What to do: 09 HCH vs. Insight 2 vs. Prius III?

DCB · #1 09-05-2008, 10:26 AM

So I've got a depositdown for an 09 HCH that should arrive sometime later this month. I'm really struggling thought with what look like so many additional options opening up next spring. The wait now in my area for an 09 HCH with leather and nav is about 2.5 months. Some questions for those of you who may be in the know:

1) Navigation, bluetooth, and leather seating are important to me: Will Insight 2 offer any of these features, or will it be akin to the Fit packaging (no leather, no bluetooth available)?

2) My current everyday vehicle is a Suburban and I'm dropping about 450/mo in gas. I'd like to stop that bleeding. Obviously, if I wait, it will be at least april or may before I can actually see one of these cars to make a decision, then with wait time, I'm probably looking at June July before I can get into one right? And if I don't like what I see and want to go back to an 09 HCH, same thing. What is the earliest you think I could get into a Prius III or Insight 2?

3) Will Toyota price-hike the Prius III? Dealers in my area are about 1-2T over sticker now.

4) Will the FE of the Prius III and Insight 2 be so dramatically better than the 09 HCH that I'll feel like a putz for not waiting a few (six? nine?) months?

5) I know the Insight 2 will not look as cool as the picture I've seen floating around the past couple of days...will the interior be on par with the current Civic? More spartan?

brick · #2 09-05-2008, 10:41 AM

If I were dropping $450/mo on gas and the HCH met my needs, I would take delivery of the one that's on order. I sincerely doubt that we're looking at a major leap in technology (or fuel economy) with either the Insight II or the Prius III. More than likely they will both be an incremental improvement, with a measurable but not awe-inspiring gain over current vehicles. The Insight will be a bit smaller than the Civic, which should help, and the hatch would be my preference for utility. The Prius will be about the same size as it is now, hopefully with better ergonomics and a tuning-up of the drivetrain for better FE on the highway. (City FE is already phenomenal, with a PHEV being the next step up in that department.)

Again, $450/mo says it all. The Civic is a proven performer on the open road and a high-quality vehicle. The only thing that would hold me back is whether or not the sedan form factor is acceptable. I suppose I would also be gun-shy if my primary environment were stop & go driving, in which case I would want the Toyota drivetrain.

xcel · #3 09-05-2008, 11:10 AM

Hi DCB:

___I suspect that all Honda’s will come equipped with a NAVI package in the future. With the Fit coming with NAVI as an option, I suspect the Insight-II will be so equipped (as an option) as well. Bluetooth, almost guaranteed as well.

___When available? Prius-III by next spring with the Insight-II around the same?

___Pricing? You bet they will. The Insight-II will be jacked as will the Prius-III unfortunately. Find a dealer that will do MSRP and do not purchase it locally if they will not do MSRP or better.

___I have to concede that purchasing an HCH-II today may not be the best idea given the nature and capability of the hybrids that will be available next year. At $450 per month in fuel however, there is a cost for not doing something today.

___Insight-II to the HCH-II? Probably very similar. The Fit’s interior is very HQ and expect a similar interior in the Insight-II but with a great new FCD(s) of some sort

___Good Luck

___Wayne

shifty35 · #4 09-05-2008, 12:25 PM

I have my doubts that the Insight-2 will be offered with leather - leather was just added to the Civic this year! If that's a critical factor, I think it knocks the I2 out of the running.

I'd wager the Insight-2 will not be nearly as "luxury" as either the HCH-2 or the Prius-3. This is based on the low price point / global aspect of the car. This is not to say it might not be available with higher end features, but I think that might distract from the HCH-2 sales especially.

I also anticipate that the P3 / I2 FE will not be dramatically different than the HCH-2.

If I were hemorrhaging to the tune of $450 / mo, I'd be anxious to stop that bleeding. With the current market and the incredible resale on these cars, I'd wager that between depreciation / $ saved on gas you will come close to break even if you pick up an HCH-2 now and sell it in favor of a new model next spring. And you'll definitely gain quite a few HM tricks in the meantime!

bomber991 · #5 09-06-2008, 02:45 AM

You know, you can probably buy the HCH today and sell it next year when the new cars you really want are coming out. Yeah maybe you'll have to sell it for $1 or $2k less than what you paid for it, but the fuel money you'll have saved with it will already make up that difference.

Seems like the resale value on hybrids is extremely good.

DCB · #6 09-06-2008, 08:57 PM

Thanks for all the thoughts. I was at the dealership today looking at the new Fit and found out the 09 HCH I ordered arrived this morning...so I bought it. New front end looks great. Leather mid-high quality. Nav great, bluetooth easy to set up and use. After 26 miles, I'm at 52.3 mpg avg. I'm very pleased.

Time will tell, but right now I feel like I'll have to see some pretty impressive leaps in the Prius III or Insight II to make me give this car up.

xcel · #7 09-06-2008, 09:33 PM

Hi DCB:

___Do not look back and do not second guess yourself. You have a fantastic vehicle that will be with you for years to come. I am sure I speak for all of us when I say I hope you enjoy it more than any other vehicle you have ever owned in the past and will in the future

___Good Luck and congrats on the new ride!!!

___Wayne

moneysaver · #8 09-09-2008, 11:02 PM

Nice vehicle purchase DCB, now you can stop throwing away almost $500 per month. I bet you will see the savings of HCH immediately compared to suburban. Congrats on the purchse of one of the most fantastic car on the market.

bomber991 · #9 09-09-2008, 11:20 PM

Just curious, how many miles per month are you driving?

DCB · #10 09-10-2008, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bomber991

Just curious, how many miles per month are you driving?

Thanks for all the congrats.

Bomber:

I drove 21500 last year so here's the breakdown:

21500 m/yr / 12 mo= 1792 m/mo

1792 m/mo / 14 m/gal = 128 gal/mo

128 gal/mo * 3.75 $/gal = 480 $/mo

Now substituting the 50 mpg I'm averaging for the 14 with the same math, my fuel cost is:

135 $/mo...

Fuel savings = $345 per month...

Buying this car was basically a no-brainer.

And I couldn't be happier with the car itself.