5/2006 HCH II

8/16/2008 100,027 miles.

recently replaced cat converter after dropoff in mileage. once that was done it was back to normal like magic.

all oil changes/air and cabin filters performed on schedule at home. looking to do a tune up spark plug change soon. the car runs very smooth even with the ac during these hot summer months.

i'm averaging 41 mpg in 70-85mph air conditioned comfort on the daily commute to and from work. in the evenings and weekends, i can and easily do 52 mpg...without ac cruising at 59mph...hypermiling every drop.

honestly, i acknowlege that the 20percent difference is statistically notable. however, it is all relative to your own value system of economy and comfort. after two years of ownership and the novelty of hypermiling waning...speed and comfort seem to increasingly win out over the inconveniences of economy and thrift...even with current fuel costs.

overall great car...love to hear from others as they join the 100,000 Mile High Club. see you at 200,000.

 

Have you had any major repairs so far? Just curious.

 

no major repairs. just what is listed below in my original post.

one day i noticed i couldn't get the mpg...even though the car was running ok. the check engine light had come on. took it into the dealer, they replaced cat convertor under warranty. immediate jump in mpg as i left the dealership.

oh yes, they did the dc cover recall. my brakes are still original even after 100k...my daily commute is over 100 miles of freeway roundrip...that helps.

 

Congrats! That's crazy. My 2006 HCHII just hit 31K, and I feel like we drive it a lot. Anyway, I'm glad to hear that the car has held up well.

 

How much did the cat run you, and how did you know it had gone bad?

 

Congratulations!!! That is so awesome! Do you have any concept of what your lifetime MPG is? I see you've been tracking here for the last 42k with some very respectible mileage for your speed, but I was wondering about overall.

 

the catalytic converter was replaced under warranty...i'm sure it would have run me a thousand dollars without. the engine light had come on...so i knew something was up, but the loss of mpg and perhaps some power was telling. the fix was immediate and noticable as i drove away. the dynamic mpg gauge was dancing rather being sluggish.

my lifetime mileage is no longer being tracked by the website banner...i'm averaging 40-44 on a tank. if i were to drive recreationally/hypermile at 59mph then i've done over 52 mpg on a tank of gas on long road trips to sandiego, phoenix or las vegas from the los angeles area.

however, during my daily commute...i'm usually a full on southern california driver...with the flow of traffic at 75-80...ocassionally see 34mpg when i'm blasting my way to work full ac the entire commute. usually i'll compensate on my drive home...and just to get the **** thing back up.

funny, as stated in my original post...the novelty of the numbers is waning. seems silly to have such a advanced fuel efficient car...yet suffer the indignities of a less than freshly pressed shirt for work just because you want to keep the numbers going or arrive home hot and irritable. life is too short isn't it?

my last three cars have been the mercedes s500, acura mdx, and mercedes e320. in light of that...

it's a real pleasure to put in regular unleaded gas.

on my s500 i used to think 28mpg was a GREAT tank, and on the mdx 22mpg was a great tank,...so when i got my first 50plus mpg tank on the civic hybrid i was initially hooked on hypermiling. tirepressures/drafting/pulse and glide/slow right lane driving i did it all...my best tank ever was 58mpg.

in the final analysis...early in my career i owned a honda accord which i put on over 400,000 miles in 9 years...would be interesting to see how the civic hybrid does for me.

100,000 miles down,...300,000 more to go!

 

Great post Bond. I look forward to more long term updates.

Thanks.

 

Bond,

Just curious, when did you have to replace the following:

CVT Transmission Fluid
Engine Coolant
Drive Belt

I bought my 2006 HCHII with 48k miles and just trying to get an idea of when I will get the Maintenance Minder. I understand its based on driving patterns/usage, but I have not seen a document that gives an idea of when this might happen.

Sounds like you passed 100k but didn't get the Maint. Minder for the Spark plugs yet?

thanks
-hunter

 

I have 103k on my 2004 HCH manual.

Havent done anything major on it other than tranny services, plan on changing the spark plugs and doing a valve adjustment soon though!