On the hunt for my first hybrid. Prius or Insight?

If you go with gen 1 insight get the manual, it is far better than the CVT mpgwise. Most batteries go at least 150,000 miles or 8 years which ever comes first. Both batteries can be bought rebuilt for about half the price of new. If you buy either from a dealer get a warranty . Both are capable of 300,000 miles with 1 battery change and few other repairs. Both will at sometime need a new exhaust system and maybe 1 set of brakepads/rotors, but they are both pretty reliable cars. The insight 1 will be more fun to drive and get maybe 7 mpg better mileage, need fewer tires, no wheel alignments or shocks. The Prius has much more room, is a bit more complex, much larger to drive around , but more stable and better ride. Lots of choices. I don't think you can go wrong with either one.

 

If you get a GenII, then things that take the driving experience up a couple notches:

3 door SKS: Look for little black square next to the front door handles and to the right of the hatchback. Makes it super easy (and cool) to unlock and lock the car. Keep your key in your pocket/purse and just push a button and go.

Backup Camera: Look under the hatch lip by the license plate. Even if you dont want the camera, it means your MFD is the higher resolution screen

Also the '06+ had a more textured dash. Some like it more, some dont.


As for the battery, it sounds like you need to read up on Prius myths. The "expensive" battery is no more so than a transmission. Considering the Prius doesnt have a transmission (just one planetary gear, fixed ratios) the failure rate is almost none. There are taxi drivers with 300k+ miles on the original battery and still going strong. Brakes don't have to be replaced as often since regen braking doesn't use friction like in conventional cars.

$9k for an '07 sounds pretty good. Keep in mind unless it was originally bought and registered in a CARB state, the hybrid warranty expires at 100k miles. You shouldnt need it, but who knows how long it has been sitting at the dealership. Idleness contributes more to the death of a battery than usage.

Good luck.

 

We own both--an '08 Prius and a '10 Insight.

The Insight is cheaper--by about $5K. It's the cheapest hybrid--we paid around $18.5K with 10% internet discount. The '11s have a new base Insight listed at $18.9K, maybe less discounted.

The Insight is slightly smaller, but handles better and is sportier. The Prius is slightly quieter, gets about 10% better gas mileage (45-50 mpg vs 42 mpg for the Insight) and has a softer ride--more like a sedan. Both cars are very reliable--to this point.

I like both. My wife prefers the Insight, which she drives. If you want a bit more quickness and handling, significantly lower price, about 10% lower gas mileage, and roominess isn't an issue, check out the Insight.

 

Get a Prius. Don't settle for less. Honda hybrid battery does not have a great reliability track record. HSD is a superior system that babies the HV battery. You are 21 so you may prefer sportier ride but Prius is faster. Test drive both.

 

The Prius is invariably ranked higher than the Insight by the automotive gurus (Gen II/III prius vs Gen II insight). You said Gen 1 Insight which is only a 2 seater so they are really two different cars - hard to compare. I prefer the styling of the Gen II Insight to the Prius but I prefer everything else about the Prius.

 

Yeah, I'd choose the Prius, but only because the Prius is quieter, has a more refined ride and a better hybrid system, and the Prius is faster too. The Insight feels...unstable.

 

that seems like a very good price for an 07 with 95K. make sure it wasn't in any accidents or floods or anything. do your due diligence and demand a good warranty from the dealer. most people have great long term experiences, but beware, a major repair could cost thousands more than a regular car.

 

Be sure to read Edmunds' long-term test / updates for both cars.

Long-Term Update: 2004 Toyota Prius

2010 Honda Insight EX Hybrid Long-Term Road Test on Inside Line

 

One might find the maintenance histories of Honda and Toyota hybrids at Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity - Hybrid Electric Vehicles interesting.

 

I own a Gen I 2000 Insight and 2006 Prius. Love em both. Most Gen I insight owners do a lot of the required maintenance and sometimes a lot more on the car themselves, since they do not trust Honda with it. If you have time and like to mess around with cars where new parts are getting harder to get, go with the Insight. If you are really busy and just want a great car to drive, I'd go with the Prius. As a matter of comparison now in the dead of winter if I try real real hard I can get 62mpg with the Insight. If I don't try real hard I get 52mpg with the Prius (highway). The Insight does need winter tires in areas where it snows often in winter to be safe as well. Hope this helps.

 

good bite. enjoy your car

 

Honda IMA won't do electric only. Part of the fun of owning a hybrid is driving to the store in stealth mode.