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Test Drive the Civic Hybrid!!!!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by kdailey356, Sep 7, 2007.

  1. kdailey356

    kdailey356 New Member

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    So today I was just running around doing errands, met with some friends for sushi, and on my way home passed a Honda dealership. I stopped, just asking if I could sit in one of the 2008 C-Hybrids.. The dealer saw me pull in with the prius and said 'there is one in the back lot, we'll bring it up, feel free to take it for the night' with a smile. I said oh no!, ill drive it around the corner and through some back roads... so, I definately got a good feel for the car..

    I LOVE:
    -The normal starting of the engine with a key
    The gear shifter
    Not an overly active traction control system
    Multi-adjustable seats, that are very comfortable, and doesnt make you feel as if your sitting on a stool.
    Windshield wiper design
    Interior color palate
    Interior storage
    &&&&&& The engine is extremely quiet, it does not sound like a hoover vacuum while being floored.

    I DONT LOVE:
    No back-up camera:(
    Short on rear legroom(but good for a car this size)
    Obv. no hatchback
    Braking is not as sensitive as the prius, the prius has amazing brakes.
    A tad bit slower from 30-50


    Overall I might trade in the prius for the hybrid civic, It seems much more comfortable and looks like it wont give me a throbbing knee for drives longer than 3 hours. (im 6'2)


    BUT my silver prius touring is soooo sentimental.. like all my cars... I wish i could have both:(
     
    #1 kdailey356, Sep 7, 2007
  2. alg

    alg Junior Member

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    The Civic hybrid still has $2,100 tax credit. It's a nice car.
     
    #2 alg, Sep 8, 2007
  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    It's a good car. I've test driven the 2006 one (basically the same as the 2007) and it feels sporty to drive. I'm surprised about your comment on rear legroom esp. since the wheelbase of the HCH-II is identical to the Prius. The rear legroom on the HCH-II is quite good for a compact car (and I thought rivalled the Prius).
     
    #3 Tideland Prius, Sep 8, 2007
  4. brick

    brick Active Member

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    I would have been thrilled to try one last year but there were zero available even for a test drive. Honda can't compete unless they step up their manufacturing capacity.
     
    #4 brick, Sep 8, 2007
  5. kdailey356

    kdailey356 New Member

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    There were 5 2007 left over models at the honda dealership i stopped at. Also, about the rear legroom, maybe it looked small to me because i had the seat all the way back. The seat in the prius does not go back far so probably the prius would have the same amount of legroom if i had the seat that far back in a prius. IM IN LOVE WITH THE CIVIC HYBRID!!! hahaha... it's such a great driving car...
     
    #5 kdailey356, Sep 8, 2007
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CapeCodPrius @ Sep 8 2007, 08:46 AM) [snapback]509054[/snapback]</div>
    Possibly. I don't think I had the seat all the way back in the HCH-II and I have sat in the back numerous times.
     
    #6 Tideland Prius, Sep 8, 2007
  7. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    I would have been very tempted if the Civic Hybrid was available in the coupe. It wasn't and I wasn't. ;) Still, it's a nice car. They're going to have to drop the Canadian Civic Hybrid price, now that the Prius price has dropped, if they want to compete.
     
    #7 David Beale, Sep 8, 2007
  8. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CapeCodPrius @ Sep 7 2007, 02:33 PM) [snapback]508751[/snapback]</div>
    The Civic is a great car. If the Prius didn't exist it would be the best fossil-fuel car out there.

    But the first two items on your "I Love" list are the two reasons I would not want it: Conventional engine & transmission. I love the way the Prius does NOT start the engine unless it's needed, and I love the lack of a conventional transmission.
     
    #8 daniel, Sep 8, 2007
  9. goldprius

    goldprius New Member

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    We also test-rode a Civic hybrid before getting my Prius. Is the 2008 different from 2007? The main reason was we wanted a hatchback to put one bicycle in before needing racks & stuff. Also, the demo we rode at the Honda dealer had major "thunks" when the engine restarted. I did not notice that with the Prius, although it could have been a bad Honda for us.

    Really, if he Honda meets your needs & you can still get the full tax credit..

    That said, my local Honda dealer--when we looked at the hybrids way back when--said to consider a plain 5 speed Civic/ If you look at the difference in mpg & the potential cost of problems in a hybrid, he sad go conservative & get a 5 speed.

    I know ther are lots of opiinions out there.

    I own a Prius..
     
    #9 goldprius, Sep 8, 2007
  10. n8kwx

    n8kwx Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Sep 8 2007, 05:09 PM) [snapback]509206[/snapback]</div>
    Ditto with Dan.

    Toyota's hybrid technology is way beyond Honda's. Too bad, because Honda makes good engines, nice seats and nice suspensions.

    And a "real" Hybrid is a must have for me anymore. Toyota's HSD is the first break from the engine - transmission - differential - wheels model. The exact same topology from a Model-T to a 2008 MB S-Class!
     
    #10 n8kwx, Sep 8, 2007
  11. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(David Beale @ Sep 8 2007, 12:36 PM) [snapback]509167[/snapback]</div>
    They did drop it from $28,500 to $25,800 (someone had fun with numbers) from 2005 to 2006. For 2007, it goes up to $26,200 (BCers pay no tax since the rebates cancel them all out for the HCH-II).

    Plus, it's a few hundred dollars different from a Civic Si Coupe. Do you want a 198hp 6-spd manual coupe or a fuel-sipping, high tech hybrid?
     
    #11 Tideland Prius, Sep 8, 2007
  12. GeekEV

    GeekEV Member

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    My wife and I have both a Civic Hybrid and a Prius, both '06 models. We both prefer the Prius, so I make her suck it up with the Civic. :)
     
    #12 GeekEV, Sep 9, 2007
  13. sanmusa

    sanmusa New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Sep 8 2007, 01:28 AM) [snapback]508976[/snapback]</div>

    According to www.automotive.com the Prius has 2-1/2" more legroom than the Civic, and even has more legroom than the Camry:

    "The back seat is surprisingly roomy. There's 2-1/2 inches more rear leg room than in the Civic Hybrid, and Prius even beats the Camry by an inch."

    http://www.automotive.com/2005/43/toyota/p...rior/index.html
     
    #13 sanmusa, Sep 9, 2007
  14. cairo94507

    cairo94507 Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Sep 8 2007, 05:09 PM) [snapback]509206[/snapback]</div>
    I have to agree here- I love not having to fumble with a key to drive the Prius. I wish all cars would go to this type of ignition/start system. When I have to drive a car using a key I actually find myself irritated.
     
    #14 cairo94507, Sep 9, 2007
  15. jarhead&#39;s prius

    jarhead&#39;s prius New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cairo94507 @ Sep 9 2007, 10:45 AM) [snapback]509510[/snapback]</div>
    I test drove '08 Vette, it has no key, also. B)
     
    #15 jarhead&#39;s prius, Sep 9, 2007
  16. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Sep 8 2007, 08:53 PM) [snapback]509334[/snapback]</div>
    Yes, I wanted the Civic 198 HP 6 spd manual coupe. I also wanted the fuel economy and technology of the Prius. My decision was to evolve into efficiency and I bought the Prius. You see, I had the anti-Prius (2001 Pathfinder - 240 HP 4400 lb) and a 1993 RX-7 (300 HP - too fast for any public road). It was time to change. I traded in the anti-Prius for a Prius and then sold the RX-7. And I'm not regretting it a bit!

    But as I said, if Honda had offered the coupe with the hybrid drivetrain, I could have had a very efficient car (about 10% less than a Prius) that would have -looked- fast. ;)

    Funny part is, a friend who also just sold his 1994 RX-7 got the Honda Si. Now he's not happy having to rev it so high to get any power. But he looks good in it. ;)

    I thought I was getting a "gutless wonder" when I bought the Prius. Lo and behold it is amazing on the highway. It passes better than the anti-Prius. If you are passing someone and floor it you'd better be holding onto the steering wheel! And it handles the corners just fine, thank you! No, it's no match for the RX-7. But in that car I had to continually exercise extreme self control. All other vehicles were just "mobile chicanes".

    But I ramble. Sorry. :)
     
    #16 David Beale, Sep 9, 2007
  17. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sanmusa @ Sep 9 2007, 12:17 AM) [snapback]509441[/snapback]</div>
    Interesting. I would have never guessed esp. since the wheelbase is (I believe) identical and it feels spacious to me.

    Oh and just take note that it's comparing to the old Camry. The 07 Camry I believe matches or beat the Prius.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(David Beale @ Sep 9 2007, 09:20 AM) [snapback]509556[/snapback]</div>
    You mean you would've bought a Honda Insight? lol.... It's a coupe, it's a hybrid, it looks fast cause of the sleek aerodynamic design.


    lol.. mobile chicanes... so that's what Albertans do down Hwy 2. (Rhyme was unintentional)
     
    #17 Tideland Prius, Sep 9, 2007
  18. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cairo94507 @ Sep 9 2007, 07:45 AM) [snapback]509510[/snapback]</div>
    One of the few drawbacks of the Xebra is that I'm always belting myself in before remembering that I have to take the key out of my pocket. :(
     
    #18 daniel, Sep 9, 2007
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