I bought my new HCH earlier this month from a Honda dealer in the L.A. area. I paid not quite $1K over MSRP with no navigation or additional accessories. The premium was according to the dealer, really just for the color, magnetic pearl. Otherwise they claimed they were charging straight sticker for their other colors. I will say this was the best buying experience I’ve had by far—fleet manager did everything she promised, went out of her way to make everything easy, and gave me zero BS. I had called numerous other Honda dealers around L.A. and the ones that had cars or were expecting a shipment, wanted anywhere from $3-5K over MSRP--including one in the Westside that was highly recommended by another hybrid website (but turned me off just from the tone of entitlement in their voice.)

I was leaning towards a Civic anyway and decided to go for the hybrid mainly for the Calif. carpool exemption sticker, the tax credit, and the increased mileage. I figure gas in the long term can go nowhere but up, and I am a 200 mile/week commuter. So a hybrid just seemed like the most rational buying decision, and I felt I needed to jump on it quickly after Jan 1 if I was also to get the carpool sticker and the tax credit before they run out.

A word about the color...I would characterize the Magnetic Pearl as your basic charcoal gray or maybe gunmetal gray as there’s just a hint of bluish smoke in it. The reason I picked the MP was because I was set on the dark navy interior which comes with very few (I think only 2) exterior combinations including the MP. I thought the alternative light sand-colored interior would look like a total disaster in a few months and I consider myself a pretty neat, tidy driver. So based on the interior color, the MP was the clear winner for exterior color choice.

The stuff I love: I love the small steering wheel, and the firm ride. I love the radio controls that let me change the station, volume, and from radio to CD without moving my hands from the wheel. The sound is great from the CD player and on FM--the AM for some strange reason sounds muddy, like someone turned the bass all the way up. I love the little triangular side windows in the front that eliminate a major potential blind spot. I think turn signal lights on the side mirrors are a great added feature, yet I’m glad that Honda left the seat adjustment controls manual, not power. The seat height adjustment is great btw, I took it way up and am still nowhere near hitting my head on the ceiling. I drove a V6 before this car and had a bit of a lead foot, yet I’m perfectly happy with the way the hybrid accelerates. The range of my key remote is amazing--much better than my old car's.

There are a couple of interesting rectangular nooks built into the driver’s side of the dashboard whose purpose I can’t decipher. One of them looks like it would hold an iPod, but it’s far from the AUX outlet so I’m mystified. It can’t be for a pack of cigarettes--which reminds me of my very favorite feature, or non-feature of the HCH. There is NO ashtray in this car. My cigar-smoking husband nearly had a thought disorder searching for it--how can a car not have an ashtray? My response was of course, how great is that?

There are only a couple things that bug me—one is the low front bumper. Even on my previous car I was scraping the front end on curbs and I’m sure it wasn’t as designed as aerodynamic as this. However the Civic front end looks even lower so now I have curb paranoia, park very carefully, and try to avoid angled curb parking and even parking lot tombstones. My other only whine is not being able to see the front edge of the car. Actually it’s not just the front edge—I can’t see ANY part of the car past the wipers and I don’t really know how to get used to this as everyone tells me I will. I am half-seriously considering getting one of those curb-feeler dealy boppers that the cars in the ‘40s used to have, but I would put it somewhere on the front bumper so I can head-in to a parking space or parallel park without fear. Yes I know nothing could be nerdier but I like the low tech approach. Adding some kind of TV camera feature wouldn’t help me.

My bottom line assessment so far: I love this car, probably more than any other I’ve owned. It’s only been a couple weeks but I don’t think I could ever go back to a non-hybrid again. Driving with the great feedback from the dash displays takes me back to my VW days in the ‘70s when I had to learn the manual shift and made me feel like I was really DRIVING the car. Second, it has assuredly changed my driving habits. I’m keeping my speed under 65 on the highway, and coasting every chance I get. Instead of the #1 lane, I’m now a #2 lane driver. My FE has gone at times to 55, but stays mainly in the mid ‘40s and I’m hoping as the car breaks in, it will increase. I’m still not sure about a couple terms I've read here, like “pegged” and “feathering” that aren’t in the glossary, but have half an idea what I think they mean. I’m a little lost as far as the pulse & glide stuff but I’m still looking at my gauges and trying. It almost seems like you attain some kind of car-nirvana when your speed, FE, rpms, assist and the charge all hit the right numbers. I have a feeling though that P&G is MUCH easier to learn when demonstrated than described and if someone in L.A. wanted a nice little side job, they should advertise giving private one hour lessons for “Maxing your MPG on your new Hybrid”. I bet they would really clean up.

 

Nice detailed review - I'm sure potential buyers will find the information helpful. Welcome to gh.com !!!

 

Welcome aboard. I am supposed to get mine sometime this week. I went for the other color with the blue interior.

On the design of the front, believe it or not that is part of Honda's safety program. It will lessen the injury of pedestrian you hit with the front of the car. Not that it something that is on anybody's mind. But it is supposed to be part of their comprehensive safety program (I forget what it's called).

Keep reading the boards and you'll find lots of information on raising that MPG.

 

If you are in the Los Angeles area and want to learn how to drive your new toy contact Kenny on this board. He is, without a doubt, one of the best hypermilers here. And he works cheap!

Ron in SoCal

 

Congratulations...I just found out that my car should be ready after 1:00 tomorrow. Problem is that with work, then karate for the kids, I don't know if we'll be able to get there until late Saturday. We may be able to get there tomorrow before they close, but I'm not counting on it. I am still trying to convince them to give me the XM radio and install for free since they screwed up the order. My salesman is working with me, but I don't know if the manager will go for it. Looks like I will at least get it for a discount.

 

Nice review.
I got a kick out of your hubbie having a thought disorder. HAHAHA

I got my new 06 too 3 weeks ago - it is replacing my 2004 HCH hybrid.

For my 06 I got the silver one.
I wish it was Mag Pearl.
But it DID have the manditory grey interior and at $1000 under MSRP with no wait I could not say no.
I DID have to drive up to Bishop (300+ miles each way) though.
But it was sooo worth it.

Congrats, and enjoy that Mag Pearl.
I'm jealous; it is BY FAR the best color!!!!

 

argh! all this reading about people getting their 06 HCH's is really getting me antsy! i think i still have a 3 week wait or so!!

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by tarabell

.... I paid not quite $1K over MSRP with no navigation or additional accessories. The premium was according to the dealer, really just for the color, magnetic pearl.

Interesting, I had not heard that. I just picked up mine last night and when negotiating the price, color was not mentioned.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tarabell

...The reason I picked the MP was because I was set on the dark navy interior

Agree 100% on this one. Same reason I picked the MP. Only other EXT option was Silver. To be honest I really like some of the blues available on the non-hybrids but such is life...

Quote:

Originally Posted by tarabell

..The stuff I love: ...the firm ride....

I was totally amazed at how quiet and smooth the ride was. Since I just picked it up I assume the tire pressure is still about 32 psi, which would help explain the soft ride, but overall for a "small" car it is great!

Quote:

Originally Posted by tarabell

There are a couple of interesting rectangular nooks built into the driver’s side of the dashboard whose purpose I can’t decipher. ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by tarabell

.

What about the indentations to the right and left of the mirrors on the Sun Visors?? No clue what value they add, but since you cannot see then unless the visor is down, I guess "Out of site..Out of mind" !



I was surprised at the quality (or lack apparent lack of quality) of the "map" compartments on the lower portion of the driver and passenger doors. Seems very flimsy, but I guess unless you put a big book or something in there, there should not be any issues.



Overall I am very happy. Driving home from the dealer (80 % country roads with some stop lights; 20% city - stop and go) I averaged about 48 MPG, so I am happy with the mileage.

 

Tarabell, Larry, congrats on the new vehicle!! I also have the MP color and just love it! I think the blue interior is very classy looking. I didn't have to pay extra for the color but did have to pay MSRP as they wouldn't budge at all on that. They wouldn't even give me the dealer holdback of 2% back. So they are actually getting more than MSRP for the vehicle for these cars.

Larry, whereabouts do you live in the philly area? My parents grew up in West Chester. I grew up just over the state line in DE.

 

congrats !!my wife and I got our 06 HCH ten days ago and we are lovin' it. got the mag.pearl also. I'm seeing alot of blue in mine,more so than gray. Haven't gone on any long trips yet but enjoy driving around New Jersey in it. haven't seen any others out on the road yet. (any jersey drivers out there??) we are geting used to the size compared to our 92 ford escort. handles like a dream to us! I've been calling it "pearl" ,like the way ships get a woman's name.
cheers
Gary