[Will M]

The newest estimate on delivery of my 2003 Insight is the end of this month. While fixating on it, I've planned the following checkout and small modifications. I'm open to further advice:

Check oil & fluids.

Check air pressure in all 5 tires.

Test hatchback lock. I've become unusually interested in manually overriding the electric locks since losing my 2000 Insight to the Jaws of Life.

Get floor mats.

Wash & wax.

"To test the 12v auxiliary starting system, first disable the IMA starting system by removing fuse #2 from the under-dash fusebox."

Modify passenger floor mat to anchor it, like the driver's mat.

Replace stereo & speakers. (I have a mini-disk/radio from Crutchfield, sitting in the box, waiting)

Shim rear view mirror.

Inspect it on the rack/ramp.

Make rear deck mat/cover. I'm thinking grey spandex, maybe reflective, to both cover and hold things in the back. My wife just got a serger...

Make reflective bubble-wrap window covers for parking.

Any other suggestions?

 

[The Citrus Smoothie]

I think that is a comprehensive list. My only two thoughts is that if you are going to replace the stereo & speakers, you should install rear speakers as well. It would be great improvement. Secondly make sure that the air dams have been installed correctly (presumably part of what you will do while it is up on the ramp). Hope this helps.

 

[Tim Maddux]

rear speakers... nah... too bad they stopped making the Wayland Shoebox sub before I could scrape together the cash for it.

 

[Rick]

Covercraft makes a custom fitted windshield heat bubble cover. I find it to be a bit better quality than the roll of stuff they sell at home depot. They are about $25, but you have to custom order one.

 

[joe4ska]

Get yourself a car cover if you park outside alot

 

[Guest]

rear speakers... nah... too bad they stopped making the Wayland Shoebox sub before I could scrape together the cash for it.

Agreed on the rear speakers. It will only muck up your soundstage.

I recently built a knock-off shoebox... Works great, but it has a bit of a design flaw that prevents me from replacing the aluminum shelf the box fits under. Now I know why Wayland built his box with the driver pointing out the fender - so the surround of the cone won't buzz up against the shelf piece.

So I plan on redesigning the box, reverse engineering Wayland's box a little more closely. Then I'll make the plans available. Anyone with a table saw and a little know how should be able to build one.

 

[Guest]

Wash & wax.

It ships with a factory coat of wax that supposedly should last about a year. So I'd skip this step, and use that time driving around with the windows down.

 

[Will M]

Your post made me revisit the list. I already took your advice (out of sheer laziness). So, here's how far I got:

I checked oil, fluids, tire pressure, checked the function of the rear hatch lock.

It came with floor mats.

I didn't wash or wax (though the car is still shiney).

I haven't done anything with Fuse #2 nor done anything to the passenger floormat except ask my wife to pull it back into place every now and then instead of cramming it forward to curl up and distort like the old one did.

I replaced the radio and speakers and I'm happier with the radio than with the speakers.

I didn't have to shim the rear view mirror. Apparently Honda fixed that problem, since this mirror aims at exactly the same place when you shift between day and night settings.

I looked at it on the rack once, but it was only about a foot off the garage floor and I was in nice clothes, so I didn't see much.

I didn't make a rear deck cover because now Insights come with the rear net. I did add 2 carabiners (left over from my climbing days) to replace the cheap, plastic clips that are so hard to engage and disengage at the rear. I leave the front connected all the time, so I didn't have to replace those.

I did make reflective bubble-wrap window covers, but I don't use them because they are bulky and are a hassle to store when not in use.

I did not buy a cover, being both cheap AND lazy. Besides, the Civic would get jealous.

 

[The Citrus Smoothie]

Will - I think I know the answer to this, but I will run it past you and the Forum.

Does your Cargo Net completely move freely on its elastic 'string' or is one corner stitched down? A corner is stitched down on my Cargo Net which was purchased from a Honda dealer. This has led to the elastic severely narrowing in this corner. Grateful if you could check yours.