Yes, I got another Insight - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

Gasoline Fumes · 03-09-2022, 12:33 AM

This Insight was offered as a free parts car with a lost title. I can't resist a free Insight! It was owned by a solar company that used to have a fleet of Insights. This was the last one. They had used it for parts, but very few parts were actually removed. I missed out on another Insight they had recently donated to an NPR station. This one was saved by its missing title. It couldn't be donated without a title.

I drove the 300+ miles from NY to MA, removed the Insight's front bumper cover, installed my custom Insight tow bar on the front bumper beam, and dragged this little Honda home on ancient tires. It had been sitting for about a dozen years, but luckily indoors, so the tires looked OK. I had a full set of extra wheels/tires with me if I needed them.

I got a lot of loose parts with the car. Most parts belonged to it, but were removed and in boxes. In the rear storage bin, under some parts, was a 3-ring binder. It contained some service records and service info. But the best part was finding the signed, but not dated, "lost" title in the binder! Suddenly it's not a parts car! Fuel and tolls added up to almost $150. Still not bad for a rare aluminum car!

ScanGaugeE reported 22 MPG round-trip for the 3.4L V6 5-speed Tacoma. Slightly better MPG with the Insight behind it! Lower speeds while towing probably made the difference, but I can't help wondering if the Insight improved the truck's aerodynamics.

Gasoline Fumes · 03-09-2022, 12:50 AM

Of course a free Insight that sat for 12 years with 341,066 miles on it isn't without problems.

The IMA (hybrid) battery and its associated parts came in boxes. I could probably put together at least one working battery out of all the not-so-great battery packs I have. But I don't mind driving an Insight without the electric assist.

The brake pedal goes to the floor. Probably the brake lines. I'll investigate when the ground is less muddy.

I did not hear the fuel pump and it was not starting. I had power going to the pump and the pump would not run with 12 volts applied directly to it. I put a used fuel pump in it, drained the 12 year old fuel, poured in 5 gallons of fresh 90 octane E0, and it fired up on the first try. After I knew it ran OK, I changed the oil and sent a sample to Blackstone Labs. I'll post the results when I get them.

It came with a stack of receipts for various OEM transmission parts. Based on that, I'm assuming the transmission was rebuilt. It won't go into 5th gear or reverse, so I'm assuming it wasn't rebuilt very well! I have a Honda Civic Hybrid transmission that I can install for now. It has better gearing for an Insight with hybrid assist anyway. I'll eventually fix the original transmission.