drive 27 miles each way to work and use about 40 in gas a week. It averages 25 mpg on the highway, has 3x the hp and torque that a Honda does, can tow a trailer and whatever else I so desire. I know my situation is different than most but that doesn't mean I enjoy pissing money away. If I was made of money like you claim I wouldn't have bought a 5 year old car...but since I'm not made of money, that's what I could afford. Wanna talk about expensive? I priced out a 2dr accord....and to get one in the pricerange I was looking for, it had 2x the miles of the Magnum and was 5 years older....so how does that make sense?<br>
Then there's utility....you can't beat it. Id love to see you or greg haul half of what I have, and to me and a lot of others, being able to haul cargo is worth sacraficing a few mpg....especially when you can still cruise at 80+ while loaded down with more than any honda or toyota could dream of.

Aah and for the mechanic...my truck has never been to one, nor have I done any "repairs". Sure I upgrade a lot of stuff but the truck has been flawless.<br>
And for the Magnum....ok I had an axle seal and inner tierod replaced for a whopping $150...so I guess that's just pissing money away.<br><br>
Oh yeah, did you know a lot of the Magnums components are Mercedes Benz? Transmission, differential, brakes...but even still you talk down on it.<br><br>
As for my experience with vehicles, of my families vehicles, the only ones that have had to go to the shop are my moms VW, her Lexus and my sisters Civics and my sisters Mitsubishi. Not my Dodges or my dads Fords...gee, imagine that.

<font color="#990000">Adam, I thought that your Magnum was new. Anyway, it just seems like you have a lot of money to spend by the posts on what you're doing to your truck. Adam, I don't know what you're hauling over there in Texas but here in Coram, NY, the biggest thing that I hauled in 2009 was a 40 gallon Rubbermaid garbage container. It fit nicely in the back seat of my CRV. It would've fit in any of the other cars too. I don't haul stuff but if I needed to haul something huge, I would have to rent a van.<br><br>Yes, they hold their value and when buying a used 5 year old car, you will always find the American car to be cheaper most of the time.. Think about the poor sap that paid full price for it and then traded it in or sold it cheap. So that is a good thing if you're in the market for a used car. Let's just hope that the American car doesn't fall apart.<br><br>On Long Island, the commute into NYC is brutal. It's 60 miles but you do it crawling at certain times of the day. My husband will leave sometimes at 4:30 am just to drive without traffic. He will then sit in a parking lot in NYC for 45minutes to an hour reading a newspaper and drinking coffee. Coming home, he has no choice but to crawl. Every evening , the trip is 2-3 hours average. On the Accord, he was filling the tank every 2 days . Over here on Long Island, there are thousands of Hondas and Toyotas. The majority of Long Islanders travel into NYC for work. It's brutal.<br><br>If my husband's commute were similar to yours, he wouldn't have that Civic Hybrid. He would have something a bit bigger.<br><br>Now , my brother has a similar commute but he drives into Queens. His commute is about 50 miles but since he starts later in the morning, his commute is slower than my husband's. He just bought a 2010 Prius. <br><br><br>maribell</font>

"...a hardon for all things unamerican..."<br><br><img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/roll.gif"> That's just too precious, Adam!!

Adam I agree with the hauling. My Titan gets 15/gal city, but not a problem because I can haul. My big display cabinet wouldn't have fit in my wifes crv. I give up good gas milage for hauling. I also have a 10 min commute each way to train (then hour and 20 minute ride) so no biggie.<br><br>
Most American car will not break down if you take care of them.

Maribell....for hauling, its all kinds of things. My trip back from Cincy after christmas....<br>
2 suit cases, big litter box, 3 antique ammo boxes, hallway wood cabinet, metal garage cart, small anvil, few new pairs of shoes in boces, 3 inch memory foam mattress topper, king size goose down comforter, a box with the stock suspension in it and lord knows what else. Doesn't sound like much but its all bulky stuff and I was so glad to have cargo room....and be able to easily cruise 80. Moh for 16 hours straight and ger 25 mpg.<br><br>
Then there's the first hauling experience I had...day after thanksgiving shopping, me, my grandparents and my aunt....all in the Magnum with a full day of shopping. Couldn't take my aunts Accord, WAY too small....and my grandparents Park Avenue wouldn't have worked either. <br><br>
As for my spending,..I am like everyone else. Make sacrafices elsewhere to do what I really enjoy. I use rabbit ears for TV, don't have a landline, no internet service and I cook instead of going out to eat like a lot of people my age...its all about doing what you want, making choices and doing the best you can while living within your means. If I had kids this would be ENTIRELY different and I know that but I'm not ready for a relationship or kids, so I don't travel the path that leads there lol.<br><br><br>
Anywho, saying US car manufacturers are inferior frustrates me, they catered to what americans wanted and in the last few years that changed DRASTICALLY and the small compact econoboxes that foreign countries fit the bill. Its dumb luck on their part (imports), but discounting american cars altogether is rediculous. Just like anything, it takes time to adapt and the playing field will be level.

I just have to laugh....toyota got over its trucks camshafts that were breaking only to currently recall 9 MILLOIN cars....and they just reported on the news that Honda has recalled 646,000 of its cars. Quality.

The U.S. manufacturers are making some great cars. As it would seem, not ones for what maribell wanted though. I'm a bit dissapointed that the ford Hybrids don't qualify for the HOV lanes but I imagine that will change.<br><br>
I think for what the maribell family needs a hybrid is a great choice. I noted how I believe that more cars should do as well or better but that's not the case. Not something a commuter can do much about right now.<br><br>
I only drive to work 7 days a month. I carpool with another person and they drive the other 7 so I can pretty much drive whatever I please and not go broke. LOL<br><br>
My wife works 3 blocks from home. As far as this topic goes, great choice in cars maribell. I'm sure it will make you a long lasting efficient vehicle. I know the time saved in traffic has to be priceless at that.

Adam - who here has "discounted American cars altogether"? ["American" should be capitalized, btw] Certainly not me; I have expressed a <em>preference</em>. You seem to like making unfounded sweeping generalizations.

I am aware of punctuation but I am typing all this out on a cell phone so excuse me for taking a shortcut or two.<br><br><br>
And the very first post "Detroit needs to buy some, take them apart and study them"....seems like a sweeping generalization to me...does it not to you?

No, it's not a sweeping generalization. It's noting that Detroit does not currently build an adequate competitor to the Honda Civic Hybrid. It's referring to ONE product; not the American car industry as a whole.

"No, it's not a sweeping generalization. It's noting that Detroit does not currently build an adequate competitor to the Honda Civic Hybrid. It's referring to ONE product; not the American car industry as a whole." <br><br><font color="#993300">Yes, that is what I meant. And not just the Civic Hybrid but the regular Civic and the Corolla. No U.S. car company makes a great small car in the USA. Yes, the Fiesta is coming and the reviews are very good but it's not here yet . The CRUZE is coming too eventually. That's expected to be sold in the USA later this year. Chrysler, they have nothing small coming out until the FIAT 500 arrives. <br><br>The FUSION / Milan would compare to an Accord/Camry in size anyway so that's why the economy isn't there for the hybrid version.<br><br><br>Anyway, I want to be patriotic but I can't spend thousands more on a car just to say that I am helping the US auto industry and then get stuck with an inferior product that doesn't deliver the gas milage and will depreciate faster than I can pay off the loan! Let their retired workers make the sacrifices give back benefits to GM/Ford so that they can build a cheaper car. (Opps , if this is about to start another heated discussion, then it's best to start a new thread.) Personally, if you have got to be crazy to pay $35,000 for that Milan hybrid. <br><br><br>maribell</font>