I'm expecting to get my 06 non-NAV Jan 2 in California for $1000 under MSRP though it involves a long drive to a more rural part of the state.
I'm so excited and have questions.

So the complaint that the autostop doesn't restop during stoplight creep is solved in the 06?
I hear the 06 HCH is similar to the Prius in that the engine doesn't even come on until 35 mph.
Is this the case only after the car is warmed up?
Am I correct in assuming this makes the stoplight creep complaint a thing of the past?
And when the car is cold it will still have the stoplight creep complaint?

That "digital audio card reader" that comes with the NAV. . . what is that?
Is it an audio card made by Honda?
How do you get your music onto it?

In the model without NAV is there a jack or docking station to directly connect my Ipod?
Do I need an adaptor or a special cable made by Honda or apple?
Or is it just a 1/4" mini phone jack like that of a portable CD player or standard mini headphone jack?

How much better is the stereo?
And where are the 6 spekers?
Looking in the windows on the lot I only see 4 in the standard places.
Are the two speakers in the doors coaxial (as in tweeters mounted in front of the woofers)?

How much more quiet will the 06 be than my 04? Slightly? Dramatically?

The clearance of the front bumper of my 04 is Very low.
Anyone know if the 06 has more or less clearance?

How different do the 06 halogen headlights look?
Are they bluish like those of the BMWs?

 

Hi Kenny,

With the 2006, you get 2 auto stops for the price of 1! What this means is that between the 1st and 2nd auto stop, you don't have t go above xMPH for it to re-engage a second time. This is great for 'creeping' 1 time.

This is unfortunately wrong. The only times the car is using the electric motor only (i.e. the gas engine isn't running) is when:

- you are gliding and you manage to get some assist from the IMA to extend your glide
- You are at a given speed and you simply try to maintain that speed with IMA only

You cannot accelerate on the IMA alone.

It's a PCMCIA card slot (from my understanding). So, this can be a PCMCIA hardrive or a PCMCIA flash card reader (one where you can put a Compact flash card or sd card or whatever other types of flash card). You use a card reader for your PC to transfer the mp3's to the flash card.

That's right, they have a 1/4" "auxiliary" jack.

Thanks,
Stephane.

 

Thanks Stephane.
Where is that 1/4" jack?
I've never been in an 06 and have looked all over the dash.

So we get two autostops. cool.
Does the engine come on between them or does the electric motor power this single slow creep?

 

Hi Kenney,

The 1/4" jack is under the accessory power. Basically, under the radio, you have two little doors. One is a 12V connector and right under it is the 1/4" auxiliary jack.

As for the creeping, no, the engine comes on. Remember that the electric engine is only 20hp which is not enough to propel a vehicle this heavy.

Thanks,
Stephane.

 

All,

It is NOT a 1/4" jack. It is a standard 1/8" stereo jack. The same jack that is on my Nano.

It is right below the power jack on the dash. Nice cubby hole to hold yer iPod right there.

I was listening to it this morning on the way to work.

Kenny, I look forward to driving with you after the first of the year so you can teach me how to drive this beast. I'm just over the hill from you in Chino Hills.

Ron in SoCal

 

Thanks Ron.

So I guess I plug it into the headphone jack of the Ipod.
Right?

I gave a hypermiling lesson to another So. Californian recently.
Her MPG went way up.

Hypermiling is not for everyone.
It is a whole new attitude towards driving.
But it is a fun obsession.
Much less harmful than, say, smoking.

But if you want I can show you what I know.
PM me when ready.

 

Kenny,

Just just went to the local Rat Shack (Radio Shack) and got a cable with the 1/8" stereo jack on each end. Mine is 3 feet long.

One end plugs into the headphone jack on the iPod and the other end into the jack on the dash.

Turn your iPod volume up to max. Push the AUX button on the dash. I had to turn the volume on the radio WAY up at that point. Nicely, Honda has designed it so it remembers the different volume settings between the radio, CD, and AUX inputs. Sweet!

I hope to get together with you after the first of the year. Maybe after you have had your new HCH for a little while and have figured out all the little tricks. I predict you will be a hypermiler in the HCH-II in no time.

Ron in SoCal

 

Did you used to have an HCH1 too?

 

Kenny,

If you want to get a detailed look at a new HCH. I am just over the hill from you.

Or we could meet in Brea somewhere. Let me know.

Ron in SoCal

 

Nope. The 06 is my first ever hybrid.

A whole lot different from my 3/4 ton GMC with the 8.1 liter V-8.

Lifetime mileage of 9.0 MPG! Yikes!

Ron in SoCal