Preparing an Insight for touring

[aisbell]

I would like to make my Insight a better touring car. Having lived only in Honolulu with my Insight, I have not been able to travel more than about 4 hours without being back where I started But I plan to send my Insight to Sweden this summer, so I will want to take longer trips.

What do you think needs to be done to make an Insight a more comfortable and secure touring car?

The Insight rear suspension is particularly uncomfortable because of its very limited travel which results in frequent bottoming out, especially when carrying two adults and their luggage. Improvements I have read about include adding a rear spring spacer to increase suspension travel, replacing the rear springs with those from a Daewoo Matiz or maybe a Daewoo Kalos/Chevrolet Aveo, and/or replacing the bump stops with those from a Daewoo Matiz. I like the replacement rear spring and bump stop mods, but I don't believe that the Daewoo Matiz was ever sold in Hawaiʻi. However, it was sold in Sweden, so I should be able to find some used parts there.

Some have found the Insight seats to be uncomfortable for long-distance travel. The seats seem comfortable enough to me for the amount of time we envision being seated, so I will probably not do any seat mods.

I haven't read about mods that hide luggage from outside view. The Insight cargo bag is too small. Merely covering the luggage with some sort of cloth or tarp would not hide the fact that something worth stealing might be underneath. Has anyone devised a better way to hide luggage that's on top of the cargo area behind the seats?

Would mirrored tinting hide luggage but not block views of the outside from the driver's seat?

I have considered some sort of opaque covers over the rear and side windows and a curtain behind the seats all of which could be quickly attached/detached. But I don't know what I could use for attachments that would be suitable.

[kcarson]

I purchased my 2000MT in the Florida Keys and drove it back to Arizona. Here is what I learned and have done to make it more of a "road" car. Put in a single DIN CD,DVD,GPS, stereo with XM and mounted the XM and GPS antenna under and up through the front of the dash. Next I ordered another set of floor mats to help dampen the road noise and lastly, (but most important), I ordered a set of Wetokle (sp?) seat covers with the inflatable lumbar support. They are pretty expensive - but it is the single best improvement I have made - bar none.

In the last two weeks I have done two road trips - Phoenix to North Island, San Diego and back and then Phoenix - Vegas - Phoenix - over 1900 miles total and I still beleive the Insight is still a commuter, but can be more of a traveler with the proper comfort.

Time invested - radio switch - 45 minutes (with the honda adapter). Seat covers 30 mintues if you just take the seats out and do it right.

My two cents...

[JimIsbell]

I have traveled 1400 miles from South Carolina to Corpus Christi Texas in three days when I bought the car and brought it home. Then my wife and I took a 2000 mile round trip trip from Corpus Christi to Algona IA and we have made almost monthly trips of 900 miles round trip from Corpus Christi to Tyler TX. All this in the 9 months I have owned the car.

This car is an excellent touring car as is. I have made ONLY ONE change in constructing a center arm rest so I have a place for my other arm. My wife carries a couple of pillows that I think she would be better off without but that is her choice.

[aisbell]

Originally Posted by kcarson

lastly, (but most important), I ordered a set of Wetokle (sp?) seat covers with the inflatable lumbar support. They are pretty expensive - but it is the single best improvement I have made - bar none.

The Wet Okole ("okole" means "butt" in Hawaiian store is about a half mile away from our Honolulu apartment. I have considered their very good seat covers in the past but have never been able to justify their cost. I think it's time to reconsider. Thanks for the suggestion!

[devin1955]

"Wet butt" seat covers? Who is the world thunk that one up...

[budomove]

I believe it is a reference to the fact that they are made of neoprene, and dry as well as a wet suit after surfing. THey truly are great seat covers, and make the car so much more comfortable! The optional inflatable lumbar support is terrible, I bought that for both seats, and simply awful they are. Otherwise, these covers are a well justified expense that makes this car so much more enjoyable to drive. Seriously.

[Leeper]

I purchased the W.O. seat covers a couple years ago...

I bought my car in Arkansas and drove it back to S. Cal... the seats were incredibly comfortable for my 6'3" body. I've found that the seat covers actually lessen my comfort AND cause me to sweat far more as well. Though nice appearance and glad they're protecting my interior I'll definitely be taking them off for any future road trips.

Steve

[boogetyboogety]

I have the windows tinted with FormulaOne film, which keeps the interior cooler in hot sunny Dallas weather. It also has a slight reflective quality to it, that really looks good with a silver car. For our big trip (we always "break in" a new car wit a big trip, which usually puts the largest percentage of miles on a car since we drive them so little) we did a 4200-mile-run up to Utah via the Four Corners region, and culminating (no pun intended) on a drive up Pikes Peak in CO (as far as we know, the first CVT up there).

I found a black square 60"X60" table cloth (Halloween sale, $1) that, when thrown over the luggage in back, makes the inside of the car a black hole from the outside. Nothing shows. It looks like limo tint on the windows...

By the way, we averaged over 50 MPG on that trip (and we were just learning how to drive it), driving at high speeds (80-90 mph in most stretches of the vast, unpeopled areas we visited), and with the AC on Econ/72°. And no real complaints on the ride (but we've had everything from old Beetles to Triumphs to even a [gasp!] Citroen, so perhaps our standards are lower than most, or our butts have lost all feeling over our many road-tripping years).

[JimIsbell]

I have owned far in excess of 100 cars in my lifetime. I sure would not be ashamed of a Citroen. The 1966 ID-19 was the BEST touring car I ever owned bar none...including the 1956 Mark II Continental I still own and the 1958 Mark III Continental I once owned.. It was better than the 1952 Bentley and the 1982 Cadillac Seville as well!! But aside from the extra work of driving the Insight ( I imagine some people could ignore trying to get the absolutely best mileage from the Insight, but I cant ), It is right up there with the best of them for touring. BUT definitely WITHOUT any plastic seat covers!!! Here in south Texas ANY KIND OF PLASTIC is impossible to live with either in the winter or in the summer. Maybe that is why they are sold in the temperate climate of Hawaii?

20 minutes ago I finished the first 450 mile leg (one stop for lunch) of another of those 900 mile trips to Tyler TX. The IMA light came on just 3 minutes from home so I drove the entire trip with NO ASSIST. It was a little weak on the hills, but I learned how to handle them, and it got a fine 68 mpg running at the speed limit....maybe a bit under nearing the top of a few of those hills, and a bit over nearing the bottom....# AND my wife never complained once about the seats...except when getting out of the car for lunch...being 72 years old she thinks the seats are too close to the ground...#

A couple of months ago I and my Insight went on a week end tour with 32 Corvettes. We cruised near 80 mph the entire trip and my passenger was a Corvette owner...his wife drove his Corvette and my wife rode with her....Was it a good touring car??? Well, my Corvette driving passenger bought an Insight for himself less then a month later.

[BillR]

We've taken our Insight on a few long distance trips, and this Friday I'm off on a 4000 mile round trip to Florida.

The best thing that I did was to add some additional high density foam (from a roll-up sleeping pad for backpacking) under the seat back cover to make a customized lumbar and spine support.

The rear suspension is really a weak point with two adults, luggage, and full tank of fuel. I believe that the maximum load that the car is rated for is 400 pounds.

Enjoy your European touring!

Bill