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i did a test drive in the honda insight 2009

Discussion in 'Other Cars' started by Flying White Dutchman, Jun 9, 2009.

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  1. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    ok

    i did a test drive.

    wanted to now how this thing drove.

    well...... i did not get the fuel av. under 4,5L-100km

    and the car really feeled bumpy.

    also where i think in the prius you sometimes feel the ice kick in and off noticebly with the inisght you feel this a lot more.

    also moments where i dont like the CVT in the insight.
    it feels like your in a manual car and the clutch is slipping

    dasboard plastics are far wurts then in the gen2 prius.

    the only think i did like was that the small 1.3 liter ice felt like really strong in low speeds
    but i think thats because there the IMA is assisting a lot more.

    i did not like this car for long runs because to its uncomfortable and when you only use it in city driving then its not that economical as hoped
    on the highway i got better MPG then in the city ( with the prius thats the other way around )

    i used the ecobutton and normal drive and got between 4,5-4,8l/100km.

    then when you look at the base inisght this is not a car.... if you put on the stuff the base prius got and the prius is a bigger car then the best buy for your money is a prius.
     
    #1 Flying White Dutchman, Jun 9, 2009
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  2. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Thanks FWD, I know your assessment will be an accurate one.
     
    #2 patsparks, Jun 9, 2009
  3. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    the upper dash plastics are ok but when you look at the lower part even some corners looks like the platics molds where not cut correctly.

    i did try to drive the best for mpg and looked at the instand mpg meter to find the best way to drive this thing.
    and maybe therefor the CVT problem was more noticable.

    the base version did not even got the speakers installed in the doors
    did not have a wiper on the hatch..... you need that with bad wheater .. thats dangerus without.

    al that done to keep the base price down and tell everyone its the cheapist hybrid out there compared to the high priced prius..

    will thats not completly tru.
     
    #3 Flying White Dutchman, Jun 9, 2009
  4. MSantos

    MSantos EcoAccelerometry

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    Perhaps you can compare your feedback on the Insight to mine here.

    At some point, I may post a detailed review pitting the P-III against the 2010 Insight, if and only if, in Canada the P-III is priced close enough to the Insight EX. Otherwise it will be just another detailed 2010 Prius review. ;)

    Cheers;

    MSantos
     
    #4 MSantos, Jun 9, 2009
  5. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    to me the insight felt like a smaller car and a you notice more that you have drive a hybird in the sence that you feel more moments where the ice kicks in and go s off then with the prius... more body shakes.

    it feld like less of a car.

    but then again i drive a prius so i am spoiled.

    for a normal car with better then normal MPG the insight is a great car.
    i dont feel like driving a hybrid accept for driving a normal car with a auto stop function.
     
    #5 Flying White Dutchman, Jun 9, 2009
  6. bedrock8x

    bedrock8x Senior Member

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    Your last comments are really true for majority of the drivers in the US, they are not hybrid savvy and don't know about pulse and glide.
    If it drives like a normal car and gets great mileage, it is a great car as you said and affordable for them.

    Thanks for the honest remarks.

     
    #6 bedrock8x, Jun 9, 2009
  7. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    yes no prop

    but the insight is not a normal car. its a hybrid.

    i get the feeling that when i have a same size car with a CVT and ICE autostop i can almost get the same MPG ( when accelerating slowly ) then this same size and i gues costing more insight.

    i did not get the feeling i drive a hybrid

    to me a hybrid is a car that gets better mpg in the city then on the highway

    but this insight is just the cheapist you can get and the insight really ( when you look into the details ) is really cheap build

    look at the AC back to belt driven etc etc.. honda did al those things to get the cost down.
    and made a base version ( at least here ) thats a understatement for BASE version

    no alu wheels, no arm rest, no wiper on the back window, no light in the trunk, no cruise control ( ok the base pruis also not ), no radio. not even a prep for it, not even speakers in the doors, and some other minor things ( hope i dont forget anything )

    when you bring this car up par with the base prius.. then the price is only just that far for the prius and the prius is a bigger and more comfortable car with a hell lot better mpg.

    so yes.. the insight is a nice car if you dont car for al those things and maybe are younger and want to tune your car with your own stereo system like those kids to with there honda civis hatchbacks...

    but for mee.. no... its a big step backwards.
     
    #7 Flying White Dutchman, Jun 9, 2009
  8. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    The local Honda dealer had an Insight inside, the base LX model. The base model has a rear wiper and defroster. The EX adds turn signals in the mirrors, nav, etc.

    I think the new Insight looks nice, and will provide competition to Toyota
     
    #8 jayman, Jun 9, 2009
  9. Blauer Glimmer

    Blauer Glimmer Active Member

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    I'm guessing there are regional differences in the models.
     
    #9 Blauer Glimmer, Jun 9, 2009
  10. MSantos

    MSantos EcoAccelerometry

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    Indeed. But only if the price of the EX is way below the price of the 2010 Prius base package.

    If the 2010 Prius is even within $1,000 of the Insight EX then in my view, the Insight is doomed. Really, why would most people consider it when a Prius can be had for just a little more. The LX is another matter but they aren't selling many of those at all. Almost all Insights they are selling are top trim EX.

    The Prius is far superior in every way to the Insight and even though Insight is marginally better than the HCH-II in the urban cycle it is still no match for any 2G or 3G Prius in that regimen.

    To make matters worse, the Insight lost the technology that made the HCH-II unbeatable by any other car on the highway. As a result, the 2010 Prius will likely and handily top the Insight on that area as well, leaving with Insight with no edge whatsoever over the Prius.

    I am actually very curious to see what pricing Toyota will set for the 2010 Prius since that alone will determine the fate of the Insight.
    Price it too high and the Insight will offer good competition. Price it the same way as the Pkg A 2009 Prius and the Insight is doomed.

    Just my two cents. ;)
     
    #10 MSantos, Jun 9, 2009
  11. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Tell that to Zack Spencer who said in the Insight review that "the Prius costs a little bit more" but fails to mention the $210 difference btwn the base 2009 Prius and the Insight EX.

    If TCI prices it at $27k, Toyota will kill to birds with one stone - Insight EX and HCH-II (as if the Insight isn't a comparison to the HCH already. I'd still take the HCH over the Insight EX. It's a better and nicer car to drive.).

    A friend of mine said she wants an Insight. I told her stick with the LX. If you want the EX, buy a Prius.
     
    #11 Tideland Prius, Jun 10, 2009
  12. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    yes wel here the base model is beyond base.

    indeed

    there is only a 1200 euro between the base prius and top insight.
    then i go for the prius because the test drive was in the top model.

    thats what i also think
    or the prius is cheaply priced or the inisght is to high.
     
    #12 Flying White Dutchman, Jun 10, 2009
  13. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    If I recall, the base Insight, an LX, was around $23,000 Cdn. The EX was around $27,000 Cdn. Not sure about the 2010 Prius here in Canada, but the 2009 base is $27,000 Cdn. The Premium Package C is $30,740 and the Premium Package is $30,970.

    With nav, the Prius is $33,720. My '04 "B" was $35,000!
     
    #13 jayman, Jun 10, 2009
  14. msirach

    msirach Member

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    Is the Dutch version actually a 2009?

    I couldn't get my daughter to drive a Prius. I started to buy a used car of of other brands and I couldn't bring myself to spend the money on an auto that I wouldn't be happy with. She liked the design of the Insight so we finally settled on that. I gave her a similar deal as my son. Keep excellent grades, work towards a scholarship and I would supply a nice auto. S

    So I think it is great that another company has produced an efficient auto that can compete with the Prius. Make no mistake, I highly prefer the 2010 Prius over the Insight.
    The same deal worked very well for my son. He got a full ride to the University of Virginia. I have to pay a whopping $27 per semester that is not covered.
     
    #14 msirach, Jun 10, 2009
  15. MSantos

    MSantos EcoAccelerometry

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    I agree.

    I've had a long-standing beef with Zack and his team regarding these and other issues in the past.
    While I don't feel sorry for their indefensible bias (and even ignorance due to poor research), I do resent the misinformation and disservice they provide to their Canadian viewership. :(
     
    #15 MSantos, Jun 10, 2009
  16. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    "Keep in mind that the Prius has a small 1.5 litre engine so even if the engine was running all the time, it would've gotten the best mileage anyway"

    Uh huh.. just because it beat the Jetta TDI PD w/ a manual transmission??
     
    #16 Tideland Prius, Jun 10, 2009
  17. Genoz World

    Genoz World ZEN-style living

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    on the HONDA sight, there's a side by side comparison of the insight and when the prius gen III is chosen, it's pretty clear to see that the fuel economy is far less from the insight. also, a friend of mine said that after being in the insight, even the gen II prius is much better in ride comfort and stability.

    that's my thoughts and what i hear.
     
    #17 Genoz World, Jun 11, 2009
  18. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    thats also what i notice and i can only compare it to a gen2 not a gen3 yet.

    buth i alo have to remember that te insight is just a mild hybrid with motor assist and not a full hybrid.
    so its like comparing apples with...
     
    #18 Flying White Dutchman, Jun 11, 2009
  19. Genoz World

    Genoz World ZEN-style living

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    FWD - i hear ya, it's just because the insight looks SO MUCH like the prius, you can't but compare them..............
     
    #19 Genoz World, Jun 12, 2009
  20. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    well bottomline is that the insight is a better buy then any other normal car of the same size if you want better mpg's and dont want to or can not buy a prius.

    its a nice car..
     
    #20 Flying White Dutchman, Jun 12, 2009
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