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Greetings and salutations, all y'all ... 'tis a pleasure indeed to "meet" you.

I'm awaiting arrival of my 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid (it's a dealer locate), and should be on the road within the next few days.

We've been an "all-Honda" family for some time now. My wife drives a 2004 Pilot EX, and the car I'm trading on the HCH is a 2007 Ridgeline RTX. It's going to be some change from the RTX to the HCH, but I know I'll love that little car. I drive about 24K miles per year, and need a vehicle which will give me more than 16.5 miles per gallon.

My commute is about 20 miles, mainly rural roads with speed limits of 45mph or less. That's a five-day per week regime. Then I'm out and about in the evenings, visiting the sick and such. All told, it is about 2K per month of driving I do.

I'm an Anglican Priest, and support my family financially by working as a Civil Engineer and Land Surveyor. We live in eastern Pennsylvania, rather hilly, but south of the mountains.

Each of my other Hondas was purchased from a dealer considerably north of us but, this time, our local dealer really did want to "deal". So, I'll be a lot closer should I need help.

Any advice you can offer will be most appreciably and graciously received. I may be a tad "old", but am certainly capable of learning new tricks. Shoot, this old dog is VERY teachable. (Not only that, I have a side bet with my way better half on just what kind of mileage I'll be getting with the HCH, so any help in winning would be wonderful!)

Do have a great one, and, as I said earlier, I do look forward to "meeting" each of you.

Pax,

Fr. John

Welcome to the site!! I'm fairly new too, but have spent much time reading here - lots of useful information!! These guys & gals can probably answer any question you might have. The best of luck on your new car when it arrives!! :)

I think that this site was created by hybrid fellows. Look to the right and read away. There is more info here than I can take in. Congrats for the new car, and thanks for doing the Lord's work.

Love you enemies
But don't buy their oil

Louis B

welcome, fr. john.

you have an IDEAL commute for high MPG from the sound of your drive. i have been commuting for 7 years 45 miles to work, and a lot of it is rural. my best speed for good mileage is usually between 42-48MPH. the limit is 55, but i see very little traffic. i may have a slight advantage with a 5 speed, but once you get up to speed (pun intended) i suspect you will be amazed at what kind of numbers you will get.

on the right side of the page, there is a list of helpful articles. the one about hypermiling an HCHII written by tarabell can provide you with a lot of good, basic information on how to drive the car. she's a great inspiration.

again, welcome and glad to have you here.

Hi Fr. John and welcome.

It is nice to see you made it here.

Laurie is absolutely right and I suspect with those VERY ideal driving conditions you'll be getting some phenomenal mileage in no time. Maybe 70+ MPG? More? :D


Cheers;

MSantos

FrJohn,

Welcome to CleanMPG!

Your commute should be give you some really nice results!

I think you will like this analogy....Joseph saving grain for seven years for Egypt's Seven Years of Famine...if you very gradually increase your speed approaching a hill, you can get the momentium to scale the hill with a lot less gas, then coast, or FAS down the hill. If it's not extremely hilly, it may be possible not to press the accelerator down 3/4 or more of the way on the climbs.

Welcome FrJohn! As has already been mentioned, your commute sounds ideal for crazy-high mpg's. In fact, it sounds very similar to my own commute. Definitely read Tarabell's article on hypermiling an HCHII. I predict 70+ mpg tanks in your future. I admire you too for doing the Lord's work. Again, welcome.

Welcome Fr. John!

The HCHII will give you great mpg. Collecting on the bet should be great fun. :)

Thanks for the welcome, everyone! I read another site, dedicated to the HCH, for about a week before making my purchase. That site, and this one, seem to be full of great folks interested in helping one another getting the greatest FE we can. Not only that, folks just seem downright nice! That's always a plus!!

Just got a call from the dealer, and I should be picking up that brandy new HCH II this evening. I can't wait! Just like a wee kid with his first new ride.

Have a great one, all!!

Pax,

Fr. John

Take pictures for us, okay? A new vehicle is always exciting and we like having people share their experience with us. :)

Hi FrJohn:

___A little late to the party but welcome indeed!

___And oh that commute has half of us drooling and the other half crying knowing what they face everyday!

___I am sure you have read it but here it is again just in case. Adapting Basic Hypermiling Techniques to the HCH-II (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1306). Spend some time in the article section as there is Gold in “dem der hill’s” ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Thanks for the welcome, Wayne. Not only have I digested Tarabell's article, but I've bookmarked yours too! There is indeed a wealth of information here, and I fully intend to reference as much of it as I can.

My goal is to coax 70 mpg out of that beautiful little HCH II. It'll be a chore, but I know I can do it!

Thanks ever so much for taking the time to share your expertise with us, Wayne! I gain inspiration from ever so many folks here.

Pax vobiscum,

Fr. John

Now that a Father is here, does that mean cussin' is out? :)

Thanks for the welcome, Wayne. Not only have I digested Tarabell's article, but I've bookmarked yours too! There is indeed a wealth of information here, and I fully intend to reference as much of it as I can.

My goal is to coax 70 mpg out of that beautiful little HCH II. It'll be a chore, but I know I can do it!

Thanks ever so much for taking the time to share your expertise with us, Wayne! I gain inspiration from ever so many folks here.

Pax vobiscum,

Fr. John

i am willing to bet you can get 70 with your car. i have a 2005 with a 5 speed, and i have gotten many segments over 70, and held close to 60 most of the winter. as i said earlier, your commute is perfect for it. wait until it warms up a little. and perhaps wayne will come and give you a clinic some time. :D

Now 98CRV, this "Father" also spent eight years in the Navy (Viet Nam Era), so I doubt you're going to say anything on a Forum that I haven't heard before ... :)

Laurieaw, thanks for the encouragement. This is only my second day in the HCH II, and I'm already at the EPA combined mileage. I know that, as time goes on and my foot becomes more "sensitized", I'll coax that 70 mpg out of it.

What a beautiful little automobile this is, and what wonderful folks there are at this forum!

Pax,

Fr. John

Now 98CRV, this "Father" also spent eight years in the Navy (Viet Nam Era), so I doubt you're going to say anything on a Forum that I haven't heard before ... :)


Pax,

Fr. John

:). Welcome to the group! I hope you love your HCH.