My husband and I will be driving cross country (Seattle to Boston) at the end of November. We will be taking I90 to I80. We have a 2004 Civic Hybrid (70,000 miles) and a 2003 BMW 325xi (85,000 miles). Which car do we drive and which do we ship? The Civic has winter tires and the battery pack over the back wheel give it good traction in snow. The BMW has all wheel drive and new tires. Obviously the Civic has much better mileage than the BMW but the BMW offers more comfort/luxury.
So which do we drive? Any thoughts and suggestions would be welcome.
I would have no problem with this decision as I make it all the time when taking long trips. A BMW is not that bad on gas and it is an infinitely better cross country driver. It’s a no brainer…both of your cars are trip ready…take the BMW. If anyone suggests you drive a Civic cross country instead, have them do it or you.
BTW, how does battery weight over the rear wheels of a fwd, improve traction ? ;=)
I can’t believe this question…The Bimmer was MADE for this kind of driving, a joy to drive interstate speeds…The Honda hybrid will be running its guts out, everything pushed to the limit…Plan this trip carefully to avoid winter storms in the mid-west…
My vote would be for the BMW. That car will tool you along in plush comfort all day long without getting into the cut and paste problem below (not an isolated one it appears) of going UP the hills. I’ve been down I-80 a few times and much of it is not flat at all if you are under the perception that it is.
Even the rolling plains of NE have some pretty long uphills.
I’m trying to optimize my gas mileage in my 2005 Honda Civic Hybrid with CVT transmission. Going up the hills on country roads in Connecticut is the greatest drain.
I’m trying to determine the optimal speed for long hills that I can’t simply coast up with accumulated momentum. On flats and slight inclines there seems to be a “sweet spot” in the CVT gear range at about 42 to 45 mph when the tachometer reads about 1,800 rpm. I can sometimes sustain gas consumption as good as 80 mpg. (If the tachometer is reading higher, I take my foot off the accelerator until the gears shift into a higher gear range and the tachometer drops. With a very light touch on the gas I keep the tachometer around 1,800 and avoid a downshift of the gears and an increase in the rpm. There seems to be a relatively high torque available at this point for the fuel used.)
Long hills seem to be best also around 42 mph although obviously the gas consumption gets much worse as the engine labors even with the IMA boost (which eventually discharges to the 50% on the battery and then the engine even starts recharging the battery a little)…
Since it is primarily highway driving the mpg of the BMW should be fine. The hybrid does better in town and mixed stop and go driving. The highway driving isn’t the Civic hybrids strong suit. Take the beemer and ship the Civic hybrid. At least that’s what I’d do.
FYI your Honda is front wheel drive. Weight over the back wheels is bad for traction on a front wheel drive car. However, the motor(s) are in the front, and they are heavy, so traction is good.
drive both, and purchase an intercom. you will save shipping fees, have more space to transfer your personal belongings and you can speak to each other during the trip and even afford a hotel along the way.
What’s the point in owning a BMW if not for driving it?
I’d take the one that’s the most comfortable and spacious for long distance driving. Snow tires shouldn’t matter much at all. If snow is building up on the interstate it’s time too get a hotel for a bit IME. If you were asking about a huge SUV verses the civic then fuel economy might matter. For the given situation I’d probably go with the BMW.
This is so late, but I’m curious what you decided to do. My 2008 Civic Hybrid has a cargo capacity of only 750 pounds. Since my husband and I together take up 2/3 of that number without adding luggage, I wouldn’t drive it across country.