Thank you very much for that in-depth help I appreciate it, sounds like a great car are you enjoying it many of the downsides your telling me I can kind of guess I wouldn't mind getting some reverse sensors for it if not fitted.Hi James, welcome to the froum
Pre-facelift designations are SE, ES and EX, with a '-T' denoting Sat nav on the lower two trim levels (EX has nav standard).
I personally wouldnt go for a SE, as they have low spec (no cruise control especially). Thus a good ES from 2010 on would be a good choice.
Factory nav is average at best - depends if you really want it in the dash. Cheaper to buy a facory nav car than fit it later, but using a Tomtom or similar is likely more effective. The nav does not have reversing camera like the Prius, so also a consideration - and I believe the factory nav unit (made by Clarion) has poor FM reception.
No electric only, as IMA doesnt work like HSD. The car is lighter and slightly more traditional car-like than a Prius, with typical Honda handling (a good thing). Compared to the Prius 3, you could expect about 4mpg equivalent less on average. Urban 40 or so, motorway 55-68 or so. Road tax £10. It has an Eco mode button, which I find produces a jerky ride in town, thus I only use it on the motorway, and I take the 4-5mpg loss. Seat heaters on ES and EX result in a loss of 2-3 MPG per seat while on.
Things to watch out for: regular servicing by dealer almost a must, as the IMA system is warranted for 8 years with service history. The car needs CVT oil replaced every 2 years (a must). The car has 2 spark plugs per cylinder (8 total), and these are expensive and tricky to fit the rear bank I believe - they need changing at 100K or so I believe.
No other problems reported really, batteries, gearbox are all trouble free.
Get an ES without Nav with less than 60K, and you'll have a good car. Watch out for accident damage, as they are light and damage easily.
They are temperamental to a failing 12v lead acid battery, so note that too - that's a simple replacement at 5 years or so.
Crap in ice and snow on stock tyres.
The arm rest between the front seats is too low, and doesnt provide an elbow rest, and the cup holders are scarce and awkwardly placed. Rear vis can be poor at night, as the bar that splits the two rear winscreens can obscure the headlights of drivers behind.
thank you great tips will keep this in mind when looking and buying allways good to have a bit of ammo/research before you buy. So you would recommend getting the es then adding whatever i wanted to it aftermarket.No problem.
I have an ES-T with optional leather (I bought it used). So that's also got the mediocre sat nav.
The EX added leather as standard (got that anyway), HID headlights and the mandatory headlight washers for them (pointless IMO, the normal headlights are good), and reverse parking sensors.
So i'm pretty near top spec - the only thing I would want is reverse sensors, but they dont prevent other people reversing in to you sadly.
You could add sensors, yes. Reversing camera would be good, but the number plate is on the tailgate, so wiring is a bit more painful.
There is now a reverse parking aid that sticks to the inside of the rear bumper, so no need for drilling anymore, or you could use the number plate mounted ones.
Not aware of a FB page in the UK, no, though not checked.
Also, there are 3 software updates available, you would want to ensure all these are done, as they improve IMA battery management - these are done as part of any dealer service.
Oh, and make sure you get the radio/ sat nav code when you get the car - otherwise that could be an awful pain.
thank you will give it a try and joinIIRR there is a facebook page for the G2 Insighters in the UK.
"search" is the best solution.
Use the "google" search and it will take you right to it.
Willie
Thank you very much its always worth a try I do have a car at the moment but would probably sell that private then buy again think the white one is for me love it in whiteIf you are buying a car without trading in another vehicle, then just search the Honda Dealership stocklists , pick the used car you like and make an offer far below the price on the windscreen.
It is a buyers market for a used Insight, you will easily find a good car with a Honda Warranty for a knock-down price.
Insight cars were hard work to sell, and the sales teams did not like to have them as their company cars.
This is what you can expect
Vehicle View - Honda Insight 1.3 IMA EX 5-Door - Lincoln
can't seem to find it do you have a link pleaseIIRR there is a facebook page for the G2 Insighters in the UK.
"search" is the best solution.
Use the "google" search and it will take you right to it.
Willie
thank you managed to find it however its only for the generation 1 model not the gen 2Can't post the link. Use the SEARCH function at the top of this page.
Scroll down to the google search and type in "UK FACEBOOK".
Open the one that has a ""Thumbs up" picture.
See if that helps.
Just checked that is the wrong one.
A UK member posted here on ICN about the Facebook for UK. Is he hiding somewhere?
Willie
Thank you so this would save me quite a bit then especially with the start stop is this mpg around the same as the Prius also can I ask why you guys choose the insight over the PriusI'm in the UK and that was imperial gallons. 35-45 imperial MPG depending on economic mode status urban. 55 to 70 imperial MPG on the motorway at sensible pace and seed yes.
its an automaticI have a gen. 1 Insight.
I have thought about the Prius 1.
Cons:
- back seats. I do not need them.
- the Prius is a gas guzzler compared to the Insight.
Pros:
- no trouble with the battery.
About Prius 2 vs. Insight 2: I assume that they do not differ much, but in fact I do not know.
If I had to choose, I would simply do a test drive with both of them and see which one is more comfy. Does the Insight 2 have a manual gearbox? Where I drive a manual gearbox is a plus although I love CVT automatic transmissions.
Thank you great tips what extras do you get on the es that you dont get on the seI live in Sheffield and have a 2010 ES with about 61,000 miles on it. I do about 9-11 thousand miles each year. Lowest tank was 39 MPG (pootling around Sheffield and Chesterfield in winter). Highest was 62 (daily return trips to Castleford ).
I went for an Insight because I enjoyed driving it and I didn't in the Prius. And I could get a similarly equipped, similar mileage car at 2 years younger for the same money.
Definitely look for an ES over an SE. And get some snow socks or all season/winter tyres. The car was awful in snow on the stock Dunlop SP2030s and superb with Continental WinterContact TS850s. I now use Toyo Proxes CF2 as a summer tyre
Welcome to the forum mate that sounds like the one I want I think I would prefer the one with leather seats which model is that, think all them little extras make a lot of difference to be honest and like you say it's cheap. What made you buy the car ?Hi all just thought I'd say hello, I'm from co.durham - I've just bought a white insight Es on a 59 plate with leather seats and 38000 on the clock, it's lovely to drive very impressed, can't seem to average more than 50mpg at the mo' but more than happy overall - I never looked for white always fancied the mid coloured blue one, but jumped at the leather seats on this one - got to say the whites really grown on me. First thing I've done is swapped out the dim yellow interior lights for some bright white led's - really lifts the car now and didn't cost much, less than a tenner from eBay. Hope you find a nice white one.
Ahh that explains why after several months looking at what was for sale the one I bought was the first I'd seen with leather seats - I couldn't find anything 2009/2010 that give a leather option (like an older options list etc) I'd love to know what it cost when it was new - they are very nice seats and the leather is solid rather than the tiny holes or pattern that the Ex has - and yes leather steering wheel and gear knob too.
Aww bless thank you for that you didnt need to but i appreciate it, looks nice does that I do love the leather in yours. seems a bit on the pricy side for what i have been seeing but yes I know what you mean to look where others dont think. Looking at next year as i dont have the funds yet unfortunately. Thank you very much keep me updated on your car and how you are liking it.I had a good trawl through all the sales for a white one last night just to see if there were any I could point you too, couldn't find any Es or Es-t with leather but there were a few Ex with a black leather and rich black interior but then the price was starting 8k and higher, mind you there's the sat-nav installed and they're a younger car - I tried searching the bigger company's like Evans Hawlshaw and some of the supermarket type ones too sometimes they have a few hiding in their stock list - there's this one in blue so probably no good to you but just to show how some for sale tend to be hidden from a general search till you try specific searches (not sure if the link will work and no pics on the ad)
Vehicle View - Honda Insight 1.3 IMA ES-T 5-Door - Thames Ditton
I'll drop a post if any thing pops up in white that's high spec
Hi guys went to see my first honda insight and it was literally 5 mins away from me it was the top model one the ex with satnav and also leather seats only downside is wasn't white, it had only 7,000 miles but i believe was way over priced they wanted like £11,300 for it on a 11 plate. From this I then went to another dealer to see another one which was the se model. I have definatley come up with the idea of wanting the top of the range one looks so much better inside and a quality feel.I had a good trawl through all the sales for a white one last night just to see if there were any I could point you too, couldn't find any Es or Es-t with leather but there were a few Ex with a black leather and rich black interior but then the price was starting 8k and higher, mind you there's the sat-nav installed and they're a younger car - I tried searching the bigger company's like Evans Hawlshaw and some of the supermarket type ones too sometimes they have a few hiding in their stock list - there's this one in blue so probably no good to you but just to show how some for sale tend to be hidden from a general search till you try specific searches (not sure if the link will work and no pics on the ad)
Vehicle View - Honda Insight 1.3 IMA ES-T 5-Door - Thames Ditton
I'll drop a post if any thing pops up in white that's high spec
Pleased you like them in the flesh, I'm sure with a bit of time on your side you'll find the perfect spec white one. I'm getting more attached to ours, really pleased with it - I keep finding little things like the rear view mirror on the windscreen always seemed to low and in the way, then tonight I realised it kinda double pivots so I've managed to adjust it higher up to the headliner now gives a much better view front screen and maybes my imagination but also out the rear.
Are insights on stock tyres really that bad on snow/ice?Hi James, welcome to the froum
Pre-facelift designations are SE, ES and EX, with a '-T' denoting Sat nav on the lower two trim levels (EX has nav standard).
I personally wouldnt go for a SE, as they have low spec (no cruise control especially). Thus a good ES from 2010 on would be a good choice.
Factory nav is average at best - depends if you really want it in the dash. Cheaper to buy a facory nav car than fit it later, but using a Tomtom or similar is likely more effective. The nav does not have reversing camera like the Prius, so also a consideration - and I believe the factory nav unit (made by Clarion) has poor FM reception.
No electric only, as IMA doesnt work like HSD. The car is lighter and slightly more traditional car-like than a Prius, with typical Honda handling (a good thing). Compared to the Prius 3, you could expect about 4mpg equivalent less on average. Urban 40 or so, motorway 55-68 or so. Road tax £10. It has an Eco mode button, which I find produces a jerky ride in town, thus I only use it on the motorway, and I take the 4-5mpg loss. Seat heaters on ES and EX result in a loss of 2-3 MPG per seat while on.
Things to watch out for: regular servicing by dealer almost a must, as the IMA system is warranted for 8 years with service history. The car needs CVT oil replaced every 2 years (a must). The car has 2 spark plugs per cylinder (8 total), and these are expensive and tricky to fit the rear bank I believe - they need changing at 100K or so I believe.
No other problems reported really, batteries, gearbox are all trouble free.
Get an ES without Nav with less than 60K, and you'll have a good car. Watch out for accident damage, as they are light and damage easily.
They are temperamental to a failing 12v lead acid battery, so note that too - that's a simple replacement at 5 years or so.
Crap in ice and snow on stock tyres.
The arm rest between the front seats is too low, and doesnt provide an elbow rest, and the cup holders are scarce and awkwardly placed. Rear vis can be poor at night, as the bar that splits the two rear winscreens can obscure the headlights of drivers behind.
