Anyone have or been in an Insight? I was thinking about getting one to replace my accord but wanted to know on their comfort for distance driving? They are pretty rare so I can't just go to the dealer and test drive one. Thanks guys.

 

AZyellow02 - Clayton owns one.

The new Prius is a much better vehicle, imho. I have been in both.

 

Mayhaps, but the Prius doesn't seem do as well, MPG wise, on the the highway and you can't find a used one for like 10 grand I forgot to mention that I was not looking for new.

 

If you want highway, not city, the civic (non hybrid) probably does as well.

The hybrids were designed for city driving, most get worse gas mileage on the highway.

 

Actually... the Honda hybrids do better on the freeway... I have proven this many times over. I have a 2001 Insight that I just rolled over 31000 mi with. In the almost 4 years that I have owned it I have had just minor recall work done (e-brake recall and a ECU swap). Around town I average 65-70 mpg with the A/C off and around 55-60 mpg with the A/C on. As far as freeway... I average 60-65 mpg with the A/C on and around 75-85 with the A/C off... cruising around 65-75 mph. There is a trick to learning the car and it's "lean burn" mode... if you get one I can help you understand how to really get mileage out of these cars. There are some members on a forum (www.insightcentral.net) who have a lifetime mpg over 80 (my current lifetime mpg after 31k mi is 64)... it can be done... just takes getting used to the car and learning how to drive for mileage. I have driven a new Prius... almost bought one 2 weeks ago... I was impressed with the car for it's size... but it does get 60 mpg in town and around 50 mpg on the freeway. If you are needing a car with a larger size I would consider it.

BTW, doesn't your xB get good gas mileage? Why spend the extra cost of owning another vehicle (registration, insurance, cost of vehicle, etc.) to gain 20-30 mpg?

If I can help you in your hybrid search do let me know.

Old photo... have done stuff to both cars since then:

 

Thanks for the information. The xB does get around 30 to 34 mpg, but it's my wife's car and it's an automatic So i don't drive it much at all. I think for now the Insight is the better choice for me, purely because you can get a used one for 10K less the a new Piruis. In the next couple years I might go to the College of Pharmacy at Midwestern in Glendale and that would mean and hour and half on the highway twice a day.

I have been looking around for an Insight. Apparently the MY04 have 4 speakers and a CD player, but I havn't seen any for sale so I would assume the price would be around 16-18K which is too high. I have only looked on Ebay where the price is decent.

Now i just need to find one that I like. Manual in a decent color, with lower mileage.

 

The problem with most used Insights (as you are finding out) is that most of them are Silverstone (no offense to our fellow S2k color choice owners) and high miles. My Insight is one of the more desirable colors, 5-speed, and low miles (only 31k)... if I were to sell it I would be in the $13,500 range... and I would have no problem selling it with the current gas prices. The colors are as follows...
2000: Silverstone, New Formula Red, and Citrus Yellow Metallic (space alien green)
2001-2003: Silverstone, New Formula Red, and Monte Carlo Blue Pearl
2004-2005: Silverstone, New Formula Red, and Navy Blue Pearl
2000-2003 interiors are Gray/Black
2004-2005 interior are Beige/Black

In 2004 they added 2 more speakers (one behind each seat)... the earlier cars are wired for them already (and the mounting holes in the rear bulkhead are already there... just cut the carpet out and install the speakers). They also added a CD player... as you know from the S2k... aftermarket is an improvement... I replaced my deck in both of my Honda's within 24 hours of buying them. I would suggest getting a older car and saving the cash.

As far as upgrades/mods to my Insight... CD deck, front Boston speakers, HID's (Phillips bulbs and ballasts), full custom leather interior, shaved rear wiper (never used it anyway), and some other small details.

If you are completely serious in finding an Insight I will help you find one... I am becoming quite the expert on them after having owned one for almost 4 years (and having disected it to really learn about it)... I will help you look one over if you are looking at buying it (and I have a local service manager that knows them really well... would not hurt to have him look at it as well).

 

Thanks! Yes I'm pretty serious about getting one. Most of the one's I have been are Silverstone. My choice in color would be either of the blues or the Yellow. Although I think that I would like Silverstone over NFR. It's good to know that it's set up for addional two speakers pre-04 that was a question that I had floating in my head. I would like to see some recent pics of your Insight or just meet up some time so I can actually check out the car. I'm concerned about the comfort level since my back is very sensitive. I had to get rid of my STi for that reason.

 

When I recovered my seats in leather (did it myself) it made them firmer... they sit like the s2k's seats now... except with shallower hip bolsters and no sholder bolsters. The stock seats are fine I just prefer them a bit firmer... I took my Insight to Las Vegas and back 2 weeks ago and the comfort was just fine... I did not get tired driving the car at all. The overall feel of the Insight is like a more roomy S2k... no center console, sholder bolsters, and more headroom than with the S2k's top up.

As far as seeing my car... sure... if you are heading towards Phoenix let me know... I would be glad to show you my car.

I will keep my eyes open for a good used Insight... I hope we can find something in the southwest... will make it easier to look at and get home.

Here is my leather interior (recgonize the steering wheel... same as the S2k... the stock Insight one is plastic... I swapped mine for a leather one from an S2k):