First Drive in 2005 Insight
This past Thursday, Goodson Honda North in Houston called to inform me that they received the '05 silver 5-speed that I held with a deposit.
So, took the day off Friday and drove to Houston from Baton Rouge to go pick up the new Insight. Drove my '98 Dakota to do the trade-in thing. Got 19.8 mpg with the truck on the trip over.
Got the car after doing all the paperwork and drove it around Houston during Friday night traffic, and then Saturday to go to the rodeo parade downtown. Was still getting used to the car, but managed 59 mpg around town.
Midday Saturday we took off to come back home, traveling the 610 loop and then I-10 into Baton Rouge. This is where is got fun.
What a blast to drive!
I have read most of posts from this site and InsightCentral, so I was wanting to see, hear and feel what it was like on a long road trip. Yes, it's a small compact car, you feel all the road imperfections. The sound system isn't great, but it works fine for me (after years of being around jet engines, my ears aren't the same). Wish the CD player would handle WMA's. It was still plenty comfortable, stopped for a meal in Lafayette. Good to stretch out the legs.
Once up to speed on the interstate, it was easy to see the FCD show the lean burn, and see/feel the purge cycle. At first, the most mpg I could get while staying anywhere close to the speed limit was about 61 mpg.
Then a tandem trailer 18 wheeler came up slowly behind me, cruising slightly faster then me. When he passed me, I picked up the pace to match his speed, but stayed about 3-4 car lengths behind (could still see his side mirrors). By this time, the mpg's went to 70-75 with a speed of 63-65 miles per hour.
We stayed together for the majority of the trip.
I was very impressed with this first drive in the car, it's mpg capabilities. I'm even more impressed with some of the other hyper-milers I read about, I now know what it takes to get these big MPG numbers (80-90-100).
Have to wait and see how she does on the daily 30 mile commute to work, mainly backroads.
Things to do:
Order floor mats
install the stainless steel dead pedal plate
Pump up tires to 45 psig (dealer set them according to sticker inside the door)
go buy all the 0-20 mobil 1 that I can find
Really considering the Husco armrest, that would add to the comfort level.
I'm new to the hybrid driving experience, but I think I'm gonna like it!
Thanks to everyone for the driving tips and sharing your ideas.
Don
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