Hey guys. So I have a 2010 Honda Insight LX with 58k on it. I maintain all the usual things such as brakes, fluid fluid levels, so on. I put 60 mi/day on it, 7 days a week carrying around 430 lbs 6 days a week, and 650-750 lbs on Saturdays as a newspaper carrier. I frequently ask as much of the engine as it will give and overheat my brakes starting and stopping some 600 odd times. Question is, how long should I expect this vehicle to last treating it in this way?
I had an old 1980 Toyota Corrola, did the same thing with it. Even took out the front passenger seat and put a board in to make a flat surface to roll the stacks of paper off of. That car was over 15 years old at the time in the mid 100K range and I did that for 3 years with no issues. As long as you keep up on the basic fluid checks and servicing you should be fine. Might want to change your CVT fluid a little more often since you are doing more start/stop driving and working the tranny pretty hard.
Wow, never would have thought of using an Insight to throw papers from but it kind of makes sense because it still gets better milage than any other car out there just about.
I haven't been an insight owner for too long, but I think what's going to end up being the weakness in terms of longevity will be the transmission. The transmission is the pulley style CVT isn't it?
The IMA battery is going to get low and need replacing one of these days, but that's something that's 10 years down the line, and even then it looks to be a <$2k repair.
You live in TX where it gets pretty hot, I'm guessing you won't get 10 years out of your battery but I'm basing that on my 1st generation IMA system in my 2000 Insight. You have the 5th generation IMA if you have a new Insight so not sure about how much more reliable they have made the batteries in that system? The heat is really hard on the batteries in all hybrid cars, and the Li batteries in the new all electric cars are even more affected by the heat.
You live in TX where it gets pretty hot, I'm guessing you won't get 10 years out of your battery but I'm basing that on my 1st generation IMA system in my 2000 Insight. You have the 5th generation IMA if you have a new Insight so not sure about how much more reliable they have made the batteries in that system? The heat is really hard on the batteries in all hybrid cars, and the Li batteries in the new all electric cars are even more affected by the heat.
Ah, well the weakness with the CVT will be that steel band then and that shouldn't break anytime soon.
I know in my subaru with the dark interior even on the hottest of the hot days it doesn't get over 120 degrees on the inside. That's parked directly in the sun with all the sun shining in right through the windscreen.
I know those IMA batteries will heat up when they are in use, but ambient temperature wise it won't get over 120F.
When you drive the insight hard it self limits. For example you will notice less and less assist and only a mild regen once that system becomes too warm. You will notice the engine will take less of a load and run higher rpms when driving. The brakes will smell nice and sulfurie unless you upgrade them.
If you are serious on using this as a delivery vehicle Id suggest running synthentic fluid for the engine and cvt and adding a cvt cooler. Lastly a bigger 12 volt battery. When the IMA system gets too hot the dc to dc converter that procides 12 volt charge will turn off and on as it approaches a high point. THis is signaled by a flashing battery symbol on the dash. When the cvt has a problem the D on the dash in the gear selector will flash.
Ive delivered papers and its hard on any vehicle. Id suggest gettinga geo metro. Depending on your margins as a delivery person it may make mor econimical sense to rent or lease a vehicle.
IMO the insight is too new and expensive of a vehicle to be beating down on it for deliveries at least at the rate they pay around here. I would buy a beater old import for doing this.
It's a heavy vehicle for the small power train to deal with.
My back pocket is full of jobs incase I find I am in need of one and I am considering a long distance courier where I would drive 300 miles or so vs mail box to mail box.
I used to have one of those! My first car (1995 with 61k) doing papers. Had the suspension tear out and I welded it back together twice before giving up on it for $300 and a handshake from a guy who fixes and sells them out of his garage.
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Working 2010 Insight HARD
