Help!
My daughter has a 2011 MINI Cooper Clubman that she can no longer afford because she’s going back to college and will be cutting her work hours. She’s looking to sell it or possibly trade it in for a reliable used car that gets great gas mileage. She has an appointment with Carmax in a couple of days and will be test driving a 2003 Honda Insight. It has 46,000+ miles and was previously owned/used by a small business.
Her research on the Insight has left her willing to at least test drive it. Does anyone have any comments or concerns you can share with us? Also, any recommendations on another make/model of used car that would suite her current needs?
Thanks for your help!!
Michelle
I would avoid any 10 year old hybrid. Also the 2003 Insight is a small 2-seater, not what I’d want for safety.
What is her budget? I assume she’ll be losing money on the Mini.
I agree with texases. A ten-year-old hybrid probably isn’t the best choice for reliability.
She can get a 2007 Chevy Cobalt LT for the same price as a 2003 Insight.
I own a 2000 Honda Insight, which has been a good car for lowering the gas cost since I bought it new, but the IMA battery has been replaced a few times under warranty and currently once out of warranty. It cost about the current used car value of the car, but for me it is my only car so I had to do it with the help I was getting. It is not an issue of the gas engine, but they IMA battery size and type that cause issues. If I were the guy making decisions on building the first one of these, I would have used a larger LiFePO4 battery pack, a very good battery management system, some supercaps, and make it a plug-in car.
So, in effect, I realize that I am agreeing with texases, but it I also see how the car can be made into a very reliable car with some work. However, if I had the money to do that work, I would have made the car all electric EV as to have no reliability issues.
Lots of good used Hyundai Accents around; these are perfect student cars, easy on gas, reliable, and cheap to buy.
Agree to avoid the Honda Hybrid.
I agree that the Insight is a poor choice for a replacement vehicle if you want to save money. There are better options out there that need to be explored.
If she is looking for gas mileage this car is the King of gas mileage. Honda spent $65,000 apiece making these gems and you find them for less than $10K. This car has very low miles and these cars hold up very well if they’ve not been abused. The nickel-metal hydride HV batteries can be replaced for only $2000, but both my 2002 and 2005 are as strong as new and have never had a problem. It’s a Honda, specially built on the prestigious Acura line. I have spent much more on routine maintenance(timing belt comes to mind)on other vehicles in the past.
Just because it is a two-seater doesn’t mean it’s unsafe. They are very solidly built safe cars. The unsafe comes in when texases plows you in his 5 ton Dodge pickup, and that’s not the Insight’s fault.
The cars are safe, reliable and fun to drive. They also are increasing in value due to their rarity. I have my eyes out for another and one with only 46K miles is very desirable.
FYI reddwarf2956, 2000 Honda Insights are being sold for up to $10,000 currently, your car is worth more than you think. Your battery troubles probably stem from letting the car sit too long with out use or your battery suffered excessive heat, most have not had such problems.
Come visit www.insightcentral.net and we’ll help you all we can. My best trip has been 225miles with a 99.8mpg average. That was with a little effort, but you’ll get a minimum 52mpg or better over time. I got an honest 62mpg in the 2002 over 90K miles.
If your daughter is techy or has a techy boyfriend there are grid chargers, obdii monitors and joystick battery control systems made by enthusiasts for the car.
I say go for it, I love the car and she likely will too. If she doesn’t, I bet you can make money selling it to someone else.
I’d get something a bit more conventional. The Insight is for enthusiasts. Everyone else will find it slow, cramped, and lacking in amenities. I’d get something newer and more versatile. If it’s your only vehicle it’s nice to be able to take a few friends with you, or carry home a microwave oven or bale of toilet paper from Costco. A conventional small hatchback is ideal. Which she already knows, driving one presently. An older Mazda3/Protege5 or Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe are some of the nicer possibilities. The Scion xA and xB, Accent/Rio, Focus, and many others would also do. If she’s in a big city she’ll have lots to choose from. Do make sure it gets at least a basic check by a mechanic before she buys it. An older car will always have some weaknesses, but you want to be sure the engine and transmission are sound and that it’s safe to drive.
@Satchel -
“The unsafe comes in when texases plows you in his 5 ton Dodge pickup, and that’s not the Insight’s fault.”
I don’t think I’ll be plowing into anybody in my hybrid. Smaller = less safe in a crash, it’s a fact.
I plan to keep my hybrid 10+ years, but I’d never buy one that old, as you mentioned, battery problems can be caused by previous owners, no way to know how it’s been treated.