Dave, please allow me to comment on a couple of your points in post #4:
1. Noise- The HCH has more body panel sound deadening insulation VS. the conventional Civics, including injections in the pillars, etc. No need to turn up the radio or flatten the tires.
I haven't brought my db meter along but I'd bet my HCH is quieter than my wife's much larger/heavier Grand Caravan at freeway speeds. But it does sound like a good test to investigate
2-3 I don't have a downshifting comment as I drive the CVT.
4. Your 46MPG is commendable as many people in the Honda HX Coupe forums report around 40. I came to this conclusion with a Google search. My last couple of tanks have been over 60, the most recent one is over 62MPG.
You mentioned 50MPG on flat terrain but my figures are made on the edge of the Blue Ridge mountains. I also dream of a long, flat commute. I couldn't quite reach 750 miles on my last 12 gallon tank, but still had almost a gallon left. I'm sure you've noticed that there are many HCH drivers getting better FE than I am.
I'm not sure how you came to a $5-6K premium, as I paid over a comparable Civic EX was about $1K, if you tossed in some EX discounts. I've also recently read that some dealers are selling HCH under MSRP.
The last paragraph of your post you mentined drive by wire. What I'd like to see is a dual mode cruise control. Mode "A" would be constant speed, Mode "B" would be constant MPG.
Your comment of the "Silly pinball game lights in a hybrid" indicate that you're not aware that the FCD is a valuable tool for those who can use it.
You also mentioned some good future devices such as driver identification which could act as a "V" chip as such or set mirriors, seat positions, preferences etc for specific drivers
but weren't you just complaining about an additional premium cost? You know the HCH comes with some nice items that you can't get with a regular Civic. Personally I'd like to see a hybrid with a lower trim level for those on a tighter budget. Some don't need power windows or additional sound dampening. Roll 'em up is fine, thank you.
Onto your post #7:
Google shows the conventional Civic starter costs 3-4 times more than your $50 figure:
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/cata...=FR331-3231491
I couldn't find a price for the alternator but I assume it's about the same. Plus labor.
It seems like your fishing for complaints in Honda's IMA system - Fuses (And electronics) have been placed under the hood/on the engine for over 30 years. Now just because it's a hybrid makes it all risky?
I'd be interested in any official reference or findings of these IMA systems "Blowing", additionally because the radiator wasn't serviced yearly?
You mention the CVT being complicated. How many more moving parts are in a conventional AT? A couple hundred I've heard. The belt CVT is not new to Honda, and is very efficient and proven reliable. It's quite a bit more efficient than a regular AT with a wasteful torque converter.
I won't claim that solid state components never wear out but I'd bet that 95% of todays automobiles will never have an expensive electronic module failure. (ECU, Converter, etc)
Batteries:
Where did you get the 5 year battery failure figure?
About "Sticking it to the next guy" applies to all vehicles whether it may have an unapparent expensive repair need (transmission, engine, brake, etc).
A wise person will have any potential used car professionally inspected.
About hybrid batteries in a landfill- they are not a toxic substance as you've mentioned next to old oil, etc.
Both our cars are ULEV. Anyone who has followed my posts knows that I am far from an environmentalist. However smog tends to concentrate among busy intersections and I can't help but to think how much better it would be if all those other engines weren't just running at a light.
You could also shut down your engine but repeated restarts would put alot of wear on your flywheel gear (A very expensive repair requiring the transmission or engine being pulled), starter pinion wear, armature, brushes, solonoid, relays, fusable links and could blow your expensive ECU module, let alone an overly used ignition switch or tumbler. Imagine the repair bill just to save some gas dollars and cutting smog by shutting it down at the light like the hybrids do.
Well, I guess I'm kind of fishing on that last one but there seems to be alot of it in this thread.
