On Fridays the traffic in Los Angeles isn't bad. Actually, it's horrible. Really, really horrible. But luckily, I've discovered a tunnel between my office and my house that cuts my commute time in half...
If this was the only advantage to the GX it would be enough. But here's another advantage: prices aren't rising as quickly at the natural gas pump. This morning when I filled up the GX it was only $2.54 per gallon equivalent. Another GX driver has said he often fills up at $2.15 per gallon equivalent.
We've had the GX for nearly four months now and we've driven it 5,234 miles. When editors without a long commute drive it they complain loudly about the lack of power and, sometimes, the reduced trunk space. Editors with grueling commutes (like mine) shrug off the lack of power from the 113 hp engine and smile secretly about the get-out-of-jail feeling in the car pool lanes, that sense of freedom from blazing by mile after freakin' mile of stopped cars and frustrated drivers.
I entered all the mileage data we've accumulated and came up with a lifetime average of 28.4 mpg. There should be a small asterisk beside that number since one of the primary drivers of this car describes himself as an aggressive driver. However, for my weekend of driving I also got 28 mpg so I feel this is fairly accurate. While this might not be a lot for a car with such a small engine, the good news is the fuel cost. At today's cost of $2.54 per gallon equivalent, natural gas is 28 percent less than gasoline (at $2.15 it is 38 percent cheaper).
And here is the final advantage to driving the GX: it's a Honda!
I don't see many of these cars on the road so I'm guessing that most Los Angelelinos value power over time. Either that or they just haven't seen the road signs to the entry to the tunnel that will get them home in half the time.
Philip Reed, Edmunds.com Senior Consumer Advice Editor @ 5,234 miles
penboy says:
12:53 PM, 11/13/07
Out of curiosity, are the costs of filling the GX up at a natural gas pump comparable to using the PHIL system? I thought I had read that filling at home was cheaper, but I can't remember.
Also, you had me until you reminded me that it's still a new Civic. =)
Between that instrument panel and the absurdly uncomfortable headrests, I won't be in the front seats of one again any time soon.
redliner says:
02:01 PM, 11/13/07
I would like to see honda make this into a hybrid.
jriz says:
02:21 PM, 11/13/07
Doing so would completely eliminate the trunk and possibly a rear passenger.
jr1m90 says:
02:35 PM, 11/13/07
But if they did make it into a hybrid, you would be able to get 2 carpool lane stickers, and then convince people that the second one gives you the ability to drive over the median, down sidewalks, and through the break down lane! You could get home in a quarter of the usual time!
hondacura4 says:
03:24 PM, 11/13/07
Or you could just but a Civic Hybrid with better milage.
texases says:
03:36 PM, 11/13/07
These are legal gimmicks, not advantages. Carpool lane access isn't something great about the Honda, it's something the regulators did (right or wrong - why encourage single passenger 28 mpg cars?). And the lower fuel price is mostly because no highway taxes are paid, and the owner's getting a free ride. grrrrrr
joefrompa says:
04:00 PM, 11/13/07
Why is Natural gas a good thing for us to switch too or research heavily (I mean, I'm sure something is learned but I feel the research dollars could be better spent on other things...say, a plug-in hybrid that uses a pre-existing infrastructure of national power lines to transmit energy as super-low pricing and encourages non-polluting energy production!).
Why are any alternative-fuel vehicles allowed in the HOV lane? Hybrids get BETTER gas mileage than conventional vehicles when in a stop and low-speed setting.
Why is it that congestion is one of the number one sources of pollution and yet HOV lanes, which have been proven to increase congestion, are popular?
Why does this statement support some people's views that Edmunds is Honda biased: "And here is the final advantage to driving the GX: it's a Honda! "?
I don't even understand that sentence. Why is that an advantage?
And I own a 2006 Honda Civic SI.
Joe
desmolicious says:
05:49 PM, 11/13/07
What car pool lanes are wide open? The ones I see in LA get quickly clogged up just like the rest, especially on the 405.
And there is just something fundamentally wrong about seeing a whole procession of hybrid cars sitting in them, all with just one occupant...
redliner says:
07:17 PM, 11/13/07
If it were turned into a hybrid it would
a) Lower emission even more. As it is this is the cleanest ICE in use.
b) Increase range
c) Increase MPG equivalent
firstwagon says:
07:42 PM, 11/13/07
The advantages of this car are not fuel consumption, it's reduced emmisions. Natural gas is far cleaner then gasoline which is why they can use the carpool lane.
Think about it, lots of people have natural gas stoves in thier kitchens... can you imagine having a gasoline fired stove in you kitchen?
It's nice to save gas but reducing pollution is more important.
philip17 says:
09:47 PM, 11/13/07
The Phill is supposed to supply CNG at about $1 per gallon equivalent but it takes hours to refill. We are still intending to install a Phill in an editor's garage but it's taking a long time to get the permits.
texases says:
11:07 PM, 11/13/07
Aside from CO2, the pollutant difference is almost nil. And a gasoline stove with controlled fuel/air mix and a cat would be no problem!
penboy says:
11:55 PM, 11/13/07
Thanks for the update, philip!
mcrunfast says:
08:46 AM, 11/14/07
Until natural gas becomes available in more places, I really have no interest in this vehicle. I also don't have the luxury of my own garage so the home filling station isn't an option for me either, and I imagine I'm not alone here. The concept is very interesting, but like many of the alternative fuel options, it's just not widespread enough to make an impact. If more stations had natural gas? I'd be more interested in this. The same goes for hydrogen powered vehicles as well. I do think both are interesting directions to go at ending the oil addiction, but...they need to spread before I'd even consider buying a vehicle that runs on either.
philip17 says:
10:36 AM, 11/14/07
No doubt that the range and availability of CNG is the biggest limitation with this car. That's why it is mainly a commuter car. If you can find the local stations along your route it's great.
We took the GX to northern California but there was only one station halfway there for a fillup. It happened to be open but sometimes these places close unexpectedly or refused to fuel private cars. Planning is the key.
tcolberg85 says:
07:04 PM, 11/20/07
It seems odd that Hybrids and other alternative fuel vehicles are allowed into HOV lanes as an incentive for purchase when it seems like it's weakening the reasoning for both the lane and the alternative vehicles. Hybrids are more efficient in stop and go situations (traffic) than they are when they are at constant speed (HOV lane) and normal gasoline vehicles perform worse when in traffic.
I know we need an incentive for people to purchase alternative fuel vehicles, but (no matter how great it is to have it) the HOV lane is the wrong incentive. The HOV lane is to encourage people to combine commutes and reduce the amount of cars on the road by promising a faster commute. In L.A. at least, the HOV lanes are just as clogged as the normal lanes, but instead of having carpoolers, they have cars with the exemption stickers with only one person in them.