Anyone got a gen1 honda insight?
Discussion
I realise it's not a very piston heads car but I'm interested in a car that can do nearly 120mph and 70+mpg. I realise they are rare, ugly and a golf diesel can do the same job but was just curious as to what they are like to own. They can be had for a few grand now (prob because the batteries will need changing soon!) and as 90% of journeys are short (20miles or less) or round town there is a certain appeal to them
I have one.
2001 - 160k miles and lifetime MPG counter sat at 68MPG. Ive got a grid charger now to top the batteries up as a balancing exercise and seems to be keeping things in order.
Seems to be a rush of them on ebay this month, 3 sold within the last fortnight and theres one very similar to mine on there now and also a cat D with light front end damage.
Worth noting the congestion charge exemption they enjoyed has ended as the new system required sub 100g (Insight is only 80g) but they also have to be EURO 5 compliant. Of course it went out of production in 2006 so it was never certified for that by Honda. Existing owners can remain CC free until Dec 2012 though
2001 - 160k miles and lifetime MPG counter sat at 68MPG. Ive got a grid charger now to top the batteries up as a balancing exercise and seems to be keeping things in order.
Seems to be a rush of them on ebay this month, 3 sold within the last fortnight and theres one very similar to mine on there now and also a cat D with light front end damage.
Worth noting the congestion charge exemption they enjoyed has ended as the new system required sub 100g (Insight is only 80g) but they also have to be EURO 5 compliant. Of course it went out of production in 2006 so it was never certified for that by Honda. Existing owners can remain CC free until Dec 2012 though
There isnt really anything to go wrong and the tyres and brakes last comically long time. Ive had nothing go wrong with mine in 2 years. Common complaint is the EGR valve can get worn and cause a light throttle stutter, sometimes it might need a oxygen sensor changing (wideband) and suspension bits are Honda only which isnt cheap and they dont sell things like bushes seperately.
Main bug bear of mine is Bridgestone have stopped making the B391 OEM tyre which in Insight size was 40% lower rolling resistance so you Im missing the real opportunity of low effort uber high MPG from higher speed lean burn (100mpg cruising between 40-60mph)
Good enough fun car though, changes direction like a housefly and a manual with the assist is pretty good midrange overtaking ability - its geares around 30mph/1000rpm in 5th so will Vmax in 3rd,4th or 5th :P
Main bug bear of mine is Bridgestone have stopped making the B391 OEM tyre which in Insight size was 40% lower rolling resistance so you Im missing the real opportunity of low effort uber high MPG from higher speed lean burn (100mpg cruising between 40-60mph)
Good enough fun car though, changes direction like a housefly and a manual with the assist is pretty good midrange overtaking ability - its geares around 30mph/1000rpm in 5th so will Vmax in 3rd,4th or 5th :P
Edited by JonnyVTEC on Thursday 27th January 12:51
Gaz. said:
Are they hybrid or full electric?
They're hybrid and on the basis of the stats a way way better prospect than a toyota prius - They seem to be a much better thought out car than a prius - Light weight construction, very aerodynamic, lovely little 1.0 12v engine (Prius was a much larger capacity)Based on what people are saying on here it just reasures me that I should get one
morgrp said:
They're hybrid and on the basis of the stats a way way better prospect than a toyota prius - They seem to be a much better thought out car than a prius - Light weight construction, very aerodynamic, lovely little 1.0 12v engine (Prius was a much larger capacity)
Based on what people are saying on here it just reasures me that I should get one
They are nice, interesting, cars but they are only a way way better prospect than a Prius if you only need two seats and never want to carry anything bulky. I think the Toyota hybrid system is much better than the rather half-arsed Honda effort - my ideal would be a scaled down toyota powertrain in an Insight (mk1)or a CRZ.Based on what people are saying on here it just reasures me that I should get one
Other than the mass problem from the bigger engine and extra motor you would also need space for more battery. HSD is circa 130 kg rather than 60kg for the Insight and the insight 3 cylinder is a rather comical 56kg.
Lean burn on the insight gives great economy, not sure how far off the Gen3 1.8 Prius 210 g/kWh BSFC but it cant be far off. For ref thr 1.5 prius 2 peaked at 225.
Lean burn on the insight gives great economy, not sure how far off the Gen3 1.8 Prius 210 g/kWh BSFC but it cant be far off. For ref thr 1.5 prius 2 peaked at 225.
AnotherClarkey said:
They are nice, interesting, cars but they are only a way way better prospect than a Prius if you only need two seats and never want to carry anything bulky. I think the Toyota hybrid system is much better than the rather half-arsed Honda effort - my ideal would be a scaled down toyota powertrain in an Insight (mk1)or a CRZ.
Yes but it is impossible to have a manual gear shift with the Toyota system but the Honda can have a manual gearbox (and many do).http://automobiles.honda.com/mile-makers/owner-sto...
Those are the early ones, 403k is the highest milage
720k on this later version
http://automobiles.honda.com/mile-makers/story.asp...
Those are the early ones, 403k is the highest milage
720k on this later version
http://automobiles.honda.com/mile-makers/story.asp...
SubaruSteve said:
Yes but it is impossible to have a manual gear shift with the Toyota system but the Honda can have a manual gearbox (and many do).
I am perverse and actually like CVT's (not that the Toyota system has anything like a normal CVT) but I appreciate that many would want a manual. A scaled-down Toyota HSD using the little 3-pot from the Aygo would be just the ticket for me. Come to think of it, maybe I would go even smaller and use something like a 600cc with a turbo?Probably not great how the HSD system relies on counter torque from one MG to control the ratio and flow into other motor in a smaller car. You cant really flow a big deal to and from the battery. Its a bit of a mess with actual efficiency, the long gearing you would be able to run i dont think would be great for a small capacity engine either as the engine type is not reknowned for throttle response!
CVT insight also exist.
CVT insight also exist.
JonnyVTEC said:
Probably not great how the HSD system relies on counter torque from one MG to control the ratio and flow into other motor in a smaller car. You cant really flow a big deal to and from the battery. Its a bit of a mess with actual efficiency, the long gearing you would be able to run i dont think would be great for a small capacity engine either as the engine type is not reknowned for throttle response!
CVT insight also exist.
Is throttle response a necessary characteristic in the Toyota system then? I thought they used the Atkinson cycle engine because it just had to drone away in a narrow rev range with the two motor/generators coping with fluctuating power demands? CVT insight also exist.
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