04.14.06
Honda Civic GX Review
When I decided to go back to school, I decided I would be commuting, rather than moving back to LA. I would be driving 120miles each day, round trip… This presented a couple of monetary and logistical problems. First, with gasoline at it outrageously high price I would be spending around $15 per day if I continued to drive my Toyota Tacoma. Second, without using the carpool lane the drive could eat up as much as 5 hours per day, not so cool…
In order to address both of these issues I began to consider an alternative fueled vehicle. Why not a Hybrid? Because it still didn’t solve problem one, and I believe they aren’t really the awesome inventions everyone thinks they are. They cost a LOT and they have this gigantic, expensive, environmentally hazardous battery in them. 
My neighbor down the street introduced me the Honda Civic GX Natural Gas Vehicle. He loves his, and it solves both of my issues AND only costs around $16K, used. The gas only costs $1.5/gal and these things were first to get carpool lane access. So, it’s a tremendous solution to my commuting issues, plus it’s a Honda, which I’ve heard, are pretty good quality.
I was sold, now I had to find one. I didn’t really want to get a new one. They’re around $22K new and I figured since I was going to be driving it to DEATH that I should just get a used one and save some cash. I started my search about three month before school started because these things aren’t that easy to pick up on the used market. After searching high and low I got lucky and found one for sale from EV Rentals. It was a 2004 model with 21K miles for $16K, great deal. I test drove it, took it to the dealer for a checkup, and then bought it.
I also considered getting Phill, but at $1500 it didn’t seem like it would ever pay for itself, and it isn’t THAT inconvienant filling every day.
Now that I’ve been driving it for the past seven months I just wanted to write about my thoughts. It’s great! I think more people should be buying these things over the stupid Hybrids. It certainly does have its drawbacks, though, none really major. First, the gas tank takes up most of the trunk space, so there is a very small trunk (sports car size). Second, it lacking a bit in range; I get around 200 miles to the tank. With school being 120 miles round trip I need to fill up every day. Lastly, there aren’t that many gas stations. If you wanted to drive country it may be a little tough, but it is TREMENDOUS as a commuter vehicle, and it truly is environmentally friendly (not that that really had an impact on my decision).
BTW: The 2005 model has an eight gallon tank which should increase its range to around 300 miles.
I’m going to my first ever focus group next week. It’s concerning ‘alternative fueled’ vehicles, should be interesting. I’ll keep you all posted
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Chris said,
June 20, 2007 at 4:35 pm
I just bought my 2007 Civic GX and LOVE IT! Yes, it was $24,000 but with $7K in tax credits ($4K Fed / $3K State), it bascially takes it to $17K new.
I have been VERY pleased with the entire experience with the car, especially the cost to FILL UP!
It would have been nice to get a customized CNG tank in the shape of the conventional tank so that it could be located there, instead of eating up half the trunk, but thats a SMALL price to pay.
I do get the 200 mile range, but even at that, I’m filling up more often then a conventional car. Natural Gas is regulated here in Utah, at about 93 cents a gallon residential, and the State is currently providing a 20 cent subsidy at retail stations, so filling up at a retail station only costs 73 cents a gallon!
Also thinking about getting the PHILL, and would have JUMPED on it at $1,500 (especially since there’s another $1,000 Federal Tax credit for buying it), but here in Utah, I’ve been told that it costs $3,000.