Asimo Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Got one at last! and after a long week's wait. £3.5k is a lot for a 70500 miles, fourteen year old Honda but if I was going to do it, this was the one. Seller has kept an exemplary history file which even includes the Autotrader ad he bought it from 11 years ago. Already autumn in Cheltenham. I know the rules. Stats. for the journey home; best digital speedo I have ever seen. Funky alloy spacesaver spare. Boot contained the original Honda radio /cassette and a tin of Honda travel sweets (unopened). Somewhere under the sweetie tin is the original 144volt battery. Three cylinders, 69hp + 13hp of brushless permanent magnet motor. First impressions: very good driving position, very high gearing (70mph @ 2500rpm), engine extremely quiet except at tickover. Everything works but it needs an in-depth clean and there are some odd creaking noises on bumps. Headlamps need a polish and the airbag light is on. I love the engine start: clutch down, turn key and instantly the engine is running. No churning starter, it is just running, thanks to the 13hp flywheel. Luckythirteen, Kringle, xtriple and 35 others 38 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil_lihp Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Top purchasing and a refreshing change from the norm. I'm glad these exist, despite not wanting one for myself - although the complicated nature of a hybrid is a little less scary given that Honda screwed it together. They never seemed to catch on, hidden in the Prius's shadow I suppose. Shame really, especially as it looks like a concept car from a motorshow rather than a production car. LightBulbFun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiny Norman Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 I loved these when they came out, they were so funky and streamlined looking I really thought they were the future of motoring. Then Toyota fucked up my dreams with the Pious.Well bought, how long is the temptation to stick a YOVTEC in there going to last? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtriple Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Absolutely LOVE it! I am sooooo jealous it's untrue! Ever since I got my new Insight I've wanted one of the originals, reading about them on Insight Central has certainly lubricated my 'want' gland. They are so much cleverer than my car, all alloy construction, funky three cylinder engine and Honda build quality. On IC there are cars with 300 thousand miles up, still running well... and still fetching obscene amounts of dosh! The dash on mine is very similar, just updated and with the added bonus of changing colour depending on how you are driving, but no manual option... but the CR-Z (which I prefer to be honest) has no auto option, but is closer in looks to your Insight, and all the better for it. My friends keep taking the piss out of me as I am a well known 'petrolhead' and to be running a hybrid when I wanted a Bentley or other big V8 is met with a certain amount of ridicule, but, I think they are extremely interesting and worthy.... The MK1 Insight should have been a much bigger seller but the poxy Pious stole a march while the Honda is a better (and certainly more economical) car. We NEED much more info and detail. Oh, and well bought, I don't think you'll ever lose money on the little lass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooSavvy Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 ..... speechless! (no, not a pitch for 'quotes' thread) TS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bell Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 They are very interesting things. Owners really seem to gush about them so I'm surprised they weren't more successful really. I'd certainly rock one. Better than a Prius by about 16 billion percent. reanimation-films and loserone 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 I'm surprised they weren't more successful really. Costing more than a real car when new might have hampered sales a bit. Twiggy, alcyonecorporation and Jim Bell 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheggers Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 These things certainly hold their value...£3,500 for a 14 year old hatchback!! Nice though smellypoo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bell Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Costing more than a real car when new might have hampered sales a bit. Think the marketers at Ariel might politely disagree. From behind their massive piles of cash.http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/ Junkman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twosmoke300 Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Brilliant. Airbag light prob just needs a reset due to a flat 12v battery at some point. You can do it with a paper clip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beko1987 Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 I do love these! Moar pics and informashun please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrogeezer Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 basically a futuristic CRX - but old! Well bought. reanimation-films 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulgalour Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 I hate you. I hate you I hate you I hate you. By which I mean right now, I want to be you and have my very own Mk1 Insight. Luckythirteen 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garethj Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 That's excellent, good man! I remember seeing these around London when they were new, they looked so futuristic, especially in that funny metallic green they often came in. overrun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twosmoke300 Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Honda lost 6k on every one they sold apparantly . Just wanted to get them out there. Boring facts . They run on a 0w20 oil . They have special coded spark plugs ,beside each plug ole is a letter . This relates to the way the thread is cut on the plug so that , at the correct torque , the electrode faces the correct way in the combustion chamber. Wilko220, mat_the_cat, nacho man and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Bo11ox Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 ^^^ great pub fact that!!! Nice one!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairnet Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 0/20 fek!!!!! well respected builder of hi po vw engines bought one when he lived round here same reg as that then emigrated to scotchland and as far as i know he still has it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Station Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 SpArk plug technical term is called 'indexing'Never really looked at these, they look pretty amazing. My mate has a CRZ whom I bought my CRX off. They all seem to look properly futuristic.Do you even need to get new battery/s for these? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rml2345 Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Fabulous.More cars should have rear wheel spats. Tomtation 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtd2000 Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 These things certainly hold their value...£3,500 for a 14 year old hatchback!! Nice though Sounds like USA pricing for a KIA Rio... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooSavvy Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Ah! Sparkplugs.... Hammer a 3-electrode NGK over it TS billyboy406v6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inconsistant Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Top overlooked underdogging! A couple I am friends with have one of these each and they absolutely love them. Hadn't really registered on my cardar until speaking to them about these.Like others here I'd love you to share more about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asimo Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share Posted August 30, 2014 ^^^^^^ A big like to all of the encouraging posts. ^^^^^^ Today I am mostly going to be playing with my new toy. I must try not to break it, resist the temptation to take it to bits. Not going in there until I have Honda book of truth to hand. Twosmoke; whats this paperclip trick for the airbag light please? paulplom, Nyphur and alcyonecorporation 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twosmoke300 Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Cant remember the exact procedure but it will be the same as all jap hondas from that era. Yellow 2 pin blank connector behind the dash /kick panel somewhere. Google will yield the exact procedure. Its like takishis (sp) castle to get it right first time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asimo Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share Posted August 30, 2014 On 8/29/2014 at 5:29 PM, Junkman said: Costing more than a real car when new might have hampered sales a bit. £17k less a £1k bribe from the government(?) certainly was a lot. Ruled me out for a start. However depreciation and a conservative car market is the shiters friend. Eventually. 3 years and 7434 miles after it was new Honda's official used car website had it up for £10295. A dealer was less ambitious: £8995 in Thames Valley Autotrader 13 November 2003 However it sold for just shy of £7k a few weeks later. Last chap didn't do too bad, losing 50% in 11 years! paulplom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r.welfare Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 That's value. My Accord was £8595 as a three year old from the Basingstoke Honda dealer around the same time, with 18k on the clock. And whereas yours is worth £3.4k now, I'd be happy with a tenth of that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairnet Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 MAOR INPUT!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoadworkUK Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 This is triffic. Like the car Casio would have built if Burt Rutan designed for them.You need to buy a copy of this (rather good) album to listen to in it: Tre3 and Asimo 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 These are fast becoming super trendy. Jonny Smith the Fifth Gear presenter certainly helps the cause. I think the Insight was lambasted when new for being hugely expensive and massively impractical. I mean, that boot is hilarious. Which is why the family-friendly Prius was always going to be an easier sell to the wannabe environmentalists. I'd love to try one though. The Insight is far more focussed than the Prius. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnDeere Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 That is truly superb. One million percent better than a Pious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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