[dot]

Originally Posted by spadix

I think it - or any other OBDII-compliant diagnostic utility for that matter - should.

I haven't looked through the OBDII specs, but I think real-time F/E is part of the standard set of metrics. Even if not, I'd very surprised if Honda doesn't use that metric somewhere.

Regards,
spadix

I think there are some products other than Scangauge2 listed in 20 north website. What I understand that these gadgets do throw up real time FE values in any modern car. Maybe some users can comment.

I was contemplating on purchasing one, but decided against it. Simply because I was afraid that it might turn me paranoid over the numbers. It was very hard to train myself not to look at the fuel gauge all the time!

[rr_zen]

Originally Posted by dot

It is amazing to note that if the roads are good then Civic returns phenomenal mileage. No wonder, as we all know, this is the reason why in the US or in other developed countries, Civic is known as an economical car. Too bad that here we mostly lumber along in 1st, 2nd or third most of the time.

So very true that I cant agree more with you. This morning, I covered the distance from home to work (7km) at speeds ranging from 0-20 kmph using only 1st and 2nd gears in bumper to bumper traffic and my FE indicator is at 8.1 kmpl now. If I deduct 1 from this number and go with what may be the actuals, my heart skips a beat !

[planet_rocker]

Originally Posted by rr_zen

my FE indicator is at 8.1 kmpl now. If I deduct 1 from this number and go with what may be the actuals, my heart skips a beat !

I should be if i get to see that 8.1 kpl in my Palio - i am actually used to getting figures like 6.x-7.x kpl in the car.

wanna exchange the civic with my palio?

[sgiitk]

Actual mileage is about 10% lower than what is indicated.

As per US EPA figures the AT is 1mpg better than the MT on the highway. Reason very high gearing (about 50 kph/1000rpm in 5th) and torque converter lockup.

However, spirited driving (using the VTeC in the high speed mode!) does cause a loss of about 1kmpl.

[dot]

Sgiitk, a different topic. Is there a way to know if the lockup converter is not functioning as expected.

[manim]

Here are the gear ratios for the AT I had saved in a spreadsheet many years back from Overdrive mag:

gear -> kmph per 1,000rpm
1 -> 9.89
2 -> 17.19
3 -> 25.82
4 -> 36.63
5 -> 50.34

For example, at 2000 rpm in 5th the speed is 101 kmph.

(The manual-transmission ratios are much lower).

[spadix]

Originally Posted by sgiitk

Actual mileage is about 10% lower than what is indicated.

True. In my case, the in-dash indicator currently reports 11.9 kmpl (I haven't used the trip meters at all so this represents overall mileage to date) whereas from my calculations I know it's 10.9 kmpl until my car's 3rd service (~9560 kms of which ~3300 were on the highway).

Originally Posted by sgiitk

As per US EPA figures the AT is 1mpg better than the MT on the highway. Reason very high gearing (about 50 kph/1000rpm in 5th) and torque converter lockup.

These are the figures on the CMVR-mandated fuel economy consumer information boards put up at Pride Honda -

Civic M/T = 15.5 kmpl
City A/T = 16.1 kmpl (when I took the picture I thought I was clicking the Civic AT panel but it turns out I got the City's instead :()

These are under the so-called "standard test conditions".

Originally Posted by manim

5 -> 50.34

For example, at 2000 rpm in 5th the speed is 101 kmph.

(The manual-transmission ratios are much lower).

I learnt only 3-4 days back that the AT does 100 kmph in 5th at 2k rpm. A colleague has the AT and his car is just fresh off a Hyd-Blr-Hyd weekend run where he observed this.

On the MT, the speed at 2k rpm in 5th is around 80 kmph. So I don't think the MT can outshine the AT in mileage on the highway. So if you've got a very good mix of city and highway driving, the AT is killer - great convenience in the city and better mileage on the highway.

Very counter-intuitive and I must say, an absolute masterstroke by Honda engineers. Honda marketers don't need to trumpet this fact as I guess the AT sells more than the MT anyway. I wish I'd known this, although the 1 lac price premium + desire to have a manual means I wouldn't have changed my decision.

Regards,
spadix

[dot]

Originally Posted by spadix

I learnt only 3-4 days back that the AT does 100 kmph in 5th at 2k rpm.

Yes, observed this in my car also. Further, when the car was cruising at 120 kmph on the expressway, the rpm was barely touched 2500. Just imagine the power left untapped!

[shuvc]

Wifey travelled 30 kms in the rear seat today - over somewhat rough and sometimes undulating city roads. And she hated it ! She says, it may be spacious, but it bounces too much and is not very comfortable.

"The Baleno rear seat is much better" !!

I guess I now have a case for a stiffer suspension ! Maybe a couple of years later

[spadix]

Originally Posted by shuvc

Wifey travelled 30 kms in the rear seat today - over somewhat rough and sometimes undulating city roads. And she hated it ! She says, it may be spacious, but it bounces too much and is not very comfortable.

"The Baleno rear seat is much better" !!

I guess I now have a case for a stiffer suspension ! Maybe a couple of years later

Wouldn't a stiffer suspension only make it bouncier? I would like to get a stiffer rear set-up too, but to counter the suspension bottoming-out (happens too easily), body roll (of which there is a fair bit, I think) and to perhaps make the car behave better on broken/rough road surfaces, where it currently tends to not hold its line.

My parents and in-laws liked the comfort and soft ride but my mother in particular didn't like the low-slung seating and associated knee joint discomfort. Their points of reference are their older and current cars - 800, Amby, i10, Indigo.

A colleague who owns both a Swift and SX4 said after a rear seat ride that body roll was much lesser than in the SX4. However, he could feel the skittish rear that jumps out on bad patches of road. He says the SX4 is better in that respect.

Regards,
spadix

[shuvc]

Originally Posted by spadix

Wouldn't a stiffer suspension only make it bouncier? I would like to get a stiffer rear set-up too, but to counter the suspension bottoming-out (happens too easily), body roll (of which there is a fair bit, I think) and to perhaps make the car behave better on broken/rough road surfaces, where it currently tends to not hold its line.

'Bouncy' as in the the effect of bottoming-out - not fully - but on it's way. She says it kind of bobs up and down too much as it goes over undulating roads.

[spadix]

Originally Posted by shuvc

'Bouncy' as in the the effect of bottoming-out - not fully - but on it's way. She says it kind of bobs up and down too much as it goes over undulating roads.

Exactly. By bouncier I meant harsher/firmer rather than the current slow undulating bobbing up/down. Some may appreciate the current pliant set-up although to me it would induce the equivalent of sea-sickness and I would prefer a slightly firmer/harsher set-up.

The interesting thing is, almost every elder who sat in the rear seat said "It's so comfortable, like a boat!" whereas we want it to be precisely the opposite -- definitely not boat-like .

Regards,
spadix

[shuvc]

Originally Posted by spadix

Some may appreciate the current pliant set-up although to me it would induce the equivalent of sea-sickness and I would prefer a slightly firmer/harsher set-up.

The interesting thing is, almost every elder who sat in the rear seat said "It's so comfortable, like a boat!" whereas we want it to be precisely the opposite -- definitely not boat-like

Bingo ! That's the feedback she gave. So how does one fix this syndrome? Stiffer springs? Or changing the shocks?

I'm looking forward to GTO's suspension job

[hiren.mistry]

Looks like you're not the only one. I'm also eager to get try some stiffer spring/suspension. But the costs is keeping me away as of now...

Came to know of some stiffer springs available with one of Bombay's suspension specialist but am not sure how good/bad they will be.

Lets hope GTO has got something going on the suspension front.

[The Saint]

I have just ordered koni's FSD, just waiting eagerly for the delivery, they are one of the best in the business and sorts all the issues that the civic, will report improvements post installation.

Cheers