Has anyone been hit but this recall to reprogram the system to better protect the battery? Owners are complaining that mileage has been drastically reduced. My daughter took advantage of the high gas prices and the interest in hybrid cars to sell her Civic Hybrid and buy a different car this week. In her case I think Honda has lost a long time customer. After this stunt by Honda I don't think see will be looking for another Honda for a long, long time, if ever.
Honda Civic Hybrid recall?
- Thread starter OneEyeJack
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I've heard about it, but nobody I know is affected by it. The one Civic Hybrid I know about is a 1st gen model using the older bodystyle. That thing is truly a gutless wonder. I got 50 MPG with it over 200 miles, but my foot was in the carpet holding 55 mph up a very steep hill on a highway for 3 minutes. That also "drained" the IMA battery, so the car was busy recharging the battery and powering the car once we got onto flat ground.
The HCH isn't one of Honda's better vehicles, IMO.
The HCH isn't one of Honda's better vehicles, IMO.
JHZR2
Staff member
I think the critic mentioned this in my Honda insight thread.
Hybrids are not always the mutli-purpose/across-the-board answer,no matter what kind of spin mfgr's put on it.I think people get caught up in new(hopefully better)technology and seem to forget that there's Always a trade off,at least with current technology.Energy cannot be created from nothing.The new Volt will also go into power conserve mode going up anything bigger that hills...just to make sure it gets all the way to the top.The car of course would not know how far that is(unless it GPS's itself,clue GM) so it would make sense to regulate itself for the worst possible scenario of a never ending climb.
Originally Posted By: FL_Rob
The new Volt will also go into power conserve mode going up anything bigger that hills...just to make sure it gets all the way to the top. The car of course would not know how far that is(unless it GPS's itself,clue GM) so it would make sense to regulate itself for the worst possible scenario of a never ending climb.
So Steven Spielberg can finally make a worthy sequel to his 1971 Duel.
"You can't beat me on the grade. You can't beat me on the grade! Oh wait, this is a hybrid!"
The new Volt will also go into power conserve mode going up anything bigger that hills...just to make sure it gets all the way to the top. The car of course would not know how far that is(unless it GPS's itself,clue GM) so it would make sense to regulate itself for the worst possible scenario of a never ending climb.
So Steven Spielberg can finally make a worthy sequel to his 1971 Duel.
"You can't beat me on the grade. You can't beat me on the grade! Oh wait, this is a hybrid!"
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Exactly!..wasn't that with Dennis????cant remember the last name.
JHZR2
Staff member
Originally Posted By: FL_Rob
The new Volt will also go into power conserve mode going up anything bigger that hills...just to make sure it gets all the way to the top.
Have you driven one in varied conditions to verify this?
The hybrids Ive driven have not had any issues with sustained high transient operation. The batteries generally cycle in a very narrow range of SOC but they are holding a lot more energy than what is typically accessed.
Given that I can easily drive my 120hp diesel and maintain 75 MPH along mountain passes across country (have done this multiple times), I dont see how a 120hp hybrid can be that poor in those conditions cited earlier. IIRC, most of the ICs give 100-120hp. The EMs give lots of extra torque for a burst.
The new Volt will also go into power conserve mode going up anything bigger that hills...just to make sure it gets all the way to the top.
Have you driven one in varied conditions to verify this?
The hybrids Ive driven have not had any issues with sustained high transient operation. The batteries generally cycle in a very narrow range of SOC but they are holding a lot more energy than what is typically accessed.
Given that I can easily drive my 120hp diesel and maintain 75 MPH along mountain passes across country (have done this multiple times), I dont see how a 120hp hybrid can be that poor in those conditions cited earlier. IIRC, most of the ICs give 100-120hp. The EMs give lots of extra torque for a burst.
The Volt as I understand it is a cheap imitation of a hybrid. You drive on the battery until it is discharged then it switches to the gas engine but you can't recharge then battery until you stop and hook up to an outside power outlet. You loose the ability to use breaking to recharge the battery or coasting down hills. Is this because GM did not want to invest in the engineering to create a true hybrid?
JHZR2
Staff member
Wrong assumptions. The volt was designed as an EV with the capability to extend range via implementation of an IC engine too. Helps with practicality and range for long trips while offering cost advantages for short trip commuters.
The last thing Id want is an EV that had to have electrical connectivity to recharge. At the same time, for a commute like mine, EV mode is the cheapest way for me to make the trip.
The last thing Id want is an EV that had to have electrical connectivity to recharge. At the same time, for a commute like mine, EV mode is the cheapest way for me to make the trip.
Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
The Volt as I understand it is a cheap imitation of a hybrid. You drive on the battery until it is discharged then it switches to the gas engine but you can't recharge then battery until you stop and hook up to an outside power outlet. You loose the ability to use breaking to recharge the battery or coasting down hills. Is this because GM did not want to invest in the engineering to create a true hybrid?
do you have a beef against GM or something? it sounds to me like you don't know what you're talking about. you may want to research the idea behind the Volt..
The Volt as I understand it is a cheap imitation of a hybrid. You drive on the battery until it is discharged then it switches to the gas engine but you can't recharge then battery until you stop and hook up to an outside power outlet. You loose the ability to use breaking to recharge the battery or coasting down hills. Is this because GM did not want to invest in the engineering to create a true hybrid?
do you have a beef against GM or something? it sounds to me like you don't know what you're talking about. you may want to research the idea behind the Volt..
By cheap imitation I meant that they left out all the features that have worked well for Toyota and the car costs more on top of that. The idea of capturing lost energy helps reduce operating costs for the driver. It also improves the feed back system to help the diver polish his skills. I have nothing against GM. I just thought that with all the money they have acquired and the fact that they were allowed to carry debt forward out of a bk to avoid paying any corporate taxes because of their special deal, would have given them enough budget to do a more complete job, that's all. The market will decide which hybrid is the best vehicle on the market. I would live to see GM outsell Toyota in the hybrid market. I hope the Volt will someday be as good a buy as the Ford Fusion hybrid.
Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
By cheap imitation I meant that they left out all the features that have worked well for Toyota and the car costs more on top of that. The idea of capturing lost energy helps reduce operating costs for the driver. It also improves the feed back system to help the diver polish his skills. I have nothing against GM. I just thought that with all the money they have acquired and the fact that they were allowed to carry debt forward out of a bk to avoid paying any corporate taxes because of their special deal, would have given them enough budget to do a more complete job, that's all. The market will decide which hybrid is the best vehicle on the market. I would live to see GM outsell Toyota in the hybrid market. I hope the Volt will someday be as good a buy as the Ford Fusion hybrid.
the Volt does use regenerative braking, along with a bunch of other tricks to maximize battery efficiency.
http://www.automobilemag.com/green/news/1010_chevy_volt_surprise/regenerative_braking.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRUzF-6lFUw
and you seem to think that it's a hybrid. while somewhat true, as it does have an internal combustion engine, it's purpose is as an EV (electric vehicle). the volt competes with others such as the Nissan Leaf and Ford Focus Electric which are designed to never use a drop of gas. the difference is, with the Volt, rather than having a limited range to operate before the battery is depleted and the car becomes stranded, you are given a new lease on life so to speak and are able to CONTINUE driving the car as normal IN SPITE of the battery having low charge. the ICE in the Volt doesn't directly power the vehicle, but instead kicks into gear to maintain the charge on the battery.
bottom line is..if you are going to be taking your car on long road trips or driving often throughout the day, there are probably better options than the Volt, or any electric car for that matter. on the other hand, if you are the majority of the population that drives less than 40 miles a day an electric car can help you save money. and while other cars must be charged in at the end of the day before they can be reused, the Volt CAN enable you to work all day and go on a road trip when you get off
By cheap imitation I meant that they left out all the features that have worked well for Toyota and the car costs more on top of that. The idea of capturing lost energy helps reduce operating costs for the driver. It also improves the feed back system to help the diver polish his skills. I have nothing against GM. I just thought that with all the money they have acquired and the fact that they were allowed to carry debt forward out of a bk to avoid paying any corporate taxes because of their special deal, would have given them enough budget to do a more complete job, that's all. The market will decide which hybrid is the best vehicle on the market. I would live to see GM outsell Toyota in the hybrid market. I hope the Volt will someday be as good a buy as the Ford Fusion hybrid.
the Volt does use regenerative braking, along with a bunch of other tricks to maximize battery efficiency.
http://www.automobilemag.com/green/news/1010_chevy_volt_surprise/regenerative_braking.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRUzF-6lFUw
and you seem to think that it's a hybrid. while somewhat true, as it does have an internal combustion engine, it's purpose is as an EV (electric vehicle). the volt competes with others such as the Nissan Leaf and Ford Focus Electric which are designed to never use a drop of gas. the difference is, with the Volt, rather than having a limited range to operate before the battery is depleted and the car becomes stranded, you are given a new lease on life so to speak and are able to CONTINUE driving the car as normal IN SPITE of the battery having low charge. the ICE in the Volt doesn't directly power the vehicle, but instead kicks into gear to maintain the charge on the battery.
bottom line is..if you are going to be taking your car on long road trips or driving often throughout the day, there are probably better options than the Volt, or any electric car for that matter. on the other hand, if you are the majority of the population that drives less than 40 miles a day an electric car can help you save money. and while other cars must be charged in at the end of the day before they can be reused, the Volt CAN enable you to work all day and go on a road trip when you get off
Who started the urban legend that hybrid has no power when climbing hill?
Regardless of the recall, Honda's hybrid system is just not as good as Toyota's and the result shows. You can cut some corner and make it a bit cheaper (or cost less to develop) but in the long run the consumers would probably decide against Honda for that.
Usually, hybrid is more efficient in city driving than regular cars. If you are driving all highway, it is probably sufficient if you buy a small engine car with diesel engine. You only need like 30hp to coast a Taurus at 65mph.
Regardless of the recall, Honda's hybrid system is just not as good as Toyota's and the result shows. You can cut some corner and make it a bit cheaper (or cost less to develop) but in the long run the consumers would probably decide against Honda for that.
Usually, hybrid is more efficient in city driving than regular cars. If you are driving all highway, it is probably sufficient if you buy a small engine car with diesel engine. You only need like 30hp to coast a Taurus at 65mph.
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There are campaigns for reprogramming on certain Civic Hybrid models. You'll have to have your dealer run your VIN through the system and see if you qualify.
I drove a co-worker's new-to-him 2010 Prius yesterday, and the car will definitely get out of its own way. It had plenty of zoom for buzzing around town and on some 55mph 2-lane roads, it had plenty of reserve for climbing hills.
His had the 17" wheels, and this Prius actually handled pretty tight also. It felt as tossable as my older Corolla, and the handling was rather neutral when you flicked it around. It was fun to drive. My average of 47mpg was fun also.
His had the 17" wheels, and this Prius actually handled pretty tight also. It felt as tossable as my older Corolla, and the handling was rather neutral when you flicked it around. It was fun to drive. My average of 47mpg was fun also.
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
I drove a co-worker's new-to-him 2010 Prius yesterday, and the car will definitely get out of its own way. It had plenty of zoom for buzzing around town and on some 55mph 2-lane roads, it had plenty of reserve for climbing hills.
His had the 17" wheels, and this Prius actually handled pretty tight also. It felt as tossable as my older Corolla, and the handling was rather neutral when you flicked it around. It was fun to drive. My average of 47mpg was fun also.
What's wrong with your co-worker's Prius is that the Prius V is a 35k car. Except, it's a 24k car with 8k in options-- so you are still driving around a cheap car. To me, if you are able to pay 35k for a car, saving fuel is generally not high on your priority list. I'm probably wrong though, as the Prius V has a lot of demand, but something just don't feel right to me about offering a 35k Prius.
I drove a co-worker's new-to-him 2010 Prius yesterday, and the car will definitely get out of its own way. It had plenty of zoom for buzzing around town and on some 55mph 2-lane roads, it had plenty of reserve for climbing hills.
His had the 17" wheels, and this Prius actually handled pretty tight also. It felt as tossable as my older Corolla, and the handling was rather neutral when you flicked it around. It was fun to drive. My average of 47mpg was fun also.
What's wrong with your co-worker's Prius is that the Prius V is a 35k car. Except, it's a 24k car with 8k in options-- so you are still driving around a cheap car. To me, if you are able to pay 35k for a car, saving fuel is generally not high on your priority list. I'm probably wrong though, as the Prius V has a lot of demand, but something just don't feel right to me about offering a 35k Prius.
Originally Posted By: The Critic
What's wrong with your co-worker's Prius is that the Prius V is a 35k car. Except, it's a 24k car with 8k in options-- so you are still driving around a cheap car. To me, if you are able to pay 35k for a car, saving fuel is generally not high on your priority list. I'm probably wrong though, as the Prius V has a lot of demand, but something just don't feel right to me about offering a 35k Prius.
What's wrong with your assumption is that it's not a Prius V...it's a Prius II that they bought used for $22k about 3 months ago. It has a total of 8,500 miles on it. The previous owner installed a set of 17" wheels and Kumho Ecsta ASX tires.
What's wrong with your co-worker's Prius is that the Prius V is a 35k car. Except, it's a 24k car with 8k in options-- so you are still driving around a cheap car. To me, if you are able to pay 35k for a car, saving fuel is generally not high on your priority list. I'm probably wrong though, as the Prius V has a lot of demand, but something just don't feel right to me about offering a 35k Prius.
What's wrong with your assumption is that it's not a Prius V...it's a Prius II that they bought used for $22k about 3 months ago. It has a total of 8,500 miles on it. The previous owner installed a set of 17" wheels and Kumho Ecsta ASX tires.
I am contemplating getting a Used Civic Hybrid in stick, that way I can at least control the gears and they make more torque down lower than a CVT.
Just for around town and local buzzing about burning as little fuel as possible in the process.
Just for around town and local buzzing about burning as little fuel as possible in the process.
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
What's wrong with your assumption is that it's not a Prius V...it's a Prius II that they bought used for $22k about 3 months ago. It has a total of 8,500 miles on it. The previous owner installed a set of 17" wheels and Kumho Ecsta ASX tires.
My error...when you said 17" wheels I immediately thought of the Prius V.
22k is steep for an used one when you could have bought a new one for $500 more 3 months ago. But now, around here, they are selling for sticker.
What's wrong with your assumption is that it's not a Prius V...it's a Prius II that they bought used for $22k about 3 months ago. It has a total of 8,500 miles on it. The previous owner installed a set of 17" wheels and Kumho Ecsta ASX tires.
My error...when you said 17" wheels I immediately thought of the Prius V.
22k is steep for an used one when you could have bought a new one for $500 more 3 months ago. But now, around here, they are selling for sticker.
Tell me about it. I bought my 2011 Camry (non hybrid) a year ago for $16,880. New. Today, they're selling used 2011s with 20k miles for $20,000!
Timing is everything. They traded their Dodge Journey for the Prius. Today, not only would the same Prius likely sell for thousands more, they would have gotten less on the Journey for trade due to gas prices. It's a double-edged sword. I think they barely made it, financially, with their timing.
Timing is everything. They traded their Dodge Journey for the Prius. Today, not only would the same Prius likely sell for thousands more, they would have gotten less on the Journey for trade due to gas prices. It's a double-edged sword. I think they barely made it, financially, with their timing.
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