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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Japanese_Flag_30x22.jpg In the day to day world of the urban grind and boring highway slogs, the Insight is a completely different car. (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,530743,00.html?test=faces)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2010_Honda_Insight-II2.jpgGary Gastelu - FOXNEWS (http://www.foxnews.com) - July 09, 2009

Interesting reversal of opinion and a nice highlight of how venue has a huge impact on car reviewing impressions. --Ed.

I'll always remember the first time I drove the 2010 Honda Insight.

It was a late spring morning, 75 degrees, very sunny, and the ride began at the base of the proverbial twisty mountain road.

On the way up, the hybrid heeled through the curves like a small watercraft, its low rolling resistance tires screaming for mamasan as they searched for traction on the flawless blacktop, a sound equaled in its awfulness only by the one coming from the one under the hood.

By the time I got to the top, I never wanted to see the car again.

I haven't experienced a vehicle so poorly matched to a venue since Kia decided it would be a good idea to bring one of its Sedona minivans to a media drive event at Pocono Raceway...and I am not just bitter about that one because I got stuck behind it in a no passing zone during a hot lap in a Dodge Viper. If Honda itself had designed a road to highlight the shortcomings of the Insight, they couldn't have done any better.

Nevertheless, the first thing I did after I handed back the keys was schedule an Insight for an extended test.

I'm glad that I did... http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,530743,00.html?test=faces

After initial reports that its handling beats the Prius, now I'm seeing lots of complaints about how the Insight handles the curves. Guess I'm going to have to test drive one myself sometime soon.

Handling? These days it's academic. Even the worst-handling car today is going to handle better than you're ever likely to need it to. And if you're a big fan of the twisties (which I'm not), I don't think you're going to be buying a Prius or an Insight anyway...

I disagree, there are some really bad handling cars out there, and with the Fit especially I can have my cake and eat it too.

Wri: The Insight II has the same LRR Dunlops as the Fit. If you do test drive one, set them at 45+ PSI. The standard 32 will just feel terrible, like a completely different car.

Handling? These days it's academic. Even the worst-handling car today is going to handle better than you're ever likely to need it to.Disagreed. And if you're a big fan of the twisties (which I'm not), I don't think you're going to be buying a Prius or an Insight anyway...Disagreed.

Drove an Insight-II today (rented from Zipcar while my Jetta is in the shop). Handles great, even with whatever psi was already in the tires (I didn't have the opportunity to top them off). I have no doubt it would be even better at 45 psi. Ride was just as firm, taut and flat as my VWs. Maybe slightly more so than the Jetta, and definitely more so than the previous generation Civics I've driven in the past. Roadholding seemed great - I threw it into the few decent curves I could find on my urban commute, and it hung on with no squealing or drama, just like the VWs and way better than the typical economy car. Minor bump compliance was better than the Jetta (stock suspension) and way better than the Golf (d*** aftermarket Bilsteins).

Either this Gastelu guy was on dope when he wrote the story, or he's trying to compare the Insight's handling with that of a Corvette or M3 or something. Compared to most economy cars it's great.

in 3,060 miles of rural, urban and suburban driving, on long and short hauls, I'd have to agree. The 1.3 can get noisy if it's completely floored (the limited VTEC capabilities show compared to my HCH II), though the ride is firm and responsive. It's obviously not an S2000, but it was never meant to be.

As far as the drive, at the door sill recommended low 30's psi, it wallows in the curves and turns. Press up to the tire manufacturer recommended max and it's MUCH better. It is what it is. It's a fuel efficient auto, not a formula racer.