Insight a 'classic in the making' - Octane magazine

[UK_MJN]

Hi.

This month's issue of Octane (Dec 2011) carries a letter on page 46, headed 'Classic in the making' that took me by surprise. A certain Tony Stokoe (anyone we know?) says he's interested in design and innovation in cars and is pictured standing alongside his recently acquired Mk1 and a Citroen SM. He finishes with 'These early Insights now have quite a following and are certainly future classics, if not classics already'. Wow.

For those outside the UK (or who haven't read Octane), it's a magazine that focuses on the exotic and interesting - usually madly valuable and sporting - automotive machinery. Jay Leno writes for it too - see Octane magazine - Classic and performance car news, events & cars for sale

Great stuff!

[bluesunbeam]

Good to see the Insight getting some publicity . A forum member called mildrover works on Octane magazine though he has not posted since january this year .
I'm not sure the Insight will ever be a classic - i suppose that depends on how you define the word ; i don't think there are enough of them in the UK to permeate the public conciousness to a degree that could elevate the car to that status - they will probably just remain a curiosity in motoring history .

[Eli]

Pretty ironic that this would come up considering the discussion in the "Good Deal?" thread.

[mikeeech]

Personally I would agree that this is a design classic in the making. I brought mine for £4K in 2008 with one selling (with the same milage and colour) for £8K recently. with a red g1 selling on ebay recently after having been laid up for 2 years, probably with a dead ima battery for £3K. This is the best car that I have owned, with it going up in value, and with only 200 in the country now I can only imagine that for collectors then, the first hybrid money could buy, will stand it in good stead for the future. Now having leather and a new ima battery I'm hoping I will get another 6 years out of it by which time it will be 20 years old. I'm sure history will have judged it well by then.

[UK_MJN]

Eli,
thanks for posting the Jay Leno link. There's a bit of a theme emerging here, IMHO.

To most of those who bought the Insight when it was new or newish, it's an effective high mileage work tool that makes economic sense. Avoiding expensive work is therefore an active part of ownership. This is one reason why a forum like this is so useful - owners are more likely to maintain the cars themselves, and are circumspect about full dealer parts/servicing. For a complex, highly engineered car, that is remarkable in itself. How many modern cars will be kept on the road when that inevitable and unavoidably expensive repair comes up?

Those who are buying the car now - like us and the Octane letter writer - are buying because the car is interesting and distinctive, compared with more recent machinery. Marian & I bought an early car fully expecting to pay to rectify paintwork (see gallery) and other defects, replace the battery etc. If enough people think it could be a classic then we may start to see interest from new quarters, a change in the kind of people buying the car, and increasing demand (so prices). In the UK, with limited supply, that could happen soon.

So what does it need to have to become a 'classic'? In my opinion (and I've had a lifelong interest in automotive design), the following are Quality factors:
- Distinctiveness (what statement are you making owning one?)
- Styling (simplicity works best, is it ageing well?)
- Design Focus (is it clear what the objectives were and how well does it succeed in achieving them?)
- Historical Context (looking back, was it the first, the last, the best?)
- Owner Community (are they enthusiastic, knowledgeable, committed?)
- Scarcity (the fewer the better - see E-type vs 250GTO)
- Desirability when new (is there a demographic wanting to own it in later life?).
- Breeding (manufacturer, race history, cudos by association)

Clearly the Insight doesn't score full marks in all areas, but there are grounds for optimism. And if we're wrong, we still get 70MPG.

[mikeeech]

i don't think it will ever be a 250gto but i'm sure you'll recoup on a new battery. I would also hessitate when meesing around with the electronics and battery since this will inevitably affect it's value in the future.
I spoke with my local dealer regarding a new insight that turned up in southampton and they were not impressed with the grid charger a previous owner had bodged into it! I would love another and this on ebay today...
2000 Honda Insight Coupe 995cc Hybrid, | eBay
now if only I coul dhide it in the garage...

[UK_MJN]

Hi all.

James Ruppert's column in the Buying Used section of Autocar this week (page 73) exhorts readers to 'grab a hybrid while you can - and while there's still some life left in those batteries' as opposed to buying diesels for fuel economy.

He talks about the Prius, HCH and Insight Mk2, but this is worth sharing:

"I'd prefer to track down the original Honda Insight. Where the Prius has a silly name and drop-dead-dull styling, here was a cute, Dan Dare Pilot of the Future eco-pod. There aren't many about, but the going rate is from £4,995."

There's a file pic of a citrus Insight alongside, US spec for some reason.