I have a chance to buy a new 2002 Insight CVT from a Honda dealer and I'm considering using it to visit my wife weekly while she's in Med school in WV. It's a 900 mile roud trip with no flat driving. Does the CVT adversly affect economy? Are there problems with the CVT? Would I leave it in S or D or switch as needed? how do I know? Why is he selling it so cheap?Will it stand up to the hills of WV? We live in an very rural area where people are afraid of new things like the telephone so maybe that's it. Any input is appreciated.
?14,800 Insight?
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Go for it! The dealer I bought my CVT Insight from was selling it about the same price as the one you're seeing (14,998).
As for economy, expect to get around 10MPG less compared to the 5spd model as it doesn't include the lean-burn catalyst. A plus however is that the CVT models don't seem to suffer from the recal effect that 5spd models have.
Unless you really need to accelerate fast or need the extra "kick", leave the tranny in D mode. Switching it to S mode from what I've seen, increases the RPMs by about 1,000. You can tell if you're in S mode by looking at the green S light located near the battery SOC meter on the dash.
Your dealer is probably selling it cheap as it's been sitting in the lot for a while and they are desperately getting rid of it. I know mine was.
The Insight suprisingly does very well on hills. I've driven it in hilly downtown san francisco a couple of times and it has no problems getting around.
Also consider this. Knowing most dealerships (at least in california for me), the 5spd manual is almost impossible to find on the lot and needs to be special ordered. Ordering it from the factory will cost you about 17,000-17,500 (depends how nice your dealer is). You figure the money you save from buying the CVT at the price you're getting it for will more or less 'balance out' the cost for dino fuel.
As for economy, expect to get around 10MPG less compared to the 5spd model as it doesn't include the lean-burn catalyst. A plus however is that the CVT models don't seem to suffer from the recal effect that 5spd models have.
Unless you really need to accelerate fast or need the extra "kick", leave the tranny in D mode. Switching it to S mode from what I've seen, increases the RPMs by about 1,000. You can tell if you're in S mode by looking at the green S light located near the battery SOC meter on the dash.
Your dealer is probably selling it cheap as it's been sitting in the lot for a while and they are desperately getting rid of it. I know mine was.
The Insight suprisingly does very well on hills. I've driven it in hilly downtown san francisco a couple of times and it has no problems getting around.
Also consider this. Knowing most dealerships (at least in california for me), the 5spd manual is almost impossible to find on the lot and needs to be special ordered. Ordering it from the factory will cost you about 17,000-17,500 (depends how nice your dealer is). You figure the money you save from buying the CVT at the price you're getting it for will more or less 'balance out' the cost for dino fuel.
Thanks Braxus,
I'm still trying to get him to throw in extended warrenty (Idon't think I would pay for it).
Waht kind of maintance is required when I get it? It"s been sitting two years. Buy filters at Honda? We do all our own work, but parts out here are a problem (Honda dealer is 2 hours).
We traded our Suburban (5 kids) for a civic for the wife while she'd in school. I currently drive an 03 silverado diesel crewcab 19mpg. I figure I could use the Insight for about 30-40,000 miles a year.
Wait till the old farmers around here see me in the insight. I've never seen one on the road (do you think it'll scare the Amish horses? :wink: )
Thanks again for your input
I'm still trying to get him to throw in extended warrenty (Idon't think I would pay for it).
Waht kind of maintance is required when I get it? It"s been sitting two years. Buy filters at Honda? We do all our own work, but parts out here are a problem (Honda dealer is 2 hours).
We traded our Suburban (5 kids) for a civic for the wife while she'd in school. I currently drive an 03 silverado diesel crewcab 19mpg. I figure I could use the Insight for about 30-40,000 miles a year.
Wait till the old farmers around here see me in the insight. I've never seen one on the road (do you think it'll scare the Amish horses? :wink: )
Thanks again for your input
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131 Posts
ahh, that poor car 
no ones been driving it...such a shame. i have a CVT, but i don't know how it does on hills, i live in indiana where there are no hills. i had this horrible misconception of hills until a few weeks ago when i was involved in a road trip to california. i didn't have my insight though, thats no fun. but at least i know what a "hill" is...
no ones been driving it...such a shame. i have a CVT, but i don't know how it does on hills, i live in indiana where there are no hills. i had this horrible misconception of hills until a few weeks ago when i was involved in a road trip to california. i didn't have my insight though, thats no fun. but at least i know what a "hill" is...On the topic of scaring horses, one thing you have to get used to with an Insight is how quiet it is. I don't mean that it seals out outside sound well. I mean that it doesn't generate much sound.
It is quite common that I accidentally sneak up on pedestrians wandering around in the road, apparently listening for traffic and not hearing any, so when they finally hear the tires crunch gravel within 10' of them, they turn and jump and then look very apologetic and they skooch off the road.
The engine turns itself off under conditions you'll become familiar with, but the thing is, even when it is running, it is so quiet, you'll need to check for the blinking green indicator light to know for sure whether the engine is running.
It is quite common that I accidentally sneak up on pedestrians wandering around in the road, apparently listening for traffic and not hearing any, so when they finally hear the tires crunch gravel within 10' of them, they turn and jump and then look very apologetic and they skooch off the road.
The engine turns itself off under conditions you'll become familiar with, but the thing is, even when it is running, it is so quiet, you'll need to check for the blinking green indicator light to know for sure whether the engine is running.
"Waht kind of maintance is required when I get it? It"s been sitting two years. Buy filters at Honda?"
Parts can be ordered on line, cheaper than the dealer even if you leave out the two hour drive. It does take 0W20 oil, but the local WalMart has the Mobile synthetic. About $4.75 a quart, but you only need 2.5 quarts per change. Otherwise there are no special maintenance things I know of, except for checking the tire pressure every few weeks if you choose to run higher than the stock 35 psi or so.
Parts can be ordered on line, cheaper than the dealer even if you leave out the two hour drive. It does take 0W20 oil, but the local WalMart has the Mobile synthetic. About $4.75 a quart, but you only need 2.5 quarts per change. Otherwise there are no special maintenance things I know of, except for checking the tire pressure every few weeks if you choose to run higher than the stock 35 psi or so.
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You can buy your filters at http://www.hparts.com. The motor oil itself may be more of a challege. Your local walmart may or may not carry 0W-20 oil. Buying a case of oil from hparts is not worth it as shipping is EXPENSIVE. If the Honda dealership is your only choice, getting a case of 0W-20 for 45 bucks is a resonable price.
If you can't get the dealer to throw in the extended warranty, make him/her throw in the floor mats at the very least for free.
Just keep this in mind, the dealer is trying to get rid of it so you have the upper hand.
If you can't get the dealer to throw in the extended warranty, make him/her throw in the floor mats at the very least for free.
Just keep this in mind, the dealer is trying to get rid of it so you have the upper hand.
Insight Owner
Thanks everyone. Bought it yesterday and took it home last night. It's a lot of fun to drive and after putting over 500,000 miles in three different one ton duallys it's almost comical to look at other cars as they go by. 60.4 mpg on the way home. It's amazing the amount of power.
A friend is getting his doctorate in battery power and he is certain that there is an industrial application for the batteries besides the Insight. We are going to check it out this weekend and he is going to find out availability.
Thanks everyone. Bought it yesterday and took it home last night. It's a lot of fun to drive and after putting over 500,000 miles in three different one ton duallys it's almost comical to look at other cars as they go by. 60.4 mpg on the way home. It's amazing the amount of power.
A friend is getting his doctorate in battery power and he is certain that there is an industrial application for the batteries besides the Insight. We are going to check it out this weekend and he is going to find out availability.
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RickM - Congratulations on getting your Insight. Look after it, it is a special car indeed!
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