2007 Honda

GX Sedan

4 Cylinder 1.8 Liter

Automatic

1HGFA46587L000789

CNG

Power Windows

Well, it’s a sad day in our house. We’re moving and the new house does not have natural gas so we are going to revert back to the polluting vehicles of yesteryear that run on, GASOLINE. Probably going to environmental purgatory now, but it is what it is...... This is our 2007 Honda Civic GX, if you know the car already, you don’t need much explanation. If not, this is Honda’s dedicated CNG Civic and it has the lowest emissions of any true production vehicle sold in the USA. We bought it new, It only has 12,XXX miles on it, my wife uses it to go to the grocery store, the hospital etc.. It’s in perfect shape, as you can see, and it still smells new on the inside. She doesn’t smoke, she drives like a little old lady because she is one, and she weighs all of 100lbs so any wear and tear is undetectable. You cannot find a cleaner, more perfect used car on eBay. I put an Optima battery in it this year because she starts it only once a week and in our heat, batteries tend to die after two years. I thought the Optima would make darn sure she didn’t get left in parking garage without cell reception creating new swear words that included my first name. So far, so good. I put new Michelin’s on it last week because our son borrowed the car, was adjusting the radio and almost rear-ended someone. He hit the brakes so hard he flat spotted the tires and I could just ever so slightly feel it at speed. When I realized we were going to sell it, I just didn’t want someone else to think that was normal, so I replaced the tires. The Michelin’s are incredible compared to the factory Dunlop’s, much quieter and remarkably smoother. Now the negatives to this car. If you don’t have local access to a CNG station, or a FuelMaker, you are going to make one trip and hate this car. Someone asked me once, “OK, but can I just use propane in it if I can’t get to a CNG station?” Ummmm, no. What you can do is buy a used FuelMaker or Phill (they are all over eBay or online,) and hook it up in the garage as we did. There’s not a better feeling in the world than stiffing BP, Shell, Chevron/Texaco, etc., those ridiculous prices to fill your car. Filling it up at home costs about $1.00 a gallon equivalent here, very nice....... but remember, you aren’t going to cross the country in this car. The number of CNG stations across the US is way too small to safely take off on an unplanned trip to Tampa thinking you’ll just stop at truck stops.... No sunroof. My wife’s number one complaint. Swear to God. This is the same woman that responded to my leaving her a beautiful, new Mercedes E430 in our driveway with an anniversary card with, “Hey, that car is ugly. Your son passed geometry. Call me honey.” It’s so quiet you think it’s running on batteries. Then you have to explain to the passenger, “No, it doesn’t run on batteries, it runs on compressed natural gas.” Check your favorite WIki so you can explain the difference between natural gas and propane. That question is next. People are very jealous you can drive in the HOV lane without a second passenger. Hey, they can buy one or have a kid. Cheaper to buy one. The annual registration fees in Arizona are about $12. Pretty much the same across the US. So you aren’t helping your State pay those retirement pensions. You’ll get over it. We never tinted the windows. She doesn’t like to drive at night with tinted windows. We didn’t have the heart to tell her she was never going to drive at night again because Mrs. Magoo has better eyesight in a steam bath, good Lord there was no way we were going to let her take ANY car out at night. The trunk is smaller than a normal Civic because the CNG tank is back behind a cover. Not really an issue, but needs to be pointed out. This is not the car if you are going to grab your poles, kidnap your BFF and take them fishing; because neither is going to fit in that trunk. OK, the good stuff: It’s the nicest feeling in the world to know you are helping the environment the best way you can, and still driving. It’s pretty cute. It has WAY more room inside than the older Civics. It’s smooth. It’s a Honda. The seats are really, really comfortable for both larger (myself,) and petite people (Mrs. Self.) How often do you find a car with a brand new battery, new tires, this well take care of and only has 12,XXX miles on it? Doesn’t happen. There’s not a ding in it. Seriously.