[slimmm]

Hi, everyone.

I've enjoyed reading the voluminous posts and instructional material at this wonderful site. One question, and then a request for advice:

1. Any thoughts about squeezing a second passenger into the car (curled up in back, I guess) for a short trip? It seems to go against everything I've read here, but I wonder whether anyone has done it. I usually drive alone or with one passenger; this would be strictly for very rare occasions.

2. I looked at, and plan to test-drive, a new 2005 Insight that the dealer said arrived on the lot within the past couple of months. Does that make sense? A trustworthy salesman at my local dealership said it's possible, because of how long it takes from ordering to delivery in this country. I'll check the invoice, of course. Just looking for input.

Thanks!

 

[jdpenn]

1. I thought about an extra passenger also, but I would suggest against it. It would be very tight, and for safety reasons, I would not recommend it.

2. If you go for the 2005, I would ask for a discount. If the dealer doesn't budge on the sticker price, then I would go for a 2006. Still take it for a test drive of course.

Good luck.

 

[Scott]

I would advise against a third passenger in an Insight as you most certainly will exceed the 365lb max. load capacity. Also, should you have to stop fast or be involved in a head on collision, your third passenger would become a projectile. My 60 lb black lab refuses to ride in the back of my Insight.

 

[slimmm]

Thank you to John, Scott, and Scott's lab. I suspect that my sister-in-law would feel the same way about riding in the back.

 

[james]

OTOH, my 100 lb mutt loves it back there. I think she thinks of it as her den...

 

[Billy]

Hi Slim; although a "new 2005" may recently have arrived on the dealers lot, I would think it is NOT straight from the factory! They discontinued building 2005's way last April or May, I believe. It is possible this car came from another dealer where it had been sitting for quite awhile. Check the driver's door jamb for a production date plate or sticker. Billy....

 

[JeffKinTN]

Hi Slim; although a "new 2005" may recently have arrived on the dealers lot, I would think it is NOT straight from the factory! They discontinued building 2005's way last April or May, I believe. It is possible this car came from another dealer where it had been sitting for quite awhile. Check the driver's door jamb for a production date plate or sticker. Billy....

Billy,

I'm curious where you fit that 5' monitor..... :wink: :wink: :wink:

 

[slimmm]

Hi Slim; although a "new 2005" may recently have arrived on the dealers lot, I would think it is NOT straight from the factory! They discontinued building 2005's way last April or May, I believe. It is possible this car came from another dealer where it had been sitting for quite awhile. Check the driver's door jamb for a production date plate or sticker. Billy....

Billy: Thanks for the assessment. I was thinking the same thing -- why would a 2005 arrive in the midst of the 2006s? Unfortunately, I went for my test drive before seeing your reply, so I didn't check for a sticker; fortunately, I got to drive the car! After that wonderful experience, I'll definitely be buying one. -Susan

 

[merigayle]

Billy: Thanks for the assessment. I was thinking the same thing -- why would a 2005 arrive in the midst of the 2006s? Unfortunately, I went for my test drive before seeing your reply, so I didn't check for a sticker; fortunately, I got to drive the car! After that wonderful experience, I'll definitely be buying one. -Susan

Susan, That's cool that you got to test drive one! I ordered my 2006 back in Oct and am buying it on good faith, hopefully in April (or March). I would love to test drive one, but I have seen 3 in 6 months here

 

[Cap'n Ron]

Susan, That's cool that you got to test drive one! I ordered my 2006 back in Oct and am buying it on good faith, hopefully in April (or March). I would love to test drive one, but I have seen 3 in 6 months here

Sorry you're having such a tough time finding one. Have you thought about flying out to Cali and driving it home? Cali to PA would be around $100 and you'd get to see the country from behind the windshield of your new Insight! I bought my Pathfinder in New Hampshire back in '01. I flew out and drove it to Florida, hit Daytona Beach (used to go to school there), saw my folks...did some sailing in Sarasota...went to Mardi Gras in New Orleans...just made a cool trip out of the whole thing.

I know there are a few in stock out here (I just bought my '06 a week ago from existing dealer stock)...what are you looking for? CVT/5sp? Color?

Cap'n. . .

 

[merigayle]

I was looking for a blue, not manual. (DH said no ) I am a health care provider in private practive and cannot take off work to do something like that, I wish i could, it would be fabulous. The car will come soon. i just hope they are not lying to me, though i have gotten my civic there and put a deposit down.

 

[Cap'n Ron]

I was looking for a blue, not manual. (DH said no ) I am a health care provider in private practive and cannot take off work to do something like that, I wish i could, it would be fabulous. The car will come soon. i just hope they are not lying to me, though i have gotten my civic there and put a deposit down.

Miller Honda had a blue CVT model as of last Saturday...How much of a tease am I??? Best of luck with your Insight when it does arrive! Oh, what's a DH?

Cap'n. . .

PS: [edit] Just got an e-mail back from Miller Honda. They still have the Blue CVT on the lot.

 

[merigayle]

Where's Miller Honda???

Dh=husband in internet speak, sorry!

You are a tease. I am just paranoid my Honda guy won't come thru in the end. I will call tonight, but after you tell me where Miller is....

 

[Insightful Trekker]

Google is your friend.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Mi ... gle+Search

Although you do get 4,450,000 hits in retrun. I think you can safely discount anything past the first page (10).

So its either Van Nuys or Culver City, CA.

HTH!

 

[merigayle]

I did google Miller Honda and got a few places in a few states. I was really curious though, because there is a Miller Ford in PA, so i thought maybe they had a Honda place too.

 

[Cap'n Ron]

Where's Miller Honda???

Dh=husband in internet speak, sorry!

You are a tease. I am just paranoid my Honda guy won't come thru in the end. I will call tonight, but after you tell me where Miller is....

Yeah, Miller Honda is in Van Nuys, CA...about 6 miles from my house. I actually went to carsdirect.com for my Insight and "configured" the car for a price. Then I clicked on "get a quote from a local dealer." They send out your request to 5 or 6 dealers and within a few minutes I had replies back in e-mail from the Internet sales folks with "I've got your car!" Not much haggling either as the price you get on carsdirect is *very* competitive. You should give that a try for a zip code a couple-hundred miles away from you...like in the next major city.

I also did this when I bought the Pathfinder...got a price from carsdirect and walked into Nissan dealers with, "This is the car I want...the options I want...and here's what I'm going to pay." It became a fun little game. Most thought I was nuts thinking I could get it for that low. Heck, I could just click to buy it on-line an it would show up at my door in 3 days for that price...but that was in '01 and now most dealers have an "internet division" where they just write up sales. The local SoCal guys were the most fun...so that's why I flew to NH for it.

Sorry for being such a tease... Keep digging around...persistence will pay off!

 

[merigayle]

So, I just did the carsdirect.com thing and it matched me with a dealer in Delaware and said I should be contacted by the end of the next business day, so I may hold off on calling my Honda guy...... Maybe I will just shoot him an email. :roll:

 

[Cap'n Ron]

I told the guy from Miller Honda that there were folks on the East coast waiting a loooog time for an Insight...His reply was, "Wow, they should only have to wait 3 months to have any color built in any city."

Also, as I recall, any Honda dealer can find inventory for you...trick is getting them to TELL you. The Nissan dealer in Santa Monica did some digging and found the exact pathfinder I wanted. He followed up by saying that they would NOT exchange with a dealer in Arizona because they would loose money. I said, "Okay... I'll just fly out there and drive it back...which dealer is it?" He said...are you ready for this?..."Give me a hundred dollars and I'll tell you." (!!!) :shock:

Cap'n. . .

 

[florida_gators]

Unfortunately, I can believe it :evil: . I drove my 2000 Insight to Ed Martin Honda in Indianapolis, and the salesman told me that in order for Ed Martin Honda to run a search for a used Insight at other Honda dealerships there would be a $100 non-refundable charge. I found this odd, especially since Ed Martin Honda did not have any used Insights on the lot and showed little interest in selling me one--even a new one. I realize these dealerships are all franchises and have to cover their individual operating expenses, but is this common practice in others areas :?: . The other Honda dealerships in Indy told me that they run these searches for free. My first (and only) experience with poor Honda customer service--unless I am mistaken with a fee being normal in this situation.