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Prius vs Insight?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by David9962000, Jun 21, 2020.

  1. David9962000

    David9962000 Member

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    Hi guys,

    I want to get another hybrid. A Prius LE or a Honda Insight EX Nav.

    What are you thoughts?


    Thank you.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    honda has a bad rep
     
  3. Rmay635703

    Rmay635703 Senior Member

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    The newest 2019+
    Honda Insight has Voltec inside And lithium and thus far has been a solid choice.

    the older cars have a poor reputation though but their issues can be worked through or Bypassed, the 2nd gen insight is far superior to the earlier Civic hybrids with mainly an issue with oil burning on the earliest examples
    (where have we heard of oil burning before?)
    the very first Insight is a great hobbiest car with many mods possible including Ksight and lithium swaps, a true engineering car.
     
    #3 Rmay635703, Jun 21, 2020
    Last edited: Jun 21, 2020
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  4. David9962000

    David9962000 Member

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    Thank you, it will be new, 2020.

    Maybe someone here drove both and can give me some feedback.
     
  5. Mambo Dave

    Mambo Dave Active Member

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    All I know is that the two things that took the Insight out of the running were the driver's ingress height (top of the seat cushion to the bottom of the top door sill), and that I really wanted something close to a hybrid station wagon (so the Niro was tested as well). The rear hatch, plus the extra storage, has proven itself invaluable to my daily and weekly tasks.
     
  6. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    I don't know about the latest ones but ISTR the previous Insight was not a full hybrid, i.e. it couldn't move on electric alone, whereas the Prius is and has always been a full hybrid.
     
  7. alam99

    alam99 Member

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    You might want to peruse or ask on gen3insight forum, hopefully they can offer knowledgeable opinions on the current generation Insight. Let us know how it goes.
     
  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    That really should be you. And, report your impressions here, it'd be interesting. :)

    I'd be a lot more interested in the Insight if it was a hatchback. Is the Clarity a sedan as well? Not sure.
     
    #9 Mendel Leisk, Jun 25, 2020
    Last edited: Jun 25, 2020
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  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    It is a sedan but it has a rather large boot because it has to fit the hydrogen tank in the FCV models. The PHEV model benefits the most.
     
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  11. David9962000

    David9962000 Member

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    Thank you for all your input guys, it's a big help.

    What do you think of a prior Prius rental? They're well priced but usually not well treated or serviced and only have 1 key.

    I found a few 2019's under 15K miles for about $20K on Autotrader. LE trim
     
    #11 David9962000, Jul 1, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2020
  12. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    PASS!

    Treat vehicles that were previously used as rentals or commercially for fleet use (such as mine) in the same way that you would treat a salvage vehicle.
    There are some bargains out there that can be turned into reliable, long term drivers but they should also come at a STEEP discount.
    Are You Buying Trouble if You Buy a Rental Car? | Edmunds.com.

    I also will not buy ANY Prius with only one fob unless it's discounted enough.

    My last car came with two fobs (smart key, with remote start) and I bought a third OEM fob so that i could program it myself and take the battery out and hide it in the car, and tie wrap the metal key underneath.

    That way?
    I'm lockout proof.

    Your call.
     
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  13. Mambo Dave

    Mambo Dave Active Member

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    Agree with ETC. If it's a deal that they aren't nearly kicking you out of the facility for, skip it.

    Follow enough car-enthusiast youtube channels and you'll see the extremes that rentals get treated to. Part of the buying would then require having a mechanic put it up on a lift to make sure a inner-rental-agency body company didn't repair hard damages (front bumper area, rear bumper area, etc.) that didn't get reported to CarFax.

    Also, really, from a rental company's perspective, there really is NO incentive to change the oil, ever, on a car they get rid of in less than 25,000 miles. That's hundred of thousands of dollars, if not millions, saved over the course of a large fleet right there.
     
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  14. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    I've bought many, low mileage, ex rentals in the past and had no problem. Here in the UK they tend to be looked after cosmetically as drivers pay a huge penalty for any damage, even scratches and stone chips. The ones I've bought have also been serviced on time and had two keys.
     
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  15. David9962000

    David9962000 Member

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  16. Mambo Dave

    Mambo Dave Active Member

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    I would have taken super white in a heartbeat over blizzard pearl. I don't think it was an option in 2019 for average buyers, but there's no doubt that Taxi fleets are running a pure white on their Priuses.
     
  17. Rmay635703

    Rmay635703 Senior Member

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    US is different than U.K., it is very hit or miss getting a rental but normally the rental place offers a strong warranty to cover for this.

    The main problem buying a rental in the US is

    1. Even though they are in bankruptcy, their sales Prices are far above private party/wholesale (low to mid retail)

    2. The extra cash paid for the “warranty “ is lost due to the bankruptcy (They will be our of business before the warranty is up)


    These bankrupt rental places really need to drop their prices to take into account the current market (blackbook) to stop ripping off potential consumers who pay the full rate for a potentially dodgy car with no warranty.

    AKA Risk VRS reward in that market is pretty poor right now.

    (Honestly all retail vehicles are very poor values At the moment but rentals especially so, blackbook right now is under 1/4 the retail price meaning lots of folks getting the shaft)
     
  18. David9962000

    David9962000 Member

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    Decided to stay in the family :) Prius.jpeg
     
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    congrats, all the best!(y)
     
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  20. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Congrats! Nice that ICS is still standard. In Canada, ICS, BSM and RCTA are still reserved for the highest trim levels.
     
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