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[Hazza]

Devil, is there any chance of a review of your car on what you think of it, whats the performance like compared to a 'normal' car, economy, will the hybrid be the car of the future, or will most people see it as a novelty item? Would be interested to hear all about that as my knowledge on Hybrid cars is zero to none.

[kafenes]

I didn't know that luck entered into the choice of a car. I chose mine because
a) it has a low carbon footprint (<½ of my previous one)
b) it has a low pollution emissions (other than carbon)
c) it is cheap to run
d) it is cheap to tax and insure
e) I get £700 subsidy from the government
f) it has a 7 year overall guarantee and 8 years on the battery and drive train

If you are in traffic, the engine stops when you stop but the climate control keeps running. Is that luck?

You're lucky you can afford one. I can't.

[devil]

OK, briefly. I'm delighted with it. Really, anyone can get into one and drive it away. However, there is a maximum economy learning curve and I haven't come to grips with a few of the finer points yet. I have done only about 1200 km so far, so the engine, wheel bearings etc. are still tight and it has a special running-in oil which does not allow maximum economy. Also, the aircon means the battery is more solicited so it requires more charging, meaning the engine runs longer before the auto cut starts working.

For a mid-sized car, I find it very economical. I can usually go from home to Nicosia Hilton (30 km) at 4.9 l/100 km provided the traffic is not too stop-start at the lights at the end of the Limassol motorway and the temp is <40°C I would anticipate in winter, this will drop to 4.5 l/100 km. I can go to Larnaca centre 25 km, same conditions, at 4.6 l/100 km (probably 4.2 l/100 km in winter). I can go to the next village (5 km) at 2.3 l/100 km. Now for the crunch: I live at 300 m altitude and the return trips take more, as gravity now opposes. The return trips are typically about 5.9, 5.8 and 6.3 l/100 km respectively. The worst is not stop-start traffic but slow moving traffic; beetling along at a steady 10 km/h really sucks up the fuel. Above 30 km/h, less problem. The Civic Hybrid is most economical on the highway and on country roads. If you are in town traffic most of the time, the Toyota Prius may be a better bet, but expect it to suck up the juice out of town.

One of the things that is astonishing is when you lift your foot off the gas. There is almost no engine braking because the valves are lifted electronically and therefore zero consumption; you can coast along for hundreds of metres, slightly charging the battery as you go along. The main battery charge is when you press the brake pedal: the mechanical brakes are used only to actually stop. Conversely, acceleration is about dosing the gas to get mainly electric torque to the wheels, rather than relying on the engine. This is achieved best at ~3000 rpm and letting the continuously variable transmission (there are no gears) take over. Acceleration is not Ferrari-style but is adequate: on most motorway slip roads you can just about reach 100 km/h before engaging into the traffic.

The car is fairly quiet: you can hear a different note when the electric motor kicks in. There is no wind noise. There is a little road rumble, as the tyres are low-rolling resistance types. Road-holding is good and it has electronic correction of oversteer and understeer, making for good, tight cornering with little angular movement. The equipment is very complete, even down to things one wouldn't normally find in a mid-sized car, like automatic volume control on the electronics depending on the speed, electrically retractable and heated side mirrors with warning indicators - and a dashboard that would hardly put an Airbus to shame.

As I say, I'm very pleased with it and look forward to a better consumption in cooler weather and after the engine has loosened up.

[devil]

You're lucky you can afford one. I can't.

I could afford it only because I got £5000 back on my 9 year-old CR-V which cost me only £10900 in 1998!

[Southerner]

[quote="devil"]One of the things that is astonishing is when you lift your foot off the gas. There is almost no engine braking because the valves are lifted electronically and therefore zero consumption; you can coast along for hundreds of metres, slightly charging the battery as you go along.p/[quote]


I may be wrong but coasting ie engine/gears in nuetral as far as I know is ilegal in the UK, maybe different elsewhere.

[Crivens]

Well, thats what I heard when I Dubai. Plus our hire car could use the AC without the engine running.

Cheers

[devil]

One of the things that is astonishing is when you lift your foot off the gas. There is almost no engine braking because the valves are lifted electronically and therefore zero consumption; you can coast along for hundreds of metres, slightly charging the battery as you go along.p/

I may be wrong but coasting ie engine/gears in nuetral as far as I know is ilegal in the UK, maybe different elsewhere.

You are not in neutral. The petrol engine turns but is disabled as the valves are open. The electric motor is engaged and acts as a generator for charging the battery when coasting. It is perfectly safe, but feels a little different from a traditional car. The moment you touch the gas, the engine changes from coasting mode with the open valves to drive mode, and consuming fuel. At no time is the engine or the motor disengaged from the wheels while you are moving.

[Chimera]

Enough about cars.

Build a nuclear bunker and lock yourself in there with the remainder of your millions.

But what should you take with you

[GorillaGal]

my car?

[Chimera]

Yes, that may solve a lot of the worlds problems!

Americans with their cars, locked-up in a nuclear bunker