Hi Hot_Georgia_2004:

___It will be an $8 to $10K premium as you will be paying MSRP for the first year or so given the limited availability. You can pick up a std. Accord LX/EX/EX-L/EX-L w/ NAVI for less then invoice just about anywhere nowadays. Don’t forget about the loss of the sunroof and fold down rear seats as well!

___I probably will never be happy as I believe today’s Hybrid performance (not including the AH or upcoming TH/RXh) is lacking in some areas but with that, we all achieve outrageous FE. The AH has just so so FE but outrageous and un-needed performance. This drives me batty as the I4 w/ Auto is a nice performer with 160 HP/161 Ft.-Lb’s vs. the std. Accord V6’s 240 HP/212 Ft.-Lb’s and both at higher RPM’s. 0 - 60 in ~ 8.5 - 9.0 vs. ~ 7.0 - 7.5 for the std. V6. The AH might be worth 6.5 - 7.0 (I believe I saw a R&T review at 6.7).

___Anyway, IMA’s additional 100 Ft.-Lb’s helps acceleration no doubt but can you imagine the PZEV Accord’s I4 VCM’ed for 2-cylinder op’s with IMA instead? I am thinking a hypermilers real world of 60 mpg in a true mid-size semi lux automobile although EPA estimates would probably be in the 42 - 45 mpg hwy range? It would be a hell of a lot easier to balance an I4 running on 2 vs. 3 in the 6 using the wild AM and ANC. What about the Euro Accord’s iCDTi or the upcoming 06/07 Civic iCDTi VCM’ed? Oh my God!!!

___I am looking forward to an AH test drive someday as well but I bet my std. I4 test drive’s FE proves to be higher … Just a suspicion of course.

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net