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And when I say accidentally, I literally mean I had no intentions of buying this but put a stupid low bid on the car just so I was sure I'd be notified when the auction happened. And then no one else ever bid...
With auction fees and everything....just over $400.
Sight unseen. Not sure if it runs...it probably doesn't. Looks like maybe it was in a previous front end collision. Battery is most likely fubar'd. Paint is faded, headliner looks to be messed up, etc. etc.
One with a manual trans and bad battery popped up on the Winston-Salem CL for $800 a few weeks ago. Remembering this thread almost made me go look at it.
Back from the dead. I, too, joined the weirdo car club.
2000 175k, everything works. Trying to resist not doing too many performance mods to it but the way I drive I'm happy averaging 50mpg. The Koing Helium's and 195's aren't helping though
I embraced the commuting appliance suck and bought a Prius C last year. Averaging 47-48mpg. Took a long drive from Austin ->Phoenix, I was surprised I still managed 46.2 going 70mph. Good to see I'm not too far off of Insight MPGs and I get a small backseat
Awesome! That looks great! Not having the special Bridgestone tires set at 50+ psi is good for 10mpg easy. You'll get used to driving in lean burn with small gentle throttle inputs to keep close to your speed, and you will gain another easy 10mpg.
IMO don't mod it, just enjoy the awesomeness and save money!
I now have an insight with a little joystick and an 8 parameter gauge to manually control the battery assist and regen, an aluminum skidplate, beemax higher capacity battery, and have done all the engine seals, and fully maintained (just put in an OEM primary o2!!!). I'm averaging 72mpg in low 20*F weather, and it jumps up into the 80's (low to high depending on my driving) in the summer heat.
Oh and a full lower grill block using aluminum duct tape and white plastic sheeting from home depot. Helps a lot with engine warm up temps, and allows for better heat in the winter.
I have that same gauge. I got Julian Edgar's book on the car. I recomend the mod that improves the 12v system increase. But yes, they pretty much optimised everything for fuel economy, so you start making changes and it effects mpg.
Oh nice! I like TPS% and CLT on the right, it helps me with mpg and finessing the last tick of lean burn before it kicks back down to 14.7 and the clt helped with designing a grill block that doesn't kick the radiator fans on even in the summer. IIRC they turn after you breach 212*F. Also, you don't get auto shutoff until CLT is 170*For higher.
What did the voltage mod help with?
I just drove all the way home tonight, lots of uphills... and I was confused how I was struggling so much, feeling a loss of power, and couldnt keep speed with lean burn...but more responsive rear brakes... you probably guessed it! I had the e-brake on XD lol I've only done that once before, in a different car, I couldn't believe it I was laughing pretty hard. My trip mpgs only took a 0.2mpg hit, 450miles in lol. Love these cars!
Oh, and you might find the same thing... I've had SO MANY people approach me about this car, almost every day I park it publicly, I get at least one person coming up and asking/talking about it. Easily hundreds more people than any other car I've ever owned. Its freaking awesome.
As you know the ima battery pack also controls the 12v battery. So with accessories on 12 system voltage drops. They figured out by cutting this wire the system doesn't wait till the system drops to @ 11.5v to add back into the system. It keeps the system at 14.2, which apparently is better for long term health for the 12v battery. One of the rare cases where Honda didn't quite get it right.
For me I've wanted to own one of these. I like the styling, it has a nimble-ness about it. The amount of room in the hatch is borderline. There's a guy on K-Swapped Insight's did a K20 with Accord 6 speed and a claimed highway tune of 55 mpg. That would be the setup to aspire to. Cheers - JB
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