RE: Can I put a Civic VX engine in Gen I Insight?

[ecoboy]

Originally Posted by pgfpro

Good choice!!!

I Love my 2000 Insight. It runs great and everything works. I think the 1st gen Insights are a great investment, where I live in Idaho people will stop and take pictures of it. I even had a neighbor stop and ask me what it was and how much did it cost thinking it was a 2016 car.lol

Yeah your right. The price will double when gas goes back up again. It is worth fixing routine stuff to me for a vehicle that gest 59 mpg. What kind of mpg are you pulling?

Also if the hood, roof and doors are all aluminum I could polish them to a mirror shine. That would be super cool! Who knows maybe if everyone saw the beautiful aluminum underneath they might bring back Gen I. Would cost 30k though. ha,ha,ha

Funny how auto makers are charging a premium for small light weight vehicles now.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by ecoboy

Looking at Insight manual, Honda Civic VX hatchback, and Geo. Geo is last on list as it is 3 cylinder and have concerns about pulling 600 lb motorcycle.

I would NOT suggest trying to tow that much with an Insight in your neck of the woods. In flat country, maybe, but you will be in 2nd gear on every hill. Even without a load, I have to go to 3rd for 5-6%, and may have to drop to 2nd occasionally to get speed back up.

[Baltothewolf]

I get 68ish, and I pull a 6% grade every day. Not too shabby eh?

I love my insight, but I would jump at the chance (money permitting) to toss a VX engine with 3.73 gears from a HX in an insight. Would still get 55-65 with a little effort but have 50% more power to play with, and turbo kits for civics are a dime a dozen.

The insight is old, and it definitely shows it. Inside the cabin is SUPER loud, it's uncomfortable, and slow. I know it gets good MPG, and that's why I drive it, but I have been considering getting a spark (non EV) since driving one recently. If you upgrade all the above complaints, which can be done, you will be in the hole about 3-5k.

I also don't recommend an insight to anybody anymore, even if they drive 50+ miles to work. I have learned that a lot of people can't handle replacing the IMA battery when it's time, and get really bad battery anxiety. I'm honestly tired of hearing about it. Even if you only get 55mpg on average (that's about 75mph with the A/C on driving semi aggressive) you will still save enough in gas (at 3$ a gallon) to replace the battery 3 times in 10 years/100,000 miles. If you get a good vendor battery (hybrid revolt or bumblebee) it can easily last 10 years as long as you do routine discharge/recharge cycles and drive the car every day.

[Ecky]

Well, buy an Insight that doesn't need work then! Mine has been rock solid, I feel more comfortable and secure about taking it on long trips than any other vehicle I've owned. And, unlike most other vehicles, I feel like miles are nearly irrelevant in this one, so long as it's not burning oil and the IMA light isn't on. Yours was a bit of a beater, Balto, and buying a project is always a headache.

With underbody panels on and something other than RE92's, the Insight isn't actually all that loud, IMO. Most of the cabin noise is from overinflated tires that are loud to begin with, on bad roads. The difference between Michelin Energy Savers and Potenzas is actually pretty huge in terms of cabin noise, and if you're willing to sacrifice a little more MPG, dropping the pressure a little helps tremendously.

I've stuffed the doors and dash in mine with bits of high density foam to get rid of all of the tiny rattles (zero left) and it helps with sound insulation. I also have tracked down all of the squeaks and rattles in the engine bay and suspension, and frankly, when most people get in it they comment on how quiet it is. "Oh, I didn't know it was running.

I wouldn't put my mother in an Insight today, but I feel it is and always has been an enthusiast's car.

[pgfpro]

Originally Posted by ecoboy

Yeah your right. The price will double when gas goes back up again. It is worth fixing routine stuff to me for a vehicle that gest 59 mpg. What kind of mpg are you pulling?

Also if the hood, roof and doors are all aluminum I could polish them to a mirror shine. That would be super cool! Who knows maybe if everyone saw the beautiful aluminum underneath they might bring back Gen I. Would cost 30k though. ha,ha,ha

Funny how auto makers are charging a premium for small light weight vehicles now.

On my second tank and it looks like it will be around 70mpg. My first tank was 69 mpg.

[cowmeat]

On my second tank and it looks like it will be around 70mpg. My first tank was 69 mpg.

Yeah, there is that!

I haven't had a sub-70 mpg tank in Ron Burgundy since the beginning of April. I put right around 300 miles a week on this car, week-in/week-out and carpool with my wife at least half the time, saving me even more money, and keeping miles off her new car. I drive both highway and state roads on my daily commute, and I stay right around the speed limit so I'm not bothering all the other drivers.

There's a lot to be said for the G1 Insight, but like Ecky said you have to pick yourself out a good one, not just buy the first one or the cheapest one!

[Baltothewolf]

Originally Posted by Ecky

Well, buy an Insight that doesn't need work then! Mine has been rock solid, I feel more comfortable and secure about taking it on long trips than any other vehicle I've owned. And, unlike most other vehicles, I feel like miles are nearly irrelevant in this one, so long as it's not burning oil and the IMA light isn't on. Yours was a bit of a beater, Balto, and buying a project is always a headache.

With underbody panels on and something other than RE92's, the Insight isn't actually all that loud, IMO. Most of the cabin noise is from overinflated tires that are loud to begin with, on bad roads. The difference between Michelin Energy Savers and Potenzas is actually pretty huge in terms of cabin noise, and if you're willing to sacrifice a little more MPG, dropping the pressure a little helps tremendously.

I've stuffed the doors and dash in mine with bits of high density foam to get rid of all of the tiny rattles (zero left) and it helps with sound insulation. I also have tracked down all of the squeaks and rattles in the engine bay and suspension, and frankly, when most people get in it they comment on how quiet it is. "Oh, I didn't know it was running.

I wouldn't put my mother in an Insight today, but I feel it is and always has been an enthusiast's car.

Yea I run 55-60psi haha. I did deflate my tires to 38psi front 34 rear and I noticed a difference but compared to something like the spark, it's still loud.

I thought about buying sound deadening material to quiet the cabin, it's on my giant list of things to get done.

Mine was quite the beater. However I wasn't really talking about my car, I work on 50-80 insights and the amount of whining and *****ing about the problems with these cars is getting old. Most of it happens because people buy these cars without knowing what they are getting into, and some buy them knowing and still complain!! It sucks but it is what it is I guess.

[Xist]

Would it be ethical to put up a sign "$750 guaranteed for your running Insight?"
I am sure that you could find a happier owner!

[ecoboy]

Originally Posted by Baltothewolf

Yea I run 55-60psi haha. I did deflate my tires to 38psi front 34 rear and I noticed a difference but compared to something like the spark, it's still loud.

I thought about buying sound deadening material to quiet the cabin, it's on my giant list of things to get done.

Mine was quite the beater. However I wasn't really talking about my car, I work on 50-80 insights and the amount of whining and *****ing about the problems with these cars is getting old. Most of it happens because people buy these cars without knowing what they are getting into, and some buy them knowing and still complain!! It sucks but it is what it is I guess.

So if you work on 50 to 80 of them maybe one of those whiners wants to get rid of theirs? I am fairly mechanically inclined and have rebuilt 40 year old Honda CB750s I think I am up the the challenge of balancing the batteries and the other chores that come from owing an old car.

The payback is worth it. With a 2003 Jeep it is just like throwing money out the window.

[hamsterpower]

You said it yourself, NY is picky at inspection time. They are not going to like a VX engine in an insight.
Also aluminum does not rust but it still corrodes with salt. I have had numerous aluminum Honda parts crumble on my civics over the years.
Hate to say it but if your goal is to spend the least on gas and repairs- lease a new car.