In case you’re a fan of fresh air and funky fill-ups, then at present’s Good Worth or No Cube Civic NGV may be your cup of compressed pure fuel. Let’s see if this uncommon, actually gas-powered commuter automotive has a price ticket that doesn’t make us need to inform the vendor to go “blow it out yer’ ass.”
I believe it was a missed alternative in final yr’s Barbi film to have Ken drive a Hummer EV somewhat than some type of Chrysler Okay Automotive. Contemplate the 1982 Chrysler LeBaron “Okay Automotive” convertible we checked out yesterday. Painted pink, it may exude the identical kind of “Kenergy” the filmmakers had been in search of. Alas, it was not meant to be. Nor, apparently, is a fast sale for our Okay automotive at its $5,000 worth. Your collective 68 p.c No Cube vote ensured that.
There’s a number of gloom and doom being unfold within the media today over the electrical car market seemingly sputtering because of excessive prices, shopper reluctance, and whether or not or not you may cost an electrical automotive within the rain. Spoiler alert: you may. That is all although, in lots of markets, EVs proceed to take an ever-increasing share of gross sales, and a sturdy group of followers and fixers has arisen to assist them stay fairly viable for years to return.
After all, EVs aren’t for everybody. And for individuals who don’t like the concept of sitting on an enormous assortment of laptop computer batteries however nonetheless need to cut back their influence on the atmosphere, there are alternate options like at present’s 2011 Honda Civic NGV sedan that runs on compressed pure fuel somewhat than liquid gasoline.
At the very least there as soon as had been. Honda stopped producing the CNG Civic in 2015 because the fueling infrastructure didn’t develop sufficiently to make the mannequin a nationwide vendor. A map maintained by the U.S. Division of Vitality exhibits that even at present, solely 758 CNG fueling places exist within the U.S. and Canada. In distinction, there are over 4,400 E85 (ethanol) stations and over 78,000 degree 2 and above electrical charging stations.
Like many electrical automobiles, the CNG Civic suffered from a extra restricted vary than its gasoline-powered equal. The three,600 psi gasoline tank takes up an excellent little bit of trunk house and gives round 200 miles between fill-ups in return. One answer was residence fueling, facilitated by a tool referred to as “Phill” that must be plumbed into a house fuel line and will refuel the automotive in a single day. Honda disapproved of this selection formally because of the potential for contamination in residence fuel to wreak havoc on the automotive’s gasoline system.
That stated, for an around-town commuter automotive, 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 automotive.
In line with the advert, this “beloved” Civic prices solely ten {dollars} to refill and will get glorious mileage. It’s completed 140,000 miles and is claimed by the vendor to be essentially the most dependable automotive they’ve ever owned. At a look, all the things save for the aftermarket LED headlamp models seems to be to be inventory, proper right down to the NGV decals on the again doorways. The grey paint over darkish grey manufacturing facility wheels and heavy window tint lend the automotive a glance that could possibly be construed as both sinister or dour, relying on the temper. The equally grey inside seems to be respectable 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 underneath 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 just about ten-grand price ticket? Does that make for a transparent deal? Or does that worth fail to stay as much as the vendor’s promise of this being a cheap automotive?
You determine!
San Diego, California, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
H/T to Don R. for the hookup!
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