Help us pick a car!
April 27, 2011 5:44 PM Subscribe
Do you own, or have you owned, a Honda Insight? Would you recommend it?
Mrs. Machine needs a new car, and we're looking at the Insight. It didn't get stellar ratings from Consumer Reports, but the mileage is impressive. How does it compare to the Prius, or the Civic Hybrid? Are there other cars with good mileage that we're overlooking? (In the same price range. Sadly I'm not sonic money machine.)
Mrs. Machine needs a new car, and we're looking at the Insight. It didn't get stellar ratings from Consumer Reports, but the mileage is impressive. How does it compare to the Prius, or the Civic Hybrid? Are there other cars with good mileage that we're overlooking? (In the same price range. Sadly I'm not sonic money machine.)
My colleague (who is sitting right next to me right now) purchased a 2010 Honda Insight in January. She likes it so far, and I've driven it a couple of times. GREAT visibility (especially compared to my usual wheels), but not too much pickup (again, especially compared to my usual wheels). Hers has a CVT + paddle shifters; I totally don't understand the presence of paddle shifters, but hey. It's too early to have any reliability information, though.
posted by Alterscape at 5:52 PM on April 27, 2011
posted by Alterscape at 5:52 PM on April 27, 2011
Best answer: It gets terrible reviews, and is considered a "miss" for Honda - Prius or Ford Focus hybrids would be a better bet.
posted by Slap*Happy at 5:58 PM on April 27, 2011
posted by Slap*Happy at 5:58 PM on April 27, 2011
I test drove one back in 2001. The car had massive blind spots everywhere and little rear-view window to speak of, because of the way the rear cowl tapers back. The battery also took up a lot of the free cabin space, which left a very small trunk. Good for highway commuting, maybe, but visibility was a deal-breaker for me, and I couldn't see it being used for moving multiple people and/or goods around. Newer designs may have addressed these issues.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 5:59 PM on April 27, 2011
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 5:59 PM on April 27, 2011
My bro has a new model, the one that looks like a Toyota Prius. The rear-end and back-side-window visibility is terrible.
posted by parmanparman at 5:59 PM on April 27, 2011
posted by parmanparman at 5:59 PM on April 27, 2011
I currently own a 2010 Insight and would definitely NOT recommend it. Mileage around town is under 30mpg, seats are very uncomfortable, it's noisy and has no pickup. Worst purchase I ever made.
posted by FormerMermaid at 6:01 PM on April 27, 2011
posted by FormerMermaid at 6:01 PM on April 27, 2011
Response by poster: We're leery of Ford (bad past experiences for me in the 90s). Is the Ford Focus hybrid worth a look?
posted by sonic meat machine at 6:01 PM on April 27, 2011
posted by sonic meat machine at 6:01 PM on April 27, 2011
Oh yeah, the tires are a special type that have low rolling resistance, to improve mileage. The flip side is that these tires made the ride noisy and rough.
It was such a memorably bad test drive that I am starting to recall all of the details, now.
It's a beautiful car, but the actual operation of it seemed like torture.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 6:04 PM on April 27, 2011
It was such a memorably bad test drive that I am starting to recall all of the details, now.
It's a beautiful car, but the actual operation of it seemed like torture.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 6:04 PM on April 27, 2011
Best answer: We have a Honda Civic hybrid and love it. Good mileage, feels well made, reliable. I think ours is a 2001 model.
posted by amtho at 6:18 PM on April 27, 2011
posted by amtho at 6:18 PM on April 27, 2011
Have had one (2000) since 2001. 115k miles.
Some problems, but never towed. Bought it when gas was less than $2/gallon US, and initially got 68 MPG. Now, I drive it like a regular car and still get about 50.
Big battery died a few years back, but Honda replaced it for free. Cost would have been $4,000. Ouch. Honda has been excellent with recalls, etc and I would only maintain it at a dealer. Value of this era vehicle is between 3 and 5K now, and fluctuates with gas prices directly. Also, if you have more than one friend, it's a two seater. It has a 360 pound payload, and you and the passenger are included therein. Shocks cost $200 each, and there are 4. There is no aftermarket for car parts here because the volumes do not warrant it.
I use slightly oversize tires and abandoned the low rolling resistance tires to trade off a few MPG for handling and comfort and less frequent need to replace the tires. The LRR tires wear out at 20k miles. Hatchback air springs needed to be replaced. Two engine control computers. One head gasket repair ($1000).
If you are going to buy one for gas mileage, buy a more recent Civic. More doors, more passengers, higher manufacturing volumes, after market parts, etc.
Mine has been a success. My wife loves it. I cannot justify replacing it. It's OK, not great.
I really want an old Jaguar, as I am an aging wizard with self-esteem problems and need to portray the image of a man with a big penis and a small intellect and I think a Jag says exactly that.
The message of the Honda is that I am too cheap to buy pretty girls dinner. Therefore, I suck. I suspect my wife likes the car for that reason.
I hate you for asking.
posted by FauxScot at 6:39 PM on April 27, 2011 [12 favorites]
Some problems, but never towed. Bought it when gas was less than $2/gallon US, and initially got 68 MPG. Now, I drive it like a regular car and still get about 50.
Big battery died a few years back, but Honda replaced it for free. Cost would have been $4,000. Ouch. Honda has been excellent with recalls, etc and I would only maintain it at a dealer. Value of this era vehicle is between 3 and 5K now, and fluctuates with gas prices directly. Also, if you have more than one friend, it's a two seater. It has a 360 pound payload, and you and the passenger are included therein. Shocks cost $200 each, and there are 4. There is no aftermarket for car parts here because the volumes do not warrant it.
I use slightly oversize tires and abandoned the low rolling resistance tires to trade off a few MPG for handling and comfort and less frequent need to replace the tires. The LRR tires wear out at 20k miles. Hatchback air springs needed to be replaced. Two engine control computers. One head gasket repair ($1000).
If you are going to buy one for gas mileage, buy a more recent Civic. More doors, more passengers, higher manufacturing volumes, after market parts, etc.
Mine has been a success. My wife loves it. I cannot justify replacing it. It's OK, not great.
I really want an old Jaguar, as I am an aging wizard with self-esteem problems and need to portray the image of a man with a big penis and a small intellect and I think a Jag says exactly that.
The message of the Honda is that I am too cheap to buy pretty girls dinner. Therefore, I suck. I suspect my wife likes the car for that reason.
I hate you for asking.
posted by FauxScot at 6:39 PM on April 27, 2011 [12 favorites]
O... operating costs, including depreciation and maintenance were about $0.25/mile. Not bad, really. My 2005 Subaru is at about $0.35/mi. (This is a very accurate calculation that I just did about a week ago.)
posted by FauxScot at 6:41 PM on April 27, 2011
posted by FauxScot at 6:41 PM on April 27, 2011
Best answer: I always thought of the Insight as a concept car that actually made it to market. I think the Prius is a better bet, or the Civic hybrid as others have suggested.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 6:54 PM on April 27, 2011
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 6:54 PM on April 27, 2011
Best answer: We have a 2010..it's basically a cheaply made, 85% sized Prius without the bells and whistles. It does get around 50MPG, and my wife likes it, but with 36K on it, it looks like it has 80K. Maybe if we didn't live in rural Maine where the roads suck, it wouldn't be so bad. Then again, it was 10k cheaper than a Prius, so there is always that. We have had several Hondas before, and were always satisfied, but I think I would aim higher the next time.
posted by lobstah at 7:02 PM on April 27, 2011
posted by lobstah at 7:02 PM on April 27, 2011
I bought a 2010 Insight in late February of this year and love it so far. I drive a lot for work, and really appreciate the great gas mileage -- it's not as good as the Prius, but close, and it cost significantly less. As far as not having good "pickup," you can improve that somewhat by pressing the "Econ Off" button, which does...something that makes it so you use fuel less efficiently but makes the car go faster. (Clearly I don't know much about the technical details.) It's nice to have that option.
I haven't at all found it to be noisy; just the opposite. And this is my first hatchback, so the bisected rear windshield has taken some getting used to, but it's not too bad.
My 6'1" boyfriend says it's comfortable and roomy -- as good as, if not better than, the Chevy Prizm I traded in.
I test drove the Civic Hybrid, but I chose the Insight because it's sportier, felt "lighter" on the road, and was more fun to drive.
I'd be happy to answer more questions.
On preview: mine has about 32,000 miles on it, and still looks practically brand new.
posted by southern_sky at 7:03 PM on April 27, 2011
I haven't at all found it to be noisy; just the opposite. And this is my first hatchback, so the bisected rear windshield has taken some getting used to, but it's not too bad.
My 6'1" boyfriend says it's comfortable and roomy -- as good as, if not better than, the Chevy Prizm I traded in.
I test drove the Civic Hybrid, but I chose the Insight because it's sportier, felt "lighter" on the road, and was more fun to drive.
I'd be happy to answer more questions.
On preview: mine has about 32,000 miles on it, and still looks practically brand new.
posted by southern_sky at 7:03 PM on April 27, 2011
I have a 2010 and I love it. I'm averaging 45 miles per gallon. It has great visibility -- I think people who are complaining about the visibility are talking about earlier models. I've got about 11,000 miles and it definitely looks brand new.
The "Econ On/Off" button affects the pick-up -- I keep it on all the time to maximize mileage, but it's true I'm not going to be winning any quick-start races.
The main highlight for me is the fact that it's very close to the Prius, but cost several thousand dollars less. And the dealership offered 0.9% financing.
posted by BlahLaLa at 7:11 PM on April 27, 2011
The "Econ On/Off" button affects the pick-up -- I keep it on all the time to maximize mileage, but it's true I'm not going to be winning any quick-start races.
The main highlight for me is the fact that it's very close to the Prius, but cost several thousand dollars less. And the dealership offered 0.9% financing.
posted by BlahLaLa at 7:11 PM on April 27, 2011
Are there other cars with good mileage that we're overlooking?
oh man, totally take a look at the VW Golf TDI - we got one a couple of months ago and have only filled the tank 3 times. The fuel efficiency reminds me of my days with my beloved Geo Metro (3-cylinder). Embrace the diesel! It takes biodiesel too!
posted by soplerfo at 7:33 PM on April 27, 2011
oh man, totally take a look at the VW Golf TDI - we got one a couple of months ago and have only filled the tank 3 times. The fuel efficiency reminds me of my days with my beloved Geo Metro (3-cylinder). Embrace the diesel! It takes biodiesel too!
posted by soplerfo at 7:33 PM on April 27, 2011
Response by poster: I like the Golf, but sadly the styling is not to the lady's liking. I've also just looked at the Ford Fusion – $28k MSRP? That's unpossible!
posted by sonic meat machine at 7:44 PM on April 27, 2011
posted by sonic meat machine at 7:44 PM on April 27, 2011
Ford has been pretty solid since the guy from Boeing took it over. They fixed the quality issues first, and then focused on innovation - you can probably do a whole lot better than sticker price on the car, unlike Honda, Fords dealers are allowed to wheel and deal a lot more. You could also go the pre-owned route. The fusion will be a lot roomier and car-like than the Prius, Civic or Insight, in the ballpark of a Camry or Accord.
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:00 PM on April 27, 2011
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:00 PM on April 27, 2011
Not to harp, but seriously, sit in a golf - it's a whole lot niftier on the inside.
posted by soplerfo at 8:01 PM on April 27, 2011
posted by soplerfo at 8:01 PM on April 27, 2011
Best answer: Not to harp, but seriously, sit in a golf - it's a whole lot niftier on the inside.
Just a side note--we got rid of our VW a few years ago and never looked back. We were (feeling) like we were being nickel and dimed on repairs. Interestingly, our neighbors just bought two, used, VWs. They are now complaining.
It seems I've been hearing more of this. YMMV
posted by 6:1 at 9:08 PM on April 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Just a side note--we got rid of our VW a few years ago and never looked back. We were (feeling) like we were being nickel and dimed on repairs. Interestingly, our neighbors just bought two, used, VWs. They are now complaining.
It seems I've been hearing more of this. YMMV
posted by 6:1 at 9:08 PM on April 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Have you paid the $5.95 for a one-month online subscription to consumerreports.org? You can access comprehensive information about reliability of cars over the long haul - not just which makes and models are more reliable, but which specific years are most reliable. For example, I just used it to buy a 2005 Pontiac Vibe (which is the same car as a Toyota Matrix), and which ranked as one of the most consistently reliable cars manufactured in the 2000-2010 time period, but also had the highest possible rating that year. The small price is worth the extensive information you can get.
posted by Betty's Table at 9:51 PM on April 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Betty's Table at 9:51 PM on April 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
We seriously considered a Prius and a Volkswagen Jetta to replace our Saturn wagon. (The Insight just didn't have enough cargo space.) We ended up with a bright orange Honda Fit (Sport). We love it. The mileage isn't quite as good as that of the Prius or Insight, but it's regularly around 31-32 mpg in the city and closer to 40 on the highway--a huge improvement over the Saturn, which got around 24 and 31, respectively. It's just an adorable little car, it's fun to drive, it has an amazing amount of room inside, and the interior is incredibly nice and well-done for the price (around 15,000-16,000). It even has cruise control (and we have a manual transmission!) And it also allows you to see your fuel economy at any given moment--it's turned us into hypermilers, but it is instructive and has definitely made me a more efficient driver--no more jackrabbit starts at traffic lights for me.
We almost bought a Jetta wagon. It was incredibly nice. But Volkswagens have such a bad reputation for unreliability (and it was more expensive, of course), while Hondas get top reliability ratings, and that's what finally decided us.
posted by tully_monster at 1:23 AM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
We almost bought a Jetta wagon. It was incredibly nice. But Volkswagens have such a bad reputation for unreliability (and it was more expensive, of course), while Hondas get top reliability ratings, and that's what finally decided us.
posted by tully_monster at 1:23 AM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I own a Honda Hybrid Civic 2004. I have a long commute and have put over 100k miles on it, mostly within the last few years. The mileage is still 40+ mpg and the only expensive failure has been the NOx catalytic converter. If they're still making them like they made mine, I would recommend it.
posted by Jorus at 6:16 AM on April 28, 2011
posted by Jorus at 6:16 AM on April 28, 2011
We loved my wife's Honda Fit and only sold it when we moved to China. David Pogue of the NYT bought a Fit instead of a second Prius, so it's worth reading his article on that.
posted by arcticseal at 6:36 AM on April 28, 2011
posted by arcticseal at 6:36 AM on April 28, 2011
Best answer: We just got rid of our 2001 Insight last week (with somewhere around 120k miles on it I think). It was great for highway driving on flat road but going uphill in the mountains was terrible (so our road trips through Colorado were not always as efficient as they could have been). I didn't like the blind spots but my husband didn't mind. It's small, not good for that trip to the hardware store to pick up something bulky, but roomier inside than it looks for typical road trip type stuff. One of my recurring problems with it was how low to the ground it was. I messed up the front bumper more than once trying to park it and if your passenger is elderly or pregnant or wearing a skirt or any number of things that would make one not want to sit on the floor, you might want to look at something else.
As mentioned the battery is quite expensive. The first time a few years back it was covered by the warranty but when it came time to do it again this year we were going to have to pay $4000 (not really worth it on a 10 year old car that needed other small repairs as well). So we sadly bid farewell to it. It was a nice little car but not if you're looking for something to drive for a long time. If we get another hybrid it won't be an Insight because we need more passenger space now, but had the battery survived I think my husband would have otherwise been happy to hold on to this one if he still had long highway commutes.
posted by waterlily at 7:50 AM on April 28, 2011
As mentioned the battery is quite expensive. The first time a few years back it was covered by the warranty but when it came time to do it again this year we were going to have to pay $4000 (not really worth it on a 10 year old car that needed other small repairs as well). So we sadly bid farewell to it. It was a nice little car but not if you're looking for something to drive for a long time. If we get another hybrid it won't be an Insight because we need more passenger space now, but had the battery survived I think my husband would have otherwise been happy to hold on to this one if he still had long highway commutes.
posted by waterlily at 7:50 AM on April 28, 2011
Best answer: Just wanted to chime in that you should check out the Fit if you're looking at Hondas. I love-love-love my Fit -- great gas mileage, can park in tiny spaces, is pretty big on the inside (to the point where my fit is now the family "truck") and four doors.
Plus, if you're into Consumer Reports, they're all about the Fit.
posted by danielle the bee at 11:51 AM on April 28, 2011
Plus, if you're into Consumer Reports, they're all about the Fit.
posted by danielle the bee at 11:51 AM on April 28, 2011
Best answer: When we drove a Honda Civic Hybrid for a few days as a loaner, the regenerative braking sounded *exactly* like distant approaching sirens. It was really wearing. It might be the kind of thing that you get used to, but it made me nuts. (That was a car with a few thousand miles on it; you might not notice in a test drive on a new car.)
posted by endless_forms at 7:28 AM on April 29, 2011
posted by endless_forms at 7:28 AM on April 29, 2011
Response by poster: After having test driven the Fit, Insight, and Elantra, we have settled on the Elantra. Thanks for all of the input; many of your comments were borne out in the test drive.
posted by sonic meat machine at 6:40 PM on May 2, 2011
posted by sonic meat machine at 6:40 PM on May 2, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
He just got a Prius about 3 months ago, and had battery concerns for it, too. But Toyota is suggesting that the Prius can go 200,000 miles on its battery.
I would look into battery replacement costs if considering an insight. Other than that, my dad liked it.
posted by shortyJBot at 5:48 PM on April 27, 2011