View Full Version : Drove the 2003 Civic Hybrid (Gas/Electric) Today
...
and damn I like it!
It's a real nice car for what it is, unfortunatly the price isn't nice(29k.)
My dad got one as a loaner from BMW while they repair the 330Ci... :(
Anyways... onto the car!
First impressions is that it's just another civic sedan, but that's where it ends. The color scheme in this particular car made it look much, much better than most choices. A black/tan combination with silver controls. Very classy looking.
The gauges are unbelievably cool! Definatly one of the BEST gauge sets I have ever seen, and most definatly the coolest! They look amazing as you can see from the attached pic.
It drives damn nice too, one of the first things you notice is the CVT. It's damn smooth and the car has a lot of low-end torque and a lot of pep to get moving, once you get above 40km/hr though you definatly start to see the 83hp engine(93hp with electric assist.) The electric powersteering is better than most and the brakes are some of the best for a smaller 'economy' car.
Definatly a very nice package for driving to work/groceries/etc. It is a very relaxed car in which you always seem to be in control of, nothing ever seems to get out of hand, even when pushing it.
I like it!
Woah, I like how the gauges look haha you're right..
Matrix1
02-02-2003, 03:47 AM
what does it do 0-100k's or the quartar mile in?
GTS Jeff
02-02-2003, 05:48 AM
Originally posted by Matrix1
what does it do 0-100k's or the quartar mile in? lol why would u even ask such a thing?
anyway, im glad u like the car...honda has done a great job on this car, as they should. the honda insight was good in that it let honda test out a lot of the features in the civic hybrid...and as for the electric powersteering...they should be damn good! honda has tons of experience with electric steering
three.eighteen.
02-02-2003, 07:56 AM
i still think the insight is an awesome platform for some race/drag team to get into...after all if its legal to slap an H22 in a civic and drag that...imagine what a b18 could do for the insight? :eek:
___2PaC___
02-02-2003, 10:38 AM
Originally posted by defekt1
Woah, I like how the gauges look haha you're right..
:werd:
Glowrider
02-02-2003, 10:55 AM
My dad got one as a loaner from BMW while they repair the 330Ci
I admire your dad. They tried to pull that crap with me when my M3 blew its engine at 549 miles. They gave me a VOUCHER to RENT a car, which was a FORD ESCORT! Oh my God. I called and yelled as much as I could, finally I got them to deliver a 528i loaner to me, and take back the shitty Escort.
You're right though, the gauges do look cool.
max_boost
02-02-2003, 12:52 PM
Given all those strong points of the Civic, I think I would still pick a Diesel VW over the Civic! Maybe its the pimp factor :D
those guages DO look pretty cool. I'd like a cluster like that, except with the speedo on the side and the tach big and center.
Originally posted by Glowrider
I admire your dad. They tried to pull that crap with me when my M3 blew its engine at 549 miles. They gave me a VOUCHER to RENT a car, which was a FORD ESCORT! Oh my God. I called and yelled as much as I could, finally I got them to deliver a 528i loaner to me, and take back the shitty Escort.
You're right though, the gauges do look cool.
Yeah, the BMW dealership here owns one of the Honda dealerships, so naturally they try to give you a Honda as a loaner.
The 330Ci used to me mine until I sold it to my dad and whenever I got it serviced I always got a Honda loaner. I got a CR-V a few times.
I had to really bitch and complain to get a BMW loaner, which was only a 320i when they did give it out.
lammer
02-02-2003, 02:43 PM
Originally posted by defekt1
Woah, I like how the gauges look haha you're right..
:werd: i like it.
STI-Guy
02-02-2003, 07:34 PM
29k for a hybrid Civic? No thank you.
Glowrider
02-02-2003, 07:37 PM
$29k is worth it IMO if you're looking for a really efficient car. I'm willing to bet you'd more than make up for the cost of the car in fuel efficiency. Keep in mind, not EVERYONE is interested in how fast a car can dart from 0-60 or run down the 1/4 mile. Or how fast it runs the slalom.
STI-Guy
02-02-2003, 07:40 PM
How efficient is the Prius?
SilverStreak
02-02-2003, 07:41 PM
Originally posted by bol
Yeah, the BMW dealership here owns one of the Honda dealerships, so naturally they try to give you a Honda as a loaner.
The 330Ci used to me mine until I sold it to my dad and whenever I got it serviced I always got a Honda loaner. I got a CR-V a few times.
I had to really bitch and complain to get a BMW loaner, which was only a 320i when they did give it out.
Which Honda dealer do they own so that I can never go to that one? :D
Glowrider
02-02-2003, 07:43 PM
No idea what kind of mileage that car gets.
Originally posted by SilverStreak
Which Honda dealer do they own so that I can never go to that one? :D
Calgary Honda
GTS Jeff
02-02-2003, 07:52 PM
Originally posted by three.eighteen.
i still think the insight is an awesome platform for some race/drag team to get into...after all if its legal to slap an H22 in a civic and drag that...imagine what a b18 could do for the insight? :eek: nothing it couldnt do in a crx hf....just as light and way less money
Glowrider
02-02-2003, 07:52 PM
They both get pretty much the same gas mileage, give or take 1 or 2 mpg. If I was in the market for one of these cars, I think I would take the Civic Hybrid over the Prius.
Matrix1
02-02-2003, 08:03 PM
Originally posted by Jeff TYPE R
lol why would u even ask such a thing?
Just be intresting to know...
4wheeldrift
02-02-2003, 08:08 PM
Originally posted by Matrix1
Just be intresting to know... Dog slow. I think the prius took something like 20 seconds to do the 1320, 0-100km/h in 13 seconds or so. Can't see the civic hybrid being that much faster.
5.9 R/T
02-02-2003, 08:16 PM
Originally posted by Glowrider
$29k is worth it IMO if you're looking for a really efficient car. I'm willing to bet you'd more than make up for the cost of the car in fuel efficiency.
No it won't. Do some MPG calculations between the hybrid and your regular run of the mill civic, add in base price for both vehicles and you'll quickly realize that it would take a very long time for the hybrid to pay for itself. The only justification for getting the hybrid would be for the enviroment.
buh_buh
02-02-2003, 08:30 PM
I agree with 5.9 R/T
I read that you won't see that money back from saving money from gas.
Unless you drive the car for a REALLY long time.
Glowrider
02-02-2003, 08:33 PM
How long is a "really long time"?
Wouldn't that also depend on how much you drive?
max_boost
02-02-2003, 09:40 PM
Don't forget that this car is very environmental friendly......maybe they are aiming at the tree huggers? lol
kenny
02-02-2003, 09:44 PM
Someone needs to bring out one of these hybrids to secret street, im curious what it can do hehe, would be interesting to see!
lammer
02-02-2003, 09:46 PM
Originally posted by kenny
Someone needs to bring out one of these hybrids to secret street, im curious what it can do hehe, would be interesting to see!
depends, maybe the wind will give it a little enviromental "push" haha.
kenny
02-02-2003, 09:48 PM
We can get like 5 guys to help it get a good 60ft time haha
it's actually really fast from a stop thanks to the CVT... the high end is quite lacking though
5.9 R/T
02-02-2003, 10:20 PM
OK because I'm bored I decided to work it out for you. Here are the specs. Both cars are sedans, and both were 5spds, info taken from carpoint, all money is in USD unless noted.
Hybrid: 45/51 mpg, 85hp, 1.3L Base price: 19 550
Civic DX: 32/38 mpg, 115hp, 1.7L Base price: 13 010
Lets use 30 000K a year, and with average gas set at 80 cents per liter.
30 000K / 1.6 = 18750 miles (roughly, can't remember the exact conversion)
Hybrid:
18 750 / 45 = 416.6 gallons x 3.8 = 1583.08 x 0.80 = $1266.46CDN
18 750 / 51 = 367.6 gallons x 3.8 = 1396.88 x 0.80 = $1117.50CDN
DX:
18 750 / 32 = 585.9 gallons x 3.8 = 2226.42 x 0.80 = $1781.14CDN
18 750 / 38 = 493.4 gallons x 3.8 = 1874.92L x 0.80 = $1499.94CDN
Explination:
yearly mileage / mpg = total gallons x literage conversion = liters x average pump price = amount spent on gas for that year.
OK so base for hybrid minus base for DX:
19 550 - 13 010 = 6 540.
Difference between yearly gas costs for hybrid city and DX city:
1781.14 - 1266.46 = 514.68CDN x 0.658 = 338.75USD
Difference in cost between hybrid and DX divided by difference in yearly gas costs:
6 540 / 338.75 = 19.3.
So it would take roughly 19.3 years of city driving for the hybrid to make itself a more valueable car then the DX. IMO not worth it.
Glowrider
02-02-2003, 10:22 PM
CVT rocks, now if they could just make them stronger.
4wheeldrift
02-02-2003, 10:28 PM
Originally posted by Glowrider
CVT rocks, now if they could just make them stronger. What, the ones taking 300lb/ft of torque in the audis aren't good enough for you? How about the ones hooked up to the V12s in the BMW 7 series. They are plenty strong now.
5.9 R/T
02-02-2003, 10:29 PM
Originally posted by Jeff TYPE R
nothing it couldnt do in a crx hf....just as light and way less money
The insight has been aerodynamically optimized tho, thus making it a much more ideal body to make a drag car out of then compared to the CRX.
lammer
02-02-2003, 11:08 PM
Originally posted by 5.9 R/T
OK because I'm bored I decided to work it out for you. Here are the specs. Both cars are sedans, and both were 5spds, info taken from carpoint, all money is in USD unless noted.
Hybrid: 45/51 mpg, 85hp, 1.3L Base price: 19 550
Civic DX: 32/38 mpg, 115hp, 1.7L Base price: 13 010
Lets use 30 000K a year, and with average gas set at 80 cents per liter.
30 000K / 1.6 = 18750 miles (roughly, can't remember the exact conversion)
Hybrid:
18 750 / 45 = 416.6 gallons x 3.8 = 1583.08 x 0.80 = $1266.46CDN
18 750 / 51 = 367.6 gallons x 3.8 = 1396.88 x 0.80 = $1117.50CDN
DX:
18 750 / 32 = 585.9 gallons x 3.8 = 2226.42 x 0.80 = $1781.14CDN
18 750 / 38 = 493.4 gallons x 3.8 = 1874.92L x 0.80 = $1499.94CDN
Explination:
yearly mileage / mpg = total gallons x literage conversion = liters x average pump price = amount spent on gas for that year.
OK so base for hybrid minus base for DX:
19 550 - 13 010 = 6 540.
Difference between yearly gas costs for hybrid city and DX city:
1781.14 - 1266.46 = 514.68CDN x 0.658 = 338.75USD
Difference in cost between hybrid and DX divided by difference in yearly gas costs:
6 540 / 338.75 = 19.3.
So it would take roughly 19.3 years of city driving for the hybrid to make itself a more valueable car then the DX. IMO not worth it.
BUUUUUUUTT!!!!!!! enviromental wise..it is worth every penny!!!!!!! haha j/k.
GTS Jeff
02-03-2003, 12:15 AM
Originally posted by 5.9 R/T
The insight has been aerodynamically optimized tho, thus making it a much more ideal body to make a drag car out of then compared to the CRX. i dont think the 0.25cd really justifies the extra 25 grand...but thats just me.
GingeRRRBeef
02-03-2003, 12:26 AM
Originally posted by 5.9 R/T
So it would take roughly 19.3 years of city driving for the hybrid to make itself a more valueable car then the DX. IMO not worth it.
I agree, price wise it's not worth it but if you look at the environmental impact. If everyone were to have a hybrid, it would help pollution a lot especially in areas like LA, New York etc.
BTW, the guages are PHAT!!!!
5.9 R/T
02-03-2003, 02:05 AM
Originally posted by Jeff TYPE R
i dont think the 0.25cd really justifies the extra 25 grand...but thats just me.
Agreed, if money was a deciding factor the insight would be out, but if your goal was to use only stock honda bodies and money was no object...
5.9 R/T
02-03-2003, 02:11 AM
Originally posted by lammer
BUUUUUUUTT!!!!!!! enviromental wise..it is worth every penny!!!!!!! haha j/k.
Originally posted by Silver_SpecV
I agree, price wise it's not worth it but if you look at the environmental impact. If everyone were to have a hybrid, it would help pollution a lot especially in areas like LA, New York etc.
Originally posted by 5.9 R/T
The only justification for getting the hybrid would be for the enviroment.
Stratus_Power
02-03-2003, 02:33 AM
seriously.. its a car that you use to get from point A to point B.. who the hell cares if it takes 13 sec to go from 0-100km or watever
Mikko
02-03-2003, 05:22 AM
I think that car is now my ideal daily driver car, if I had to have such a type of car (I'm considering not to - I hate driving in traffic with a passion). I only wish it came as a hatchback.
Matrix1
02-03-2003, 06:26 AM
someone should try and make a really fast accelerating electric car. that would be some cool stuff:thumbsup:
Originally posted by Matrix1
someone should try and make a really fast accelerating electric car. that would be some cool stuff:thumbsup:
Someone already has and it's called the Tango. 1000ft lbs of torque at 0 RPM. 0-60 in less than four seconds.
http://www.commutercars.com/
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