[foxfire235]

Hi All,

I'm new to the forum, so go easy on me... :wink:

I'm considering dumping my 2001 SUV for a new 2005 insight. I can't afford the gas any more, and I just don't need that much car. The insight seems really nice, and from what I've been reading you all seem really happy with your cars.

My concern is that I'm going to miss some of the features of my SUV - the ability to carry bikes/skis/etc., using 4 wheel drive, and towing. My question is: Have any of you "converted" from an SUV? If so, how do you feel about the change?

Also... For those of you that purchased your Insight new, how did you find one? Did you call around? Did you order it? The only dealer here in Reno doesn't have any, and told me that the insight "has no room", and "you really should look at the civic Hybrid". Nice guys eh???

Anyway... Any help will be appreciated!

thanks!

 

[Bjaardker]

Every dealer I went to tried to force me into a Civic Hybrid too.

You just need to keep looking for that Insight. It took me over 2 years to find the deal I was looking for.

 

[sputnik]

There are many Insight owners with more knowlege about your questions than myself, including various modifications for hauling bikes and other equipment. If you go to the forum Search there is a realm of useful Insight-oriented info. Here is one example of a thread about installing a bike rack:
http://www.insightcentral.net/forum/vie ... ht=bicycle

I've had my Insight four months and I think it's a great car. I transport people, a dog, groceries and building/garden supplies. It goes fast if I need to. It climbs hills. It has incredible gas milage, even for those of us still learning the nuances. And it is beautiful to see.

For really oversize or heavy loads, I sometimes drive our Focus wagon. Frankly, the wagon sits most of the time. This is because the situations where the wagon can do what the Insight cannot are pretty rare. The Owner's Manual does say that the Insight is not designed to tow a trailer.

If you are able to find an Insight and even test drive one, that might really help you to determine if it is what you want.
If you've caught Insight fever, you may search for months, even years, but you'll probably get your car!

 

[b1shmu63]

On the rare occason that I actually need a large car I have been able to borrow one, but I really hate driving a large vehicle. I didn't always feel that way. My first car was a 400 cubic inch 70's Ford LTD. That gas hog got about 8 miles to the gallon on a good day!

If prperly cared for the aluminum body of the Insight could last virtually forever, and the mileage is so addictive you will get spoiled for other vehicles. There, consider youself warned.

Finding a 2005 may be difficult as only a few were made. Good hunting.

Yes the dealer tried to convince me to buy something else. There are several reasons why they do this, but lets be charitable and say that they want to make sure you are really serious and informed.

If you are looking for really good mileage go with the 5 speed. There is not that big a difference between the CVT and the Prius or the Civic hybrid. The 2006 Civic hybrid is going to be sportier and improved when compared to the existing Civic so you might consider waiting for that too.

Try to find someone locally that has an Insight so you can find out if it really is your type of car. Personally I liked it better when I finally got to see one up close. I think it was the aluminum extrusions in the engine bay that did it for me. :wink: You have no idea how much I hate rust!

 

[Big D Insightman]

"Foxfire" the way I solved our "problem" is that I just kept my 1990 Chevy Astro van that I used to move us to Texas with for a third vehicle (my wife drives an Echo). This way I can have my cake and eat it too. Whatever won't fit in it will fit on the roof rack.

 

[highwater]

Foxfire-I also had in mind a new 05 when I ran upon the 01 that I will pick up in the morning. My insight-anxiety was will I be able to fit 6'2" into one of these little beauties. I just wanted to sit in one before I said yes. From reading the forums here at Central I pretty well knew the possiblity of finding one on the lot at a dealer was slim to none, then subtract from that equation that I live in MapDot Oklahoma, and I was mentally prepared to order one from a dealer and believe the forums I had read that said no problem with leg and head room. About a month ago I called a big dealer in OKCity to inquire about a new insight. The first salesperson I spoke with had absolutly no knowledge of what I was talking about. I explained to this person that Honda had a vehicle which held the EPA #1 spot for mpg, that it had been out since around 00, etc......this person bowed out saying they would have to put someone else one the line. Salesperson #2 said they knew what I was talking about, and there was one on order that was already sold. If I would leave my number, they would be happy to let me sit in it when it came in but no test drive since it was sold. I asked about ordering, and was told 500 down and 90 days for delivery. At that time he said there WAS one on a dealer lot deep in the heart of Texas. (CVT and I wanted 5spd). They also tried the Civic sale but said would get whatever I wanted. There is a Honda dealer in a nearby town so I thought if I'm getting a new one closer is better for service and warranty so I stopped by. The salesperson at this place knew what I was asking for and gave the same $500/90day story. Also got the same take a strong look at the Civic salespitch, but would get me whatever......I asked if there were any insights around, and yes they had sold ONE a few years back. He said the owners still brought it in for scheduled maint and it was probably about due. I gave my number and asked him to give it to them with a request to sit in it. Once again I take possesion of it (the 01) from the previous owners in the morning. As it turns out the owners had ordered a CivicHybrid for comfort/room reasons.

Sounds like you will get the Civic salespitch wherever you go, but don't give up in your quest for the Insight.(and you stand a good chance of knowing more about it than the dealer).

I will not give up my current vehicle, an F150, will need it to haul drywall, etc. from the homecenters, and mountain bikes to the trails when the buds and I go riding. Paid for, high mileage, cared for, not worth much to anyone else.

Sorry if I carried on a bit.......

 

[figgy]

You will be a lot happier in the zippy, nimble, fun crazy mpg Insight than your old car.

I had known Insights existed for quite a while before I actually got to see one and drive one, that made all the difference. In case you think it doesn't have cargo room, doesn't have good room for the driver and passenger, doesn't perform well, won't be fun, then go drive a 5 speed and you will find that all of your worries vanish immediately.

Of course it is nice to drive 800 plus miles, then stop at the gas station and top her off for less than 20 bucks.

 

[james]

"The only dealer here in Reno doesn't have any, and told me that the insight "has no room","

Hey, they're getting better! When I went in there (the Honda dealer on Kietzke, right? Not in Carson.) a couple of years ago, the sales people didn't even know what an insight WAS.

I'm in Switzerland for the next 3 months, or I'd offer a test ride. However, I put my 210 cm cross-country skiis in mine, and head up the Mt. Rose highway most weekends. It won't handle snow deeper than the underside too well - it's not a snowplow but otherwise does as well as any 2WD vehicle. With chains, I've driven over Mt. Rose in major storms.

I can get my mountain bike in the hatch if I pop the wheels off and wiggle it a little. Otherwise adding a rack is doable (see threads here). On performance, in summer I frequently go up US 50 to the lake with me (200+ lbs) and 100+ dog in the hatchback, and keep up with the traffic just fine. (Though it will take a bit of practice - trick is to do most of it in 3rd, with RPMs high enough that assist doesn't kick in.) And at lights I'm generally well down the road before the SUV next to me starts rolling

 

[foxfire235]

Thanks!

Hey Thanks A bunch to all of you. You've made my decision a little easier... I really find it comforting that others have had the same types of anxiety before buying the insight.

I found a dealer in the area that has a CVT on the lot, and I'm going to test drive it this weekend. I still want a 5 speed, so we'll see what happens.

James - you were right about the Kitzkie dealer... what a dissapointment! You don't happen to have an office in/near Fleischmann Ag at UNR do you?

Hopefully, I will be joining you all in the near future!!!

Cheers.

 

[figgy]

I first test drove a CVT, and I liked the car in every way except for it being an automatic which meant that I didn't like it on account of that single reason.

Then I found a used 5 speed, test drove it, and drove home in it. That is Edwin!

If you are a 5 speed kind of person, you will love the 5 speed and likely not like the CVT - so make sure you try to 5 speed in the flesh.

You will want to make sure you at least drive the CVT in the so-called 's' mode for more sporty feel (still nothing like 5 speed). You also wont' get as good mpg CVT, so bear that in mind when you check out the cruising mpg and such.

 

[james]

"You don't happen to have an office in/near Fleischmann Ag at UNR do you?"

Nope, but close. I work out of a lab in the ARF (what used to be the Bureau of Mines building), but don't get to park close except on weekends. I have seen another silver one going in & out of there occasionally. And there's a red one I see around the Judicial College now & then.

Mine's the silver one with (currently) the plastic moulding missing from the back end. (Got rear-ended :-() You might see it around, since my neighbor has promised to drive it every couple of weeks, to keep batteries up and so on.

 

[bug_girl]

well, I've solved the problem by acquiring a boyfriend with a station wagon
However, you might consider a "beater" old pickup for hauling things.

Other than a couple of days with >6 inch snowfall, i haven't had a problem with needing 4 wheel drive. Actually, all the cars I see on the side of the road or wiped out in winter are SUV's.

 

[james]

Yeah, I did that for a while, though actually the Toyota pickup pre-dated the Insight by several years. But it turned out that except for a few weeks of firewood cutting in the fall, I was driving it maybe twice a year. Solved the problem by selling it cheap to the same neighbor (replacing his over-sized Ford). He burns about half as much gas as before, and I get to borrow it when I need to haul something. Win-win.