Tim_M
1484
A True Supercar
This is an awesome long-term summary, and I wish more (read: any) auto magazines would test cars beyond the comical 20-35,000 miles of a standard "long-term" test. That goes double for unconventional vehicles that debut experimental or cutting-edge technologies. It's a true supercar; the relentless focus on optimizing performance (efficiency, not speed) goes so far beyond any conventional cars that comparable vehicles like aircraft, open-wheel race cars, and racing multihulls with carbon wing sails come to mind. A Lamborghini seems like a medieval mace by comparison.
The original Insight was owned by several engineering professors at my college in the early 2000s, and I was hugely impressed by the extent of the consideration given to all elements that you have detailed. After getting to know the original Insight, I had to re-calibrate my understanding of what "technology" really meant in an automotive sense, and most vehicles looked like downright sloppy engineering efforts by comparison. I stopped looking at garbage like "heads-up displays" and "500 horsepower" forced-inducting gas engines as anything more than add-ons to old tech.
Consider keeping this or your next first-gen Insight as a collector's piece even after you retire it from routine driving. It strikes me as a true milestone car that will be remembered as a pioneer for the entire industry. And I'm very happy to see that there are others who enjoy alternative fuel/propulsion autos on watchprosite. I'd like to think there's a happy middle ground between legislated walking and the odious belligerence of "rolling coal."
Best,
Tim This message has been edited by Tim_M on 2016-02-06 06:16:45
Insights about the Honda Insight
INTRODUCTION I was recently asked by Purist KMII to report my experiences and thoughts on our first-generation 2000-2006 Honda Insight. In order to put this story into its full PuristS context, I first confess that I purchased this car from another zealou...
"Essentially, I swapped a watch for a car. That's not such a crazy thing to do... is it?"
THAT watch, a FP Journe Chronometre Souverain , for this Honda... Would you mind if I say it IS a crazy thing to do? LOL!!! Marcelo
Marcelo, I got the "scared to mess up the pretty gold watch" fever, and with the GO already in that status, flipped the CS
One could argue the CS would have been a better watch to keep, but I paid three times as much for the CS as I did the GO. And I like a moon phase complication. Hence ... instant Honda Insight! Mike
Worried about scratches or damage that reduces value
Not fear of having it stolen. And perhaps a gold watch a bit "not my style" or too showy. Cazalea
A Minerva?
I cross-checked my dates and my photo library - and I was working on these two watches around that time back in Feb 2007. I don\'t know much about them (can\'t remember the details) because they belonged to my pal Armin. Mike He had loads of Minerva watch...
One can see you used to do this for a living :)
Wow is all I can say! I was impressed by the Elan report but you have again surpassed yourself - so much more than I have bargained for and a big thanks to you for the time and effort! As you\'ve figured out by now, I am definitely into quirky when it com...
Very nice insight
Impressed with the Insight...and equally amused with the concept of trading a watch for a car. It is exactly one of those statements that will make non watch people go "you guys are nuts!" Back to the car - I\'m impressed with the way it has run over the ...
I feel your pain
Although where I live near the ocean I seldom am forced to use the a/c, it\'s nice to have it. However, on my car when the a/c is engaged the idle-stop is deactivated- so we can have our cool if we need it. I too drove 2nd gen Insight - but only for a sho...
Happy with the 500e?
Not sure how it is selling and seem to remember the press was not too complimentary...
A True Supercar
This is an awesome long-term summary, and I wish more (read: any) auto magazines would test cars beyond the comical 20-35,000 miles of a standard "long-term" test. That goes double for unconventional vehicles that debut experimental or cutting-edge techno...
Thanks for reading, and for your comments
It is a very high-tech car, and Honda\'s objectives in building it remind me of the magnificent Seiko 7T59 movement. Fiscally no doubt it was a sinkhole, but as a learning exercise certainly more useful than a race team ... Thanks for your support! Cazal...
That 7T59 article has me drooling, too :)
Off to check if any are available... Thanks!
Another wonderful review, C.
I've always been fascinated with these. A friend did the full Honda technician course on the Insight and gave me all the tech notes when he retired. I treasure them
I appreciate the input
I have gone through some of those courses: - the Audi allroad training class drove me right away (over 1100 unique parts compared to an A6 wagon!?&$@/ and that\'s just what owners say about the air suspension) - the Honda Element intro class made me buy o...
I liked my Element
And once gave a talk about the Element and Hummer H2, entitled: "Two ways to make a billion dollars in sales in one year" You could either (as GM did) sell 20,000 Hummers at $50,000 each, or (as Honda did) sell 50,000 Elements at $20,000 each. Cazalea