Might be in the Insight game...
 

My girlfriend picked this one out while surfing Craigslist :)

03 Honda Insight* For parts or repair* Read add completely

http://images.craigslist.org/00e0e_b...Bm_600x450.jpg

For $1500 dollars, it doesn't seem like I could go wrong. The IMA battery system is bad, but the owner says it can still be daily driven.

Is there anything I need to look for with these cars? I am seriously considering getting this thing if the loan works out :D

I would check out this thread:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ems-18892.html

PM member "Cowmeat", he has a couple and know them well. At that price the car might be worth it in parts alone or as a shell for a race car :)

The manny tranny makes it. That 2nd gear syncro can be a bugbear to watch out for but it's the better option IMHO.

The car is perfectly usable with the IMA pack not even in the car - more than one contributor here has done that.

You should buy that ASAP

Cowmeat has been PMed. Thanks Spif! :thumbup:

I know MetroMPG's Insight did not have the IMA batteries, and still broke 100 mpg.

I will know more about it when I go test drive it. Right now, I'm off to the bank to see about a loan :D

Needs a lot of TLC from the pics, it looks like 200K worth of hard miles that thing has seen. It's quite possible you could bring the IMA system back to life, and like these guys said, you could probably part it out for more than the asking price

I'd get the Carfax on it and see what you're looking at, but judging from the pics and description I would expect a lot of rust, electrical issues and a downshift grind, missing under-panels, sticky doors, windows, latches, a bad turn signal/light switch, bad EGR, maybe throwing some CAT/o2 codes, etc . . . . I'd also expect from the lack of rear interior pics that it's leaking into the rear compartment.

Bottom line is that if it runs and shifts, you can probably just use it as a beater and still get in the mid fifties. If you don't immediately have to start throwing parts on it, it's probably worth the 1500 bucks, but I'd try to talk him down anyway, of course!

***edit***

Wait, did you say "if the loan works out"? Hopefully you mean somebody in the family is loaning you the money.

I wouldn't necessarily make any kind of payments on a car you're going to be working on at some point, if not immediately!

No avoid the loan, and note the last sentence in the ad about offers - seems like a nice guy...

If you are going to get a loan buy a Mirage like Old Mech and run it into the ground, enjoying 50-70 all the way ;)

I'm not trying to make friends when I go to buy a car, I'm just trying to buy a car, and for the lowest price I can get it for. The seller isn't wanting to be my buddy, he's trying to sell the car for the highest price he can get. Meeting somewhere in the middle usually benefits both parties.

Most people will cave on their "firm" price if you have cash in hand close to that amount, no matter how "firm" they seem. I've bought a lot of cars over the years, and have never paid the asking price yet. Be prepared to walk away from a deal if the seller balk, but most people won't want you to walk away with money in hand.

Make sure you meet in a neutral place like a mall with security when you make a cash deal.

I could tell that the Insight's life had not been an easy one. The hood was the first giveaway. I am no stranger to beat up cars though!

The cat problem kinda scares me, TBH. Of course, I won't know what kind of problems it has until I see it in person and drive it. I know certain parts are not cheap.

You really think that mid 50s would be it? I am hoping for 80 Right out of the bag! :D

I will avoid the loan at all cost. I just do not have the money on me right now, and it was a seemingly plausible idea. And yes Arragonis, he does seem like a cheerful chap, huh? :)

Thank you for the advice, Cowmeat! I will throw down $1000 cash (when I get it) in front of him and see where it goes. I usually meet at a McDonald's or somewhere public.

Come to think of it, Krispy Keene might be the tastiest and safest place to meet up with him ;)