Questions about Insight II and IMA

[cycledrum]

Hello, I'm kinda new around here. I currently own a new Accord Coupe and had a 2009 Prius for about 2 1/2 years until couldn't take front seat anymore. anyhoo, I drove an Insight II about 2 miles night of my new owner's workshop. Some Q's -

If you're going through a drive through, let's say, doesn't the engine have to run to propel you forward?

If so, coming from a full hybrid, I don't think I'd like that. Basically, the more the engine is off, the better.

Also, when I pull into a crowded parking lot, I really like when I can creep all over on battery, just chills things out. Insight ICE runs when car is moving right?

Does anyone hope to see Honda improve the system so the car can creep on battery? Anyone heard that the new Civic hybrid will do this?

Another thing is I reallllly hope Honda makes the Insight legit for 4 adults in the 3rd gen Insight. It's just too small for me right now. Anyone else hoping Insight grows in future to give Prius the beatdown

[Cobb]

Welcome aboard.

The honda just uses the ima as a helper to a gas powered car. Its normal to have it idle while creeping, its toy that does that strange no ice below 8mph thing. I find that truely annoying, how the heck can you do a burn out if the engien requires you to be rolling at 8mph before it will even fire up when you need to engage the clutch at 5 grand?

Other than a lithum replacement plan, I have no other suggestions for honda. With my phev kit I am getting almost 90 mpg.

[cycledrum]

Clutch, oh you can get a manual tranny in an CR-Z and Insight I

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I don't remember from the short test drive, but do you feel shifting of gears in an Insight II? I would think so because there are paddle shifters in the EX IIRC.

So, does the car shift up through gears and back down when slowing?

I like the no-shifting thing in Prius, just one speed.

fwiw, I never stomped the gas pedal in my Pri, but I think if you do, the gas engine engages immediately. I would normally roll of the stop light on battery, then the ICE would join in. The smoother that happens the better.

It could do up to 41 MPH on battery, but you had to be so light on the pedal, any speeding up would invoke the ICE, but must say it was quite seamless.

[Cobb]

Yeah....... The Insight is available in cvt only, its continuous like the prius, but in sport mode has a 7 defined ratios. Yes, the crz has a stick shift available, good luck finding one.

I drove a prius 2 and 3, I was not impressed.

[carniver]

Rumor has it that next generation of Insight will be full hybrid with Lithium-Ion battery pack like the Prius, and that it'll come in 2013.

[BrianZ54]

Originally Posted by cycledrum

Also, when I pull into a crowded parking lot, I really like when I can creep all over on battery, just chills things out. Insight ICE runs when car is moving right?

Does anyone hope to see Honda improve the system so the car can creep on battery? Anyone heard that the new Civic hybrid will do this?

Another thing is I reallllly hope Honda makes the Insight legit for 4 adults in the 3rd gen Insight. It's just too small for me right now. Anyone else hoping Insight grows in future to give Prius the beatdown

Unless the redesign is a major one, the Honda hybrids probably won't ever achieve the "Giant Golf Cart" status of a Toyota or Ford hybrid. If a measurable percentage of your driving is going to be heavy city traffic the Hondas might not be the best choice. Perhaps after the redesign they'll put the redundant drive train in for the electric motor. Other than that initial battery glitch that got all those Gen1 batteries replaced, I'll stick with the assist method.

If you truly need room for 4 adults, I'd look at the Civic hybrid. It probably gets 90% of the gas mileage of a Prius anyway and will certainly carry people and cargo as you need it to.
Best of luck,
Brian

[cycledrum]

Originally Posted by carniver

Rumor has it that next generation of Insight will be full hybrid with Lithium-Ion battery pack like the Prius, and that it'll come in 2013.

Seriously? Where did you hear that? Don't get me wrong, I'd be thrilled to see Honda beat down on the Prius (Toyota does some things that just make me shake my head in disgust).

Only thing I've seen on Honda.com is about a '2 motor' plug-in hybrid to be placed into a midsize sedan platform, probably like Accord.

Honda Plug-in Hybrid Concept - Official Site

[cycledrum]

Originally Posted by Cobb

Yeah....... The Insight is available in cvt only, its continuous like the prius, but in sport mode has a 7 defined ratios. Yes, the crz has a stick shift available, good luck finding one.

I drove a prius 2 and 3, I was not impressed.

I just know I'd be seriously bummed about an ICE cranking away while I'm putting at 3 MPH looking for a parking space, or waiting in line at drive through, or at metering light, etc....

Don't get me wrong, I think Prius is a little wooden and Toyota's lack of attention to detail is a drag (3rd gen Prius door armrest is almost an inch lower than center console armrest, feel weird)

And those that plunk down $30k for Prius IV with leather get the awesome 15" wheels with plastic wheelcovers or jankety looking wheels underneath. Lame.

[cycledrum]

Originally Posted by BrianZ54

Unless the redesign is a major one, the Honda hybrids probably won't ever achieve the "Giant Golf Cart" status of a Toyota or Ford hybrid. If a measurable percentage of your driving is going to be heavy city traffic the Hondas might not be the best choice. Perhaps after the redesign they'll put the redundant drive train in for the electric motor. Other than that initial battery glitch that got all those Gen1 batteries replaced, I'll stick with the assist method.

If you truly need room for 4 adults, I'd look at the Civic hybrid. It probably gets 90% of the gas mileage of a Prius anyway and will certainly carry people and cargo as you need it to.
Best of luck,
Brian

I live about 35 miles from SF. It's basically city everywhere. If I'm stopped or creeping along in traffic, I want the gas engine off.

I'll have a test drive with the 2012 Civic hybrid. It lacks some cargo room I'd really like to have for hauling drums and tossing a road bike in to avoid using a roof or trunk rack.

[jcbesq]

check out the ford fusion - it basically has the same running gear/hybrid arrangment as the prius and its more a car than a moon mobile