[stoner]

What's the current thinking on Insight ownership in the UK now that it has been discontinued over here for a couple of years?

I opted for a diesel Civic almost two years ago but I still have a yerning to own one. I'm getting 70-80 mpg on my current daily commute with faultless reliability so I cannot grumble, but there's a nice example on Autotrader at the moment that has got me itching again.

Do dealerships still offer good support/prices on parts?
Has anyone looked into the price/availability of a replacement battery pack? That would be my biggest worry.

 

[retepsnikrep]

What's the current thinking on Insight ownership in the UK now that it has been discontinued over here for a couple of years?

I opted for a diesel Civic almost two years ago but I still have a yerning to own one. I'm getting 70-80 mpg on my current daily commute with faultless reliability so I cannot grumble, but there's a nice example on Autotrader at the moment that has got me itching again.

Do dealerships still offer good support/prices on parts?
Has anyone looked into the price/availability of a replacement battery pack? That would be my biggest worry.

Dealers can still supply parts ok, buy you do pay a premium, there are very few after market spares. I only trust them with the basic services. They don't see enough Insights to know what they are doing.

If you have the extended Hondacare dealer warranty then the IMA/Battery is covered up to 8years or 80,000 miles.

I replaced the battery in my Yellow Insight, it's a fairly easy job, battery cost £1000 from Honda after some teddy throwing by me.

EGR Valve often needs replacing and costs about £200 in UK.

I had to wait a month for a new windscreen to come from Japan when mine broke

However after all the above I have two UK Insights, and would not be parted from them, I highly recommend buying a UK one if you get the chance.

The one in Autotrader looks like a nice machine, and it's not that far from me. I paid £6200 for a 2002 UK Car about 9 months ago with 65,000 on the clock.

Peter
North Yorkshire

 

[jack9994]

Hi Stoner

Still got my Insight which I think you looked at early last year (being sold by a Vicar). Done 100k miles now and still under Honda warranty till Mar 07 (except IMA). Have it serviced at Holdcroft Honda in Stoke - pretty good however they always insist on setting tyres pressures at 30-32psi and not 35psi as it states on the door jamb. My mileage is around 70mpg (lmpg is 70) given my current driving style but can get 90mpg quite easily if I slow down.

The one on autotrader looks nice and didnt realise that they produced a black one (or whatever colour they call it). And the Orange seats look a bit yuk.

Cheers
John

 

[jack9994]

Peter

How much was your windscreen (genuine Honda?)? Also did you have problems getting it fitted

Cheers
John

 

[retepsnikrep]

UK Windscreen Replacement

Yes it came from Honda, but they didn't have one in UK I don't know how much it cost as it only cost me £60 insurance excess. Fitted by Autoglass, however I supervised the fitting, and good job I had the workshop manuals as well is all I can say. They came out three times in the end to sort it.

The windscreen replacement procedure is detailed in the manual, along with the various 20-30 washers and clips that need to be ordered at the same time to fit it correctly. Of course when they came to fit it they didn't have these extra clips and bits and had to go away again and order them from Honda (At this point I gave them a photocopy of the pages from the manual so they could order the right bits!), another weeks delay!! The plastic trim clips are one use only, and mostly all break when the side trims are removed (don't watch this part of the procedure if you have a weak heart!), these clips also have thin rubber washers and if you don't fit them, then water leaks into the roof and windscreen pillars. It is very easy to scrape the dash as well when they use the cutter on the windscreen seal to remove the old glass, watch that. The metal side clips can be re-used if bent carefully back into place.

Obviously they don't get to do very many, and you need to make sure they have all the bits before they start!! It's the various plastic clips and trim which cause the problems. I will supply a scan of the relevant manual pages to UK Insight Owners if and when the time comes for you!

Peter

 

[stoner]

Didn't have time to see the Quantum Grey car on AutoTrader over Christmas - it's been sold now. Never mind.

Do we know yet if the hybrid Jazz is to be released in the UK this year?

The VW Polo BlueMotion looks like it will be a good alternative to the Insight too 8)
http://www.whatcar.co.uk/news-article.aspx?NA=223572

 

[Guest]

Apparently the one on Autotrader sold at full asking price almost on day of advertisment.

Not bad for a 57,000 mile car when a few months ago people were struggling to get £5k for a similar car.

 

[retepsnikrep]

I'm not surprised it sold so fast.

Looked a nice car apart from orange seats

I know a few people now who are on the look out for a UK Insight.

 

[Dgate]

I missed seeing this car for sale, how much was being asked?

DGate

 

[Guest]

Asking price was £6995, he got £6995, full Honda history, no warranty, 57,000 miles.

Makes me happy I paid £8000 for mine with 10,000 miles back in 2002 with a 3 yr warranty.

 

[stoner]

That makes it sound quite expensive - still if that's the price someone is willing to pay...

It seemed to be a genuine car - I found the sale details from the auction the Trader bought it from. I wonder how much he paid for it :?:

The seats were a bit off-key (as the citrus yellow ones) - but I think you should be able to get them re-covered for a couple of hundred pounds.

 

[The Citrus Smoothie]

Although the black Insight wasn't entirely to my desired spec, I was considering putting in an offer of £6000 if the dealer had trouble selling it.

Good news for Insight owners that it sold so well, bad for me & Stoner...

By the way, the orange seats are the standard colour for black Insights. I have seen one in person and they are garish

 

[Guest]

The seats were a bit off-key (as the citrus yellow ones) - but I think you should be able to get them re-covered for a couple of hundred pounds.

Yes, they are not what you would call "early morning hangover seats"

 

[Dgate]

Actually I kinda like the orange and black combo,reminds me of a BMW R100RS motorcycle I had a few years ago that was all high gloss black with three wide graduated stripes or red/orange/yellow on the sides of the tank.
At least black and orange compliments each other not like the original Smart car interior mixing blue with orange,Yuk. Still come to think of it that was some of the old Gulf racing colours (colors to us yanks) so guess some like that combo as well.

DGate

 

[ghillie]

I have an Insight brochure for Australia which describes the interior of the black coloured car as "black/grey" (the same as the red and silver cars) which suggests (maybe) that the black/orange combination was not sold here.

But... I have never seen a black car (interior or exterior). Only 2 black cars were ever sold in Australia (according to Honda Australia)!!! ... Which should make them significantly collectible, but I've no idea where they are and who owns them.

 

[The Citrus Smoothie]

Under this topic of 'UK Ownership' I would be grateful if a UK owner could confirm what model the original Bridgestone tyres are. I suspect it is the Bridgestone B391 but I would be grateful for advice from someone absolutely certain. Thanks!

 

[Guest]

If I remember correctly it was the B391, I dumped mine @ 45'000 miles for some 185/60/14 Dunlop SP2000's.

A total revalation in driving now.

 

[retepsnikrep]

Correct it was the B391

Correct it was the B391 165/65R14

I am certain about this, I also enquired with Bridgestone some time ago and they confirmed they were the UK equivalent of the RE92.

Other tyres may be quieter or handle better, but the best for MPG are the B391's especially if inflated to 45psi minimum, I would not run with anything else, being obsessed with mpg.

The B391 was the OEM tyre for UK insights.

Peter

 

[The Citrus Smoothie]

Thanks guys

 

[Ed]

Mark - what kind of mpg hit did you have when you switched over your tyres? And how do you find the SP2000s, are they any quieter, better handling, etc.

My fronts are on the way out and I'm thinking of going down the 185 route for those and the indestructible B391s on the rear if the mpg hit isn't too bad.

Thanks, Ed