Hi , I am not an expert on the G1 prices, it is very difficult to price a car like this , and I also believe with time their price will go up.
With good maintenance they will be on top of the fuel efficiency for some more time (the model is the most fuel efficient car for 12 years now) and definitely will be in the most efficient cars group for decades more...
Then if driven normally the engine and tranny on an MT last forever, there are many insights here above 250k, and some 300k+, 400k+ still going strong
If you have a long commute or you travel alone or just 1 passenger , the Insight is the best for the task ( apart from the not too comfortable ride)
I calculated it saves me two thirds of the fuel costs compared with my other car (Mitsubishi diamante: 17mpg) .
For me that comes to 2k of savings each year.
So if I was in the search of an insight right now would consider good shape 2000 mt for 4500 or a less a good deal.
But on the other side: being so rare to find a good one , I probably would spend even more if I like the car.
I got mine in the end of 2009 for ~ 3k and it was pretty beat up, 196k , the interior dirty and worn out, with a hole in one of the seat covers, a small hole in one head light , all under body panels missing, the steering wheel was badly worn out too, no rear mirror, scratches on the wheels, stripped and leaking oil drain plug.
not to mention failing IMA battery.
to bring the car to a good shape after such a "deal" one will need to spend some money
I paid $80 for the carpet in the cargo area and threw away the old one, both some seat covers and set of floor mats from pepboys for another $100 and put them on , so I can use the car...
for $30-$40 "installed" a fumoto valve (the hole was stripped so I cleaned and used some "instant steel" putty from walmart to keep the valve in place ) which took care of the oil leak and future oil changes.
put new tires ( an OEM set is ~ $400)
new set of underbody panels , inner fenders , etc ~ $600
new back mirror from pep boys for ~$30 - it looks like the OEM one , but shakes a little - just to make the reflection blurry.....
bought an used steering wheel from ebay in a better shape for $40 and replaced mine...
bought a dumb charger for $100 to keep the IMA battery in balance...
still not fixed the seat covers and the headlight and other minor things....
from majestic honda:
- $1000 for the set of seat covers
- $220 - new headlight
- $400 - new carpet
- $115 - new tailgate garnish ( mine is rattling from day one)
you can see if I had bought a car in a pristine shape for even $5k- $6k I would still be spending less at the end.
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2000 mt silver, 275k presently , 59.9 lt mpg (reset at 201k) mima #125 .
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