Hybrid owner sues Honda over mileage claims

there are quite a few at greenhybrid that have gone over 50 mph in their HCHII. I average now about 43-44 with less than 3k miles. Used to be at 42.

 

Gee, another opportunity for hybrid-bashing from the Detroit News. That newspaper loves to suck up to the Big Three, obviously.

If the guy bringing the lawsuit was as stubborn about improving his driving techniques as he is about suing, he wouldn't need to.

Harry

 

That article made me sick, why would you dump a $50,000+ Mercedes($901 payment with my credit score) for a $28,000 Civic ($504 payment) just to 'save' at the pump Plus if he was impressed by the civic's MPG rating why didn't he get the BEST hybrid on the road ---A Prius. this guy needs more help than anyone can give him.

moral of the story, If you can't learn how to drive it...........DON'T BUY IT!!!!!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TomorrowMatters @ Jul 6 2007, 06:27 AM) [snapback]473936[/snapback]</div>

how do you spend 28k on an HCHII? Is this before tax or after? With nav, the MSRP is 24,xxx. So even with all the options including wheel lock and tire guards or w/e it still shouldnt be more than 26k.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TomorrowMatters @ Jul 6 2007, 06:27 AM) [snapback]473936[/snapback]</div>

Well hell I think he saved $22,000+ right off the bat

 

One doesn't have to "learn" how to drive a hybrid such as Prius or Civic.

The whole point of the cars is that they act and drive just like normal cars--yet in doing so, get much better gas mileage than other, non-hybrid cars.

While it's true that the Prius (at least) will show some modest gains to those who change their driving habits, those gains are above and beyond the normal, tremendous gains that everyday drivers get simply by driving the car.

Don't go around telling the world that they "need" to drive the Prius in some "special" way just to get the 45-50mpg that seems common. What you're saying is that UNLESS they drive in these mystical "special" ways, they won't get any better mileage than your average Camry.

That's just flat-out wrong.

There's no need to "learn how to drive it". Don't attack those who are getting only 30-35mpg by saying, "but you're not driving it right". That's not only false, it's ridiculous and it makes the attacker look silly.

 

Well if you are getting 30-35 MPG in a Prius then I'd like to know what you got in your last car, cause I guarantee you that it wasn't near 30 MPG.

This is just like blaming McDonalds for making people fat, while true indirectly, it's not there fault people keep eating there. They are blaming a company for something that isn't their fault. It's the EPAs fault, but you don't see anyone suing them, which they should have instead of Honda.

Ohh well, I enjoy watching the stupidity of Americans grow. At least for the time being.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Jul 6 2007, 08:50 AM) [snapback]473945[/snapback]</div>

Actually, the EPA devised the test to measure the pollutants from cars. They did this by capturing the exhaust from cars while on a threadmill. Then some bright chemist figured out that you could take the total exhaust emissions and backfigure how much fuel was used. He would divide the mileage on the threadmill by the fuel used, and presto, you get the gas mileage. Before you knew it, EPA was the final word on what mileage cars get. Actually the EPA should get out of the mileage measurement altogether, and turn that over to the Dept of Transportation, where it belongs.

I would like to see several measurements: Steady speed at 35, 50 and 70 MPH on a level track, a stop-and-go city cycle with speeds under 40 MPH, and freeway cruising over rolling hills. DoT could set the standards, and the manufacturers could do the tests , like they for the most part do now.

 

I think the lawyers willing to convince you a case could be won will always outnumber the cases that don't stand a chance in court.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Per @ Jul 6 2007, 10:17 AM) [snapback]474100[/snapback]</div>

As a former 2006 Civic Hybrid owner who bit the bullet and traded for 2007 Prius, I think the EPA mileage on Civic Hybrid is much more inacurate than Prius. But I don't think Honda has any control over what the EPA test reveals. I was getting 45 hwy and 32 city, which I am estimating based on resetting the computer, driving on hwy, getting almost 45, but it droped to 42 as soon as I hit any surface streets at all. Reset and drive through town and I got 32. Go into a weekend with 42 and start diving around town, drop quickly to 38.

If he wins, I am in the Class, so you go for it man!

 

CR only got 26 from a Civic hybrid? Their drivers must be awfully agressive on the road. Anyone who can't get close to the EPA estimates is unclear on how to get good mileage to begin with. Did the moron sue Mercedes for only getting 4 mpg?

 

He should sue the EPA, not the auto mfgs. They don't make the claims, the EPA does and the auto mfgs are required to put EPA numbers on the sticker at the dealership. There's not case at all because the auto mfgs aren't the ones making the claim. This will get thrown out immediately because there is no case. This is just an attempt to make hybrids look bad.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NoMoShocks @ Jul 6 2007, 11:24 AM) [snapback]474103[/snapback]</div>

Isn't it great that we live in a world of such rich diversity??

Which fortunately allows me to offer a stark contrast to your experiences. Clicking on my signatures may help the agitated.

However:
I am not surprised by this lawsuit at all. Many people buy economy hybrids expecting to get EPA or close... and when they do not get it (be it in an HCH or Prius) they embark on the lawsuit game. Typical indeed... when in trouble always blame others.

These type of stories have been around since hybrids were introduced in our markets. I am however surprised by the "traction" that it has with some folks in this forum.
For a pretty small hybrid community amounting to less than 4% of market we're can be very fragmented.

Heck, who needs hybrid bashers anyway.


MSantos

 

Autoblog Green interviewed the guy suing Honda.

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/07/07/au...hes-the-guy-su/

 

Talk with anyone on the street and they'll tell the real deal, these hybrids are a scam. People who somewhat know me would never think I own one, but the wife does. I hear the damnest things. I had a automotive (well respected mechanic) guy telling me the Prius is a joke mileage wise and the parts on them were huge ($400 head light). My wife drives like she's in Nascar and she doesn't even try to get good mileage and she gets 42 mpg in the winter and 52 in the summer. I get in it in the summer and get it right up to 59 mpg.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Jul 6 2007, 09:50 AM) [snapback]473945[/snapback]</div>

Yea, but what self respecting litigous psycho, in their right mind would try & sue the Fed's ??

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cwerdna @ Jul 7 2007, 03:27 AM) [snapback]474536[/snapback]</div>

You have to consider the Prius got 35 MPG in the CR city cycle. Most members here seem to get at least 40-45 MPG, so i guess the CR testers are not too gentle with their driving. I stll put more stock in their numbers on a comparison basis; the Prius still got about 30% better mileage than tht HCH, and the TCH got better mileage in their tests than the HCH.