Early model Honda Insight?

cocolos

cocolos

Pre-takeoff checklist
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cocolos
Any one have any experience with these? I am thinking of buying a 2001ish version. Anything I should look out for? I found one near by that I plan on looking at this weekend. The one I found just recently got a new battery pack.

Thanks!
 
Get a Prius, way better technology and bullet proof mechanics. My wife is a home health nurse and drives her's 4-500 miles a week. My friend has been driving them since 2001. His wife drove one of them 285,000 mi and it took one set of front brake shoes and a water pump. Our Toyota dealer has several over 200,000 mi and a half dozen over 300,000 and they have never had to replace a battery pack. Great cars. Don
 
Insight-Is are good cars, and if the battery pack is newer that's the big maintenance item. Also the most fuel-efficient production gas car on the road IIRC.
 
The Insight is ok, new battery pack is a good feature. One thing we noticed on them is they are aerodynamically critical. My buddy clamped on a bike rack and it had a very noticeable effect on mileage, with a bike on it it was down to 40mpg. Didn't stay on the back long lol. You're going to run into many of the same chassis issues you get with any 14 year old car, but they're no major deal. My buddy handed it off to his wife and now drives either a Mitsubishi MiEV, or a 1970 440 R/T Challenger. :lol:
 
Friend had one they are good for what they are. Do not look for comfort on real long drives. :)
Get one with the manual trans if posible better MPG.
The battery pack does not like to sit long time without use (Months). My friend killed his new battery pack by doing this. He bought a new car then would only drive his Insight for a short drive every once in a while. Never enough to charg pack back up.

If you want more then 2 seats get a Prius if not get the Insight.
 
Yea all I need is two seats. I found this list, so I'll keep an eye out for that stuff. However, some things I am not sure how to check.
 
I bought my kids the Prius C last May. My son has been averaging 47MPG, and my daughter about 51. He drives a bit harder, and lives in Houston so the AC is always on high. I looked at the insight, but the Prius was much more utility and quieter at highway speeds. CVT as well, but both can drive a stick. So far they have been flawless. Each has 22k miles or so, with dealer service as shown in the book.

I don't know what the used market is on Insight but you can find a '12 Prius C under $15k.
 
I'll be looking at an insight on saturday I'll check out and see how it goes. I actually might fly there hopefully I can rent the 172!
 
Prius... insight is kind of old. Prius are common, proven, and everywhere.

I know everyone drives Hybrids for different reasons. However, if your objective is purely cost savings, run the numbers and look at your annual mileage. Most modern midsize sedans are high 20 - low 30s and the price difference often can't be recouped.

The 2012 era Prius rent a car I had was heavy and rough riding compared to the Malibu I had the week before, but they may have improved.
 
Would a CR-Z be an option?
 
From the post on this thread you can see why the Gen 1 Insight died. Everyone is telling you to get a Prius :mad:
Gen 1 Insights are very good cars just limited to 2 seats. How many people really use more then 1 seat anyways :D
The Gen 1 with manual trans can do 70MPG on the freeway. What other car can come close?
 
Debating whether I should just get an older civic instead of a hybrid.
 
A Volkswagon TDI Diesel is the best bet. They run forever and get better mileage than anything. Between me and my wife we have owned about 8 of them. Always seem to go back. Sold mine last year and bought a new Frontier truck. I couldn't deal with 13mpg so here is my current VW Diesel, got it lowered on 20's :-)
 

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ron22 said:
From the post on this thread you can see why the Gen 1 Insight died. Everyone is telling you to get a Prius :mad:
Gen 1 Insights are very good cars just limited to 2 seats. How many people really use more then 1 seat anyways :D
The Gen 1 with manual trans can do 70MPG on the freeway. What other car can come close?
Click to expand...

I just drove an Audi A3 1.7 TDi from Imperia Italy to Amsterdam and back, it averaged 62mpg, and that is most all over 130kph and running a lot of 160-180kph and some 200kph where it just ran out of any more umph. Its fun to put your foot down and leave it there a couple of minutes until traffic again.:D

If the Insight had used a little Diesel it would get over 100mpg.
 
I never see that kind of mileage. I drove from Texas to Missouri a few weeks ago. I drive the crap out of mine. We ran 80-90 mph the whole way and I got about 37mpg. My wife babies her Passat and gets a tad over 40 mpg in town.
 
cocolos said:
Debating whether I should just get an older civic instead of a hybrid.
Click to expand...

My 76 Civic with a 1200 and 4 speed, no overdrive, got 50mpg. How far do you need to go 90% of the time? My buddy lives in St Louis area 33 miles from his studio and drives a Mitsubishi MiEV charging it at night at Off Peak rates. He spends $5 a week on powering the car and can make the round trip, plus go to lunch on the charge, though he had to add some bubble wrap for insulation to make it in the winter.
 
pigpenracing said:
A Volkswagon TDI Diesel is the best bet. They run forever and get better mileage than anything. Between me and my wife we have owned about 8 of them. Always seem to go back. Sold mine last year and bought a new Frontier truck. I couldn't deal with 13mpg so here is my current VW Diesel, got it lowered on 20's :-)
Click to expand...

I have a 2003 Jetta TDI. But I still do not get the mileage of the Gen 1 Insight plus diesel cost more then unleaded. But the Jetta is bigger and has 4 seats and doors.
The newer TDI do not get as good of mileage as the older ones. All that emission control stuff (see rolling cola thread)
 
Yea I am leaning towards a civic hatchback. My commute is not that far but I want to spend around 3k
 
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