Speciality vehicles do one thing really well at the expense of others:
- Vans and trucks - Carry a lot at the expense of good performance and fuel economy
- Sports cars - Great performance at the expense of fuel economy and room
- Large luxury sedans - Carry a lot of people in comfort and safety with some loss of fuel economy and performance
The little red list of cons against the Insight in #
26 is almost over-the-top - makes it seem like a Yugo or 1974 Chevy Vega.
I'll agree that 2-3 of those items are signicant, but the list reminds me of the way a trial lawyer rips a defendant.
Rigger, you are right on - the biggest Insight critics are the ones that have not driven one.
Realistic Expectations?
The Accord hybrid has great acceleration, but complaints it's not all that more fuel efficient than the conventional Accord. This is the reverse of the whining about the mpg champ Insight lacking great acceleration. Does anyone remember their Physics class?
So the 5-speed Insight take 11 secondes to go from zero to 60mph. It took my 1988 CRX HF 12 seconds.
In 1980, the average for 0-60 was 15 seconds. How much speed does everyone really need? When I take the challenge, four out of five pickup trucks can't pass me in my "puny Insight".
Addressing the Insight Limitations (Significant ones in Red - the rest are nit-picks)
- Seats only two - Can't change that
- Limited luggage space - This is the biggest drawback as it can't be improved - only half the behind-the-seat space of the CRX
- Concerns about hybrid battery life - So far, Honda has at least partially covered the cost of bad hybrid battery packs. I think they are good for at least 150,000 miles unless you stress the assist with frequent stop-and-go traffic, mountainous driving, or cruising at 80mph.
- Limited seating space - it has more room than the CRX or Corvette
- Very Hard Door Panel where your Elbow/Arm Rest /Lays - I generally keep my hands on the steering wheel except when shifting
- No acceleration - See the Realistic Expectations? para above. If you find a car in 2006 that performs like a Ferrari and still gets 60mpg, let me know...
- Hard to see out of - This is in reference to the rear quarter panel windows - user the mirrors. The Insight would get lost in a list of vehicles with blind spots as great or greater...
- No significant ugrades in six years of Production - I'm glad Honda even built the Insight! It's still the mpg champ because until lately, the public has been obsessed with size and performance. Of course it could be improved, but it's still as good as it get for economy.
- Factory radio - Don't a lot of people get an after-market stereo anyway?
- Road noise - Not that loud, and the stereo covers that. Ever notice at intersections when your engine is autostoped/off how loud other's stereos are?
- No Center Arm Rest - Upgradeable
- No Foot Rest - Upgradeable