Got Tired of Waiting Picked up our New Civic Hybrid Yesterday

[hopeto]

DDE was showing May through July about 30 to 40 days ago.
It recently changed to 6/3/2008 to 9/1 2008.
Yes, we'd been waiting a year and maybe we were close, but in our case it just seemed to make more sence to go with the Civic Hybrid.

I even already ordered Texas personalized plate "2 SMART" and its in and waiting at the tax office. Wonder if that's going to look strange on the Civic?

[mdfortwoguy]

Congratulations on the new purchase.

Truth be told, my DDE of 12/2008 to 2/2009 was really irking the crap out of me, and the 128i was making me salivate (I don't go a day without passing one of the local BMW dealers). Seeing my DDE move down to 6/5/2008 to 9/13/2008 today really sparked something in me again... first time my DDE has moved. Now I'm chomping more and more at the bit to get it.

[Iceberg]

Why not buy both? I did and my wife & I are very happy. I bought my '08 magnetic pearl Civic Hybrid (HCH II) in December and got the $2100 tax credit. We then picked up our blue/silver w/ red smart orphan in March and we now have a great pair of high gas milage cars. I average around 38 - 43 mpg in the HCH II (50/50 freeway/city commute)and my averages 40 - 45 mpg in the smart with her mostly freeway commute.

[saskdiesel]

I also just bought a Honda, the Fit. I didn't have to wait for a Smart, but the Honda just seemed like the better buy at this time.
So you are not alone!
I want to look at some used diesel Fortwo's. There have been a few for sale around here.

[widdle car]

My husband was one of the first Honda Civic Hybrid drivers in California. He has to put a new battery in it soon, and the cost is $4K. We never thought it would be SO expensive for a new battery.
Our other concern is: Where is the used battery going??? He says he won't buy another hybrid until he finds out about the disposal of the used battery. Think about the 1 millionth Prius just sold. That is ALOT of batteries! We didn't just get the hybrid to save $ on gas, but to help the environment (or so we thought...) I think the civic drives like a go-cart, but my husband says it drives better than the SMART. (test drive only) We're #1222 and have been waiting for over a year already.

[Smart09]

i had a 2005 prius once but got rid of it.. the biggest mistake i ever did and i never got tax credit for it

[Broken Kid]

Originally Posted by widdle car

Our other concern is: Where is the used battery going??? He says he won't buy another hybrid until he finds out about the disposal of the used battery. Think about the 1 millionth Prius just sold. That is ALOT of batteries! We didn't just get the hybrid to save $ on gas, but to help the environment (or so we thought...) I think the civic drives like a go-cart, but my husband says it drives better than the SMART. (test drive only) We're #1222 and have been waiting for over a year already.

This story says the cumulative environmental impact of a Prius from manufacturing to disposing is worse than that of a Hummer in the same "dust-to-dust" period. Priuses (Priui?) take more energy to build, and then there's the dead battery issue. Plus, they have a lifespan of 100k miles versus Hummer's 300k.

Not that I'd buy a Hummer over a Prius, but it's an interesting take.

[stevenvillatoro]

Originally Posted by widdle car

My husband was one of the first Honda Civic Hybrid drivers in California. He has to put a new battery in it soon, and the cost is $4K.

This is very odd. California law requires all hybrids to have a battery warranty that certainly would have covered this cost. Check it out. Luckily, battery longevity problems are very rare.

[saskdiesel]

Originally Posted by stevenvillatoro

This is very odd. California law requires all hybrids to have a battery warranty that certainly would have covered this cost. Check it out. Luckily, battery longevity problems are very rare.

Agreed. In Canada its a full 7 year warranty.

[curtis]

i was told by a Prius owner who purchased his car in Las Vegas that when he relocated to Wisconsin his battery warranty was cut in half due to the climate in Wisconsin.