xcel
04-14-2007, 07:08 AM
Common automobile questions from local California roadways. (http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_5666932?source=rss)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2006_HCH-II_-_EX_wheels_front.jpgGary Richards - Mercury News - April 14, 2007
2006 HCH-II.
Q: We have a 2006 Honda Civic hybrid with carpool stickers. But the mileage is disappointing, in the 33-38 mpg range. This is whether I am driving or my husband, and although highway driving is a bit better, it comes nowhere near the 49-51 mpg sticker average.
I know that was inflated, but I had hoped to be getting in the low to mid-40s consistently. I have taken the car to Honda, and they just tell me that 49-51 aren't their numbers (although they were happy to tout them to get me to buy the car), and that they have no numbers to give me. They said it could be that I was running the air conditioning (I reminded them it was winter) and because of the new gas blend (I keep mileage records, and this has been an issue since we got the car). They checked the computer and said nothing was wrong and seemed to want me to just go away, which is not OK with me. We sold my wonderful 1996 Civic, which got almost the same mileage, to make this purchase. And while I am happy to do it for the environment, the car is not living up to our expectations. Can you ask other Civic hybrid drivers what their experiences are and what mileage they get?
Beth Mostovoy
Redwood City
A: Will do. When new federal mileage ratings come out for 2008 models, expect all estimates to fall for hybrids and gas-only vehicles.
Q: I wrote to you seven years ago about the chances that hybrids might be allowed in carpool lanes. You replied - rather snidely, I might add - that if politicians allowed that, our carpool lanes would be filled. I was overjoyed our politicians had more foresight than you when they allowed 85,000 hybrid owners to get carpool stickers. Six years later and carpool lanes still are not filled because of solo drivers in hybrids. It's also notable that you also jumped on the bandwagon and bought a Prius. My 2001 Prius now has more than 120,000 miles and I am also the proud owner of a 2006 Civic hybrid. I also plan to buy either an Altima or Camry hybrid in the near future, which would make us a three-hybrid family. Just wondering, are there many other multiple-hybrid owners out there?
Keith Muraoka
Gilroy
A: Oh, yes. And if the Legislature passes a bill to give owners of hybrids and other fuel-efficient vehicles a big tax credit, there may be more.
Q: As I was sitting in traffic getting aggravated by all the cars whizzing by in the carpool lane and the hybrid solo drivers taking advantage of the special lane that my tax dollars provided them and not me, I came to a sudden realization. All those gas-saving, sandal-wearing, tofu-eating, environmentalists and self-imposed elitists are doing me a huge service. They are saving gas and keeping the demand and prices down, so I can fill up my huge, gas-guzzling sport-utility vehicle more often and at an affordable price. So, to all of you out there and on behalf of the gas guzzlers of America, thank you!
Todd Wester
San Jose
A: As prices approach $3.30 a gallon, I bet you are thinking of wearing sandals, eating tofu and keeping your gas hog parked in the driveway.
Q: Blaney Avenue at Bollinger Avenue in West San Jose desperately needs left-turn signals. Every day cars barrel through on yellow or red lights and won't let cars making left turns exit the intersection. The intersection has a lot of pedestrians (elderly) and bicyclists (children) as well. Can we get left-turn lights?
Richard S.
San Jose
A: The city will study the intersection to determine whether left-turn signals are needed, but this will take a few months. In the meantime, they checked the area and found some defective loops that took away some green time for cars on Blaney. They've been repaired, and engineers added more green time for traffic going north and south on Blaney.
Q: To Quintin Boe (Roadshow, Feb. 27), who charged that you "crossed the line to become an extension of the Man" when you reported that the California Highway Patrol wanted readers to tell you when they saw drivers speeding on the Dumbarton Bridge: Gary works for us, the motoring public, as do the cops on the bridge. Thank you for helping to protect us from the likes of Boe. ... Seems like Boe thinks things on the road are a game to be played by, oh, maybe children who don't know what laws are all about. I say you are paid to protect our safety. Please keep us all informed how we may assist police in enforcing laws until we can get the number of police officers increased.
Thom Mayer, Ray Crump and more
A: Will do.
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2006_HCH-II_-_EX_wheels_front.jpgGary Richards - Mercury News - April 14, 2007
2006 HCH-II.
Q: We have a 2006 Honda Civic hybrid with carpool stickers. But the mileage is disappointing, in the 33-38 mpg range. This is whether I am driving or my husband, and although highway driving is a bit better, it comes nowhere near the 49-51 mpg sticker average.
I know that was inflated, but I had hoped to be getting in the low to mid-40s consistently. I have taken the car to Honda, and they just tell me that 49-51 aren't their numbers (although they were happy to tout them to get me to buy the car), and that they have no numbers to give me. They said it could be that I was running the air conditioning (I reminded them it was winter) and because of the new gas blend (I keep mileage records, and this has been an issue since we got the car). They checked the computer and said nothing was wrong and seemed to want me to just go away, which is not OK with me. We sold my wonderful 1996 Civic, which got almost the same mileage, to make this purchase. And while I am happy to do it for the environment, the car is not living up to our expectations. Can you ask other Civic hybrid drivers what their experiences are and what mileage they get?
Beth Mostovoy
Redwood City
A: Will do. When new federal mileage ratings come out for 2008 models, expect all estimates to fall for hybrids and gas-only vehicles.
Q: I wrote to you seven years ago about the chances that hybrids might be allowed in carpool lanes. You replied - rather snidely, I might add - that if politicians allowed that, our carpool lanes would be filled. I was overjoyed our politicians had more foresight than you when they allowed 85,000 hybrid owners to get carpool stickers. Six years later and carpool lanes still are not filled because of solo drivers in hybrids. It's also notable that you also jumped on the bandwagon and bought a Prius. My 2001 Prius now has more than 120,000 miles and I am also the proud owner of a 2006 Civic hybrid. I also plan to buy either an Altima or Camry hybrid in the near future, which would make us a three-hybrid family. Just wondering, are there many other multiple-hybrid owners out there?
Keith Muraoka
Gilroy
A: Oh, yes. And if the Legislature passes a bill to give owners of hybrids and other fuel-efficient vehicles a big tax credit, there may be more.
Q: As I was sitting in traffic getting aggravated by all the cars whizzing by in the carpool lane and the hybrid solo drivers taking advantage of the special lane that my tax dollars provided them and not me, I came to a sudden realization. All those gas-saving, sandal-wearing, tofu-eating, environmentalists and self-imposed elitists are doing me a huge service. They are saving gas and keeping the demand and prices down, so I can fill up my huge, gas-guzzling sport-utility vehicle more often and at an affordable price. So, to all of you out there and on behalf of the gas guzzlers of America, thank you!
Todd Wester
San Jose
A: As prices approach $3.30 a gallon, I bet you are thinking of wearing sandals, eating tofu and keeping your gas hog parked in the driveway.
Q: Blaney Avenue at Bollinger Avenue in West San Jose desperately needs left-turn signals. Every day cars barrel through on yellow or red lights and won't let cars making left turns exit the intersection. The intersection has a lot of pedestrians (elderly) and bicyclists (children) as well. Can we get left-turn lights?
Richard S.
San Jose
A: The city will study the intersection to determine whether left-turn signals are needed, but this will take a few months. In the meantime, they checked the area and found some defective loops that took away some green time for cars on Blaney. They've been repaired, and engineers added more green time for traffic going north and south on Blaney.
Q: To Quintin Boe (Roadshow, Feb. 27), who charged that you "crossed the line to become an extension of the Man" when you reported that the California Highway Patrol wanted readers to tell you when they saw drivers speeding on the Dumbarton Bridge: Gary works for us, the motoring public, as do the cops on the bridge. Thank you for helping to protect us from the likes of Boe. ... Seems like Boe thinks things on the road are a game to be played by, oh, maybe children who don't know what laws are all about. I say you are paid to protect our safety. Please keep us all informed how we may assist police in enforcing laws until we can get the number of police officers increased.
Thom Mayer, Ray Crump and more
A: Will do.