Predictions for 2019 model. Anything that would make you wish you waited?

I just want to confirm that people wishing for Honda to add a donut spare tire would prefer to lose trunk space rather than battery capacity, right? Same with the larger gas tank. The Clarity PHEV doesn't have a cubic inch of unused space within its volume, so those two features were the compromises the Clarity's designers chose to maximize EV travel.

 

I wish Honda could use Run-flat tires on Clarity PHEV, so we don't need the spare tire anymore
https://www.bridgestonetire.com/tread-and-trend/drivers-ed/run-flat-tires

 

I had run flat tires with a previous car: 2006 Acura RL with tech package. I believe honda did have a car with run flat tires in the past: may have been the odyssey minivan. Tires were very expensive to replace, actually had to go to a Honda dealer to get them replaced. If I recall correctly, itwas over $1000 for 4 tires. There was a class action lawsuit over these run flat tires as well. Everything is a compromise.

 

I added a spare a lug wrench and a jack because I have never owned any car that did not have a flat tire eventually. The tire is a donut spare from a 2012 Infinity G37. It is a 17 inch tire, but it fits the Clarity and clears everything both front and rear.

 

Heated steering wheel and rear blind spot monitoring would be my wishes. For those wanting the rear USB ports, just get something similar to this:

 

Has anyone seen the Japan version?

https://www.honda.co.jp/CLARITYPHEV/?from=topbanner

 

Heated Steering Wheel. This is a major negative for me.

 

Well, those of us with OCD 'engineer brain' would say the floating console has several cubic inches of unused space just waiting to be cut into and compartmentalized, unless someone here has pried that thing open (or found a relevant technical bulletin) and found a mess of wires under there.

 

You're right, it really seems like wasted space, and there are quite a few great modifications that could be made to that flying bridge. Narrow slots for things like phones, etc. Wider spots for change, etc. Dremel tools ready?! LOL

 

@Steven B and @bfd, I would quadruple like your posts if I could!!

That stupid, wasted space, worse than useless, knee knocker flying bridge/console abomination is the only thing that makes me go grrrrrr about the Clarity. I can live with all the other minor omissions but with the seat all the way up, it’s a constant irritant.

The engineer or designer that came up with it should be shot, hung, keel hauled, drawn and quartered, raked over the coals, tarred and feathered, and bent over for a J1772 Level 2 32 Amp plug in (the max allowable)!!!!!!
There, I feel better venting that.

 

You could probably stuff an extra quart or so of gasoline in a tank below the shift buttons. I'm not in love with the Clarity's console. The new Insight's console makes more sense--and it does double-duty by housing the car's 12-volt battery. Plus, the Insight's console makes it easier for those acrobats who complained about it being difficult to move from the Clarity's passenger seat to the driver seat.

 

The September "New Cars" issue of Motor Trend lists all the 2019 cars and classifies them as "All-New," "Major," "Minor," or "Unchanged."

 

I am the minority here that actually like the floating console. I have it on my Prius and it was very useful, and I am glad that it is on the clarity as well

The one thing that I think can change easily, is to remove the trunk cover and replace it with the curtain like the one on Prius. We can see through the trunk already, remove the hard cover so I can have more cargo space!

 

Make it look like this only bigger:

 

Thanks for giving me an excuse for reminiscing (or were you just baiting me?).

I put a $500 deposit down on one of those in 1999 and waited a year to take delivery (#221, silver). I bought my current one (red) in 2006 when Honda was discontinuing the model--I wanted to drive one as long as possible. The only software glitch was that to maximize performance, Honda tried to push the NiMH battery too hard, and they had to get more conservative (mpg's suffered) when they issued software updates (in the form of complete new computer boxes located under the passenger seat) to preserve those expensive components.

Never before had Honda made such a high-tech car and sold it (in North America) for so little. It's said the gen 1 Insight cost more than twice its $22K NA price to manufacture. Is the Clarity story a repeat?

 

Add more battery/ upgrade power density for more range and make the trunk a hatchback.

 

That's what we did too. If our son wants his music over the car sounds system he uses Bluetooth.

 

I'm with you Ken. I suspect when they designed the console (or had their five year old son do the design) they did it thinking drivers would have their foot on the accelerator. In that case my knee doesn't touch the hard edge of the console. But when using ACC i pull my foot back in which case my knee is higher. In that position I have to put up with the console digging into my knee. I've thought of disassembling the console to get rid of the wings. A design and 3D printer might be good tools here.

 

I would pay several hundred dollars to get rid of the wing on the driver’s side.
Due to back problems, I have to keep the seat all the way up to be able to get in and out easily. So I can’t get my knee under the wing. Wonder if I’ll eventually wear a hole in my jeans an/or develop a callus on my knee. LOL