Where in Kansas are you? I drive that way every 3-4 months to visit friends.

I know about the cold winters...I strongly suggest the block heater and/or garaging the car during the winter months. You'll lose 5-6 mpg trying to get the engine up to operating temperature on those winter mornings. I have no complaints about my car in the snow...it certainly does better than my Miata did with summer tires EEK! and I'm as comfortable driving the HCH as I was in my Deville with FWD and traction control.

On the last tank of gas (since I'm out of the break-in period) I really thrashed the engine a bit. It makes decent power when prodded...but it's a couple of seconds slower than a standard Civic EX and on par with the last Jetta TDI I drove. The HCH really lends itself to a more relaxed, deliberate driving style anyway.

Backing up is not great, but certainly nowhere near horrible. Of course the HCH replaced a very large Cadillac and a very small but huge blindspotted top-up Miata in my garage, so I was kinda used to using the mirrors.

I disagree with the comments about the HCH not being luxurious enough...the only 2 options I would have added would be a sunroof and heated leather seats. The heated leather seats are a fairly easy install for anyone with moderate handyman skills. Sunroof, I understand why it wouldn't be offered.