Honda Car Forum

I have always loved Civics. I am also reading about the hybrid
technology in the Prius.

Does anyone on here have the Civic Hybrid that they can give a report on
it?

I am not interested in that other Honda Hybrid - impractical for me.

I am going to decide between the Civic Hybrid and the Prius.

Harry

We bought a Civic Hybrid about 6 weeks ago and completely love it.

We get 50+ mpg on the highway and around 40-45 mpg city (automatic with
CVT).

We drove both the Prius and the Civic Hybrid before we bought the Civic.
They are fairly comparable in terms of power. Both cars have substantial
warranties on everything that touches the batteries and engine systems. The
Prius is totally tricked out and has lots of high-tech looking
instrumentation (and a goony display showing whether you're using battery,
gas, or a mixture). The 2004 Prius has been completely redesigned outside
and in. My wife hated the body style compared to the 2003 Prius -- she said
it looked like someone squashed a Volkswagon.

You probably already know that the Prius is battery only at very low speeds,
then the gas engine is mixed in. The Civic is the opposite -- gas only when
you start with battery assist. This translates into significantly better
mileage in heavy stop-and-go traffic (I think the Prius is rated at 55 city
compared to the Civic which is rated at 47).

The Prius seems to have an edge in the technology (and looks different from
any other Toyota)... whereas the Civic Hybrid looks like a Civic.

We ultimately went with the Civic for economic reasons. For some reason,
the Prius is considered an extremely hot car and there's lots of demand for
it. In Southern California, there's so much demand, that you have to wait 3
months to get one. (And because of that demand, there's no price
flexibility). WIth the Civic Hybrid, dealers had the cars in stock and
available immediately. Also, because there are more Civic Hybrids available
(and not as much demand), there was a lot of flexibility with the Civic
Hybrid. (There also are NO factory options for the Civic Hybrid --
everything's standard so you don't have to argue and haggle about expensive
options you might not want. The Prius has a couple of expensive options --
including a GPS display that spikes the price up considerably -- and dealers
are making a lot of money selling these cars.)

The bottom line is that we could got the Civic Hybrid for almost $5,000 less
and got it immediately.

Alex


"Harry Everhart" <harry@everhart.com> wrote in message
news:harry-2AE7C8.12304204022004@news.verizon.net...
> I have always loved Civics. I am also reading about the hybrid
> technology in the Prius.
>
> Does anyone on here have the Civic Hybrid that they can give a report on
> it?
>
> I am not interested in that other Honda Hybrid - impractical for me.
>
> I am going to decide between the Civic Hybrid and the Prius.
>
> Harry

Hi Alex -

Thanks for the write up on the Civic Hybrid. I love Civics and you sound
reall happy with your purchase.

What can I expect to pay - cash out the door?

I live in PA - where are you?

Harry

"Harry Everhart" <harry@everhart.com> wrote in message
news:harry-2AE7C8.12304204022004@news.verizon.net...
> I have always loved Civics. I am also reading about the hybrid
> technology in the Prius.
>
> Does anyone on here have the Civic Hybrid that they can give a report on
> it?
>
> I am not interested in that other Honda Hybrid - impractical for me.
>
> I am going to decide between the Civic Hybrid and the Prius.
>
> Harry

I have an '03 Civic Hybrid and an '04 Civic VP. I absolutely love both of
them, but the cost savings in fuel (especially here in GA where gas is dirt
cheap) really don't justify the expense of the Hybrid. Plus, in the long
term, I think maintence expenses will be higher on the Hybrid. Go check them
both out, but if you like Hybrid consider buying an LX or an EX and save
some cash. They're both highly efficient cars also.

Harry,
I have experience the exact same experience as Alex did. I too bought a
2004 Civic Hybrids with a little buyer remorse. I gave up the latest
Hybrids technology, some safety feature IE: HID lights, GPS, Air curtain
(Air bags), roomier full size sedan. But I saved over $6000 for the top of
the line Prius I wanted. I would not complaint about the modest Civic
Hybrids. It still cost a little over $21,000 tax + License out the door.

I only paid $50 over invoice due to more inventory was available in Seattle,
Washington. Since I commute more than 60 miles per day. I love me Hybrids
MPG over 42 mpg. But I exceed the speed limits everyday upto 80 mph at
times. So I can not complaint too much about the low 42 PMG I get on a daily
basis.

I do have to say, 04/ Prius gets a lot of looking eyes on the road. I
personally would have bought the 04/Prius if it was available around X-Mas.
But I'm glad I saved over $6000 vs Honda Civic Hybrids.

Good Luck on making your decision. I really don't think you can go wrong
with a Toyota or Honda Hybrids. Make sure you buy new to capture the tax
benefits.

Regards,
Jonathan

Current cars own
90 BMW 325 IC convertible
99 Honda Odyssey EX

Previous cars owned from 1989 on..
90 Toyota Camry DX
96 Chrysler LHS
92 Civic DX sedan
89 Civic hatchback (DX)
89 Civic Hatchback (Si)




"Alex M. Stein" <alexmstein@eartnospamhlink.net> wrote in message
news:GabUb.13046$uM2.7721@newsread1.news.pas.earth link.net...
> We bought a Civic Hybrid about 6 weeks ago and completely love it.
>
> We get 50+ mpg on the highway and around 40-45 mpg city (automatic with
> CVT).
>
> We drove both the Prius and the Civic Hybrid before we bought the Civic.
> They are fairly comparable in terms of power. Both cars have substantial
> warranties on everything that touches the batteries and engine systems.
The
> Prius is totally tricked out and has lots of high-tech looking
> instrumentation (and a goony display showing whether you're using battery,
> gas, or a mixture). The 2004 Prius has been completely redesigned outside
> and in. My wife hated the body style compared to the 2003 Prius -- she
said
> it looked like someone squashed a Volkswagon.
>
> You probably already know that the Prius is battery only at very low
speeds,
> then the gas engine is mixed in. The Civic is the opposite -- gas only
when
> you start with battery assist. This translates into significantly better
> mileage in heavy stop-and-go traffic (I think the Prius is rated at 55
city
> compared to the Civic which is rated at 47).
>
> The Prius seems to have an edge in the technology (and looks different
from
> any other Toyota)... whereas the Civic Hybrid looks like a Civic.
>
> We ultimately went with the Civic for economic reasons. For some reason,
> the Prius is considered an extremely hot car and there's lots of demand
for
> it. In Southern California, there's so much demand, that you have to wait
3
> months to get one. (And because of that demand, there's no price
> flexibility). WIth the Civic Hybrid, dealers had the cars in stock and
> available immediately. Also, because there are more Civic Hybrids
available
> (and not as much demand), there was a lot of flexibility with the Civic
> Hybrid. (There also are NO factory options for the Civic Hybrid --
> everything's standard so you don't have to argue and haggle about
expensive
> options you might not want. The Prius has a couple of expensive
options --
> including a GPS display that spikes the price up considerably -- and
dealers
> are making a lot of money selling these cars.)
>
> The bottom line is that we could got the Civic Hybrid for almost $5,000
less
> and got it immediately.
>
> Alex
>
>
> "Harry Everhart" <harry@everhart.com> wrote in message
> news:harry-2AE7C8.12304204022004@news.verizon.net...
> > I have always loved Civics. I am also reading about the hybrid
> > technology in the Prius.
> >
> > Does anyone on here have the Civic Hybrid that they can give a report on
> > it?
> >
> > I am not interested in that other Honda Hybrid - impractical for me.
> >
> > I am going to decide between the Civic Hybrid and the Prius.
> >
> > Harry
>
>

"tomamaron" <ed@aol.net> wrote in message
news:0tkUb.10638$qK3.8027@bignews3.bellsouth.net.. .
> I have an '03 Civic Hybrid and an '04 Civic VP. I absolutely love both of
> them, but the cost savings in fuel (especially here in GA where gas is
dirt
> cheap) really don't justify the expense of the Hybrid. Plus, in the long
> term, I think maintence expenses will be higher on the Hybrid. Go check
them
> both out, but if you like Hybrid consider buying an LX or an EX and save
> some cash. They're both highly efficient cars also.
>
>

Still wish it would go down from 1.50-1.80 up here around Carrollton and
Atlanta. =\

Robbie

Harry Everhart <harry@everhart.com> wrote in message news:<harry-8BF9E3.16073004022004@news.verizon.net>...
> Hi Alex -
>
> Thanks for the write up on the Civic Hybrid. I love Civics and you sound
> reall happy with your purchase.
>
> What can I expect to pay - cash out the door?
>
> I live in PA - where are you?

Since you're in PA, you'll want to apply for the AFV grant BEFORE you
purchase a hybrid. I don't know if they've got funding for this cycle,
but at least get an application in.

http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deput...v/afvafig1.htm
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/.../message/32603

In article <harry-2AE7C8.12304204022004@news.verizon.net>, Harry
Everhart <harry@everhart.com> wrote:

> I have always loved Civics. I am also reading about the hybrid
> technology in the Prius.
>
> Does anyone on here have the Civic Hybrid that they can give a report on
> it?
>
> I am not interested in that other Honda Hybrid - impractical for me.
>
> I am going to decide between the Civic Hybrid and the Prius.
>
> Harry
I have an '03 Civic Hybrid that I bought in August. I absolutely love
it. My daily commute to work is the worst kind of driving for mileage -
20 minutes of stop and go traffic on city streets. But I still get
around 40 MPG. I got 480 miles on my last tank, double what I had been
getting on my little Mazda pickup.

The driving experience is very nice - quiet and smooth. I like that it
is just like any other Civic as far as passenger room, luggage space
and styling. I just did a first pass at my 2003 taxes and will be
getting $2000 off my income (translates to around $500 extra cash for
me).

- Gary

Which transmission?


"Gary Gorbet" <ggorbet@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:050220042026166275%ggorbet@houston.rr.com...
> In article <harry-2AE7C8.12304204022004@news.verizon.net>, Harry
> Everhart <harry@everhart.com> wrote:
>
> > I have always loved Civics. I am also reading about the hybrid
> > technology in the Prius.
> >
> > Does anyone on here have the Civic Hybrid that they can give a report on
> > it?
> >
> > I am not interested in that other Honda Hybrid - impractical for me.
> >
> > I am going to decide between the Civic Hybrid and the Prius.
> >
> > Harry
> I have an '03 Civic Hybrid that I bought in August. I absolutely love
> it. My daily commute to work is the worst kind of driving for mileage -
> 20 minutes of stop and go traffic on city streets. But I still get
> around 40 MPG. I got 480 miles on my last tank, double what I had been
> getting on my little Mazda pickup.
>
> The driving experience is very nice - quiet and smooth. I like that it
> is just like any other Civic as far as passenger room, luggage space
> and styling. I just did a first pass at my 2003 taxes and will be
> getting $2000 off my income (translates to around $500 extra cash for
> me).
>
> - Gary

In article <1028d1qhs8arrea@corp.supernews.com>, Al Smith
<ecarecar@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Which transmission?
CVT.

>
>
> "Gary Gorbet" <ggorbet@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:050220042026166275%ggorbet@houston.rr.com...
> > In article <harry-2AE7C8.12304204022004@news.verizon.net>, Harry
> > Everhart <harry@everhart.com> wrote:
> >
> > > I have always loved Civics. I am also reading about the hybrid
> > > technology in the Prius.
> > >
> > > Does anyone on here have the Civic Hybrid that they can give a report on
> > > it?
> > >
> > > I am not interested in that other Honda Hybrid - impractical for me.
> > >
> > > I am going to decide between the Civic Hybrid and the Prius.
> > >
> > > Harry
> > I have an '03 Civic Hybrid that I bought in August. I absolutely love
> > it. My daily commute to work is the worst kind of driving for mileage -
> > 20 minutes of stop and go traffic on city streets. But I still get
> > around 40 MPG. I got 480 miles on my last tank, double what I had been
> > getting on my little Mazda pickup.
> >
> > The driving experience is very nice - quiet and smooth. I like that it
> > is just like any other Civic as far as passenger room, luggage space
> > and styling. I just did a first pass at my 2003 taxes and will be
> > getting $2000 off my income (translates to around $500 extra cash for
> > me).
> >
> > - Gary
>
>