Can the insight be driven hard? What are the consequences
I figure a lower mpg.
As some of you may know, I'm still contemplating getting an Insight with CVT. Based on my converstaions with the owner, I got the impression who drove the car more aggressively than his gf. He likes fast cars and said that when he's behind the wheel he can't stand slow drivers, or said something to that effect. So assuming the Insight was driven hard and fast by him, is this of any concern in terms of wear and tear on that small engine and the CVT transmission?
Another question I have is the auto stop feature. I knoticed when I was driving it. It was a weird feeling at first when the engine shut off (barely noticeable though) at a stop. Then when I pressed the gas, there was a barely perceptible "pause" before the car moved, if I recall. Maybe it wa sthe gas engine kicking in? Is this of any concern? I'm reading about CVT judder but don't really know how that would feel.
edit to add: Am I reading the LMPG correctly? Looking at a pic of the FCD from seller, on the far left is 47.4 (with "mpg" on the upper right of the number). tTo the left is the odometer reading. Is the 47.4 the LMPG? Btw, what is the 0-50-100-150 reading below?
Last edited by dirty hippie; 08-04-2010 at 02:34 AM.
AFAIK hard driving shouldn't damage the car. It will certainly increase fuel consumption very noticeably. Typically people with CVT's who drive moderately (like my sister, who has one) get in the low-to-mid 60mpg range (though a lot of this depends on speed, terrain, weather, etc). People who try hard will do better than that. People who stomp on these cars can see mpg's in the 40's for both MT and CVT.
MPG in most cars depends on these factors but hybrids appear to be more sensitive than non-hybrids, and the Insight-I is more sensitive than other hybrids.
Hopefully one of the CVT experts will chime in on autostop in the CVT, but my MT's autostop behaves like that.
Cant speak for the i1, but with the i2 the engien refires when you let off the brakes and a second pause removes the jerk when the cvt engages.
Ive done both and my only compliant is the way it will rev even for moderate acceleration. It slike the computer does want to lug the engine. It alsmo seems you accelerate faster at 3 grand vs 5 grand at least in my experience.
No problems here, but even with casual driving the cvt fluid looks shot at 15k miles.
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The results of driving the Insight hard are the very same as driving a Ford Fiesta, Ambulance, garbage truck, or Corvette hard. Excessive wear and tear on all parts. The answer will be the same no matter what car/truck, motorcycle, etc. Damage is unknown just at it would be on ANY car... there are simply too many factors to that question that is the risk of buying a used car... and sometimes new car.
If someone likes fast cars then he is way off in the Insight, just as someone would be off in using a SL500 to haul landscaping stuff. You wanna go fast buy a fast car, you want the best fuel economy by this car - everything has it's pluses and minuses.
I drove this car and a BMW M3 for a few years, I didn't expect both to go fast or both to get great MPG, different tools for different uses.
I drive an Insight with a CVT. The way to check the CVT is to hit the gas hard as you accelerate from a full stop, ideally while on a slope.
I know this because my CVT is a tendency to judder a little from time to time under those conditions. You feel that car is hesitating a little and some amount of shudder can be felt.
You probably want to do a full gentle CVT flush by letting the CVT oil out (Procedures can be found on the forum) and pouring new oil in. I did this procedure several times each time with new transmission oil. This took some of the problem away in my case but not all.
If you have no shudder then because the car has been driven hard I would still as a precaution replace the transmission oil.
It is generally considered a bad idea to use a forced flushing of the CVT where oil is pushed through the transmission housing under pressure because small particles can block various orifices.
The Autostop on an AT works the same as on an MT I think. The engine cuts out at < 8km/h while decelerating and your foot is not on the gas. The engine cuts in instantly the moment you touch the gas pedal. However the engine remains on in sport mode or while the AC is on.
I agree with the earlier posts about the fluid. I replace the CVT fluid every 3rd oil change. It really starts to change color and you can tell the shift quality is different when the CVT is cold and the fluid is about 20K miles old. Then you change it, and like magic it's smooth as butter again.
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Can the insight be driven hard? What are the consequences
