Honda Insight?
 

Anyone ever own one of the older insights? I'm thinking about sadly trying to sell the cabriolet and get one of these. Regardless if I move or not I really cannot afford the less than great mpg of the cabriolet.


or maybe just get a TDi and keep my man card

Member frosty owns one... http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/off-topic-discussion/294545-who-here-drives-hybrid.html?highlight=honda+insight

I think a good TDI will be better in the long run (don't have to worry about batteries), and girls love Jettas. At least they're not butt ugly like the Insights. A good question would be whether you are mostly city or mostly highway. An older TDI will hit 50mpg on the highway, the insight will hti that in the city.

Get a TDI.....if know how to drive efficiently you looking north of 45MPG easy.
My everyday transport is 2002 5sp Golf and over the last 17 months my average is 52.7 MPG. Enough said.... :D

I drive probably 80-85% highway.

The cabriolet is sellable now that the top hydraulics are rebuilt and not leaking. It's in great shape (I need to repair the odometer.. yar).

don't go newer then 03 on the tdi go with the manual trans and make sure the timing belt and rollers have been done.

In this case TDI is the only way. In simple terms, Stay under 2200 RPM, accelerate slowly, learn your route, avoid harsh stops, fast accelerations. Power band is between 1800 to 2300, stay on top gear as much as you can (if manual), pump your tires 25% more of recommended, just seat back and relax. If you can drive smooth you will see 50 MPG with not even trying too hard. :D
If you need info what to look for drop me PM and I will try to give you as much info as I can and help you buy a good one.;)

I've read a lot about high mpg TDi's. Thanks I'll pm you if I have a question

I know about the timing belt(water pump, other timing components), but rollers? what do you mean?



I'd like a 5 speed golf TDi at least a 99-2002 (those are the good years apparently). I'll just have to learn how to drive a 5 speed better than I can now. The hard part of all of this will be selling the cabriolet and finding a golf locally

I have found a few insights

I second that, if you can find mark 3 is even better, very simple to look after and you still looking 50 + MPG

I like the MKIII, what year were those out?

I would like for the car to have OBDII so I can run a scangauge

The manual is not hard to drive, consider the fact that your gear changes are far and few between because of the torque available from very low RPM, you idle on 900 and the torque is available from 1750 RMP, the engine revs out at 4300/4450 so the best is to keep it around 2000 RPM, this is why you don't need to change gears so often. If you drive at let say 1900 RPM (just under 60MPH) and you need to overtake, just put your foot down, you will be amazed how fast the car pulls. 50 to 70 MPH is faster than Golf GTI :D

Everything after 1995 got OBDII. Golf changed from MK3 to MK4 during the years 99/2000 so if you find a good well looked after 1997/99 don't let it slip. Don't be afraid from 200K + cars if they are well looked after. The rollers are called pulleys as well, I am sure now you know what he meant on the earlier post.
It is important to verify that the water pump has been replaced as well.
I know that it is hard to find one, but look around and you will. Some of them are with 100K timing belt kit, so if everything is done you looking for at least 80000 trouble free miles.
My Golf is just over 145K and it is strong as new :) I've replaced the ORIGINAL clutch at 142K :D
I know guys with Jettas on the north side of 400K .

Fail. ;)


I have been commuting in an SL600. O_O

You need a Civic or Corolla, something that you can forget about for 3-4 years and finish school.

Get the Insight. Cheaper fuel, better mileage, more reliable than anything VW has built in the last 20 years. The Mexican MK4 Jetta is a total chick car.

This is probably the best advice. I love the little 2 seat insights though but I also love the TDI's.

:D:D:D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&v=AO43p2Wqc08

Every man wants to be a macho macho man
to have the kind of body, always in demand
Jogging in the mornings, go man go
works out in the health spa, muscles glow
You can best believe that, he's a macho man
ready to get down with, anyone he can

Hey! Hey! Hey, hey, hey!
Macho, macho man (macho man)
I've got to be, a macho man
Macho, macho man
I've got to be a macho! Ow....

Macho, macho man
I've got to be, a macho man
Macho, macho man (yeah, yeah)
I've got to be a macho!

Your new anthem?
;)

You are the "Matcho", I am driving chick car .....TDI :cool:

Yep, finishing school is the most important, than securing a job that pays $$$. After that buy whatever car you want.

IMHO you should have sold the Cab when you first got it, now it has a ton of miles on it and the new ones are finally out so the value probably took a hit. You probably could have bought a nearly new Civic for what you could have gotten out of it.

Miata and pocket 5+ grand, and still have a fun car that gets 30MPG.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL9ihXiFAko :cool::cool:

Really I thought you said a straight up trade for te miata. Regardless I kick myself in the ass everyday. Plus I was getting lowballed like crazy for the damn car.

It's hard to let go of the car.But I need something and I'd like a tdi. Hard to sell a car and get another car ASAP when I only have the one. Fml as usual.

My very nice Silver NB that I offered sold somewhere in the 6s if I recall correctly. I'm talkin' NA Miata. Cheap, reliable, and FUN!

Smurf Blue anyone?
http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/2331813518.html

Sell the hardtop for $500-750.

http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/2310252642.html

Even some cheap NBs in your area:

http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/2274883380.html

I've got to figure a lot of stuff out. :/

I missed out on one of these when a few weeks ago for $5000. I imagine there's a few in your area. :D

http://www.fiero.net/mera/article.html

Yep - nothing more trouble-free than a 23-year-old Fiero...

Also, if someone put a gun to my head and made me drive a Honda for a year it would be an unriced version of this:

http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/cto/2278138805.html

Handles better than the insight, same gas mileage, faster, and a whole lot better looking IMO. That one is overpriced by about $1000-1500 IMO.

He put on his facebook that he wanted a 308.

I would not recommend it obviously.

The 308 would probably be more reliable...:D

Here we go. That should touch 40MPG. Lose the fart can.

http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/2305739969.html

How about an Acura RSX?

I'm thinking about it, but would like AWD and the ricer image is hard for me to get past. Ideally it would be an S-type, but they're hard to find (at least around here).

the rollers are not pulleys,they are just that rollers,about the size of a 3/4 socket with a bearing in the middle there are 2 of them up on the top end between the cam and inj pump pulleys.most places don't replace em. and if your serious about it get a vag-com cable and download the free software and you can do lots of stuff the obdII scanner couldn't dream of,you'll need it to check the timing for one.mine is currently setting at 426,000 miles.original clutch went at 375,000.

+2

Either of these cars you're discussing have high resale values.

Get a simple, reliable Japanese car... these can have high resale values too.. so you could also get an old 3800 V6 land yacht for cheap

That's nuts that a 20 year old Civic could get that kind of money. A newer Sentra or Focus that was made this century would be a better deal.

I'd black out the wheels as well.

A second bodyshell comes with that price. It appears that the owner will deal on it if the shell is not required by the buyer.

1st gen Focus? No. Sentra? Really? Sentra?

I'm thinking of cars that are remotely fun to drive and are still practical/cheap. No reason to sell your soul and get something boring when you don't have to.

Couple points:

B4 Passat: 1996-1997
Mk3 Jetta: 1997-1999.0
Mk4 (Jetta, Golf, New Beetle) 1999.5+, and 1998 for the buggies. \
Note that around the time of the switchover 1.9 IDI cars were available in Canada. These are not TDIs (no computer) and don't match the later cars power or fuel economy.

All but some 1996 Passat TDIs are OBDII compliant. 1996s were not from the factory, but many had a TSB done in 1997 to turn off the 5th fuel injector on the catalyst. In that TSB they replaced the EDC12 computer with an EDC15 one, which has OBDII.

Mk3s are great cars, but beware of rust!!! The Mexican built cars from 93-99 rust like none other. Worse then a Mercedes. And just like a benz they'll be all shiny and pretty on top with no rockers or floors left. Note that the 96 & 97 Passats came from Germany and are not as badly affected by rust.

IMHO go for the New Beetle. They come from the factory with a sportier suspension, and didn't hold their value as well as the sedans or hatches. Plus the 4th gen platform is stiffer, safer, and more comfortable. Plus the rust proofing on these cars is fantastic (yes, they are made in Mexico but they fixed the problem for the 4th gen cars).

The timing belts are a bit easier to do on the 3rd gen cars then the 4th gen, but the 4th gen cars can have one installed which goes 100,000 miles. 3rd gen is limited at 60k.

Also beware of fuel injection pump leaks. I've seen this a lot with the older cars. Good news is the seal kit is not expensive at all, and it's easy to take the whole thing apart on the bench, install new seals, and put it back together. Then it's just a matter of re-calibrating it using VCDS, which you need anyway to set the static timing.

An ex-coworker just picked up a clean 1996 Passat with a leaky injection pump. The previous owner got the $2000 estimate from his mechanic to replace the pump and decided to dump the car. A timing belt kit and seal kit ($300 in parts?) and the car is running like a top. Deals can be had, you just have to look for them and be willing to drive to get them.

-Jason

A lot of good info. I have a friend two houses down that wants 2k for his CRX (with coilovers and and full catback exhaust( not a fartcan for the sake of being loud) ) I might see when he wants it gone by. If he says whenever I can work my ass off over the summer.

Man, I loves me some smurf blue yada goodness. But this ad makes me REALLY miss SoCal yada prices...... dang near dime a dozen, I tell ya!

Miata is a good thought too. Over 30 mpg with the hardtop I imagine. I don't think girls think it is a chic car. Lots of young men and women look at my Miata when I drive it. (When they see me they quickly look away!:P)

Girls don't care. They like cute cars and the miata is definitely a cute little car. It really is a little chick magnet. Doesn't hurt that the college I go to is something like 70% female either :eek:

A crx would totally negate any savings I get with the insurance rates on it. Geico wants almost $1k per 6 months. An insight is about the same as the cabrio, A Golf TDI is about the same as the cabriolet as well.

I think the CRX is an increase because its a shoe box, its a honda(more likely to be stolen), and its older?

More likely to be riced out and subsequently wrapped around a telephone pole. If low rates are what you're after, you need to select a larger old fart car. A Buick LeSabre or Mercury Grand Marquis will put you on your insurance agent's Christmas Card list.

Sometimes financial constants take precedence over having fun. Their is nothing wrong with either car I listed, any Buick would also make a good choice.

Driving a fun car is a luxury.

nope.. TDI... I have my mind set.. I'v wanted one for a long time and I have a lot of friends that have no complaints about them.


I'll list the cabrio here soon. I'll figure out the odometer issue as soon as I can but I know I have around 112k on it. The tires will be replaced when I get the money.

Good choice, TDI Power all the way :D
Go to the tdiclub forum, you can learn a lot and the support and knowledge is in par with here. you will not regret it. A lot of guys with years of knowledge regarding TDI cars.

I'm happy :) 260 lb/ft of stomp and go fun puts a smile on my face every time :D

-J

X2 on the tdiclub recommendation. My MkIII Jetta is still cruising along happily at 190K, though I need to buy a timing belt kit and re-check the floors for rot. The Mexican-made Jettas are indeed prone to rust if not looked after closely.