[merigayle]

My dealer must suck I am still waiting for a Blue 2006. I could have had a silver 2006 in Jan/Feb, but have a silver Civic and wanted higher visibility. I am told March/April.

Anyone? Anyone?

Edited to add: If anyone lives near SE PA and would offer a test drive of theirs, that would be the coolest thing on earth!

 

[SteveChicagoSC]

I'm waiting...

but was told mid to late Feb back in Nov 05.

 

[Richard]

My waiting is over !

I know the feeling!

I've been waiting for six months, with emails out to three different Honda Dealers . . .

Finally came up a winner! Norm Reeves Honda (Cerritos, CA) had three Insights delivered recently. I got the last of the three, a Red one (my 2nd choice; I didn't want Sil. ) , really wanted blue, but hey . . .

1. I've never owned a red car before
2. I've never owned a hybrid before
3. I've never even owned a Honda before!

So whatever . . . Red is fine!

Best Regs,
Rick
Happy New Insight Owner!

 

[merigayle]

I was told I could have had a silver one in Jan, but wanted to wait for Blue. I think i will call and check in with him today or tomorrow. This will be my 4th Honda, first Hybrid. I wanted the insight right after it first came out, finally i am gonig to get one. Eventually.....

 

[boogetyboogety]

Congratulations, Richard!

Now just go online and order "Used Cars" from NetFlix for a good laugh about red cars... :lol:

I just got a junk mail solicitation from Bankston Honda in Lewisville, TX, urging me to "trade in" my Insight since they have to meet their "trade in quota" of "five Insights." :shock: So... :twisted: I called their 800 # and got "Lee" on the line, who immediately told me they didn't have a 2006 Insight, would not get a 2006 Insight, and could not order a 2006 Insight because "they're not making them anymore." So I said that makes mine a collector item, and cordially wished him good luck in getting 5 drivers to part with their Insights so they could meet their "quota." He actually sputtered and could not come up with any rejoinder, much less a witty one. Geeez, I love to hassle ignoramuses... :roll:

And... I know, I know, personal preferences and all that, but if I couldn't have a Silver one... I'd go for the Red everytime... Happy motoring!

 

[Richard]

I just didn't want silver!

Now just go online and order "Used Cars" from NetFlix for a good laugh about red cars... :lol:

A friend just told me that "Red is a girlie color for a car . . . unless it's a Ferrari." Okay, well, it's not! Not even close.

And my other car (OTI for Other Than Insight) is a Miata. And you know how "girlie" those are. Well, whatever . . . the Miata is dark green, so maybe that makes it more masculine?

Do I care? No, not really. I just didn't want silver!

Best Regs,
Rick

 

[Cap'n Ron]

Richard,

Congratulations on the new Insight! I just picked mine up Saturday at Lancaster Honda (That's in California...not PA ). There were a few around here a week or so ago...it sounds like the current supply is drying up.

I told a co-worker on a Thursday that I think I'm finally going to buy an Insight. I did some clicking around on-line and exchanged e-mail with three local dealers. I confirmed that I qualified for the 5.99% Honda financing BEFORE I committed to buying the car and bought it on that Saturday. When I picked it up, the rate was 5.74%! All the way around it was the easiest car purchase I've ever done.

I like all three colors...and was leaning towards the new darker blue...but ultimately wanted a silver 5sp...I already have a dark car to wax!

I have 520 miles on it so far and still have no idea which side of the car the gas cap is on!!!

Cap'n. . .

 

[Richard]

Thanks Capt'n Ron,

I only have 52 miles on mine, but I do know which side the gas cap is on .

I too wanted a 5-spd, but I'm sharing this Insight with my wife, who absolutely had to have the automatic (not open for discussion)., and had to have A/C.

And I think you're right about the "current crop" of Insights. Norm Reeves got in three, and by the time I was able to get there (7:00 PM) two were sold. And while I would have prefered the blue; I am getting used to the red .

My wife drove it home from the dealer, and before she took off she asked, "Ah, . . . . do I drive this like a regular car?" But she did fine, and I think she really likes the Insight!

I was able to get the low rate too, but only because I had a matching offer from my credit union. I only financed $10,000 and they weren't real happy about giving me that rate on "that little amount." Well hey, to me $10,000 is not a little amount!

Best Regs,
Rick

 

[boogetyboogety]

Hey, Richard, I too have had a red Miata a while back... girlie car? Oh, puh-leeeeze, I guess our bright orange New Beetle Convertible would give this guy a fit too... :shock: Cars is cars is cars...

Funny story about red cars: When I married My Beloved (20 years ago this month), I bought her a brand-new red V6 Fiero for a wedding present. She called her mom (not the most car-conscious person I know) and told her, very excitedly, "Mom! I got a Fiero for a wedding present!" Soooo, her dear mommy called everyone, and I mean EVERYone, she knew in a 500 mile radius and told them I had bought her lovely daughter a RED FERRARI. We sure were popular with the fam and friends until we drove up in a Poncho... :lol:

 

[merigayle]

"boogetyboogety"

Darrel Waltrip drives an Insight.... wow.

I better call Honda this afternoon. Thank you whoever pointed out Lancaster, CA not PA, or I would have been on fire. Does anyone know if the story my Honda dealer told me about allotments for the Insight done by region based on previous sales is true?

 

[Insightful Trekker]

Darrel Waltrip drives an Insight.... wow.

So :?: Rusty Wallace _owns_ a Honda dealership.
(Rusty Wallace Honda, Knoxville, TN)

In regard to allotments that is the way Honda has done things in the past. If you want absolute confirmation have the _Honda_ regional sales rep call you to explain the specifics. Seems to me it would be the correct gesture on their part too.

While there is no restriction on cross country dealer trades their not often done due to the additional transportation costs. With the precarious future of the Insight you may wish to "negotiate" this in addition to your deal.

HTH!

 

[merigayle]

Yeah, I actually called them asking about an Insight after a post on this board, lol. We are huge Nascar fans, believe it or not.

I am gonna call my dealer today. Thanks. (as usual)

 

[Insightful Trekker]

Seems to me there should have been better communication to you (the customer) in regard to such a looong wait.

If your dealership won't get the Honda factory sales rep to call you with a thorough explination then I'd dump them as soon as I could find another available Insight regionally.

But beware. Some salesmen/dealerships have been known to make "promises" they can't keep :shock: (but I hope your not surprised ) You may call or get an email from salesman X saying; Ya we've got one allocated and in transport, but I'll need some money up front if you want it. It's the old get a "hook" on a customer technique. Yes, you can get your money back, but their counting on you not wanting to go to the trouble and waiting. Any "game / way" to make a sale... :sigh:.

Your dealership may also be "playing" the allocation game. There are often "incentives" for dealerships to sell from within their regional allocation vs. going over that line (which may only be a couple hours away). So if you find one within a reasonable drive you may be able to easily "leverage" them to do a dealer transfer at their cost vs. loose the sale.

But back to the source, IMO it would be best to contact the Honda regional sales rep and get the low-down from him in regard to availability. The Insight is definitely only manufactured in production "runs". Why the west cost is so far ahead of your region in availibility is unclear. And would be helpful information for the group to know( hint, nudge, post the answer:?: )

HTH!

 

[merigayle]

How would I find the regional sales rep???

 

[Insightful Trekker]

If the general sales manager at your dealership won't put you in contact with him I'd worry at this point (considering the abnormally long delay). It is unusual for customers to correspond directly with the Honda regional sales rep, but again these are unusual circumstances.

If nothing else you should be able to get in writing from Honda (not your dealership) a reasonable explination for the delay and the expected delivery time.

A call to Honda customer relations may also be a solution.

http://automobiles.honda.com/info/custo ... asp?bhjs=0

HTH!

Please let the group know the outcome.

 

[merigayle]

A call to Honda customer relations may also be a solution.

http://automobiles.honda.com/info/custo ... asp?bhjs=0

HTH!

Please let the group know the outcome.

Thanks supermod! I will report back

 

[merigayle]

Customer service is sending my info and request to the regional manager. The regional manager that deals with my dealership and region will investigate it thru the sales manager and see what is going on. Then they will communicate with Honda to find out a more specific date about when i will get the car and call me back in 2-3 business days.




Now, before I reached this point with the customer service rep on the phone, his answer was "We don't make a lot of Insights, so you probably wont be able to get one" And I had to say 3 times that I put a deposit down in October for an Insight. He kept saying "They are rare and hard to get, we barely make any" (loosly quoting here,,,,,). Once I told him that i just wanted to make sure the dealer was not yanking my chain so i could look elsewhere, he got a bit more serious. :evil:

I will give an update when I hear from the dealer or the customer service dept.

 

[cainsight]

This may be a little off topic...but

This morning while driving to work I saw 2 new Insights on a car transport driving up 101 in California near Redwood City. Since I have never seen a new one I was excited. It was like seeing twin babies

I don't know where they will end up but somewhere near San Francisco I hope

 

[merigayle]

Got an email from my dealer just now:

Hello Meredith; Your Insight is still allocated for an early March
build. I will info you on the exact build date soon. When that happens I
will get the Vin #. Thanks for your patience, I will keep in touch.

 

[Insightful Trekker]

This may be a little off topic...but

SHHH :!:

Just don't let merigayle know if you saw an electric blue one.