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Comments
http://lucienk.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!A4AE3FB12A26635!952.entry
The MotorTrend Insight to Prius III video comparison is pretty interesting as well. The winner is different from Edmunds comparison but that's because pricing was considered a factor.
The Insight is more expensive than a Fit (little bit less if your state offers sale tax exemption for Hybrids) but 2-3K cheaper than a Prius/Civic. Many people expect bit more for the price forgetting it's still a Hybrid and you do still pay some premium. But the premium is much lower than it ever was before. It's rumoured that Toyota might lower the Prius III price therefore (they did lower it in Japan but not in Europe).
The CR-Z and Jazz/Fit Hybrid will arrive next year so there will be more choices. Honda also confirmed working on a larger vehicle hybrid system (which I assume will offer more luxurious choices).
I got used to/over all the above by my 2nd drive in the Insight.
The Insight is nicer looking (my opinion) than the Fit (which I like) or the Prius. The Insight lets you know/displays the outside temp., the Fit does not.
I have just a hundred or so miles on each but the Insight is nearing 40 mpg and the Fit around 30. My previous 2009 Fit was getting 34 on short trips over curvy two lane (never 4 lanes) mountain roads.
Oh, one other thing, I'm short and I've already bumped my head (a good thing?) 3 or 4 times playing around (front seat/rear seat) in the Insight.
Does anyone seriously think that there will be a hybrid Fit in the next year or two?
If a hybid Fit could match the mgp of the Insight & keep its superior interior space & handling, & cost the same or less, it would be a no brainer purchase for me. I will be watching for the latest developments!
Re mileage it clearly depends on the route but on average you should be able to exceed the EPA rating after the break-in period. Relatively speaking though improvement of 33% is really not bad. How much again depends on the route. Here's a motor trend fuel economy test with ideal road conditions (not stopping and not high speed). He got 65mpg and 28 mpg when he drove bit faster:
http://www.motortrend.com/av/roadtests/112_0901_2010_honda_insight_mileage_test_- - video/index.html
PS I've maintained a list of upcoming Hybrids here:
http://lucienk.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!A4AE3FB12A26635!912.entry
I mean it's something you'd notice on a normal test drive. Just like I noticed how cramped the back seats are and I'm only 5'7" tall.
Power was ok compared to a Honda Fit. But compared to a Prius the Insight is a bit slower feeling and not as comfortable.
But the power didn't change from the test drive until now. Did you turn off ECON mode? That will give you more power.
Buy a normal Honda!!!
Buy a normal Honda!!!
I own a Honda Fit Sport. I test drove the Insight. I was not impressed. My point to you was that if you drove the car before you bought it, you would be aware of the power it does/n't have.
It's a 99HP car, it's meant for city driving, like the Fit and most small cars.
I find the 118HP of the Fit barely adequate for the hills in my area. So 99HP wouldn't be enough especially in the winter on the barely plowed roads.
The total combined HP is 111HP. No doubt the Fit is little bit faster (about 1 sec to 60mph). Using the S mode helps little bit (EX models).
Try this with the engine off, be in Park, put the key in and in position "ON 2", page 128.
To get started, go to page 76 of your owner's manual. There are two "Info" navigation buttons on the outer steering wheel around 4 or 5 o'clock which the driver pushes towards the front of the vehicle or away from him/her.
One has an up arrow and the lower a down arrow to navigate the menu system
There is also one "Select" button in back of the two Info buttons which the driver uses to pick his/her choices. The driver pulls this button towards them to select an option after using the two Info buttons to navigate thru the menus.
Clear as mud so far?
To enter the "Change Settings" mode, go to Pg. 91 of the manual. When you want to change the factory settings (be not afraid), hold either of the two Info buttons and hold for more than 3 seconds. (This is a lot like work.)
If you have followed instructions like a good German you should now be able to up or down arrow the Info buttons until you get to "DOOR SETUP". When you see "DOOR SETUP" pull the Select button (behind the Info buttons) toward you.
Use the Info buttons to get to "AUTO DOOR LOCK" and pull Select towards you. Pg. 106. Once in "AUTO DOOR LOCK" there are 3 choices: "SHIFT FROM P", "WITH VEHICLE SPEED", and "OFF". Page 107.
Use the Info buttons to cycle until "OFF" is displayed then pull "Select" towards you.
When you are finished cursing and having a nervous breakdown, INFO button through the menus until you see EXIT and press Select. Congratulations, go pour yourself a nice strong drink and wait for Honda to mail you your promotion to Pilot of the Enterprise Space Station!
To recap - it's not bad IF you just remember this, Navigate the menu system using the Info buttons, change the setting using the Select button before going into the swamp.
I hope this helps, it probably won't. If it doesn't, please keep it to yourself or I may have to come over and kill you.
Actually it's someone else that has a problem with the doors, not me. I've just test driven the car and found it to be underpowered for my needs.
1. First noticed that the car seemed just a tiny bit cheap looking inside and out, but not much to sway me to leave. Just thought it could be some what like my 09 Civic EX-L
2. The Interior seemed too busy for the dash and that the area for the NAV system looked as an after thought with this black shiny plastic that really turned me off on. The regular radio, none nav system looked a bit better.
3. Back Seat area... What back seat area ? For kids yes and for smaller people maybe, but for my 6-3 size and yes even for the sales rep 5-8 size, we had issues. For me, even with the front seat pulled forward, I had trouble with my legs and as for my head, I had to bend it forward since there was not enough head room. What was Honda thinking with this limited back seat ?
This was a deal breaker. Many of my friends are 6-0 or more and that would be intolerable to them.
4. Test drive. Not too far, about 5 miles or a tad more. For the city part, it performed well, not great nor did I expect it to for a hybrid. Trying to push it some, the engine sounded course, some what loud over my 09 Civic Automatic.
If it was not for the back seating issue and the cheap looking dash where the NAV would go, I would have purchase it then and there.
Will now take a wait and see on any rumored 2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid, Fit Hybrid or go with the Toyota 2010 Prius that will hold larger passengers in the back, but of course it will cost about 4 thousand or more for it.
The second test drive gave me some more confidence that even with a tight rear seating after adjusting the front seat a bit more that it was tolerable for some of my family and friends, not to mention not wanting to pay at least 5 grand more for the Prius.
I got the White Pearl EX no Nav with the added front fog lamps that really make it stand out more over the none fog lights.
Many, many times these nuances get lost in translation.
An LX may not offer the adaptability that either or one ( EX w/Navi ) of the other models does.
First day I immediately went to the gas station to top it off very early in the morning, then drove about three miles back home. I registered on the insight about 54 mpg. Only one stop light during those short three miles and did use the Econ button thingy. Very impressed.
Now city driving only for two days, early morning, no traffic 1/2 mile to and 1/2 mile back from the bank or store, driving normally, no hypermiling stuff, just normal. Not enough time to warm up the engine, so did not expect great numbers. I got about 34/36 mpg in those two days.
One has to conclude ( Common sense ) that you get lower mpg no matter what car you drive, not having the car warmed up and just a very short drive.
Had a 09 Civic Auto with Nav, got 25/26 mpg on a 4 mile to and from work city only. Soon retired and drove that 1/2 mile to and 1/2 mile back driving stuff and got 17 mpg. See how it works ?
Fabric is on par with the Civic I owned back in 06, my 09 had leather. Unknown how well it will keep nor does anyone else, so don't let others con you into believing it is junk.
Upkeep after the warranty remark by vaga should not have been stated. He, I, and no one else has a clue as to any upkeep after the warranty. Do not have a Crystal ball, but I hope it will last a good while.
The car is nice, could be much better, and will be when in 5 years time the full make over arrives as with any new model.
Regarding the about 5 grand more, let me clarify this. The brand new Prius still the price has not been announced, will cost about 5 grand more for the Level 3 which will include a big mark up as I have experienced, not any where near 21 or 22 grand. The Insight, at one dealer I visited, is going for $1,000 over MSRP for the LX and $2,000 over MSRP for the EX. I paid just slighty under MSRP for my EX since I am a long time buyer from this dearlership.
Toyota dearlerships have been known to pump up the price on a brand new model year unless you are lucky. Don't know where you got the $21,000 or so price for a 2010 Prius since pricing is not out yet, so I will forgive you on that one. And no, I will not compare prices on a 2009 model, only between a 2010 Insight and a 2010 Prius to keep it simple.
I doubt Honda will take 5 years to tweak the Insight. From what I have seen in the past they will find out from consumers what issues crop up the most and resolve them. I think they should have offered the same interior options as they do on the Civic. Let's be honest the Civic parts bin is overflowing as it is and it's cost effective to use Civic interior parts. The Civic has a good interior considering the cost. They are already using the steering wheel, etc...
I expect minor changes each year until the 2015 model comes out. Toyota has done the same with the Prius.
What I would like to see is a larger back seat area, a better layout for the instrument panel, and that will not be given during the five year stretch for this new Insight.
Within 3 years, honda will offer Leather seats probably, some more colors and a small tweaking of the the front and rear head lights as they have done on the civic and other cars.
Brand new 09 Prius for $21k with stability control and rear view backup camera.
The 2010 list price will probably not go up much if any as they have decontented in some ways - new display screen etc, and have economy of scale plus competition.
BTW - why not compare the 2009 as it is larger than the Honda and gets better mpg. Yes it does not handle as well, but that will still probably be the case for the 2010.
Pricing for Prius III would be announced tomorrow and rumors are that Toyota is lowering the base price to $21000 to be able to compete with the Insight. The base model though wouldn't be available first couple of months.
The 21K price seems to good to be true but Prius hasn't sold well so might be real deal. According to Edmunds the TMV price is more like 1K below MSRP.
Has anyone tried installing these themselves. I'm wondering how difficult it is in practice.
Would also like to know how much fog lights actually help in the fog. I've never had experience with them.
Thanks for any input
This is the guy from "Top Gear", he hates Porsche 911s too.
Have a good laugh.
Don
Depends on the fog lights. Most fog lights I see on cars these days are white which IMHO do no more than regular headlights. Yellow or amber fog lights are better because they stand out in the white fog and are more noticeable and can be seen farther out than white lights.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Mostly I just have two problems with it; the going and the stopping.
Acceleration is painfully slow even compared to my non-rocketship Fit,
braking is weird, as is stopping,
starting from a stop (the gas engine has shut itself off) causes the entire car to shudder, then nothing, then you move ahead, very slowly,
handling is not very nice either,
ride quality is barely o.k.
steering the Insight feels more like you're the captain of a huge oil tanker and every turn feels like you're going wide; not to worry, you usually are!
I'm 5' 9" (maybe 5' 8") and I can NOT see the speedometer no matter what position I put the driver's seat in.
One bangs ones head at almost every exit and entry and the back seat is much worse! Honda should include a bottle of aspirin with every Insight.
It's a weird car, I'd have to call it a mistake.
My other car is a Honda Fit and I owned an Element prior to that so I'm actually a Honda fan; just not of the Insight.
I did. I'm 6'4" and have no problems with seeing the speedometer.
I like the way the car starts and stops and I don't hold up the traffic at all.
I also don't know what you mean by wide turns. My 2010 Insight doesn't make wide turns.
Acceleration is fair and expected it to be with a hybrid. Turned off Econ or put the shift into "S" and no issues with accelerations at all.
No shudder when stopping. It justs goes to sleep which was interesting at first
Handling for me is about the same as my 09 Civic non hybrid automatic
I have never banged my head on anything getting into or out of the vehicle from the front. Do not drive from the back seat so this is not an issue. Back seat is not good for tall people but I also remember the Civic Coup with a really bad back seat (Room) as well...
OUCH!
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/30/i-consumer-reports-i-lambasts-honda-insight-r- anks-it-21-out/
The FFH excels in all the areas that CR slammed the Insight: "ride quality, handling, interior noise, acceleration, rear-seat, access, and visibility,"
P.S. I also own a Corvette. I use that for handling and acceleration.
Granted I drive with an eye towards MPG and I would probably do better in a hybrid. But I paid under 12k for the car new (end of model design). I just cant make myself pay nearly twice that much for a car with only slightly better MPG and a potentially sketchier maitenance and repair outlook. Shouldn't the MPG on these hybrids be Much better?
The Insight EX version looks to be a perfect machine for my lady and I, but I have one question, and please forgive my ignorance with what I'm about to ask but I'm not all that familiar with Honda product:
Is there no roadside assistance available with this machine whatsoever? :confuse:
Not even as an option?
Please, someone in the know inform.
I'd sure appreciate it.
Many thanx...
Peace!<-AladdinSane<- :shades: -
My 09 Civic in the same loop got about 25/26 mpg. 09 is a automatic, EX-L with Nav which makes a little difference over a standard transmission.
Also have to remember, newer cars are mandated by law to have more smog control devices and that will kill mpg as well....
If one would log onto this link below to find out what others are getting as far as mpg on various models you will learn that most are not getting any where near what you got with your 2005 Honda Civic.
http://www.truedelta.com/fuel_economy.php
I have April 2010 EX with 1000 mi now in Hawaii.
I test drove my Insight driving an 8 to 9 mile round trip in the City and averaged about 44/46 mpg.
Drove only 1/2 mile up and 1/2 mile back from the store, or bank for a months time and averaged about 29 miles per gallon with the air on. See the big difference ? Ambient temps, how far one drives, is the car warmed up enough, air on or off and how long those traffic lights are will play a big difference in your gas mileage. Not to mention if you dive it like you did with a non hybrid car. Fast and careless attitude so to speak.