It's not a M-B SLK, not an SL500 (’96-’00), not an Audi TT, not a Honda S2000, not a Prius...but imagine a car that combines the sportiness and looks of a 2-door roadster and the gas economy of a Prius. This car is super advance in composition and technology but very affordable. Apparently the car manufacturer sold these cars at a lost just so they could push this new technology onto the public, so basically consumers got this science experiment for a steal.

I've not taken delivery of the car yet since it's at the dealer getting a battery replacement under warranty. It just happened that on my second test drive the IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) light for the battery came on and I asked the seller to take it to the dealer to check it out and see if the car could get the warranty replacement before I would buy it (though I knew I was going to anyway). I got an e-mail the other day that the car will get the warranty battery replacement and electronics upgrade.

Thanks to this board, I applied some of the useful advice on negotiating and think I got a good deal, especially now with a new battery and other electronics that come with it! The seller’s asking price was $7850, which I thought was pretty high. I didn’t offer anything on my first visit. All negotiating was done through e-mail thereafter. I offered $5850, but he said his gf (her car) will wait for a higher offer. Then I e-mailed back and said that I like the car and would buy it but that I had a set price that I was going to pay, any more than that I’m better off spending a bit more toward other cars that were on my list, and then asked if he could do $6000. He replied that his gf can do $6500. (This is just the abridged version, but for the most part the e-mail negotiating was very friendly and respectful.) That ended up to be her absolute minimum and she would not budge from it. So when all was said and done I got the car for $6500, plus an unexpected NEW battery and electronics, which I’ve read is worth over $3000.

The car…2002 Honda Insight w/ CVT and 110500k on the odo. Has HOV stickers and is pretty clean throughout. So how did I do? Anyone own an Insight?

Pictures to come soon!