As I do battle with American Honda Motors on whether my 2004 Insight gets to stay in Canada, I have started looking at other options. Over the last 2 days I have actually had a chance to drive two different Toyota Prius cars, both with less than knowlegdeable sales people. (day 1 the lady did not know how to turn on the Multi Function Display to show what was going on.) Instead the only instrumentation visible was the eyebrow stuff. After two test drives I can see the plus of low speed electric operation in the prius. I missed the auto stop of the Insight. However I understand the auto stop function disappears at 41 F. In Canada we have lots of less than 41F days. Is this an item that can be reprogrammed on the insight to accept lower temperatures before shutting off the feature?
I like the ability of the two displays on the Insight to flip flop between US units and metric, e.g. I find the L/100 km unsensitive to subtle changes in my driving style, I can see changes more quickly on the mpg scale, however I understand from the hypermileage guys they love the 0 L/100 km indicator.
With the Prius the sales guy yesterday thought it was permanently programmed for a metric indicatiion and did not know how to flip /flop the readings back and forth, however I was able to flip/flop odometer and speedo readings..
Last night I attended a "new owners" session at the Toyota dealer where I took the test drive. It was interesting to hear what the Prius & Hybrid Highlander owners had to say. More complaints about garage door opener programming than how to get the maximum performance from their vehicles. As an Insight owner it was interesting to hear the Toyota guys slam the Insight.... you would have sworn you were talking to a salesman in a Canadian Honda dealer. Yet most of their information seemed to be incorrect. They thought my mileage wasn't too impressive until I explained the 55.6 mpg was in US galllons and it had continued to improve and when they found out that average was over 1000 miles they were floored. One woman told her husband he needed to learn how to drive since he was getting about 20 25 mpg in his prius.... (10 L/100 km)
When we started 2 years ago to look for a hybrid we were going to get a Hybrid Saturn Vue, but the car was never introduced. We have been driving a pair of 2000 Chev Metros in the meantime, along with a VW Eurovan Camper and VW Eurovan Rialta Motorhome. We bought a 2005 SMART which is up for sale. SMART Seats are way too uncomfortable. It was to be replaced by the Insight but we haven't been able to finish the importation and everyone is running out of patience.
So if the Insight goes back what is to replace it? There are 4 in the family, most trips involve 1 or 2. There are 4 drivers. Unless Honda lets us keep the Insight and honors its warranties in Canada, there is no way we will be getting another Honda. We have no need of towing power, 4WD, or a massive SUV, but we do live in climate where it is cold 8 months of the year. Most of our driving is in an urban environment at speeds of less than 45 mph rather than long commutes at 60 mph or greater..
Looking for good observations and helpful hints rather than a food fight please. I am sure the moderator would approve of the last sentence.
I have talked to a number of Canadian Honda dealers and there are no 2005 or 2006 Insights available in Canada. I bought mine for a daily driver. If this vehicle has to go back to the USA soon, what are the viable options if I don't want to wait 6 months for a Canadian Insight (and we actually love the CVT) .
Rocky in Edmonton
I like the ability of the two displays on the Insight to flip flop between US units and metric, e.g. I find the L/100 km unsensitive to subtle changes in my driving style, I can see changes more quickly on the mpg scale, however I understand from the hypermileage guys they love the 0 L/100 km indicator.
With the Prius the sales guy yesterday thought it was permanently programmed for a metric indicatiion and did not know how to flip /flop the readings back and forth, however I was able to flip/flop odometer and speedo readings..
Last night I attended a "new owners" session at the Toyota dealer where I took the test drive. It was interesting to hear what the Prius & Hybrid Highlander owners had to say. More complaints about garage door opener programming than how to get the maximum performance from their vehicles. As an Insight owner it was interesting to hear the Toyota guys slam the Insight.... you would have sworn you were talking to a salesman in a Canadian Honda dealer. Yet most of their information seemed to be incorrect. They thought my mileage wasn't too impressive until I explained the 55.6 mpg was in US galllons and it had continued to improve and when they found out that average was over 1000 miles they were floored. One woman told her husband he needed to learn how to drive since he was getting about 20 25 mpg in his prius.... (10 L/100 km)
When we started 2 years ago to look for a hybrid we were going to get a Hybrid Saturn Vue, but the car was never introduced. We have been driving a pair of 2000 Chev Metros in the meantime, along with a VW Eurovan Camper and VW Eurovan Rialta Motorhome. We bought a 2005 SMART which is up for sale. SMART Seats are way too uncomfortable. It was to be replaced by the Insight but we haven't been able to finish the importation and everyone is running out of patience.
So if the Insight goes back what is to replace it? There are 4 in the family, most trips involve 1 or 2. There are 4 drivers. Unless Honda lets us keep the Insight and honors its warranties in Canada, there is no way we will be getting another Honda. We have no need of towing power, 4WD, or a massive SUV, but we do live in climate where it is cold 8 months of the year. Most of our driving is in an urban environment at speeds of less than 45 mph rather than long commutes at 60 mph or greater..
Looking for good observations and helpful hints rather than a food fight please. I am sure the moderator would approve of the last sentence.
I have talked to a number of Canadian Honda dealers and there are no 2005 or 2006 Insights available in Canada. I bought mine for a daily driver. If this vehicle has to go back to the USA soon, what are the viable options if I don't want to wait 6 months for a Canadian Insight (and we actually love the CVT) .
Rocky in Edmonton