Honda Insight Marathon

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Sep 7 2006, 10:59 PM) [snapback]316171[/snapback]</div>

The amazing part of this marathon is that they will be covering over 2000 miles on a single tank of gas!!!!!!

so far they are at nearly 165 mpg for the entire tank!!

You can bet that a few of these guys will be at Hybridfest next year to tell us more about how they accopmlished this goal.

I also summarized what they are doing and who is participating on my web site at http://hybridcars.about.com/od/news/a/MPGAttempt.htm

 

Thats AWSOME! I still want an Insight. I whish I could afford another car so I could get one before they stop making them.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(theforce @ Oct 4 2006, 05:36 PM) [snapback]328110[/snapback]</div>

2005 was the last manufacturing year.
I was ready to take an in stock, blue one. the last one available in Long Island, New York but I couldn't fit so many stuff like my Prius, and it was a business decission, many more transport space was the winner. I'm extremily happy with my finaly decission.

 

One of the people I work with has a Insight. She is driving it now, but her son was a master. He went to school in Tacoma and could get 65 mpg in mid winter. He is now carless in college, but he had the touch! Insight is a really great car just not big and versatile enough for me. Honda needs to one up the Insight next year! Put pressure on Toyota and the rest of the world!

 

Speed plot based upon the log:



Bob Wilson

 

I drove an Insight occasionally, the company I used to work for had one as a company car. I was the only one to squeeze out better than 50MPG driving it. I liked the car, but it got uncomfortable to drive for any length of time as the seat was a bit too hard in spots, and my back isnt in the greatest shape either. Two things though that kept me from actually buying one.

1. Tires are expensive and hit a pothole the wrong way and BOOM no more tire, they went through quite a few of them while I was there.
2. Maintenance, it seemed as if it was going in for service every month.

It has been a few years since I drove one, arent they a bit the opposite of the Prius as they engine runs all the time when you are moving?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ACD @ Apr 10 2007, 04:35 PM) [snapback]421061[/snapback]</div>

I'll admit the seat could be more comfortable.

Tires have not been a problem for me. Having had a Honda CRX HF previously, I was impressed the Insight's tires gripped much better in rainy weather.

The Insight's ICE is running while it's in motion, but it has a fuel cuttoff when it's coasting

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Delta Flyer @ Apr 10 2007, 04:44 PM) [snapback]421076[/snapback]</div>

It's been a few years, thats why I cant remember what the engine did. I do remember the tires gripped well, even in snow. The problem was, one of the guys was HEAVY, the car would lean when he drove it, and he was the one that would pop the tires with pot holes. IIRC they are fairly thin sidewalls and once they pop, there is no going back. How about maintenance? This one was always going in, but since I wasnt the keeper of records for it I dont know what it was going in for. Did I mention is was blue and bought from Carmax for $17K? When I saw it I wanted it, but couldnt afford it.

 

At 118,000 miles, the only major maintainence issue has been replacing the hybrid battery at 94,000 miles. Honda paid all but $450 of the cost on that with a better battery and software. On my part, keeping the Iinsight cool in the summer and avoiding the hot rodding the 1st couple of years will avoid a repeat....if it lasts to 250,000 miles it's had a good life.

Other items - replaced a couple of brake pads, the 12-volt battery - that's it. My CRX at that point had 3 CV boots replaced and the transmission.

I suspect some of your co-workers might have been on the rough side on that Insight - the worst thing to do to it is pretending it's a pocket rocket.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Delta Flyer @ Apr 10 2007, 05:01 PM) [snapback]421091[/snapback]</div>

Thats not bad, sorry to hear about the batts going so soon. You may be right, but then again, I think there is a maintenance light that comes on when it needed an oil change, and that is why it kept going to the dealer, but I am not certain about that, all I know is, that bugger saw a lot of rack time.

 

The 2000 5-speed Insight probably has the most battery problems, followed by other early Insights and 5-speed Civics. Honda has updated the software on these models. About 2-3 times my 12-volt battery went dead on the weekend - that software glitch allowed the hybird battery back to also drain itself totally trying to save it. The fix not only prevents this, but to keep the lowest charge at 40% - not 15%.

The other half of the story is manual shifters must take better care. An Insight is NOT a sports car. The stick shift is tight so there will be a tendancy to lug the engine.

If you lug or sort of lug a 5-speed Insight with a heavy foot, you make the deep battery discharges that will drain the battery pack. It's much better in those situations to go to a lower gear to spare the relatively small battery pack. Again, anyone wanting to frequently drive in a pocket rocket mode should drive a car designed for that.

 

I second what Delta has been saying. As the only owner of a 2000 5 Speed Insight, I can attest that driving the car well (not overly well, but not like a rental) will net you 65mpg without even trying. When I really concentrate on driving well, I can get up to 70mpg in-town and 80+ on the freeway. This is without any mods or tricks, just good driving. In fact, I have a cameraphone picture of 80mpg over a 10 mile stretch of freeway that I took just yesterday, which I think is great for a 2000 model!

 

I just sold my 2000 5-spd Insight to buy a new '07 Prius. The Insight is a truly amazing car. I averaged 73 mpg over the 35,000 miles I drove the car, and that's with a commute of 65-70 mph highway with a couple of 6% grades. The only unscheduled maintenance it ever needed was an O2 sensor.

If it weren't for having only two-seats (with a growing family), I would still have that car.

 

I am in the market for an insight. I am selling off a gas guzzler, and soon as it's sold aquiring the insight. I have 2 other full sized vehicles at my disposal, so I don't even need a 4 seat car. Just a runner-car.

 

Aren't the insights ungodly slow though only being 3 cylinders? I've never driven one or anything but I am under the impression that they don't have as much "go" as a Prius. I'm wondering if you can even pass people or make it up a hill if you need to without the insight strugling?