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

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

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#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...
#186 of 223 Re: Would you want to drive 200 miles a day in a Civic? [electrictroy] by midnightcowboy Apr 05, 2005 (7:46 am)
Replying to: electrictroy (Apr 05, 2005 4:40 am) Actually the HX is very limited supply and hard to find meaning you special order and pay MSRP; air conditioning is not standard. It is rated very high mpg 36/44 A manual shift Corolla would probably be the best bet at under $12K and it is still rate for pretty good mileage 32/41 and very peppy for than mileage around 9.6 seconds 0-60. Insights are rare (especially manual) and you have to pay MSRP of around 21K. HCH are not much better priced. The old new 2005 Jetta Diesels can still be had at around $18K but still you are paying more than a Corolla and relability is somewhat iffy. Again for a long-term economical reliable car a Corolla is a good bet! crus'n in 6th Manual shift man, MidCow P.S.- Man troy you are amazing, I get tired just driving form Houston to Tulsa and that is only 500 miles and it takes me 8 hours. I need several stops for food, gas and bathroom breaks. 1,000 miles is some 14-16 hours of driving I am inpressed. However I did go 100 miles this past weekend on 0 gallons what great mileage you get on a bicycle:) Replies to this message: electrictroy (Apr 05, 2005 11:22 am) still_thinkin (Apr 07, 2005 11:17 am) electrictroy (Apr 07, 2005 12:39 pm)
#187 of 223 Just love my new Accord Hybrid! by oneandonly1 Apr 05, 2005 (9:27 am)
Hi folks...I'm new to this board, but thought I'd add to the discussion. I just purchased my Accord Hybrid w/Navi in taffeta white on Saturday and I LOVE it . I had been thinking of purchasing a hybrid for about a year and 1/2. Originally, I looked into the Prius. I loved all the tech gadgets and gizmos, but my hubby wasn't thrilled on the looks and lack of power. Of course, I would be the main driver, so I just wanted something fun and economical for my 40 mile round trip commute. So I was on the waiting list for a year, and when they called me in December to let me know that my car was in, I was hesitant. Hesitant because I still hadn't sold my old car (2002 MB C320), and also because now I was interested in the newest Hybrid contendor, the Accord Hybrid. So I had to decline the car...but boy am I glad I did. Since end of February, I had been trying to get the Accord Hybrid in Desert Mist w/Navi. That was my top choice. But for some reason, that color was extremely hard to get in So Ca. Considering the limited 4 colors, only 2 come in the tan leather/wood grain interior - the Desert Mist and the Taffeta White. I had my mind made up that I would wait for the Desert Mist, but then my car sold much quicker than I expected, and I needed a car sooner rather than later. So I decided to get the white, and I am loving it more every day. It looks very bold and elegant in the white, especially with the red taillights and tinted windows. I've read many of the posts regarding the justification for paying $3k more than the regular EX V6. I think that it is worth it. I am not a huge environmentalist myself I must say, I really bought it for the fuel economy and the unique features. And really, I don't think I got a bad price either. The MSRP on the regular EX V6 w/Navi is $28,850. I bought mind for only about $1250 more than that. I purchased mind from the fleet dept in a So Ca dealer, and they basically gave me the car for about $700 over invoice. No other dealers were offering a discount, but some did offer a price match. I figure considering that many people are even selling the cars for a markup over MSRP, I really got a good deal. They also had a great finance rate of 2.9% which expired a couple of days after I got the car. I love pretty much everything about the car. I've owned Hondas in the past and have no qualms about reliability. Of course, I did purchase the 7yr/100k warranty just to be on the safe side. The voice commands for the audio, navi, and climate control are great. It takes a bit of time to get the exact commands properly though, so I'll have to read up on the manual some more. The Navi even has a calender and calculator function. The XM radio is great too. You get a 3 month free trial, and most likely I will subscribe when that expires. And the cabin is REALLY roomy. I am 5'6", and my hubby is 6' and we both have plenty of room. Some negatives: No spare tire or split down of rear bench; no power seat adjustment for passenger; no auto headlamps; no sunroof; no key entry for doors except driver's; ugly plastic antenna (for XM radio?); no memory seats. Overall, I am really happy with my purchase, and look foward to playing around with all the features. Replies to this message: midnightcowboy (Apr 05, 2005 10:19 am)