Efficient used cars (under $7,000 but over $1500)

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Ah! I remember seeing that one on another Insight facebook group.

[Xist]

How much maintenance would a 60+ MPG car need to not be worth fixing?

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by Xist

How much maintenance would a 60+ MPG car need to not be worth fixing?

Frankly that engine is probably good for 2-300,000 miles with nothing major, just spark plugs and maybe a serpentine belt and cleaning the EGR valve and plate every decade or so. The transmission might want the syncros fixed in another hundred thousand miles, replace the ISB and throwout bearing while you're at it and you're good until gasoline cars are banned globally.

With the hybrid system already disabled it's not any more complicated than your run-of-the-mill 5MT Civic, maybe less.

I will say that some things are more expensive in an Insight. If you need an engine mount they're ~$100 rather than ~$30 for a Civic since there is no aftermarket. Control arms also run about $100, and a clutch is a little more than your typical Honda, presumably from low sales volume.

[Xist]

Aren't some Insight parts interchangeable with an Accord, just cheaper when destined for the vehicle that is twice as large?

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by Xist

Aren't some Insight parts interchangeable with an Accord, just cheaper when destined for the vehicle that is twice as large?

Yeah there are some shared parts, it probably has the most in common with the Fit. I want to say the Fit's transmission is actually a direct swap, just with significantly shorter gearing. The battery shares cells with almost every other Honda hybrid. The EGR valve is from the Accord.

[Xist]

MPG Numbers Guy, all things being equal, would you recommend pursuing this one or the one you showed me, in the Phoenix area?

Ecky, here it is: https://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/c...798368128.html

I have alerts set up, but for some reason, Craigslist did not inform me of this one. The guy answered all of my questions and MPG Numbers Guy ran the VIN for me and all that came up was an apparent minor accident in 2008. 205,000 miles and asking $2,200, but he did not seem overwhelmed with people wanting it.

However, he is in California for work, and does not know when he will return.

If the New Mexico guy is asking $2,000, what price would I try to get?

[Ecky]

My opinion, a clean manual Insight with less than 100k on the clock is worth every penny of $2000 even with a bad battery. You can offer $1500 but I feel like it's already priced to move with the right buyer.

[Xist]

How did I forget the low mileage?! Fifty-three percent fewer miles for $200 less?

Would you argue that this would be a better use of my scant resources than adopting the bulldog that I hit with my car Monday night?



I was mostly able to stop in-time and he was mostly okay. My Accord did less damage to him than his now-previous owner's neglect.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

The lower mileage one definitely looks better, although I'd want to know more about what made it a salvage title if possible. Could just be something minor since the car is older and whatnot.

You could probably get the $2200 blue Phoenix one for under $2k; doubt you'd be able to get the NM one for any less than the $2k he's asking for -- someone's already messaged the seller over on Insight Central, although that obviously doesn't guarantee a sale.

As to whether it's a wise use of resources, that's something only you can decide.

[Xist]

Well, I will not be paid for a few days, and I will not necessarily be paid enough to buy 1,800 pounds of distilled nerd essence, but we will see.

As for the canine equivalent of a Volkswagen with 200,000 miles, he is fun and cute, but someone already got rid of him because he was too expensive to maintain.