Hot rod first gen Insight

[deathtrain]

i want to see that electric power steering system

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by Ryland

There are what, 11,000 insights out there? and with a 5 speed should get around 70mpg so 48mpg is pretty bad, altho this is not the first and I am sure it will not be the last.

10,000 miles/year @ 70 mpg = 143 gallons
10,000 miles/year @ 48 mpg = 208 gallons
208-143=65 gallons/year difference, or 1.25 gallon/week premium for all that performance.

I'd say if you have an interest in that level of performance, the fuel cost premium is very, very affordable.

[Arragonis]

OT, slightly - does anyone know what the 3cyl TDI Insight gets FE wise - if it is still running ?

[War_Wagon]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

10,000 miles/year @ 70 mpg = 143 gallons
10,000 miles/year @ 48 mpg = 208 gallons
208-143=65 gallons/year difference, or 1.25 gallon/week premium for all that performance.

I'd say if you have an interest in that level of performance, the fuel cost premium is very, very affordable.

I agree, that's the cheapest to run fast car I have ever seen. I imagine if the driver actually made the effort to get some good FE numbers out of it it would be in the 50+ range. Neat car, but poor attitude from the guy that built it.

[Frank Lee]

I'd say poor attitude from the guy that wrote about it.

[deathtrain]

I don't read into write ups. All articles are written for specific readers for those magazines. I have read my fair share on the other side bashing the SUV's, Horse power lovers, and the such. It is best to just read them for the information and go on with life.

[morphector]

I would really like to see what numbers this car would do with an hypermiler driver!

[War_Wagon]

Originally Posted by deathtrain

I don't read into write ups. All articles are written for specific readers for those magazines. I have read my fair share on the other side bashing the SUV's, Horse power lovers, and the such. It is best to just read them for the information and go on with life.

I agree again. Magazines are written to be sold, so they will have whatever bias sells them to their target market. Good source of ideas, pictures, and other's creativity, not so good for anything deeper than that.

[CigaR007]

I see nothing wrong with that Insight. Different tastes translates into different undertakings.

Some purists might get offended, but the Insight ain't no classic car, yet...

[bwilson4web]

They found the lightest weight, aluminum body, stock vehicle and stuffed in a reasonable, high-power engine. Their only alternative would be to find a 'kit car' with a reasonable body and though they exist, they are not stock like the Insight. By using the Insight body, they simply avoided the pain and agony of dealing with 'kit cars' that are more like a 'pig in a poke' than serious offerings.

Perhaps some of our recent Insight owners might contact them to see if the left-over, Insight parts are still available. It is a lot easier to rebuild a spare Insight engine and battery system than to deal with one already in the car.

Bob Wilson