« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

Author Topic: CD Article: Honda Insight, 2001-2006  (Read 5723 times)

Offline Autos_Editor

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 3206
  • Carma: +50/-5
  • member
    • View Profile
CD Article: Honda Insight, 2001-2006
« on: July 23, 2008, 10:39:27 pm »


Used Vehicle Review:
Honda Insight, 2001-2006

Honda Insight, 2001-2006The 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
Report to moderator   Logged

Offline 1TSX

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: London, Ontario
  • Posts: 3311
  • Carma: +28/-26
  • Gender: Male
  • member
    • View Profile
Re: CD Article: Honda Insight, 2001-2006
« Reply #1 on: July 23, 2008, 11:43:31 pm »
Wow, they made this till 2006?  ??? I recall seeing them when they first came out...but I haven't seen one in years.
Report to moderator   Logged
Mine: 2004 Acura TSX
Family: 2005 Honda Odyssey EX, 2006 BMW 330i

Offline Cortina

  • Drunk on Fuel
  • ****
  • Location: SW Ontario
  • Posts: 1496
  • Carma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: CD Article: Honda Insight, 2001-2006
« Reply #2 on: July 24, 2008, 12:28:59 am »
I think this is going to be a future collectors car. Just screams it really. :)
Report to moderator   Logged

Offline rrocket

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: My house
  • Posts: 18663
  • Carma: +81/-89
    • View Profile
Re: CD Article: Honda Insight, 2001-2006
« Reply #3 on: July 24, 2008, 12:30:19 am »
I think they are cool.  I say one for sale for $5500 once....and I missed buying it by an hour or so....:(
Report to moderator   Logged
How fast is my Supra?  I sh*t on Cessnas from a roll....

Offline 1TSX

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: London, Ontario
  • Posts: 3311
  • Carma: +28/-26
  • Gender: Male
  • member
    • View Profile
Re: CD Article: Honda Insight, 2001-2006
« Reply #4 on: July 24, 2008, 12:41:59 am »
Only hybrid to be offered in a manual transmission?
Report to moderator   Logged

Offline Cortina

  • Drunk on Fuel
  • ****
  • Location: SW Ontario
  • Posts: 1496
  • Carma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: CD Article: Honda Insight, 2001-2006
« Reply #5 on: July 24, 2008, 01:15:28 am »
Quote from: rrocket on July 24, 2008, 12:30:19 am
I think they are cool.  I say one for sale for $5500 once....and I missed buying it by an hour or so....:(

Pickering Honda have one for sale. ;)

http://www.trader.ca/powerpage/details.aspx?vlotid=49173&adid=7130480
Report to moderator   Logged

Offline rrocket

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: My house
  • Posts: 18663
  • Carma: +81/-89
    • View Profile
Re: CD Article: Honda Insight, 2001-2006
« Reply #6 on: July 24, 2008, 01:18:45 am »
Doesn't look like it's $5500.....
Report to moderator   Logged

Offline Cortina

  • Drunk on Fuel
  • ****
  • Location: SW Ontario
  • Posts: 1496
  • Carma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: CD Article: Honda Insight, 2001-2006
« Reply #7 on: July 24, 2008, 02:00:53 am »
Quote from: rrocket on July 24, 2008, 01:18:45 am
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. :)
Report to moderator   Logged

Offline johngenx

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: A space inside my own head where there are only mountains and climbing days...
  • Posts: 10333
  • Carma: +62/-80
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: CD Article: Honda Insight, 2001-2006
« Reply #8 on: July 24, 2008, 02:01:31 am »
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..."
Report to moderator   Logged
No place I'd rather be...

Offline TopGun

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: Oakville
  • Posts: 3516
  • Carma: +7/-59
  • Gender: Male
  • I'd get a ZR-1...but the interior sucks.
    • View Profile
Re: CD Article: Honda Insight, 2001-2006
« Reply #9 on: July 24, 2008, 08:53:02 am »
Here's another review from the "free" auto-mag Winding Road.

http://windingroad.nextautos.com/windingroad/200808/?folio=127

Apparently 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...
Report to moderator   Logged
If it flies, floats or f#%&s...rent it.

Eric Green

  • Guest
Re: CD Article: Honda Insight, 2001-2006
« Reply #10 on: July 24, 2008, 11:03:02 am »
...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"?
Report to moderator   Logged

Offline mwqa

  • Auto Obsessed
  • ***
  • Location: Montreal, Quebec
  • Posts: 970
  • Carma: +1/-1
  • member
    • View Profile
Re: CD Article: Honda Insight, 2001-2006
« Reply #11 on: July 24, 2008, 11:14:47 am »
Spy photos of the 2nd generation Insight?

http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=776723
Report to moderator   Logged
Just put the steering wheel in the DOWN position and the drive feels much better - watz up with that??

Online chrischasescars

  • WingMan
  • *****
  • Location: Ottawa, Ontario
  • Posts: 998
  • Carma: +11/-9
  • Gender: Male
  • Automotive journalism ninja
    • View Profile
Re: CD Article: Honda Insight, 2001-2006
« Reply #12 on: July 24, 2008, 12:33:45 pm »
Quote from: Eric Green on July 24, 2008, 11:03:02 am
...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.
Report to moderator   Logged
Buy this car to drive to work; Drive to work to pay for this car.
I write stuff here: ThisIsWhatIThinkOfYourCar.com
I sing stuff here: ChrisChasesCars.bandcamp.com/

Offline The Mighty Duck

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: Kingston, ON
  • Posts: 7195
  • Carma: +14/-8
  • Gender: Male
  • f*** that duck
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2009 Honda Fit
Re: CD Article: Honda Insight, 2001-2006
« Reply #13 on: July 24, 2008, 02:05:42 pm »
Quote from: 2hondas on July 24, 2008, 12:41:59 am
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.  :(
Report to moderator   Logged

Offline PJungnitsch

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: Edmonton, AB
  • Posts: 3042
  • Carma: +8/-1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
    • Travel in Africa
Re: CD Article: Honda Insight, 2001-2006
« Reply #14 on: July 24, 2008, 02:22:23 pm »
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.
Report to moderator   Logged

Offline Arctic_White

  • Auto Obsessed
  • ***
  • Location: Burnaby, BC
  • Posts: 865
  • Carma: +0/-0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: CD Article: Honda Insight, 2001-2006
« Reply #15 on: July 24, 2008, 04:01:23 pm »
Quote from: 2hondas on July 24, 2008, 12:41:59 am
Only hybrid to be offered in a manual transmission?

That's correct.
Report to moderator   Logged

Eric Green

  • Guest
Re: CD Article: Honda Insight, 2001-2006
« Reply #16 on: July 24, 2008, 04:08:39 pm »
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.


Report to moderator   Logged

Offline johngenx

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: A space inside my own head where there are only mountains and climbing days...
  • Posts: 10333
  • Carma: +62/-80
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: CD Article: Honda Insight, 2001-2006
« Reply #17 on: July 24, 2008, 04:19:01 pm »
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...
Report to moderator   Logged

Offline rrocket

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: My house
  • Posts: 18663
  • Carma: +81/-89
    • View Profile
Re: CD Article: Honda Insight, 2001-2006
« Reply #18 on: July 24, 2008, 05:54:40 pm »
Quote from: Cortina on July 24, 2008, 01:15:28 am
Quote from: rrocket on July 24, 2008, 12:30:19 am
I think they are cool.  I say one for sale for $5500 once....and I missed buying it by an hour or so....:(

Pickering Honda have one for sale. ;)

http://www.trader.ca/powerpage/details.aspx?vlotid=49173&adid=7130480

I called.  They were asking $10K for it.   And it sold for that!!   :o
Report to moderator   Logged

Offline Turbo Bob

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: Waterloo
  • Posts: 9314
  • Carma: +20/-61
  • Gender: Male
  • Profesional Dash Stroker
    • View Profile
    • Rob Smith Photography
Re: CD Article: Honda Insight, 2001-2006
« Reply #19 on: July 24, 2008, 06:12:22 pm »
Quote from: TopGun on July 24, 2008, 08:53:02 am
Here's another review from the "free" auto-mag Winding Road.

http://windingroad.nextautos.com/windingroad/200808/?folio=127

Apparently 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
Report to moderator   Logged
Power is how fast you hit the wall... Torque is how far you take the wall with you!

Pages: [1] 2   Go Up
« previous next »