I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

[squirrel]

Re: I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

yeah, that would make a difference.

[mike343sharpstick]

Re: I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

Here in the 'Rust Belt' EVERYTHING depreciates to a big fat Zero eventually, I would rather that be an appliance.

[dieselgeek]

Re: I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

I also make sure to figure depreciation into the formula. Wife commuted in her Dart for years, it has well over 300k miles on it, with a few rebuilds along the way. And it's worth a lot more now than when she got it! can't say that about any hondacars that I know of.

Good point!!

[squirrel]

Re: I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

Dan, I really like the term “Appliance”, that’s exactly what some cars are.

I use the term "transportation module". I guess it means the same thing....and it's kind of depressing for a carjunkie to be stuck in one, but sometimes reality rears it's ugly head.

I also make sure to figure depreciation into the formula. Wife commuted in her Dart for years, it has well over 300k miles on it, with a few rebuilds along the way. And it's worth a lot more now than when she got it! can't say that about any hondacars that I know of.

[mike343sharpstick]

Re: I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

If you are buying a car for a DD/commuter it better get more than 25-27 mpg... Otherwise, why bother?
I think it should be a little comfy with a/c and some tunes...

I agree, but would say over 30 mpg.

[bnjny]

Re: I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

If you are buying a car for a DD/commuter it better get more than 25-27 mpg... Otherwise, why bother?

I think it should be a little comfy with a/c and some tunes...

Most importantly, the whole buy american thing has been hinted at in this post (what a shock)... Honda, Nissan, Toyota have all been building cars here in the USA for a long time... While the crappy three have been building cars outside the USA for a long time now...

The focus should be on what you want and how you want to build it...

[mike343sharpstick]

Re: I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

Dan, I really like the term “Appliance”, that’s exactly what some cars are.
My wife is currently driving a ‘95 Camry that fits that definition perfectly. Bought it for $2,500 and threw a bunch of parts at it for a few hundred more. It works well in the snow, is comfy, and gets 33 mpg last time we checked. This is the car we use as a family (4 of us) most often, if anything happens to it, no big deal.

My non-snow Daily driver is a Dodge SRT-4, fits all of us, I got 29 mpg on a road trip (There were even a couple 3-digit passes), and has been totally reliable. Took it to the drag strip and ran a 14.2 with the kid seats in the back. Part appliance, part fun… is this a fast appliance? Whatever it is I REALY enjoy the car.

Next new (or new-ish) car will be mostly my wife’s choice, we take turns. It will likely be a nicer ‘Appliance’ car. If we had to get something today it would very likely be a civic hybrid. Now if Chevy makes a new plug-in hybrid available we may look at that too. All things “equal”, I will buy American.

Then there’s that Durango with the towing package and 390 gears that sits in the driveway collecting dust….. Invaluable during Wisconsin winters, but Ouch! at the pump.

[Brad54]

Re: I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

My '62 Suburban gets 18mpg with OD manual trans, 3.55 gears (in a rear end that was eating itself), an out-of-the-box Edelbrock carb and HEI, and small diameter rams horn manifolds. And a TON of aero fouls. I'm swapping in 3.42 gears this month, and I should also swap to 2.5-inch 'horns and dial in the carb. By August for the Bonneville road trip, I plan to have the front end rebuilt (there's a lot of misalignment drag there now), lower it a little, add a valance behind the front bumper with short chin spoiler to keep air from stacking up under the hood, and close off a lot of unused radiator opening. I see no reason I can't get at least 20mpg highway. At that point, it's pulling better economy than my 2001 Dakota.

I've also thought about going with a Q-jet carb with an adapter on top of the old Edelbrock C3B intake.

-Brad

[Freiburger]

Re: I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

My '72 Ventura with a 250 six and a Glide and 3.08s got 21 mpg bone stock. With a 200 overdrive and some tuneup I bet it had potential for 25-27 mpg. Hence my concept of the Commuter Rod.

These days, Chad and I are both driving B-bodies with 283s and Powerglides. We think his has 3.31s and mine has 3.08s. They both get 14 (which, to me, is "good mileage"). The Crew Cab also has a 283 and a Glide and I'm shooting for 25 mpg with it.

[VTJUNK]

Re: I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

We've had a few Civics. The best one was a '94 coupe with 1.5, and a 5 spd. It would get 36-38 mpg hwy. We have a 05 CRV now, it is terrible on gas I think. It's a stick, and the best I can get out of it is 28.
It's geared so low I asked the service dept. at the local dealer if anyone else complained about something similiar. At 70-75 mph, it's turning about 3600 rpm. I find myself reaching for another gear.

[DanStokes]

Re: I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

Matt -
You'll be fine. My bitch with Hondas is that the seating position puts you on the floor - a problem at my height (can't see over the wheel). We just bought a new HHR for the bride, and so far it's been perfect - getting about 28.5 combined city and highway. Many choices. I think it's hugely important to make a distinction between your car and your daily driver appliance. Two different functions.

Carry On
Dan

[Matt Cramer]

Re: I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

no cobalts , sunfires , centurys , auras , saabs , solstice , skys , g6 , grand am , malibu ,
available in your area ?
why lower yourself to a honda ?

I'd really like to have bought a Solstice or Sky, but my price range was way too low. With most of GM's front wheel drive cars, let's face it, they're even more appliancelike than a Civic. Seriously, what sort of car guy appeal is a Sunfire supposed to have?

[dieselgeek]

Re: I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

paidfor 05 Civic daily driver here and I have zero regrets. Have had many other hondas, one 92 civic made it 300,000 miles still clean no rust etc. until some idiot smashed into it while it was parked on a sidestreet...

[milner351]

Re: I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

I worked for Honda for 5 years and met plenty of good hard working Americans that fed their families working for Honda, and drove Honda's to some pretty impressive odometer readings - many over 300k. It's getting really tough to say what's really American made anymore - most accords and civics built in Ohio have more American made content then some of the big three's cars.... thank Mr. Clinton and nafta for that.

I digress.

Enjoy the honda - it's an appliance - and it will be reliable and get great mileage if properly maintained -- DO NOT push the timing belt and water pump change which should be done at 90-100k range.... if you run it until it breaks - you might as well buy a replacement engine.

I changed the timing belt, water pump, tensioner and idler pulleys on my wifes' V6 accord at 110 miles (recomended mileage in the manual for the V6) it was not too bad of a job, but did require a couple special tools for the crank pulley, pretty much an all day job.

Enjoy the car - you should get 36mpg or thereabouts.

[bnjny]

Re: I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

You will be fine with your commuter Civic. Nobody here knows your life better then you. I'm not a fan of Honduh products, but it's not for me to decide.

Enjoy the commuter!