What to buy?

[pete c]

I am 62, field service tech. I put a lot of miles on for work. Expect to work at least another 3-4 years, possibly more.

Large majority of driving is highway. If this were not so, it would be a no-brainer. I would get a hybrid, probably civic hatch.

I haven't ruled out a hybrid, but am also considering a civic hatch manual or the Mazda 3 hatch manual.

I have heard concerns about the honda 1.5T and they've dropped the 2.0 na.

Like the Mazda because they still offer a manual with the 2.5 na.

I like both cars looks. Love Mazda interiors. Both handle great.

Would like to hear your thoughts on both.

Also wondering if the MTs get better mpg on the highway than the hybrids. I suspect they do if driven properly.

[redpoint5]

What's the furthest you drive?

My company car is a Tesla and I get reimbursed something like 50 cents a mile. Electricity is about 3 cents a mile here, so I'm making money. Fast charging brings the cost per mile up to parity with gasoline though, so an EV doesn't save any money on longer trips where I have to charge along the way.

Automatics are generally geared better for freeway speeds.

[Ecky]

Sounds like you're shopping mostly late model vehicles. Honda's manual hybrids actually tend to do better on the highway that around town, but the newest you'll find is maybe 2015. Honda's strategy was to downsize the engine so that under steady state operation, it was near peak efficiency. In absolute terms I think they're a little more efficient and reliable than Toyota's engines, but Toyota's hybrid system is a lot more comprehensive than Honda's older IMA stuff.

I think the issues with the 1.5T are a bit overblown, but it's still not great that there are head gasket failures. I'd opt for the hybrid over the 1.5T any day of the week.

Toyota's system isn't disadvantaged on the highway, so much as, it does a better job reducing the impact of city driving. It defeats most of the loss of stop and go, but can't beat the physics of aerodynamic drag.

Both still save you fuel on the highway. Just, less than if you were driving around town. They're close to cost parity with their conventional counterparts at this point, too.

There are also a few PHEV options worth exploring. I don't trust Hyundai's engines, but the Ioniq (hybrid and PHEV) seem to have proven reliable. Honda has the Clarity and it's solid, but the looks are polarizing. The Volt has some known issues with bearings but it's still a minority of vehicles. Toyota's "Prime" vehicles get both a big power boost and greatly reduced fuel use for the first 30-50 miles, but you pay the Toyota tax.

[pete c]

I liked the IMA system. Only trouble is it didn't have an EV mode, making it kinda useless in stop and go traffic.

What I'd love to see is a modern version of it with the motor on the other side of the clutch so it could be driven in pure EV mode.

[19bonestock88]

Originally Posted by pete c

I am 62, field service tech. I put a lot of miles on for work. Expect to work at least another 3-4 years, possibly more.

Large majority of driving is highway. If this were not so, it would be a no-brainer. I would get a hybrid, probably civic hatch.

I haven't ruled out a hybrid, but am also considering a civic hatch manual or the Mazda 3 hatch manual.

I have heard concerns about the honda 1.5T and they've dropped the 2.0 na.

Like the Mazda because they still offer a manual with the 2.5 na.

I like both cars looks. Love Mazda interiors. Both handle great.

Would like to hear your thoughts on both.

Also wondering if the MTs get better mpg on the highway than the hybrids. I suspect they do if driven properly.

So, i was in a similar boat as yourself a couple months ago, and ended up with the third generation Insight, which is based on the tenth generation Civic. It handles great, but like some others might have mentioned, its hybrid system is mildly disadvantaged on the highway. Also, due to relatively low engine power its mildly disadvantaged in mountainous terrain, but its still miles ahead of most non hybrids, and all but some petrol cars, though certain models with lots of streamlining could do better...

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by pete c

I liked the IMA system. Only trouble is it didn't have an EV mode, making it kinda useless in stop and go traffic.

What I'd love to see is a modern version of it with the motor on the other side of the clutch so it could be driven in pure EV mode.

One could make a case that Honda's newer eHEV hybrids are exactly this. Two motors - one on the engine to spin it up and shut it down quickly, and one that drives the wheels. The clutch is between the engine and the big motor driving the wheels. Honda just made the motor big enough they could do away entirely with the transmission.

[Gasoline Fumes]

It's hard to beat the highway MPG of a 1st gen Insight with the manual transmission! Prices range from free to $20k, depending on how many problems you want.

[Gasoline Fumes]

Mitsubishi Mirage?

[y2kbug]

Originally Posted by Gasoline Fumes

Mitsubishi Mirage?

i work as a sr field service tech and a mirage would be a bit cramped for me. i carry, tools, parts, junk, clothes and food with me. on second thought i guess they do have a mirage sedan. that would be good if the seats fold down.

i drive a 99 corolla most of the time and i removed the bottom rear seats and folded the back to give more room. it still gets cramped but it is perfect for me.

[freebeard]

Shotgun seat delete or no?