Justification

[hook]

I'm trying to justify changing over to an Insight (2nd gen.) later this year. I'm examining my driving habits including my present MPG, to what an Insight would see. I'm currently driving a wheelchair accessable minivan as I use a wheelchair. I should be walking later this year, so I wont require this big heavy vehicle.

[The minivan weighs at least 4500 pounds as it has a heavy undercarrige to handle the ramp that folds out. It has a V6 engine and an automatic transmission. I'm a very fuel efficient driver as I always go the speed limit on all my driving where 90% is around town. My dash gauge indicates I'm getting 20.6 mpg driving this big heavy vehicle.

When driving I coast as much as possible. Also I accelerate from a stop slowly (2000 - 2500 rpm). Since most of my driving is around town (suburb), I'm interested in if my cautious style with the Insight hybrid would result in me getting 45 - 50 mpg?

I'm curious what current insight, 2nd gen., owners think?

[Cobb]

Welcome aboard, wow, I too as in a wheelchair for 9 years and got out.

Yeah, coasting is the key and riding the brakes to a stop. What is the epa figures on your van? If you are hitting or exceeding them, you can expect more mpg from the Insight.

Now if you add some hypermiler techniques you can get even more.


Sent from my Autoguide iPod touch app

[hook]

The 2005 EPA guide lists the Chevy Uplander at 18/24. I believe I've seen revised numbers for that year at 17/23. So I figure I'm doing good driving a heavièr vehical all city driving meeting the combined number.

[zzzptm]

It'll take a little while to get used to the car, but I've had commutes where I've gotten just shy of 60 MPG on the downhill leg, and around 40 on the uphill. Since I want to keep my MPG up, I'm being much more strategic in my driving which has led me to doing the very things that increase MPG in general, such as combining trips, slower starts, etc. I'm looking forward to some good numbers in my future, and I also left a van for the Insight. I'm not looking back at all. I don't even miss the cup holders any more.

[mikejbb]

Hook; I'm getting 50.5mpg for 5k miles since June 2011 in my Insight, look at my Fuelly records. I drive like a slow old lady so it sounds like you'd drive a lot like me. I live near Chicago so winters are tougher so we'll see how my mpg goes, but so far looks like I'll be ok in the winter too. So I'd expect you'd be able to get the 45-50 you are looking for. BUT keep the tires inflated, check every week. I went down to 45mpg when my tires were at 30psi. I keep them at 44psi. No problems in the snow so far either. I have no commute and little Xway driving.

[hook]

Mikejbb, I guess I drive like you as my kids commented that I drive like their grandmother (my mother).

I'm under the impression that I should drive the Insight the same way as I do my minivan currently; slow and steady. Based on my research it looks like driving a full hybrid, like the Prius, would be different. Where unless you can accelerate from a stop extremely slow, to keep electric only, you want to briskly accelerate when the ICE is on to get up to cruising speed.

Since the Insight can't run on electric only, I assume this way of accelerating doesn't apply to it.

[Cobb]

Thats a loaded question. The newer Insight does have an EV mode, however its mainly good for coasting.

The prius has a bit more. Regardless you want to accelerate with the gas motor as the EV part isn't that efficient.

Now you can offset brisk acceleration if you coast more and ride your brakes to a stop.


Sent from my Autoguide iPod touch app

[mikejbb]

Yeah, I tried fast acceleration then hold then glide a lot to a stop when possible, but it didn't work for me. Seems the slower the acceleration, the better the mileage. When I'm not into it I use the cruise to do the acceleration at 26mph(where it will catch) to the speed limit. It doesn't do as good a job as I do, but not much worse.

I just got 50mpg (per HID) going 1 mile to the Fedex office and then back home. I never got above 25mph and accelerated VERY slowly and it's 14 degrees here today so she never warmed up till I got home. I'd expect a Prius might do even better with the more powerful EV.

Oh, my OEM tires, 6 months old, are terrible in the snow with regards to mpg. I couldn't get above 40mpg in the snow where I usually get 55mpg. It felt like I was pushing the snow instead of driving thru/over it. And heavy rain seems similar, but not near as bad.

[zzzptm]

Since I can see over the steering wheel, I'm not driving like a grandmother.

But I do have *very* gradual acceleration when I'm the only one on the road or in my lane. And when I see a red light ahead of me, I let it coast. A lot of people beat me to the red lights, but we start off at the green all together.

I love that feeling. "You beat me, and your point is...?"

[hook]

How well does the Insight coast compared to non hybrid vehicles? Is there a big difference with the regenerative brakes?