My experience with a Honda Civic hybrid

I have read several posts about the Civic hybrid. We have had ours for
a year now.After a thousand miles, with the a/c off, I was averaging
34 mpg. I took it back to the dealer and complained. They said that
since it only had 1000 miles, the mileage figure was not what is to be
expected, and after a good break-in (he suggested 4000 miles), we
should be getting close to the EPA 46/48. We therefore drove the Civic
on a 2000 mile interstate trip to get the mileage up. We averaged 40.6
on the interstate trip. We now have almost 5000 miles on the car, and
the last two tanks averaged 33 mpg. I think that is ridiculous. If we
were getting 43, I would feel scammed, but good night, 33? It's
really a crime. Can't wait to see what the dealer says when I take it
back in a few weeks for service.

I also get very disgusted when some say that it's the way people drive
that is the problem. We live in flat-land and drive it normally
without rabbit starts etc. 33 is disgusting.

That does sound appalling; I'd be annoyed, too.

A September thread here on Civic hybrid mileage may be of interest to you:
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...6a538ae&rnum=3

Some folks (and consumer agencies) report as you do. Others have better
experiences.


"muzz" > wrote
> I have read several posts about the Civic hybrid. We have had ours for
> a year now.After a thousand miles, with the a/c off, I was averaging
> 34 mpg. I took it back to the dealer and complained. They said that
> since it only had 1000 miles, the mileage figure was not what is to be
> expected, and after a good break-in (he suggested 4000 miles), we
> should be getting close to the EPA 46/48. We therefore drove the Civic
> on a 2000 mile interstate trip to get the mileage up. We averaged 40.6
> on the interstate trip. We now have almost 5000 miles on the car, and
> the last two tanks averaged 33 mpg. I think that is ridiculous. If we
> were getting 43, I would feel scammed, but good night, 33? It's
> really a crime. Can't wait to see what the dealer says when I take it
> back in a few weeks for service.
>
> I also get very disgusted when some say that it's the way people drive
> that is the problem. We live in flat-land and drive it normally
> without rabbit starts etc. 33 is disgusting.

That does sound appalling; I'd be annoyed, too.

A September thread here on Civic hybrid mileage may be of interest to you:
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...6a538ae&rnum=3

Some folks (and consumer agencies) report as you do. Others have better
experiences.


"muzz" > wrote
> I have read several posts about the Civic hybrid. We have had ours for
> a year now.After a thousand miles, with the a/c off, I was averaging
> 34 mpg. I took it back to the dealer and complained. They said that
> since it only had 1000 miles, the mileage figure was not what is to be
> expected, and after a good break-in (he suggested 4000 miles), we
> should be getting close to the EPA 46/48. We therefore drove the Civic
> on a 2000 mile interstate trip to get the mileage up. We averaged 40.6
> on the interstate trip. We now have almost 5000 miles on the car, and
> the last two tanks averaged 33 mpg. I think that is ridiculous. If we
> were getting 43, I would feel scammed, but good night, 33? It's
> really a crime. Can't wait to see what the dealer says when I take it
> back in a few weeks for service.
>
> I also get very disgusted when some say that it's the way people drive
> that is the problem. We live in flat-land and drive it normally
> without rabbit starts etc. 33 is disgusting.

muzz wrote:
> I have read several posts about the Civic hybrid. We have had ours for
> a year now.After a thousand miles, with the a/c off, I was averaging
> 34 mpg. I took it back to the dealer and complained. They said that
> since it only had 1000 miles, the mileage figure was not what is to be
> expected, and after a good break-in (he suggested 4000 miles), we
> should be getting close to the EPA 46/48. We therefore drove the Civic
> on a 2000 mile interstate trip to get the mileage up. We averaged 40.6
> on the interstate trip. We now have almost 5000 miles on the car, and
> the last two tanks averaged 33 mpg. I think that is ridiculous. If we
> were getting 43, I would feel scammed, but good night, 33? It's
> really a crime. Can't wait to see what the dealer says when I take it
> back in a few weeks for service.
>
> I also get very disgusted when some say that it's the way people drive
> that is the problem. We live in flat-land and drive it normally
> without rabbit starts etc. 33 is disgusting.
>

with respect, that's not surprising. the only time the hybrid comes
into its own is in city driving. constant stop/start consumes a lot of
gas with a conventional car. if you live/drive in a non-urban area, the
vehicle needs to get the energy to travel from somewhere, and burning
gas is the only way to do it. that's how hybrids work well in the city
- if the vehicle's not moving, or moving slowly, it doesn't need to burn
gas - conventional cars do.

muzz wrote:
> I have read several posts about the Civic hybrid. We have had ours for
> a year now.After a thousand miles, with the a/c off, I was averaging
> 34 mpg. I took it back to the dealer and complained. They said that
> since it only had 1000 miles, the mileage figure was not what is to be
> expected, and after a good break-in (he suggested 4000 miles), we
> should be getting close to the EPA 46/48. We therefore drove the Civic
> on a 2000 mile interstate trip to get the mileage up. We averaged 40.6
> on the interstate trip. We now have almost 5000 miles on the car, and
> the last two tanks averaged 33 mpg. I think that is ridiculous. If we
> were getting 43, I would feel scammed, but good night, 33? It's
> really a crime. Can't wait to see what the dealer says when I take it
> back in a few weeks for service.
>
> I also get very disgusted when some say that it's the way people drive
> that is the problem. We live in flat-land and drive it normally
> without rabbit starts etc. 33 is disgusting.
>

with respect, that's not surprising. the only time the hybrid comes
into its own is in city driving. constant stop/start consumes a lot of
gas with a conventional car. if you live/drive in a non-urban area, the
vehicle needs to get the energy to travel from somewhere, and burning
gas is the only way to do it. that's how hybrids work well in the city
- if the vehicle's not moving, or moving slowly, it doesn't need to burn
gas - conventional cars do.

muzz wrote:

> I also get very disgusted when some say that it's the way people drive
> that is the problem. We live in flat-land and drive it normally
> without rabbit starts etc. 33 is disgusting.

the toyotas give better mileage in the city.

muzz wrote:

> I also get very disgusted when some say that it's the way people drive
> that is the problem. We live in flat-land and drive it normally
> without rabbit starts etc. 33 is disgusting.

the toyotas give better mileage in the city.

40.6 mpg seems like a acceptable mileage for interstate driving, since the
battery's assist during hwy driving is at a minimum. So, the 40.6mpg would
indicate that th engine is working within spec without any assist from the
battery. Also, the 33mpg is a norm for city driving, for a non-hybrid Civic,
that's packing an automatic tranny....

Let us know if the mechanic finds anything wrong with the car's Battery
Assist.

Pars
98 Civic Hatch (36 mpg - combined)

"muzz" > wrote in message
news
> I have read several posts about the Civic hybrid. We have had ours for
> a year now.After a thousand miles, with the a/c off, I was averaging
> 34 mpg. I took it back to the dealer and complained. They said that
> since it only had 1000 miles, the mileage figure was not what is to be
> expected, and after a good break-in (he suggested 4000 miles), we
> should be getting close to the EPA 46/48. We therefore drove the Civic
> on a 2000 mile interstate trip to get the mileage up. We averaged 40.6
> on the interstate trip. We now have almost 5000 miles on the car, and
> the last two tanks averaged 33 mpg. I think that is ridiculous. If we
> were getting 43, I would feel scammed, but good night, 33? It's
> really a crime. Can't wait to see what the dealer says when I take it
> back in a few weeks for service.
>
> I also get very disgusted when some say that it's the way people drive
> that is the problem. We live in flat-land and drive it normally
> without rabbit starts etc. 33 is disgusting.
>
>
>

40.6 mpg seems like a acceptable mileage for interstate driving, since the
battery's assist during hwy driving is at a minimum. So, the 40.6mpg would
indicate that th engine is working within spec without any assist from the
battery. Also, the 33mpg is a norm for city driving, for a non-hybrid Civic,
that's packing an automatic tranny....

Let us know if the mechanic finds anything wrong with the car's Battery
Assist.

Pars
98 Civic Hatch (36 mpg - combined)

"muzz" > wrote in message
news
> I have read several posts about the Civic hybrid. We have had ours for
> a year now.After a thousand miles, with the a/c off, I was averaging
> 34 mpg. I took it back to the dealer and complained. They said that
> since it only had 1000 miles, the mileage figure was not what is to be
> expected, and after a good break-in (he suggested 4000 miles), we
> should be getting close to the EPA 46/48. We therefore drove the Civic
> on a 2000 mile interstate trip to get the mileage up. We averaged 40.6
> on the interstate trip. We now have almost 5000 miles on the car, and
> the last two tanks averaged 33 mpg. I think that is ridiculous. If we
> were getting 43, I would feel scammed, but good night, 33? It's
> really a crime. Can't wait to see what the dealer says when I take it
> back in a few weeks for service.
>
> I also get very disgusted when some say that it's the way people drive
> that is the problem. We live in flat-land and drive it normally
> without rabbit starts etc. 33 is disgusting.
>
>
>

People who buy them in my area, get them for the HOV lanes. A person at
work has one and I asked him about the mileage, he told me he did not care
about the mileage, be bought the car for the HOV lanes.
If not for the HOV lanes, they would not sell as good as they do now around
here (Northern VA)

Gary

"muzz" > wrote in message
news
>I have read several posts about the Civic hybrid. We have had ours for
> a year now.After a thousand miles, with the a/c off, I was averaging
> 34 mpg. I took it back to the dealer and complained. They said that
> since it only had 1000 miles, the mileage figure was not what is to be
> expected, and after a good break-in (he suggested 4000 miles), we
> should be getting close to the EPA 46/48. We therefore drove the Civic
> on a 2000 mile interstate trip to get the mileage up. We averaged 40.6
> on the interstate trip. We now have almost 5000 miles on the car, and
> the last two tanks averaged 33 mpg. I think that is ridiculous. If we
> were getting 43, I would feel scammed, but good night, 33? It's
> really a crime. Can't wait to see what the dealer says when I take it
> back in a few weeks for service.
>
> I also get very disgusted when some say that it's the way people drive
> that is the problem. We live in flat-land and drive it normally
> without rabbit starts etc. 33 is disgusting.
>
>
>