"M. MacDonald" <mmacdon@bc.cc.ca.us> wrote in message
news:WUMaf.134$W4.30594@okeanos.csu.net...
>: Honda says its technology is fuel
> : efficient and cheaper, but that may not be enough to wow drivers.
>
> Honda missed the point.
>
> Their hybrid just too ugly - and the blame falls partly on that funky
> looking, fender-covered thing they tried to peddle (the Insight??).

That may be true for the Insight, but the Civic and Accord Hybrids look just
like regular Accords and Civics.

Persoanlly, I think the Toyota system is superior, although I remain
unconvinced that I really care that much about hybrids in general. However,
I think the size of the Prius, and the very positive press are major factors
contributing to it sales sucess. Also the distinctive, if unual styling
lets the world know that the driver really cares about the environment. The
enviromentalist driving a Civic Hybrid might not get noticed....

Insight (CVT) - 57 City / 56 Hwy / 56 combined
Insight (manual) - 60 City / 66 Hwy / 63 combined
Civic Hybrid - 49 City / 51 Hwy / 50 combined
Prius - 60 City / 51 Highway / 55 combined
Accord Hybrid (2005) - 29 City / 37 Hwy / 32 combined
Ford Escape (FWD) - 36 City / 31 Hwy / 33 combined
Toyota Highlander Hybrid (FWD) - 33 City / 28 Hwy / 30 combined
Toyota Camry (4 cylinder, 5 sp manual) - 24 City / 34 Hwy / 28 combined

Ed