3rd gear at 75mph and up is fun.

Balboa · 11-08-2011, 11:23 PM

I've been driving less conservatively since I get poor mileage either way(about 55mpg regardless how I drive for some reason) and decided to just drive it a bit more care free on the freeway at least until I clean the egr plate. Using the car in 3rd gear at 75mph and up really is pretty fun. I can say that the car is fun when not being so mpg conscious. It's like a little go kart.

I want a turbo! Anybody know where I can get a turbo kit for the insight for $500?

Eli · 11-08-2011, 11:44 PM

Yep! I drive the piss out of my cars. It's fun. And they still reward you with ~50-60MPG.

racer26 · 11-09-2011, 09:24 AM

@Eli: me too; I don't understand how my car has a 4.5L/100km average over 181,000km. I've driven it the last 25,000km, and my worst tank clocked in at 4.3 I think, and that involved a bunch of high-speed highway (70-80mph) rushing around, after the weather started getting cold.

Check out my fuelly, since about week 3-4 of september, my mileage has fallen right off, from a consistent 3.6-3.7 through the summer to about 4.1 over the last 4 weeks. That's like 10%. Also, the car feels weaker.

psychotron · 11-13-2011, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Balboa

I've been driving less conservatively since I get poor mileage either way(about 55mpg regardless how I drive for some reason) and decided to just drive it a bit more care free on the freeway at least until I clean the egr plate. Using the car in 3rd gear at 75mph and up really is pretty fun. I can say that the car is fun when not being so mpg conscious. It's like a little go kart.

I want a turbo! Anybody know where I can get a turbo kit for the insight for $500?

What do you have to compare the insight to?

the insight is slow and it only gets slower as you climb in speed. 1st and 2nd being geared low show a bit of pep but 3rd 4th and 5th are SLOW She barely moves.

What kind of go karts do you drive? the insight handles like crap its part of the design. it under steers like nothing i've driven before. I was more confident taking corners in my Landrover DiscoII than in the insight. Insights are slow and handle like crap. thats why you still average 55mpg.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, I just don't understand why people claim insights are quick, fast or handle like a go kart. they simply do not.

Willie Williford · 11-13-2011, 01:53 PM

You might direct those questions to the INSIGHTERS that run the G1 in autocross events with very good results. What do you expect with a 1L engine?

Willie

Eli · 11-13-2011, 02:18 PM

It's true. The Insight isn't fast by any stretch of the imagination. And it pulls something like 0.77G on the skidpad, again nothing to really be proud of.

The one thing it does have going for it is peak torque at 2,000RPM. That makes the Insight feel a lot faster than it actually is.

bciesq · 11-13-2011, 02:31 PM

The G1 is a dog off the line, but it does have its moments when gearing, IMA and/or VTEC come into alignment making it a fun car to drive. There are a couple of uphill onramps that I don't like without a running start, but otherwise I'm as confident zipping through traffic in the Insight as any car that I've owned (the lineup in my sig is not representative).

As for the original post, 3rd gear is where the fun is at. After I read that the car's top speed is achieved in that gear, I started using it more and I don't think twice about dropping down to 3rd on the highway if I need to pass.

Eli · 11-13-2011, 04:46 PM

I'd say actually the opposite.. 1st gear is pretty revvy. With MIMA, 1st gear is nice. The stock car is limited to ~6.5kW in 1st gear, but will push 11kW+ with a healthy pack in 2nd, making 2nd really come alive even though it's quite a bit taller than 1st.

After that, acceleration goes downhill.. lol.

bciesq · 11-13-2011, 11:42 PM

I guess I'm just not used to low torque engines. I grit my teeth every time I abuse the clutch to get the Insight off to a fast standing start. I don't find that enjoyable. Perhaps MIMA makes a difference.

Hugh-Falls · 11-14-2011, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bciesq

I guess I'm just not used to low torque engines. I grit my teeth every time I abuse the clutch to get the Insight off to a fast standing start. I don't find that enjoyable. Perhaps MIMA makes a difference.

"Fast standing start" implies getting all the IMA assist that can possibly be available. To get FULL IMA assist, there is a time constant involved (see Peter's work on his Command and Control version of MIMA). If you want full assist you need a RAPID application of full accelerator pedal. For a "fast standing start", dump (do not ride) the clutch and floor the gas pedal.