I've had my Insight since Sept 9, 2000. The first two years I got it to 80mph or so on frequent occasions. It would be jerky sometimes getting up there abruptly. I realize it's a 5-speed and most of you have automatics, but consider that most economy-oriented vehicles tend to run at a relatively slower rpm. 18-wheelers have 15 to 20 speeds for a reason.

To eliminate jerkiness and insist on performance driving, the vehicle's engine is going to have to run at a relatively higher rpm. The inevitable trade off is reduced fuel economy.

 

I love my 2006 HCH2 but would have bought a TDI Jetta if they were allowed to be sold in California.

As soon as there is a German made high mpg vehicle available, the HCH2 is getting kicked to the curb.

There is just no comparison...

Bowdirk

 

Honda just announced their intention to build a diesel that will be as clean as a gas ICE in three years. Just heard a TDI driver in another forum wishing it had a Cd of 0.25. Imagine what an HCH clean diesel-hybrid could do!

 

IMA would be good if paired with a diesel engine. Can you imagine a diesel hybrid Fit?

 

Ummm.... I don't know about that! A diesel needs extremely high compression. That means extra stress, and extra weight to handle that stress. A diesel with the valves shut off would still require a lot of torque to spin... a lot more torque than the current IMA could provide. Everything would need to be beefed up. Extra weight and higher friction (can't use that 0w20 oil in a diesel!!!) mean lower hybrid benefits.

I'm not saying it couldn't be done... just that it would take a lot of serious modifications to do it right.

 

Delta Flyer,

I read a further blurb on Edmunds.com Inside Line (I think) today about the Honda diesel that will be coming in a few years. It looks like they are going to position the diesel at the other end of their line (Acura MDX, Odyssey, etc- heavy larger engine vehicles). What I took from the paragraph was that they were going to continue using (solely) IMA Hybrid in small cars and add the diesel option for the larger engine (current 3.5L V6) engine. that doesn't do those of us hoping for a Fit diesel much good.

Eric

 

Wow...good review but your total cost of ownership for 6 months is quite high!
I guess you paid about $24,500 out the door on your 06 HCH, in 6 months and 12,000 miles later you traded in for $18,500. So let's see, your ave mpg is about 38 and gas is about ave $2.80 per gal (316 gal x $2.80=$884.00 for gas), maintenance (2 oil change) $100. Now the real cost of ownership for six months is $6000 (price paid - trade-in value) + $884 (gas) + $100 (maint) = $6984.00 or $1.72 per mile!

 

The 2007 Camrys are great cars ( I drove around in a non-hybrid for awhile) so good luck with that. I haven't had that auto stop issue that you describe, but San Diego ( where I'll be in June for a week) and Houston are two different animals for driving. Also, I get the autostop twice and not once if a move a few car lengths at a light. My auto stop functions before I get to the stop sign 10 yards from my driveway, and the air conditioning takes about 4 MPG off of my average it seems if used at 70 degrees in the recirc mode ( freakin hot here in Houston-sheesh).

My mileage was 51 between San Antonio and Houston with two stops and is cyrrently at 51.2 city/pseudo highway ( construction mess) combined with minimal use of air and taking my drum equipment out of the trunk.

I dont drive 80 MPH so I have no clue what thats like as far as handling.

I consider the Toyota appraoch to hybrids to me not as sophisticated as Hondas but thats a totally different arguement for sure.

 

Well, newsflash -- cars aren't free! And I wouldn't go with the cheaper option of keeping the HCH if I'm not happy with it. Happiness > money.

 

Perhaps the buyers are stupid. By putting your car in the hands of a dealer, you let the dealer make the money off that stupid buyer instead of making it yourself.

The last two cars I sold, a 1994 Mitsubishi this year and a 1988 Chevy station wagon three years ago, were each sold over a single weekend. I got more than I expected on both. Oh yeah, and I sold my Toyota RAV4-EV on eBay in five days.
I bet a car that's in high demand like an almost new HCH can be sold in a day. Have you ever sold a car yourself? It's really easy.