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2002 Honda Civic GX
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Date:
24 May 2002
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Miles: ----
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You would be hard pressed to know that there is anything
unique about this 2002 Honda Civic sedan. Except for the unusual decals
on the doors and trunk lid, it looks like any other edition of
America's favorite small car.
Even when you open the hood, there are no obvious clues. The
1.7-liter I-4 is familiar, even if its 100-horsepower rating is the
lowest of any current Civic. It certainly starts like other Civics,
although the CVT Continously Variable Transmission lets it drive even
smoother.
It's not until it's time to gas up that you understand what is
really going on here. For this Civic does not run on gasoline, but
Compressed Natural Gas.
This alternative fuel vehicle is the 2002 Honda Civic GX. The only
CNG compact sedan currently sold in America. We've been testing this GX
for a month now, and so far we're very pleased with its performance, and
the fact that we can actually do that gassing up at home!
Using the Fuelmaker refueling appliance installed on the residential
gas line of our art director Reggie Blackstone, the Civic is always full
when he's ready to go to work in the morning. We've found a tankful is
good for about 200 miles of urban driving.
One downside to this CNG Civic is that you have to remind yourself
to check the oil and other routine items, since you don't have the aura
of a service station to remind you.
There are two practical shortcomings to the GX compared to other
Civic sedans. The natural gas tank does take up nearly half of the trunk
space. Cargo capacity is reduced from 12.9 to 7.0 cubic feet. And you
also lose the versatility of Civic's folding rear seats. So, this 4-door
is more suited for car pooling than family excursions.
But using clean burning natural gas powered cars like the Civic GX
for trips to the city would go a long way in reducing smog and air
pollution. And so far it's a clean winner with us.
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Date:
19 July 2002
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Miles: ----
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Recently the governor of Connecticut, John Rowland, overturned
a law that kept the compressed natural gas powered Honda Civic GX sedan
from being used as a taxicab. It turns out that under the old law, the
Civic's 103.1 inch wheelbase was a bit too short. It was written with a
concern for rider comfort if the wheelbase didn't meet a 105 inch
minimum. Well, not only does the change make environmental sense, but
the back seat of the Civic is certainly a far nicer place to ride than
most cabs we've been in lately. With all the advances in interior
packaging, judging a car's roominess by wheelbase alone is as outdated
as the Connecticut law.
However, given the large CNG tank in the trunk , cargo capacity
drops from 12.9 cubic feet to about 7 , so Civic taxis will not be
taking many families on an airport run. Still, if they perform anything
like our long term test GX, cab fleets will enjoy great economy plus
cut down on the smog.
We're more than pleased with the smooth performance of our Civic's
1.7-liter engine and its stepless CVT automatic transmission. Also, the
CNG Civic runs so cleanly, that the need for routine maintenance like
oil changes is also greatly reduced. Now that should really make a taxi
fleet owner happy. Who knows, America's favorite small car might one day
become as popular with ''hacks'' as it is with the rest of us.
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Date:
20 September 2002
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Miles: ----
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For the last five months we have been living the greener car
lifestyle with several alternative fuel vehicles at our offices. One
looks totally mainstream. It's a 2002 Honda Civic GX, fueled by
compressed natural gas.
We have put the most time and mileage on the Civic, which
except for a small 7 cubic foot trunk,the CNG tank takes up the rest
of the space,is just as useful and refined a car as any other Civic.
We can't think of a better car pool vehicle on the market today. Our
only problem with the GX is an airbag malfunction light and we're having
the system checked.
We do have a suggestion for all makers of alternative fueled
vehicles: install better fuel gauges. The old needle and dial just
doesn't hack it on vehicles with only a 200 mile range. A miles to empty
digital readout would instill more confidence since CNG stations in our
area are still few and far between.
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