Woman Wins Case Against Honda Over Misleading Hybrid Fuel Economy
- Posted on February 2, 2012 at 7:21am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Southern California woman took Honda to small-claims court and won in a big way.
Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Douglas Carnahan ruled Wednesday that the automaker misled Heather Peters about the potential fuel economy of her hybrid car and awarded her $9,867 – much more than the couple hundred dollars cash that a proposed class-action settlement is offering.
“At a bare minimum Honda was aware … that by the time Peters bought her car there were problems with its living up to its advertised mileage,” Carnahan wrote in the judgment.
Honda disagrees with the judgment rendered in the case and plans to appeal the decision, company spokesman Chris Martin said in a statement.
Peters, a former lawyer, said she is renewing her legal license after a 10-year lapse so she can represent other Honda owners who have the same problems she did.
“Wow! Fantastic. I am absolutely thrilled,” she said when The Associated Press informed her of the judge’s decision. “Sometimes big justice comes in small packages. This is a victory for Honda Civic owners everywhere.”
Carnahan included in his 26-page decision a long list of misleading representations by Honda that he said Peters had correctly identified. Among them were that the car would use “amazingly little fuel,” `’provides plenty of horsepower while still sipping fuel,“ and that it would ”save plenty of money on fuel with up to 50 mpg during city driving.”
“Actual performance of plaintiff’s vehicle did not live up to these standards,” he said. He noted that when she began receiving much less than the advertised mileage, “she knew she had a problem.”
Peters opted out of the class-action lawsuit so she could try to claim a larger damage award for her 2006 Honda Civic’s failure to deliver the 50 mpg that was promised.
The proposed class-action settlement would give aggrieved owners $100 to $200 each and a $1,000 credit toward the purchase of a new car. Legal fees in the class action would give trial lawyers $8.5 million, Peters said.
In small claims court, there are no attorneys’ fees and cases are decided quickly.
Peters had hoped to inspire a flood of small-claims lawsuits by the other 200,000 people whose Honda Civic hybrids are covered by the proposed settlement. If all 200,000 owners sued and won in small claims court, she said, it could cost Honda Motor Co. $2 billion.
Peters launched a website, DontSettleWithHonda.org, and said she was contacted by hundreds of other car owners seeking guidance on filing small claims lawsuits if they opted out of the class-action case. But legal experts say it’s unlikely that many owners would take the small-claims route because of the time and energy involved in pursuing such lawsuits.
Carnahan found that Honda did commit fraud, but he could not find intentional fraud and thus did not award punitive damages. Most of the damages Peters was awarded were for extra money spent on fuel, both in the past and future, the cost of the car battery, and the decrease in the car’s value because of its problems.
A judge in San Diego County is due to rule in March on whether to approve Honda’s class-action settlement. Members of the class have until Feb. 11 to accept or decline the deal.
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Comments (166)
bucklywheat
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 10:22amHonda may have a win here. They did not promise 50MPG, but UP TO 50 MPG. It depends on too many factors to guarantee any kind of mileage benefit. Driving habits and conditions are a big factor.
Report Post »Maybe she drives like an Indy car driver. Zero to 50 in ….seconds…Just sayin.
proliance
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 11:25amThe lawsuit is over and Honda already lost.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 11:34amAnd it is outstanding that they lost. Companies should be held to their marketing claims and particularly when they are BS.
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 12:28pmYou’d have a point if it was getting 46mpg, not when it’s getting 26mpg. That’s just false advertising and outright fraud.
Report Post »Weiners Wiener
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 12:58pm@Proliance — I guess you didn’t bother reading, so I’ll help you out: Honda said they will APPEAL the lawsuit. Therefore, it is FAR from over.
Report Post »PlowMan
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 1:33pmIn 1986 I owned a 1980 Datsun 200 SX and it got 32 mpg. What is wrong with this picture? Shouldn’t cars be getting 50 mpg plus anyway by now? I think I know the answer though, it’s called EPA emission standards.
Report Post »Honor_and_Country
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 2:16pm@plowman, damn right it’s the epa, ford had a sedan they showed on top gear that got 35 mpg and had over 320 hp,and that was like 8 years ago! Guess what, it didn’t meet the emission standards to be produced or sold in this country. That type of BS is why we aren’t driving muscle cars, trucks and suv that get 30+ mpg, not that everyone would but it would be nice to be able to afford to drive what I want.
Report Post »Carol_in_Florida
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 3:33pmHonda’s planning to appeal. Isn’t that silly over $9000? Guess they are afraid of more lawsuits.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 5:11pm@Weiners Wiener Of course they will appeal and the truth and justice oriented corporation and it’s lawyers will paper the woman and try and break her financially rather than to admit the facts. We have the best justice system money can buy and the best politicians money can buy. Need help figuring out who buys and owns them??
Report Post »Protoham
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 5:13pmShe should not have won anything unless she can prove using the Government guidelines that the car in incapable of getting the claimed mileage. I bet in the testing they use Premium Gas without Ethanol which can boost mileage by around 20%.
Report Post »Protoham
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 5:17pmSo what is her mileage?
Report Post »Protoham
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 5:18pmCorrection: What is her MPG.
Report Post »ZaphodsPlanet
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 1:06amShe should be suing the freaking EPA for putting mileage numbers out that are totally freaking bogus. They inflate the crap out of anything that’s “hybrid” … and down everything and everyone else. My friends TDI bug from I think 2002 or so would almost always pull over 45MPG on a drip from Austin to Dallas cruising at 80MPH or higher…. it was only rated for 35 on the highway. It‘s the same kind of deal with my car but it’s not a TDI bug. EPA has just been trying to screw everyone…. just like BO…. hell… they were even doing it before that a-hole took office.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 1:11amShe should buy a Chevy Volt next and follow suit….
Report Post »willhen501
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 2:42amThe Chevy Volt promises a lot too, but it takes 6 – 8 hours to charge the batteries with a 240V connector isn’t the transfer of the cost of energy going from gas to the household electric bill. Try running your clothes dryer for 8 continuous hours and check your electric bill afterwards. You could probably run an extension cord to the neighbors house. I saw where it takes 12 – 16 hours with a standard plug, and for $3000 you can have the bigger adaptor and charge time is considerably shorter, but the liquid in the batteries may start to boil. I will stick with gas, thank you very much.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 9:34amSee, sometimes, it DOES pay to whine.
Report Post »masterofnone
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 10:25pm@WILLHEN501: Dude, I’m not sure where you got your info on the volt:
- It takes about 3.5 hrs to charge on 240. 6-8 hours on a 120V charger.
- Our electricity rate goes down to 3.3 cents per kwh each month. So adding the volt costs us 3.3 cent per kwh. It takes about 13 kwh to charge the car or 42.9 cents. Other areas charge more for electricity.
- There is no boiling of battery fluids while charging.
Our average lifetime gas mileage is currently 167 mpg.
Report Post »Tired of Idiotic Comments
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 10:15amAll of the auto manufactures lie to meet govt. mileage requirements. My 2011 Chev. Equinox gets 19 miles to the gallon, not even half the 42 mpg. GM claims. (p.s. I couldn’t do a jack-rabbit start in it if I wanted to).
Report Post »bucklywheat
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 10:32amIt’ll probably get 42 mpg going down hill on a warm day with the wind pushing from behind.
Report Post »Twinspeedr
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 10:47amUh, the 4cyl Equinox promises 32mpg, there boss. Not 42mpg.
Report Post »JP16
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 11:12amIt gets that when you have it in neutral and roll it down a hill.
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 12:33pmYeah I‘ve never owned a car that got anywhere near it’s advertised gas mileage. I mean not even approaching it. In most cases I was lucky to get half the advertised mileage.
The type of driving you’re doing does affect fuel efficiency some, but it doesn‘t affect it that much unless you’re literally driving like an out of control maniac in a high speed chase with the police.
Report Post »Fejj Nagaf
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 12:52pmImpossible. You simply don’t understand how EPA ratings work. The manufacturer has absolutely no way to “lie” to the EPA. They build a car and the EPA tests that car.
Report Post »The reason your real world mileage might not meet the EPA estimate is because the tests are done in a controlled environment that may or may not be completely accurate. That‘s why it’s called an EPA estimate.
And no equinox in the world has ever been rated at 42 mpg highway. The 4 cylinder might make 30+ on the highway, but the six won’t.
Pete
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 3:23pmAPPAULED, I just have one question for you. How in the eighteen hundreds and before were homes heated and lighted, industry powered etc? Burning wood and oil and coal in your home caused far more pollution. This pollution was inside your home and business. You could not go inside to get out of it. This pollution hung over every town and city affecting everyone. Life expectancy was far shorter than it is now.
Report Post »VRW Conspirator
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 3:52pmit depends on gas and driving habits…my 2002 Saturn SL2 only claimed 32mpg brand new…driving highway to and from work the last four years i got 28mpg …not bad for a car that was already 7 years old when I got it….but when i drove out to TX from CA…that Arizona gas just did something to it and I was getting 40-44mpg on those long highway 10 roads into El Paso and then up into Dallas….
now that I am back driving in town miles..to and from work…no more highway driving…i am only getting about 22-23 mpg… car doesn’t like TX gas….
same thing happened with my wife’s Sequoia on the way out…usually on a long highway trip it will get 18-20 mpg….once it got that AZ gas….23-25mpg all the way into Dallas….but now around town and such she is only getting 13 mpg….
think i am going to get me a tanker truck of that AZ gas and put it in my garage or something…
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 9:52am@Pete
Report Post »Life expectancy was lower, because they didn’t have antibiotics and vaccinations, sanitary standards for food and water, flush toilets, not because of air pollution. People in the country didn’t live any longer than people in the city, or vice versa.
Pete
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 11:27pmAnonymous T. Irrelevant, processed food, soft drinks, all kinds of things were not available in the 1800′s and before. None of that is the subject of this story. Pollution is. Epa regulations are for pollution. Get rid of the epa and we could all get 50mpg.
Report Post »wing_n_it
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 10:10amLiberals will risk their own life to be more green. It is their religion. I had a discussion with a guy who said he’d not allow his wife to drive a large vehicle because they have no more right to live in a car crash than someone else. He’d not cede the point that I should care more about my families safety then oil. He cared about earth more than his own blood.
Report Post »Blackw0lf
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 11:00amAhhh natural selection!!
Report Post »APPAULED
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 2:55pmI think that the air should be as clean as possible. Something has to be done when so many people have pulmonary disease that have never smoked. Pollution causes more deaths of asthmatics than anything else. If there were no EPA we would soon all by affected by the dirty air and water. It can’t always be about money and “what I want”. Someone has to accept responsibility for keeping the water clean enough to drink and air pure enough to breath without causing death.
Report Post »Seede
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 10:09amLots of things to consider on hybrid mileage. Have heard that the batteries last by time factor more than the usage factor. Time factor is about 8 years and usage is neighborhood of about 100,000 to 200,00 miles. Cost of new batteries is about $3,000 bucks or so. Don’t know the warranty on the whole car but figure it can get pretty complicated if you get a lemon. Small towns don’t have the mechanics to even understand these hybrids much less the big towns with dealerships. A top notch mechanic is really hard to find regardless of what car it is.and automotive electronics is a field that is wide open for a bright young person. I think the woman here had a lemon and bad mechanics on her car. Don’t think the field is educated enough for hybrids or even all electric cars.
I have a 2001 Honda Civic with close to 50,000 miles on it which I use for in town car. I always get between 32-37 miles gallon and no mechanic has ever raised the hood. Had new tires and nothing else except for regular maintenance. The 2001 Civic is noted for transmission failure by a lot of people but have found that much of it was the owner. Most people do not follow the maintenance, especially the second owners on any car. Then you have poor driving habits which will destroy any good car.
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 10:00amFirst off, thanks lady, the price of Honda’s just went up. Second, who estimates the mileage? Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn’t the EPA do the estimating? Maybe she should have sued the EPA…or better yet maybe she could have went online and spend 15 minutes researching what others were getting regarding gas mileage. Seriously, I bought my Highlander, I spent about 20 minutes on Edmunds and a few forums to find out “real world mileage”. Happily it turned out better than EPA. I guess us people are so stupid we can walk around with blinders, buy something without researching then sue because of our ineptness. People are stupid and the courts are just as bad.
Report Post »bucklywheat
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 10:30amThe case isn’t really won yet. It has to go to a higher court on appeal, and the attorneys will get a huge chunk of the money if they win. If not, the cost is out of her pocket.
Report Post »aclawson
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 11:49amOh look here, someone who actually gets the point.
Ludicrously optimistic fuel economy numbers come from the EPA. Honda may write it on the window sticker, but it’s not their fault.
I seriously doubt manufacturers would claim any kind of MPG figure at all unless they were forced to by an unaccountable government. Sue the EPA instead.
Report Post »GodWillPrevail
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 12:02pmIn this case Honda made considerable changes after the EPA rating. It drastically lowered mileage in a software update to use the gas engine more and battery less costing 10 MPG. It also made the costly battery last longer. Screw the customer to save a few dollars. No Honda was the bad player here not the EPA.
Toyota hybrids do much better because Toyota cares more about their reputation or perhaps their batteries are better. Obama did a real number on Toyota when he took over GM and Chrysler.
Report Post »Fejj Nagaf
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 12:48pmThe problem isn’t the EPA, the problem is Honda’s advertising was misleading.
Report Post »And the price of Honda’s may or may not go up, but that’s not the point either. I drive a Honda Accord that regularly beats the EPA estimates, but Honda advertised that the civic hybrid can get 50+ mpg in the city. It can’t. That’s false advertising. It induced customers to buy the car, which is why Honda has to pay. Blaming the customer for holding Honda to its claims is asinine.
Maidoff101
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 9:16amTo all You Obama loving, Tree hugging , Hybird drivers keep in mind the extra 12-15K you spent on these vehicles to participate in “saving the earth” does not contribute a thing. Every time you plug in, your really contributing as much co2 in atmophere as a gas engine. It takes Coal to produce all this electricity for your car. It does not magically go from your outlet to your car to get from point a to point b. These Hybirds are not about saving the Planet. Their about making Money by creating a new Industry. Just ask AlGore. By the way, all these Global warming Preachers fly 747″s and drive 20 SUV’s to get one person to Their destination on a daily basis. Dont be fooled!
Report Post »Eaglesnest
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 9:45amCorrection: Al Gore flys around in a Gulf Stream private leer jet, not a 747. Come on, get it right! He needs to fly privately due to his demanding speaking engagements, media appearances, and his two luxury estates in Tennessee and California.
Report Post »wyogator
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 10:04amI think he was referring to President Obama. He uses a 747 AND a fleet of SUV’s wherever he goes.
Report Post »usnpops
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 1:23pmI drive a Toyota Prius, and in reality considering the money I save yearly, by keeping the car for 5 years, I recoup $10,000 over the $26,000 paid up front. Thereby reducing the cost ot about $15,000. And of course you look at any well appointed Mid Sized car, and you are in the range of $24,000 anyway. I save a real $1500 per year on fuel. over $500 on Car insurance, and lower maintenance overall.
Prius are still on the road with 300,000 – 400,000 miles on them. Some of the Taxi Cabs you see at the Airport have 300,000+ miles on them, with just tiire changes, and Brake jobs.
The NIMh Battery Module is Warranted for 100,000 miles, and there have been few replaced in the 10 years Prius has been on the road. And even if you do have to replace them, it’s now only about $1800 and less to DIY. After $100,000 miles a lot of cars get new Trannies for a lot more than that.
My Prius gets exactly what was advertised. In the Summer we average between 48-52 MPG, In the Winter when they add Ethanol to the Gas, it goes down by about 5 MPG to 44 MPG Average. But My sons Chevy pickup in the winter goes down to about 18 MPG from his normal summer of 26-28 on the highway.
I did not buy the car to save the trees. I bought the car to keep money in the bank account every time I go buy gas. And so far had no complaints. Ususallly trade in a car every 3 years. But this one, we will probably drive out a lot longer.
Report Post »usnpops
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 1:33pmHybrids do not Plug in. EV cars do, and of course when charging do indeed use Electricity generated from Fossile fuels. Plus they have limited miles between charge. Usually if you get 35-50 miles, you are lucky. Then wait 8-12 hours for a recgarge to go again.
Hybrids do not use any fossile fuel except when the Computer says it is needed. On flat land cruising at 70, a Hybrid’s engine is carrying about 50% of the load and the Electric motor 50%. And at the same time recharging the Main Battrery. Which is where the Fuel economy comes in.
The gas engine is on a limited dury cycle, they use Brushless Electric Motors that have no moving parts, and NIMh Batteries that tend to last for years. Plus NIMH are safer than Lithium overall. Reduced wear and tear. Which is why Prius tend to last longer. 300,000 – 400,000 is not abnormal on the Taxicabs now. And still running strong.
Report Post »kanthonyb
Posted on February 7, 2012 at 5:22amEAGLESNEST – I hate to be a nit-pick, but the little things really bother me. A Gulfstream (one word) is a different brand of aircraft than a Lear Jet. While Gore doesn’t actually own a plane, he frequently charters or borrows various private jets to do his globe trotting. While he was VP, his standard ride was a 757.
Thank you – I feel better.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 9:07amHybrids are a joke……and their batteries are TOXIC….
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 9:42amNo, actually they are exactly what they are advertised as. They get fantastic mileage, if you understand the basics of “not being a jackass on the road”, which alas, 99% of drivers do not.
If you jack rabbit acclerate between lights, travel far over the speed limit on the highway, stop on a dime instead of gradual downshifting, etc, you’re going to get crap mileage no matter what you drive. I strongly suspect this lady is part of that 99%.
Nobody has time for reasonable, and our courts award prizes for irrationality, as witnessed in this decision. I guarantee you this broad jack rabbited out of the court room at top speed to deposit her ill gotten gains.
Batteries in general are toxic to the environment, as is the dirty oil from an automobile and the massive amounts of standard automobile by products.
I’m no eco-nut, but just because I don‘t subscribe to the Left’s view on life doesn‘t mean I am required to verbatim parrot the ignorance of the Right when they knee jerk react against anything that doesn’t get below 8 mpg. Reason should inform both sides, and it doesn’t.
The only case here is if it was the software update that did the reduction, but that’s not worth thousands either, it’s worth a bios fix and a recompensation for the time the software was installed.
Report Post »thekuligs
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 9:57amActually, those batteries are far more toxic than average car batteries AND they take so much energy to produce, that they have to be on the road for more time than most cars are on the road today are before they start “making a difference” It’s better to buy an economy car like my husband has for commuting. It was around 10k new, and it can get 36+ mpg when not driven like he wishes he was on Top Gear.
Report Post »LICENSEDTOCARRY
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 10:10amAnd just how do YOU know her low mileage was caused by bad driving habits Maybe she didn’t get 50 MPG due to a design flaw or maybe Honda lied? And where does that 99% crap come from or did you pull another “fact” out of thin air. there
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 10:13amI know because I’ve driven my share of hybrids, and to the last one they all got or exceeded the mileage that they advertised, that’s how I know.
I made an exception for “bad software update”, but that‘s the only exception I’ll grant. It only takes eyes and attention to notice that nobody has the slightest clue how to drive reasonably in daily life.
Believe as you will, I’ve seen no evidence in real life experience to suggest the car is wrong and she is right. Exception as noted above.
Report Post »bikerr
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 10:14am@Detroit paperboy–Your intellect is lacking in ALL categories! Because of the comments by you about the missionaries death YOU are the “joke” .
Report Post »usnpops
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 1:39pmThe Hybrid batteries used are less toxic than the 12V Lead Acid cells used in all other cars.
There are less Toxic Chemicals in one Hybrid Car Module than 1 Lead Acid battery Toyota recycles every part of their Batteries except the spark.
I use Lithium batteries in the Model Hobby. Once completely discharged, you soak them in Salt Water, puncture them and throw them in the garbage. they are essentially biodegradable.
Report Post »we are screwed
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 9:06am@Georgewashintonslepthere
Report Post »So you spent $23,000 to save money on gas or diesel? How much gas or diesel could you have bought for the $23,000? Oh sure you got a “tax credit” for buying a car no one else would buy without the credit but that is a topic for another time If you drive 100 miles a day, you will hit 100k miles in 3.8 years and your Prius will have needed either new batteries or a drive train, or possibly both by that time and it is more expensive to fix the car than to just dump it and buy a new one. No real savings and your chance of dying in a car crash went up exponentially.
Mort
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 9:58amNot so fast there buddy. My 2007 prius has 167,000 miles and I have not replaced anything but a head light. I get 47.6 mpg on a regular basis. The worst mileage I every got was when my wife and 2 kids drove out to Omaha NE, with the trunk loaded with the stuff needed to stay over a week and even then I got 43 mgp. Paid 23,000 and I probably would have spent that much on a different car. SO, yes, I paid a small amount more, but did not get a tax credit. But when we need longer trips, guess which car everyone wants to take. That’s right, the prius. So far it is the best car I’ve every owned, and I’ve had 3 new cars and a bunch of used ones.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 10:16am@Mort
They are excellent, well made automobiles (Prius). What we encounter on Right forums regarding hybrids is the same irrationality we encounter on Left forums regarding pick up trucks or SUV’s. The resistance is fed by hatred of the “other ideology” that likes the car they rail against, with very little real life experience backing up either’s claim.
Given my druthers, I’d love to own a Tesla for daily commute driving. My wife gives me “the look” when I make such suggestions though. :)
Report Post »usnpops
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 1:49pmDo the Math.
I paid $26000 fro a well appointed Prius 3 years ago. Could have bougyt a Taurus, also a Mid sized car with fewer goodies for the same price.
I save over $1500 per year on gas, $500 on Car insurance, and much lower maintenance. over the Taurus. So in 5 years when the contract is paid off, I will have saved $10,000 over the Taurus. Making me having paid effectively $16,000 for the Prius. And at that time just be reaching the 100,000 mile warranty going out.
Seems like a good deal to me. Plus I still have a car that is proven to go 3-4 times over the Warranty with normal maintenance. Tires, Brakes, LOF, and maybe one 12 V computer battery.
Last Ford I had, got a Tranny at 75,000 Miles. and a new Engine at 102,000. Which is why I went to Toyota.
Report Post »David in OKC
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:34amAll We have to do now is to get her to represent everyone in America as we file lawsuits in small claims court against the Obama administration for misleading the country.
Report Post »I’m thinking at least 5000.00 a piece. One lawsuit at a time.
We could change our national motto to “Hey brother, can you spare 15 trillion”?
SgtB
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:54amWell David, while I’m sure that suing Obama sounds great, we’d actually be taking money away from ourselves. That 5K per person would only add to the 52K that all of us already owe on the federal deficit. And keep in mind that that number doesn’t count the ongoing cost of welfare programs like social security and medicare which absorb almost 2/3 of our annual budget.
But getting back to the story…
This is how business should work. We don’t need the EPA and the NHTSA to tell companies what to do or how to do it. We need businesses to be able to think creatively to save resources, energy, and capital while providing their customers with a good product. Now, if they make claims that are false, then a court should be able to award damages to the parties affected and the company will hopefully learn its lesson and make a better product. If it doesn’t, people won’t continue to buy their products. There is no reason why we should have just 3 American auto manufacturers. Before the federal gov’t was involved, we had manufacturers coming out the wazoo. Now we are whittled down to 3 multinational conglomerations and a handful of German and Japanese manufacturers whose governments create outrageous legislation to keep them afloat. The Japanese are famous for never owning a car with more than 60,000 miles. They literally are forced to replace the engines in their cars just when they break in good. They say they do it for emissions, but then the cars are sold to every othe
Report Post »watashbuddyfriend
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:33amI keep telling folk that the only thing you can believe in the advertisment is the name, location, and telephone number!
Report Post »THXll38
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:32amWho the hell would buy anything like that in the first place? I could only imagine what that car would look like if I would hit her with my Ford f650 hauler. People are willing to risk there lives to save a few bucks at the pump?
Report Post »ICanComment
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 9:05am@THXll38
Hey, I hear you. I’m a volunteer firefighter with a CDL-B, and while I claim no specifically relevant expertise, the laws of physics don’t lie: small cars generally get eaten alive by moving objects with superior mass. They cut up really easily, too. :-)
Here’s the other side, though: I drive an econo box to work 3/4 of the time because it’s 36 miles one way. In the winter when the roads are bad, I drive an old Jeep Cherokee. If you want to live out in the middle of nowhere and have a certain type of job, you’ve got to drive a long way. My choices are:
a) Pay thousands more on gas/diesel and drive something heavy to work.
b) Drive a bike to work.
c) Drive an econo box to work
d) Get into a different line of work
e) Move to the city
f) Move someplace else
Due to a variety of factors, most of which are beyond my control, I choose option (c). For a lot of us, it’s not our first choice, but it’s our first feasible one.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 9:44amSo you suggest we all armor up and drive the biggest thing possible? Isn’t that the opposite side of the silly coin?
Report Post »ronbo51
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:23amI have a Toyota Prius that I bought in 2005.We always get 50 MPG, 55 if we go buy non ethanol gas which is getting hard to find. There is a graphic interface on the dash that tells you what your mpg is any any moment. You can clearly see that the way you accelerate from a stop is the key to good mileage. The difference between slowly riding the gears up to highway speed and just taking off from a stop is significant. Same with slowing down but not quite as much. If you drive like a nitwit you will get less mileage regardless of any claims of great mpg. Don’t know about Honda, although I think they use the same system, but I love the Prius, it’s a great car. I can put a dozen full size 2×4′s in it with the hatch down and ride 6 hours down to Charleston and be on the beach for 40 bucks.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:34amI would stick a gun in my mouth and pull the trigger before i would own a Prius.
How you gonna like paying for the new batteries when those “run out”? hahaha
Report Post »Walter2012
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:39amI strongly dis-like prius people…..lol… they all want to sell that great car after owning it for awhile…hmm…why? Its so great -keep it!
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 10:18am@Baddog
I know of no Prius owner yet that has had to change his/her batteries.
Your question is akin to asking how a fellow will feel after he has to overhaul his engine after 15 years. Well, who likes doing that? Costs about the same, if you go by autoshop pricing.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 10:34amBADDOGGY:
Report Post »If you own a Prius, that’s not a gun in your mouth!!!!
DD313
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:22amIt would be nice to know what gas mileage this former attorney claimed she got in her vehicle. I can see why she is happy with her win, but she won’t be in the 1% with the award. Maybe by reinstating her law license and representing all those other soon to be disgruntled Honda Owners, she can suck a third of their awards away and make it. Only in America.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:38amIn the previous article; in the 30′s mpg
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:15amGotta love the “paycheck” of those Tort Lawyers…..the “little people” get some money for a couple cheeseburgers and the lawyers get enough to buy the Farm and Butcher shop!!!!!
Report Post »Fejj Nagaf
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 1:01pmAnd you clearly have no idea how much work goes into a class action, nor do you seem to comprehend the point of a class action lawsuit.
Report Post »It requires that you take the time to learn that stuff before spouting off about how lawyers don’t deserve to be paid for their hard work.
Filing a class action can take years and countless hours of work. These lawyers get paid nothing until and unless they win. Meanwhile, they spend a fortune developing and putting on their case. That huge amount of money they EARNED will pay the salaries of the attorneys, the law clerks, the paralegals and the secretaries, as well as cover the operating costs of the law firms. And if the lawyers didn’t take anything, the customers who were wronged would still get a relatively small amount. It all depends on the size of a class. These are not the tort lawyers people think of when they criticize tort law and call for reform.
mwhaley
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:14amIf you actually read into the story, she was upset with the false pretenses that tiny fairies sprinkling magic electrically charged pixy dust would pop out of her rear end. After all this is where electric power come from, right?
Report Post »Walter2012
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:08amI don’t think this is limited to Hybrids or Honda. I bought a Toyota Rav4 a few months ago & it to has not lived to any part of its mileage statement for city or highway MPG. People let’s get that issue going. Thank you.
Report Post »olddog
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:02amIf this suit had been against the Chevy Volt, she would Not have won.Do you remember our own government cover up on the Volt fires? Honda makes a great car so lets tear them down so somebody will buy ours…I’m 100000% sure the judge was a leftist…
Report Post »GeorgeWashingtonslept here
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 7:59amHmmmm, how did she “prove” that the vehicle was not getting the promised mileage? I would think that Honda’s engineers would prove it does…………….anyone know ?
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:06amShe’s been interviewed on TV News a couple of times. She had her local dealer test it as well I believe an outside agency. After one of the so called repairs by a Honda dealership it got even less mileage.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 7:57am.
Report Post »If you are Man STUPID enough to buy a Hybrid Anything. Then you should let that Monkey Doctor from UC Davis put your nut’s in a cup……….
usnpops
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 2:00pmChildish comment, based on what facts.
Ever driven one????
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 4:32pm.
HaHaHa you must have bought one…..
And the fact that there is no such thing as man made global warming……
I tell the Doc to get her cup ready………
Report Post »Athinkerinaseaoflibs
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 7:57amMaybe she should take some driving lessons. I have owned several cars and I almost always get better mileage than the EPA rating. The only case where I got worse mileage than the EPA was with a Subaru that I owned. I got better mileage than most other people I knew that had one but it never meet the estimated EPA mileage.
As a side note: Interesting that is your typical earth muffin vehicle is a Subaru and it was the least eco friendly car I ever owned including a Suburban.
Your mileage heavily depends on the way you drive. The way you start and stop can change the mileage by 50%. I know this because I loaned my car to my brother who has a lead foot and he got half the mileage that I normally get. By the way, you will get a lot more miles out of the car. Nearly all my cars last for 300K miles or more.
Before all the lead footed people get all upset and blast me saying that I am a granny driver that slows up traffic. I do tend to drive the speed limit which in most cases is about where the median speed appears to be. I don’t get to my destination any later than most of the people on the road. I just have a more gas in my gas tank.
Report Post »GeorgeWashingtonslept here
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:10amI agree. I purchased my Prius strictly for the gas mileage which it is preforming as promised. The Prius has come way down in price as they have 4 different models to choose from. My car was $23,000. I had a Corolla prior and that got 35 MTG’s. The price on the Corollas are less than 3,000 dollars lower than the prius………..I do get 48 MTG on my prius……………Like I said in another post, I do own a one ton Dually and Blazer for the real work needed.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:46amWe has a ‘91 Saturn stick. when my wife was the exclusive driver for a tank – 25 mpg — me 35. different driving styles. and no I am not a pokey driver either.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:47amhas -> had
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 7:52amObama‘s stimulus didn’t work as advertised. How about a class action lawsuit against him?
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:10amNo Gonzo it didn’t work as advertised but the result was just what the Marxist heathen wanted.
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:25amNo worries….since he will be voted out in 2012 and when the riots start, due to his polarizing affect.
He will declare martial law and attempt to seat himself dictator for life!!
Natural progression from a democracy is dictatorship, only thing these liberal idiots have missed is that it will be a military coup NOT a community organizer who will be America’s dictator!!!
Report Post »Charles
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 7:50amAll hybrid cars are for suckers (liberals)
Report Post »GeorgeWashingtonslept here
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:04amCome on now Charles………….that’s not true. I drive a new Prius…………….I travel 100 miles a day for work……………….I can tell you that I am saving bucks on the gas. I’m as conservative as you can get. BTW, I own a 1 ton Dually, a Blazer , and a big 4 horse living qtrs trailer……………..but for work, I drive the prius……….:) Also, I can’t stand Obama and no one is invited in my home that voted for that POS. So several family members I no longer associate with……………..no big deal anyways. :)
Report Post »Dano62
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:20am@GEORGEWASHINGTONSLEPTHERE
On a similar note, I feel the same way you do in regard to Obama, but I‘ve replaced all of the conventional light bulbs in my house with CFL’s. It’s knocked about $10 – $15/month off my electric bill. The CFL‘s won’t do the job outside though because it’s too cold most of the year. I’m all for a consumer driven market.
It seems that people want to accuse others of not being true conservatives if they want to drive a Prius or use CFL’s in order to save money. Btw, I drive an F-250 4×4 and have a 420 hp Cat in my lobster boat.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:53amDANO62
Report Post »Try the LED bulbs. 1/2 the bulbs in my home are LED , the other CFL . also you can buy exterior CFL’s. LED’s currently cannot be used in an enclosed light fixture.
GhostOfJefferson
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 10:22am@Stoic
There are LED bulbs of the same shape and size as a regular incandescent.
They don’t come cheap though.
Report Post »usnpops
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 1:57pmI love being called a sucker at the pump when my Prius stop[s at about $20 to go another 400 miles. While the big truck next pump over is still counting at $50 to go the same distance.
Ignorance is bliss. And charles you seem to be a very blissful person, lining in a cloud of biased and unfounded claims. If you have no clue, why do you bother getting into the conversation?
Report Post »GrumpyCat
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 7:48amIts government-endorsed deceit. Her Honda got 50 MPG on the EPA test cycle so Honda was in their rights to advertise that figure. Is the EPA who should be sued for using a non-representative test.
For 2008 the EPA retroactively “adjusted” the past 10 years or so of EPA MPG ratings without retesting. I once owned a 2000 Avalon that got BETTER MPG on interstate than its original highway rating, and much better than the revised rating. Once again the test was not representative because this car got better MPG at 70 MPH than at 60 MPH. I know because during my ownership I drove this car on 18 days of over 400 miles each day and kept a logbook.
Report Post »THE EQUALIZER
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 7:48amShe looks like Stiffler’s mom.
Report Post »MonkeyBeagle
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 7:32amGood for her! Now if the Border Guards family wins there case we will be two up on the Demoncrats. :) Look who heads them, a new video came out today where Obama refused to answer a question about NDAA, starts singing and ignoring the question. Sheesh. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhN0rLf8jFU
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:00amThat was funny.
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