sc1 57.57 mpg

[arcosine]

Quote:
Originally Posted by jessemac View Post
"Just get a 1st gen Insight." 70 mpg lifetime without a lot of effort"


Yes, but consider that I paid $600 for the sc1 car. I can fit 5 adults in my car, plus baggage, a back seat is a necessity. If everyone had a stock insight, there would be no Ecomodder sight and life would be boring.

[jessemac]

I guess i was replying to those who do a lot of expensive time consuming modifications to achieve high mpgs. i have a '01 toyota Echo I get 45 mpgs with. A used one of those is pretty inexpensive and they are famously low maintenance. I guy's advertising one that looks and runs like new with 566,000 miles on it. Amazing car.

[MetroMPG]

Some people enjoy doing eco-modifications! It's a hobby as much as anything else. (Not saying that's arcosine's motivation.)

[arcosine]

It's one of my hobbies. I cycle to work , thus use zero gas, but I don't brag about that (not on this forum anyway). I just think it's amazing that a few simple mods and a different driving attitude one can double the EPA mileage rating. If everyone did this America would consume half the oil, and it could be spent on something useful, like paying down the national debt. A lot of effort goes into style, marketing, image and keeping up with the Joneses. My sc1 has only 132,000 miles. So jessimac, what do you spend your time on?

[jessemac]

I guess my reply was pretty glib. I'm an actor (stage) in san diego. I make my living and my hobby in finding ultra low mpg vehicles in auctions having them restored to perfection by discount body shop guys and selling them for a modest profit. I've bought, repaired and sold 5 1st gen insights and only now can afford to keep one . it's an '06 running with some body damage and 63,000 miles I got for $2500. My own car isa Toyota echo I hyper mile to 50 mpgs. I think I'll sell that and keep the Insight. i have a '00 Insight 77,000 miles runs and looks like new for sale if anyone's interested

[arcosine]

Nice hobby. I never make money on my hobbies, I do it for the interest. Im not good at sales or bargaining. The insights Ive seen looked overpriced, they are neat cars, I like Hondas. $2.5k seems reasonable for a 12 year old car. I wanted 40 mpg, and its hard to believe that I got 63 the last time out.

[jessemac]

I don't have to bargain or sell. I sell the crs for alittle over what I have into them so people generally flock to buy em. The $2500 is for the 2006 Honda Insight ie: 6 years old

[arcosine]

Id imagine in San Diego the cars are rust free. Saturns are nice in that they don't show rust on the plastic body. I just looked on Craigs list, $5500 for a 2001 with 220k miles. Looks like Tango Charlie got a real good deal on his Insight too. What do you do with bad battery packs?

[jessemac]

There is something called a grid charger that ballances the sticks and often restored the batteries. You plug it in making your Insight like a plug in hybrid. Still at some point the IMA battery will fail. A replacement by "Better Battery" reputed to be far superior to the factory battery is $2000

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by jessemac

1st gen insights and only now can afford to keep one . it's an '06 running with some body damage and 63,000 miles I got for $2500.

That's an exceptional price ... if the damage is just cosmetic!

i have a '00 Insight 77,000 miles runs and looks like new for sale if anyone's interested

Feel free to post in the for sale sub-forum.