Do you know what Honda Insight owners are talking about recently?

Looks good, I want a left hand drive though

 

That's probably the japanese version...

 

I don't know why this keeps being brought up as criteria for purchase. No one makes this distinction in any other car. You buy what you buy because it appeals to you. Very few look at the bottom line dollars and sense like that and pick the absolute cheapest-to-own car (neither the Prius nor Insight qualify, by the way.)

I had kept my options open, I've been hanging out on both boards, asking a few questions here and there. Good places, good people, very helpful. I'd say they're both good cars, but DIFFERENT. I think it's unfortunate that they're getting lumped together. They are aimed at different markets and Honda needs to seriously rethink their marketing strategy to accentuate who they aim that car at and get it away from the Prius crowd. I don't even see it as a look-a-like Prius anymore. It's obviously the FCX Clarity made into a hatchback, rather than a deliberate attempt to make a Prius knockoff. Look at the FCX and you'll see the very, very strong family resemblance.

I took my first drive in a Prius yesterday and that sealed the deal - if I'm getting a new car, it's a 2010 Prius. I didn't even have to drive the Insight. I took a look at it, sat in it, and I just knew it wasn't right. I wouldn't say the Prius is a luxury car, but the Insight is aimed at a younger crowd who cares less about some niceties that I simply need to have at my age. I don't think there's any need to insult the car or its owners. They have different priorities, that's all.

 

I thought it was interesting, my dealer sells both Honda and Toyota. When we first entered the showroom we were not committed to either (actually considering a Ford Fusion). The dealer had an Insight on the property, but no G3's. He made his pitch for the Toyota G3, sight unseen. He never even offered to show the Honda .... dismissing it completely. When we last drove by the dealer's lot ... I think the Insight may still be there (at any rate it is the same color).

 

Cargo cover for the Insight is $200 and it is only sold as an accessories. It is standard on all 2010 Prius models. Therefore, the difference is only $500.

 

I think you're comparing apples to oranges here. Anyway, have a look at Toyota's comparison of the Prius to the Insight:

Hybrid Cost Analysis - Newsroom : Our Point of View Post / Toyota

Using their calculations (which I feel is more realistic since you're now paying interest), the Prius costs $15/more a month than the Insight.

But the fuel savings (using EPA numbers, driving 15k mi/year, bla-bla-bla) save you $14/month.

So you never "break even". But who cares? As they say:

Personally, I wish Honda was able to refine the Insight a bit more than they have. An EPA rating in the mid-40s and a bit more refinement would have gone a long ways towards gaining more marketshare. And competition is good for the consumer.

 

Fixed above quote to help the comparison of a compact to a mid-size car. I just replaced the Prius with the Accord.

The fact that the Prius can break even with the Insight is an extraordinary achievement. You get a refined mid-size hybrid for the cost of an econobox compact hybrid.

 

You are using a coparison from a TOYOTA website :doh:,

Of course they found a way to tweak their math in their favor and make the cost of both cars look similar....

In my math, there is no tweaking or gimmick, it is just based on real facts!

 

Yes, but after driving 224,000 miles! Who drives that much before replacing a car? Not many people.

The fact is that I, like many of us, did not choose the Prius over the Insight based on the cost, because it wold not make sense get the Prius, but instead, I chose it because it is a much more refined and better car overall.

 

Good point, but like I said before in this thread:

What people should really be aiming when thinking about buying the new Prius is to use less gas, therefore help to conserve the environment, decrease our dependency to foreign oil, and be more financially responsible; as opposed to "You buy what you buy because it appeals to you"

 

I compared the Prius to the Insight... After looking at both cars, it was obvious to me that the Insight was too small to carry my family, especially considering how small the back seats were. I did not like the fact that the A/C would shut down with the motor, how noisy and rough the ride was. Choosing the Prius was a no-brainer...

 

lol!

 

Nah, man, it's perfectly reasonable to discount one car over another even when you're looking for saving gas and, I guess, the world. But I still think it's a pretty ridiculous argument. You don't see people arguing like this over buying an Altima over a Camry based solely on a pretty minor mpg difference. Some people might, a very small number, but most people are going to buy the car they are most comfortable with, the one that makes them happiest. I'm buying a Prius for a number of reasons, the most prominent of which is because I'm sick of getting 18.6 mpg in my Ridgeline. Never once did "[decreasing] our dependency to foreign oil" actually figure into the equation. I doubt many people think about that, either. Price does, and that's why I started looking at the Insight, but quality also figures into it, and the Insight just isn't for me because I know I'd be unhappy after a very short while with it. Again, I'm not saying it's a bad car, but a very different car - it's aimed at a lower market that expects less.

You may be an extremely practical guy and that's cool. I wish I could be, it would be a much simpler life. Once I sat in the Prius, I knew the Insight was going to have a hard time matching the level of quality that I found in there. I spend a lot of time driving and I feel it's worth a little extra for the cushy luxury. You may not. So be it. I would pay the extra in any car for that luxury, however - hybrid or not. I wouldn't settle for the Insight's type of interior "feel" in any car. I've done my time in those kinds of vehicles. They were fun when I was younger, but I don't want that now. Honda needs to be thinking about that, too, and aim commercials at the appropriate people. Aiming at Prius buyers is not going to work.

 

There, fixed that for you.

 

Let's be nice now! To be fair, the red and the sky blue are great colors. Kind of wish Toyota had an equivalent of the sky blue on the Prius, actually. I've seen a few red ones around town and they are pretty striking. The Insight is a good looking car.

 

If you think my assumptions are poor, just prove it! Come on, don't just post words with useless appeal, just prove it!

Oh, I just realized that you actually are the S. Clark person. I did not realize you were posting to defend the argument of somebody else.

Mate, like I said before, I'm so done with you, so actually don't try to prove me anything because it is not worth to read a single word that you post...

 

Yes, I am indeed, but I also picked the Prius over the Insight. My ultimate goal was to save money with my new commute needs and contribute to preserve the environment. While the Insight would help me reach that goal faster, I felt the Prius was a best value overall for my needs and I would still reach my goal. What you just said (in your post above) is very true though, I agree...

 

Uh, I think you missed the point of my post - Using Toyota's own math, the Prius never "breaks even" when compared to the Insight. So it's even less favorable than yours where at least it has a chance after 200k miles. Which is why I think these types of comparisons are pointless (and many others have also pointed out).

Your simple equation doesn't take into account interest, which IMO is a mistake - even a simple CD will get you at least 2% (even in today's crappy market, more if you shop a bit) and that is enough to shave 0.003 / mi off your "break even" calculation which turns your somewhat realistic 200k+ mile break even to 300k+ which very few cars reach.

 

Sorry, yes I see now, I did miss your point. I agree with you.