| This Insight has had over $5,800 worth of new and recent parts and service, details of which are further down in the description. Keep that in mind when comparing this car to the others listed online. And it’s best to view this description on a desktop or laptop computer. A smartphone won’t give you the same details. |
This is a 2003 Honda Insight Hybrid finished in New Formula Red with the gray interior. It’s powered by a hybrid gasoline-electric powertrain (hence the name Hybrid) consisting of an all aluminum 1.0 liter 3 cylinder VTEC-E gas engine coupled to a battery powered electric motor known as the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA). Power is then routed to a conventional 5-speed manual transmission that drives the front wheels. This powertrain combined with a light weight body, excellent aerodynamics and numerous gas saving features, allows the Insight to average mpgs in the 60’s in normal driving and over 70 mpg without much effort.
If you are already familiar with the Insight, you may want to skip over the next few paragraphs that give a comprehensive and detailed overview of the car, and go straight to the pictures and description.
| EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FIRST GENERATION HONDA INSIGHT
A hybrid powertrain combines the best features of two different propulsion systems into one integrated seamless powerplant. An internal combustion engine produces little power and torque at idle and low engine speeds but greater power as the RPMs increase. An electric motor on the other hand puts out its maximum torque at ZERO rpm. What that means is you can utilize the maximum torque output of the electric motor when accelerating from a stop, and the greater power output of the gas engine at higher RPMs for cruising at highway speeds, or any combination of both at speeds in between, to optimize both acceleration and fuel economy. Additional benefits of this system are regenerative braking that makes use of energy that other cars waste while braking and coasting by recharging the battery pack, and engine cut-off at stop lights when other cars are wasting gas idling. The Insight’s layout consists of a 10-killowatt 22-pound thin electric motor sandwiched between the engine and transmission to boost the car’s performance when needed. During coasting and braking the motor also serves as a generator (a.k.a. regenerative braking) to recharge a 144 volt nickel-metal hydride battery pack located behind the seats. Think of this IMA system as a supercharger that provides additional performance without using much energy, and in fact, because it recovers the Insight’s momentum to recharge the battery pack, it’s more efficient than any supercharger could ever be. The engine doesn’t have an alternator. The IMA keeps the high voltage battery pack charged and an inverter powers most 12 volt electricals including keeping the 12V battery charged, which itself is mainly used just to power up the IMA control modules when you first turn the key. The other key component of this Insight Hybrid’s powertrain is the 5-speed manual transmission. It uses widely spaced gears for maximizing engine output that provides brisk acceleration from a stoplight, while a high top gear ratio allows for effortless highway cruising. In fact, at 60 mph, the engine is only turning at 2,100 rpm, and at 75 mph just 2,600 rpm which is very low for such a small engine and which contributes to the excellent gas mileage. The Insight Hybrid has a few other tweaks to save fuel including an extensive use of composite and aluminum body panels and inner structural components, aerodynamic rear wheel fender skirts, smooth profile and light weight aluminum wheels, special tires that reduce rolling resistance, a mini front air dam and rear spoiler along with numerous underbody panels which give the car a drag coefficient of just 0.25 (one of the lowest of any production car), electrically assisted power steering that reduces parasitic losses on the engine, and probably the best feature, an idle shutoff mode called Auto Stop that turns off the engine as you come to a stop and provides you with an eerie silence at most every traffic light. Quite soothing after a long day at the office. The IMA automatically restarts the engine the instant you put the transmission in gear. The IMA starts the engine most of the time, and in fact, you may go for years without ever using the conventional 12 volt starter. About the only time the 12V starter is used is if the IMA battery is discharged from the car sitting a few months. When you combine all these features with a low curb weight of under 2,000 pounds, the Insight earns an EPA mileage rating of 61/70 MPG city/highway. The highest of any production car out there then, and 20 years later, even now. And those numbers are obtained in a lab under simulated driving conditions. You can do a bit better with just a minor adjustment to your driving style. I’m getting mid 60’s mpg overall with a combination of highway and around town driving and no special driving skills. For a 1,000 mile highway drive earlier this year, I was getting in the upper 70’s mpg by limiting speed to 60-65 mph. And if you practice any hypermiling techniques, you can get even higher figures, with some owners reporting continuously breaking the 80 mpg mark and even exceeding the 100 mpg barrier for short distances. I was able to get low 80’s mpg for a 190 mile stretch of flat highway at a steady 55 mph. (Disclaimer: YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY.) Combined with the Insight’s 10.6 gallon fuel tank, it’s hard not to get at least 500 or 600 miles between fill-ups. Not only is the Insight economical to drive, it’s also economical to maintain. Most systems have low or reduced maintenance components. For example, instead of a timing belt that needs periodic replacement, the Insight engine uses a steel timing chain that should last the life of the car. It uses iridium tipped spark plugs with 105,000 mile service intervals, extended life coolant with a 120,000 mile service interval, and a fuel filter that never needs servicing. The oil capacity for the small 1.0 liter engine is just 3 quarts so even full synthetic oil changes are under $30. And the Insight has a Maintenance Required indicator system that illuminates a light on the dash when routine service is due. A car driven primarily on the highway requires less maintenance than one subject to city use with constant stopping and starting. While the Insight doesn’t cost much to drive or maintain, it’s also well built and very reliable. It’s not unusual to see these cars going strong with mileages over 300,000 miles. There are a few dozen that have topped 400K miles, a handful that hit the half million mile mark and there is reportedly an owner that uses the car in his courier business that has over 600,000 miles. The biggest concern to many new Insight buyers is the battery pack. In reality, there is little reason to worry too much about the battery pack wearing out on an Insight. First of all, unlike other Hybrids like Toyota’s Prius where the battery is integral to the powertrain, such that if it quits the car is undriveable, on the Insight, that is not an issue. The Insight battery pack can be disconnected and the car driven indefinitely in that condition. Remember, the Integrated Motor Assist is just an assist, like a supercharger. In steady highway driving and other driving situations that don’t require lots of power, you would be hard pressed to tell that there was anything unusual if the battery was disconnected, and the gas mileage would be nearly identical as with the battery connected. The only situation where mileage might drop is in city driving where the Auto Stop feature would be disabled, and even then, the reduction in mileage would be minimal. After all, it’s still a 1.0 liter powered sub 2,000 pound aerodynamic car. In fact, it’s quite common for owners of Insights in less than nice condition where it’s not worth spending much money on, i.e., with body damage or other mechanical issues, that have a bad battery pack to just disconnect it instead of spending the money on a new battery pack, and keep driving it like always. For those that do want to replace the battery pack, there are far better aftermarket replacements available that cost much less than a Honda pack, as well as conversions to a lithium-ion pack. In addition, since it’s not the ENTIRE battery pack that goes bad but individual cells within the pack, you can replace just those bad cells. And this car is equipped with a grid charger harness, details of which are mentioned further in the description, and the use of which, extends battery pack life considerably. As to the battery pack in this car, it has a five year old Greentec battery. It works excellent and feels very strong. It has never set an IMA code or Check Engine Light in the18 months and 6,000 miles I’ve driven it between the two cars I’ve had it in. That the car has a grid charger harness, indicates that it was likely well maintained previously, even though I haven’t done any grid charging on it myself yet. The first generation Insight was a radical new design for Honda, and one that turns heads going down the road and prompts many questions from passersby at the mall or in the supermarket parking lot. If you’re the least bit shy, don’t buy this car! I warn you. It’s still a fresh design for most people since few have even seen it close up. With only about 4,000 sold the first year (which is about how many Civics are sold in just one week), and a total of 17,000 made for the entire seven year production run from 2000 to 2006, it’s a rare car to see on the road. If you’re tired of driving the same boring cookie cutter designed car that everyone else is driving, this car may be for you. If you are into being green, then besides getting great gas mileage, the Insight is also certified by CARB (California Air Resources Board) to be an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV). And you don’t give up anything in comfort and room with the Insight. Headroom and legroom is plenty for all but the tallest basketball players and there is no claustrophobic feeling like you get in some other small cars. Driving it is also no different as it accelerates and merges into traffic with ease and keeps up with 75-80 mph highway speeds without breaking a sweat. In many states, the Insight may be eligible for numerous perks such as being able to drive alone in the HOV carpool lanes without a passenger, being exempt from annual emissions inspections, free or reduced parking rates at downtown or airport parking lots, etc. Check your state or local government for more details. Its exterior style is very unique, combining sleek form with aerodynamic function. From its stylish lines and sweeping curves, it incorporates numerous design elements to create a look that is like no other car on the road. From the slightly bulging headlights up front, to the bright finish aerodynamic profile wheels and fender skirts on the sides, to a roof mounted euro style shorty antenna up top and to a two window rear hatch in the back, it looks futuristic from any angle without being flashy. But if you like high tech design, you will really like the interior. Observe the electroluminescent style instrument cluster with displays for instant, average and long term fuel mileage. Touch the small diameter dimpled grip steering wheel that fits your hands perfectly, and admire the two-tone sport weave fabric on the seats and door panels. Try the buttons and switches and notice the precise soft-touch feel as they are engaged. Not only are the colors elegant but all the textures have a rich feel and look. From the perforations on the steering wheel, the graining pattern on the dash and door panels, or the layout of knobs and switches on the dash, everything looks and feels like it came from a more expensive car. |
This Insight is fully equipped with all the desirable safety, comfort and convenience features and equipment including:
- 1.0 liter 3 cylinder VTEC-E gas engine with Auto Stop mode
- Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) electric motor
- 5-speed manual transmission
- Air conditioning with electronic climate control and cabin air filter
- Power windows with drivers express down
- Power door locks
- Factory AM/FM stereo
- Eurostyle roof mounted shorty antenna
- Remote keyless entry
- Reclining bucket seats
- Two-tone Sport cloth interior
- Driver and passenger seatback storage pockets
- Electroluminescent style instrument cluster with tachometer, digital speedometer, and multi-function displays for instant and average fuel mileage, two trip odometers, etc.
- Front center console with two cup holders
- Rear console with storage bin
- 12V power outlet
- Tinted glass
- Clear lens headlights with jewel effect reflectors
- Intermittent wipers
- Rear window wiper and washer
- Dome light with driver and passenger map lights
- Dual power body color outside rear view mirrors
- Body color door handles
- Visor vanity mirror
- Remote fuel door release
- Engine immobilizer theft deterrent system
- Aerodynamic and light weight bright finish aluminum wheels
- Locking glovebox
- Behind the seats storage pocket net
- Cargo area light
- Cargo net tie-downs
- Child seat strap anchor
- Rear window defroster
- Rear mini spoiler
- Electrically assisted rack and pinion power steering
- 4 wheel anti-lock brakes
And many more items too numerous to mention. In addition, the car has these useful and desirable modifications and enhancements installed, details of which are mentioned later in the description:
- Grid charger harness with convenient connection port in rear cargo storage compartment
- Maximum regeneration and assist off, switches
- FAS (Forced Auto Stop) switch
- Short shifter
- Matte black vinyl wrap on roof
- Honda logo pin striping
- Mini air deflector on top of rear hatch glass
- Gas cap holder
- Daewoo Matiz rear springs
- Fumoto oil drain valve
CLEAR LENS HEADLIGHTS WITH JEWEL EFFECT REFLECTORS:
HONDA LOGO PIN STRIPING:
BODY COLOR MIRRORS AND DOOR HANDLES:
ULTRA LOW EMISSIONS VEHICLE:
MATTE BLACK ROOF WRAP MOD:
ROOF MOUNTED EUROSTYLE SHORTY RADIO ANTENNA :
MINI AIR DEFLECTOR MOD:
REAR SPOILER:
GAS CAP HOLDER MOD:
BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE92 LOW ROLLING RESISTANCE TIRES:
SIDE WINDOW DEFROSTER VENTS:
INSIGHT LOGO DOOR SILLS:
REMOTE FUEL DOOR RELEASE:
LEFT STORAGE BIN:
ASSIST OFF AND FAS CLUTCH SWITCH:
66 LIFETIME MPG:
70’s TO 80’s MPG POSSIBLE:
AUTO STOP INDICATOR LIGHT:
DUAL FRONT CUP HOLDERS AND POWER OUTLET:
MAXIMUM REGEN AND FAS MOD SWITCHES:
REAR CENTER CONSOLE WITH STORAGE TRAY:
DUAL SEATBACK STORAGE POCKETS:
EXCELLENT BEHIND THE SEAT CARGO ROOM:
REAR STORAGE POCKET NET:
DRIVER’S VANITY MIRROR:
DOME AND INDIVIDUAL MAP LIGHTS:
LARGE FLAT CARGO FLOOR:
CARGO AREA LIGHT:
DUAL REAR WINDOWS:
FRONT CARGO TIE DOWN HOOKS:
REAR CARGO TIE DOWN HOOKS:
CHILD SEAT TETHER POINT:
REAR STORAGE COMPARTMENT UNDER LOAD FLOOR:
SPARE TIRE UNDER STORAGE COMPARTMENT:
JACK AND ALL THE TOOLS:
HIDDEN STORAGE AREA WITH STORAGE COMPARTMENT LINER REMOVED:
CLEAN SPARE TIRE WELL:
INSULATED HOOD:
The paint itself is beautiful and shiny throughout, and this shade of New Formula Red just about glows in the sunlight. It has been fully detailed, first with Meguiar’s Iron Decon to remove embedded iron particles, then the paint was cleaned with Meguiar’s Smooth Surface Clay System to remove bonded contaminants, polished with Meguiar’s M110 Mirror Glaze polishing compound, then topped off with Meguiar’s M27 Pro Ceramic Hybrid Sealant for a durable long lasting brilliant high gloss shine. The headlights were detailed with the 3M headlight polishing system for a crystal clear look, then sealed with 3M Headlight Clearcoat. The black trim was coated with Cerakote Trim Coat and the tires with Meguiar’s Endurance Tire Gel. All the glass, moldings, trim and emblems are excellent. The car has aftermarket window tint. Keep the tint on at your discretion, as I can’t be responsible if your state has a problem with it or if you get a ticket because of it. I replaced the wheels with ones from a low mileage car and they look great. The wheel spats, aka fender skirts fit great and the front strakes are tight to the bumper. The car doesn’t appear to have ever been wrecked as it still has the original VIN stickers on all the body panels except for a replacement left fender and repainted rear bumper, indicating it’s had no major accidents.
Front bumper:
Hood:
Left fender:
Right fender:
Left door:
Right door:
Left quarter panel:
Right quarter panel:
Rear hatch:
In addition, this Insight has all it’s underbody panels installed. If a mechanic forgets to replace a panel after an oil change or you run over a curb and break one off, your gas mileage may suffer as the aerodynamics under a car are just as important as above it. If you are looking at other Insights for sale as well, check underneath and make sure all the following panels are still intact as they are not cheap to replace.
Front aluminum underbody panel:
Front plastic underbody panels:
Rear underbody panels:
Right bumper air deflector:
Left bumper air deflector:
Rear bumper:
The interior is in great condition as well. It has very nice upholstery, dashboard, door panels and headliner with no cracks, rips or tears or any significant signs of wear. It’s common for the driver’s seat outer bolster to be worn and torn through on Insights over 150,000 miles so I replaced the entire seat back cover with one from a low mileage car. The car doesn‘t appear to have been smoked in. In fact, it’s not even equipped with a lighter. The cargo area is nice and the engine compartment has been fully detailed and is clean enough to eat off of.
Mechanically it runs and drives great too. The engine runs strong and feels smooth while accelerating and throughout the cruising range and it starts instantly whether hot or cold. The steering wheel is on dead center going down the road with no shakes or vibrations at speed, the brakes are firm with no pedal pulsations or pulling to one side when stopping and the suspension is tight. It has an excellent set of four identical original equipment low rolling resistance Bridgestone Potenza RE92 tires. If you are looking at other Insights for sale as well, make sure they also have these same tires, as any other brand will reduce your gas mileage 5-10 mpg. They have very good tread and should go for another 25,000 to 30,000 miles. They have been balanced with weights mounted on the inside of the wheel for a super clean look. The car has a real Bridgestone spare tire in an age when many cars just come with a can of tire sealant and an air pump.
The car was fully checked out and serviced with over $5,800 worth of new or recent parts, maintenance and repairs with original Honda or other name brand parts, so that only your enjoyment rather than your immediate attention will be required on delivery. Some of the items checked or serviced include:
- New Mobil 1 synthetic 0W-20 oil change
- New Honda oil filter
- New air filter by previous owner
- New Honda air box rubber mount
- New cabin air filter by previous owner
- New blower motor cleaning
- New throttle body cleaning
- New EGR plate cleaning
- New EGR passage cleaning
- New EGR valve cleaning
- New WVE/NGK EGR valve gasket
- New VTEC solenoid screen cleaning
- Recent PCV valve
- New Honda NGK “A” stamped iridium spark plugs to match A cylinder head
- Two year old Everstart Maxx 3-year warranty 12 volt battery
- New Honda upgraded braided engine ground cable
- New Honda upgraded braided transmission ground cable
- New valve adjustment
- New Honda valve cover gasket
- New coolant flush with distilled water
- New Honda Long Life Type 2 (blue) coolant change
- New Bando serpentine belt
- Very good front brake pads
- Very good front brake rotors
- Very good rear brake shoes
- Very good rear brake drums
- Recent rear hub and bearings
- New hand brake adjustment
- New Valvoline Synthetic Dot 4 brake fluid flush and change
- New Valvoline Synthetic Dot 4 clutch fluid flush and change
- New Exedy clutch kit including:
- Exedy Japan clutch disc
- Honda Japan pressure plate
- Honda NSK Japan throwout bearing (not in kit, bought separately)
- Honda NTN Japan pilot bearing (not in kit, bought separately)
- Honda Japan pressure plate
- New transmission rebuild with Honda Japan bearings and seals including:
- Honda input shaft seal
- Honda input shaft bearing
- Honda upper slotted countershaft bearing
- Honda upper countershaft bearing
- Honda lower countershaft roller bearing
- Honda mainshaft bearing
- Honda left and right differential bearings
- Syncro mod to prevent 3-2 downshift grind
- Honda left and right axle shaft seals
- Redline MTL manual transmission fluid
- Honda input shaft bearing
- New Honda alignment by previous owner
- Daewoo Matiz rear springs by previous owner
- New Tuff Support hatch lift supports by previous owner
- New Honda decals on rear hatch and left quarter window (set of four) by previous owner
- New 3M window tint by previous owner
- New Honda pedal pads by previous owner
- New dash buttons by previous owner
- Recent set of four Bridgestone Portenza RE-92 tires
Photos of some of the parts replaced, checked or serviced:
Parts replaced:
Oil change:
Fumoto oil drain valve:
Oil filter:
Air filter:
Cabin air filter:
Blower motor cleaning:
Throttle body cleaning:
EGR plate cleaning:
EGR passage cleaning:
EGR valve cleaning:
EGR valve gasket:
VTEC solenoid screen cleaning:
PCV valve:
Spark plugs with the proper amount of anti-seize on the threads:
A stamped plugs to match A cylinder head:
Battery:
Engine ground cable:
Transmission ground cable:
Valve adjustment:
Valve cover gasket:
Engine SUPER CLEAN internally:
Coolant flushed until water is clear from the radiator:
As well as the engine block drain plug:
Serpentine belt:
Front brake pads:
Front brake rotors:
Front brake rotors 17 mm new, 15 mm minimum thickness:
Front brakes:
Rear brake shoes:
Rear brake drums:
Rear brake drums 179.3mm new 181mm maximum:
Rear hub and bearings:
Hand brake adjustment:
Brake fluid flush and change:
Clutch fluid flush and change:
Clutch replacement:
Clutch disc:
Pressure plate:
Throwout bearing:
Pilot bearing:
Flywheel dressed:
Transmission rebuilt:
Differential bearings:
Input shaft seal:
Input shaft bearing:
Countershaft needle bearing:
Countershaft and mainshaft:
Syncro mod:
Left axle seal:
Right axle seal:
Transmission mount:
Rear springs:
Rear hatch lift supports:
And finally, the on-board diagnostics were scanned and show no codes stored, and more important, that all available emissions system readiness monitors have been completed. What that means is the CHECK ENGINE light wasn’t reset in order to turn it off to hide an existing fault. If an emissions component or the IMA battery system has a bad part causing the CHECK ENGINE or IMA light to illuminate, some of the emissions readiness monitors will be incomplete plus the car won’t pass an emissions inspection. Some sellers will reset the CHECK ENGINE light to make it appear like there are no issues at the time of sale, but the light will come back on shortly afterwards. It can take hundreds of miles for the readiness monitors to run to completion, so the fact that the readiness monitors have been completed (scanner shows Monitors Incomplete: 0) indicates the CHECK ENGINE light hasn’t been reset and that at the time the car was scanned, it should pass an emissions inspection. (That isn’t a guaranty that the light won’t come on in the future as a fault can occur at any time without warning, but I have put 1,500 miles on the car this year without the light coming on.)
Other than routine oil and filter changes, with all the above mentioned servicing the car has recently received, you should be good to go for another 100,000 miles before requiring major maintenance.
Overall this is a super sharp car that looks absolutely fantastic in this New Formula Red color. If you’re going to buy a car in general and an Insight specifically, you might as well get the hottest possible color they made. Sure, blue is nice, silver is good if a bit bland, and Citrus is great but nearly impossible to find, but only this shade of red really catches everyone’s eye. Remember, as you step out of your home every day, and as you set eyes on your Insight, there is nothing like a bright red car to get you feeling excited about your day ahead. You’ll probably be driving this car for a few years, so just ask yourself, would you rather wake up every morning to a New Formula Red Insight, or just some other color you “settled” for. You’re sure to get many questions and complements about it at the mall or supermarket parking lot from total strangers. If you don’t want attention, or if you are the least bit shy, don’t buy this car, I warn you. It’s been a southern car from North and South Carolina and Georgia most of its life, which probably explains why it’s so clean.
The car comes with two flip key remotes, a master key with key code tag and an emergency wallet key:
The owners manual:
A front license plate bracket if your state requires one:
And a conveniently located grid charger harness port in the cargo storage compartment (charger NOT included):
A grid charger is a device similar to conventional battery charger that can greatly extend the life of a battery pack in a hybrid vehicle. The battery pack consists of 120 individual 1.2 volt D cell size nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries. Over time, the voltage and capacity of the individual batteries will begin to vary and cause an imbalance that reduces the overall performance of the entire pack. A grid charger can restore the balance by discharging the pack uniformly and then charging it back to it’s maximum potential. And this isn’t something you have to do every day either, it’s like a maintenance item that you can perform once or twice a year and can be done overnight. In addition to the grid charger itself, the car needs a harness to connect it to the battery pack. This car has a Hybrid Automotive grid charger harness that places the plug-in port at a convenient location in the under cargo floor storage compartment. (Grid charger itself not included.) The harness and the labor to install it, which requires the removal of the battery pack, would cost close to $500. If you want a grid charger that is plug and play to this harness, go to Hybridautomotive.com to see their grid chargers. Alternatively, you can sometimes find used ones for less than half the price on Ebay, or you can build one yourself even cheaper with details found in the hybrid car forums online.
Rear hybrid electronic components:
Newer Greentec hybrid battery:
This car also has the brake and clutch switch modification that lets you get maximum regeneration while coasting without having to step on the brake pedal, and also to shut off assist manually, and it has the Forced Auto Stop (FAS) modification. The IMA recharges the battery whenever the car is coasting or you step on the brakes. The amount of regen is greater when you use the brakes and many drivers can achieve maximum regeneration by just lightly stepping on the brake pedal but before there is any actual momentum robbing braking action at the wheels. It can be a fine line between allowing the car to regen with the brake pedal without actually slowing it down by energy wasting braking. The brake switch mod simulates stepping on the brakes but no actual braking action is utilized, by holding down the momentary switch mounted conveniently in the center console where your right hand can rest comfortably on the handbrake. The clutch switch mod shuts off assit from the IMA and can help the engine run smoother and stay in lean burn longer on flat roads, and it can save battery assist for times when you want to use it most. In other words, save up the assist for when you climb a long uphill grade by not using it during moderate hills. Press the white switch above storage bin on the left dashboard for this function and the red light next to it illuminates to remind you it’s activated. Forced Auto Stop lets the engine shut off at higher than normal speeds when coasting to save gas. Normally when you come to a stop with the shifter in neutral, the engine will shut off at around 20-22 mph. FAS lets the engine shut off at higher speeds to save more gas such as on long mountain downgrades. (Use common sense and obey all local laws on coasting.) To engage FAS, press the white clutch switch on the left dash so the red light next to it is on. With the transmission in neutral, lightly press the brake pedal while pressing the red FAS switch in the center console next to the max regen switch for a second or two. The engine should shut off and remain off until you shift the transmission into any gear.
Other modifications include a short shifter that reduces shift throws for crisper and quicker shifting. It only increases effort slightly and can easily be returned to stock. Daewoo Matiz rear springs improve handling especially when carrying any weight in the cargo area. The gas cap holder mod lets you hang the gas cap conveniently on the fuel door instead of leaving it on the roof and possibly driving off. The Fumoto oil drain valve lets you drain the oil without having to remove and install a drain plug, which because the oil pan is made of magnesium, is very easy to strip the threads especially if you take the car to quick lube places.
It’s no secret that Honda lost money on every one of the early Insight models it sold but that was the price to pay for cutting your teeth on the new technology that wouldn’t pay off for years to come. Some have speculated that it cost Honda upwards of $50,000 to build each Insight, while Honda insiders put that figure at under $30K. Regardless, the price new of this Honda Insight was over $20,000 back in 2003! CLICK HERE to see the original price sticker, but because the Insight was a hot model, most dealers were adding additional market adjustment markups (read rip off), so with tax, title and tags, you were lucky if you got ANY change back from your $25,000 bill!
If you are serious about buying an Insight that is ready to drive, this is about as low as they go in this condition. Sure, you can find many of these cars that look nice and seem like good deals in the $2,000 to $3,000 range, but if after getting it home you have to spend another $5,000 for a battery, transmission rebuild, clutch job, paint and bodywork, upholstery and other common repairs, it’s no bargain. Remember, you can get a great deal online with prices sometimes way below retail, but nobody is going to “steal” a vehicle and no seller is going to give one away either. Also when comparing prices to the other Insights listed for sale, remember the things that you won’t have to spend money on, soon after getting it home. With this car you won’t have to spend $2,000 or $3,000 on paint and body work, you won't have to spend $2,500 on a new IMA battery, you won’t have to spend $2,000 on a transmission rebuild or $800 for a clutch job, you won’t have to spend $500 on a new set of tires, you won’t have to spend $300 on a complete front brake service, you won’t have to spend $300 on a complete rear brake service, you won’t have to spend $300 on a coolant and brake flush, you won’t have to spend $300 on a valve adjustment, tune-up and filters service and you won’t have to spend $300 on any upcoming scheduled maintenance. With many of the other listings on Ebay, Craigslist, Facebook or on dealers lots, you’re lucky if they even check the oil before delivery. When comparing this car to the others, also keep in mind that this car has a new Greentec IMA battery, a rebuilt transmission and new clutch, runs great, is fully serviced, hasn’t been smoked in and is very clean. Also check if they come with both keys because a new one from the dealer, with programming, is going to cost you $200. And if you lost that only key, it’ll cost three times as much to replace the security module plus the towing charge.
| Gas prices are around $3 a gallon in most parts of the country and over $4 in most California stations, and analysts predict it won’t be long before they start rising by spring and summer as more people hit the road to travel. This is in addition to the usual upward rise in car prices during the spring. When that happens, the demand for these cars will skyrocket along with their prices. Remember, the time between now and Christmas is when car prices are the lowest. And back just a few years ago when the AVERAGE national price for gas peaked at over $4, these cars were selling in the $8,000 to $10,000 range in similar condition and mileage. So if you’ve been putting off a car purchase waiting for a better deal to come along, don’t wait much longer as prices won’t be any cheaper than they are right now for these cars if gas prices rise much higher. |
If you are looking for a nice Insight in excellent condition at a good price, then this car is hard to beat. Also remember that I don’t charge dealer processing fees or document fees that many other listings have for $200 or more and bury in their fine print. Located in the Suburban Washington DC area. Delivery possible at reasonable cost. For more information email me at atikovi@email.com