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

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

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#51 of 223 I'm a terrible person! by pbaker Jan 22, 2005 (2:23 pm)
Very interesting discussion. I was feeling good about my decision to order the HAH since I chose it over the new Land Rover L3 and the top of the line Chrysler 300 AWD. My salesperson did ask me to consider taking a V-6 off the lot right then and there but I explained to him that the only reason I was even on the Honda lot was to order a HAH. I did feel like I was getting Hybrid technology without making a significant compromise in amenities or performance. I will admit that the "premium" price was not even a consideration for me. I guess we all have very different reasons for choosing our vehicles. Replies to this message: gagrice (Jan 22, 2005 5:49 pm) pbaker (Jan 23, 2005 6:42 am) explorerx4 (Jan 23, 2005 5:44 pm) and 2 more...
#52 of 223 Re: HAH Choice [talisker] by explorerx4 Jan 22, 2005 (5:24 pm)
Replying to: talisker (Jan 22, 2005 1:51 pm) are you saying the hah target market is grumpy old men? i sympathize with the your dc traffic issues, but i would just take the metro. Replies to this message: talisker (Jan 25, 2005 5:43 pm) explorerx4 (Jan 26, 2005 3:50 pm)
#53 of 223 Re: I'm a terrible person! [pbaker] by gagrice Jan 22, 2005 (5:49 pm)
Replying to: pbaker (Jan 22, 2005 2:23 pm) My salesperson did ask me to consider taking a V-6 off the lot right then and there but I explained to him that the only reason I was even on the Honda lot was to order a HAH. Welcome to the Edmund's Forum. I am curious how you settled on the HAH over the AWD vehicles. Was it the mileage, NAV or that feeling of being part of the green movement? The HAH is not anything like a Land Rover. Oh by the way I got the same treatment at Toyota in Hawaii when I asked about buying a Prius. They tried their best to convince me that the Camry on the lot was a better deal. Replies to this message: pbaker (Jan 23, 2005 6:42 am) explorerx4 (Jan 23, 2005 5:44 pm) robertsmx (Jan 24, 2005 7:19 am) and 1 more...
#54 of 223 Good Question by pbaker Jan 23, 2005 (6:42 am)
Replying to: gagrice (Jan 22, 2005 5:49 pm) I'm not quite sure why I became totally fixated on the HAH. I own an old Range Rover that gets about 12 mpg. I recently moved into a position that provides me with a fairly substantial car allowance so I thought I would semi retire the RR and get a new vehicle as my daily driver. Since I have an SUV, I thought about a power sedan such as the 300 or one of the 40-50K entries from Infinity, Lexus, Acura and Cadillac. Then the L3 was introduced and won several awards. But the second I read that the HAH loaded and was matched with the V-6, my decision was made. I think being part of the green movement (even though it is not the greenest vehicle on the market) while still having power and semi-luxury appointments is what made the difference for me. I really want automakers to focus their efforts on Hybrid technology without skimping on amenities and power. Replies to this message: explorerx4 (Jan 23, 2005 5:44 pm) robertsmx (Jan 24, 2005 7:19 am) explorerx4 (Jan 25, 2005 3:39 pm)
#55 of 223 Re: Good Question [pbaker] by explorerx4 Jan 23, 2005 (5:44 pm)
Replying to: pbaker (Jan 23, 2005 6:42 am) sounds like the hah is right for you. this is my opinion, but i think shared by many others. hybrid technology is best served by fuel efficient, low emissions vehicles. i'm pretty happy my focus has a better pollution rating than a hah and a power moonroof. those are my idea of amenities. really, i along with others are interested in people's actual experience with this vehicle, so please post how it is working out for you. Replies to this message: robertsmx (Jan 24, 2005 7:19 am) explorerx4 (Jan 25, 2005 3:39 pm)
#56 of 223 Re: [kernick] by robertsmx Jan 24, 2005 (7:04 am)
Replying to: kernick (Jan 21, 2005 6:15 pm) doesn't the HAH have all the parts as the regular V-6 + the hybrid system. The hybrid system consists of an electric motor, but aren't there mechanical systems - the regenerative braking system - hoses, fluid, batteries? what else? Regenerative braking is a largely misunderstood term. Simply put, it is reversing the role of the electric motor to now act as a generator. Instead of adding to the energy from the camshaft, the (now) generator derives the energy of the turning axle, and that’s it! As for mechanical components, you’re correct. Everything else is conventional. you: With hybrid power, the changes are substantial in terms of fuel economy and emissions. you don't need a hybrid system that gives you 260hp. There are plenty of regular cars that can do that. Sure. Honda has a few of them and more, but none of them can touch the emission levels of the hybrid, or get you 30 mpg in city driving. And if you're using that engine power it is for a few seconds of your drive, unless you don't care about speed limits. Accord Hybrid isn’t an industry first to be delivering 255 HP or more. How does it relate to this topic? What there is a shortage of is high-mileage economical hybrids. Then ask for it, or better yet, buy one. A typical issue with Civic Hybrid is often quoted as lack of performance. If you want high mileage with “okay” performance, you’ve an answer. Accord Hybrid offers a choice to people who want performance that belongs in the class it competes in, while also providing class leading fuel economy and emissions. Different strokes. 260hp for an Accord makes no sense, when hybrids should be focused on getting people turned on to getting good mpg. I see a few issues here. One, stereo-typing hybrid technology as something that must give up performance to achieve high fuel economy (now that by itself is limitless, for many it appears 30 mpg in city isn’t good in a family sedan). Two, it might not make sense to you, but Accord Hybrid isn’t breaking any new grounds in terms of delivering (obscene amount of) horse power. And finally, it is getting good gas mileage. And if you do these things, you'll find that the gas savings in $'s between an HAH and a hemi 300C would be very small. After all your points, interesting that you would be justifying for a car with 340 HP against another with 255 HP. BUT, let us not stick to assumptions and shoot in the dark. But to hear people on these forums talk, its the main consideration in fuel economy. Compared to what? I don't see the economic sense of buying the HAH; and as stated above I don't see where it is a big mpg/environmental improvement worth touting as "green". As you suggested earlier, 300C Hemi would be a better choice. Did I get that right? Replies to this message: gagrice (Jan 24, 2005 8:04 am) robertsmx (Jan 24, 2005 8:20 am) gagrice (Jan 24, 2005 8:48 am) and 4 more...
#57 of 223 Re: it depends on your reasons... [explorerx4] by robertsmx Jan 24, 2005 (7:10 am)
Replying to: explorerx4 (Jan 22, 2005 8:27 am) if you buy a hah because it's the latest and greatest, good. if you buy one because you want that extra 1/2 getting 0 to 60, good. if you buy one because honda makes fine vehicles, good. if you buy one because you just want to, good. if you buy one because it's a 'green' vehicle, then maybe that isn't the right reason. the epa doesn't really rate it any better, or even as good as many non hybrids. If you buy a car for one or two reasons as your priority and everything else is a non-issue, then HAH isn’t for you because it isn’t trying to be the best in everything, just among the best in everything. Not everybody wants to limit oneself to one or two selection criteria.
#58 of 223 Here's when the HAH is worth it: by larsb Jan 24, 2005 (7:16 am)
Here's a pretty good criteria to use. Should I buy an HAH? If the answer to any of the questions are yes: 1. Would I have bought a V6 Accord two months ago? 2. Do I want to get the best MPG available in a 255 HP car in the USA? 3. Do I want to pollute ZERO when I am stopped in traffic or at a red light? 4. Do I need a high performance, near luxury, five passenger sedan in the $32K-$35K price range? 5. Do I want to promote the continued production of Hybrid cars? If you answer yes to one or more of those questions, then the HAH is a good fit for you.
#59 of 223 Re: Good Question [explorerx4] by robertsmx Jan 24, 2005 (7:19 am)
Replying to: explorerx4 (Jan 23, 2005 5:44 pm) this is my opinion, but i think shared by many others. hybrid technology is best served by fuel efficient, low emissions vehicles. i'm pretty happy my focus has a better pollution rating than a hah and a power moonroof. Focus is a compact that happens to have worse fuel economy rating without having performance edge on the Accord Hybrid. I hope it isn’t the one that delivers 22 mpg in the city. Focus has poorer GHG emissions too! Pollution rating isn’t known (to me) for HAH at this time since I don’t see it on the EPA website, but it will be interesting to find out how this powerful midsize stacks up against your Focus. Replies to this message: explorerx4 (Jan 25, 2005 3:39 pm)
#60 of 223 Re: [robertsmx] by gagrice Jan 24, 2005 (8:04 am)
Replying to: robertsmx (Jan 24, 2005 7:04 am) for many it appears 30 mpg in city isn’t good in a family sedan It might be if the car could deliver that. So far it looks like 24 mpg is more the average combined. That is not even close to the competition. Many midsize and large vehicles are getting better mileage than the HAH to this point in time. You can buy a Honda mini-van that gives that good a mileage and not be cramped into a little car with a big price tag. Replies to this message: robertsmx (Jan 24, 2005 8:20 am) gagrice (Jan 24, 2005 8:48 am) robertsmx (Jan 24, 2005 9:04 am) and 2 more... tlauro (Feb 11, 2005 10:47 pm)