LA Times - how Insight sales are doing against Prius

[bluetwo]

Originally Posted by SuperMPG

The Insight is the poor man's Prius, literally.

Sadly, yes if you go with the base model.

If you go up to the EX, which is the only way to get Navi and other desirable options it costs you a LOT more.

I think the Insight might also be the I-want-it-right-now mans hybrid.

[bwilson4web]

The Insight is a fine car for less overweight and more 'standard size' folks. I'm thinking an Insight would be a fine graduation gift vehicle but not for a football or basketball athlete.

Bob Wilson

[usbseawolf2000]

Originally Posted by cwerdna

As reported in other theads, in the US for July 2009:
Toyota sold 19,173 Priuses
Honda sold 2,295 Insights and 969 HCHs

Ouch! HCHs were selling 1/4th of the Prius numbers until the 2010 Insight and 2010 Prius came out.

Now HCH is selling 1/10th of the Prius. I can draw three possibilities:

1) 2010 Prius is much better than HCH
2) 2010 Insight strategy backfired. Insight stole sales from HCH and many now see IMA as inferior and bought the Prius.
3) Combination of 1 and 2.

[DaveinOlyWA]

HCH looks to be odd man out...looking at raw hybrid sales, the Prius went up slightly, Honda with combined HCH, HIH sales, stayed about the same

[JasonPro]

Originally Posted by usbseawolf2000

Ouch! HCHs were selling 1/4th of the Prius numbers until the 2010 Insight and 2010 Prius came out.

Now HCH is selling 1/10th of the Prius. I can draw three possibilities:

1) 2010 Prius is much better than HCH
2) 2010 Insight strategy backfired. Insight stole sales from HCH and many now see IMA as inferior and bought the Prius.
3) Combination of 1 and 2.

When I visited a Honda dealership in search of a new hybrid car (before visiting Toyota), I made up my mind that if I were to buy at Honda, I would go with the Insight over the HCH. However, I went into the dealership thinking I wanted the HCH. Several things changed my mind:

1. The acceleration and performance of the Insight seemed marginally better than the HCH.

2. The price is cheaper.

3. The rear seats go down which leaves much more room for both cargo and my dog.

Now, having said all of that... Obviously I eventually bought the Prius. The Prius had better performance, many more standard features, larger area inside, and more comfortable seats. Really, complainers about the Prius seats ought to try to sit in the middle on the Inisght. I felt like I was sitting on a wooden board.

[1SMUGLEX]

Originally Posted by SuperMPG

The Insight is the poor man's Prius, literally.

Exactly and it seems no one wants to have that image looking at sales.

[emd]

Originally Posted by The Electric Me

What do you think would happen to Honda Accord sales if Honda announced they were building a new Accord to compete with Camry but that new Accord got worse gas mileage, was smaller, had a weaker engine and overall power but it was "maybe" 1000-2000 dollars cheaper ? Sales would be dismal. Honda can now proclaim The Insight was never meant as a direct competitor to Prius but that's ridiculous. How do you release a weak clone of a competitors automobile, at least from the external standpoint, then stand back and go, what compete with The Prius?

Just wanted to add an opinion to this thread. I've been on this board looking into the 2010 Prius for my parents who are not internet savvy.
Anyway, I have a *gasp* Honda Insight. Here was my purchasing train of thought. I wanted a small commuter car with good gas mileage. I had been considering between the Yaris or the Fit. I had planned to get a top of the line Fit (wanted stability control), but then the Insight came out. For a little bit more, I could have a hybrid. I figured well, why not give that money to a car company working on fuel efficient vehicles rather than give it to the gas pump?
Never once considered the Prius, as that would be jumping somewhere around $4,000 from my price point, rather than $2,000.
Anyway, my point is that it's possible the Honda could appeal to people who were never even considering a hybrid. That's a win/win for everyone.

[usbseawolf2000]

Originally Posted by emd

...I had planned to get a top of the line Fit (wanted stability control), but then the Insight came out. For a little bit more, I could have a hybrid....

Did you get the Insight EX? The base Insight doesn't come with stability control.

[emd]

Originally Posted by usbseawolf2000

Did you get the Insight EX? The base Insight doesn't come with stability control.

Yeah, I have an EX.

[dmanthree]

I'm new here, and have been reading this thread with some interest since I spend some time in an Insight (about a month). Honestly, I liked it but there was one thing about that drive me crazy: noise. The ride can get choppy on rough roads, and the IMA can be quirky, but it does work well. I averaged about 46MPG over the month. But the noise is just too much. On rough roads, like roads scraped for paving, it drowned out the radio it was so loud. I can't understand Honda; this is a problem common to many Hondas. Why?

Other than that, the features of the car were really nice. Good radion with iPod interface, good climate control, comfortable front seats, and good utility. The stock tires were crap, though, and were "interesting" in the rain...

Overall, Honda's biggest mistake was making it look like a Prius and inviting comparisons with the Prius. It's not in the same class, really. Now if I could just find a way to get the iPod interface into the Prius...