Hi everybody! I've been lurking here for awhile but I think I'm ready to buy before the end of the month.

First a bit of background. I'm 24, single, and currently drive a 2003 Honda Element EX4WD - Auto. I'm also a moderator over at the Element Owner's Club. I can't remember but someone suggested I come to this site for all my HCH research and needs and I must say that I have found this site to be very informative and helpful.

Anyway, I drive about 350 miles a week or so, and with the Element averaging 20mpg in mixed driving (mostly freeway, but as many of you know, LA freeways are fantiastically horrible). I drive alone 90% of the time. My gas bill has been $300+ dollars for the past few months.

Now, I know, based on my own math that the cost of a new car payment (the Element is paid off) won't be offset by the savings of a hybrid (only about $150 savings per month) but who buys a car to save money right? I know buying a hybrid won't really ever "make my money back" withing a reasonable amount of time, which is the first argument many people have against hybrids on other automtive sites I visit.

In any case, I went to a local dealership about a month ago to look at the HCH. They only had 1 in stock (Magnetic Pearl) and the dealer wasn't very helpful. I have been doing all my research and at this point I probably know more about the car than the dealer, but I have a few questions I'd like to ask real owners:

1) At 110hp combined, with a fastest 0 - 60 time of 12.4 seconds, how is it a getting onto the freeway and passing from say 60 - 75?

2) Did anyone here consider an EX non-hybrid 06 Civic? If you have and test drove both, what were some advantages/disadvantages you noticed?

3) The HOV stickers, I understand they are being limited? If I were to purchase an 06 HCH before the end of this month, what are the chances of my obtaining one?

4) Now, my 03 Element was one of the 1st 20,000 Elements off the line, being a new model and all there were certain things that were fixed in later itterations of the Element. Since the 06 Civics are a whole new generation, have there been any TSBs or annoyances that members here have noticed with their HCH's?

5) I'm in the LA area, can anybody recommend a good dealer? In the So. Cal area, what have members been paying? I see on Edmunds.com that invoice for the standard Hybrid is $20,517 and the Hybrid w/Navi is $21,885.

I appreciate the help guys! And hopefully I'll join your ranks soon!