On my most recent bout of car shopping this past summer, I seriously considered the hybrid Civic. The other contenders were the VW Golf/GTI, (diesel, and 1.8T). That was before I started seriously looking at used cars, and ended up with my beloved Saab...

The Civic drove really nicely, had a slick display, was a practical 4-door layout... all nice. What I didn't like was:

The Price: Normal Civics get really good mileage, and start much cheaper

The pokiness: As much as I wanted to get an environmentally friendly car, I am a young testosterone-poisoned male. I need my car to have some "Nutz" as the boy-racer magazines state so eloquently. I wanted somehting that would keep me drier than my motorcycle when the weather turned to crap, but was still entertaining. The hybrid Civic was ok off the line, but did feel a bit sluggish at speed.

The slushbox: The CV transmission, the only one available at the time I was looking, is smooth and all that, but, until I need an extra hand to monitor the dials on my iron-lung, I can't stand the thought of driving an automatic.

The rear seats didn't fold down. And I ski. Poor oversight on Honda's part (most of the other Civics' seats did fold).

So to make myself feel better about killing the environment, and still allowing myself a little fun, I moved close enough to my job that my commute to work is a 20 minute walk, and bought a fast "weekend" car for less money. I do think the hybrid idea is a great step in getting more environmental-friendly consumerism into the mainstream, and I hope the car industry can start selling these in numbers... I would certainly buy one if it met all my needs..


posted by 24.59.101...

• Slightly OT - ever driven a gas/electric hybrid?, Atul, Fri, 13 Dec 2002 15:15:20
  • Re: Slightly OT - ever driven a gas/electric hybrid?, BHarvey, Mon, 16 Dec 2002 10:58:08
  • Re: Slightly OT - ever driven a gas/electric hybrid?, Scott Paterson , Sat, 14 Dec 2002 03:29:34
  • What I want to see is TDI hybrid ..., J, Sat, 14 Dec 2002 00:56:43
  • Re: Slightly OT - ever driven a gas/electric hybrid?, Jason 0W-40, Fri, 13 Dec 2002 19:38:04
    • Civic was nice..., Lutfisk, Sat, 14 Dec 2002 19:22:21 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Nope, but I've passed them =), BenH, Fri, 13 Dec 2002 17:09:21
    • Re: seriously considered one!, butch, Fri, 13 Dec 2002 19:19:17
  • I've driven both...., Rollmo, Fri, 13 Dec 2002 15:22:23

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