2000 Insight. Talk me into it...
 

2000 Honda Insight Shell - $1000
2000 Honda Insight Shell

I originally posted this is in the for sale section, but then I got to thinking...

I can get this car and find a used engine and trans. I'd sell my Civic after I got it running. Thoughts?? I'd be able to get rid of a car payment, but all family driving would happen in the Mazda. Should I???

Sold. Never mind. I'm sad!

Decision made.

It wasn't meant to be. Might have been a great buy, could have been a nightmare.

When I miss a sale on CL, I generally don't let it bother me. Look at it like this, you could have been killed in a traffic accident going to buy that project. Of course you will never know.

Even if it had worked out and you got it, then you would have had to deal with everything that was wrong with it before the engine was destroyed, for whatever reason. Some things aren't meant to be and every twist of fate that would have occured after your initial success will not have to be endured.

Oh yes, just in case you might have thought I could have been the buyer, I was not.
I missed a 2002 MR2 for the same price with a bad engine, in Va Beach, but it would probably have got about the same mileage as my Ranger.

regards
Mech

And maybe your post here helped a member get the body shell they needed to get their body damaged Insight back on the road, or even a non member.
I think sometime in future your good deed will be rewarded.

Thanks for you service Sarge.

regards
Mech

I got a little excited because I mentioned it to my wife and she told me that it wasn't a bad idea. Usually when I mention cars, I get the, oh no, not again look...

I will continue to enjoy my low maintenance Civic. My last tank was only 36 mpg, but its been so hot here I need the AC on. But, I'll take 36 mpg.

Or... you might have bought it, then a $1400 running Insight would have turned up mid-project, after you'd spent who knows how much time & money on the rebuild.

Kinda like the unmolested $700 low miles Civic CX that turned up for sale a day after I picked up my much more spendy '07 Civic "winter beater". :D

I sent an email to hmotorsonline just to see if they had any ECA1's in their warehouse, but there are abundant motors on ebay for <$400. I've seen them locally on craigslist for <$100 multiple times, but I'm too lazy to go craigslist hunting this morning.

OTOH, you don't know exactly what was missing. Axles? A/C? Is the harness intact? Motor mounts? All of these things add up, because there are no aftermarket motor mounts (and probably no axles) for the Insight.

I saw your " beater". Nice find! It be nice to see someone ecomod a newer Civic. Enjoy it!

Yes, it was entirely possible the Insight would have become a money pit. I even thought about putting a little diesel in it...

Its sold. But, from the ad it only needed an engine and trans... I took a look at a used car part website and found engines for $700 and transmissions for $500. It probably would have needed another $500-1000 in misc parts.