Comments on: 100 Honda Civic Hybrids on Malaysian roads now

By: parasolx

parasolx — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:09:01 +0000

First comes in mind of Malaysians about car is two only: Prices and Engine. A lot of COMPLAINTS keeps talking on engine power and price. So here i give an explanation to whom more focus on engine.

Honda Civic Hybrid is design with a lot of new technology for its engine. Why? Here you will gets with HCH:

1.) 3 cam profiles engine, (high mode, low mode and idle mode) while 2.0 and 1.8 civic only have 2 cam profiles only.
2.) i-DSI engine to increase fuel efficiency which have 8 spark plugs (2 for each cylinder) to gets a FULL fuel combustion. If you buy Ferrari also they still use 1 spark plug for each cylinder.
3.) VCM, Variable Cylinder Management WHICH you only get in Accord 3.6.. its not Accord 2.0 or 2.4.
4.) i-VTEC cam profiles engines, the latest engine tech from Honda
5.) Electronic Power Steering, only available in Accord 2.4 and 3.6.
6.) Intergrated Motor Assist, only hybrid is having this feature.

So, if you want to compare engine 1.3 against 2.0, please considered of having technology above also. Having HCH is not focus to the engine power but its technology. Theres a lot of way to increase your car performance and power, but can somebody list out the way to increase fuel efficiency in the manner with the cost to archieve 40/45mpg compared to HCH.

Thanks.

By: James

James — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:06:53 +0000

Hi Paul.
Thanks for that thought.
Appreciate it.

By: Paul Tan

Paul Tan — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:58:44 +0000

@James An explanation could be that UMW Toyota may not be getting as good a price as Toyota USA because our volume prediction is way lower compared to the crazy amount of Prius they sell in the USA. Naturally when you buy less, your price is higher, if you buy more in bulk, your price is lower.

By: James

James — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:55:04 +0000

I did some rough calculations on the possible price of the Prius and still cannot fathom how it can reach RM 170,000 or possibly more.

Example:
Price in USD = 26,000 (Prius IV) – from US page.
50% excise duty = 1.5 x 26,000 = 39,000 (USD)
10 % sales tax = 1.1 x 39,000 = 42,900 (USD)
Car Price + Tax Only (RM) = 42,900 x 3.6 = 154,440 (RM)
If I take RM 170,000 – RM 154,440 = 15,560 (RM).

Now what in the world would contribute RM 15,560 extra to effect the price to RM170,000 or more ????? Processing fee, handling fee, insurance fee, custom fee, delivery fee, transportation fee, paperwork fee, cargo fee, ‘others’ tax, etc… Now what other fees or ‘other’ taxes did I miss………..hmmmm

This is just a rough estimate but I could be wrong on the tax and all. Will know exactly the price and misc fees once Toyota launches the model.

By: dean

dean — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:30:24 +0000

I think the honda civic hybrid is reasonable if u want to save money on fuel. i have use this car for two month and the fuel is great.. i save a lot of fuel. the car can do 700km++ with full tank of Rm70.. well, it maybe sound not much, but i must remind u that im not driving like a hybrid driver which drive slowly and make sure the car get the best consumption.. i drive faster then other normal car. the car 1.3 engine does have enough power to get the car to 180km/h easily. for me, that is enough.. well, the toyota prius might coming in town soon, that car is alot better in terms of tech and fuel consumption, but the estimated price is abit high.. it about RM 185,000.. so, its about Rm 60,000 more then the honda.. i think i will always prefer honda civic hybrid for the better handling and cheaper price..

By: Omanjedi

Omanjedi — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 09:30:02 +0000

hug or do anything else inside the car please..huhuhuhu

By: ryan

ryan — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:55:16 +0000

170 after discount is 150…… hmm.. september….. grand opening..!

By: Victor

Victor — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:11:48 +0000

Not everyone is concern on the fuel price lah.. It’s a Hybrids car, which made no pollution to the earth. Be green, PEOPLE !

By: 27

27 — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:02:58 +0000

If gov can promote the green car and also bring in Toyota Prius, I would like to get one too…

But make sure it is low price, dun think this happen in here….dream on…

I think Toyata Prius is sold at USD24k…

By: James

James — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:01:07 +0000

Wow, if the new Prius has a similar price tag as the Camry 2.4V – RM 170,000 , for me that is way too expensive and a put off.
It is still darn expensive even with all the tax cuts and all for hybrid cars.
So what is the point of the tax cuts then? It is rather pathethic, extremely pathetic.

By: ryan

ryan — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:42:43 +0000

$One Five O K for Pick R I United Speed Month Of 9

By: dzat

dzat — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:32:40 +0000

Read somewhere in brit magazine (can re-call either autocar or something…)…testing done btw TDI & hybrid…conclusion, TDI are more frugal & way more powerful + Cheaper. If only our diesel are Euro 4 compliance

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:41:50 +0000

Get the european diesels… they beat the hybrids hands, feet and pants down for fuel economy… as low as 4l/100km. Friends of mine who drive the Civic Hybrid only manage about 6l/100km.

whoops.. forgot we have crap diesel quality. oh well.. malaysia boleh

By: Paul Tan

Paul Tan — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:04:38 +0000

New Prius will be Camry 2.4 price.

By: James

James — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:03:29 +0000

I feel RM 180,000 is too expensive. Using the Civic Hybrid as a reference, I am estimating the price of the new Prius to be around RM 138,000.

By: xenogearz

xenogearz — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 03:15:35 +0000

Saw Toyota Prius on the road here in Malaysia already. Must be ‘em UMW people test driving the car or something. Heard that UMW will launch the car sometime in July 2009 (next month). Since it is 1.8L, I’m sure the price will be expensive, around RM180k (considering that 1.3L Hybrid Civic is priced about RM130k).

By: vwm

vwm — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 03:05:43 +0000

yup gov is going nothing… i drove by near zahid hamidi’s house and saw two hummer h3 just arrived front of his home.. and he has countless car….. i dont where he got all his money

By: ryan

ryan — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:28:22 +0000

hmm… septmeber!!!!!!….

By: Karl

Karl — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:51:49 +0000

l love Honda brand more than any Japanese brands BUT when it come to HYBRID l’ll pick Prius than anything else.

Civic hybrid not really deliver like it was HYPED.

#2: HM play like UMWT in this case; NOT really give up all the profit to the customers despite of Government’s effort to reduce taxes significantly.

Otherwise NOT only Hybrid, the fossil 1.8 and 2.0 will be price lower than now (in fact the price now dearer). Because of overwhelming demand they can become old days Kah Motors.

By: TonyZai

TonyZai — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:37:45 +0000

If either one battery manufacturer successfully develop a better kind/quality battery, i think i’ll cause a major trend of hybrid or electic powered car.
For now, maybe new generation diesel engine might suite our needs. Diesel engines in nowdays are more fuel efficient and more reliable than gasoline engine. Agree?

By: proudnewowner

proudnewowner — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:25:28 +0000

I L.O.V.E my car!!it’s so quiet, so cool and it really does drive like a 1.8 civic!
the battery- hopefully it will last…i also saw the maintenance…exactly the same unless the battery gives away too early.
weird as it is, it’s my first car…
i compared the fuel consumpsion with my family’s 2 kancil– it won hands down, and i havent even refilled it yet..and my first refill still havent finished and it’s way past the mileage from the 1st one…but im not one to drive too fast anyway
right now,for me, it’s the best— the comfort, looks, performance and maintenance of a civic, and the mileage even lower than a kancil..and i get to do my part for the environment (noise+air pollution)
who cares if it’s shipped from Japan, or the parts are also shipped from elsewhere…just about every other car, and nearly probably all imported/luxury cars are imported…dont tell me you made all the other cars from local materials, and they are not shipped too…

By: Bodowee

Bodowee — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:48:00 +0000

This hybrid this is too complicated for malaysians …higher maintenance cost , slightly better FC …more cons than pro in the long run ..
if < 80K ok la ..my wishful thinking

By: Prius-fan

Prius-fan — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:16:16 +0000

Hybrids are about the image and the statement, if not enough saving the fuel. I’ll support it! Do what you can now. Sure the battery and the extra tech will need more processing. Support the company who are more responsible for the environment. And thats definitely NOT proton.

By: dcwhz83

dcwhz83 — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:38:46 +0000

now not Prius alrdy… its Honda Insight :p

By: greencar

greencar — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 10:16:30 +0000

the hybrid car market is still in its infancy… we need more hybrid models to compare and the car makers and distributors need to promote harder in order to create the awareness…when is the Prius coming in? Seen enough in car magazine review already..

By: HONDA marketing strategy

HONDA marketing strategy — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 10:11:40 +0000

buy one HONDA Civic in Malaysia and also get beautiful girl!!!!

hurry while stock last…..

By: Civic hybrid owner

Civic hybrid owner — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 10:00:41 +0000

As an owner myself, I feel the same as the couple about the car. It is not underpowered. I get about 18km/l mixed driving without having to drove like a grandma.

I know a guy who is an owner of a 7 year old prev gen civic hybrid had no battery issues. His car is still getting similar mileage to mine.

Too expensive? Maybe, if you also consider civic 2.0 expensive. Maintenance is same as 2.0. Brakes don’t wear out as fast due to regen braking.

Singapore and Japan have a high adoption rate for hybrid cars. But their gomen also give better incentives. With so many adopters, this tech can’t be that bad.

By: altimasss

altimasss — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:47:13 +0000

I just bought a brand new Civic 2.0. Before I decide on the 2.0, had some very long thoughts whether to take the Hybrid version.
In the end, the battery life put me off.. I cant imagine the resale value when the car reaches 5yrs old.. they price will probably drop by half of actual new price.

I’d love to drive green cars and save the environment, but too much to lose especially when cars are so blardy expensive in this country

Guess I’ll wait for the full EV from Nissan.

By: Link

Link — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:29:51 +0000

129K is way too expensive.

The RM20K difference can pay for about 3-6 years of petrol for a normal car.

So even if the car has half the fuel consumption of a nonhybrid, it’ll take 6-12 years to break even just on fuel costs. And I doubt the hybrid is so much more fuel efficient.

The fact that the car costs so much without taxes either means someone is making a big profit or it requires more resources to build.and thus is unlikely to be that environmentally friendly.

You might as well invest the RM20K elsewhere.

By: CocoBear

CocoBear — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:55:16 +0000

I prefer cycling. End.