Mk1 Honda Insight
Discussion
peterperkins said:
Have you spoken to me about it? I fix these for a living in the UK/EU.
I keep new battery packs in stock etc.. £2k with three year warranty. Not 3k
Have you tried grid charging and /or ultra deep discharging? Worth a try if you are electrically competent.
Have you posted on the UK Insight owners FB group or on www.Insightcentral.net the worldwide info repository.
I'm doing loads of work on Lithium at the moment with various owners and have done at least 4 IMA conversions over the last ten years...
There are lots of options..
With family commitments and the car in a poor running state I would work through these options above and get it going in full health, it will be far easier to sell, although you probably won't want to once its running heathily again - brilliant car, wish I had one for my commute. Built with the same aluminium expertise as the original NSX's - surely will be worth a lot more in original spec but again not everyone liked them. I keep new battery packs in stock etc.. £2k with three year warranty. Not 3k
Have you tried grid charging and /or ultra deep discharging? Worth a try if you are electrically competent.
Have you posted on the UK Insight owners FB group or on www.Insightcentral.net the worldwide info repository.
I'm doing loads of work on Lithium at the moment with various owners and have done at least 4 IMA conversions over the last ten years...
There are lots of options..
Edited by peterperkins on Thursday 5th March 18:28
Took the car to get MOT'd today. The first thing the guy said was "we haven't had a pass yet today" at 3pm, a few alarm bells ring. Then tells me he hates hybrids and I should buy a diesel. Already regretting the enticing price.
Got a call about half hour in to say he needed the logbook. Nip home to get it. Turns out he's spotted that instead of reading 1000*** the chassis no is recorded as 100***.
His words "you're running round in a dodgy car mate"
Me, "I think I can see what's happened"
Result, no MOT. It hadn't been spotted since import in 2003, I'll give him credit for that.
Still an absolute jobsworth though.
Got a call about half hour in to say he needed the logbook. Nip home to get it. Turns out he's spotted that instead of reading 1000*** the chassis no is recorded as 100***.
His words "you're running round in a dodgy car mate"
Me, "I think I can see what's happened"
Result, no MOT. It hadn't been spotted since import in 2003, I'll give him credit for that.
Still an absolute jobsworth though.
TR4man said:
That seems harsh if he failed it on just that.
It didn't fail he wouldn't even start it. Reckoned it would be illegal for him to do so. Basically insinuating it's a cloned car when it's patently obvious the DVLA monkey couldn't tap out the right number of zeros when it was imported.
ChocolateFrog said:
TR4man said:
That seems harsh if he failed it on just that.
It didn't fail he wouldn't even start it. Reckoned it would be illegal for him to do so. Basically insinuating it's a cloned car when it's patently obvious the DVLA monkey couldn't tap out the right number of zeros when it was imported.
I had similar with another import (imported in 1987) all the paper MOT's had the wrong chassis number on it (S instead of a 5) and several of the computerised ones too - then a fastidious tester entered the right chassis number (they didn't tell me) and shortly after the fun started - got a letter from the DVLA saying I could no longer tax the car until it's identity had been resolved
Took about 6 mths to sort it out................
B'stard Child said:
ChocolateFrog said:
TR4man said:
That seems harsh if he failed it on just that.
It didn't fail he wouldn't even start it. Reckoned it would be illegal for him to do so. Basically insinuating it's a cloned car when it's patently obvious the DVLA monkey couldn't tap out the right number of zeros when it was imported.
I had similar with another import (imported in 1987) all the paper MOT's had the wrong chassis number on it (S instead of a 5) and several of the computerised ones too - then a fastidious tester entered the right chassis number (they didn't tell me) and shortly after the fun started - got a letter from the DVLA saying I could no longer tax the car until it's identity had been resolved
Took about 6 mths to sort it out................
(kinda like reverse ringing a car !)
shalmaneser said:
This is the solution.
OP, 2k for a battery from the Peter chap above sounds like a good deal tbh.
It would be if I planned on keeping it long term but too many 2 seaters with a baby and a German Shepherd is becoming somewhat impractical. OP, 2k for a battery from the Peter chap above sounds like a good deal tbh.
It's worth £2k as is or maybe £4k with a new battery so it's not worth it from an return POV for me.
Max_Torque said:
B'stard Child said:
ChocolateFrog said:
TR4man said:
That seems harsh if he failed it on just that.
It didn't fail he wouldn't even start it. Reckoned it would be illegal for him to do so. Basically insinuating it's a cloned car when it's patently obvious the DVLA monkey couldn't tap out the right number of zeros when it was imported.
I had similar with another import (imported in 1987) all the paper MOT's had the wrong chassis number on it (S instead of a 5) and several of the computerised ones too - then a fastidious tester entered the right chassis number (they didn't tell me) and shortly after the fun started - got a letter from the DVLA saying I could no longer tax the car until it's identity had been resolved
Took about 6 mths to sort it out................
(kinda like reverse ringing a car !)
ChocolateFrog said:
It's not a regular VIN plate, it's stamped in inch tall numbers on the bulkhead, hard to miss unfortunately.
So was mine stamped on bulkhead and again on the vin plate - eventually DVLA accepted a chassis rub of the vin and vin plate and a letter highlighting an explanation of how the error could have taken place at original registration - I was slightly lucky in that I spent a fiver with DVLA at the time I bought the car and got copies of all the DVLA history - I also had copies of all the German registration and original bill of saleThe first owner did all the application to register it in the UK - I think he wrote a 5 but it was viewed as an S when the reg doc was created....
I couldn’t use the car for 6 mths while the issue was getting resolved but as it wasn’t my daily driver it wasn’t a huge issue
And just like that Insight ownership comes to an end.
Got the MOT sorted, used one of the outfits that come and pick it up, do the MOT and deliver it back. Much cheaper than the temporary insurance cover quotes I was getting.
The new owner came and picked it up today.
Apparently he's got another Insight in poorer condition but with a working hybrid battery so he's going to swap the good battery into 'mine' and sell the other one.
Definitely sad to see it go. A significant car in the story of 'the car'.
In pure depreciation terms it cost me £150 per year, not bad considering the battery issue.
Got the MOT sorted, used one of the outfits that come and pick it up, do the MOT and deliver it back. Much cheaper than the temporary insurance cover quotes I was getting.
The new owner came and picked it up today.
Apparently he's got another Insight in poorer condition but with a working hybrid battery so he's going to swap the good battery into 'mine' and sell the other one.
Definitely sad to see it go. A significant car in the story of 'the car'.
In pure depreciation terms it cost me £150 per year, not bad considering the battery issue.
ChocolateFrog said:
Was just thinking when I bought the car I was single, no house, no dog, still in the Army.
Now out the Army, 1 x dog, 1 x girlfriend, 1 x baby.
It's no wonder really that I out grew the little 2 seater as my main car.
I'm looking for one to buy, what colour / miles / history / gearbox is it? If its the spec and miles I want then i would be happy to take it to Peter to fix up as I cant find the spec I want. CheersNow out the Army, 1 x dog, 1 x girlfriend, 1 x baby.
It's no wonder really that I out grew the little 2 seater as my main car.
Bispal said:
I'm looking for one to buy, what colour / miles / history / gearbox is it? If its the spec and miles I want then i would be happy to take it to Peter to fix up as I cant find the spec I want. Cheers
https://www.facebook.com/groups/InsightOwners/permalink/2587727848136924/Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff