what are your complaints about the Honda Civic Hybrid...?
#51
08-13-2005, 08:57 AM
Re: what are your complaints about the Honda Civic Hybrid...?
Um... the handle and button are on opposite sides of the door. Do you have really big hands or something, or am I misunderstanding you?
#53
08-13-2005, 02:13 PM
Re: what are your complaints about the Honda Civic Hybrid...?
Originally Posted by zimbop
I have about 350 miles on mine now and getting 40.1 mpg. Nowhere near the 47/48 I was promised, but I am driving it like a regular car. Sticker mileage should be attainable under normal driving don't you think? I mean I could exceed the sticker mileage in any car doing extreme conservation techniques, why must we go to extremes just to get to sticker mileage on this car?
My wife gets 10 MPG less in my car than I do - she drives the car "normally", I drive it somewhat optimally (without being obsessive about it - some times I just want to get home and not be preoccupied with my car...). The sticker mileage is exactly between what she gets (40) and what I get (50). So technique matters. So do the other common suggestions - tire pressure, use of A/C, etc.
Lastly, you car will do better as you break it in. 40.1 is not bad for 350 miles. My 03 didn't break in until 3K, and again at 10K. Until then, I got mid/high-30s, then low 40's, then mid to high 40's. After the recall, I seem to be closer to 50 now.
#54
08-13-2005, 06:09 PM
Re: what are your complaints about the Honda Civic Hybrid...?
Mine is actually broken in already. It has 14k on it but I've only owned it for 350 miles.
About the recall - I entered my VIN at the MyHonda website and it didn't show any recalls, was that only for select models?
About the recall - I entered my VIN at the MyHonda website and it didn't show any recalls, was that only for select models?
#55
08-13-2005, 06:17 PM
Re: what are your complaints about the Honda Civic Hybrid...?
The problem is not the manufactures but the EPA. The EPA tests have not been changed since the speed limit was 55 mph, they don't even use AC during the climate controled test. The tests are outdated plain and simple. From:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/mpg.htm
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/mpg.htm
How are Vehicles Tested?
Vehicles are driven over identical driving patterns by professional drivers in controlled laboratory conditions on a dynamometer, which is like a treadmill for cars. The conditions that occur during driving, such as wind drag and inertia are accounted for on the dynamometer. There are two types of tests that are conducted: city and highway tests.
The city test is approximately 11 miles long and simulates a stop and go trip with an average speed of about 20 miles per hour (mph). The trip lasts 31 minutes and has 23 stops. About 18 percent of the time is spent idling (as in waiting for traffic lights). A short freeway driving segment is included in the test. The engine is initially started after being parked overnight.
The highway simulates a 10 mile trip with an average speed of 48 mph. The vehicle is started "hot" and there is very little idling and no stops.
Vehicles are driven over identical driving patterns by professional drivers in controlled laboratory conditions on a dynamometer, which is like a treadmill for cars. The conditions that occur during driving, such as wind drag and inertia are accounted for on the dynamometer. There are two types of tests that are conducted: city and highway tests.
The city test is approximately 11 miles long and simulates a stop and go trip with an average speed of about 20 miles per hour (mph). The trip lasts 31 minutes and has 23 stops. About 18 percent of the time is spent idling (as in waiting for traffic lights). A short freeway driving segment is included in the test. The engine is initially started after being parked overnight.
The highway simulates a 10 mile trip with an average speed of 48 mph. The vehicle is started "hot" and there is very little idling and no stops.
Last edited by lakedude; 08-13-2005 at 06:46 PM.
#58
08-13-2005, 07:08 PM
Re: what are your complaints about the Honda Civic Hybrid...?
Originally Posted by lakedude
There you have it! All you gotta do is slow down to 48mph and you will hit your EPA target mpg.
Keep in mind that they measure the fuel used for the above graph and then reduce it by a whopping 22% in order to get the figure you see on the window sticker. That means to achieve a 51mpg highway rating, the EPA actually measured 65.4 miles per gallon in their test lab. That means if you personally followed the EPA test exactly, you should see 65 miles per gallon, a figure that a few members here do get, although obviously it's pretty rare, hence the main reason the EPA adjusts the figures downward in the first place.
#59
08-13-2005, 10:08 PM
Re: what are your complaints about the Honda Civic Hybrid...?
Originally Posted by zimbop
About the recall - I entered my VIN at the MyHonda website and it didn't show any recalls, was that only for select models?
#60
08-13-2005, 11:16 PM
Re: what are your complaints about the Honda Civic Hybrid...?
To be fair, 48mph is an accurate average speed for many highways if you remember that "highway" is not synonymous with "interstate" or "freeway". There are many two-lane state and US highways with speed limits of 40 or 45 mph. So I think the highway test is simply outdated, but for consistency's sake they keep it the same.
