[Tim Maddux]

I change at 3750mi which corresponds to the "severe" schedule shown here:
http://www.insightcentral.net/KB/faq-maint.html

I was getting free oil changes on the intervals that were not the multiples-of-7500 mile changes (3750, 11250, 18750...) from my dealer. I'm coming up on another such odd-interval change and just went through a long icy dusty winter so I'll change again at 3750 even though it won't be free anymore.

 

[Tim Maddux]

Will we as Insight driver's _ever_ save the gasoline energy equivalent of the cost of the aluminum used in our Insight?

I'm not sure I understand the question... you're asking something about energy consumption versus the price of aluminum? From a consumer standpoint, it'd be wiser to compare money saved by burning less gas to extra cost of the car. I did that when buying my Insight compared to a feature-comparable Civic, and assuming gas prices around $2/gal over the life of the car I came out several thousand dollars ahead in the end.

There is a "green book" out that rates cars based on estimates of the total amount of pollution they put out while being driven and while being made. They have ranked the Insight CVT #1 overall for 2003:

http://www.greenercars.org/12green.html