RE: Honda Insight: You Know You Want To

RE: Honda Insight: You Know You Want To

Tuesday 18th June 2013

Honda Insight: You Know You Want To

A Honda hybrid? Yes, but one with a little bit of NSX in it



This is probably what's classed as a 'controversial' choice. You Know You Want To has recently been reserved for V8s in custom bodies, be they MG RV8s or Maserati Quattroportes, rather than fuel-sipping hybrids. With 120,000 recorded miles.

Before the Prius hybrids were interesting
Before the Prius hybrids were interesting
But look at today's criteria for a environmentally-friendly car and the 13-year-old Insight ticks all the boxes. Stop-start? Check. Lightweight, aerodynamic body? Check. Low rolling-resistance tyres? They're 165/65 R14s. Regenerative braking? Got it.

Of course, extolling the green credentials of an Insight on PH is like having the benefits of teetotalism explained in the pub; that's not what anybody is here for. So, with an extra-thick Nomex suit on, here are the reasons why the Mk1 Insight is an acceptable PH hybrid for enthusiasts.

It was manufactured at Honda's low-volume Tochigi plant alongside the NSX and S2000, which is just cool. Moreover, it comes from a time when Honda was brave enough to pursue new technology and also appeal to the enthusiast, the latter of which is only currently being previewed with the next NSX. The MY2000 Honda model range would have included the Insight, Accord Type R, S2000, Integra Type R and NSX, plus there was a BTCC campaign. Admittedly, the Insight may not be performance icon of its stablemates, but it's a far more interesting range of cars than the current Insight fights for showroom space against. The Insight reminds us of Honda being desirable. Furthermore, it was the first mainstream petrol-electric hybrid sold in Europe, making it historically significant.

850kg WITH the hybrid gubbins - Honda at its best
850kg WITH the hybrid gubbins - Honda at its best
Second point; the Insight was, and remains, an engineering marvel. The issue with hybrids is always the weight of the batteries, right? Honda made the Insight's body from aluminium so its kerb weight was just 850kg. Less weight means less power is required and greater efficiency results.

And there's more. The 1.0-litre engine not only provides an interesting noise thanks to its three-cylinder configuration, it has an aluminium head and block as well as magnesium components to again reduce weight. It provides 67hp, whilst the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) provides another 13hp and 25lb ft of torque. The IMA draws power from a 144-volt nickel-metal hydride battery pack and a brushless motor just 60mm thick. A smaller battery pack means it's less expensive to replace too; reconditioned units are also available, and Insights have been known to cover 250,000 miles on their original.

Powertrain specs mean we best talk performance. With a fully-charged battery, Car&Driver in the US timed an Insight from 0-60mph in 10.6 seconds, a second faster than Autocar's time for the second-gen Insight tested in 2009. Taking times with a 50 per cent depleted battery and no IMA assist at all, the Insight's average 0-60mph time was 12 seconds. No fireball, but that's still quicker than today's crop of city cars. Top speed, no doubt thanks to its 0.25Cd, is 112mph.

Suitably sci-fi dash completes the futurist  feel
Suitably sci-fi dash completes the futurist feel
If we said the Insight's combined mpg figure was 68.9mpg, would that be impressive? Same as a new Golf GTD in fact. Well, it shouldn't be too amazing, as that's the urban figure. The claimed combined fuel economy for an Insight is 83.1 mpg.

And don't think that's unachievable. Back in 2000, an Insight drove around Britain, a journey of 3,737 miles, whilst averaging 103mpg. Apparently the 'crowded south coast route to Exeter' dropped the early average to 88mpg. Shame.

On top of this, the Insight offers one of the funkiest interiors ever seen and shouldn't be too dreadful to drive either, notwithstanding the CVT gearbox. And this wedge of record-breaking, innovative, rare, intriguing Honda history can be bought for £2,750.


Honda Insight
Price:
£2,750
Why you should: It's a far more interesting (and efficient) car to commute in than a Golf diesel.
Why you shouldn't: Could maintaining the batteries be a nightmare?

See the original advert here

Author
Discussion

britsportscars

Original Poster:

281 posts

177 months

Tuesday 18th June 2013
quotequote all
Actually a little bit tempted by this (as a commuter car). Always have been a big fan of the Honda Vtec and the high revving fun that can be had. The dash looks a little bit like the S2000 dash too...

The Jolly Todger

2,742 posts

179 months

Tuesday 18th June 2013
quotequote all
Didn't Harrison Metcalfe run one of these and return some pretty impressive real world figures?


Usget

5,426 posts

210 months

Tuesday 18th June 2013
quotequote all
I don't think we'll take as much convincing as you think. These are cracking little cars and I'd happily run one. Someone restored one in Readers Cars a while back, and it looked properly desirable by the time he sold it.

GTEYE

2,092 posts

209 months

Tuesday 18th June 2013
quotequote all
An interesting little car, and some way ahead of its time. Makes me sad that recent Hondas have lost the flair and innovation of this era. Almost a Japanese peugeot these days...

Edited by GTEYE on Tuesday 18th June 12:40

McWigglebum4th

32,414 posts

203 months

Tuesday 18th June 2013
quotequote all
One car that is in my lottery win garage


Temptation is an evil thing


IN51GHT

8,777 posts

209 months

Tuesday 18th June 2013
quotequote all
Do it, on my daily 20 mile round trip I'm getting an average of nearly 90mpg. I'm on my third one know, each time I've sold up & got a lower mileage example, my current one is sitting at under 26,000 miles.

But "budget for a new clutch"... IT'S A CVT

Edited by IN51GHT on Tuesday 18th June 12:42


Edited by IN51GHT on Tuesday 18th June 12:44

bencollins

3,486 posts

204 months

Tuesday 18th June 2013
quotequote all
love these, only downside is lack of fresh air / sunroof, everything else, awesome, decent handling too.

Prawnboy

1,326 posts

146 months

Tuesday 18th June 2013
quotequote all
i would, if i was in the market for an eco runaround.

interesting car

IN51GHT

8,777 posts

209 months

Tuesday 18th June 2013
quotequote all
Usget said:
I don't think we'll take as much convincing as you think. These are cracking little cars and I'd happily run one. Someone restored one in Readers Cars a while back, and it looked properly desirable by the time he sold it.
That was me!!

gdelargy

73 posts

194 months

Tuesday 18th June 2013
quotequote all
Based on the sub-heading, I was expecting a conversion where the Insight's body had been draped over the engine/drivetrain of an NSX. Now that would have been something.

tercelgold

969 posts

156 months

Tuesday 18th June 2013
quotequote all
There are Toyota Prius 1.5 T3 2005 for £4.5K with batteries replaced under warranty. It's not the petrolhead power option but the novelty of an automatic electric hybrid is enough to tempt me along with 10 quid road tax, 60mpg. You can get "plug in" DIY conversion kits so you can park for free which is the main attraction of a city car.

AntiguaBill

321 posts

217 months

Tuesday 18th June 2013
quotequote all
Oh wow the number plate has my initials... what more reason do I need?!

Just ought to add, this was, I think, the first hybrid to have a manual gearbox. Such a shame this one doesn't have one :*(

The other thing I always found funny about these cars is, if you get the 2001+ emissions tax based one the tax is free. If you get one registered a day too early it will cost you £140 ! Scandalous!


NadiR

1,071 posts

146 months

Tuesday 18th June 2013
quotequote all
I like that, a lot, I'd class it as a petrolheads motor. A shame though, that pretty much all the hybrids that have come after this aren't interesting (with the exception of the CRZ), or as economical.

LongLiveTazio

2,714 posts

196 months

Tuesday 18th June 2013
quotequote all
It's only when you have proper experience of them that you appreciate quite what it is: a rare clean-sheet design. Attention to detail and build quality is another level and you'll probably never meet another one on the road. The NSX analogy is more prescient than you might think. Using it as a hack would be a waste and end up consigning another to be weighed in.

Blackpuddin

16,409 posts

204 months

Tuesday 18th June 2013
quotequote all
bencollins said:
decent handling too
Hmm, that's debatable, the one I ran for six months had very little grip, but that was part of its appeal. I loved the car. From an ergonomic point of view it was fabulous, everything you needed was within a handspan, even the seat material felt special. Bugger all luggage space but the nearest thing yet to a roadgoing concept car.

LongLiveTazio

2,714 posts

196 months

Tuesday 18th June 2013
quotequote all
Blackpuddin said:
Hmm, that's debatable, the one I ran for six months had very little grip, but that was part of its appeal. I loved the car. From an ergonomic point of view it was fabulous, everything you needed was within a handspan, even the seat material felt special. Bugger all luggage space but the nearest thing yet to a roadgoing concept car.
Mine cornered extremely flat considering what it was, it was amazing how you could keep momentum going.

Glad you mentioned seat material, was one of my favourite bits weirdly. Proper attention to detail.

IN51GHT

8,777 posts

209 months

Tuesday 18th June 2013
quotequote all
With regards to luggage space, it has sufficient. I can get my road bike & kit in the car no probs

Blackpuddin

16,409 posts

204 months

Tuesday 18th June 2013
quotequote all
LongLiveTazio said:
Blackpuddin said:
Hmm, that's debatable, the one I ran for six months had very little grip, but that was part of its appeal. I loved the car. From an ergonomic point of view it was fabulous, everything you needed was within a handspan, even the seat material felt special. Bugger all luggage space but the nearest thing yet to a roadgoing concept car.
Mine cornered extremely flat considering what it was, it was amazing how you could keep momentum going.

Glad you mentioned seat material, was one of my favourite bits weirdly. Proper attention to detail.
Aye, the flat cornering was because of the short-travel (ie stiff) suspension . You wouldn't buy it for wafting although ironically the drivetrain was perfect for that purpose. Worth mentioning that the early ones had a very nice 5-speed manual 'box.

sunsurfer

305 posts

180 months

Tuesday 18th June 2013
quotequote all
Why is the price so high? A Honda Civic of a similar age would presumably cost about £500-£1200.
I know it's a specialist car but three times as special?

Blackpuddin

16,409 posts

204 months

Tuesday 18th June 2013
quotequote all
sunsurfer said:
Why is the price so high? A Honda Civic of a similar age would presumably cost about £500-£1200.
I know it's a specialist car but three times as special?
Easily. Try one. There's no mass-production feel about it.