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I have found a used 2001 Insight with under 20k miles for about $10k. It's an automatic. I've given it a quick look but I'm not sure what to look for. What are the important things to look for with these cars other than the normal used car issues? The car is being driven so it runs. Is this car a good deal?

I think the main thing is checking the charge on the battery, trying to get it to turn the ice off, and drive on battery, make sure its charge goes down linearly. I think when the battery is horked, it just drops down from full to nothing quickly

I've heard that the manual is what you really want for mpg. I was contemplating a mirrorless 2005 insight I saw on e-bay and autotrader, but it might be gone since its not on e-bay anymore. It was maybe too far away anyway.

Definitely try to draw a lot of assist and see how the battery responds. If it drops down quickly beyond a certain point, that is called a "recal" and indicated the battery is starting to age... mine recals at around 2/3 SoC, but hypermiling generally doesn't draw too much current off the battery - it stays within 2 bars of full at all times.

Koreberg, the Insight you saw was Billy's, I think it is still available. If you'd like to drive / ride in one, shoot me a PM and we can hook up since we are both in Nashville.

20K mileage sounds amazingly low. Did you mean 200K?

First thing to do is to run the title. If it is a salvage title the Honda battery warranty won't apply. Also try to get history (carfax, Honda?).

Insights will not run on battery alone. But you can force battery use by accelerating hard and see how fast the state of charge drops.

CVT Insights do not get as high mileage as MT's. You can get an idea from the mileage logs here. There's a lot of variability in Insight mpg's, more variation with the MT than the CVT because with the driver has more input. Basically about 10-15mpg lower for the CVT, partly because the CVT engine is slightly different: lower smog emissions but won't do lean burn.

I have found a used 2001 Insight with under 20k miles for about $10k. It's an automatic. I've given it a quick look but I'm not sure what to look for. What are the important things to look for with these cars other than the normal used car issues? The car is being driven so it runs. Is this car a good deal?
I love my 2000 Insight. At 97000 miles I have a 62.9 average MPG with manual transmission. I suggest you scroll through the mileage guage with the ignition on to see what the cumulative MPG is for that particular car. A higher average MPG would indicate much gentler use. I would also ask the local Honda dealer to run the VIN number against their database to confirm that a few of the significant recalls have been. I had a abrupt battery failure around 97000 miles. Honda replaced the $3500 battery absolutely free. Be sure to confirm with your local Honda dealer that the 10 year, 150K battery warranty is fully transferable. Other than that I'd go for it.

How do I check the past mileage? The car is literally owned by a little old lady and she doesn't seem very knowledgeable. She said the car got mileage in the 40's.

The odometer has a lifetime MPG value stored. Flip it to the normal odometer and you should see it. I bought my car at 120k mi and 53.8 mpg, and I've brought it up to 54.2 over the last 4 months.

Mileage in the 40's probably about average for a normal driver with a CVT using A/C a lot.

Another good source for info is (https://www.ahm-ownerlink.com/login.asp)

I created an account and could look up the service history of my Insight by the VIN.

Cheers,
Dave

$10000 is a fairly good-much better than average-price for a 20,000 mile Insight.Worse case,the battery dies-what does a battery cost-maybe $2500 installed?Check the price for a new installed battery.If it isn't too bad,then it is a good deal.
Keep in mind that you can buy a new Prius for about $22000,and a new HCH II for maybe $20,000
I would be tempted at that price.I think the AT is about 5 mpg down vs the MT-still awfully good.
Luck,
Charlie

Just to add to the part of checking the lifetime MPG for the car -

With the key in the ON position, look for the FCD button on the far left side of the dash. Press it until it switches the mieage display, then on the right bottom of the instrument cluster you press the trip button and it will switch the display between "A", "B" or the lifetime MPG and total miles for the car.

Sounds like a sweet deal, but definitely get it checked out.

Sounds like a deal for $10k. How is the condition of the interior/exterior and tires?

As long as it doesn't have a salvage title, Honda has extended the IMA system warranty to 10 years and 150,000 miles.

Is that a transferable warranty?

I liked the price on the one below, but its automatic... If anyone is interested in the Milwaukee area.

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/car/493251063.html

I wonder why it isn't sold already.$10,000 with just 20,000 miles is a good deal.Is it located in a somewhat remote area; not near a big city?
I not trying to poach,don't tell us where it is(I'm not in the buying market,I'm in the "broke" market.Make a guess why it isn't sold?I wouldn't mention where it is if you are still considering it-alls fair in love and used cars-especially high mpg hybrids with $3 gas.
Luck,
Charlie
I see you are in Utah.A lot of Utah is small town rural.Most of the Population is probably near Salt Lake, but there are lots of smaller cities/towns. Lotta folks have big families, not suitable for them.It is a snow area also,and a lotta' folks like bigger awd 4x4 vehicles. It also is a a conservative area;there might be a tiny bit of hybrid dislike/distrust out there.I listen to Rush Limbaugh,and he constantly makes fun of hybrids.Many conservative radio types "pick" on hybrids for no good reason.They assume hybrid drivers are cut from the same cloth.Many of us want to save $$,and have excellent resale(and smile at $25 fillups when everyone else is paying $50-$125 to fill up).

I've noticed that prices for CVT Insights -- even ones with low mileage -- are many thousands of dollars less than a comparable manual transmission car.

The buyers of these used cars evidently know exactly what they are looking at when it comes to mileage potential if the cars are going for the rate differences I see!