Honda Insight w/Acura TSX engine - Ecomodding

[MetroMPG]

You also could have bought a $500 Geo Metro. But that's not the point!

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

You also could have bought a $500 Geo Metro. But that's not the point!

I have seen Citicars and Subaru 360’s sell for $500

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=w_w78I2_9x0

[19bonestock88]

Originally Posted by Ecky

I could probably have bought the difference in fuel for the rest of the life of the car for the price difference between a $300 junkyard Accord transmission and what I've gone through to get this one how I want it.

Yeah but don’t focus on that. You have one of the most badass eco cars out there, bar none. Your car when fully tuned will be fully capable of meeting or exceeding the original EPA numbers of the original car, with a power to weight ratio that will blow most cars into the weeds when you stomp the throttle. It’s as much classic hot rod as it is eco car and it does both exceedingly well! VERY well done sir!

[serialk11r]

The craziest thing about your car is that with a few cheap go-fast engine bits, you'd have the power to weight ratio of a Ferrari 360. With a bigger investment in go-fast-bits you could beat an F430 (well ignoring traction).

And get better gas mileage than a Prius at the same time.

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

The craziest thing about your car is that with a few cheap go-fast engine bits, you'd have the power to weight ratio of a Ferrari 360. With a bigger investment in go-fast-bits you could beat an F430 (well ignoring traction).

And get better gas mileage than a Prius at the same time.

There's a Facebook group. Most people with stock engines and shorter gearing can do mid 10's in the quarter mile, and one person with a turbo is at around 9.5 seconds.

[Ecky]

Finally getting the car back this evening. Turns out I had the wrong needle bearing for 6th gear as well - 40mm rather than 41mm.

[19bonestock88]

Oops lol. It’ll be good to hear more about this as you get used to driving it!

[Ecky]

So, first impressions with a properly working 6th gear - the step from 5th to 6th is big! I should have known this, but it's different when I can just throw it in gear and forget about it, rather than having to hold it in place. The gears are not that closely spaced and 1st is tall, even with a 6 speed.

It's pretty quiet in 6th, even with an exhaust system not designed for quiet. ~2000rpm @ 60mph is a soft rumble, and the drive is much more relaxed than in 5th.

We're starting to have frost in the mornings and afternoons are rarely above 40, and it looks like cruising fuel economy is anywhere from 48 to 65mpg right now (with weather in the 30's). It doesn't fall off as quickly with speed as with the old engine. I was up to 55mpg on my afternoon drive home from work yesterday, and 46 on my way in this morning.

Overall much more enjoyable to drive.

[Ecky]

Here's a bit of not terribly interesting footage of what it's like to drive around town:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkZz...ature=youtu.be

Even with a 6th as tall as this is, I still haven't found any places I need to downshift, and it will still quickly pull away from traffic in 6th at 900rpm.

[19bonestock88]

How does the engine pull from so low? No bucking or shaking? Admittedly I kinda messed up my car, when I did the couple of mods to improve high RPM power it makes it a little rough from 800-1100 in 4th and 5th if you don’t roll onto it gently