Buy A Used Clarity?

1066 Views 11 Replies 5 Participants Last post by EV Nerd, 3 mo ago

ChaWilson

I am well versed in EVs and PHEVs, so I doubt I'll need any help there. My main EV question concerns battery degradation. I am thinking of a 2018, one with 69,000 miles and the other with 36,000 miles. I seek input from owners about their experiences. We live in a moderate climate and would charge it on a 240v circuit.

Past that, any observations about mechanical issues and reliability will be most appreciated.

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jzchen

· #2 · 4 mo ago

We're nearing 70k miles, (68k and change). Regular maintenance is all we've needed, original tires are pretty much done/ready to be replaced. Definitely have some/a little battery capacity degradation but doesn't bother us one bit, still plenty of EV range...

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ChaWilson

Discussion Starter · #3 · 4 mo ago

jzchen said:
We're nearing 70k miles, (68k and change). Regular maintenance is all we've needed, original tires are pretty much done/ready to be replaced. Definitely have some/a little battery capacity degradation but doesn't bother us one bit, still plenty of EV range...

Thanks much for your reply. Have you measured your battery's Ah?

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4sallypat

· #4 · 4 mo ago

We have a 2018 with 60K miles and noticed about a 10% degradation in capacity (range) now than when it was new.

The only way to measure the capacity is a Honda dealer or an OBD system that independent mechanics that can read the data....

I think it was 70% for the battery before it would be a warranty issue.

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ChaWilson

Discussion Starter · #5 · 4 mo ago

I did a lot of research. The car's EPA all-electric range of 48 miles (less in winter, more in summer) fits like a glove, and the hybrid appeals to me for longer trips. I found an '18 with 69,000 miles for $22K, and was enthusiastic. But I've got miles on the tires -- just shy of 50 years of driving and ownership of 16 road vehicles including a 2011 Think City BEV whose PCU board is on the fritz. I don't want to fix it, hence looking at a replacement.

Honda seems to have missed the mark when it comes to the transititions to and from electric and ICE. The numerous reports of power losses on freeways and hills are serious to me. Therefore, I've decided against buying a used Clarity. This is a surprise and a disappointment. If that car didn't have numerous reports of software issues that have serious implications, I'd have been preparing to write a check this week. I have to think that Honda is aware of the problems; they produced the PHEV Clarity for what, three or four years? That's an awfully short production run for an otherwise good vehicle.

Finally, many thanks to this website. It has been useful, not just to research the Clarity but for information about a battery's amp hours, and measurement. I have always wondered how to measure degradation, and now I know.

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jay4321

· #6 · 3 mo ago

I sold my 2021 Clarity, and there weren't too many of that last year. I liked it well enough but jumped at the chance to get out of it after relatively low usage during the used car boom (factoring in the rebate I collected). Since replaced with a '22 Accord Hybrid which is just a superior car in most ways.

I miss the EV-only range of course, but I don't miss plugging the thing in, or frankly the prospect of weak resale one day with a discontinued model most people haven't even heard of.

Of course Accord Hybrid cost more since there's no EV rebate, but I'll take 44 mpg (48 mpg with one of the two trims with 17" wheels). The interior is very similar and is maybe a marginally better feeling ride in EV mode. It's not silent but it is quiet.

Really impressed with Honda lately, and I looked at everything out there before buying each car, and I mean basically everything across several vehicle types.

I think you did the right thing, I wouldn't touch a used Clarity right now. The used market was cooling off but now it starting to heat up again, but it's definitely disproportionately affecting some cars more than others. Carmax handed me $30k for mine less than a year ago and that's after a tree fell on it (and then repaired). I'd certainly drive one again but the price would have to be right, even at something like 30k miles I think it's a 20k car tops in a normal market.

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jay4321

· #7 · 3 mo ago

At the time I bought the Clarity new though, it was the best kept secret out there. I got mine at $30k even and then there were the federal and state rebates, I practically stole that car at the perfect time when someone had 4 on the lot same color. Less than 2 years later people are paying more for 2018s with no warranty or rebate.

What was really nuts is 5 months before that I sold a 9-year-old Sonata for almost $14k, I'd only paid $21.5k for it new. I had awesome luck with it despite like 10 recalls.

Had to pay full MSRP on my Accord Hybrid but considering the above I wasn't about to complain about it.

I would say be patient and take your time. It's a bad market still

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EV Nerd

· #8 · 3 mo ago

jay4321 said:
I sold my 2021 Clarity, and there weren't too many of that last year. I liked it well enough but jumped at the chance to get out of it after relatively low usage during the used car boom (factoring in the rebate I collected). Since replaced with a '22 Accord Hybrid which is just a superior car in most ways.

I miss the EV-only range of course, but I don't miss plugging the thing in, or frankly the prospect of weak resale one day with a discontinued model most people haven't even heard of.

Of course Accord Hybrid cost more since there's no EV rebate, but I'll take 44 mpg (48 mpg with one of the two trims with 17" wheels). The interior is very similar and is maybe a marginally better feeling ride in EV mode. It's not silent but it is quiet.

Really impressed with Honda lately, and I looked at everything out there before buying each car, and I mean basically everything across several vehicle types.

I think you did the right thing, I wouldn't touch a used Clarity right now. The used market was cooling off but now it starting to heat up again, but it's definitely disproportionately affecting some cars more than others. Carmax handed me $30k for mine less than a year ago and that's after a tree fell on it (and then repaired). I'd certainly drive one again but the price would have to be right, even at something like 30k miles I think it's a 20k car tops in a normal market.

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I don't miss paying for gasoline. Even if I was paying for electricity (I have solar), it's about a third of the cost of gas, per mile.

I don't understand your "I don't miss plugging it in" comment.

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jzchen

· #9 · 3 mo ago

ChaWilson said:
Thanks much for your reply. Have you measured your battery's Ah?

I sometimes charge at ChargePoint stations which give a total number of kWh and last time I checked it was in the low 13.xx kWh range. I believe new I‘ve read online somewhere in the 14.x range…

Best of luck in finding a BEV replacement. My wife and I test drove a Bolt EUV and are going to test drive a VinFast VF8 tomorrow…

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EV Nerd

· #10 · 3 mo ago

jzchen said:
I sometimes charge at ChargePoint stations which give a total number of kWh and last time I checked it was in the low 13.xx kWh range. I believe new I‘ve read online somewhere in the 14.x range…

Best of luck in finding a BEV replacement. My wife and I test drove a Bolt EUV and are going to test drive a VinFast VF8 tomorrow…

They are out there, but it might require going to a dealer outside major metropolitan markets. Folks on the Bolt forum have flown out of state, and driven their new Bolts hundreds of miles home.

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jzchen

· #11 · 3 mo ago

EV Nerd said:
They are out there, but it might require going to a dealer outside major metropolitan markets. Folks on the Bolt forum have flown out of state, and driven their new Bolts hundreds of miles home.

Thank you.

I believe my wife was definitely interested in the fully loaded Redline we saw locally, except for the exterior color. Super Cruise was very impressive. As soon as I hopped on the freeway lane 4 the indicator on the steering wheel almost immediately lit up, and I let go of wheel and lifted my foot off the gas. I didn’t feel afraid even with a vehicle merging into the lane right in front of me! My wife was kind of shocked at the inflated (relatively) interest rate on financing.

They seemed to have lowered the monthly lease on the VF8. Excited to finally feel how it drives, vs the ride along at the LA Auto Show.

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EV Nerd

· #12 · 3 mo ago

jzchen said:
Thank you.

I believe my wife was definitely interested in the fully loaded Redline we saw locally, except for the exterior color. Super Cruise was very impressive. As soon as I hopped on the freeway lane 4 the indicator on the steering wheel almost immediately lit up, and I let go of wheel and lifted my foot off the gas. I didn’t feel afraid even with a vehicle merging into the lane right in front of me! My wife was kind of shocked at the inflated (relatively) interest rate on financing.

They seemed to have lowered the monthly lease on the VF8. Excited to finally feel how it drives, vs the ride along at the LA Auto Show.

I trust you understand that the SuperCruise feature on the EUV is limited to highways that are compliant to the system requirements? Do yourself a favor, and see if those specific highways will meet your expected usage.

Also, after a relatively brief free introductory period, SuperCruise might require a paid monthly subscription. You'll want to get any verbal promises to the contrary, in writing.

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