I have the opportunity to purchase a used Honda Insight. Here's the important information:
2001 Red Honda Insight
28,089 miles
Purchased in June 2001 in Las Vegas for personal use
Sold at auction in Las Vegas in Sept 2003; was described as "former fleet vehicle"
No maintenance records available
Has sat on dealer lot since October 2003
No noticeable wear, no obvious signs of accident (mis-aligned doorframes, etc.)
Drives very well, auto-stop works great in 40+ degree temps as far as I can tell
Considerable butt-wear and wear on floor mats inside
No CD, just tape
5-speed
Lifetime MPG reading shows 48.7... I guess test drivers don't know how to drive it, and didn't drive it long
On my test drive on the highway, I was pulling 54 pretty consistently within sixteen miles (yeah, I drove it a long time for a test drive, wanted to see if i was really all that -- and I think it is. Amazingly powerful for a 3-banger, particularly compared to a Geo Metro).
Engine idles very quietly, smooth ride, tight handling, but tires definitely underinflated. I'm not sure if they are underinflated because the dealership is completely uneducated about the car they have on their hands, or if they are underinflated to reduce noise.
$11,999 (not including taxes, tags, title, freight, etc.)
I inspected the car, sighted down the sides, hood, and rear to ensure it had never been in an accident. It has a few small chips symptomatic of a vehicle driven bra-less in the desert. Passenger rear wheel cover is also slightly out of alignment with the side panel. It looks really, really good. I mean, like brand-new good on the outside
NADA shows the list price about a thousand dollars higher. Kelly Blue Book lists retail as much higher (over $13K), with person-to-person sale at $11,500. However, in "feeling me out", trying to convince me to purchase the vehicle the day I test drove it, the sales manager wrote down "$7,999" and asked me if I'd drive it away that day for that price. I said "no" because I'm in a job transition right now and we never make big purchasing decisions while I'm unemployed However, if one of these interviews pans out, I'll have a new job starting soon now...
I guess what I'm wondering is, is $12K a good deal for the vehicle in "good" condition? Given the scratches, large smudge on the front bumper, and wear in the cockpit, I don't think it's "excellent". But I really, really want a Honda Insight. I've wanted one for four years.
Also, the insurance company quoted me $840 a year for insurance on the thing (gack, cough, sputter... compare this vs. around $500-600 a year for similar year & mileage subcompacts). And there don't seem to be any Honda dealers in the area that are competent working on Insights... heck, only one even carries them in stock, and they admit they know little about them (tiny, tiny dealership). Is an Insight going to be a royal pain in the neck to keep maintained and in good shape here in rural Utah by a computer geek like me?
I'm no mechanic, but I plan on taking extremely good care of my Insight, and forums/sites like this one have really, really helped me understand what I'm getting into if I get one. I find myself really wondering if the joy of driving such an efficient, fun, sporty, unique vehicle is worth the hassle of repairs for a rare vehicle, massive expense of insurance, and a commuter car that simply can't carry a substantial portion of my family of six around in an emergency.
I did the math, and for every 10 mpg difference in vehicles, for the amount I'm driving, I'll save about $250 a year in gas. Subtract about $200 of the total in additional full-coverage insurance cost vs, for instance, a Civic HX (much lower insurance cost for me). It's kind of a wash, really, as to which is cheaper to run long-term, with points going to the Civic because it's cheaper to fix.
I guess what I really want is excellent gas mileage, a car that doesn't require a lot of maintenance, a little power to get out of tight spots, to help improve air quality in smoggy Salt Lake City, and to score a few geek points with a little "ooh" and "aah"-factor rather than "huh, another Focus/Echo/Civic". What are your thoughts on the risk & expense of an Insight? Is it worth it to you, now that you've owned yours a while?
Pardon my constipated musings. Maybe in a few days I'll be in the happy, but small, throng of Insight owners, or maybe another geek in town is going to pick this one up before I land that job...
--
Matthew
2001 Red Honda Insight
28,089 miles
Purchased in June 2001 in Las Vegas for personal use
Sold at auction in Las Vegas in Sept 2003; was described as "former fleet vehicle"
No maintenance records available
Has sat on dealer lot since October 2003
No noticeable wear, no obvious signs of accident (mis-aligned doorframes, etc.)
Drives very well, auto-stop works great in 40+ degree temps as far as I can tell
Considerable butt-wear and wear on floor mats inside
No CD, just tape
5-speed
Lifetime MPG reading shows 48.7... I guess test drivers don't know how to drive it, and didn't drive it long
On my test drive on the highway, I was pulling 54 pretty consistently within sixteen miles (yeah, I drove it a long time for a test drive, wanted to see if i was really all that -- and I think it is. Amazingly powerful for a 3-banger, particularly compared to a Geo Metro).Engine idles very quietly, smooth ride, tight handling, but tires definitely underinflated. I'm not sure if they are underinflated because the dealership is completely uneducated about the car they have on their hands, or if they are underinflated to reduce noise.
$11,999 (not including taxes, tags, title, freight, etc.)
I inspected the car, sighted down the sides, hood, and rear to ensure it had never been in an accident. It has a few small chips symptomatic of a vehicle driven bra-less in the desert. Passenger rear wheel cover is also slightly out of alignment with the side panel. It looks really, really good. I mean, like brand-new good on the outside
NADA shows the list price about a thousand dollars higher. Kelly Blue Book lists retail as much higher (over $13K), with person-to-person sale at $11,500. However, in "feeling me out", trying to convince me to purchase the vehicle the day I test drove it, the sales manager wrote down "$7,999" and asked me if I'd drive it away that day for that price. I said "no" because I'm in a job transition right now and we never make big purchasing decisions while I'm unemployed
However, if one of these interviews pans out, I'll have a new job starting soon now...I guess what I'm wondering is, is $12K a good deal for the vehicle in "good" condition? Given the scratches, large smudge on the front bumper, and wear in the cockpit, I don't think it's "excellent". But I really, really want a Honda Insight. I've wanted one for four years.
Also, the insurance company quoted me $840 a year for insurance on the thing (gack, cough, sputter... compare this vs. around $500-600 a year for similar year & mileage subcompacts). And there don't seem to be any Honda dealers in the area that are competent working on Insights... heck, only one even carries them in stock, and they admit they know little about them (tiny, tiny dealership). Is an Insight going to be a royal pain in the neck to keep maintained and in good shape here in rural Utah by a computer geek like me?
I'm no mechanic, but I plan on taking extremely good care of my Insight, and forums/sites like this one have really, really helped me understand what I'm getting into if I get one. I find myself really wondering if the joy of driving such an efficient, fun, sporty, unique vehicle is worth the hassle of repairs for a rare vehicle, massive expense of insurance, and a commuter car that simply can't carry a substantial portion of my family of six around in an emergency.
I did the math, and for every 10 mpg difference in vehicles, for the amount I'm driving, I'll save about $250 a year in gas. Subtract about $200 of the total in additional full-coverage insurance cost vs, for instance, a Civic HX (much lower insurance cost for me). It's kind of a wash, really, as to which is cheaper to run long-term, with points going to the Civic because it's cheaper to fix.
I guess what I really want is excellent gas mileage, a car that doesn't require a lot of maintenance, a little power to get out of tight spots, to help improve air quality in smoggy Salt Lake City, and to score a few geek points with a little "ooh" and "aah"-factor rather than "huh, another Focus/Echo/Civic". What are your thoughts on the risk & expense of an Insight? Is it worth it to you, now that you've owned yours a while?
Pardon my constipated musings. Maybe in a few days I'll be in the happy, but small, throng of Insight owners, or maybe another geek in town is going to pick this one up before I land that job...
--
Matthew
