# Sturdiness of Honda Insight **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** insight, honda\ **Created:** [February 25, 2013, 12:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sturdiness-of-honda-insight/77593 "2013-02-25T00:37:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![fjordhorselover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e19adc/32.png) [@fjordhorselover](https://community.cartalk.com/u/fjordhorselover)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 12:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sturdiness-of-honda-insight/77593/1 "2013-02-25T00:37:26Z")
To get to my house, you have to drive 1/2 mile on an unmaintained dirt road in various condition depending on weather. Will a Honda Insight handle this kind of road with grace and longevity? ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 12:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sturdiness-of-honda-insight/77593/2 "2013-02-25T00:54:00Z")
I think the main concern is ground clearance. The Insight has a ground clearance of 5.9"; the Ridgeline has a ground clearance of 8.2". If the road is not well maintained, ruts can cause your car to bottom out a lot more often, damaging the underside. Take a walk along the road and see what the maximum rut height is. You might find that a truck is better for you. Or park the Insight at the end of the half mile dirt road and get an ATV to go the rest of the way. ---
**Author:** ![fjordhorselover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e19adc/32.png) [@fjordhorselover](https://community.cartalk.com/u/fjordhorselover)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 1:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sturdiness-of-honda-insight/77593/3 "2013-03-03T01:26:28Z")
Thanks, JT. I believe that clearance is not a big issue but I will certainly review this. I do own a truck. I am looking to preserve it for hauling my horses and return to daily use of a higher mileage vehicle for errands into town and travel. ---
**Author:** ![alust2013](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@alust2013](https://community.cartalk.com/u/alust2013)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 4:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sturdiness-of-honda-insight/77593/4 "2013-03-03T04:44:18Z")
I would think it would be fine, so long as you avoid driving on that road at high speeds. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 10:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sturdiness-of-honda-insight/77593/5 "2013-03-03T22:06:16Z")
Since you have the truck, you already have the components for Plan B. Enjoy your new Honda. ---
**Author:** ![WesternRoadtripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@WesternRoadtripper](https://community.cartalk.com/u/WesternRoadtripper)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 11:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sturdiness-of-honda-insight/77593/6 "2013-03-03T23:01:56Z")
Why not ameliorate the situation with occasional grooming of the “unmaintained dirt road”? Some road rock and skillful grading might be beneficial. ---
**Author:** ![fjordhorselover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e19adc/32.png) [@fjordhorselover](https://community.cartalk.com/u/fjordhorselover)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sturdiness-of-honda-insight/77593/7 "2013-03-09T23:08:54Z")
Rock just disappears into the dirt in a fairly short time. Sometimes my neighbor borrows a tractor to grade the road. I have no such access. Thanks for all your comments. ---
**Author:** ![WesternRoadtripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@WesternRoadtripper](https://community.cartalk.com/u/WesternRoadtripper)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sturdiness-of-honda-insight/77593/8 "2013-03-10T00:02:17Z")
> "Rock just disappears into the dirt" That’s probably because the road is a low spot, and erosion is delivering dirt to it. You probably don’t want to work on it, but some professional drainage improvements on the road might make a big difference for the longevity of your road. In the long run, that might be money well spent if you plan to live there a long time. Maybe find a way to share cost with all users of the road? Unpaved roads, like automobiles, do need regular maintenance.