[QUOTE=Chazmo,Oct 23 2005, 06:47 PM] Rob, are you thinking of trading in one of your MY05s?

Is the RSX-S even in the same ballpark, price-wise?

 

How about a Civic Hybrid, Rob?

 

Patty, what about a CR-V?

 

Yeah, I guess that would work, too, but they are kinda small. I haven't looked at one in a while. I think they are bigger than they used to be. Next time I'm at the dealership I'll check them out. Thanks for mentioning it.

 

Good luck hunting, Patty. My dad bought a RAV4 last year, which is nice, but if I had my druthers I'd take the CR-V. I have an old Suzuki Sidekick which I may replace in the next few years. Maybe Honda will have a Hybrid version of the CR-V (or something new) by then.

 

Chaz,

I've very seriously considered a Civic Hybrid but decided against it for a few reasons even though I'd love to buy one for the fuel economy and the feeling of "green".

First, they are only available in automatic, and one of the main things that I want is a manual transmission.

Second, because of the battery behind the seat, you can no longer lower the rear seatbacks. I find this to be an important feature that I don't want to sacrifice.

Third, but less important, is the fact that hybrids are still relatively new and have not yet achieved the level of reliability of a regular gas engined car. If I want anything at all in a daily driver it's reliability.

 

Sound like what you need to do is buy the Civic, then upgrade the suspension.

JonasM

 

Jonas,

I've thought about that, but if I decide to buy the Civic I'll probably leave it stock for a while, probably as long as I own it. I didn't find it so objectionable that I couldn't live with it, and it is to be my daily driver. What I'd probably do is run the tires at 34 or 35 lbs instead of the 30 lbs recommended by Honda. I find it makes quite a difference in the handling and the feel.

In a conversation with Roy (Canberra) at the Vintage Gathering, he told me that in tests of aircraft, there was a relationship between tire pressure and hydroplaning. The higher the pressure the less chance of hydroplaning. He runs his tires at 40lbs on his S and loves it.

 

I am very surprised that they moved the shifter back to the floor.

I have a 2002 SiR (Si for the Americans ) and I think it's gearbox feel is second only to the S2000. I am not sure why Honda moved away from this design for the Civic. Perhaps many found it too strange, although once you drive it, it feels very natural....

 

Get the Civic Si Rob. I just saw a commercial for that car, and apparently it can skip over rooftops and swing on crane cables. After it flies through the air, it just rolls right into your garage. I'm thinking of trading in my house for one!