Insight?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FastAndTheThrifty @ Dec 30 2006, 03:58 AM) [snapback]368548[/snapback]</div>

Prius- 76 hp.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jamarimutt @ Dec 30 2006, 03:06 AM) [snapback]368562[/snapback]</div>

Prius has 110 hp altogether. And zero to sixty in 10 seconds is perfectly respectable. What's the Insight's zero-to-sixty time?

The Insight was a real pioneer car. I didn't get one because I wanted the cargo-handling capability of my old '89 Civic station wagon. And I got the Prius in part because a liftback is almost a station wagon. But for anyone willing to accept its smaller size, the Insight was the environmentalist's car back then. I admire people who were willing to make a small sacrifice in space and hp for the environment.

And FWIW, people who drove the EV1 loved it. GM is a lousy company, but apparently that was a good car. If GM is the first company to come out with a freeway-capable EV that you can actually buy (everything today is either low-speed or six figures and long waiting times or concept cars) and that uses today's battery technology, I'll buy it.

You hear me, car companies? First one to market with a real EV gets my business.

 

I have 2 friends with Insights, one with an older model and one a newer model. Both really love their cars. Now that they will soon become 'collector cars' they will both retain them. My only criticism of the cars is exactly why my friends like the cars so much...they are very small cars. I've never liked small sports cars because I feel so invisible in them to other drivers, thereby making me feel unsafe and at the mercy of oblivious drivers. The only 2 seater I really like is my brother's Ferrari, but since I don't like to be the center of attention, and every where you go in that car you (or the car) ARE the center of attention, it makes me feel uncomfortable. I found the way around this was to grab my sister-in-law's sun hat (with the flowers on it) from the back, and wear it in the F. Back to the Insights...one friend drives it quite normally, the other drives it (what I think is) dangerously slow in order to maximize mileage. Like the EV-1, these cars are/were pioneers upon which I'll bet our Prii were based. If GM were to make an EV-2 I would seriously consider a purchase...unless Toyota comes out with a plug-in hybrid sooner, after all, all things being equal, I can't think of a good reason to support a company with a poor rep for quality when the choice is to support a company with a great rep. at these prices. Then again, if both companies sold their cars for, say $1000, I would choose to support the home team.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Dec 30 2006, 09:31 AM) [snapback]368582[/snapback]</div>

10 or 11 seconds. The performance and fuel economy of the Prius II vs the 5-speed Insight is close. Of course, seating five is a big advantage.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Delta Flyer @ Dec 30 2006, 09:59 AM) [snapback]368627[/snapback]</div>

So then the only "disadvantage" of the Insight is its small size. And that's only a "disadvantage" if you need more space.

 

Insight Nitpicking

I can't find many drawbacks to the Insight if you are content with a two-seater. If there is damage to the aluminum chassi or body (me on Dec 9), it limits the body shops that can work on it. Got it out of the shop yesterday in time for the www.insightbowl.com

Other nitpicking is limitied visibility thru the quarter panels, but so do SUVs and my mirrors do nicely. The stock radio was a cassette player, but it was replaced in later years. For trips over an hour or so, the seats are not the most comfortable - they were made lighter.

The 5-speed Insight is cleaner and dirtier than the Prius II. It has the least CO2 emissions of any vehicle built to date, but a lot more NOx than any other hybrid - blame the lean burn.

If you habitually upshift too early, you will shorten the battery pack life - see this thead for detail and pic > Dying Batteries in Honda Insight It's no problem if you are aware of this and drive non-aggressively.

Like Tony said, plenty of Insight info at www.cleanmpg.com.

 

I considered an Insight in 2005 when I was looking to replace my Saturn.

I eventually chose the Prius for several reasons already stated.

I had a two-door that seated four. I didn't want a two-door than only seated two. I wanted a four door that seated either four or five.

I had driven a manual for 30 years and needed an automatic.

I had lousy trunk storage in my Saturn. I needed better cargo space, not less/worse.

The mileage was close enough to the same. Both were way beyond their nearest competitors.

Mostly it had to do with my driving. I rarely have the long commutes that would allow the Insight to shine. I drive 25 miles round trip to work. 12 miles to and 12 miles back. Not the optimum driving for an Insight, but Okay for a Prius.

I think the Insight is an excellent commuter car and I'm sorry to see it go. I really wish they had continued with another generation with improvements rather than just stopping production.

I'm now very glad I chose the Prius as I won't have to worry about parts down the road and I do plan to purchase a future incarnation of the Prius when the timing is right.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Delta Flyer @ Dec 30 2006, 12:30 PM) [snapback]368680[/snapback]</div>

Pssst! Darell, there's your cue...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MarinJohn @ Dec 30 2006, 08:53 AM) [snapback]368601[/snapback]</div>

Actually, the Insight's first model year was 2000 (I believe). The Prius first came out in Japan in the 1998 model year. The difference is that the Insight was available in the US in its first year, and the Prius was a Japan-only car for its first 3 model years. What we got for the 2001 MY was an "update" to the original Prius (like version 1.1). The hatchback was a major redesign/upgrade, so it's known as the second generation of the car.

I'd LOVE to see an affordable electric car. Do you think GM would ever have the brains (or guts) to resurrect the EV1???

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mcbrunnhilde @ Dec 30 2006, 05:12 PM) [snapback]368771[/snapback]</div>

An EV today would be much more sophisticated than the EV1. But it's not a question of brains or guts. GM has decided there's more profit to be made from behemoth SUVs. Consider: They didn't just stop making the EV1. They called them all back and crushed them. GM did not want people to see EVs on the road because that would let people know it was possible and practical.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Dec 31 2006, 12:58 AM) [snapback]368847[/snapback]</div>

Aha. There's the rub. No back up plan. No long range planning. No thinking beyond the next quarter, end of fiscal year or next election.

Toyota on the other hand is slowly shifting it's line to hybrid. So their transition will be smooth and profitable. Toyota sees the writing on the wall.

GM doesn't see the wall.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Dec 30 2006, 11:00 PM) [snapback]368869[/snapback]</div>

Even Toyota is committing itself to gasoline, if it's putting all its eggs in the hybrid basket. Hybrid is more efficient and cleaner than conventional gasoline, but it still burns gasoline.

The writing on the wall says gasoline is a very short-term resource.

 

i work with a guy who has an insight, i have taken rides to compare as he has. we both have the same opinion,

i like his insight, it is peppier and roomier than i thought, but he says that even one extra passenger is a noticeable drop in acceleration and he did say that lack of storage was an issue for him (he moved from Montana to here and had to ship ALL his stuff at a considerable expense. in fact it was almost cheaper to rent a U-haul and car trailer, but wasnt sure he could manage the gas cost since he came over when gas prices were out of control and unpredictable)

he liked my Prius, technology differences is like a bicycle verses a Harley. he was impressed with my mileage since we have another Prius owner here and his mileage is only in the mid 40's (he admits to 80 mph mostly freeway driving though and he comes from Centralia and speed limit on I-5 is 70 mph in that stretch) but gets 60 mpg @ 65 mph on freeway during summer on regular basis.

so, all in all, we are both happy with what we have. i would never trade down, with child on the way, its simply not an option. he is single and young and probably doesnt need to upgrade for several years. i think in time though, he will come around

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FastAndTheThrifty @ Dec 30 2006, 03:58 AM) [snapback]368548[/snapback]</div>

If you said you leased one (obviously not, since you didn't know it wasn't a hybrid), then your opinion of the EV1 is in the smallest of majorities. If you didn't ~ then you're speaking / thought of the EV1 are based on . . . what. Our neighbor had one, & I for one, would have traded TWO Prius's to have the EV1, as would most everyone that had one ... regardless of the quality of most everything else GM makes / made.