Honda Insight - any opinions?

CiniO

As I'm thinking about changing my Mazda 6 2.0 for something maybe a bit smaller, cheaper to run and newer, and I was browsing the internet for a while what could I get - I set my eyes on Honda Insight.

Any users here who could say what they think about this car?

colm_mcm

Current model or the original?

CiniO

colm_mcm wrote: »

Current model or the original?

Current model - I'd be looking for 2009.

colm_mcm

Oh right. Think prius, only more flimsy. They're well priced though, I saw a 10 reg one on autotrader for small money last week

I'd have a civic ima or prius 1.5 instead though, but the insight is more practical than the civic.

CiniO

colm_mcm wrote: »

Oh right. Think prius, only more flimsy. They're well priced though, I saw a 10 reg one on autotrader for small money last week

That's what I saw
You can get 09 or 10 from UK for very reasonable money, and VRT here is small on hybrids.

I'd have a civic ima or prius 1.5 instead though, but the insight is more practical than the civic.

I'd prefer Prius 1.8 I suppose, and I had one 2 years ago as a rental car for a week. I must admit I loved it, but from what I read older Prius 1.5 is not as great, while price of 1.8 is still beyond my limits.

Would civic be smaller than insight?

What I read that insight is nicer on the road than prius (nicer suspension and road handling). It's not as economical in the city, but I mostly drive on country roads, and those are the conditions where insight propelling system should benefit the most.

I also heard that there is not too much space on rear seats, but I suppose it's enough for one child.
Boot looks not much smaller than in my mazda 6, so that will do.

I didnt really think about civic, as I though it would be smaller, as well as hybrid civics were only in saloon versions which IMHO is ugly.

bazz26

Civic IMA is a saloon so access to the boot is more limited than the hatch of the Insight. Boot of the Civic is also shallower than the regular Civic saloon due to the batteries being stored in there. Legroom in the Civic saloon is pretty good imo, almost as roomie as the previous generation Accord.

CiniO

bazz26 wrote: »

Civic IMA is a saloon so access to the boot is more limited than the hatch of the Insight. Boot of the Civic is also shallower than the regular Civic saloon due to the batteries being stored in there. Legroom in the Civic saloon is pretty good imo, almost as roomie as the previous generation Accord.

Thx for explaining that.
This generally disqualifies civic for me.
Mazda 6 is the first saloon I've got in my life, and even though the boot is big, it was quite inconvenient.
F.e. once I had to borrow opel corsa from my dad to fit my big shopping, as my mazda wouldn't fit it.

That's why I'd be rather looking for hatchback.

I was also thinking about Hyundai i30 diesel, but hatchback version is pretty small, while estate is nice, but more expensive. With 128g/km emission tax is nearly 300, and vrt is also a good bit.
If I can get a nice hatchback hybrid for the same price, I prefer hybrid than diesel.

colm_mcm

You'd be surprised how big the i30 is inside, its got a long wheelbase so rear legroom is very good.

bazz26

What type of driving do you do? Hybrids only really become viable if you do alot of city driving or keep below 40mph ish otherwise the petrol engine will be used more.

CiniO

colm_mcm wrote: »

You'd be surprised how big the i30 is inside, its got a long wheelbase so rear legroom is very good.

I know that.
I test drove one last month.
However boot space in hatchback is very limited. Estate is much better, that's why i30 estate is still an option, but personally I would prefer hybrid than diesel, same as honda or toyota than hyundai. (just my personal preference).
If i30 was cheaper I'd go for it probably, but considering I'll have to pay about 500 - 600 vrt on hybrid, comparing to about 1500 on i30, it seems that i30 is not worth it.

CiniO

bazz26 wrote: »

What type of driving do you do? Hybrids only really become viable if you do alot of city driving or keep below 40mph ish otherwise the petrol engine will be used more.

This car will do about 25k kms per year.
Out of which:
7k is motorway driving - mostly abroad at high speeds but I can limit myself considering I'll have hybrid.
3k is city driving.
13k is country roads driving, quite often in line of traffic at around 60 - 80km/h (i'm hoping insight would be the most efficient in here)
2k would be done when I'm in mood for driving fast with my foot down to the floor.

colm_mcm

I really think you should just get a diesel

650Ginge

bazz26 wrote: »

What type of driving do you do? Hybrids only really become viable if you do alot of city driving or keep below 40mph ish otherwise the petrol engine will be used more.

This is simply untrue. The electric motor assists at all speeds.

I throw down the challenge my prius v your petrol car at any road legal speeds.

Time this spouting of rubbish is but to an end.

NobodyImportant

I've driven both the Civic IMA and Insight pretty extensively.

The Civic is more comfy, better quality interior and softer ride. Insight feels lighter, cabin is less classy. I cant remember the boot on the Insight, but the Civic was quite reasonable. Insight handles well, but thats not quite the market, but if you do want a Hybrid that will handle its a good choice.

As per usual with CVT's, the gearboxes arent great. Make sure to change the gearbox oil if you do get one. They should be changed every 40k miles, but nobody ever does. Then they complain when it has a fault and nobody ever changed the oil.

CiniO

colm_mcm wrote: »

I really think you should just get a diesel

As I said - I can't really see any benefits.
I considered i30 1.6 crdi as diesel alternative, as it seems to be know for being reliable, nice enough to drive and cheap to run with big MPG.

But..

1. Those i30s are quite expensive. For the same price I will be able to get 2009 Insight with reasonable mileage and good spec, I will probably only manage to get 2007 i30.

2. Diesel relaibilty might be an issue - while i30 has timing chain and no DMF, but still DPF, turbo, pump and injectors might cause trouble. For some reason I more believe in Insight reliability.

3. Insight is definitely more futuristic and unusual car than i30, and I like this fact.

4. I suppose Insight might still be better in MPG than i30.

5. Motor tax on 2009 insight is 190 at the moment, while 2007 i30 is about 500. Even if I managed to get 2008, in estate version it's nearly 300.


Can't see too many arguments for buying a diesel.

But I'd be very happy if you tried to convince me - maybe my logic is wrong somewhere.

CiniO

NobodyImportant wrote: »

As per usual with CVT's, the gearboxes arent great. Make sure to change the gearbox oil if you do get one. They should be changed every 40k miles, but nobody ever does. Then they complain when it has a fault and nobody ever changed the oil.

What you meant that CVT aren't great? Is it reliability-wise or rather that they don't work as they should.

Only car I've driven with CVT was Prius, and I must say I was really impressed. It makes so much more sense to have continuous transmission without gears, as you can use engine power way more efficiently.
I read some reviews that at higher speed insight cvt might get very loud, but i also read reviews that mazda 6 (which I own now) is loud at higher speeds, while I can't see it really.

In relation to changing oil - how do you know it is meant to be changed every 40k miles?
I downloaded users manual for insight, and it actually says that engine oil and gearbox oil must be changed when it indicated on car display. No mileages were given unfortunately.
I couldn't find any info, but I read that Prius CVT needs oil change every 100k miles. I actually thought it would be similar with Insight, but maybe it isn't.

CiniO

Also maybe someone would know this.

2009 Insight comes in SE, ES, ES-T or EX models.

Where could I find exact list of equipment which comes in those models.
I looked up google, but didn't really find anything.

Thanks...

NobodyImportant

I just dont like CVT's, can be slow to react coming out of a junction when you need to get away quickly, the noise of them when you have your foot to the floor as it sits at 6,000rpm constantly etc. Just something i personally dont like.

The Honda CVT's are known to have the odd faults, but this is quite often down to poor maintenance. The mother in law and my mother both have 2006/2007 Honda's with CVT boxes and both manuals state every 40k miles. New Insight might have an automatic indicator, but if somebody bar a proficient Honda dealer did the service, they may ignore the CVT indicator and reset it. I would get it changed. Its about €40 for the oil and pittange in labour to do it, for much peace of mind.

Would Honda not have the trim specs on their website?

CiniO

NobodyImportant wrote: »

I just dont like CVT's, can be slow to react coming out of a junction when you need to get away quickly,

I know that.
In Prius I was driving there was about 1s lag. Can live with it. You can always just press the pedal 1s earlier than you need to accelerate.

the noise of them when you have your foot to the floor as it sits at 6,000rpm constantly etc. Just something i personally dont like.

Is it the noise out of gearbox you mean, or just engine noise at 6000rpm?

The Honda CVT's are known to have the odd faults, but this is quite often down to poor maintenance. The mother in law and my mother both have 2006/2007 Honda's with CVT boxes and both manuals state every 40k miles. New Insight might have an automatic indicator, but if somebody bar a proficient Honda dealer did the service, they may ignore the CVT indicator and reset it. I would get it changed. Its about €40 for the oil and pittange in labour to do it, for much peace of mind.

I just checked and it's looks like 2.8 litres of cvt oil for change. That's indeed not much.

Would Honda not have the trim specs on their website?

Unfortunately current Insight (2013) have different trim signage and spec than 2009 ones.

Yep as a Prius owner MK II 07, there is lag coming to a stop then hitting the power again, but to be honest you do get used to it and alter your driving. But sometimes it catches me out and the lag can feel like more than a second.

But I don't know if it's like that in the MK III.

OP if I were you I'd go with the MK III, maybe get one from the U.K go for the TSpirit, why pay the same for a lesser spec car ?

The Prius is ultra reliable, and they are known to go for over 300,000 miles.

I would get the Prius over the insight any day, it's a far better hybrid and better mpg.

I can get 4.4 L /100 Kms but it took a bit to learn how to achieve that. And that's on winter tyres, and F rated ones at that, during the bad wind the last while it increased to around 4.7-4.8, but this week I noticed so far it back to 4.4, not bad for a petrol automatic.

The MK III is supposed to get around 73 mpg combined and if I can get the rated mpg of the MK II I see no reason not to believe that.

Here is an interesting fact, if you convert the MK III Prius to LPG and can fill up for 80 c a litre, ( can get it that cheap in some places, check out LPG.ie) I have no ties with this company. Anyway the MK III Prius on LPG at 80 c litre would be like driving a 100 mpg diesel, real mpg not reset after each trip economy.

I estimate that my 62 euro petrol costs would drop to around 25 euros a week on LPG at that price!

Now that's cheap motoring!

NobodyImportant

Prius is a superior car, but it comes at a premium and is more difficult to find.

CiniO

I've got another question.

Were those Honda Insights in the UK sold with 8 years manufacturer warranty for drive-train and battery? (I recall reading something like somewhere, that but I can't find it now).
What was the mileage limit?


And how it generally works- does the warranty come with the car and applies to new owner even if car is exported to other country (from UK to Ireland)? I suppose it should, but just want to make sure.

NobodyImportant

I dont believe that the 8 year warranties transfer from the UK to Ireland. 100k mile warranty i believe was the figure.