Sort of excited, on wait list for 2006 HCH!
 

I have put a deposit down for a HCH to be delivered after January 1, 2006. I emailed six dealers with three responding.

One wanted a $1,000 non-refundable deposit and would not guarantee they would sell at list. Little hard to commit to someone with no guarantee they won't gouge me in the end. So no go on them.

Another wanted me to take a 2005. After explaining the 2006 tax credit and not being able to take dellivery till 1/1/2006 - he still didn't understand said I would have to take delivery now on a 2005. So no go on them.

The one I'm buying from took a $200 refundable deposit and I'm allegedly on the top of the list. He hadn't heard of this tax credit for 2006 but had no problem waiting. My only requirement is dark interior with Navi. They will sell at MSRP with no bs fees.

I currently have an Acura MDX and get 20 - 21 mpg. I'm gonna keep it b/c a move to a small car is a bit scary and I do have small kids. So I figure if the Civic isn't for me, I can sell it near break even after consideration of the tax break.

Re: Sort of excited, on wait list for 2006 HCH!
 

Congrats on getting a good dealer to work with you.

I have to comment on your statement that "moving to a small car is scary and I have young kids" though.

You know, that "being safer" thing is more based on emotion than fact. Look at these stats:

Quote:
SUVs are more likely to rollover in an accident - 79 percent of fatalities in a single-SUV crash involve a rollover compared to only 45 percent for passenger vehicles.

The estimated risk of rollover in an SUV is 30 percent compared to only 16-percent risk of rollover in alight vehicle.

Rollover crashes kill more than 10,000 people each year in the United States

SUV rollover accidents accounted for just 3 percent of all U.S. auto accidents in 2001, but caused nearly a third of all vehicle-occupant fatalities.

It is more than three times likely an SUV occupant will die as a result of a rollover than an occupant of a passenger car.

Fatalities in single vehicle rollovers increased 22.3 percent from 2000 to 2001.

62 percent of all SUV deaths occur in rollovers - and only 22 percent of passenger-vehicle deaths occur in rollovers.

A Ford Explorer is 16 times as likely as the typical family car to kill occupants of another vehicle in a crash.
And from the Union of Concerned Scientists:
Quote:
"Families deserve to know that they can get a better SUV," said David Friedman, research director for the UCS Clean Vehicles Program. "The problem is not SUV owners. The problem is that people think SUVs are safer than cars. They're not. In fact SUVs don't even have to meet the same safety and fuel standards as cars, and automakers have fought to keep it that way."
A lot of that "up higher" stuff is just emotional too - I have never had a problem in a small car "seeing" anyting I need to see as a driver.

And from NHTSA:
Some alarming SUV FACTS from the NHTSA include:

• Ejections account for 63 percent of all fatalities in rollover crashes and often result in costly and debilitating head injuries. <<
• More than 90 percent of passenger vehicle rollover crashes are single-vehicle crashes, and more than 80 percent of occupant deaths in rollover crashes occurred in single-vehicle crashes. <<
• More than half of the single-vehicle crash deaths resulted from rollovers - compared with 11 percent in multiple-vehicle crashes. <<
• Almost 25% of all highway deaths were due to rollover accidents in 2001; <<
• More than 50 percent of all SUV-related deaths were attributed to SUV rollovers. <<

There is some relevance to the Physics of "a large car in a headon crash with a smaller car will fair better" but there are just NOT a lot of evidence that in REAL WORLD crashes, SUVs are "safer" than small cars, either in number of crashes or in survivability of those crashes.

There was a story a few weeks ago in the PHoenix paper about a young 10 year old boy who lost his lower arm and how he was recovering and trying to raise money for a prosthetic arm. You know how he lost his arm? His mom rolled her SUV and he was not belted in and his arm went out a window and got crushed in the rollover. That could easily have been his whole body.

The most important thing about kids' safety in cars is to have them PROPERLY restrained and in the back seat.

The 2006 Civic Hybrid will be one of the safest cars on the road at ANY weight. Here are the safety specs:

Advanced safety systems include Honda-exclusive Advanced Compatibility Engineering(TM) (ACE)(TM) Body Structure for vehicle-to-vehicle crash compatibility and collision energy management, and a long list of standard safety equipment including side curtain airbags, driver's and front passenger's side airbags, and anti-lock braking.

So I would not fret one second about the safety of a move to a smaller car. I put my 6 and 9 year olds in my Civic every day and feel 100% safe in it !!! :)

Re: Sort of excited, on wait list for 2006 HCH!
 

Now you just have me plain scared! JK, but my verbage of 'scared' wasn't meant on the fact that the car is smaller than the SUV - it was more about travelling with the kids, having space for the luggage, etc. I may have the best of both worlds if I keep both in the long run. Thanks Larss.

Re: Sort of excited, on wait list for 2006 HCH!
 

Hi Advance the Man:

___I think once you get into the new 06, your MDX will become but a weekend use only - go to the woods - toy given your current FE. Just be prepared to step down on the lux end of the equation a bit because the 06 HCH will not have nearly the amenities that your Touring w/ NAVI (and possibly RES?) has currently. I really enjoy driving the MDX because of its large size, very comfortable seating, and appointments even when compared to my Accord EX-L w/ NAVI although the Accord has some amenities the X doesn’t have either. Anyway, I just want you to be prepared for the drop in lux and feel. Once over that, your FE will have at least doubled if not tripled!

___Now let us talk about that FE … Since you are ~ 10% below EPA highway in the X, you shouldn’t expect but maybe 10% below EPA highway in the 06 HCH. In other words, after a few thousand miles, you should see ~ 45 mpg or so given your present driving habits … I say this knowing what your MDX is really worth when driven as a hypermiler would. If you can get that behemoths average up into the mid to high 20’s range, you have a real good shot at 60 + in the 06 HCH. Believe me, there are not that many tricks and the MDX is actually harder to hypermile then any of the hybrid’s. The X has the FCD in the LCD screen of the non-NAVI’s and the TC screen of your NAVI. Start using it so you are up to speed by the time your new 06 arrives and you will be good to go. You and the 06 HCH will make some beautiful music together right off the lot if you learn the techniques before the car arrives and then learn her own special secrets once you are behind the windscreen.

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

Re: Sort of excited, on wait list for 2006 HCH!
 

I have begun my training, I must unlearn what I have learned! On my latest MDX fill-up 60 or so miles ago I begun. So far, two days of home to work travel I am averaging 28.6 mpg! Yes I have RES and Navi with the MDX. I will have to retrofit the Civic with a RES. I haven't take a looksee/search here or other Civic forum sites, but I'm sure it has been done extensively. My first goal for FE with the MDX is to average 24 mpg overall for a full tank of gas. Thanks Wayne.

Re: Sort of excited, on wait list for 2006 HCH!
 

Hi Advance the Man:

___28.6 mpg in the behemoth, now you are talking!!! :D

___I left some pretty good “how to’s” over at AcuraMDX.org a year or two ago that may help? The latest in techniques can really put your MDX over the top. When you hit your first 30 mpg segment, post a pic over there and watch the sparks fly. I had some doozeys last year and the whole experience kind of turned me off … And it was a site I really enjoyed too!

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

Re: Sort of excited, on wait list for 2006 HCH!
 

As a previously active acuramdx.org forum member, I remember the thread of yours - in fact I just reviewed it again. You sir are addicted to mpg's! You must be a stats teacher! I'll try for that 30 mpg, but honestly you are the king of mpg - I simply want a big improvement. I'm not willing to turn off the a/c all the time here in Florida!

btw, on another note - called my brother to tell him of the 2006 Civic Hybrid, we hung up and 10 minutes later he calls me back. He is now 2nd on the list for the same vehicle!:)

Re: Sort of excited, on wait list for 2006 HCH!
 

Hey Advance-
Just to let you know- I moved to the HCH when my old explorer died. I had that truck for 13 years and I did everything with it- but I don't miss it at all. (well- maybe when I'm getting junk at home cheapo) I've got 2 middleschool age kids and they like the HCH better than dad's jeep for trips- more comfortable. we've done several weekend trips to grandma's (5 hrs+) and the trunk holds our stuff just fine.
wait till you start getting 45-50mpg, you won't want to drive anything else. dad wants an HCH now!
Kate

Re: Sort of excited, on wait list for 2006 HCH!
 

Will there be XM or Sirius option?

Re: Sort of excited, on wait list for 2006 HCH!
 

Hi Advance The Man:

___XM is in the NAVI and I am sure you pre-ordered the HCH-II with that option, right?

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

Re: Sort of excited, on wait list for 2006 HCH!
 

Heck yes, will never own another vehicle without navi integrated. I've never had sirius or xm and from what I've heard it's like Navi - once you get it you never do without. Look forward to it.

Re: Sort of excited, on wait list for 2006 HCH!
 

Everything Lar-ss says about the lack of safety in SUVs is true for many SUVs, EXCEPT for a few -- the Acura MDX is much safer than most vehicles.
Risk of dying in one vehicle vs another by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is an excellent resource. Combine these stats with crash tests to find out what's really safe.
The Acura MDX has 6 driver deaths per million vehicle years from rollover and 35 overall. Compare this to the 2dr 2wd Chevy blazer with 308 total and 251 rolloover deaths.
The 2001-2002 Honda Civic 4dr is 67 overall and 13 rollovers. The new Civic has a number of safety improvements, and should me considerably better than the 2001-2002 models. One of the reasons I'm tempted by the 2006 is its improved safety features, particularly for collisions with large trucks and SUVs.
Unfortunately, the Prius is such a low volume seller that IIHS doesn't list it.
So, don't worry about carrying your kids in either vehicle.
--Walter

Re: Sort of excited, on wait list for 2006 HCH!
 

Good info Walter....thanks for that !!!

Re: Sort of excited, on wait list for 2006 HCH!
 

Hi Walter:

___As per your usual, you find the diamond in the rough … When the 02 MDX’s were just hitting the street, the data was weak but there was a trend of limited numbers of deaths per passenger mile being bantered about in the MDX forums. By 03, the numbers were pretty solid but there was still a nagging VSA issue (it was brand new in the 03 MY) that continues in the MDX even today. That being said, the MDX’s stats with millions of miles traveled show a relatively safe automobile by comparison to many which I was happy to see! 6th gen Accord’s did not do to bad either. With side curtains and bags in all 05 + Accord’s and 06 + Civic’s, hopefully the safety trend towards fewer deaths will continue?

___Thanks again for the link and hard data. Very interesting indeed!

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

Re: Sort of excited, on wait list for 2006 HCH!
 

Interesting stats. What is the problem with the VSA - no problem with mine (at least I don't think). Sidenote Wayne, what's the optimum tire pressure for the MDX?

Re: Sort of excited, on wait list for 2006 HCH!
 

Hi Advance The Man:

___A bit OT per the threads intent but VSA does not work as well as it should in the MDX for some reason? It works as designed but it just doesn’t work that well is all. There was a real safety tech guy that used to or maybe still hangs out over at AcuraMDX.org and he would post tons of info about it. NHTSA, IIHS, CR, car mags, everything. I think he had a Japanese sounding last name and also owned an RX330? Anyway, he would post RX results as well as the MDX’s and the MDX never really faired well in some particular lane maneuver or obstacle avoidance test w/ VSA from 03 onward? I was just over their looking today and saw someone post something about the 05’s VSA still not living up to its promise vs. the Toyota/Lexus’ solution … That is why I posted what I did.

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

Re: Sort of excited, on wait list for 2006 HCH!
 

Hi Advance The Man:

___Sorry I missed the second part …

___When it’s in my wife’s hands as her daily driver, I run them at 36. When I get the chance to drive some distance, the X-Terrains go immediately to 40 ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

Re: Sort of excited, on wait list for 2006 HCH!
 

The one I'm buying from took a $200 refundable deposit and I'm allegedly on the top of the list. He hadn't heard of this tax credit for 2006 but had no problem waiting. My only requirement is dark interior with Navi. They will sell at MSRP with no bs fees.

Im sorry to hear your going to pay msrp for the car. Thats a real shame.

Re: Sort of excited, on wait list for 2006 HCH!
 

If I hear of a lower price, I'll buy it from them. I did contact six dealers and I will contact dealers just prior to the new year. But I honestly don't have a problem paying msrp for this brand new model along with approx. $3000 tax break.

Re: Sort of excited, on wait list for 2006 HCH!
 

The tax break is nice :)

I think you will enjoy the 06. Im looking forward to a test drive in all the new Civics. Prices from my dealer and the ins. cost. Then a deal will be made hybrid or coupe. I spoke with my dealer just today and was asked if I would be intrested in a insight when we bought. I told him if the price was right and it was new, we would consider it. I think there working with Honda to see if they can get a boat load of insights at a good price. He assured me they would be the cheapist in the country. He also said there will be a steady stream of all the civics this year. And Accords. I look forward to our next purchase at Mark Roberts Honda in Bartlesville Ok. :)

A Insight for cheap. That could be the way to go :)

Re: Sort of excited, on wait list for 2006 HCH!
 

Ad, good choice on the dark interior and the NAVI. Apparently the blue interior is only available in the Alabaster Silver and the Magnetic Pearl (graphite?) exterior colors. I think the 2 tone blue and tan interior is awesome http://www.vtec.net/articles/view-ar...icle_id=396474, have my eye on a silver one for a second car in early 2006. I have the NAVI in my HAH and love it...one of the best that I have seen or used. I would definitely add it to my next car. I am surprised at how much I actually use it and how helpful it is, even around town.

The XM satellite radio is very nicely integrated into the NAVI, with touch screen presets and the artist's name and song name in a tasteful font right on the NAVI screen when AUDIO is chosen. The XM is very addictive...I find myself rarely listening to FM anymore...strangely, for the first time, I kept losing signal on my drive in this morning...must have been the huge solar flare earlier in the week.