I say if you want an HCH and are concerned about getting the ABSOLUTE best deal, wait for the 2005 models to hit the showroom and then buy the 2004 when they are clearing them out....at that point, they are basically forced to charge less for the 2004.....

Good Luck !!!

myraellen,
Just to add to waynes post, i'm driving a 200 Corolla in a comute extremely similar to yours (15 in city, w/ the ocatoinal city drive). Just to put things in perspective i get around 32 mpg right now.
Cheers,
Steven

Hidden Views Photography

I am debating between a 2005 Honda Civic CVT and the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid 4x4. There are a lot of tradeoffs between them (e.g., Ford has a better warranty on hybrid components, etc). Could you give me some suggestions (mostly short, semi-urban driving, live in snow belt of UP of Michigan, retired, etc.). Thanks

Well, in my eyes, your debate is basically "Do I need a small SUV or can I make do with a small sedan?

Because either way, you will get good MPG for the type of vehicle you are driving. The Hybrid-ness of each vehicle should not even be an issue. There should not even be any Hybrid-related debate about your choice, because Hybridology is not the issue.

This is the first time in automotive history we are able to make that choice - Hybrid SUV or Hybrid sedan?

A Good problem to have, Eh?

In that regard, you are getting MUCH MORE MATURE technology with the Civic - Honda has three years now of U.S. success and I believe they tested the technology in Japan beforehand....And buying the Excape Hybrid means a "first run/first year" model, which even without the Hybrid technology is sometimes not a good idea.

And let's be honest - Honda has a much better reputation for making quality cars than Ford.....

Laterz........

If you need an suv get the Ford.

If you don't get the Honda.

I think Honda's quality is much higher than Ford's.
Resale value will be higher too.

Need fewer troops to support.
Drive a hybrid.
Best tank 71.65 MPG.

Before this car I spent two years learning hypermiling on my 2004 HCH1.

How about a Camry LE? You can get them for 18,000 with 0% financing.
Or a Camry SE for a little bit more fun
I rode in my friend's Camry LE 4 cylinder. It was suprisingly smooth.
He also had it for 2 years and it looks clean and streamlined in the interior.
The transmission is also very smooth. The ride is quiet and smooth, too. It's also roomy and dependable. If you don't think you're going to keep the car for long, the MPG probably wouldnt make a difference in your budget. It still gets 23-33 mpg.

A Prius a day keeps the doctor away!

Hi All:

___Here are 1500 + posts for those that might be interested in the Camry/Accord comparison? Of course the thread starts back in 2000. Starting about page 56 of 79 begins the discussion of the latest generation 03 vs. 03 and 04 vs. 04’s.

Honda Accord vs. Toyota Camry from the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry - Edmunds Townhall forum’s.

___In our neck of the woods, an 04 Toyota Camry LE can be had for a touch under $16,000 brand new. I don’t know if this is with Auto but Toyota couldn’t sell a Camry stick in Chicago area no matter what price was listed. This was from last Sunday’s Chicago Tribune - Transportation. An Accord LX for $17,175 w/ Auto was in the same this weekend w/ EX’s w/ Auto for $19,400, EX-L’s for $20,895, and EX-L V6’s for $22,695. Expect good deals on either into the 05 MY’s as well since both the Accord and Camry overall sales are dropping on a percentage year over year basis from my understanding.

___The above automobiles are not PZEV’s given the locale and I hope all would consider a PZEV as the number 1 option for a new car purchase today. In other words, find one in CA, MA, ME, NY, and VT. or any of the states bordering including AZ, CT, NH, NJ, NV, OR, PA, or RI. depending on availability. The cost is only an extra $135.00 for the PZEV rated automobile and the emissions warranty alone is easily worth that as anyone that has ever replaced a CAT knows all to well. If an out of state purchase is not in the cards, the Accord’s are offered in a rather ubiquitous LEV format most everywhere else whereas the Camry’s are much cleaner overall w/ a minimum ULEV-II rating.

___EPA City/Hwy ratings on the 4’s w/ Auto:

Honda Accord: 24/34 w/ the Consumer Reports highway test achieving 38 mpg
Toyota Camry LE: 23/32 w/ the Consumer Reports highway test achieving 35 mpg

___General tone or feel of the thread linked above is the Accord has a sportier feel whereas the Camry has a softer and quieter ride along with a bit more trunk space.

___Good Luck

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

Apparently, a lot of new people think it's a GREAT time to buy a Honda hybrid car:

"With Civic Hybrid sales up 17.5 percent to 25,571 for the calendar
year and the addition of the all-new Accord Hybrid late in the year, sales of
Honda hybrid vehicles rose 18.6 percent to a new record of 27,215 vehicles for
the year. December sales of Honda's three hybrid models jumped up
97.2 percent to 3,167 units, bringing total Honda hybrid sales to 74,608 since
the introduction of the Insight in December 1999."

View entire article here:

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories....02767348&EDATE=

You´ve gotten some good feedback already here.

The price you were quoted is a good deal, for the civic hybrid.

The question is, should you buy a civic hybrid?

I have an interesting perspective because I have a Civic Hybrid and my wife has a Civic EX.

She paid 17900 for hers. Mine was close to 21K.

She gets about 30 mpg in mixed driving. I get about 50mpg in mixed driving, with care taken to maximize mileage but not driving ridiculously slow (always at least 60 on the freeway). Not only does this mean less money spent on fuel, but also more time between filling up, which I find to be a pain in the rear and a chore. But not everyone minds stopping for gas frequently.

The Civic EX has a ¨race car lite¨ engine. It is very zippy and responsive. Mine is slower, however the electric kicks in *very* fast which results in instant gratification.

I have the SULEV engine and hers is ULEV.

The Civic Hybrid is quieter.

Hers has a sunroof which is a nice feature. However, the Civic Hybrid has auto climate control which kind of makes up for it.

The interior trim on the Hybrid is better. It is clear that Honda wants the Civic Hybrid to be seen as the ulltimate Civic.

I think that if mileage, range (going a long while between filli ups), engine noise, and the environment are all important to you, then go with the Hybrid.

Also keep in mind that the long term maintenance for the Hybrid could be more expensive, but you will change your brakes less often.