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I would like some expert advice on whether to purchase an Insight w/CVT or 5

Hi Armadaman:

___The 5-speed, no question. FE, performance and adding a clutch switch (up through 04 only) will make its drivability far superior.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

I second that assessment. Check out the logs of the top several performers in the hybrid section of the mileage logs.

what does the clutch switch do to help with mpg ?

Hi Armadaman:

___When you first drive an Insight, you will quickly find that your SoC will probably be in the 10 to 14 bar range and you will constantly be making up for using it with either forced or a heavy hidden charge. Bye bye lean burn and bye bye great FE while that kind of non-sense is going on. Honda’s IMA algorithms for assist may work great for performance and “may” even work great on the FTP75 (LA-4) FE tests but they are absolutely a horrendous waste of both the pack and FE when used in the real world just like the HCH-I and current –II’s are. A clutch switch in the 5-speed Insight’s not only make it more drivable but even more Fuel efficient once you learn how to drive one properly :)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

is the clutch switch what shuts the engine off (auto-stop) ?

Hi Armadaman:

___A clutch switch mod is a simple closing of a circuit on the clutch pedal itself telling the Insight to stop regening and/or assisting during deceleration and acceleration.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

when I get my 5 speed I'll ask how to do the mod or is it already posted on this site ?

Xcel....you helped me make up my mind NOT to buy a CVT Insight.
Thanks,I'll listen to someone who has proven to know what they are talking about!

With the lack-luster FE of the CVT Insight (as compared to the 5-spd Insight), I'd recommend a Prius over a CVT Insight. Much more useful car, similar (or better) FE out of the Prius.

That being said, driving a 5-spd Insight can be a chore with the gear ratios it comes with. You'll often feel like you have to coerce it to keep moving at speed, but the FE returns are phenomenal.

i dont have any issues with the gear ratios. if i want max FE i get it into fifth ASAP. if i want zoom i drop down 2 gears and go. btw, 2nd is good to 70 mph. not so great for FE in that mode though. ;)

oh yeah: 70 mpg since i have owned the car, 76 mpg 12-month moving average, 82 best tank.

I drove an Insight for the first time at the WFEC and it ahem...took a bit of time to get used to the Insight 5 speed. I made a fool of myself more than once trying to drive up Larry's driveway, revving the hell out of the engine because I got the clutch position wrong, and then sputtering and stalling because the engine had no torque whatsoever :o It's the polar opposite of my Echo, which I can't get above 45 MPH in second gear and even in 5th it's pulling 2600+ RPM at 60 MPH :(

I would still love to have one of those cars. 70+ MPG even on these local highways no problem, I could do that in my sleep with an Insight. :)

Hey shifty if you ever want to sell that car of yours let me know i'm only an hour or so away.

Hey shifty if you ever want to sell that car of yours let me know i'm only an hour or so away.

Always good to know where a buyer is. :)

Family is growing past two in the next 9 months, so I may have to sell it, though it will be a sad day. I paid $6k for it last July and wouldn't feel bad at all asking $10k for it.

Though I did put on new tires, a new clutch and had the battery / controllers replaced under warranty. She's ready to kick out another 150k mi without issue...

Congrats, Ben!

Congratulations from me as well, Ben! :D

Thanks, didn't mean to make this a baby announcement thread. :)

I'll probably end up keeping the Insight for commute purposes as that is the bulk of our household's fuel consumption...

Buying a Prius for the wifey, and I have a 94 Civic 4dr I'll use when I get baby hauling duty. Hopefully that should keep everything good. :)

Ah. Sounds similar to my setup -- except I don't have a Prius for the wife (yet? :p).

Heh, my wife refuses to let me buy her anything else at this point... she's sold on hybrids / AT-PZEV.

I'll have a good time teaching her P&G + WS / WN once we get it...

Hi All:

___To reiterate, what we have all learned is if you buy an Insight 5-speed, you will soon have a baby arriving :D

___Congrats Ben!

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Hi All:

___To reiterate, what we have all learned is if you buy an Insight 5-speed, you will soon have a baby arriving :D


___Good Luck

___Wayne

must be the reason i didn't buy one :p

___To reiterate, what we have all learned is if you buy an Insight 5-speed, you will soon have a baby arriving :D

Curse of the Insight?

*cough* of course, uh... I mean blessing. ;)

Hi All:

___To reiterate, what we have all learned is if you buy an Insight 5-speed, you will soon have a baby arriving :D

___Congrats Ben!

___Good Luck

___Wayne


:eek: LOL! :D:thumbs_up:

As a CVT owner, I would like to say that driving it is no work at all. I like the feel of going from 0 to 60 with no gear shifting. Even automatics shift, the CVT just tightens that belt and goes. But if you are looking for the BEST gas mileage, get a 5 speed. CVT does not have lean burn. Having it would hurt the SULEV rating. A 5 speed is only ULEV because of the extra emissions generated by the lean burn. The 5 speed will shut off a 30 MPH, the CVT, only at 5.

Buy the CVT for ease of driving and less emissions.
Get a 5 speed for mpg and ability to use more hypermiling skills.

One small correction. The 5spd will enter auto stop at 21mph -- not 30mph. Unless you use the key, of course. ;)

One small correction. The 5spd will enter auto stop at 21mph -- not 30mph. Unless you use the key, of course. ;)

Well practiced drivers can get it to cut at 22-24 mph. ;)

and other drivers will push the FAS button whenever they feel like it. ;)

Thanks for the correction. I don't have 5-speed experience, just what I remember from the Honda and other info a while back.

> Well I hate to offend anyone.

Having to NOT bother with a clutch, and also have cruise control to further the comfort if need be. Well wear your left knee joint out. May I recommend Hylaronic Acid Joint Supplement for you in need of "clutching". (NOW brand is the best buy).

BTW, I average 78 MPG in my "poor" CVT on my 30 mile commute. "Only 72 mpg if I have to give a lift. Soon I know I'll top the 80 mpg mark. I just got the thing.

Whats the difference between 1/4 mile racing and its mania to cut time, and this? Idol what?

Whats really funny, is that OUR fuel saving only leaves MORE fuel for ingratefull gas wasting shmucks!

Hey you know what else. I'm picking up a real resentment from people who didn't plan right and are stuck with guzzlers! How would you like to get run off the road by one of those Hummers!

Just for saving gas, that leaves more for them!! AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!

???? Where did THAT come from? :confused:

Uh, yeah... what?

Am I missing something? I didn't see any hostility toward the CVT version. They are capable of over 100mpg with the right techniques and circumstances.

Buy what you like and hypermile it to the hilt -- I'll take the 5spd, but if you prefer the CVT more power to you.

Hi Xzizx:

___You are on a short leash with the general insults. We do not have the time to play games when it comes to keeping the place tidy and clean so consider yourself warned.

___What the heck is going on with all the new memeber insults today???

___Good Luck

___Wayne

CYT vs Manual.
Get the best buy you can. Be
glad to have it.
There are X amount of H.I. available
sellers market.
I upped my round trip commute avg
to 82.9.
THIS though could never be reached
during the day. At early AM hours with
no "Hummers" tailgating honking.
When its cooler,roads clear.
Same route during day. I would be
quite satisfied with 70mpg.
A big factor is timing. Just being in
flow with traffic lights.
The mpg "race" is so much like the
E.T. or 0-60 thing of 60-70's Muscle Cars.
Which is faster to 60, a 427 Corvette
or 427 Cobra.
Now? ! Who could care less?!

@shift35
Put my name down as a buyer interested in your car when you're ready to sell. Would look like a polar opposite next to my wifes fsp.