For those who’re a fan of fresh air and funky fill-ups, then in the present day’s Good Value or No Cube Civic NGV may be your cup of compressed pure fuel. Let’s see if this uncommon, actually gas-powered commuter automobile has a price ticket that doesn’t make us need to inform the vendor to go “blow it out yer’ ass.”
I feel it was a missed alternative in final yr’s Barbi film to have Ken drive a Hummer EV slightly than some type of Chrysler Okay Automotive. Contemplate the 1982 Chrysler LeBaron “Okay Automotive” convertible we checked out yesterday. Painted pink, it might exude the identical form of “Kenergy” the filmmakers had been searching for. Alas, it was not meant to be. Nor, apparently, is a fast sale for our Okay automobile at its $5,000 worth. Your collective 68 p.c No Cube vote ensured that.
There’s a whole lot of gloom and doom being unfold within the media lately over the electrical car market seemingly sputtering because of excessive prices, client reluctance, and whether or not or not you may cost an electrical automobile within the rain. Spoiler alert: you may. That is all despite the fact that, in lots of markets, EVs proceed to take an ever-increasing share of gross sales, and a strong neighborhood of followers and fixers has arisen to assist them stay moderately viable for years to come back.
In fact, EVs aren’t for everybody. And for many who don’t like the thought of sitting on a large assortment of laptop computer batteries however nonetheless need to scale back their influence on the setting, there are alternate options like in the present day’s 2011 Honda Civic NGV sedan that runs on compressed pure fuel slightly than liquid gasoline.
A minimum of there as soon as had been. Honda stopped producing the CNG Civic in 2015 because the fueling infrastructure did not develop sufficiently to make the mannequin a nationwide vendor. A map maintained by the U.S. Division of Power exhibits that even in the present day, solely 758 CNG fueling areas exist within the U.S. and Canada. In distinction, there are over 4,400 E85 (ethanol) stations and over 78,000 stage 2 and above electrical charging stations.
Like many electrical vehicles, the CNG Civic suffered from a extra restricted vary than its gasoline-powered equal. The three,600 psi gasoline tank takes up a very good little bit of trunk area and gives round 200 miles between fill-ups in return. One resolution was dwelling fueling, facilitated by a tool referred to as “Phill” that must be plumbed into a house fuel line and will refuel the automobile in a single day. Honda disapproved of this feature formally as a result of potential for contamination in dwelling fuel to wreak havoc on the automobile’s gasoline system.
That mentioned, for an around-town commuter automobile, this CNG Civic ought to show economical (pure fuel stays cheaper than common fuel in most areas) and maybe extra environmentally pleasant than a gasoline-powered automobile.
In line with the advert, this “beloved” Civic prices solely ten {dollars} to replenish and will get glorious mileage. It’s performed 140,000 miles and is claimed by the vendor to be essentially the most dependable automobile they’ve ever owned. At a look, every thing save for the aftermarket LED headlamp items seems to be to be inventory, proper all the way down to the NGV decals on the again doorways. The grey paint over darkish grey manufacturing facility wheels and heavy window tint lend the automobile a glance that could possibly be construed as both sinister or dour, relying on the temper. The equally grey inside seems to be first rate and consists of Honda’s goofy split-level instrument show and Z-handle emergency brake.
As for the drivetrain, there’s a 1.8-liter 4 making 110 beneath the hood and that’s mated to a soul-sapping CVT. Newish tires, brake pads, and a current oil change imply this Civic is able to rock. It comes with a clear title and a $9,999 asking worth.
What’s your tackle this fart-swilling Civic and that almost ten-grand price ticket? Does that make for a transparent deal? Or does that worth fail to dwell as much as the vendor’s promise of this being a cost-effective automobile?
You resolve!
San Diego, California, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
H/T to Don R. for the hookup!
Assist me out with NPOND. Hit me up at [email protected] and ship me a fixed-price tip. Keep in mind to incorporate your Kinja deal with.
