Considering a GX purchase

[RickP330]

Hello All,
I have approximately a 90 -100 mile commute round trip to work and the idea of a CNG Honda came up. While initially I balked at it, the more I thought about it the more it grew on me.
Okay, so here is my take on it after considering it for several weeks. The Civic is a 15K car. The CNG package adds 10K to that making it a 25K car. I could get something much nicer then a civic for that money and still has better gas mileage then what I am getting now which is 12 to 14 MPG.
So say for argument sake that I am spending $436.00 per month on gasoline. If I get a straight civic I’ll get 34 mpg and I’ll save $256 per month. With $4k down I’ll get approx $210 per month. So say I’ll break even with this deal maybe save a few bucks.
Or from what I’ve gathered (Please tell me if I’m off) I hear that the CNG will cost me $1.45 to drive 25 miles. If so it will save me $325 per month. Same 4K will get me a $390 payment. That’s costing me money and I haven’t even bought my “Phill” yet. That’s another 5K right?
Am I missing something here gang or does this just not work out for me?
Regards,
Rick

[Curtis]

Re: Considering a GX purchase

I'm not sure how you got $1.45 to drive 25 miles. If a 1 gge is $2.25 at a pump and the car goes 35 miles (to pick a number) that's $.06 a mile. If Gasoline costs $3 a gal... that's $.085 a mile. I don't know where you live but if you are talking about Ca or Utah, the incentives completely negate the differential price of the car. A new LX Civic is $18,300 (roughly) a GX is $25,225, a $6900 difference. There's a $3000 state rebate and a $4000 fed tax credit, so it's a wash pricewise. Now you will save about 30% on fuel if you don't buy a Phill, more if you do. You save time in the carpool lane (an hour saved a day in traffic = a 6 wk vacation a year), you have less maintenance, lower DMV fee's (2% if incramental cost in Ca) and you are protecting the environment in your own small way. (Watch the Discovery Channel on Global Warming some time.) The engine should last 3 times longer than a gasoline version of the Honda Civic...
Is the initial investment a bit more? Yes. Will it be the cheapest car you ever owned in the long run... Yep! Are you missing something (you ask)... you tell me.

[BRodri]

Re: Considering a GX purchase

i'd have to agree with Curtis in this one even though it is for the GX. (Not a huge calling for it here). that in every way it seems as though the car is right for you i'd say that you should get it and start saving time and money.

[RickP330]

Re: Considering a GX purchase

Hey Curtis,
I've been noticing you post alot here and I am most appreciative for your input. I found this site

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/byfueltype.htm

You might have to browse a bit to get there, but if you look for the GX it states 1.45 per 25 miles. That's where I got it from. BTW your .06x25 is 1.50 so it is right in line. I've seen several posts where the drivers wrote the cost to drive several thousand miles and it is also right in line with 1.45 to 1.60 dollars per 25 miles.

Now, I live in NY (Sorry, guess I have to update my bio) specifically on Long Island. The GX is not considered a "Clean Pass Vehicle" (can you believe that???) so I can't cruise the HOV lane with it. To do that I need a Civic Hybrid or a Toyota Pirus. Anyway I live close to NYC and commute to the opposite side of LI so it's a unique commute. I have been doing it for a month now and I really haven't needed the HOV lane yet.

What about the rebates? Can you steer me in a direction for more info for that? The Dealers in this area are really discuraging the CNV. They won't sell them, it's like pulling teeth to get info.

Lastly, there are no filling stations here per say. The only ones listed are the utility companies and It's not clear if they will sell to the public. Besides I'd have to fill up nearly every day so I would want to do that from home I am sure.

Again, a big thanks for your info and I'm looking forward to your advice!!! And thanks to all the others who replied.
Regards,
Rick

[Curtis]

Re: Considering a GX purchase

New York
New York's Alternative Fuel (Clean Fuel) Vehicle Tax Incentive Program, which offered tax credits and a tax exemption for purchasing new hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), have expired. In Jan. 2006, Governor Pataki proposed new incentives. For more information, please contact the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) at 866- NYSERDA, via email at [email protected], or visit the web site at www.nyserda.org.

Clean Pass is a program allowing eligible low-emission, energy-efficient vehicles to use the 40-mile Long Island Expressway High Occupancy Vehicle (LIE/HOV). Clean Pass is a multi-agency pilot program partnering three New York State agencies, the State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), the State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

Still researching but this is a start for you to look into a few things.

[RickP330]

Re: Considering a GX purchase

Hey Curtis,
Much thanks for the info. The Clean pass program was pretty specific model wise what cars were allowed and this is the link I found:

https://www.nysdot.gov/portal/page/portal/programs/clean-pass/clean-pass-repository/Clean%20Pass%20FAQ%20final%20June%202007.pdf

Current Eligible Vehicles*:
• Honda Insight - model years 2000-2004**;
• Toyota Prius - model years 2001-2007; and
• Honda Civic Hybrid - model years 2003-2007.
*(No other alternate fuel or hybrid vehicles are eligible for the program at this time)
**Note - Honda Insights - model years 2005-2006 do not meet the eligibility criteria because they do not meet California Air Resources Board SULEV emission requirements.

So I'm out of luck apparently with the GX. I'll do some more searching on the incentives but no joy so far. Well it's not looking good but I really appreciate your input. It's really pretty sad we don't enjoy some of same incentives as you guys. It should really be country wide....

Thanks
Rick

[Curtis]

Re: Considering a GX purchase

Sounds like you need to contact the governors office and ask them why a car thhat's cleaner than a hybrid doesn't get the same benefits. Propose that he add a bit of legislation to correct the problem.

[Michael]

Re: Considering a GX purchase

Rick,

Consult your tax advisor about the $4,000 federal tax credit. Alternative Minimum Tax may substantially reduce or even eliminate that $4,000 tax credit. I ended up getting $0 of federal tax credit in 2006 when I bought my new Civic GX, all because of Alternative Minimum Tax (This was the first year that I was affected by AMT and I didn't see it coming!).

Good luck, and enjoy the number crunching.
Michael M