[david]

I'll be picking up the manual silver '04 I've been looking for forever on Thursday night in Seattle. Then I'll be driving it back to Southern California. (Wave if you see me) Thanks to all the folks that were on the lookout for this car!

Any tips for a new Insight owner? Breaking in rules, etc? (Isn't there something about not going over 40...it'll be a long ride)

Thanks for any info,

David

 

[Sparky5501]

That's fantastic!

I'm glad you could get an Insight from my neck of the woods.
Which dealership did you end up buying your Insight from?

I'm not sure you have to follow that restrictive of break-in rules for the Insight. From what I can remember you souldn't do any "Jackrabbit" starts for the first four or five hundered miles. Your sales person should give you a run down of the vehicle break-in. I think it's also printed in the front of the owners manual.

Congratulations!

 

[david]

Hey Sparky,.

Honda Autocenter of Bellevue. The salesman actually contacted me after seeing my posts on this board. So far so good.

What's the weather been like between here and there? I remember almost getting stuck crossing into California from Oregon once because of snow.

 

[Motty82]

Congratulations on your Auto purchaise!! : ) I seem to recall reading to avoid "jackrabbit" starts, avoid stompping on the brake hard, and keeping the speed no higher than 60 Miles Per Hour. All or most of these I recall reading to do and not to do durring the first 600 miles.

 

[Sparky5501]

David, looks like it will be raining here on Thursday. Bring an unbrella or rain jacket.

Hmmm, sales people reading Insight forum posts... I don't know if that's a good or bad sign. :? I guess in your case it's a good sign.

Send me a PM if you would need my phone number in case you get lost in Seattle.

 

[Billy]

Hi David; I referred that salesperson to this website. I hope you negotiated a good price for the car. Also, be sure to inspect the body very carefully. That car was sitting there for quite awhile, and endured a snowstorm. Be sure when the lot guys cleaned the snow off that nothing was scratched. I have bought 5 Hondas over the years from them, they are the largest Honda dealer in the state. It is recommended that you NOT buy any extended warranty the first day; wait awhile and also consult Rick in Arizona... See ya, billy....

 

[Rick]

I think for your break in the only thing you need to really do is just avoid staying at any constant speed for too long. Varry it for the first few hundred miles at least. I think the most important thing is to not vtec it (go to 4000 rpm or more) for the first call it 600 miles or so. The break in isn't as stringent as some other vehicles. I know on the S2000 there is a snipit in the owners manual to not exceed the vtec rpm for the first 600 miles (I think it's something like 6,200 rpm). I've read a little, I guess it scores the cylinder walls if you get on it before broken in and you have early engine failure.

Check the owners manual, for all we know it could be different in the 04 manual. Best of luck on your drive back home.

 

[Tim Maddux]

What's the weather been like between here and there?

Just rain. Oregon law "requires" you to "carry chains" over the summits at the California / Oregon border but they are unlikely to be enforcing it. The pass at Siskyou summit (highest point on I-5) was closed by snow just after this past Christmas -- we made it back over after a visit to SoCal just in time -- but has been open ever since. You won't have to worry. Enjoy your new car.

P.S. South of Sacramento, take 99, and not 5. You get more food choices - like In'N'Out - along the way and fewer big rig trucks.

 

[Billy]

David; Tim is right -- the 99 is a much nicer drive than the 5 (although more traffic) I always stay on the 5 until downtown Sacramento, then follow the signs "99 Fresno" and it takes you east on the 50 for a mile, then turns south toward Lodi, Galt, Stockton, Modesto, Merced, etc etc.
Yes, vary your speed along the way. Maybe drive 65 for 20 minutes, then 60 for 20 minutes, then 70, that kind of thing. Often from Siskiyou summit (elev 4320) I can coast 9 miles, clear to the CA agriculture inspection station. Therefore, the first thing I would do upon driving off the dealer's lot is find the gas station (just down the hill in Factoria) and put exactly 50 lbs of air in each tire. That alone will increase your mpg by about 9 or 10. See ya, Billy.....

 

[david]

Thanks for all the info. It's a little unnerving buying a car sight unseen from out of state, but it was about $19,730 or something after paying for floor mats (dammit!) and a couple of coupons that allow you to drive an unregistered car for a few days. Didn't know about that. Also, no tax till I register in California. Interesting, huh? (Never knew that. Always swore I'd never buy a new car, but this was special).

Nice salesman, even offered to pick me up at the airport Thursday eve. The finance guy was a little pushy with the warranty, but I declined because of advice from this site.

Got my HON-AUX adapter on order to hook up an ipod and can't wait to test the mileage tricks I've learned here.

Thanks everyone!

David

 

[Insightful Trekker]

<snip>

and can't wait to test the mileage tricks I've learned here.

Thanks everyone!

David

And don't forget that the ultimate high mileage that the Insight is capable of won't begin until after the engine is well "broken in." From what I've read and by my experience 3,000 miles to over 5,000 before you _begin_ to reach the peak.

HTH!

 

[Rick]

Somewhere in that area sounds right. I found that after the second oil change (at 7,000 miles for me) the car had really loosened up from when I originally got it. Then again you get someone like Billy who gets 85mpg on his trip home from buying his second brand new Insight.