Honda Inshite - now collected - the end.

[Asimo]

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.

[phil_lihp]

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.

[Spiny Norman]

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?

[xtriple]

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.

[tooSavvy]

..... speechless!

 

(no, not a pitch for 'quotes' thread)

 

 

TS

[Jim Bell]

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.

[Junkman]

I'm surprised they weren't more successful really.

 

Costing more than a real car when new might have hampered sales a bit.

[Cheggers]

These things certainly hold their value...£3,500 for a 14 year old hatchback!!

 

 

Nice though

[Jim Bell]

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/

[twosmoke300]

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.

[beko1987]

I do love these! Moar pics and informashun please!

[retrogeezer]

basically a futuristic CRX - but old! Well bought.

[vulgalour]

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.

[garethj]

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.

[twosmoke300]

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.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

^^^ great pub fact that!!! Nice one!!

[hairnet]

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

[Station]

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?

[rml2345]

Fabulous.

More cars should have rear wheel spats.

[gtd2000]

These things certainly hold their value...£3,500 for a 14 year old hatchback!!

 

 

Nice though

Sounds like USA pricing for a KIA Rio...

[tooSavvy]

Ah! Sparkplugs....

 

Hammer a 3-electrode NGK over it

 

 

TS

[inconsistant]

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.

[Asimo]

^^^^^^ 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?

[twosmoke300]

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.

[Asimo]

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!

[r.welfare]

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!

[hairnet]

MAOR INPUT!!!!!

[RoadworkUK]

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:

[dollywobbler]

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.

[JohnDeere]

That is truly superb. One million percent better than a Pious.