Re: Civic Hybrid or Prius owners...
 

My Brother-In-Law bought a new Toyota Prius and loves it. I drove it for a
whole day and hated it. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

The Prius would get out on the big road and run at or above the legal
limit with no real difficulty other than taking 20 seconds or more to get
there. I don't know how this compares to the Civic, but with the Prius
there is very little acceleration, which might pose a hazard in situations
where you need some 'giddy-up 'n go" to get out of the way or otherwise
avoid. In a big city (i.e., Houston) the lack of positive acceleration is
a little scary.

On the highway you will definitely want to use the cruise control because
at both town and highway speeds I found it impossible to hold a steady
speed. There is also a general tendancy to understeer.

It's a little tiny car which (no surprise) rides like a little tiny car. I
think on a long trip it would beat my kidneys to death. Around town it
might be OK, but I'm 58 years old and when I get out on the highway I want
comfort. The Prius ain't it.

In article <030920042134353749%ggorbet@houston.rr.com> Gary Gorbet
<ggorbet@houston.rr.com> writes:

>In article <EpidnSVM9bBb6arcRVn-hA@adelphia.com>, nickd
><nickdepo@adelphia.net> wrote:
>
>> hi, i am currently looking for a new car.i know it will be a hybrid.my
>> question is are you happy with your hybrid? what do you like/dislike about
>> it?I'd like to hear your experiences with them.thanks, Nick
>>
>Nick,
>
>I'll answer your question directly. I've had my '03 Civic Hybrid for
>over a year now. I *love* driving it. It is quiet, smooth and very fuel
>efficient. It is plenty peppy, too. And has the general quality and
>reliabilty you've come to expect from Honda (and Toyota). I've had
>*zero* problems so far.
>
>In tough *real world* driving (a 20 minute drive back and forth to work
>year around in stop-and-go traffic), I am getting better than 40 miles
>to a gallon.
>
>Don't listen to the B.S. most of the posters on your thread are
>shoveling out. A hybrid is clearly environmentally friendly on the
>balance; and it clearly is a great gas saver. Every time the word
>"hybrid" comes up, these trolls come out of the wood work with their
>outrageous "proofs" that hybrids are a waste of money and good for
>nothing but "political statement". What hogwash!!
>
>You are obviously looking for what *you* regard as environmentally and
>economically responsible. Follow your own head, heart and common sense.
>I think you'd be happy with either the Civic Hybrid or the Prius. Best
>of luck to you.
>
>Gary

Re: Civic Hybrid or Prius owners...
 

My Brother-In-Law bought a new Toyota Prius and loves it. I drove it for a
whole day and hated it. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

The Prius would get out on the big road and run at or above the legal
limit with no real difficulty other than taking 20 seconds or more to get
there. I don't know how this compares to the Civic, but with the Prius
there is very little acceleration, which might pose a hazard in situations
where you need some 'giddy-up 'n go" to get out of the way or otherwise
avoid. In a big city (i.e., Houston) the lack of positive acceleration is
a little scary.

On the highway you will definitely want to use the cruise control because
at both town and highway speeds I found it impossible to hold a steady
speed. There is also a general tendancy to understeer.

It's a little tiny car which (no surprise) rides like a little tiny car. I
think on a long trip it would beat my kidneys to death. Around town it
might be OK, but I'm 58 years old and when I get out on the highway I want
comfort. The Prius ain't it.

In article <030920042134353749%ggorbet@houston.rr.com> Gary Gorbet
<ggorbet@houston.rr.com> writes:

>In article <EpidnSVM9bBb6arcRVn-hA@adelphia.com>, nickd
><nickdepo@adelphia.net> wrote:
>
>> hi, i am currently looking for a new car.i know it will be a hybrid.my
>> question is are you happy with your hybrid? what do you like/dislike about
>> it?I'd like to hear your experiences with them.thanks, Nick
>>
>Nick,
>
>I'll answer your question directly. I've had my '03 Civic Hybrid for
>over a year now. I *love* driving it. It is quiet, smooth and very fuel
>efficient. It is plenty peppy, too. And has the general quality and
>reliabilty you've come to expect from Honda (and Toyota). I've had
>*zero* problems so far.
>
>In tough *real world* driving (a 20 minute drive back and forth to work
>year around in stop-and-go traffic), I am getting better than 40 miles
>to a gallon.
>
>Don't listen to the B.S. most of the posters on your thread are
>shoveling out. A hybrid is clearly environmentally friendly on the
>balance; and it clearly is a great gas saver. Every time the word
>"hybrid" comes up, these trolls come out of the wood work with their
>outrageous "proofs" that hybrids are a waste of money and good for
>nothing but "political statement". What hogwash!!
>
>You are obviously looking for what *you* regard as environmentally and
>economically responsible. Follow your own head, heart and common sense.
>I think you'd be happy with either the Civic Hybrid or the Prius. Best
>of luck to you.
>
>Gary

Re: Civic Hybrid or Prius owners...
 

"Al Smith" <ecarecar@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:<10jhk41hvctenb5@corp.supernews.com>...
> "jim beam" <nospam@example.net> wrote in message
> news:w6OdnRl7OYjwMKXcRVn-qQ@comcast.com...
> > wait a minute - if your diesel hybrid has the same batteries and has to
> > go to the same dealer, where's the difference?...
>
> Obvious. A diesel is about 15% more efficient than an Otto. That's
> the difference. Although there is no efficiency increase from
> eliminating ignition advance, there is still significant efficiency
> increase.

Do the hybrid Hondas use the Otto cycle? I know that the Toyota Prius
uses the Atkinson cycle - how would that compare to the diesel for
efficiency? (We already know that the emissions are worse for the
diesel, especially with the dirty fuel in the US...)

Re: Civic Hybrid or Prius owners...
 

"Al Smith" <ecarecar@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:<10jhk41hvctenb5@corp.supernews.com>...
> "jim beam" <nospam@example.net> wrote in message
> news:w6OdnRl7OYjwMKXcRVn-qQ@comcast.com...
> > wait a minute - if your diesel hybrid has the same batteries and has to
> > go to the same dealer, where's the difference?...
>
> Obvious. A diesel is about 15% more efficient than an Otto. That's
> the difference. Although there is no efficiency increase from
> eliminating ignition advance, there is still significant efficiency
> increase.

Do the hybrid Hondas use the Otto cycle? I know that the Toyota Prius
uses the Atkinson cycle - how would that compare to the diesel for
efficiency? (We already know that the emissions are worse for the
diesel, especially with the dirty fuel in the US...)

Re: Civic Hybrid or Prius owners...
 

"VW" <nospam.v-w@rocketmail.com> wrote in message news:<px7_c.381$fF2.141@trnddc03>...
> Nickd,
> I just got my Civic Hybrid in May. My preference was for the Toyota Prius
> (more interior and cargo space, higher gas mileage, better Consumer Reports
> evaluation) but the wait lists were just too long. For commuting I wanted
> gas efficiency and most importantly, the added bonus (in Virginia only until
> 2006) that with special license tags, hybrid/clean fuel vehicles are allowed
> in the restricted High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes during rush hour. I
> will also get a federal tax credit ($1500 in '04). Civic itself is still a

Actually, it's a $1500 US federal income tax DEDUCTION, not credit.
See IRS Publication 535, chapter 12, for the Clean Fueled Vehicle
tax deduction. (Only good on new hybrids, not leased, for the tax
year that the vehicle is purchased within. Up to Dec. 31, 2003 the
deduction was $2000, for 2004 it's $1500, for 2005 it's $1000, and it
keeps reducing by $500 each year thereafter until it finally sunsets,
or the date gets moved again by congress...)

How much the deduction is worth to you in taxes depends on the tax
bracket that you're in.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/...01-13-ym_x.htm

Re: Civic Hybrid or Prius owners...
 

"VW" <nospam.v-w@rocketmail.com> wrote in message news:<px7_c.381$fF2.141@trnddc03>...
> Nickd,
> I just got my Civic Hybrid in May. My preference was for the Toyota Prius
> (more interior and cargo space, higher gas mileage, better Consumer Reports
> evaluation) but the wait lists were just too long. For commuting I wanted
> gas efficiency and most importantly, the added bonus (in Virginia only until
> 2006) that with special license tags, hybrid/clean fuel vehicles are allowed
> in the restricted High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes during rush hour. I
> will also get a federal tax credit ($1500 in '04). Civic itself is still a

Actually, it's a $1500 US federal income tax DEDUCTION, not credit.
See IRS Publication 535, chapter 12, for the Clean Fueled Vehicle
tax deduction. (Only good on new hybrids, not leased, for the tax
year that the vehicle is purchased within. Up to Dec. 31, 2003 the
deduction was $2000, for 2004 it's $1500, for 2005 it's $1000, and it
keeps reducing by $500 each year thereafter until it finally sunsets,
or the date gets moved again by congress...)

How much the deduction is worth to you in taxes depends on the tax
bracket that you're in.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/...01-13-ym_x.htm

Re: Civic Hybrid or Prius owners...
 

Bubba <wdg@[204.52.135.1]> wrote in message news:<7sajj0da996aan5hohcffja2eioev0un8a@4ax.com>. ..
> My Brother-In-Law bought a new Toyota Prius and loves it. I drove it for a
> whole day and hated it. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.
>
> The Prius would get out on the big road and run at or above the legal
> limit with no real difficulty other than taking 20 seconds or more to get
> there. I don't know how this compares to the Civic, but with the Prius
> there is very little acceleration, which might pose a hazard in situations
> where you need some 'giddy-up 'n go" to get out of the way or otherwise
> avoid. In a big city (i.e., Houston) the lack of positive acceleration is
> a little scary.

Seems like you're used to driving by listening to the sound of the
engine... On the Prius (which has an eCVT), the sound of the engine
does not correspond to the speed that you're going, but to the amount
of power that you're requesting. Many people new to the car, and used
to listening to the engine (usually people coming from a manual
tranmsission vehicle), when they floor the accelerator pedal and hear
the engine roar, instinctively take their foot off of the pedal thinking
that they're straining the engine (you can't strain the engine). If
you're asking a Prius for heavy acceleration, or going up a steep hill,
the engine will be very loud/high RPMs. If you're coasting or going
downhill, the engine will turn off (even at highway speeds). So, you
just can't listen to the engine - just drive the car, watch the
spedometer if you have to, but there's more than enough ooomph to get
you going and out of harm's way.

I haven't hung around the CVT Civic hybrid boards long enough to know
if there's a similar engine sound different than what you'd expect
issue...

Re: Civic Hybrid or Prius owners...
 

Bubba <wdg@[204.52.135.1]> wrote in message news:<7sajj0da996aan5hohcffja2eioev0un8a@4ax.com>. ..
> My Brother-In-Law bought a new Toyota Prius and loves it. I drove it for a
> whole day and hated it. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.
>
> The Prius would get out on the big road and run at or above the legal
> limit with no real difficulty other than taking 20 seconds or more to get
> there. I don't know how this compares to the Civic, but with the Prius
> there is very little acceleration, which might pose a hazard in situations
> where you need some 'giddy-up 'n go" to get out of the way or otherwise
> avoid. In a big city (i.e., Houston) the lack of positive acceleration is
> a little scary.

Seems like you're used to driving by listening to the sound of the
engine... On the Prius (which has an eCVT), the sound of the engine
does not correspond to the speed that you're going, but to the amount
of power that you're requesting. Many people new to the car, and used
to listening to the engine (usually people coming from a manual
tranmsission vehicle), when they floor the accelerator pedal and hear
the engine roar, instinctively take their foot off of the pedal thinking
that they're straining the engine (you can't strain the engine). If
you're asking a Prius for heavy acceleration, or going up a steep hill,
the engine will be very loud/high RPMs. If you're coasting or going
downhill, the engine will turn off (even at highway speeds). So, you
just can't listen to the engine - just drive the car, watch the
spedometer if you have to, but there's more than enough ooomph to get
you going and out of harm's way.

I haven't hung around the CVT Civic hybrid boards long enough to know
if there's a similar engine sound different than what you'd expect
issue...

Re: Civic Hybrid or Prius owners...
 

"Michelle Vadeboncoeur" <mrv@kluge.net> wrote in message
news:5ce77eb2.0409041507.6eafe24d@posting.google.c om...
> "Al Smith" <ecarecar@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:<10jhk41hvctenb5@corp.supernews.com>...
> > "jim beam" <nospam@example.net> wrote in message
> > news:w6OdnRl7OYjwMKXcRVn-qQ@comcast.com...
> > > wait a minute - if your diesel hybrid has the same batteries and has
to
> > > go to the same dealer, where's the difference?...
> >
> > Obvious. A diesel is about 15% more efficient than an Otto. That's
> > the difference. Although there is no efficiency increase from
> > eliminating ignition advance, there is still significant efficiency
> > increase.
>
> Do the hybrid Hondas use the Otto cycle? I know that the Toyota Prius
> uses the Atkinson cycle - how would that compare to the diesel for
> efficiency? (We already know that the emissions are worse for the
> diesel, especially with the dirty fuel in the US...)

Interesting. I hadn't heard of the Atkinson cycle, although I have
heard of his diet.

Honda uses what they call a V-TEC engine. It changes the
timing of the intake valve with increasing engine speed. However,
I don't believe it is intended to
change the compression ratio although it probably does to some extent.
The Atkinson is a variation of the Otto cycle.

Depending upon when you closed the intake valve during the "compression"
stroke, I suppose the Atkinson cycle could be more efficient than the
Diesel cycle. However, the power output per cycle would be greatly
reduced. Therefore, to get the same amount of power as produced
by a 4-cylinder Otto or Diesel, one would need a 6 or 8 cylinder engine.
The energy require to operated the extra cylinders would tend to decrease
the overall efficiency of the engine. Where the balance would be is not
known to me.

Re: Civic Hybrid or Prius owners...
 

"Michelle Vadeboncoeur" <mrv@kluge.net> wrote in message
news:5ce77eb2.0409041507.6eafe24d@posting.google.c om...
> "Al Smith" <ecarecar@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:<10jhk41hvctenb5@corp.supernews.com>...
> > "jim beam" <nospam@example.net> wrote in message
> > news:w6OdnRl7OYjwMKXcRVn-qQ@comcast.com...
> > > wait a minute - if your diesel hybrid has the same batteries and has
to
> > > go to the same dealer, where's the difference?...
> >
> > Obvious. A diesel is about 15% more efficient than an Otto. That's
> > the difference. Although there is no efficiency increase from
> > eliminating ignition advance, there is still significant efficiency
> > increase.
>
> Do the hybrid Hondas use the Otto cycle? I know that the Toyota Prius
> uses the Atkinson cycle - how would that compare to the diesel for
> efficiency? (We already know that the emissions are worse for the
> diesel, especially with the dirty fuel in the US...)

Interesting. I hadn't heard of the Atkinson cycle, although I have
heard of his diet.

Honda uses what they call a V-TEC engine. It changes the
timing of the intake valve with increasing engine speed. However,
I don't believe it is intended to
change the compression ratio although it probably does to some extent.
The Atkinson is a variation of the Otto cycle.

Depending upon when you closed the intake valve during the "compression"
stroke, I suppose the Atkinson cycle could be more efficient than the
Diesel cycle. However, the power output per cycle would be greatly
reduced. Therefore, to get the same amount of power as produced
by a 4-cylinder Otto or Diesel, one would need a 6 or 8 cylinder engine.
The energy require to operated the extra cylinders would tend to decrease
the overall efficiency of the engine. Where the balance would be is not
known to me.