Honda Accord Hybrid - worth the extra $$$? - READ ONLY

223 messages, Last post on Feb 07, 2006 at 6:12 PM

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#176 of 223 Off topic, but will post one on topic (promise!). by mevande Mar 30, 2005 (8:52 pm)
Hello all, I have a "gas guzzler", 1999 BMW 740i that is paid for.. mostly..80% by company I used to work for. I wonder how many miles I would have to drive with my car (300HP V8) to justify the purchase of anything "new". I do want to help the environment. I think the Honda Hybrid is a great car (drove one). Auto manufacturers and research in general needs to do a much better jog re: alternative fuel sources (Hydrogen?). We have not invested wisely as a nation for gas has been relatively cheap for a long time. Now we (rightly so) are seeing emotions that spurred the emergence of the small car "fad" back when we had our last gas crisis. We need to get going and get American "know how" moving on vehicles we would "love" to drive that run on alternative fuels. My 3 cents:)
#177 of 223 Re: hybrid v. luxury car thinking - human nature in microcosm? [nowakj66] by electrictroy Apr 01, 2005 (7:01 am)
Replying to: nowakj66 (Mar 19, 2005 7:02 am) "I think it is funny that if you tell most people you want to buy an Acura TL instead of a Honda Accord it is almost universally and instantly understood that having a slightly more exclusive car is probably worth the premium." . Not really. I and most of the people I know, don't think it's worth the +$10,000 pricetag just to have "acura" on the car. Waste of money. troy
#178 of 223 Little Help by still_thinkin Apr 03, 2005 (4:48 pm)
I'm thinking about purchasing a HAH but have some concerns. My biggest concern is the warranty on the battery. I am a contract worker, and I have to commute 200 miles round trip each day (90% highway). So figure that's 50K miles per year. The warranty on the battery is what 80K? Any ideas when the battery will actually go and have to be replaced? What if the battery goes on my way? Will the car be inoperable if the battery dies or will the car operate as a normal car until I replace the battery? If I don't get an HAH I was thinking about the EX 4 cylinder since it only gets 3 mpg less than the hybrid (EPA anyway, at least its a standard to compare). Or, maybe even a 2004 EX 4 cylinder. Any comments/suggestions? Replies to this message: rfruth (Apr 03, 2005 5:39 pm) backy (Apr 03, 2005 5:57 pm) electrictroy (Apr 04, 2005 7:18 am) backy (Apr 04, 2005 7:57 am) gagrice (Apr 04, 2005 11:10 am)
#179 of 223 Re: Little Help [still_thinkin] by rfruth Apr 03, 2005 (5:39 pm)
Replying to: still_thinkin (Apr 03, 2005 4:48 pm) 200 miles (3 hours) a day !? Makes my back hurt just thinking about it
#180 of 223 Re: Little Help [still_thinkin] by backy Apr 03, 2005 (5:57 pm)
Replying to: still_thinkin (Apr 03, 2005 4:48 pm) I don't think you'll ever make up the cost difference between a EX 4 cylinder (go with a 2004 if you can get it with SABs/SACs) and the HAH, given almost all of your miles will be on the highway. Assuming for example you could get 35 mpg on the EX and 40 on the HAH (this is just an example, folks...), that's only $660 in savings in gas $3.00/gallon per year. Plus as you point out, the X-factor is the life of the battery and its replacement cost. It may last the life of the car, but if it doesn't that's a major cost. Plus cruising on the highway you won't really get to take advantage of some of the HAH's best features, like the extra power and the auto-stop.
#181 of 223 A bigger battery?? by kurtamaxxguy Apr 04, 2005 (6:50 am)
I don't work for these people but EnergyCS company is developing a higher capacity battery for Hybrids. For Prius it takes it from 1.3 kw to over 9 kw (over 5 times the capacity). Weight increases by roughl7 170 lbs. Cost increase is guessed around $3 - 5K. Question; Would you pay your friendly Honda dealer an additional $3 - 5K for having 5+ times the battery capacity put into your HAH?
#182 of 223 Re: Little Help [still_thinkin] by electrictroy Apr 04, 2005 (7:18 am)
Replying to: still_thinkin (Apr 03, 2005 4:48 pm) "I am a contract worker, and I have to commute 50K miles per year. The warranty on the battery is what 80K. I was thinking about the EX 4 cylinder since it only gets 3 mpg less than the hybrid" . Don't worry. With your driving style, you'll barely use the battery. It will still be like-new when the car starts falling apart at 300,000 miles. (You can then use the rechargable D cells in your radios) As for saving dollars, if that's your goal, why don't you get a Civic HX? It costs only ~$17,000 and the manual version gets 44mpg highway. troy Replies to this message: backy (Apr 04, 2005 7:57 am) gagrice (Apr 04, 2005 11:10 am)
#183 of 223 Re: Little Help [electrictroy] by backy Apr 04, 2005 (7:57 am)
Replying to: electrictroy (Apr 04, 2005 7:18 am) Would you want to drive 200 miles a day in a Civic? I don't know that I would. If that's acceptable, then the way to go is buy an Insight 5-speed (sllightly used if possible), easily good for 70 mpg on the highway (and much more is possible). Replies to this message: gagrice (Apr 04, 2005 11:10 am)
#184 of 223 Re: Little Help [backy] by gagrice Apr 04, 2005 (11:10 am)
Replying to: backy (Apr 04, 2005 7:57 am) Would you want to drive 200 miles a day in a Civic? That would be more driving than I would like for sure. How comfortable is the Insight on long drives? Any of you owners. I notice there are a quite a few on the greenhybrid with over 100k miles. Also people with very long commutes.
#185 of 223 Would you want to drive 200 miles a day in a Civic? by electrictroy Apr 05, 2005 (4:40 am)
Sure why not? I think driving is relaxing. Pop-in a book-on-tape, lean back, and just cruise. I drove my insight 1000 miles w/o stopping several times. It was better than sitting at home and drooling in front of the TV! Anyway, back to the original poster's... QUESTION: "I drive 200 miles and want to save money." ANSWER: You can buy a cheap Civic HX for ~$17,000 and it will give you 40+ mpg highway. That's what I would do. troy Replies to this message: midnightcowboy (Apr 05, 2005 7:46 am) electrictroy (Apr 05, 2005 11:22 am) still_thinkin (Apr 07, 2005 11:17 am) and 1 more...