Honda Car Forum

I have read several posts about the Civic hybrid. We have had ours for
a year now.After a thousand miles, with the a/c off, I was averaging
34 mpg. I took it back to the dealer and complained. They said that
since it only had 1000 miles, the mileage figure was not what is to be
expected, and after a good break-in (he suggested 4000 miles), we
should be getting close to the EPA 46/48. We therefore drove the Civic
on a 2000 mile interstate trip to get the mileage up. We averaged 40.6
on the interstate trip. We now have almost 5000 miles on the car, and
the last two tanks averaged 33 mpg. I think that is ridiculous. If we
were getting 43, I would feel scammed, but good night, 33? It's
really a crime. Can't wait to see what the dealer says when I take it
back in a few weeks for service.

I also get very disgusted when some say that it's the way people drive
that is the problem. We live in flat-land and drive it normally
without rabbit starts etc. 33 is disgusting.

That does sound appalling; I'd be annoyed, too.

A September thread here on Civic hybrid mileage may be of interest to you:
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...6a538ae&rnum=3

Some folks (and consumer agencies) report as you do. Others have better
experiences.


"muzz" <jmuzz@charter.net> wrote
> I have read several posts about the Civic hybrid. We have had ours for
> a year now.After a thousand miles, with the a/c off, I was averaging
> 34 mpg. I took it back to the dealer and complained. They said that
> since it only had 1000 miles, the mileage figure was not what is to be
> expected, and after a good break-in (he suggested 4000 miles), we
> should be getting close to the EPA 46/48. We therefore drove the Civic
> on a 2000 mile interstate trip to get the mileage up. We averaged 40.6
> on the interstate trip. We now have almost 5000 miles on the car, and
> the last two tanks averaged 33 mpg. I think that is ridiculous. If we
> were getting 43, I would feel scammed, but good night, 33? It's
> really a crime. Can't wait to see what the dealer says when I take it
> back in a few weeks for service.
>
> I also get very disgusted when some say that it's the way people drive
> that is the problem. We live in flat-land and drive it normally
> without rabbit starts etc. 33 is disgusting.

In article <pk1fq05fh7934ip2ifdom6tbpdddd8ih9a@4ax.com>,
muzz <jmuzz@charter.net> wrote:

> I have read several posts about the Civic hybrid. We have had ours for
> a year now.After a thousand miles, with the a/c off, I was averaging
> 34 mpg. I took it back to the dealer and complained. They said that
> since it only had 1000 miles, the mileage figure was not what is to be
> expected, and after a good break-in (he suggested 4000 miles), we
> should be getting close to the EPA 46/48. We therefore drove the Civic
> on a 2000 mile interstate trip to get the mileage up. We averaged 40.6
> on the interstate trip. We now have almost 5000 miles on the car, and
> the last two tanks averaged 33 mpg. I think that is ridiculous. If we
> were getting 43, I would feel scammed, but good night, 33? It's
> really a crime. Can't wait to see what the dealer says when I take it
> back in a few weeks for service.
>
> I also get very disgusted when some say that it's the way people drive
> that is the problem. We live in flat-land and drive it normally
> without rabbit starts etc. 33 is disgusting.

A standard engine Corolla will get you better than that...

muzz wrote:
> I have read several posts about the Civic hybrid. We have had ours for
> a year now.After a thousand miles, with the a/c off, I was averaging
> 34 mpg. I took it back to the dealer and complained. They said that
> since it only had 1000 miles, the mileage figure was not what is to be
> expected, and after a good break-in (he suggested 4000 miles), we
> should be getting close to the EPA 46/48. We therefore drove the Civic
> on a 2000 mile interstate trip to get the mileage up. We averaged 40.6
> on the interstate trip. We now have almost 5000 miles on the car, and
> the last two tanks averaged 33 mpg. I think that is ridiculous. If we
> were getting 43, I would feel scammed, but good night, 33? It's
> really a crime. Can't wait to see what the dealer says when I take it
> back in a few weeks for service.
>
> I also get very disgusted when some say that it's the way people drive
> that is the problem. We live in flat-land and drive it normally
> without rabbit starts etc. 33 is disgusting.
>

with respect, that's not surprising. the only time the hybrid comes
into its own is in city driving. constant stop/start consumes a lot of
gas with a conventional car. if you live/drive in a non-urban area, the
vehicle needs to get the energy to travel from somewhere, and burning
gas is the only way to do it. that's how hybrids work well in the city
- if the vehicle's not moving, or moving slowly, it doesn't need to burn
gas - conventional cars do.

muzz wrote:

> I also get very disgusted when some say that it's the way people drive
> that is the problem. We live in flat-land and drive it normally
> without rabbit starts etc. 33 is disgusting.

the toyotas give better mileage in the city.

40.6 mpg seems like a acceptable mileage for interstate driving, since the
battery's assist during hwy driving is at a minimum. So, the 40.6mpg would
indicate that th engine is working within spec without any assist from the
battery. Also, the 33mpg is a norm for city driving, for a non-hybrid Civic,
that's packing an automatic tranny....

Let us know if the mechanic finds anything wrong with the car's Battery
Assist.

Pars
98 Civic Hatch (36 mpg - combined)

"muzz" <jmuzz@charter.net> wrote in message
newsk1fq05fh7934ip2ifdom6tbpdddd8ih9a@4ax.com...
> I have read several posts about the Civic hybrid. We have had ours for
> a year now.After a thousand miles, with the a/c off, I was averaging
> 34 mpg. I took it back to the dealer and complained. They said that
> since it only had 1000 miles, the mileage figure was not what is to be
> expected, and after a good break-in (he suggested 4000 miles), we
> should be getting close to the EPA 46/48. We therefore drove the Civic
> on a 2000 mile interstate trip to get the mileage up. We averaged 40.6
> on the interstate trip. We now have almost 5000 miles on the car, and
> the last two tanks averaged 33 mpg. I think that is ridiculous. If we
> were getting 43, I would feel scammed, but good night, 33? It's
> really a crime. Can't wait to see what the dealer says when I take it
> back in a few weeks for service.
>
> I also get very disgusted when some say that it's the way people drive
> that is the problem. We live in flat-land and drive it normally
> without rabbit starts etc. 33 is disgusting.
>
>
>

People who buy them in my area, get them for the HOV lanes. A person at
work has one and I asked him about the mileage, he told me he did not care
about the mileage, be bought the car for the HOV lanes.
If not for the HOV lanes, they would not sell as good as they do now around
here (Northern VA)

Gary

"muzz" <jmuzz@charter.net> wrote in message
newsk1fq05fh7934ip2ifdom6tbpdddd8ih9a@4ax.com...
>I have read several posts about the Civic hybrid. We have had ours for
> a year now.After a thousand miles, with the a/c off, I was averaging
> 34 mpg. I took it back to the dealer and complained. They said that
> since it only had 1000 miles, the mileage figure was not what is to be
> expected, and after a good break-in (he suggested 4000 miles), we
> should be getting close to the EPA 46/48. We therefore drove the Civic
> on a 2000 mile interstate trip to get the mileage up. We averaged 40.6
> on the interstate trip. We now have almost 5000 miles on the car, and
> the last two tanks averaged 33 mpg. I think that is ridiculous. If we
> were getting 43, I would feel scammed, but good night, 33? It's
> really a crime. Can't wait to see what the dealer says when I take it
> back in a few weeks for service.
>
> I also get very disgusted when some say that it's the way people drive
> that is the problem. We live in flat-land and drive it normally
> without rabbit starts etc. 33 is disgusting.
>
>
>

"muzz" <jmuzz@charter.net> wrote in message
newsk1fq05fh7934ip2ifdom6tbpdddd8ih9a@4ax.com...
> I have read several posts about the Civic hybrid. We have had ours for
> a year now.After a thousand miles, with the a/c off, I was averaging
> 34 mpg. I took it back to the dealer and complained. They said that
> since it only had 1000 miles, the mileage figure was not what is to be
> expected, and after a good break-in (he suggested 4000 miles), we
> should be getting close to the EPA 46/48. We therefore drove the Civic
> on a 2000 mile interstate trip to get the mileage up. We averaged 40.6
> on the interstate trip. We now have almost 5000 miles on the car, and
> the last two tanks averaged 33 mpg. I think that is ridiculous. If we
> were getting 43, I would feel scammed, but good night, 33? It's
> really a crime. Can't wait to see what the dealer says when I take it
> back in a few weeks for service.
>
> I also get very disgusted when some say that it's the way people drive
> that is the problem. We live in flat-land and drive it normally
> without rabbit starts etc. 33 is disgusting.
>
>
>
Interesting. Along with a Pilot and a 01 Prelude, we also have an 03 Civic
LX 4 dr 5 speed. I routinely get 36-38 on the highway with the ac on -- we
live in GA and it does get hot. Urban driving -- around 33-34. My
Prelude -- usually around 27 in mixed highway/urban but I usually run a
little harder into the VTEc -- did get 32 on a long trip last year. I run
both cars around 80 on trips.

In article <pk1fq05fh7934ip2ifdom6tbpdddd8ih9a@4ax.com>,
muzz <jmuzz@charter.net> wrote:
>I also get very disgusted when some say that it's the way people drive
>that is the problem. We live in flat-land and drive it normally
>without rabbit starts etc. 33 is disgusting.

What other cars have you driven, and what fuel economy did you get in
the other cars, compared to the EPA ratings?

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Timothy J. Lee
Unsolicited bulk or commercial email is not welcome.
No warranty of any kind is provided with this message.

muzz wrote:
>
> I have read several posts about the Civic hybrid. We have had ours for
> a year now.After a thousand miles, with the a/c off, I was averaging
> 34 mpg. I took it back to the dealer and complained. They said that
> since it only had 1000 miles, the mileage figure was not what is to be
> expected, and after a good break-in (he suggested 4000 miles), we
> should be getting close to the EPA 46/48. We therefore drove the Civic
> on a 2000 mile interstate trip to get the mileage up. We averaged 40.6
> on the interstate trip. We now have almost 5000 miles on the car, and
> the last two tanks averaged 33 mpg. I think that is ridiculous. If we
> were getting 43, I would feel scammed, but good night, 33? It's
> really a crime. Can't wait to see what the dealer says when I take it
> back in a few weeks for service.
>
> I also get very disgusted when some say that it's the way people drive
> that is the problem. We live in flat-land and drive it normally
> without rabbit starts etc. 33 is disgusting.



I'm working on a 1983 Honda Civic FE project. This car was EPA rated at
46 mpg (city) and 59 mpg (highway). Realistically, I would expect about
35 mpg (city) and maybe 45 mpg (highway).

My only new car, a 1961 VW beetle got over 50 mpg on extreme highway driving.

Soooooooooo, I'm inclined to think that this hybrid crap is a scam if
you consider the cost of the car, maintenance, and repair parts/labor.

I'll stick with the older carbureted car and depend more on the nut
behind the wheel...


--
JT

Just tooling through cyberspace in my ancient G4