2001 Insight

[cocolos]

Hi all,

I am new to the forum but I do lurk. I recently found an insight that I am going to be looking at this weekend. This one specifically. First how much of a difference in MPG would their be with this automatic vs a manual transmission? Second I did find this link, which had a lot of useful things to look out for, but in general are they moneypits? I am not mechanically inclined would a lot of the issue pointed out on that thread fairly obvious to spot? Are parts hard to come by? Any comments or opinions are welcomed. Thanks!

[cowmeat]

I looked at two Gen-1 Insights with the CVT transmissions recently, one at a dealership and one being sold by an individual. Both had issues with shuddering on take-off, and one shuddered so bad there was no way you could drive it in traffic, but the guy said he'd been driving like that since he bought it (doubt it).
After researching the shuddering issue, it seems to be that the start clutch eventually goes in them, so much so that there was a recall for this back in the day. There are fixes like changing the CVT fluid, or burnishing the start clutch plates, but I passed on both cars since there was no guarantee that I could afford a fix, and a lot of people changed the CVT fluid only to have the problem reappear a couple of months later.
You'll still get fairly good mpg in the CVT version if you can find one that doesn't shudder, but I'd hold out for the manual if you can find one.
This is the one I'm trying to talk a guy down on right now:

2004 Honda Insight Turbo Charged Solar Powered

[Baltothewolf]

Originally Posted by cowmeat

I looked at two Gen-1 Insights with the CVT transmissions recently, one at a dealership and one being sold by an individual. Both had issues with shuddering on take-off, and one shuddered so bad there was no way you could drive it in traffic, but the guy said he'd been driving like that since he bought it (doubt it).
After researching the shuddering issue, it seems to be that the start clutch eventually goes in them, so much so that there was a recall for this back in the day. There are fixes like changing the CVT fluid, or burnishing the start clutch plates, but I passed on both cars since there was no guarantee that I could afford a fix, and a lot of people changed the CVT fluid only to have the problem reappear a couple of months later.
You'll still get fairly good mpg in the CVT version if you can find one that doesn't shudder, but I'd hold out for the manual if you can find one.
This is the one I'm trying to talk a guy down on right now:

2004 Honda Insight Turbo Charged Solar Powered

Boost? LOL. That's actually not a bad idea.

[cowmeat]

Lol, yeah I think they go zero to sixty in about 30 seconds otherwise

The CVTs I test drove were slower than my Festiva

[cocolos]

I see online that the mpg difference is only 10 mpg with automatic vs manual. Couldn't I mitigate the difference with mods?

[cowmeat]

There's nothing wrong with CVT if you can find one that functions properly, the car still gets awesome mileage. I'm sure if you do enough aero to it you'll be happy with the mileage.
Check these guys here, Metrompg had one he modded

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...-km-18930.html

[Daox]

Welcome to the site cocolos.

Only 10 mpg? Haha, gaining 10 mpg in mods is no small feat. You must be ambitious.

[cocolos]

I guess I'll see how that insight is. Hopefully it's a good deal. If there's a problem with cvt how much would that be to replace? or upgrade?

[Insight for life]

Get ready to drop 3k for a cvt. I imagine It has already been replaced at least once.

[cocolos]

debating if hybrid is worth it and whether I should just get an older civic.