Honda Civic Hybrid 2006

[Sonicsteel]

Hi, im quite new the the hybrid game, been trying to chip in on a few things and ask some questions from people to try and learn as much as possible. I have noticed that the Insight mk1 is nigh on impossible to find for sale, so Im going to see & test drive a 55 plate Honda Civic Hybrid on saturday. Its the first gen, 2006 registered & looks awesome.

Specs state its a 1.4 IMA, tax is only £20 notes for 12 month which I am very impressed with.

What sort of things should I look out for when I test drive it? How far should I take it etc?

Really like this forum, & depending on how it goes on Saturday I may come home with a Hybrid.

[retepsnikrep]

If you buy one of these and help me with some research i may be able to develop a MIMA and BCM gauge for this model. You will get a free one for your trouible Is it really a first gen model? Do you have a link to it so i can look. The first gen civic hybrid was only made from 2003-2005 ASFAIK

[Sonicsteel]

Sounds cool. MIMA is the manual IMA for controlling the electric motor? Had a read of 99mpg a few times and your website, quite alot of detail and difficult to understand but i'll learn as much as I can and help where I can too

[timny1984]

MIMA for the HCH would be amazing as i have a 2005 MT myself. I'm guessing he meant it's a first gen (maybe a 2005) but first registered in 2006.

as for things to look for... ummm rust? I guess look for the same type of things your look for with any normal civic. I just got mine back in november (for a winter car) and it had some vibration noises which i think was just the heat shield rattling around, somehow it was bent under the exhaust and twisted around.

Are the models over there able to go into lean burn? I know that the CVT and MT were available with and without lean burn.

good luck!

Tim

[Sonicsteel]

Hey Tim,

thanks for the advice. Learn burn is on the UK models of the 'HCH', this one I am going to look at is a MT, which is preferrable as far as ive been reading/talking to people about.

Any ideas about the IMA, anything I should watch out for e.g. battery indicator etc?

[Hybrid-Battery-Repair]

Originally Posted by Sonicsteel

Its the first gen, 2006 registered & looks awesome.

Do the headlight and taillight look like this? In the US, 2006 looks like this and is the 2nd Gen, not the 1st Gen.

[Sonicsteel]

Those are the 2nd gen? Ok, the car im looking at doesnt have those rear or front lights.

Thanks for the heads up though, would have been silly if I didn't realise it was second gen

[retepsnikrep]

Originally Posted by Sonicsteel

Any ideas about the IMA, anything I should watch out for e.g. battery indicator etc?

Give it a test drive of at least 5-10 miles user WOT in high gear to maximise assist use and very light pressure on brake pedal when slowing to maximise regen. See what the battery does, remember i have loads of spare cells and we can get new ones now as well If the gauge does a neg recal (drops down suddenly) under load when soc is above 7-8 bars then that would indicate battery maybe out of balance and simple grid charge may greatly improve it.

[Hybrid-Battery-Repair]

Originally Posted by Sonicsteel

Those are the 2nd gen? Ok, the car im looking at doesnt have those rear or front lights.

Thanks for the heads up though, would have been silly if I didn't realise it was second gen

The Gen 1 looks like this: Hybrid-Battery-Repair

[Sonicsteel]

Yeah thats the one, but in a dark blue.

Will be looking to do some other things to it over time aswell, mostly cosmetic mods. Im downsizing from my current car as she is too expensive to run, always the way when petrol is £1.38/litre (which is close to $8 per gallon for you guys), my VW is just too costly.

I have other plans aswell like getting some savings going etc.

Anyone else owned one before? Got any ideas?