Hey all,

I am trying to conduct a sort of unofficial survey on concerns with hybrid design. I was hoping you all would be so kind enough to let me know any pet peeves you might have about your hybrid. So feel free to just vent about any detail, no matter how small it may be. Thanks so much for your help!

As a side note, one major aspect I'm interested in is determining the acceptance/annoyance, preference and understanding of various gauge executions. So basically I want to know what you like/hate about any aspect of the gauge cluster, including how gauges work and where they are placed. Thanks again!

I'll answer in detail later, but seriously Honda should consider replacing the Insight with the CRX and have three versions like they used to. Combine economies of scale by having the same basic body, but a pocket rocket version (Si), hypermiler version (like my 1988 HF was), middle of the road version. Make the body a shortened version of the Civic to reduce production costs.

The next gen CRX would have a 4/2 cylinder engine like the hybrid Accord. With a little more room, it could seat four like the Mini-Cooper (not that I'd want to have 3 or four passengers for more than a few miles, but it's nice for those situations....)

I would see this as the Insight going mainstream, not dying....

61.5mpg lifetime - 82mpg in recent months

Best Run >
www.cleanmpg.com

"fanatic" is what the lazy call the dedicated

Hi Patrick,

This is quite an opportunity for HCH owners.

I am very curious what your specific job in the hybrid division is. Can you share ?

I'd like to see the Insight battery replaced with the more compact Civic battery, and two small seats added for children. I almost never carry passengers, but I'd at least like to have the option to squeeze them in (like a porsche).


troy

Eric,

I work in Drive Quality, but I can't really say much more than that. I'm an engineer, so I don't really have much contact with the consumer (actually none at all), so I'm basically trying to get a feel of what hybrid owners think. Thanks for your replies so far!

Not a peeve about hybrids, but adding an mpg meter to non-hybrids would be useful for improving gas mpg in cars such as my 2000 Civic HX.
--Walter

Does the HCH have a tachometer ?

That is the gauge I sorely miss on my Prius.

For Honda, include a "trip" display like the Insight has. That way short little trips may be calculated without resetting your "Trip A" or "Trip B" display.

Again, for the HCH. A fold down back seat. Perhaps the introduction of Li-Ion batteries will make this a reality in the near future. I know many people who went the way of the Prius because if the lack of a fold down rear seat .

'00 Insight "Wazabi" -75,000+ miles
'03 Toyota Matrix - 81,000+ miles
'03 HCH-CVT-OSBM-41,000+ miles (retired 04-10-06)
"I'm very secure with my little Insight, no Prius envy here."

I own a Prius, but I do think Honda needs to ensure that some of their hybrid line doesn't continue to be bottom-of-the-line as far as performance. Not only will this discourange most anyone from even considering them, but it's tainting the hybrid image and could have long-lasting effects. Push those things until their performance is comparable to other Hondas. THEN tout the fuel economy.

Visit my newly-acquired website, Volconvo Debate Forums!

This statement is confusing. Honda just released an Accord Hybrid with ~6.5 second acceleration. Maybe we have different definitions, but I wouldn't call that "bottom performance"???

troy