Skylar, better known to you as protectrearth, sent us these pictures of his 2009 Civic Hybrid. Here is what he had to say:
I currently have 20,197 miles on my car. Hitting the big 20k just the other day!
I had purchased a 2006 Civic EX in the fall of 2006. It was a great car, but had its problems with tire wear. Around 80k miles, I started to notice a few things odd and decided it was time for a new car. I knew the Civic had been refreshed, and since I still loved my car, it made sense to just hop into another Civic.
I actually test drove the Insight as well, but I decided to wait for the kinks in that to be fixed, plus the Civic is bigger and is more stylish in my opinion.
Anyway, I opted for the hybrid version because I had always wanted to purchase one. After the test drive, I knew I had to have it. The Autostop feature, the extra gauges, and the phenomenal gas mileage made me fall in love. The Civic Hybrid also isn't as I DRIVE A HYBRID! as the Prius. Plus, the Prius would be like driving a loaf of white bread to work every day.
More after the jump...
I find the Civic's ride smooth and quiet, minus some road noise, but it's a compact car so you can't expect much. Though people may criticize the horsepower, I actually find the hybrid version of the Civic more peppy. It picks up well and has plenty of torque. The only things I would say that could use some improvement would be the handling, especially around corners at higher speeds, and the ability to pass on a highway. It takes a little effort.
I average around 48-54 mpg, though I admit I have a feather-foot.
The only real improvements I have done have all been cosmetic: tint, mudflaps, chrome exhaust. You can't really improve a hybrid performance-wise without the loss of mileage, so I shall keep my 50 mpg. haha
Anyway, I love my car. It has suited me well for all the driving I do and has been looking good while doing it.
Thanks a lot!
Hope you guys choose Cool Whip! (my hybrid)
Thanks for sharing your photos with us, Skylar.
P.S. If you want to participate in the Reader's Long-Term Car segment, click here to read the submission guidelines.
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor
jughandle says:
06:16 AM, 07/29/10
What kind of quirks did the 2006 EX have at 80,000 miles? (I ask because I'm at 56,000 miles on mine.)
audisport says:
06:57 AM, 07/29/10
Whoa! I fell asleep there for a minute! Just kidding. Nice ride. I always appreciate passionate car owners who take care of their cars.
ed124c says:
07:16 AM, 07/29/10
That top photo is great! The winter scene-- not so great. (Reminds me too much of winter here in Rochester, NY.)
The Civic Hybrid seems to be almost invisible-- nobody really talks about it. It is nice to read about it from a happy owner.
lostboyz says:
07:22 AM, 07/29/10
I agree its better looking than a prius, but its just way too big to be a civic. Looks huge even compared to 2000 accord sedan. Impressive gas mileage though. I get about half of that in the mustang, but I guarantee you I have twice as much fun driving.
breadwagon says:
07:30 AM, 07/29/10
I do like the civic hybrid for the exact reasons you wrote above. It looks like a normal civic, so I know the owner isn't just trying to be trendy "I'm a hybrid driver durr durp", but values efficiency.
The wheels are..interesting...but I assume they are to reduce drag.
Awesome write up and good luck with the next 20k miles!
mikeolan says:
07:47 AM, 07/29/10
These Reader's Long Term Car posts always read to me las
"I bought a dud of a car, but I'm going to justify the hell out of this purchase!"
I'm surprised they're getting 48MPG in this- makes me wonder what they'd be able to get in a Prius.
ptcdawg says:
07:52 AM, 07/29/10
Always remember this saying, it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.
Congrats on your Honda...looks/sounds like you enjoy it.
c5z06er says:
08:13 AM, 07/29/10
It may be more fun driving a slow car fast than it is driving a fast car slow. But it's not as much fun as driving a fast car fast.
I'm glad you are happy with your car. Stay in the right lane though, please.
majin_ssj_eric says:
08:22 AM, 07/29/10
I love the irony of a guy, who bought his hybrid to "protectrearth" from global warming, posting a picture of said hybrid completely encased in a snow drift!! That right there says just about all you need to know about the global warming fraud....
yellowbal says:
08:47 AM, 07/29/10
I like the Civic Hybrid. If you can make the suspension feel like an Si and upgrade the wheels/tires/brakes, it would be a really fun car.
nkeefe says:
08:52 AM, 07/29/10
@majin_ssj_eric
Please, enlighten us
mrb5091 says:
08:58 AM, 07/29/10
@majin_ssj_eric
Politics/Science in a car blog? Aren't there other places you can go for this?
And the fact that snow still occurs doesn't disprove global warming just as summer being hot doesn't prove it.
redleggt says:
09:34 AM, 07/29/10
Were some of you raised on an asshole farm or what? I mean is it really that hard to be nice? How about not saying anything if you can't say anything nice. Oh no, you can't do that either. Geesh...
This person is happy and likes their car for whatever reason, leave them alone.
jeepsrt says:
09:34 AM, 07/29/10
I like the Civic Hybrid over the Prius but unless a car runs on Unicorn farts, it still contributes to global warming.
exnevadan says:
09:47 AM, 07/29/10
Love the look of the Civic, but the large/flat dash is tough, same thing in the new Beetle. 45+ MPG, must be a great feeling when you stop for gas every month or two.
as for the "global warming fraud" - those of us that live outside southern CA (or TX), say in PA or MA, realize that there are four seasons, at least three of which are represented in the photo's above, and in most of the US snow falls in one or more of them, always has, always will. photo's of snow as evidence of a "fraud"? come on...
although, perhaps jeepsrt is onto something, maybe it's all those unicorn farts that are wearing a hole in the outer atmosphere...
breadwagon says:
09:53 AM, 07/29/10
@majin_ssj_eric
You make me lol. "Global Warming" is a misnomer. Slightly warmer global temperatures lead to temperature waves of increasing length and severity.
It sometimes rains in the Sahara but it is still a desert.
People must distinguish between climate and weather. Weather is what happens in the short term whereas climate is the long term trend.
misterfusion says:
10:36 AM, 07/29/10
So how does the hybrid drivetrain perform in the winter? I always figured you'd get a dropoff in MPG & performance due to the effect of extreme cold on the batteries.
I'm definitely not a Honda fanboy, but I think that the 2006+ Civic has been the best looking car in its price range for most of its life. Only now are competitors coming out with interesting compact cars in the US market, but for YEARS we had to choose from the dull-as-dishwater Cobalt, Corolla, Elantra, Focus, etc. The Civic just looked like it was a generation ahead compared to that lot.
(But if I were shopping in the non-hybrid compact category, I probably would've spent a little more and gotten a Mazda3, lol.)
stwok says:
10:38 AM, 07/29/10
Very good gas mileage. Congrats on your car.
fundango says:
11:16 AM, 07/29/10
I really like the wheels on the hybrid Civics. To me, they're the easiest indicator that I'm looking at a hybrid (not normal) Civic, but they're also completely functional for aerodynamic purposes.
ptcdawg says:
11:28 AM, 07/29/10
redleggt....well said and funny too.
egregers says:
01:15 PM, 07/29/10
Whenver the topic is hybrids or new electric technology, I can always smell majin_ssj_eric's exhaust about the spew. We get it.
noflash1 says:
02:29 PM, 07/29/10
I have a 2006 HCHII I bought new. I just hit 38k miles. It is a great car.
It runs like an appliance barely needing maintence or servive, and consistently returns 40+ mpg. I live in the midwest and the car sees single-digit to triple-digit weather. My lifetime average is 43mpg. I find the car perfect in many ways. I only wish the trunk were a bit bigger. I find the handling secure and can take freeway entrance ramps at 45mph.
When you want to pass it's not a problem. Just hit the turbo button (turn off the A/C momentarily).
There's no reason 90% of us couldn't drive cars like this.
Cheers, nf
protectrearth says:
04:01 PM, 07/29/10
HEY! Thanks everyone, I really do love it.
To answer a few questions...
@ jughandle: The ex started shifting completely bonkers. I would up/downshift for now reason, and refuse to cooperate on hills.
it got really jittery and almost, bouncy when it shifted. very odd.
@ misterfusion: the gas mileage does drop off during winter i average maybe 35-40 during winter compared to my 50s in summer : (
@ noflash1: glad you have one as well! and you are right, I NEVER USE THE A/C it DESTROYS MPG.
thanks to everyone else for the positive comments!!!
hondacura4 says:
06:52 PM, 07/31/10
Id buy this car if Honda offered a 6MT, sunroof and the 350w stereo system offered in other Civics. Honda, stop being stingy!
autoobsession1 says:
07:55 AM, 08/12/10
I bought a 2006 Civic Hybrid and put on 53,000 miles on it and recently traded in the car. Couple of observations: I averaged 37 MPG's (drove the car like a normal car instead of hypermiling), my butt spincter muscles are much tighter due to highway onramp acceleration (or the lack thereof), the CVT would pogo the car in certain situations, my toddler's sippy cup content knocked out the hybrid drive train when the liquid dripped onto the the main power line connection assembly.
For an enthusiast, the hybrid is a medieval equivalent of self flagellation. For the environmentalist, this car is a god send. Matter of perspective. I initially bought the car for the technology; it was an awesome commuter car (didn't have to worry about filling up except once every 2 weeks, didn't care about the door dings, minimal service) but it was ultimately an appliance to get from point A to point B. I am much happier driving a gas guzzling German built 5.5 liter V8 that gets 17 MPG (downhill in the hurricane) and runs 13 second 1/4's. To each his own.