2010 Insight won't beat Prius

it's really not been a fair question to have something "beat" the prius up til now, as the prius has stood mostly on its own - one of a kind in a class of its own. That's about to change...

Regardless... I'm shopping for an S class Merc or an Audi A8 to add to my collection so I could really care less which econo box is "better".

That's like asking which margarine tastes more like butter

 

I initially planned to buy a Honda Civic based on Consumer Reports data, then I drove one. I was not impressed. My wife and I test drove a Prius, and we were hooked. The Prius was 6,000 dollars more, but the mileage difference will more than pay that back.

Funny thing is, I went to buy a Honda Civic in 2001 also, and ended up buying a Nissan Maxima. The Honda dealer just would not deal. I ended up getting the Maxima which is twice the car, for about 50.00 more a month.

I own Honda motorcycles, a four-wheeler and generators. I wonder if I'll ever own one of their cars. The cars are very high quality, I just do not seem to have the right chemistry with them. They are kind of boring both in style and driving experience. I do kind of like the new Accords, but for about the same price, there are a lot more exciting choices.

Anyway, I hope the Insight does well. I always thought the little two seaters were "cute," but gutless as hell (most Hondas are).

Mike

 

The impression you got from Honda dealers was sort of what we got when my parents went shopping for an Accord back in 91. We ended up buying a Camry instead.

As for your last statement, that's funny you'd say that about Honda. That's almost ALWAYS the criticism leveled at Toyota. Toyota (almost rightfully IMHO) is usually accused of making boring, soulless vehicles and making Japanese Buicks.

Toyota has no sports cars anymore. The IS (except the IS-F) has become too soft and they had to create Scion brand to attract the youth crowd. Before Scion, the "ricer" aka import tuner crowd would almost never "fix up" current Toyotas. It was and still is dominated by Honda and Acura (when they still had the Integra and RSX). I've also seen a fair # of Nissan 350Zs and Infiniti G35s "fixed up" at import car shows.

 

Antlers, you post some kooky stuff. I just had to respond to this "prediction".

Are you trying to say that the new Insight is a "Prius Killer?" It is aimed (very carefully) at a slightly different market than the Prius. It will take some share away from the Prius, but and I mean a BIG BUT, is that the market for very fuel efficient cars is growing very rapidly. The Prius will succeed and continue to be the benchmark for fuel efficient family cars. There is nothing that comes close to the Prius in its ability to carry four adults, comfortably, efficiently, with some interesting cool technology ta boot. The HCH cant do it, and the Insight wont be able to either.(not enough rear leg room). Will it sell? Heck ya, it will fly off the dealer lots. However, not as quickly as the Prius. Oh wait, thats right, the next gen Prius will be out about six months after the Insight rolls out. And it will be 1. bigger, 2. more powerfull, and 3. get better mileage than the current Prius. I would bet money that it will have all three of those features, because that is how Toyota rolls....

Having said that, I want my Insight. :bounce:

 

The current gen Prius killer will be, of course the next gen Prius.

This new Insight will be the Classic Prius killer but it had already been killed by 2004 Prius. At the rate IMA is going, it will take three more generations before it can kill the 2004 Prius.

 

Wow, that would hurt around here. I see them at least every day.

 

It seems that you are quite misinformed on this sight. It is not true that the IMA system always needs gas. A new version of the IMA can keep the engine running but cut off the gas supply. So, you don't get the weird space ship feeling that a Prius has when it runs in EV mode, instead you run on electricity but still feel like you're driving a normal car. You get the best of both worlds. I recently traded in my 2008 Prius for a 2010 Insight. I LOVE the Insight. When i tested the 2010 Prius, it felt lifeless and boring (like my old one). The Insight felt much livelier and more connected:cheer2:. (BTW: my dealership had a special preview for previous Prius owners to test drive a 2010 Prius)

 

where did you test the 2010 prius? i thought they are not out yet?

 

I believe Honda is behind Toyota on hybrid technology. I don't think the Insight is as advanced as the Prius. The $1k higher Prius base price for the '10s is worth it.

 

The Honda Insight looks like the Prius they so recently made fun of with their always annoying marketing campaigns. I have already mistaken one for a Prius. That is pretty funny that they copied what they criticized. It's an interesting competition. I suspect others will modify the Prius hybrid system enough to avoid patent infringements, and produce a copy, when they are able to do it.

 

Correct. It's not available in US dealers yet. I can't speak stpierre2thonda's dealer but see what I quoted above.

I actually got to drive 2x it at Prius Connection San Francisco on March 8th. :thumb: The only other event that non-media (and certain special folks) had the opportunity to drive it was at the LA event the weekend before.

We were required to not post, write about or discuss our driving impressions until the media embargo on that got lifted on March 25th.

 

This is your 1st post in this PriusChat and you claiming a dealer had given you a test drive in a 2010?

Oh Com'on!

Nice try.

 

When I tested the Insight yesterday, I hit my head on the door still. It wasn't as hard as the unexpected, Honda Civic hit three years ago that I saw stars and gave me a low-grade headache. However, the Insight requires that I would have to duck down every time I got in or out.

Bob Wilson

 

Good catch. I didn't notice that.

I always wonder about some of the low post count or single (first) post people, esp. the ones that seem to hardly or never return. Every now and then, including today, you see some guy complaining about something supposedly going wrong on their Prius yet it's their first and only post. Hmmm...

BTW, if you care, my 2010 Prius driving impressions are at http://priuschat.com/forums/2010-to...-driving-impressions-thread-2.html#post819419. Please don't discuss in that thread. Instead, questions/discussions should go in http://priuschat.com/forums/2010-to...us-driving-impressions-discussion-thread.html