WOW '01 Honda Insight

[cbr shadow]

I just bought a 2001 Honda Insight hybrid 5-speed MT with 77,000 miles for $4800. Apparently its a steal since they normall go for a fair amount more than that. Anyways I've been driving it around and CANT BELIEVE the high MPG's I'm getting. I took this Sat night to a friend's house in Chicago, probably 5-10 miles in the city, then back to my house in the suburbs for a total trip length of 61 miles. Average MPG for that trip was 67!
The friend that I visited has a new prius and gets ~50mpg on the same trip. After reading the Honda Insight forums it looks like my fuel economy is even a little low compared to most people on the forum. I'm told that with properly inflated tires (mine are 30psi on tires that should be at 51 psi), and some driving techniques I can be in the 80's.
I was unaware that there has been a car around for so long that could get such high gas mileage. Apparently Honda built this car for 1 purpose - to build the highest efficiency production car on the planet. The first-gen insight is over 1000 lbs lighter than the new prius!
That's not to say that the insight beats it in every category.. It's a very lightweight (all aluminum frame!)2-seater with a small trunk and very few comfort options. Mine has A/C, but that's an option!
So far I'm loving it. Any other Insight drivers around here?

 

[liveforphysics]

A 03 Insight (identical car to your 01) has been my daily driver for the last 6 years or so, and I couldn't be happier with it.

 

[dnmun]

DEAL!

they sell for twice that much here.

 

[cbr shadow]

Liveforphysics, have you done any extra modifications?

Also, I just found out that the tires I have on there (Sumitomo HTR-T4's P175/65R14) are not ideal for low-drag, and are also larger than the stock tires so the odometer and MPG read-out is probably showing a bit lower than I'm actually getting. Does that sound right?

 

[veloman]

One of my old managers had this Insight. I believe it's the funky looking one, and most people don't like the look, they just scoff. But yeah, it's very aero and small.

 

[liveforphysics]

Liveforphysics, have you done any extra modifications?

Also, I just found out that the tires I have on there (Sumitomo HTR-T4's P175/65R14) are not ideal for low-drag, and are also larger than the stock tires so the odometer and MPG read-out is probably showing a bit lower than I'm actually getting. Does that sound right?

Yes, a number of mods. I cracked how to trick the controller into outputting more phase current (IMA motor delivers more torque), a simple floating voltage divider bridge on the outputs of the phase current hall effect sensors is all it takes. You can also spoof the battery current sensor, but I recommend against it, as the poor little 6.5Ah NiMH cells take a terrible beating just at the stock current levels.

I also did a basic exhaust mod (factory quietness but less restriction), EGR mods, and a few other little things. Nothing special that any mechanic wouldn't do to a car on day 1 of buying it.

 

[liveforphysics]

Liveforphysics, have you done any extra modifications?

Also, I just found out that the tires I have on there (Sumitomo HTR-T4's P175/65R14) are not ideal for low-drag, and are also larger than the stock tires so the odometer and MPG read-out is probably showing a bit lower than I'm actually getting. Does that sound right?

Yes, a number of mods. I cracked how to trick the controller into outputting more phase current (IMA motor delivers more torque), a simple floating voltage divider bridge on the outputs of the phase current hall effect sensors is all it takes. You can also spoof the battery current sensor, but I recommend against it, as the poor little 6.5Ah NiMH cells take a terrible beating just at the stock current levels.

I also did a basic exhaust mod (factory quietness but less restriction), EGR mods, and a few other little things. Nothing special that any mechanic wouldn't do to a car on day 1 of buying it.

 

[grindz145]

I'm so jealous. I've been looking for one of these for months.

 

[cbr shadow]

Thanks I'm really enjoying this car. Once I brought the tires up to their 51psi rating I'm able to get into the "lean burn mode" very often which is getting me 85MPG to and from work! This can still be improved on, but I'm seriously impressed with this thing. I thought I was doing well with my Scion XB getting 34mpg.

 

[peterperkins]

I suggest get yourself over to the dedicated insight forum at www.insightcentral.net

Then start reading up on

New nimh 8ah battery cells
A123 lithium conversions
MIMA
OBDIIC&C
IMAC&C
Hot Air Mod
FAS
Rad Block
Power Mods
Turbo Insights

etc etc

 

[steveo]

Congrats on you new insight

I love mine, a recent pic of my mpg!, just got my lithium bat installed!

Hey luke, can you provide any more info on the parts needed to mod the current?

My insight currently has the following mods...

Bcm fooler - this fakes all the oem battery voltages to the bcm
Bcm interceptor - this currently keeps my soc at 19 bars to enable full power of assist and regen
Batt temp mod - the 2 wire that go the the oem ptc strips i put a 24ohm resistor to fake 21 degrees
Batt temp mod 2 - i used a 3k resistor to trick the 4 oem batt sensors to always think the pack is 20 degress

In case your wondering, the temp mods where needed for me because i was throwing ima codes with batt temp mod 1 only & i was not getting full 10kw out of ima motor depending on temp, cold temps in my situation

Full rad block
Intake block off and relocate for hot air of the catilitic converter

Steveo

 

[liveforphysics]

Thats fantastic Stevo! How do you control the HVC/LVC? Are those something like 3p of 20Ah a123 pouches?

 

[steveo]

Thats fantastic Stevo! How do you control the HVC/LVC? Are those something like 3p of 20Ah a123 pouches?

it is 50s2p a123 40ah pack,

I have Peterperkins bcm fooler set to give full Regen & full Assist all the time (hard wire the bcm fooler to do this)

I've thought about putting it on maybe a 3 pos switch to to change the the 3 modes...

I believe they are:

-full regen & assist
-Hvc
-Lvc with force regen

Any info on the current hacking... I've seen the info on 99mpg website.. but still not really clear on exactly how & what to mod..

I know that by tricking the voltage of the pack to the mcm or bcm (not sure) we can achieve more power through the ima motor..

-steveo

 

[dogman dan]

Congrats! That's a hell of a deal for any car with less than 100,000 miles on it. Generally an 01 will have about 150 on it by now. If not more. A freind of mine traded in the prius for one years ago, and likes it a LOT more.

 

[pkirkll]

I have an old 1983 Mercedes 380SEL with 100720 miles on her......... How many batterries would it take to make her roll 10 feet??? 5240 lbs!!!!!
LOL
I had never heard of the insights before but 60-99 mpg got my attention !!!!
I looked around and most i saw online were 10K and up ....
Im interested !
If i can afford one ~~~~ now that i am into this e-bike deal!!!!

 

[ohzee]

I have an old 1983 Mercedes 380SEL with 100720 miles on her......... How many batterries would it take to make her roll 10 feet??? 5240 lbs!!!!!
LOL
I had never heard of the insights before but 60-99 mpg got my attention !!!!
I looked around and most i saw online were 10K and up ....
Im interested !
If i can afford one ~~~~ now that i am into this e-bike deal!!!!

Yea same this thread had me looking around the used car web sites myself. Is it only the 2001-2006 1st series of these hybrids that has this great mileage ?
Or can you buy a 2010 and get something similar ? Sorry if it's a stupid questions. Im guessing 1st gen is best , but wasnt 100%.

 

[pkirkll]

I noticed that too .....First gen, i think,,have to read more!!!

 

[salty9]

This site may interest those with Insights http://99mpg.com/Projectcars/evinsight/.

 

[steveo]

the 2000-2006 honda insight mk1 is the first gen hybrid build by honda..

even though the car has its minor flaws.. you just cant been its awsome mileage.... and the fact that its a stick shift

i'll one day get rid of my civic... and get a second hybrid.. or ev.. who knows

-steveo

 

[pkirkll]

I found a 2000 for 4500 with IMA batteries that were just 9000 miles old....

is that in the ballpark???

There are a few online that have the IMA light and comuter lights on,,,,,, too dangerous????? Would that be Too much money to fix..??

what would be top price of a 2000-01-02 with no batterries or computer??

Turning out ot be an interesting vehicle to me,,,AND i havent even gone to the 99 mpg page yet!!!!

 

[ohzee]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-Insight-Base-Hatchback-3-Door-2000-Honda-Insight-Hybrid-5-Speed-1-0L-New-IMA-Battery-Over-60-/281015042310?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item416dcd4106

I think I found it also. Was just wondering if any were on ebay.

 

[ions82]

My friend has one of the early ones. If I remember correctly, he said that the '00 and '01 have tubular frames (like a race car chassis.) He also said that his handles like it's on rails and has very good acceleration. If they only had a little more cargo space, I'd love to have one.

 

[EVPowers]

If anyone is interested I have a two Insights for sale. I love these cars and seem to be a magnet for them. I run the local hybrid car club in Madison, WI.

The two I have are:

$1,500 for my Insight that has a bad gas engine. (Ran it with no oil in the engine.) It was running fine before that. Not running now since there is a hole in the oil pan. Even though it has been sitting since this summer, the hybrid battery has been kept charged up. 2002. Silver. Automatic (CVT), ~150K miles

$4,000. This one was my mom's. 2002 Silver, CVT. ~180K miles. I still regularly drive this one around.

Neither of them are "perfect" cosmetics-wise, (Why don't people use seat covers?), but you will not find cars for under $5,000 that get better gas mileage than Insights. Plus with the aluminum frame and body it makes it rust free.

I haven't really advertised these too much since I hate to let them go, but drop me a line if either of these interest you.

If you need them shipped, I'm open to that as well. The main thing is I want these in the hands of some who is going to actually drive them and appreciate them for the awesome cars they are.

Eric 608-729-4082