New owner/intro - 2007
Created July 4, 2007, at 1:13 pm by K7Baixo
I picked up a 2007 base model last weekend and so far, I'm enjoying it. I'm not a 'greenie' but I there are two things I like saving - time and money.
Higher gas mileage works for me, the fed tax credit is nice - if I get any :confused: - and since Arizona changed the law recently, a pilot program will allow 10,000 hybrids to have HOV status.
When I checked with the office that administers that program, I was told that they're at about 4,000 so far but it's slowly gaining traction. I guess people are figuriing it out and with the price of gas, I can understand that.
My drive is 24-miles one-way and previously, k7kid rode with me and I dropped her off at school - also downtown. Now that she's graduated, I'm all alone. :rolleyes: Once I have the permit, I can get back in the HOV lane again. :cool:
I've had the windows tinted and don't plan any other real modifications. We're looking at 116F today so I'm sure that impact the mileage. I've already noticed that the engine doesn't shut down like it does when it's under 105F. I'll get to know the car better overtime and figure all this out though.
Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. If anyone can figure out "Baixo" means and how it relates to one of my hobbies without using google or some other website, you'll win a ... uh... my admiration.
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4 years ago
Congrats on your new HCH-II.
Operating the AC on "Auto" and setting strategic values should enable you to still cool the IPU and maximize the occurrence of Auto-stops in extreme hot weather. The fuel economy will suffer but that's life for many of us.
In Portuguese, "Baixo" means "the lower part of". Typically refers to a location/region/neighborhood that is lower than the ones in its vicinity. I also recall it being assigned to a "lower class" neighborhood instead of just its topographical attributes.
Cheers;
MSantos
4 years ago
I run the AC on auto already but I'm not sure what you mean about setting strategic values to cool the IPU. Guess I'll have to go read the manual eh?!
You are so close! Baixo also refers, in Portuguese, to the bass instrument although I believe the more correct name is contrabaixo. One of the Brazilian bass magazines is called "Baixo". I'm a bass guitar student so I use that in conjunction with part of my ham radio callsign - I live in AZ which is in the 7th region of the US.
MrsK7 is from Sao Paulo - assuming that everything stays stable there in the future, we hope to retire to southern Brazil someday.
4 years ago
Heavy a/c use will cost you 10 mpg or more, but you definitely need it.
You won't get great mpg at first -- it takes time for the engine and battery to "wear in." I started out getting 43 mpg. I just got my first 50 mpg tank with 3,000 miles on the odometer.
To maximize mpg, coast to stops as often as you can, keep your highway speed below 65 mph, and minimize your exposure to stop & go traffic.
On the convenient side, you can still accelerate normally and get good mpg, because the battery assist is pure torque. Also, you can feel free to use the cruise control both on the highway and in town. It'll cost a few mpg going up hills, but it'll save mpg on the flats.
Most of all, keep an eye on the mpg meter.
Have fun!
4 years ago
From roughly 1999 to 2003, my daily driver was a 1973 Land Rover Series III so going slow will be an easy adjustment. It's funny how the lack of speed can be an advantage at times - everything almost unfolds in front of you.
During that time, I also existed without A/C. I've got a reasonable tolerance to heat and below about 105, I don't bother with A/C. It was 116F today so the air was on-full bore.
Thanks for the advice re breaking in the power train, I won't worry about mileage for a few months. I'll relax and enjoy the ride.
4 years ago
By strategic I mean setting the temp values conservatively instead of starting with a desirable target temperature.
For instance, let's say that it is pretty hot outside and you do set the AC on Auto. The best temp to start would be something like 86 F (30C). Then gradually (whenever the fan blower slows down) you lower it a notch again to something like 82F (28C), then repeat until you get to a temperature that you are comfortable with. The amazing thing is that the temp you are comfortable with is actually higher than what most people are likely to set the climate control for initially. This is because the AC removes moisture and that enhances our tolerance for higher temperatures.
This approach prevents the mechanical side of the AC compressor from operating as much thereby imposing a lower penalty on FE. The harder you make the AC work the greater the chance that both scroll compressors (belt driven and electric) will operate simultaneously which is often not desirable.
Correct. I forgot about that in music there's a instrument called "baixo" as well. My musical affinity is not very high so obviously I did not recall it at all. My apologies.
Cheers;
MSantos
4 years ago
MSantos - it dawned on me later that the ac setting was what you were referring to but I appreciate the explanation nonetheless.
It's interesting. At 0630 today, it was already 95 degrees outside but I turned the AC off and lowered the back windows slightly.
The difference in mileage is fairly dramatic. With the air on and on level freeway at around 68 indicated, the mileage was shown as around 50 mpg or so.
With the air off, the indicated mileage jumps to 70-75 mpg.
Again, it's an obervation on a car that has less than 500 miles on it - it's all subject to change as the systems 'break in' better.
Another question - how close is the indicated speed to the actual? I assume that those with navigation systems can see this. Otherwise I need to dig out my old Garmin and measure it.
No apology necessary for the "baixo". It's kind of obscure and you came very close.
Best regards -
4 years ago
Some folks claim that the actual speed is a little lower than indicated. According to some reports (including recent lawsuits leveraged against Honda) this caused the vehicles (various models) to accumulate less miles than indicated. Obviously, this had warranty coverage implications which forced Honda to acknowledge & adequately "compensate" the affected owners. Even though this concern has not yet been verified for the HCH-II as genuine, some folks seem to indicate that is not baseless either.
Nevertheless, If you can measure it by GPS then you'll get a good picture. I've measured mine and it seems to be roughly on-target. Any variations I get are probably due to the higher than normal inflation I place on my tires.
Cheers;
MSantos
4 years ago
Hey Baixo, Hope you enjoy your HCHII. I just got mine in march and are coming on to 3000 miles. I first started out at ~42 mpg and now have roughly 44-45 mpg depending on conditions and traffic.
I hope you were joking about the temp being 95 in phoenix, as anything over 76F is TOO HOT for me. I will be going to Tucson at the end of August, although I wont have my HCHII.
4 years ago
I'd concur using the air conditioning takes a toll on the mileage: we just started using the air quite a bit with our latest tankful, with our 06 Civic. I reset the trip odometer at each fill-up. The last few tankfuls (mostly without air conditioning on) were around 5.5 (liters/100 km), but so far with this tankful the in-dash mileage display is stubbornly staying around 6.5 ;(
4 years ago
Baixo,
Congrats on your new HCH. It's a cool car to drive and it handles the road very well. I bought mine just recently as salvage and rebuilt and I am very lucky because it is in a great shape. I enjoy the way it drives, quite and smooth. The gas mileage is great, double what regular car mileage do, especially in my line of work where I have to drive all over the place....I am expecting that this car will pay itself with the mileage my company pays me.
Enjoy!
4 years ago
Not joking my friend. We've had about 22 days of temps over 110F/43C YTD and unless my wife is in the car, I don't use AC. She's with me for about half of the commute and in the morning, it's not an issue. In the afternoons, it's hot but doesn't bother me.
Our budget has been a little tight so she's riding with me more. For the last three weeks, we haven't put any gas in her car and only $20 or so in the Honda.
I couldn't be more pleased.
BTW, my energy efficient tag arrived on Saturday and is now on the back of the car. This blue tag allows me to drive in the HOV lane. I have been popping in and out with the car since I obtained it but didn't like playing this game. Now, I don't have to worry about 'the man' pulling me over - I'm legal!
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