Please tell me not to buy Civic

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LandCruiser @ Apr 2 2007, 12:41 AM) [snapback]416299[/snapback]</div>

I love my 2006 prius but because it is SOOO high tech and MUST be repaired by toyota, I would never own one without the extended warranty. I plan on selling mine at around 90K , 10k before the extended warranty runs out.

This car has something like 25 computers in it. Even toyota techs struggle to program a spare smart key
for the car( $200.00 for the spare smartkey and they charge $80.00 to program it) .

whats worst is they don't admit that their techs are not that familiar with the car so they'll be learning on your dime.

 

My mom refuses to buy a Prius. She thinks the seats in the Civic Hybrid are much better for her back.

They want $25,125 for a NAV/XM equipped Civic Hybrid, while my Toyota dealer wanted $28K+ for a Package 5 I saw when there on Friday for my 60,000 service. Not the same ownership that sold me my car at under MSRP. Pretty sure I'll have to look elsewhere for my next car...

 

I test drove both. I wanted to like the Civic better; I'm a Honda person, I could have bought the Honda right off of the lot, and I've never owned a Toyota. Besides that, I thought the Prius was kind of goofy looking. All that said, the Prius was the hands-down winner for me.

Reasons I liked the Prius better:

1) Much better hybrid system. No other system comes close to Toyota's HSD.
2) Better cargo capacity. The Prius back seats fold down, plus it has a lift back.
3) Cool MFD and gee-whiz features.
4) No conventional transmission.
5) Nicer interior. This is entirely subjective, but I didn't like the styling of the Civic interior.
6) Better safety features, including VSC (make sure you get a VSC package.)
7) Felt bigger inside (again, subjective.)

As for the goofy looks, it grew on me in about ten minutes. Now I love the looks of my little black beast.

Hope this helps. Both are great cars.

Tom

 

BUY THE PRIUS, GET THE NAV SYSTEM TOO, YOU'LL LOVE IT.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(donee @ Apr 1 2007, 10:11 AM) [snapback]415935[/snapback]</div>

Indeed, the planetary layout was used to good effect in the Model T. It also does not create heat in the way a conventional automatic transmission does; there is no torque converter.

Best thing, though, is that the Prius HSD system can keep the gas engine in the sweet spot of the powerband for more of the time than a car with a transmission, yielding better performance and economy. Another positive consequence is the notable reduction of shocks to the driveline...which come naturally when you accelerate and the transmission upshifts. There are electronic fixes to this problem, true (like momentarily retarding the timing when the trans shifts, etc.) but it happens naturally in the Prius.

 

I talked to 2 Civic Hybrid owners at the gas station, and they said they were only getting 36 and 38 mpg. I get 48-49 without even trying. Also the Prius is a hatchback, much more versatile. I do prefer the Civic steering wheel and seats, but 38 mpg and no hatch? That's why I bought the Prius. I commute 90 miles a day on the freeways, and never find power to be a problem, haven't actually driven brand "H" though. Both cars are good, so its your choice.

 

this was said before but SUV = Hatchback. People like the convenience and versatility of hatchbacks....

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(R1200GS @ Apr 2 2007, 03:26 PM) [snapback]416592[/snapback]</div>

Problem is, lots of cargo space is sacrificed when you package big, heavy, rough-and-tough 4x4 hardware (which too often still includes a solid rear axle) under the floor.

So, yeah, you do end up with some of the utility of a hatchback and folding rear seats, but not nearly as much carrying capacity as you'd expect in a vehicle of that size.

Not to mention, all of the unsprung weight present in that 4x4 suspension leads to poor handling and a bouncy ride.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(subarutoo @ Apr 2 2007, 01:15 PM) [snapback]416582[/snapback]</div>

To be fair to the Civic owners, what is their commute like? A 90 mile a day commute on freeways (unless you're going max speed all the time) is going to give better mileage than a lot of short trips.

However, regardless of the mileage, I'd go with the Prius.

I'm surprised. The spell checker didn't flag "regardless" as a wrong spelling. MicroSoft Word gives "irregardless" as correct. That grates on my nerves.

Dave M.

 

So far in three or four fill ups, I've seen 45mpg on the display of my 07 Prius--but right now it's hovering at about 38mpg with half a tank gone.

Short trips, climate control on. I set it and drive it like any other car I'd drive. I got 20/27 in my 94 ES300, and I'm getting no better than 45 in the Prius.

People that gripe and moan about how the car isn't getting what the sticker says, don't know much about life. The sticker was always about comparing it to the sticker number on other cars. It was never about "this is what you'll get". But enough people griped and moaned, so they redid the test.

Regardless, no one ever drives the test route under the test conditions. They'll still gripe and moan.

38mpg on a Civic isn't all that bad--in fact, it's great in the city. That's what I'm getting in my Prius.

On the highway, a Corolla can hit 40+mpg.

 

it happens everywhere. when the 06 yamaha YZF R6 came out all the magazines were touting its astronomical red line. when actual dyno tests came out and showed the bike didnt actually achieve those numbers everyone went ape!! No one takes notice that Speedo/Tach Error can be and is significant and is common. The R6 did achieve an impressive level of performance.... as does the prius in fuel consumption. Its motorcycle season. i cant help it.

 

Well, after talking to AAA Car Buying service today, my mom is getting a NAV-equipped 2007 Civic Hybrid for $12,400 or so (including NC tax, tag transfer, and DELIVERY) after selling her 2002 Tacoma Prerunner through them. They'll be by Wednesday with the car to have her sign the paperwork and take her truck. Makes me wish I'd thought of them three years ago for Prius-purchasing.

I've warned her that the EPA estimates are not holding up well for Civics, but since I can't say my results are always up to the EPA's unless I take a road-trip, it's not like I can brag either...

 

Landcruiser;

I do own both the 2006 Civic Hybrid and a 2007 Prius. They are both excellent cars (the absolute best for my $) and I would not let any kind of "one sided view" spoil the remendous advantages that each has to offer a good owner.

Unlike some folks here, I would rather recommend you test drive both cars. Given them both a chance and I am sure that whichever you pick will be an awesome choice that is entirely your own.
For instance, my wife hates the Prius and I love it. If I had bought two HCH's, as I almost did, I believe that would have been a mistake. Just as big as owning two Prius. It is good to have choices available and it is actually good that it is hard to choose between the two. Both are great cars.

If you wish to have more balanced advice I would suggest you visit a less Prius biased forum. You'll find the www.greenhybrid.com and www.CleanMPG.com to be good starter sites in terms of accuracy and fair accountings of what each car's potential really is.


Cheers;

MSantos

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Apr 2 2007, 10:12 PM) [snapback]416821[/snapback]</div>

when you are cruising steady at any speed above 20km/h simply lighten the pressure on the gas until you see one or two regen green bars then... very gently apply gas. At that point the green regen bars will vanish, the instant fuel economy display goes to 0l/100km and you pick how many white assist bars to apply for EV mode. Typically you apply as much as 5 assists bars under EV mode. Press the gas too abruptly and the gas engine kicks in along with the usual EV assist.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Apr 2 2007, 10:12 PM) [snapback]416821[/snapback]</div>

Absolutely right about the non-folding rear seats.

Cheers;

MSantos

 

When I was in the market, I test drove both and ended up with the Prius. Maybe I was slightly biased in my decision-making process because my brother owns both a Prius and an HCH and makes his wife drive the Civic because he can't stand the thing (she keeps trying to stake her claim on the Prius, but no luck so far).

Anyway, here were my reasons for the Prius:

LEGROOM LEGROOM LEGROOM. My eyes about bugged out of my head when I saw a posting on this thread saying that the driver found legroom in the Civic's backseat to be bigger ... ?!?! The absolute dealbreaker on the Civic for me was the fact that my husband and I are both over 6' tall and there was not a prayer of him fitting into that back seat behind me in the Civic. Prius, no problem. Seriously - I don't have to move my seat forward an inch. I'm also a carpool driver and my Prius seats 5 sans complaints.

Versatility. I never owned a hatchback before getting my Prius. In fact, I was opposed to the idea of having a hatchback (for no really specific reason other than aesthetic and years of being told that "cool" cars weren't hatchbacks). But now I love being able to throw our surfboards and snowboards in the back (a roof rack would just reduce fuel economy! HA!) Also, the eighty-eight hidden compartments make storage of everyday junk (emergency supplies, napkins, CD cases, first aid kit, etc) a breeze and allow me to keep the car looking neat and clean.

OOMPH. Oddly enough, when I test drove a Prius, I found it to be really lacking in acceleration (from a stop, on the highway, etc). I was perplexed, because my NASCAR-wannabe brother zips around in his like he's at Daytona ... and he has no complaints about zoom power. Bought it anyway (knowing from him and by lurking on this forum that it's not that common a complaint - and the one I test drove was used, which may have made a difference, though I don't know why). First time I stepped on the gas out of the lot, it shot to life and I've never had an acceleration problem. In fact, I let skeptics take her out for a spin sometimes so they can see how decent the zip is. I didn't think the HCH's acceleration was worse or anything ... but I called it a draw.

I have other reasons for loving my decision (the gadgety factor, etc). And the improved FE is also a plus: as for the poster who said s/he is currently getting in the upper 30's ... if you look on the FE forum, I think you'll find that he's on the extreme low end. Do most of us get 60-70 mpg? No. Real-world estimates are more like upper 40's to mid 50's for a standard commute (mixed residential, city streets, highway driving). You may find that for the first 1000 miles or so, FE is 4-5 mpg lower than what you'll end up getting routinely (the so-called "break-in period"). Better than the HCH by a good margin (8-10+ mpg).

Ultimately, test drive both, several times if need be. Yes, it's a total pain to hit every Toyota/Honda dealer in town ... but if you are really on the fence, give yourself some time to make a decision that you are comfortable with. If, after reading all of these responses and test driving the Prius, you still aren't sold on it, then it's probably not the car for you! YOU have to get behind the wheel every day and drive it around - pick the one that you love to drive.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Apr 2 2007, 11:49 PM) [snapback]416881[/snapback]</div>

Correct, one bar is the lowest.

 

easy way to determine.... check out both car FE capabilities

for the hch 2nd gen http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1306

http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1224 for the NWH20 prius (04-07 models)

will give you a good insight of what both cars are capable of... it all comes down to "WHAT"S YOUR DAILY COMMUTE IS LIKE?"

plus in canada hch II is much cheaper than the prius (25800 cad vs 32000 cad)