Dumped Insight after 3 months for Prius !

Hahaha thats awsome, way to go! Prius FTW!

 

Yep...you saw the light....and it was that Prius that saved the both of you.

Don't feel bad, we learn from our mistakes.

 

I'll certainly agree with that. My Prius replaced a 1986 Accord (same series as your 1989). I found it hard both to turn that one in, and to switch brands.

But interior size (the household's travel size had expanded to fill a Subaru wagon, and is hard to shrink) and fuel economy (the real world Insight-Prius gap should be smaller than the EPA ratings suggest, but a significant gap remains) drove the choice.

 

Great story! I was in a similar situation prior to purchasing my Prius. Closely reviewed both the Insight and Prius. While I thought the Insight had slightly better ride and handling, the Prius was untouchable in terms of space, refinement, technology and features.

 

My buddy and I took both the Honda Insight and Prius for test drives. We also found the Prius beats the Insight in refinement, technology and features.

We both agreed that the Prius wins hands down and ended up ordering our Prius together.

 

Was I the only one to hit their head getting into the Insight?

Bob Wilson

 

Wow, very informative post there.
Did you expect the Insight to be roomy, quick and to ride like a Lexus ?

 

It took me a small drive with each to decide to buy my 2009 Prius over the 2010 Insight. I knew the Prius was right

 

Prius is definately worth the money.

The Insight is technically a Hybrid Fit: Its build on the same chassie and a lot of the accessories are interchangable between the 09 Fit and the 10 Insight (such as Paddle shifters, and Side Mirror Blinkers for instance). If you took a Fit for a testdrive, and then an insight, you might actually prefer the fit over the insight (I own a fit)

Like Benggolf said, we both test drive the Prius and Insight and were quickly determined that Prius is the one. The Prius is roughly 10K more expensive that the Insight, but its worth every penny.

Prius's startup is quick and quiet, get up and go on a green light is very smooth; The insight feels like its stalling at every red light (Because the engine shuts off, and then starts again - but no electric motor - or it doesnt felt like there is one).

Prius's Interior design is much more egonomic than Insight. Prius felt like driving a next generation car, whereas Insight is like driving a car retrofit with a battery =\

I like Honda cars, but the Insight is a big letdown. IMHO, if you cant spare the extra change to get the Prius, save the money and take a bus, or buy the fit. Forget the Yaris cause it virtually have no room to store things like snowboards or Ikea furniture / 50" TVs (I switch from Yaris to fit so I know)

 

Around June sometime, my wife and I test drove a 2010 Insight and a 2009 Prius.
It was at the same dealership, and the same test drive route.
We had mixed emotions about them both.
I felt a little cramped in them both.
We thought the Prius was pricey.
With the 2010 Prius soon to be available for test drive, we waited.

Then we got a chance to drive the 2010 Prius.
We liked it, and were impressed with the improvements and price reduction.
I did not feel cramped in the new Prius.
After researching them both more, the Prius was a winner by far.
Look at the design of the 'transmission' in the two cars.
Prius is a simple engineering marvel, Insight is a metal clad belt and pulley system. ( think snowmobile )

We have around 1600 miles on our 2010 Prius II, are getting 50 to 60 mpg, and love how it drives.

Did I mention I am glad I did not buy the Insight?

 

My wife and I test drove a Honda Insight a couple of weeks before we bought our Prius, in May.

The insight was too cramped. Back seat too small. Also the road noise was very obvious espically when we got on the freeway.

The Prius was an easy winner, even though it cost more, it was worth it.

alfon

 

I was 99.9992% sold on a '10 Prius, given my rental experiences with the G2. But, just for grits and shins, I figured I'd pop into Honda and sit in an Insight. Took me all of 30 seconds to call up Toyota (from the driver's seat on the Insight) and put a deposit down.

 

Another informative post.
Thanks

 

CVT's seem to be the wave of the future just like auto transmission was at one point and is now mainstream. I don't think that's a knock against the Insight.

 

Most Toyota's tend to be quieter and more "detached" from the road than Honda's. The tradeoff being Honda's give the drivers more road feel and driving feedback. The Camry vs Accord comparison shares the same difference.

 

Nope -- there was an Insight sitting in one of the shopping malls up here last June (just before I bought my Prius). The car was open to the public, and I also bumped my head getting into it.

I remember telling the Honda rep who was babysitting the car that there had been an unfavorable report about the Insight in the local newspaper that morning. She hadn't heard about it, but she sighed, indicating that it might be a long day...

 

Wait a minute, the Prius also has a CVT.

Are you sure you are not a Toyota sales guy ?