[bigitybadb]

Hey guys,

I posted recently about buying an Insight (thanks for all the help, by the way). Today I came across a post about the possibility of a Honda Fit Hybrid that might be coming out next year (key word = "might") at a base price of $11,800. As this would be a great option to buying a used insight, do you guys think that the prices of used Inisights will be going down as soon as they officially announce the Fit Hybrid?

Thanks again for your help!

Brad

 

[VinceDee]

The first thing to be aware of is that 2006 is supposed to be the last year of the Insight.

Also, with Toyota selling over 60,000 Prii at $24,000 plus, I'd be extremely surprised if Honda came out with any kind of car, let alone a hybrid, for $12,000.

If, and when, the next Honda hybrid comes out it will almost certainly be $20,000 or more.

 

[Lee]

If you go to the source it looks like the story is a little different. Honda’s president made a speech in which he alluded to a new hybrid, there are just 2 small paragraphs that relate:

http://corporate.honda.com/press/articl ... 6051735893

First off he dose not say it is a Fit, but this is a reasonable assumption as they need to start with a cheaper car than the Civic.

As to the base price, the Fit starts at ~$14k although you would be hard pressed to find one at that price right now due to the high demand. Honda’s president says that the cost will be less than the HCH, so unless he already knows the HCH is going up in price it should be in the order of say $16k to $20k

Also if the Fit is the base vehicle it will be difficult to match the highway mileage of the Insight, the Fit is shaped like a box and no amount of styling is going to reduce the wind drag. However it might be possible to improve the city mileage. Or they will make it a really mild hybrid to keep the cost down and the Insight community will boo and hiss. However they are targeting 200k units annually world wide, that is pretty impressive considering the Insight is not likely to top 1k this year in the US. For reference, the Prius has sold 500k since its introduction in ’97.

Finally, the article says that it will be a ’09 model vehicle, don’t expect to see it till ’08.

 

[Fred]

... the Fit is shaped like a box and no amount of styling is going to reduce the wind drag.

Parked right besidde a new one of those at the Honda dealer in Wilkes-Barre PA the other month when I went in to price the cost of a purchase and installation of a block heater for the "Silver Bullet."

That "... box ..." only gets something like 33 or 34 MPG. As for me, ten or twenty years ago I might have been somewhat impressed - but not now.

Fred

 

[minako]

The most impressive thing about the Fit is the interior flexibility. If it can be the base for a new hybrid... it would be even more desirable than it already is. And we all know that the darn thing is sold out practically everywhere... no matter what trim level or color. :!:

 

[ElectricTroy]

Honda Fit Hybrid that might be coming out next year (key word = "might") at a base price of $11,800.

If you want a cheap, but still fuel-efficient car, I think Toyota Yaris is the way to go. The price is only $13(?),000 and it gets 40 mpg.