Hello all!!

I am a newbie to this forum, but I am experienced with automotive forums.

I am in the market for a Hybrid. My reasons are primarily environmentally based, but I truely HATE funding the oil industry's war on consumers. I also am very uncomfortable giving money to extremist terrorists.

I have looked at the Honda offerings, but I must admit that Hybrid technology is pretty new to me. Ideally, I would have liked a GM EV-1, but those goofy guys crushed them all.

So, here are my needs and any guidance would be much appreciated.

My wife and I will have this vehicle as our primary ride. We have a minivan that we use for her painting business, but we want a small sporty hi efficiency car that handles well and is safe. I was disappointed in the Honda Accords minimal milage gains over the non hybrid version, and I am not terribly impressed with the Civic Hybrid styling.

I also want a vehicle that I can maintain myself and is reliable and doesn't cost an arm and a leg to keep maintained. I dont need a big car, but I am 6'3" tall and weight above 220# (I am not gonna say how much though )

My wife is only 5'2" tall so we need a vehicle with good front seat adjustment. We currently own a 2003 Accord and we both love it, but it is time to move on and get a new ride. We dont drive alot, our normal weekly milage would typically be less than 200 miles, but if we go on vacation, we could drive 1000 miles in a week.

If the EV-1 was still on the market, I could see myself in it, but since that is not an option, I am trying to figure an alternative.

Please help guide me thru the tedious process of elimination.

Thanks and GO GREEN!!