[ausev] Newbie Introduction

[Mark Farver]

rah at h-consulting.com wrote:

>QUESTION: I'm in the market for a new car (and don't have time to wait 
>for a conversion) - Does anyone have a suggestion for a hybrid?  My 
>first pick has been the Honda Civic, but I don't know anyone who has 
>one.  The Prius is a close second.  I'd like to try get a PHEV option, 
>but don't want to kill the warranty on a new car.  Thoughts?
>
>  
>
The Prius is still the best choice, especially if you want to do PHEV 
modifications.  The Prius has been able to drive electric only for a lot 
longer than the Honda's.  The community grew up around the Prius, so you 
find more knowledge and hacks/kits available for the Prius than the 
other hybrids.  There are plenty of things you can do to a Prius that 
are "fun" without being as warrenty voiding as a PHEV system would be.  
The Honda's have the advantage of being cheaper to purchase becuase they 
are less well known.

As for voiding the warrenty.  1. Federal law allows you to modify your 
vehicle with aftermarket parts.  The factory cannot void your warrenty 
unless they can prove conclusively that the aftermarket item caused the 
failure and then they can only refuse to do that particular repair.  2. 
You can always remove the parts before taking the car in for service (a 
little dishonest, but probably a good idea anyway since a mechanic's 
response to unfamiliar items is seldom good.)  3. Give up on the 
warrenty.  Cars have a bathtub failure curve just like electronics.  If 
it doesn't fail in the first few months, it is not likely to fail at all 
before the warrenty expires.

You can also buy an inexpensive gas car to get you over the hump until 
you can do a conversion.  A fuel efficient 10 year old Honda Civic will 
be only a few thousand dollars, reliable and affordable to repair.

Or buy a new gas car that you would like to convert after a year or 
two.  I am quite partial to the Mazda 3i.  Good gas mileage in the 2.0 
liter version... and available with optional ABS and side curtain 
airbags.  Starts at about $13000, well equipped for about $17500. 

I would like to build a bolt in conversion kit for the Mazda 3, I just 
need to find someone who wants to buy the first car already converted.  
This is end of model year for most car companies so end of year pricing 
is available.

Mark Farver