Hi there, from the Netherlands

[Bennink]

Hi there! My name is Erik Bennink and I'm living in The Netherlands. Of course I am driving a Honda Insight Hybrid, one of the first delivered in our small country. My ride:



I really love this car. It's very comfortable, compared to the car I drove before (Fiat Grande Punto). I drive about 70000km a year.

First of all I'd like to excuse myself for using the wrong words... I normally do not use the English language. I tried to find the correct place to drop a introduction thread, but couldn't find it... hopefully this is a right place.

In my free time I am the founder of the Dutch Honda Hybrid Club (HondaHybridClub.nl). All Honda Hybrids which are ever sold in The Netherlands can discuss about their car: Civic Hybrids, Insight Hybrids (only the 2nd gen, because only 3 Insights of the first generation are sold) and the all new CR-Z. No Accord, because that car is never officially sold in the Netherlands.

A few weeks ago the temperature has dropped below zero (Celsius), so it is freezing. It is very noticable in the consumption (or MPG), so I am looking for a way to block my grill. A already have a OBD-tool, something like the ScanGaugeII (but now called TurboGauge) to check the temperature of the engine:





Bummer, can only place 4 images

Anyway: I am going to find the way to block my grille

[Purplegate]

Hello and Welcome !

I believe you have seen this : Grill Blocks

These are few idea for grille block. I personally went for the isolation tube strategy by nameless (very easy, quick and cheap). The effect is not highly noticeable, slightly quicker to warm up the car, but eh, every bits count

The turboGauge you have there is nice ! I also have the ScanGaugeII and I think this is an interesting device to max out mpg. It gives the missing feedback from the car. I have set to show TPS (Throttle Position Sensor) and this gives me the target to place my foot right for the max efficiency.

[Bennink]

Thank you, Purplegate. I've seen that topic, wonderfull picture of the Insight with ductape

That function you mentioned is also available on my turbogauge, but I'm not using it very much right now. I focus on the temperature these days. Normally the Intake Air Temperature seems to be around 5 degrees higher than the outside temperature.

[insight1]

Welcome and this is one nice looking auto. Congrats

[Ehetleos]

Cheers from Greece Erik!
I would like to ask you cause I have read it but still could not believe it! Is road tax counted in the Netherlands by tracking the car's mileage via GPS? Are you obliged to do so? Do you have to install GPS tracking devices in your cars at your own cost? How does it work? Apprently our own $#@%government wants to inplement a similar idea and I am a bit worried...
Welcome to the club

[buggaboo411]

Nice looking car! Good color too!