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I am new to the site and interested in buying an Insight(manual preferred). But first I have a few questions.

What are the differences(if any) between years of production? i.e.- interior/exterior/options/etc

What is the cost of the battery replacement?

Have there been any major concerns with them?

What should one look for when test driving one?

Do they come with cruise control?



Thanks in advance for any and all help

The answers to all of your questions can be answered by checking out Insight Central. It is a detailed site dedicated to all things Insight related.

Hi Atlaw4u:

___Most of the heavy hitters that used to hang out over there are here ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

2000 - Only year offered in Citrus Yellow, not offered in blue. 5 spd only
2001+ CVT offered

All models from 00-04 have the same interior color, which was changed for 05-06.

Battery replacement is approximately $3500, although they are warrantied until 150k / 10 yr. This warranty is transferable so long as the car has never been titled in Canada or salvaged.

The only available option is A/C or not.

They do not come with cruise control. My assumption concerning this is, on the 5 spd, the car cannot maintain speed on the interstate in top gear without HEAVY use of Assist - downshifts are required. Worse, EPA numbers would be difficult to achieve when using cruise control. Although, it would be very nice for long trips where it's relatively flat... not here for sure!

If you drive one, ensure there are no check engine lights or IMA indicator on. Make sure assist and regen come in smoothly and the battery level drops linearly most of the way down (draw some heavy assist!). Check that regular maintenance has been performed as needed. Check the lifetime MPG, as that will give you some indication of the way it's been driven and the territory it's been driven in.

atlaw4u- I checked out insight central...That was a helpful website..thanks

shifty- thanks for all the details


Another question..

Right now in my 06 Civic I cruise at 60mph on the hwy..

Is that too fast for the Insight?

Would there be a high draw/negative effect on the batteries?(sorry don't know the proper term.)

Thanks again

A few things to add. Digital climate control/AC was standard on later models.

CVT's do not do lean burn but are SULEV (MT is ULEV only). So MT will get roughly 10-20mpg better than CVT but more emissions.

Rostra made a cruise control for them and some people installed Rostras and apparently were happy. I was absolutely certain I wanted cruise control until I drove the Insight. Basically it's so much fun massaging the accelerator to work the iMPG that now I don't want CC on my Insight.

There is no problem "maintaining speed on the interstate" without using a lot of assist, but even if there were it would not affect CC because that works off throttle position and the IMA decides whether to use battery or add gas when needed.

You can check lifetime mpg by pushing a button towards the right side of the bottom of the center display. In sequence, it gives you mpg on the "A" tripmeter, mpg on the "B", and lifetime mpg. This is not 100% reliable because there is a way to reset the lmpg, so someone could have done that.

There are a few niggling problems but nothing that affects every Insight AFAIK. Maintenance on it is a bit fussier than on most Hondas, so a clueless mechanic can screw things up. As in fail to properly fasten the underbody panels after an oil change, improperly replace the expensive rear wheel skirts. Replacing the windshield is tricky and if done improperly can result in leaks.

Is that too fast for the Insight?
Would there be a high draw/negative effect on the batteries?(sorry don't know the proper term.)

It will zip along quite happily at 60mph, or faster. If you are going uphill, depending on the steepness it may draw on the battery. On level terrain it will charge the battery at that speed (if needed). But slowing down a bit will net you the insane mpg it is famous for.

I have my mind set on a MT..I am interested to see how well I could do FE-wise behind the wheel

If I tried to maintain 60 mph on any highway within 1000 mi of where I live, I'd have the throttle buried and 100% assist trying to climb hills. The 5th gear is tall (appopriately so), but downshifting will just be required when you are cruising low in the RPM range.

Oddly, maintaining speed is *easier* at higher speeds because the engine is in it's power band.

It will zip along quite happily at 60mph, or faster. If you are going uphill, depending on the steepness it may draw on the battery. On level terrain it will charge the battery at that speed (if needed). But slowing down a bit will net you the insane mpg it is famous for.Does it get significantly better going 50mph or 55mph?

I have a 110 mile one way trip to work. I have done it at 55mph before but never slower. If I were to get one I might be tempted to slow down more..

If I tried to maintain 60 mph on any highway within 1000 mi of where I live, I'd have the throttle buried and 100% assist trying to climb hills. The 5th gear is tall (appopriately so), but downshifting will just be required when you are cruising low in the RPM range.

Oddly, maintaining speed is *easier* at higher speeds because the engine is in it's power band.There are several "Hills" (as most in other parts of the U.S. would call them) on my drive to work, I probably cross 4-6 hills that currently require a downshift from my AT Civic..I suppose I might have to downshift for those same hills

I have my mind set on a MT..I am interested to see how well I could do FE-wise behind the wheel
Difficult to say. It's a learning process (had my Insight over a year and am still learning from it). And a question of how much you are willing to focus and slow down.

An unexpected benefit of the little beast is that it will teach you techniques (and make them instinctive) so that you get better mpg in other cars you drive.

If I tried to maintain 60 mph on any highway within 1000 mi of where I live, I'd have the throttle buried and 100% assist trying to climb hills. The 5th gear is tall (appopriately so), but downshifting will just be required when you are cruising low in the RPM range.

Oddly, maintaining speed is *easier* at higher speeds because the engine is in it's power band.
Maybe something is wrong with your Insight? There are a number of hills on my daily commute and mine handles them in 5th without downshifting. On the steepest one I slow into the 40's but the rest of the time I'm at 50-55. It would easily go faster if I were willing to sacrifice mpg.

When I first started my lengthy drive to work I was going a little over 70mph..I have since slowed down to 60mph..Along with coasting to stops and accelerating slower I have noticed a nice boost in FE..

I'm sure having a iMPG gauge may make me drive a little different.

My family is most likely getting me a SGII so I might imagine that I might see my current FE go up for the time being

50 mph will net you better mpg than 55 which will net you better than 60, etc.

It depends on the terrain that you drive on. Temp, humidity, dewpoint, headwind, tailwind all relate to your mpg as well.

2000 to 2006 Insights all have digital climate control. Early ones have a cassette player while the newer models have cd. That is one item a lot of people change out.

I have a HCHII and an Insight. I still prefer the Insight for my daily 95 mile rt commute.

I have over 160,000 on my Insight and it is still in great condition. Tanks all summer averaged over 70 mpg and the winter tanks were touching 70.

Maybe something is wrong with your Insight? There are a number of hills on my daily commute and mine handles them in 5th without downshifting. On the steepest one I slow into the 40's but the rest of the time I'm at 50-55. It would easily go faster if I were willing to sacrifice mpg.

Now we're talking about two different things. I too climb them in 5th and lose a lot of speed. However, if I wanted to maintain speed, climb, and not drain the crap out of the battery, I'd have to downshift, and I'm sure you'd say the same is true. ;)

That said, my EGR is giving me some trouble at low RPM lean-burn conditions, so I need to replace it. I don't have problems averaging 70 mpg+ on tanks, so I'm pretty sure the car is fine given the driving conditions I always find myself in.

Edit: I forgot to mention, these "hills" are probably typically .5-.7 mi long, and this is on the highway where the speed limit is 70 - I'll let the speed drop if no one is behind me, but during normal traffic, it's just not acceptable. :)

Is your EGR problems setting a code? I've been experiencing a little herky-jerky every once in a while and I've heard people say its the EGR valve. I'll just take it off and see if cleaning it will help any.

There are hills, then there are HILLS.

I have a couple that I shift to third, three to 4th, and and several SMALL hills that I stay in fifth. They are more of a rise in the road. One that I shift to third is about 1 mile.

Hills don't bother me anymore ;) I just push my MIMA stick forward and she rockets up the hill like its nothing... but then I have to charge it back up if I get a bit zelous with the stick :D

I have noticed though when turning MIMA off and on while traveling on flat roads, the stock system lies lies lies to you about how much its charging and assisting. The stock gauge is no where even close to accurate. I've been finding it hard to ignore it and look at the MIMA display instead. Plus dumping in regen while driving on flat roads is super easy. If I'm in 5th gear I can easily get over 2 LED's worth of regen on the MIMA display without it slowing me down... which is over half the charge bar on the stock display.


For what its worth, the EBH part numbers are different on 04-06 model insights. Although its speculated that they just changed manufactures. I have a 00-03 EBH on my 06 with no issues.

Some of the "hills" I cross are over 1/2 mile up and another 1/2 mile down and the elevation change is like 150'


what is the MIMA?

Manual Intergrated Motor Assist.

Its a modification made by Mike Dabrowski and you can read about it on his site at www.99mpg.com/mima

Its definitely a very cool mod, although there is a waiting list right now because he doesn't have more systems built. Once his waiting list gets 10 people on it he will make more.

the MIMA sounds like a pretty good mod. I read most of what was on that link.

For those who bought their Insight new...How much did you pay?

Thanks for all your help

Those are some big hills, I wonder when they stop being hills, and start being mountains.

Most people around where I live would call what I travel over mountains..People from elsewhere in the country would call them hills...lol