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Test drove a '06 Civic EX 4dr. This is a sweet car. I liked everything
except the location of the emergency brake --my knee hits it. The car
reminds me of the '88 Prelude, another sweet Honda.

I thought they were do to arrive next month.

Pars

"higgledy" <higgledy@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1127009120.781370.100610@g14g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> Test drove a '06 Civic EX 4dr. This is a sweet car. I liked everything
> except the location of the emergency brake --my knee hits it. The car
> reminds me of the '88 Prelude, another sweet Honda.
>

Pars wrote:

> I thought they were do to arrive next month.
>
> Pars
>
Perhaps they have already arrived in the U.S.? Honda's U.S. website now
lists the '06 under its current models instead of the '05. Not sure if
anybody here knew this, but the specs on the site say that the new Civic
retains a strut-based suspension in the front. Performance-minded folks
won't be too pleased about that (although it doesn't matter to me).

I know that Canada is supposed to get the sedan and non-Si coupe next month.

High Tech Misfit <me@privacy.net> wrote:
> Perhaps they have already arrived in the U.S.? Honda's U.S. website now
> lists the '06 under its current models instead of the '05. Not sure if

I was interested in the 06 Civic Hybrid. Someone said that it can now
operate in electric-only mode at low speeds, which would require some
redesign, maybe moving the IMA to the other side of the CVT, and making it
direct drive.

It isn't available until October, and the web site still shows the 05 for
the Hybrid.

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5

In article <dgkjd5$96d$2@blue.rahul.net>, dold@XReXXAllXn.usenet.us.com
wrote:

> I was interested in the 06 Civic Hybrid. Someone said that it can now
> operate in electric-only mode at low speeds, which would require some
> redesign, maybe moving the IMA to the other side of the CVT, and making it
> direct drive.

Not at all. They merely beefed up the battery and the motor. It's the
same old IMA, just stronger. Then they rewrote the controller software
to accommodate that.

It already stops the engine at traffic lights; now, it can keep the
engine turned off for brief spurts up to 30mph.

Toyota's technology is way, way too tricky and involved. Honda use the
KISS method. They kept it simple.

Elmo P. Shagnasty <elmop@nastydesigns.com> wrote:
> In article <dgkjd5$96d$2@blue.rahul.net>, dold@XReXXAllXn.usenet.us.com
> wrote:

>> I was interested in the 06 Civic Hybrid. Someone said that it can now
>> operate in electric-only mode at low speeds, which would require some
>> redesign, maybe moving the IMA to the other side of the CVT, and making it
>> direct drive.

> Not at all. They merely beefed up the battery and the motor. It's the
> same old IMA, just stronger. Then they rewrote the controller software
> to accommodate that.

> It already stops the engine at traffic lights; now, it can keep the
> engine turned off for brief spurts up to 30mph.

The IMA is mated to the crankshaft. The engine has to turn if the IMA is
turning. It wouldn't seem to be very efficient to turn a dead engine. The
VTEC can shut the valves off, so there is less pumping energy needed, but
there's still a lot of mass and friction.

If the IMA were moved to the other side of the transmission, it would be
more efficient, but that would be a substantial redesign. That would also
limit the top speed to some moderate speed.

The articles that I've read don't comment much about the "idle stop" except
to say that it is used more often in the new model. One review does say
that the VTEC shuts down all of the valves during low speed steady state
operations for IMA-only drive. Another review notes that they could never
get the IMA to drive the car with the engine off. Maybe the tach still
indicates the motor speed, and they couldn't tell, maybe it is really hard
to maintain the low load.

Ah, here's a good one:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005...mation_abo.php
with a link to http://world.honda.com/news/2005/4050705_b.html

The VTEC is now more of the traditional VTEC. My 2003 only has "normal"
and "cylinder shutdown" modes. The 2006 has idle, low, and high speed
cams.

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5

"High Tech Misfit" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:1jkwgb2k7bzrz$.dlg@hightech.misfit...
> Pars wrote:
>
> > I thought they were do to arrive next month.
> >
> > Pars
> >
> Perhaps they have already arrived in the U.S.? Honda's U.S. website now
> lists the '06 under its current models instead of the '05. Not sure if
> anybody here knew this, but the specs on the site say that the new Civic
> retains a strut-based suspension in the front. Performance-minded folks
> won't be too pleased about that (although it doesn't matter to me).

Oh well....
Judging from the success of the Celica, RSX, Mazda 3, etc the front strut
can't be all that bad. It's serious business trying to make a compact strut
design as capable as a double wishbone. Perhaps this time round, Honda got
it right. (I wonder how well it'd do while making a highspeed u-turn, coming
off a curb with the wheels fully cranked and then planting the power as soon
as the wheel hits the ground....I know for a fact that the double wishbone
up front makes you look like a prow)

Pars
98 Civic Hatch

>
> I know that Canada is supposed to get the sedan and non-Si coupe next
month.

Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
> Toyota's technology is way, way too tricky and involved. Honda use the
> KISS method. They kept it simple.

gee- they oughta use that as a slogan, or something!

"higgledy" <higgledy@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1127009120.781370.100610@g14g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> Test drove a '06 Civic EX 4dr. This is a sweet car. I liked everything
> except the location of the emergency brake --my knee hits it. The car
> reminds me of the '88 Prelude, another sweet Honda.
>
I looked at them this weekend when I was at the dealer for service. Seemed
like a significant improvement. Of course, no test drives. I would
consider a SI (when they appear) but only if I have an opportunity to drive
it before I even weigh whether trading my 01 Prelude would be a good move.