The Hybrid for Everyone?

The Electric Me · 10-24-2009, 04:13 PM

I'm not taking my personal experience as being the rule throughout the land, but I thought I'd share what I saw a few weeks ago.

I still own my old Honda, and I needed some work done. Ended up at the dealership with an hour to kill. As they hope you will do, I ended up walking around the showroom. They had an Insight on the floor. It had the red "sale" tag hanging from the rearview window, and I was curious anyway so I went to take a closer look. Well the "Sale" price of this Insight approached $28,000 dollars.

That floored me. I thought Honda had released the Insight with the idea that it was suppose to be more reachable for a larger audience than The Prius? I looked at The Insight and it is seemed considerably smaller to me. I took a closer look at the sticker, and noticed that it was actually a $24,000 dollar vehicle WITH A $4,000 dollar "market adjustment" increase.

If I had wanted to purchase, and I wanted to haggle I have no idea how commited to that increase the dealer would of been. If I was serious about buying it might of vanished in a puff of smoke. But they were Red Tagging advertising it as on "Sale" at $28,000. Sorry, but for the size of the vehicle no way I would pay that much. I've seen and been in The Prius and it is far superior from a back seat standpoint as well as I think offering a much more advanced Hybrid system. You could talk me into paying $28,000 for a Prius but $28,000 for The Insight? no way.

Just seems to me like Honda is screwed. They can advertise The Hybrid for everyone and even produce them at a lower cost, but if dealers can and will tack on $4,000 dollar increases then a lot of "everyones" are going to be disappointed when they get to the dealership.

This was closer to the end of Cash for Clunkers, and inventories of economical cars were depleted. So perhaps I was just seeing the exception and not the rule. Perhaps the high price on The Insight was just to encourage walk in's that may not be so commited to the idea of a hybrid, to look at The Fit, or The Civic. I don't know. But I can't believe that an upwards of $28,000 dollar Insight is what Honda wants, or was ever invisioning with their entire Insight release.

patsparks · 10-24-2009, 08:19 PM

Some dealers see dollar signs, some sell cars.

Jim Calvert · 10-24-2009, 11:23 PM

That Honda dealer is asking way too much, $28,000 is ridiculous.

hampdenwireless · 10-24-2009, 11:42 PM

The Insight is not selling well and should be able to be obtained at a discount to MSRP. This is backed up by Truecar showing average prices paid below MSRP.

New Honda Insight Prices and Honda Insight Dealer Invoice and Cost

**Tideland Prius** · 10-25-2009, 02:17 AM

In Canada, we only get two Insight models - LX and EX. The EX is basically your EX-L (i.e. with nav and bluetooth) so we don't get an EX model without nav. This means if you want TCS and VSA, you're shelling out extra for nav and bluetooth too.

LX - Cdn$23,900
EX - Cdn$27,500

For comparison

HCH-II - $27,350
3G Prius - $27,500
2G Prius - $27,710 (or $27,400 prior to the Jan '09 price increase)

Also what's interesting to note is that on Honda Canada's site, all the representative vehicles are the top models (Civic Si, Fit Sport, Odyssey Touring, Accord EX-L V6 etc etc) yet when it comes to the Insight, they show the base LX model instead of the EX which has alloys. If I remember marketing correctly, you want to display your best model, not the worst.

jburns · 10-25-2009, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

If I remember marketing correctly, you want to display your best model, not the worst.

Not necessarily. Its just like fishing. If you're after the bottom feeders you use stink bait.

Yankeefan · 10-25-2009, 06:44 PM

I bought my wife one before I bought myself the Prius. Hers is an EX (w/o nav) with a ton of options (trunk tray, wheel locks, tint, etc.) I walked out door after tax, tag, and title at $23k. So those dealers must be looking for idiots. If my wife didn't buy that vehicle I never would have even looked at a Prius, much less buy one.

Yankeefan · 10-25-2009, 06:46 PM

I forgot to ask what dealership was this?

Priusphev2010 · 10-25-2009, 11:28 PM

I have looked at several vehicles to compare price/fuel economy benefits. Hondas did not even make it into my spreadsheet. Not that I'm bashing Honda. Nice cars, but not even close to my new P2010.

**Tideland Prius** · 10-26-2009, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jburns

Not necessarily. Its just like fishing. If you're after the bottom feeders you use stink bait.

Then show the Fit DX, not the Fit Sport. Your argument doesn't work with what Honda Canada listed.

10-24-2009, 04:13 PM	#1
The Electric Me Go Speed Go! Join Date: May 2009 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 402 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: N/A Package: N/A Thanks: 36 Thanked 71 Times in 45 Posts Friends: 0	The Hybrid for Everyone? I'm not taking my personal experience as being the rule throughout the land, but I thought I'd share what I saw a few weeks ago. I still own my old Honda, and I needed some work done. Ended up at the dealership with an hour to kill. As they hope you will do, I ended up walking around the showroom. They had an Insight on the floor. It had the red "sale" tag hanging from the rearview window, and I was curious anyway so I went to take a closer look. Well the "Sale" price of this Insight approached $28,000 dollars. That floored me. I thought Honda had released the Insight with the idea that it was suppose to be more reachable for a larger audience than The Prius? I looked at The Insight and it is seemed considerably smaller to me. I took a closer look at the sticker, and noticed that it was actually a $24,000 dollar vehicle WITH A $4,000 dollar "market adjustment" increase. If I had wanted to purchase, and I wanted to haggle I have no idea how commited to that increase the dealer would of been. If I was serious about buying it might of vanished in a puff of smoke. But they were Red Tagging advertising it as on "Sale" at $28,000. Sorry, but for the size of the vehicle no way I would pay that much. I've seen and been in The Prius and it is far superior from a back seat standpoint as well as I think offering a much more advanced Hybrid system. You could talk me into paying $28,000 for a Prius but $28,000 for The Insight? no way. Just seems to me like Honda is screwed. They can advertise The Hybrid for everyone and even produce them at a lower cost, but if dealers can and will tack on $4,000 dollar increases then a lot of "everyones" are going to be disappointed when they get to the dealership. This was closer to the end of Cash for Clunkers, and inventories of economical cars were depleted. So perhaps I was just seeing the exception and not the rule. Perhaps the high price on The Insight was just to encourage walk in's that may not be so commited to the idea of a hybrid, to look at The Fit, or The Civic. I don't know. But I can't believe that an upwards of $28,000 dollar Insight is what Honda wants, or was ever invisioning with their entire Insight release. __________________ Full Electric Living to it's Fullest

10-24-2009, 08:19 PM	#2
patsparks An Aussie perspective Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 9,250 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 128 Thanked 185 Times in 143 Posts Friends: 33	Re: The Hybrid for Everyone? Some dealers see dollar signs, some sell cars.

10-24-2009, 11:23 PM	#3
Jim Calvert Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Worthington, Ohio Posts: 229 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: III Package: Navigation Thanks: 7 Thanked 27 Times in 21 Posts Friends: 0	Re: The Hybrid for Everyone? That Honda dealer is asking way too much, $28,000 is ridiculous. Last edited by Jim Calvert; 10-28-2009 at 09:58 AM. Reason: spelling

10-24-2009, 11:42 PM	#4
hampdenwireless Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Baltimore MD Posts: 498 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: Package: Thanks: 30 Thanked 24 Times in 20 Posts Friends: 0	Re: The Hybrid for Everyone? The Insight is not selling well and should be able to be obtained at a discount to MSRP. This is backed up by Truecar showing average prices paid below MSRP. New Honda Insight Prices and Honda Insight Dealer Invoice and Cost

10-25-2009, 02:17 AM	#5
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,633 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 229 Thanked 346 Times in 245 Posts Friends: 23	Re: The Hybrid for Everyone? In Canada, we only get two Insight models - LX and EX. The EX is basically your EX-L (i.e. with nav and bluetooth) so we don't get an EX model without nav. This means if you want TCS and VSA, you're shelling out extra for nav and bluetooth too. LX - Cdn$23,900 EX - Cdn$27,500 For comparison HCH-II - $27,350 3G Prius - $27,500 2G Prius - $27,710 (or $27,400 prior to the Jan '09 price increase) Also what's interesting to note is that on Honda Canada's site, all the representative vehicles are the top models (Civic Si, Fit Sport, Odyssey Touring, Accord EX-L V6 etc etc) yet when it comes to the Insight, they show the base LX model instead of the EX which has alloys. If I remember marketing correctly, you want to display your best model, not the worst. __________________ 2005 Tideland Pearl Premium Package 25/10/04 VVT-i Emblem, Sport Pedals, All-Weather Mats, Cargo Mat, EV Mod, JDM Prius Footwell Lighting, DICE iPod Kit 2008 Deep Black smart fortwo passion coupé - sold (6.1L/100km) 2010 Blue Ribbon Metallic Technology Package 29/08/09 All-Weather Mats, Homemade Console Pads, LED lighting "Ask an Expert" on Facebook I am not employed by Toyota, and the opinions expressed by me as a Prius Expert are not those of Toyota.

10-25-2009, 06:44 PM	#7
Yankeefan Captain Planet Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 25 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: V Package: Navigation Thanks: 3 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	Re: The Hybrid for Everyone? I bought my wife one before I bought myself the Prius. Hers is an EX (w/o nav) with a ton of options (trunk tray, wheel locks, tint, etc.) I walked out door after tax, tag, and title at $23k. So those dealers must be looking for idiots. If my wife didn't buy that vehicle I never would have even looked at a Prius, much less buy one.

10-25-2009, 06:46 PM	#8
Yankeefan Captain Planet Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 25 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: V Package: Navigation Thanks: 3 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	Re: The Hybrid for Everyone? I forgot to ask what dealership was this?

10-25-2009, 11:28 PM	#9
Priusphev2010 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 8 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: V Package: Adv. Technology Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	Re: The Hybrid for Everyone? I have looked at several vehicles to compare price/fuel economy benefits. Hondas did not even make it into my spreadsheet. Not that I'm bashing Honda. Nice cars, but not even close to my new P2010.

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