Honda Insight Hybrid Reliability

maudgone

Anybody have any experience about the Honda Insight Hybrid? Might buy if I could get some info on reliability/performance. Any help appreciated. Here is one I was looking at.
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Honda/Insight/HYBRID-S/48013989578600740/advert?channel=CARS

The Prius, both MK I and II are far better hybrids. And ultra reliable.

Can't say I paid too much attention to the insight, so can't comment on reliability but if it's hybrid you want then the Prius is the one to get.

I get 60-64 mpg in the MK II Prius.

colm_mcm

I like Hondas, but the Insight is like a Tesco Value Prius

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

The Prius, both MK I and II are far better hybrids. And ultra reliable.

Can't say I paid too much attention to the insight, so can't comment on reliability but if it's hybrid you want then the Prius is the one to get.

I get 60-64 mpg in the MK II Prius.

I actually meant the MK II & III Prius not I & II

testicle

colm_mcm wrote: »

I like Hondas, but the Insight is like a Tesco Value Prius

It's a completely different animal for a start. The Honda uses its electric motor as a sort of "turbo" and can't run on it alone.

Insight Engine is 98 hp around the same as the Prius MK III, the major difference being the Prius III has an 80 hp Electric motor V 13 hp for the insight.

It doesn't translate into 180 hp though, the Prius MK III is the equivalent of 134 hp. The 80 hp motor gives it the torque needed and it's far stronger for driving without the engine at up to 30 mph and supporting the engine above 30 mph than the Insight, the insight can't move the car on its own.

The prius is quiet poky and gives better economy than a diesel of the same size and power, and especially more than a diesel automatic. It's a very underestimated car and it's ultra reliable and has the simplest most reliable automatic ever created.

maudgone

Tx guys. I'll be searching for a Prius then.

The prius motor can drive it more than 30 mph but the battery can't.

Lithium conversions and an ecu hack can get the motor to run over 60 mph, it's not designed to do it though so there could be long term reliability problems.

If batteries were only much smaller and lighter, cheaper. Imaging dropping a 30 kwh battery in the boot and ditching the engine ? lol

It will happen someday.

maudgone

maudgone wrote: »

Tx guys. I'll be searching for a Prius then.

Check out the U.K and the T-Spirit is the one to get, good spec, some in the U.K even have radar cruise control but that's harder to find.

JohnBoy26

Deleted User wrote: »

Insight Engine is 98 hp around the same as the Prius MK III, the major difference being the Prius III has an 80 hp Electric motor V 13 hp for the insight.

It doesn't translate into 180 hp though, the Prius MK III is the equivalent of 134 hp. The 80 hp motor gives it the torque needed and it's far stronger for driving without the engine at up to 30 mph and supporting the engine above 30 mph than the Insight, the insight can't move the car on its own.

The prius is quiet poky and gives better economy than a diesel of the same size and power, and especially more than a diesel automatic. It's a very underestimated car and it's ultra reliable and has the simplest most reliable automatic ever created.

Maybe in town, on the motorway I doubt if it would though.

colm_mcm

testicle wrote: »

It's a completely different animal for a start. The Honda uses its electric motor as a sort of "turbo" and can't run on it alone.

Yeah, its an assist motor.

JohnBoy26

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Maybe in town, on the motorway I doubt if it would though.

Oh yes it does, remember I own one and I owned diesels both automatic and manual.

What people do,not seem to grasp is their overall mpg per tank is what matters not the motorway or the city.

My 60-64 mpg includes motorway driving.

I have yet to see the doubters post their actual mpg results per tank despite me posting many times my mpg.

maudgone

Finally took the plunge and purchased something very similar to this baby.
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Toyota/Prius/NG-1.8/61814060396295490/
It has 46k miles on it, and I bought it in Cunningham Autopoint in Galway. Very pleased with my first few days driving it, and after 170 miles of city/mway/country road driving I managed an average of 64 mpg without too much difficulty or clock watching. It feels like the speedo is over estimating the speed as it feels to me like I'm only doing about 110kmh when the clock reads 120.

colm_mcm

Well wear

CiniO

Deleted User wrote: »

The prius motor can drive it more than 30 mph but the battery can't.

Lithium conversions and an ecu hack can get the motor to run over 60 mph, it's not designed to do it though so there could be long term reliability problems.

If batteries were only much smaller and lighter, cheaper. Imaging dropping a 30 kwh battery in the boot and ditching the engine ? lol

It will happen someday.

According to this animation, electric motor can't do over 42mph.

With ICE (combustion engine) off, MG2 (bigger electric motor) can only rotate at up to 2500rpm, as at more than that, MG2 (smaller electric motor) would need to rotate at more than 6500rpm, and is not designed to do so.

Fair play maudgone well wear, I know you'll be very happy with it !

CiniO

CiniO wrote: »

According to this animation, electric motor can't do over 42mph.

With ICE (combustion engine) off, MG2 (bigger electric motor) can only rotate at up to 2500rpm, as at more than that, MG2 (smaller electric motor) would need to rotate at more than 6500rpm, and is not designed to do so.

That's probably what the ecu hack allows it to do is run at faster rpm ,while it can do 70 mph it would not have a lot of power at this speed and if you need more power the engine will kick in.

But it's not designed for this. IMO you'd be better off using the engine on the open road for higher speed roads and let the motor do the work up to 50 mph on normal roads and in town.

galwaytt

Deleted User wrote: »

I have yet to see the doubters post their actual mpg results per tank despite me posting many times my mpg.

Here: let me help you. It's an Auris mind you, not a Prius. Here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=82907263

...the digits 6 & 4 you have correct...........but the wrong way round imho.... :pac:

CiniO

I was looking at Insight last year when I was planning to change a car.
Everyone used to say - if you want hybrid go for Prius. And while looking at facts, how those cars are designed, etc, it indeed makes more sense to get Prius than Insight. However there was still something in me that was telling me to buy Insight, against any reasonable arguments.

Eventually, I test drove both (Prius and Insight) and bough Civic Diesel, and I'm more than happy

CiniO

CiniO wrote: »

I was looking at Insight last year when I was planning to change a car.
Everyone used to say - if you want hybrid go for Prius. And while looking at facts, how those cars are designed, etc, it indeed makes more sense to get Prius than Insight. However there was still something in me that was telling me to buy Insight, against any reasonable arguments.

Eventually, I test drove both (Prius and Insight) and bough Civic Diesel, and I'm more than happy

When did you get it ?

Have to say I just couldn't go back to diesel after the prius, no chance in hell.

CiniO

Deleted User wrote: »

When did you get it ?

1.5 year ago.

Have to say I just couldn't go back to diesel after the prius, no chance in hell.

I was really into hybrid. I needed a car which would be reasonably cheap to run, comfortable, fast, and spacious enough to fit family of 2+1 on longer journeys.

I just liked the looks of Insight and fact that's it's fairly rare car (which I like), and I wanted to get it, but Prius seemed more reasonable.
I went to CarGiant and test drove both, but unfortunately didn't really like any of them too much.
Insight looks better on the pictures, and while it drives nice, it kinda feels like driving a small city car - while I drive mostly on country roads and motorways, not in the city.
Prius - I was looking at 2nd gen (2009 end of production), as I couldn't afford 3rd gen then. I've driven 3rd gen before as I got it once as rental for a week and I loved it. But unfortunately 2nd gen comparing to 3rd gen was kinda disappointment for me.
And then I looked at 09 Civic diesel. It was way more comfortable than any of those two hybrids. It was much faster, and I loved the way it drives. I was never fan of diesels, but with the mileage I do, and type of driving I do, diesel comes much cheaper than petrol car. Considering what's most important for me is handling, power and comfort, civic was the best choice.

I still fancy the idea of hybrid though, and as at the moment we have old 01 Fiat bravo as second car, and this works very well (just passed NCT today on first attempt), and I have it bit modified with Eibach springs and strut brace which makes this car lovely to drive on bendy bumpy Irish country roads, but when this car dies, I might think of getting Insight, Civic hybrid, prius, auris or possibly Leaf if possible. We'll see.

Don't remember you saying you got a diesel, Oh well,

650Ginge

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Don't remember you saying you got a diesel, Oh well,

Oh I remember.

We still haven't got any evidence thst a diesel car will be cheaper to run than a prius.

Even if fuel was the only cost the prius will beat anything the same size the same money auto or not.

However they aren't perfect they can't tow, they aren't a great handling car mk2 isn't anyway adequate for most I suppose. They also aren't the quietest car from road noise and other traffic. But they are very very good. I have owned 38 cars, many diesel.

I maybe changing soon as I require towing. It is unbelievably hard to find a replacement that will be as cheap to run when you search out real life data. Prius has timing chain and never uses brake pads for example.

People bs on here that they get over 45 from 520d.s that strange because my pal gets 28-36 from his. Check out the real figures on spritmonitor or fuelly. People will generally say that the car they have is the best. My mate for example just bought a chevrolet captiva, best thing ever he says never read a good review on one so someone is bsing.

650Ginge

650Ginge wrote: »

Oh I remember.

We still haven't got any evidence thst a diesel car will be cheaper to run than a prius.

Even if fuel was the only cost the prius will beat anything the same size the same money auto or not.

However they aren't perfect they can't tow, they aren't a great handling car mk2 isn't anyway adequate for most I suppose. They also aren't the quietest car from road noise and other traffic. But they are very very good. I have owned 38 cars, many diesel.

I maybe changing soon as I require towing. It is unbelievably hard to find a replacement that will be as cheap to run when you search out real life data. Prius has timing chain and never uses brake pads for example.

People bs on here that they get over 45 from 520d.s that strange because my pal gets 28-36 from his. Check out the real figures on spritmonitor or fuelly. People will generally say that the car they have is the best. My mate for example just bought a chevrolet captiva, best thing ever he says never read a good review on one so someone is bsing.

I think Cini0 got the diesel because he preferred it more, fair enough, the Prius isn't for everyone.

I think the Mk II rides perfectly fine, the suspension isn't too stiff or soft. And since I went back for the steering recall the steering is 100 times better.

The MK II corners perfectly acceptably.

On my roads I need a balance between handling and comfort and the MK II is perfect.

I agree with road noise though but where I live all the asphalt roads are getting destroyed by tar and chippings, all being thrown over perfectly good roads. back to the dark Ages thanks to Dave xxxx in KCC Athy !!! They use the biggest roughest chipping they can find, I don't mind the fine chipping, they are such fools in Kildare CO CO ! rant over.

The prius is quiet on good roads.

I think for a car using 10 year old technology achieving 64 mpg in a petrol automatic is fantastic.

I've no doubt some diesels like the new Clio will beat it, but it will be a manual, slower and much smaller so it's not a fair comparison.

CiniO

Deleted User wrote: »

I think Cini0 got the diesel because he preferred it more, fair enough, the Prius isn't for everyone.

I didn't get diesel because I preferred it more.
I got civic instead of prius or insight, because it was better handling, faster, and more comfortable. Can tow, is bit bigger and generally suits my needs better.
I would prefer petrol, but diesel comes cheaper for me, and that's the only reason I got diesel.
I'd prefer hybrid even more, but as above - there was too many reasons not to buy prius comparing to civic.

And cost of running prius or civic diesel are IMO very comparable. So if for the same money I can have faster, better handling, bigger and more comfortable car, then I'd be a fool not to go for it.

I think the Mk II rides perfectly fine, the suspension isn't too stiff or soft. And since I went back for the steering recall the steering is 100 times better.

The MK II corners perfectly acceptably.

Acceptably - yes.
Great - not.

I agree with road noise though but where I live all the asphalt roads are getting destroyed by tar and chippings, all being thrown over perfectly good roads. back to the dark Ages thanks to Dave xxxx in KCC Athy !!! They use the biggest roughest chipping they can find, I don't mind the fine chipping, they are such fools in Kildare CO CO ! rant over.

I thought this was all over Ireland this idea of laying chippings on the roads. Surface gets so rough, that cars are 2 maybe 3 times louder than abroad, and wear tyres 4 times quicker. However grip on wet is better, and considering it rains here most of the days, it's probably a good thing.

Fair enough.

I wouldn't have thought the civic bigger than the prius ?

No chippings are put down to provide the needed grip, the cheaper asphalt that has much less grip in the wet, the cheap asphalt is to give the road a good foundation the chippings are dirt cheap and provide the grip needed so will do Paddy motorist.

It's a legal requirement for the County councils to use chippings believe it or not, where they put down the cheap asphalt. But they don't need to use the pebbles they put down there is a much finer chipping.

Driving on a rough chipping surface is draining with the noise.

But I've seen them here in south kildare putting chippings down over good asphalt that is already legal for road use. This is getting more and more common now.

Then on back roads they use it because it's cheap but they just keep putting cheap chippings over bad road surfaces rather than repair roads.

Driving in Germany is a much different experience they use a super smooth surface I've never seen In Ireland and thay have far worse weather in winter than we do.

corks finest

CiniO wrote: »

I was looking at Insight last year when I was planning to change a car.
Everyone used to say - if you want hybrid go for Prius. And while looking at facts, how those cars are designed, etc, it indeed makes more sense to get Prius than Insight. However there was still something in me that was telling me to buy Insight, against any reasonable arguments.

Eventually, I test drove both (Prius and Insight) and bough Civic Diesel, and I'm more than happy

Good choice,have a 2010 insight,,,, ultra reliable quirky,drives like a normal car,,economic,, 50 plus in town,,,looks better than Prius,,,,happy chappy

lipso

Have seen a 2010 Insight for sale, has 119000 miles on it. Would it be a good buy? I have previously had a Prius and currently a hybrid Auris which I both like with good mpg. The Insight would be a 2nd car for work commute, 20 miles per day. My current 2nd car is a Peugeot 107 which is cheap but basic.

lyes

Hi,

I am looking to buy a second hand car and a trying to choose between a Hyundai i30 1.6diesel or Honda Insight hybrid 1.5 2012 if someone can help me to choose.

Thanks.