[Devin]

I commute from San Jose, CA to San Francisco, CA Monday thru Friday in my 1994 Toyo Tercel. The motor is not as strong as it was before and probably needs an over haul. I have been getting approx 20mpg on an 11 gallon fuel tank. Basically I fill the tank every two days during the work week.

I was considering buying a 2005 Honda Insight CVT with Cruise Control. I think the benefit will be less time and money spent at the pump. I usually leave around 4:30 and 5:00 am, when there isn't any traffic. And leave work at about 6:00 or 6:30pm.

So approx 475miles a week not including weekend activities. I don’t carry much but a laptop and razor scooter or my dog. I have always wanted one since the first came out back in 2000 when I wasn't commuting.

So what do you think? Is it worth it? I plan on commuting back and forth from SF to SJ for at least the next 4 -5 years.

 

[jbrasure]

The Insight is a great commuting car. I frequently drive from San Jose to S.F. in my CVT, and I get about 55 MPG. I can go 500 miles on 9 gallons of gas. Not bad.

 

[Scott]

I agree, you'll most likely average better than 50 MPG with a CVT, probably closer to 55 due to your warmer temps. Only 20 mpg with the Tercel??? Seems rather low......

 

[Sue in Seattle]

I have had my Insight CVT for about a month. I have been averaging 53-54 miles per gallon and it has been cold up here in NW Washington. I have filled the gas tank two times, averaging about $19.00 per fill up. I am hoping when the weather gets warmer my gas mileage will go up. I have not regretted my purchase. (I used to pay $50-70 a week to fill up my big SUV.) I don't think that the cruise control is a dealer option. Sounds like you travel alone most of the time and don't carry alot of cargo so the Insight would probably work well for you.

 

[Devin]

Excellent. I was able to find a NEW 2005 Honda Insight CVT in Red with 45miles on it in North Carolina. I was able to talk down the price to $19,200 but I think the tax+license+fees+shipping may push the price back up to MSRP $22080. So hopefully I can get the car before Christmas as a gift to myself.

 

[jimb517]

it will pay for itself quickly

I have a 2005 CVT Insight with 3500 miles on it now. I drive about 100 miles per day. I got the CA clean air stickers and am saving about $100 per month on tolls. I am seeing a real world average 60 MPG with careful, slow driving. Love taking all the car pool lanes free!


Old car 20 mpg $250/month gas + 100/month tolls = $350/month

Insight 60 mpg = $85/month gas

Savings = $265/month

DO YOUR OWN MATH.

Love the Insight, its fun, very special to own, and very comfortable to drive in either heavy traffic or wide open highways. Since I drive slow and patient, I'm a much safer driver and much less stressed by driving.

I love catching up and passing the jack rabbit drivers. They are waiting at the next light as I come gliding through. Priceless!

 

[Devin]

I was curios on the CVT what does the little D and S on the steering wheel mean/do?

 

[Dougie]

I'm curious about the CVT mileage numbers. Has the "go to all extremes" theory been tried with a CVT? 50 psi tires, take off the rear wiper, test during the middle of August, drive like your grandma, etc.?

Just wondering what the hypermileage figure would be in this case...

 

[Insightful Trekker]

Just wondering what the hypermileage figure would be in this case...

Searched the MPG section :?:

Here's one:

76.3 MPG on my 57.1 Miles Commute (Best ever)
http://www.insightcentral.net/forum/vie ... php?t=3826

HTH!

 

[jimb517]

D and S

D is regular Drive mode. S is like shifting to 2nd. Some call it Sport mode, the manual calls is "secondary mode". It allows a wider range of RPMs. I only use it coming down very steep mountain roads.

On my CVT I have my tires at 45 PSI, drive like a grandma, shift into neutral and coast down hills when appropriate (engine ON), use the "pulse and glide" technique sometimes. I don't usually draft. My record from my home to work is 68.5 mpg (34 miles). My record work to home is 58.7 mpg (uphill). I have gotten home to the beach (48 miles) at 74 mpg on a weekend (less traffic). I can avarage home-work-home round trip above 60 mpg.

 

[cainsight]

Hey Devin!

I thought I worked long hours! Make sure to get stickers for access to the carpool lane. I live in Milpitas and work in Burlingame. Being able to go in the carpool lane saves alot of time on 101. The best part now is that I leave a little later in the mornings and still arrive about the same time. I used to leave work around 7:30pm now I leave by 6:15 so I can use the carpool lane. Having more time at home is the best part of Insight ownership for me As far as mileage to expect since we have a very similar comute. I have a CVT and get on average 53 mpg. The best was 65 mpg. The worst 48 mpg. I was going about 90 the whole way when I got the 48mpg btw.

 

[sje333]

S provides engine braking on declines, but I've also used it to get up to highway speed faster. It hurts the MPG, but makes merging onto highways easier.

I had a 2003 CVT w/ AC for a while and loved it. It held its own on the road, and I consistently got 55 mpg.

Another factor in your purchase is the type of gasoline the car runs. In CA, you should only be able to get low-sulfur gasoline. If you buy a car in VA and drive it across the country, the catalytic converter will be damaged by the high-sulfur gasoline that you'll burn along the way. This will only be true until the rest of the USA is on low-sulfur gasoline (the phase-in is supposed to be completed in 2006 with some exceptions).