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CD_Editor
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« on: July 23, 2008, 10:39:27 pm » |
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 Used Vehicle Review:   The two-seater Honda Insight's "aerodynamic shape and economical drivetrain combined to make for some impressive fuel consumption numbers," says Contributing Editor, Chris Chase. "It seems to have been pretty reliable," but replacing the battery pack can be "pricey", he notes. More:Read the article | View the photos | All the Test Drives
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2hondas1BMW
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« Reply #1 on: July 23, 2008, 11:43:31 pm » |
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Wow, they made this till 2006?  I recall seeing them when they first came out...but I haven't seen one in years. |
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Mine: 2004 Acura TSX
Family: 2005 Honda Odyssey EX, 2006 BMW 330i
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Cortina
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« Reply #2 on: July 24, 2008, 12:28:59 am » |
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I think this is going to be a future collectors car. Just screams it really.  |
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rrocket
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« Reply #3 on: July 24, 2008, 12:30:19 am » |
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I think they are cool. I say one for sale for $5500 once....and I missed buying it by an hour or so....  |
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How fast is my Supra? I sh*t on Cessnas from a roll....
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2hondas1BMW
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« Reply #4 on: July 24, 2008, 12:41:59 am » |
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Only hybrid to be offered in a manual transmission? |
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Mine: 2004 Acura TSX
Family: 2005 Honda Odyssey EX, 2006 BMW 330i
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rrocket
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« Reply #6 on: July 24, 2008, 01:18:45 am » |
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Doesn't look like it's $5500..... |
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How fast is my Supra? I sh*t on Cessnas from a roll....
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Cortina
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« Reply #7 on: July 24, 2008, 02:00:53 am » |
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Doesn't look like it's $5500.....
Well its 2000. Can't be that much. Its first year production. Cars like that do make me nervous too regardless who it is. |
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johngenx
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« Reply #8 on: July 24, 2008, 02:01:31 am » |
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I wasn't too fond of the Insight at first, but the weird looks have grown on me, and I think a cheery used one would be a cool find, but I have SO many other things on my list, it's not gonna happen. That said, when I see one, I think, "hell yeah..." |
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No place I'd rather be...  |
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TopGun
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« Reply #9 on: July 24, 2008, 08:53:02 am » |
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Here's another review from the "free" auto-mag Winding Road. http://windingroad.nextautos.com/windingroad/200808/?folio=127Apparently buyers in the US are now going nuts over this thing...low mileage examples on e-bay were going for mid $20,000s...yes...more than their MSRPs when new. From the article with my edits - It's fuel economy (somewhere between 55 and 70 mpg...still exceeds anything you can buy from a major manufactuer today... |
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If it flies, floats or f#%&s...rent it.
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Eric Green
Guest
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« Reply #10 on: July 24, 2008, 11:03:02 am » |
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...and it strikes me as a more reliable choice in economical transportation than the newer Smart Fortwo, despite that car's internal-combustion-only drivetrain.
This is just nonsense. A hybrid vehicle, by design and definition, contains two completely separate drive systems, and a control system to integrate the two drive systems. And when one factors in the NiMH or Li-Ion battery, in addition to a hydrocarbon fuel system, another level of inherent complexity is added.
So, just how is this possibly "a more reliable choice...than.. [an] internal-combustion-only drivetrain"?
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mwqa
Auto Obsessed
 OfflineVehicle: 2004 Suzuki Aerio S
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Posts: 931
member
 
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« Reply #11 on: July 24, 2008, 11:14:47 am » |
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Just put the steering wheel in the DOWN position and the drive feels much better - watz up with that??
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chrischasescars
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« Reply #12 on: July 24, 2008, 12:33:45 pm » |
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...and it strikes me as a more reliable choice in economical transportation than the newer Smart Fortwo, despite that car's internal-combustion-only drivetrain.
This is just nonsense. A hybrid vehicle, by design and definition, contains two completely separate drive systems, and a control system to integrate the two drive systems. And when one factors in the NiMH or Li-Ion battery, in addition to a hydrocarbon fuel system, another level of inherent complexity is added.
So, just how is this possibly "a more reliable choice...than.. [an] internal-combustion-only drivetrain"?
I didn't say the Insight would be a more reliable choice than a car with an ICE-only drivetrain. That wouldn't be true. What is true is, as you quoted above, that it would be a more reliable choice than the smart fortwo, despite that car's ICE-only drivetrain. It was a direct comparison between two two-seat cars designed to be economical commuter vehicles. |
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The Mighty Duck
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« Reply #13 on: July 24, 2008, 02:05:42 pm » |
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Only hybrid to be offered in a manual transmission?
The Seventh-gen Civic hybrid was also available with a five-speed manual transmission. That option went away for the new Civic hybrid. |
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Demosthenes [noun], dem-aws-thene-s
1) (384 BC – 322 BC) the greatest of the Ancient Greek orators
2) pseudonym used by Valentine Wiggin in Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game to alter the events of world history
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PJungnitsch
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« Reply #14 on: July 24, 2008, 02:22:23 pm » |
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A friend bought a bright neon-green used one a couple years ago. AFAIK it's been reliable for her. Mileage is fantastic, which makes for some interesting driving choices, on a long weekend she and her son (driving shifts) drove it from Lethbridge to San Diego and back. Must be fairly comfortable.
That's cheap for a battery pack. About the price of a clutch. |
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Arctic_White
Auto Obsessed
OfflineVehicle: '08 MX-5
Gender: 
Location: Burnaby, BC
Posts: 860
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« Reply #15 on: July 24, 2008, 04:01:23 pm » |
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Only hybrid to be offered in a manual transmission?
That's correct. |
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Eric Green
Guest
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« Reply #16 on: July 24, 2008, 04:08:39 pm » |
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Stickshift 12:33:45
That clarification makes no sense as a direct comparison between two two-seat cars designed to be economical commuter vehicles. The Smart will be the more reliable vehicle qua ICE-only drivetrain vehicle. Honda indisputably makes a fine vehicle, but adding a complex, second drive system to a vehicle will render it less reliable in the medium and long term. That's merely common sense and engineering reality.
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johngenx
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« Reply #17 on: July 24, 2008, 04:19:01 pm » |
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I doubt the SMART, regardless of driveline, will be as reliable as ANY Honda. They are poorly built POS's and the diesel driveline is crap. I'd bet a first year Insight against a nearly-new (don't know about the gas driveline) SMART any day... |
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No place I'd rather be...
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rrocket
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« Reply #18 on: July 24, 2008, 05:54:40 pm » |
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I called. They were asking $10K for it. And it sold for that!!  |
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How fast is my Supra? I sh*t on Cessnas from a roll....
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Turbo Bob
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« Reply #19 on: July 24, 2008, 06:12:22 pm » |
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Here's another review from the "free" auto-mag Winding Road. http://windingroad.nextautos.com/windingroad/200808/?folio=127Apparently buyers in the US are now going nuts over this thing...low mileage examples on e-bay were going for mid $20,000s...yes...more than their MSRPs when new. From the article with my edits - It's fuel economy (somewhere between 55 and 70 mpg...still exceeds anything you can buy from a major manufactuer today...This new Fiesta is looking good... http://www.channel4.com/4car/news/news-story.jsp?news_id=17857 |
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Power is how fast you hit the wall... Torque is how far you take the wall with you!  |
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