It really wasn't expensive, not at all out of line with the other models. It is a civic, it's a four door, and it looks and drives like all the other civics in the line. you wouldn't know there was anything different about it, except for the "hybrid" logo on the back, and while driving if you stop for traffic or a light the engine shuts off until you take your foot off the brake to go again (in the case of the manual which is what i have, the engine comes back on when i shift out of neutral) that is really cool and taht's what people notice when i give them a lift. and of course you notice whenever you check the gas mileage <g>. i haven't taken a long trip in it yet (because of my rollercoaster issues) but i can go 650 miles on one tank of gas. in my old civic, a trip to kennywood (pittsburgh) would require one refill during the trip, but if conditions were just right (no traffic on the highway, wind from behind, etc) i could sometimes make it all the way there without stopping. of course the tank would be dry at that point. with my new car i should be able to make it there on half a tank, and not have to worry about gas during the whole trip except probably to stop one on the way home. and i'd have plenty of time to do that without "panicking" <g>

I agree about SUVs. If i had a billion bucks I would love to have one for the snow. To not have to worry about the local roads or getting to work. my honda, even the old one, does really really well in the snow with the front wheel drive, but it is so low that it can't get over piles of snow. One time i was on the highway, doing fine, and i went to switch lanes and ended up just stuck on the little bit of snow pileup between the lanes. it was so funny, couldn't even rock the car because the wheels weren't even touching the ground. it was like the car was up on blocks <g> luckily i had people with me and the old hatchback was a pretty light car so they were easily able to give me a push off the bump and i was good to go.

-- The world is what we make of it --
-- Dave
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