New Civic Hybrid Owner
 

I just picked up my wife's 2007 Civic Navi Hybrid from Parker JohnStone Honda in Wilsonville OR. We ordered it in August, but it came in this November. The deal we got was about $100 under 2006 MSRP plus mud flaps and all weather floor mats (the total price was $24,200). We live in the bay area in California, and it was worth the trip up to Oregon to get the car (The one-way airline fare was $130 for the 2 of us). One of the modifications that we have done is to replace the pie pan 15" wheels with 16" Civic wheels. They are about the same outside diameter, weight only 4 pounds more, and gas mileage has not been affected. Needless to say we are very pleased.

http://www.gjlenterprise.com/civicfront.jpg
http://www.gjlenterprise.com/civicrear.jpg

The only issues that we have noticed is that the engine "autostop" feature is a little jerky when it starts back up, and that when the engine goes into the battery charge mode, it also makes a little jerk to the drive line at speed.

The radio/navigation system is very good. We just wish that the unit had bluetooth integration, the radio supported RDS data, and that the voice control prompts supported more of the cars controls. So far we are averaging 44.3 mpg.

Re: New Civic Hybrid Owner
 

Welcome to GH!

All of your observations are right on. You should be able to modulate the throttle after autostop (or just wait longer after releasing the brake) to reduce the 'rubber banding' on takeoff. The driveline jump is not unusual also... guess I have just gotten used to it.

Bluetooth is something that most of us would like to see (Honda are you listening?).

I have the same color combination as yours, and must say that the 16's off of the EX do make a world of difference, cosmetically speaking! I think it looks really SHARP!

I've got the factory splash guards, all weather mats and exhaust tip too. Those wheels complete the look though - not to unusual since they are factory alloys, but they look good. I want a set for mine too now...

IMHO they do reduce the MPG slightly, but not too signigificantly. One would have to be really trying hard to notice. Many of the folks here though do "really try hard," to get some impressive FE numbers!

At 44MPG out of the gate, your not doing too bad either. Once again welcome and make sure to visit regularly.

Re: New Civic Hybrid Owner
 

Enjoy the ride

Re: New Civic Hybrid Owner
 

Very nice; congrats!

Re: New Civic Hybrid Owner
 

i see you made it over here from 8thgencivic.com. read up on how to maximize the mpg on the car. i have learned some great tips!

Re: New Civic Hybrid Owner
 

Very cool. Congrats on your new car. Good post, EZ2. :)

Re: New Civic Hybrid Owner
 

New owner here ... Am thinking of replacing the wheels as well, having already added leather and a moonroof to the car.

Did you replace the tires on that vehicle as well? If so, with what?

Thanks!
JRC in the LBC

Re: New Civic Hybrid Owner
 

Don't you think he had to replace the tires as well because the original are 15" and the one's he has now are 16" rims?

Re: New Civic Hybrid Owner
 

no, the up sizing in the tires from the 15" hybrid wheels to the 16" EX wheels are right. it will not cause any discrepancies with the odometer or speedometer.

Re: New Civic Hybrid Owner
 

Yes, I replaced both the tires and the rims with 16" rims and tires. I bought a brand new set (well, they had 1000 miles on them) of 2006 Honda EX rims and tires from someone on Craigslist.

Interesting thing is that the 16" tires are slightly smaller in diameter than the 15" tires, but this has had the effect of increasing the speedometer accuracy to less than ±.5 mph. This is much better than with the stock 15" tires.

I have validated this accuracy with both a portable GPS system, and by using the hidden menus in the built-in GPS system from the car.

Click here to see the specifications of the stock Hybrid vs the stock EX tires

Gas mileage is still very good, 51 mpg tanks are still easy to do, so I recommend the swap.

Re: New Civic Hybrid Owner
 

Guess I'm just dense, but I don't understand the "problem" with the standard wheels....I don't think they are ugly, nor do I think bigger EX wheels look better. Besides, the standard ones are a way to spot another hybrid..... :D

Still waiting for vanity plate to arrive.....not hybrid-related ;)

Re: New Civic Hybrid Owner
 

The stock wheels actually have a logic to them. They are lighter, narrower for less rolling resistance and smooth for aerodynamics.

AND some folks prefer their look to other wheels. I am not one of those folks. The issue for me is that the smaller rim and its relationship to the the wheel well arch. The smaller rim radius is out of sync with the wheel well arch, and just makes it look odd. It the OEM rim was 16" it would be fine. One other thing with the stock tires, they are very inexpensive, and not very good tires. They have a miserable tread life, anemic handling, and a uncomfortable ride. But they are only $68 each.

Another issue about the stock wheels appears that they cause a significant error in the speedometer, and an over statement of MPG. There are some other threads that discuss this issue in more depth.

Re: New Civic Hybrid Owner
 

As a week old owner of an awesome Alabaster/navi 07 HCH I agree with Shelly on the the stock wheels. They look great and also set the HCH apart from the Civic. I also got 52.7 mpg on my second 56 mile commute thanks to this site.
Does anyone have a source for foglights as my dealer gave me a crazy price?

Re: New Civic Hybrid Owner
 

Far be it for me to tell people what to do, but I would have worn out the first set of tires, then got the new ones with the rims.

Nice ride!
Wish you many happy trouble free miles.

Bill

Re: New Civic Hybrid Owner
 

I put my stock ones back on for the winter and I must say I don't mind them that much as I did before when I first got the car. I took a hit with the MPG since I went with 17s and standard tires. The car behaves a lot better with the wider tires. There are tradeoffs and you choose the ones you can take.

Re: New Civic Hybrid Owner
 

Here is a good source for the fog light kit

BTW, I have had no short comings with the 16" tires, and my mileage is between 47 and 53 mpg with them. Remember, the 15" tires are giving the speedometer an error that is giving you a higher mileage reading than what you are really getting.

Re: New Civic Hybrid Owner
 

Thanks Orient for the link. Any guess as to the difference in mileage and speed between the 15 and 16 inch tires?

Re: New Civic Hybrid Owner
 

Here is a discussion of that question.

Re: New Civic Hybrid Owner
 

Filled up the tank for the first time today;

First tank stats:

Nov. 31 -- Dec. 11:

- 426.9 miles
- 41.0 mpg
- 10.4.04 gallons - $27.00 - pumped to round up to the dollar...

This is a HUGE difference from my BMW M3.

No problems, quirks or negatives yet....

I love this car.

edit: I drove it more or less like I would any other car...I haven't tried the techniques yet for better MPGs etc. I'm sure I could have done better for the first tank as well--I'm happy with it...I'm sure as I learn and a possible engine break-in bump it will get a bit better :)