Please tell me not to buy Civic

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LandCruiser @ Mar 31 2007, 11:57 PM) [snapback]415820[/snapback]</div>

Can you afford the upkeep on a Prius? I don't have one yet, but that will be a big consideration when I do buy a new car.

Especially since there are many things that can go wrong with a car: that has a gas system, an electrical system, and a computer system. One of those 3 out of wack and you might have some trouble; especially by the looks on what some of the people go through on the Priuschat.com threads.

That's what I would be questioning.

 

Are you talking about a Civic Hybrid?

What's the trunk space like?

What's the mpg of the Civic compared to the Prius?

Oh and the maintenance? Less, actually.

1) no starter (ie, as long as we have battery power, we can start the engine). This is good, since a good number of car malfunctions are bad starters.

2) no transmission. I thought the Prius had a CVT... but apparently, it effectively has NO transmission, reducing power loss and... more importantly, again reducing the number of potential malfunctions

3) Regenerative braking - much less use of the brake pads.

4) The computer control of the engine ensures less stress is put on it, particularly when cold (the engine usually idles until it's warmed up while the battery takes over most of the work).

5) No clutch.

6) No alternator.

7) Only one drive belt for water pump.

change oil , rotate tires and inspect brakes every 5K miles
replace air filter and cabin filter every 30K miles.
Coolant is good until the first 100K, 50K thereafter.
Spark plugs good for 100K, though you might want to losen them at 30-60K so they don't seize in place.

You also might want to keep one eye on the speedometer as you accelerate on to the freeway. Because of the transmission the Prius is deceptive. It can feel like you're not going that fast when in reality you're over the speed limit.

 

I was never exactly sold on Honda's CVT design when i worked for a dealer and I'm still not. I have good confidence in the Prius' CVT durability, but it's not the only factor in someone's decision.

Just go with whichever one you like best. Both should be great cars for long-term reliability.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LandCruiser @ Mar 31 2007, 09:57 PM) [snapback]415820[/snapback]</div>

I have both vehicles. The Civic Hybrid was originally mine, but gave it to my wife and got the Prius (both 06 models). We both like the Prius better. I'm not sure I understand why you think the Civic handles better and has more punch, because both my wife and I think the Prius is more "zippy" and drives like it's on rails. However, the one thing we both feel the Civic has better is styling. But from a technology standpoint and a drivability standpoint the Prius wins hands down in our minds. If MPG is important to you, get the Prius. With my driving style (moderately aggressive) I get about 10 MPG better in the Prius than I did in the Civic.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LandCruiser @ Mar 31 2007, 11:19 PM) [snapback]415852[/snapback]</div>

A V4 of any sort will never have the oomph of your V6. I used to have a V6 Intrepid before my Civic Hybrid and noticed the same drop in oomph. You'll get used to it. Eventually you'll come to find the smaller cars (either one) are more nimble.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LandCruiser @ Mar 31 2007, 09:57 PM) [snapback]415820[/snapback]</div>

The HCH's HV battery warranty is also 10 years/150K in CA just like on the Prius. See http://www.hondanews.com/categories/955/releases/3643. The HCH is actually a little slower than the Prius in real world acceleration. Regarding, MPG, the Prius is the winner too. In Consumer Reports gave the HCH 37 mpg overall vs. 44 for the Prius. See http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/bu...s-206/index.htm.

I dislike the odd interior of the current gen Civic.

I heard an incredible price for an HCH w/nav from a friend (I haven't confirmed it directly myself) who was in the market for one. It was on the order of just a few hundred above invoice. If you can get a good deal on it, coupled w/the full $2100 tax credit on the HCH (http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=157557,00.html) vs. the now $787.50 credit (starting 4/1/07) of the Prius, the HCH might be a better deal despite my opinion that the HCH is an inferior car.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mr. Zorg @ Mar 31 2007, 11:25 PM) [snapback]415856[/snapback]</div>

The Civic hybrid and non-hybrid do not have V4 engines. They have inline 4-cylinder engines. I dare you to name a single car sold in the US in the last 15 years w/a V4 engine.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LandCruiser @ Apr 1 2007, 01:38 AM) [snapback]415861[/snapback]</div>

I missed the leather wheel on my Saturn. I just bought a wheelskins cover. I had occasion to drive my old car again (my sister bought it) and the old wheel now feels "cheap".

There are plenty of mods you can make for you Prius. Shark fin antenna, install lights, decals, side molding, upgrade sounds system, sound deadening insulation, mud flaps, etc.

The best mod I made was to put in a BT plate to stiffen the frame a bit. There are plenty of threads on that. For me it improved cornering.

Do a search for why people chose their Prius to help. I chose mine because it got the highest mileage, still held 5 people, plenty of cargo and low emissions.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LandCruiser @ Mar 31 2007, 11:38 PM) [snapback]415861[/snapback]</div>

Step up to a Package #6, and you get the leather steering wheel.

 

BTW, http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drive...45/pageId=67420 is a comparison of the HCH and the Prius. It and virtually every review I've seen shows that the current (and previous gen) HCH are slower than the Prius.

The HCH also made it on the slowest accelerating cars list at http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/be...leration_ov.htm. The Prius isn't on that list.

 

LandCruiser, DO NOT BUY THE CIVIC. There, I think that's what you asked for.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Apr 1 2007, 02:08 AM) [snapback]415844[/snapback]</div>

Does the HCH have a starter? I know its electric motor (at the flywheel) starts the engine after it's been off at a stop light; why wouldn't that always be the starter?

Likewise, does it have an alternator? Because the HCH also has regenerative braking and a big battery.

The Prius does have a transmission. Really. With all that that means.

It looks like you're comparing the non-hybrid Civic to the Prius. He's not looking at the non-hybrid Civic.

http://automobiles.honda.com/models/engine...me=Civic+Hybrid

 

In 2006 when we became serious about purchasing a new auto I looked very hard at the non-hybrid Civic. My wife said that if we were going to purchase a new car it ought to reduce our carbon foot print as much as currently possible so I started looking at the Prius. After research on PriusChat and on John's site and then a test drive the Prius won hands down. I like the hatch back and the ample passenger and luggage room. Even if the Prius were not a hybrid it would be worth every penny. It is just a fabulous automobile. We have not regretted our decision.

 

You know, it seems odd to me the huge wave of "I love the hatchback!" here.

I say that because apparently, no one else likes a 3 or 5 door auto. At least, the automakers say that--because they refuse to build hatchbacks. They insist that no one wants a hatchback.

How much of this is that there really is no audience for a hatchback? Are the automakers putting their heads in the sand? If they built it, would the people come?

Or are the Prius owners simply saying that they love a hatchback only because that's the only way they can get a Prius, and they would never say anything like "I like my Prius OK, but I hate the hatch" because they'd never say *anything* bad about the Prius?

If the Prius were available in a conventional sedan, one that still looked like the hybrid-only Prius we have today, would the automakers be proven right by people avoiding the hatch version and buying the sedan version?

It seems to me that the marketing of autos is highly tuned, and that there's a solid reason the hatchback died many years ago. People just don't want them.

btw, don't let anyone else tell you what to buy or not to buy. As you said, you know what you're likely to see in this forum: people desperate to justify their own purchases by seeing that other people are doing the same thing.

Buy what you want for the reasons you want, and don't worry about what some enclave in the world of web forums is doing.

The only advice I'd have for you is this: once you make your decision and act on it, don't rethink it after the fact and worry that you made the wrong decision. Just move on with your life.

And if people here want to call you names for making a decision for yourself that doesn't justify their choices in life....don't worry about it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(adam1991 @ Apr 1 2007, 09:36 AM) [snapback]415914[/snapback]</div>

My cars: '79 Honda Civic (hatchback), '86 Dodge Colt (hatchback), '92 Subaru Justy (hatchback), Isuzu Rodeo (SUV). Isuzu Trooper (SUV), then my Prius (hatchback).

To answer your question, an SUV has the same concept of rear storage as a hatchback. The influx of SUVs in the past ten years has certainly reduced the need for hatchbacks. However, take SUVs out of the picture, and the need for a hatchback returns--a regular ol' trunk just doesn't hold enough.

Therefore, I for one do love the hatchback. I went to a greenhouse two weeks ago, and put three gardenia bushes, an azalea, and two mountain laurels in the hatch of my car without having to smoosh them. So yes, I love the hatchback. I would probably not have bought a Prius if Toyota had kept the first generation Echoish small sedan style.