Honda Hybrids

[Alkali Ike]

VW has been doing $13K off MSRP on 2016 e-Golfs. The catch is it's 3 year lease only and you don't get the tax credits. But if 80-some miles range is enough for you those are really nice cars. In 3 years you can turn the car in and get a 2020 e-Golf with 300+ miles range.

 

[BaileyMan]

My wife and I have a 2000 honda insight with about 115,000 miles on it. We're on our 4th hybrid battery. One was the original, two were replaced under warranty, so we've only paid to replace ours once. They do cost a lot to replace, upwards of $2500. Our little car is 17 years old this year. We did the math, and over the course of even 10 years, it still cost us less to operate than had we had a standard, compact, regular gasoline engine, like a honda civic.

Hope that gives you some insight (pun intended) into honda hybrids. Of course, YMMV, (pun intended again, but I'll stop now).

 

[Gaolee]

My wife and I have a 2000 honda insight with about 115,000 miles on it. We're on our 4th hybrid battery. One was the original, two were replaced under warranty, so we've only paid to replace ours once. They do cost a lot to replace, upwards of $2500. Our little car is 17 years old this year. We did the math, and over the course of even 10 years, it still cost us less to operate than had we had a standard, compact, regular gasoline engine, like a honda civic.

Hope that gives you some insight (pun intended) into honda hybrids. Of course, YMMV, (pun intended again, but I'll stop now).

We looked into an Insight, but she wanted a back seat. I think the Prius c will be plenty inexpensive to operate if we keep it for a long time. We aren't buying it new, so it's about half price for now. That will come with costs in the future, but for now, I expect it will be more bulletproof than a 22 year old Civic with 220K miles on it and little things failing all over the place. Plus, it will get far better fuel efficiency than the Civic in town where most of her driving is. We thought about a pure electric car. There were two reasons we didn't go that way. The first is range. She has to drive 160 miles for work on occasion. 80 mile range is a deal breaker. The second issue is charging. We don't have room in our electrical panel, and you need a station for efficient recharging. We would have a serious rewiring project on our hands for that. I know you can charge from a 110 outlet, but that takes too long for what she would need on a fairly regular basis. That means a hybrid. The good thing is that we can take it on longer trips and leave the van at home.

 

[BaileyMan]

We looked into an Insight, but she wanted a back seat. I think the Prius c will be plenty inexpensive to operate if we keep it for a long time. We aren't buying it new, so it's about half price for now. That will come with costs in the future, but for now, I expect it will be more bulletproof than a 22 year old Civic with 220K miles on it and little things failing all over the place. Plus, it will get far better fuel efficiency than the Civic in town where most of her driving is. We thought about a pure electric car. There were two reasons we didn't go that way. The first is range. She has to drive 160 miles for work on occasion. 80 mile range is a deal breaker. The second issue is charging. We don't have room in our electrical panel, and you need a station for efficient recharging. We would have a serious rewiring project on our hands for that. I know you can charge from a 110 outlet, but that takes too long for what she would need on a fairly regular basis. That means a hybrid. The good thing is that we can take it on longer trips and leave the van at home.

Sounds like y'all made a well informed, good choice.

Enjoy!

 

[fingerguy]

What other crap ends up costing you an arm and a leg? Just curious, since I'm in the market for a car and have been considering hybrids.

Well besides Toyota's service prices (and really can't go elsewhere unless they specialize in hybrids) one of the lights went bad less than a year and they would not cover under warranty for they claimed it was wear and tear. Less than a year really? That was over $300 because it has and I quote "a computer in it".

 

[MJ5150]

new fiat 500e for $99 for a 36 month lease, deposit after government credit is $2500, range is 82 miles or there about, might be able to fit a micro type gear in it

82 miles or so seems like a relatively limited range.
Totally fine for big city driving, but what if you want to go anywhere 50 miles away? I guess you'd look for parking with the chargers when you got where you're going?
I'm seeing more and more of those parking spots around these parts.

-Mike

 

[fingerguy]

82 miles or so seems like a relatively limited range.
Totally fine for big city driving, but what if you want to go anywhere 50 miles away? I guess you'd look for parking with the chargers when you got where you're going?
I'm seeing more and more of those parking spots around these parts.

-Mike

What bothers me about that is they are closest to the store/mall/whatever and they have signs saying these spots are only for those type of cars.

Handicap I get, but for an electric car that is BS. Put them in the back instead of hogging up the spots close to the mall.

 

[MJ5150]

What bothers me about that is they are closest to the store/mall/whatever and they have signs saying these spots are only for those type of cars.

Handicap I get, but for an electric car that is BS. Put them in the back instead of hogging up the spots close to the mall.

Just wait. I am sure those with disabled parking placards will catch on soon enough and protest.

-Mike