I'm seriously thinking of having these special hinges fitted to my Insight.
A set costs around 1,500 Euros (about 1,200 Bucks I guess) and even meets the ever so strict German regulations.
There shouldn't be excessive wear and tear on the hinge itself as the doors are so light
The only mod you need to do is put the door-cable in through the door a bit higher. You don't even have to repaint anything........
Now that's an interesting idea. You could even say they are practical since it would be easier to get out in a tight spot.
But they are a bit expensive for hinges, aren't they? And they don't mention the Insight. I would expect you would need them made specifically for the car, or do they just need to be "close", like the Civic or somethin.
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2000 #893
LMPG 73.3, same speed too
I used Google translation tool to check out the Download section. They have full videos of installation, entering/exit of a Golf,..
It really bolts where the hinges go.
The door first goes out and then rotates up. If they make one for the Inssight, I'll save the money for this.
They have just sent me a reply, saying that they aren't making one for the Insight at the moment and the near future
Yeah, why bother if there are only around 30-60 Insights on the road here in Germany......but there would certainly be a market in the States I would think
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".....anyone 'll tell you it's a prisoner island,
hidden in the summer for a million years,
Great Southern Land......"
They look cool on Lambos... but I can't imagine they'd be real practical in American parking and home garages (wouldn't the door hit the roof? Aack... ). I guess I'd have to see one in action to give it an intelligent opinion, I just... can't... see this on an Insight. An Insight is soooo far removed from a Countach that... well, I'll just shut up now. I bet they'd look cool regardless of what I think.
I suppose it could be done, but I keep thinking of that old bromide... "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of time and it annoys the pig."
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Driving on down the road in my 2001 CVT, going "Boogety Boogety" ...and until avatars are provided, my car looks just like the original silver Insight on the header, above... =)
I think it would be a real attention grabber. I'd love to have an electric action on it so that you would push the unlock on the remote and have it open up! I can't think of any practical reason to put it on though.
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Kip Munro
The laws of physics don't need changing, but rather our attitude and values. 72.8 LMPG
My opinion is that I can think of only a few cars that this type of hinge would be appropriate on and the Insight is one of them. It is truely a unique looking vehicle and deserves a unique door open style. Good point, though, on how high the door would raise. A standard garage door height is 7'-0". The bottom of the rafter is at about 8'-0" off the floor. Unless Europeon standards are different, I'm sure this was a factor that had to be considered. Also, how would you handle the cluster of wires running through the door?
Oh well. If no one will manufacture hinges for the Insight, no need to dwell.
how would you handle the cluster of wires running through the door?.
Isn't that complicated. Many other cars have kits for these type of doors. The wires go in the area of least movement. These doors are more a novelty than useful as you actually have more room getting out of the car, the way the doors already are.
What I'd really like to see are van slider type doors. Pop out then slide back or forward, then door dings in parking lots would be a thing of the past.
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Lamborghini-style doors
