Find or Sell Used Cars, Trucks, and SUVs in USA

Free Delivery! Grid Charger, Fully Serviced, Newer Ima Battery, Trans Rebuilt! on 2040-cars

US $5,995.00
Year:2000 Mileage:181910 Color: style is very unique
Location:

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

This auction is for a 2000 Honda Insight Hybrid finished in New Formula Red with the two-tone gray and black interior. It’s powered by a hybrid gasoline-electric powertrain (hence the name Hybrid) consisting of an all aluminum 1.0 liter 3 cylinder VTEC-E gas engine coupled to a battery powered electric motor known as the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA). Power is then routed to a conventional 5-speed manual transmission that drives the front wheels. This powertrain combined with a light weight body, excellent aerodynamics and numerous gas saving features, allows the Insight to average mpgs in the 60’s in normal driving and over 70 mpg without much effort.

If you are already familiar with the Insight, you may want to skip over the next few paragraphs that give a comprehensive and detailed overview of the car, and go straight to the pictures and description.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FIRST GENERATION HONDA INSIGHT

A hybrid powertrain combines the best features of two different propulsion systems into one integrated seamless powerplant. An internal combustion engine produces little power and torque at idle and low engine speeds but greater power as the RPMs increase. An electric motor on the other hand puts out its maximum torque at ZERO rpm. What that means is you can utilize the maximum torque output of the electric motor when accelerating from a stop, and the greater power output of the gas engine at higher RPMs for cruising at highway speeds, or any combination of both at speeds in between, to optimize both acceleration and fuel economy. Additional benefits of this system are regenerative braking that makes use of energy that other cars waste while braking and coasting by recharging the battery pack, and engine cut-off at stop lights when other cars are wasting gas idling.

The Insight’s layout consists of a 10-killowatt 22-pound thin electric motor sandwiched between the engine and transmission to boost the car’s performance when needed. During coasting and braking the motor also serves as a generator (a.k.a. regenerative braking) to recharge a 144 volt nickel-metal hydride battery pack located behind the seats. Think of this IMA system as a supercharger that provides additional performance without using much energy, and in fact, because it recovers the Insight’s momentum to recharge the battery pack, it’s more efficient than any supercharger could ever be. The engine doesn’t have an alternator. The IMA keeps the high voltage battery pack charged and an inverter powers most 12 volt electricals including keeping the 12V battery charged, which itself is mainly used just to power up the IMA control modules when you first turn the key.

The other key component of this Insight Hybrid’s powertrain is the 5-speed manual transmission. It uses widely spaced gears for maximizing engine output that provides brisk acceleration from a stoplight, while a high top gear ratio allows for effortless highway cruising. In fact, at 60 mph, the engine is only turning at 2,100 rpm, and at 75 mph just 2,600 rpm which is very low for such a small engine and which contributes to the excellent gas mileage.

The Insight Hybrid has a few other tweaks to save fuel including an extensive use of composite and aluminum body panels and inner structural components, aerodynemic rear wheel fender skirts, smooth profile and light weight aluminum wheels, special tires that reduce rolling resistance, a mini front air dam and rear spoiler along with numerous underbody panels which give the car a drag coefficient of just 0.25 (one of the lowest of any production car), electrically assisted power steering that reduces parasitic losses on the engine, and probably the best feature, an idle shutoff mode called Auto Stop that turns off the engine as you come to a stop and provides you with an eerie silence at most every traffic light. Quite soothing after a long day at the office. The IMA automatically restarts the engine the instant you put the transmission in gear. The IMA starts the engine most of the time, and in fact, you may go for years without ever using the conventional 12 volt starter. About the only time the 12V starter is used is if the IMA battery is discharged from the car sitting a few months.

When you combine all these features with a low curb weight of under 2,000 pounds, the Insight earns an EPA mileage rating of 61/70 MPG city/highway. The highest of any production car out there then, and 14 years later, even now. And those numbers are obtained in a lab under simulated driving conditions. You can do a bit better with just a minor adjustment to your driving style. The previous owner got 72 mpg over a 300 mile trip. And if you practice any hypermiling techniques, you can get even higher figures, with some owners reporting continuously breaking the 80 mpg mark and even exceeding the 100 mpg barrier for short distances. (Disclaimer: YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY.) Combined with the Insight’s 10.6 gallon fuel tank, it’s hard not to get at least 500 or 600 miles between fill-ups.

Not only is the Insight economical to drive, it’s also economical to maintain. Most systems have low or reduced maintenance components. For example, instead of a timing belt that needs periodic replacement, the Insight engine uses a steel timing chain that should last the life of the car. It uses iridium tipped spark plugs with 105,000 mile service intervals, extended life coolant with a 120,000 mile service interval, and a fuel filter that never needs servicing. The oil capacity for the small 1.0 liter engine is just 3 quarts so even full synthetic oil changes are under $30. And the Insight has a Maintenance Required indicator system that illuminates a light on the dash when routine service is due. A car driven primarily on the highway requires less maintenance than one subject to city use with constant stopping and starting.

While the Insight doesn’t cost much to drive or maintain, it’s also well built and very reliable. It’s not unusual to see these cars going strong with mileages over 300,000 miles. There are a few dozen that have topped 400K miles, a handful that hit the half million mile mark and there is reportedly an owner that uses the car in his courier business that has over 600,000 miles. The biggest concern to many new Insight buyers is the battery pack. In reality, there is little reason to worry too much about the battery pack wearing out on an Insight. First of all, unlike other Hybrids like Toyota’s Prius where the battery is integral to the powertrain, such that if it quits the car is undriveable, on the Insight, that is not an issue. The Insight battery pack can be disconnected and the car driven indefinitely in that condition. Remember, the Integrated Motor Assist is just an assist, like a supercharger. In steady highway driving and other driving situations that don’t require lots of power, you would be hard pressed to tell that there was anything unusual if the battery was disconnected, and the gas mileage would be nearly identical as with the battery connected. The only situation where mileage might drop is in city driving where the Auto Stop feature would be disabled, and even then, the reduction in mileage would be minimal. After all, it’s still a 1.0 liter powered sub 2,000 pound aerodynamic car. In fact, it’s quite common for owners of Insights in less than nice condition where it’s not worth spending much money on, i.e., with body damage or other mechanical issues, that have a bad battery pack to just disconnect it instead of spending the money on a new battery pack, and keep driving it like always.

For those that do want to replace the battery pack, there are now aftermarket replacements available that cost much less than a Honda pack. In addition, since it’s not the ENTIRE battery pack that goes bad but individual cells within the pack, you can replace just those bad cells. And this car is equipped with a grid charger port, details of which are mentioned further in the description, which extends battery pack life considerably. As to the battery pack in this car, it was replaced at Ourisman Honda Bethesda Maryland in 2008.

The first generation Insight was a radical new design for Honda, and one that turns heads going down the road and prompts many questions from passersby as you exit the vehicle. It’s still a fresh design for most people since few have even seen it close up. With only about 4,000 sold the first year (which is about how many Civics are sold in just one week), and a total of 17,000 made for the entire seven year production run from 2000 to 2006, it’s a rare car to see on the road. If you’re tired of driving the same boring cookie cutter designed car that everyone else is driving, this car may be for you. If you are into being green, then besides getting great gas mileage, the Insight is also certified by CARB (California Air Resources Board) to be an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV). And you don’t give up anything in comfort and room with the Insight. Headroom and legroom is plenty for all but the tallest basketball players and there is no claustrophobic feeling like you get in some other small cars. Driving it is also no different as it accelerates and merges into traffic with ease and keeps up with 75-80 mph highway speeds without breaking a sweat. In many states, the Insight may be eligible for numerous perks such as being able to drive alone in the HOV carpool lanes without a passenger, being exempt from annual emissions inspections, free or reduced parking rates at downtown or airport parking lots, etc. Check your state or local government for more details.

Its exterior style is very unique, combining sleek form with aerodynamic function. From its stylish lines and sweeping curves, it incorporates numerous design elements to create a look that is like no other car on the road. From the slightly bulging headlights up front, to the bright finish aerodynamic profile wheels and fender skirts on the sides, to a roof mounted euro style shorty antenna up top and to a two window rear hatch in the back, it looks futuristic from any angle without being flashy. But if you like high tech design, you will really like the interior. Observe the electroluminescent style instrument cluster with displays for instant, average and long term fuel mileage. Touch the small diameter dimpled grip steering wheel that fits your hands perfectly, and admire the two-tone sport weave fabric on the seats and door panels. Try the buttons and switches and notice the precise soft-touch feel as they are engaged. Not only are the colors elegant but all the textures have a rich feel and look. From the perforations on the steering wheel, the graining pattern on the dash and door panels, or the layout of knobs and switches on the dash, everything looks and feels like it came from a more expensive car.

This Insight is fully equipped with all the desirable safety, comfort and convenience features and equipment including:

  • 1.0 liter 3 cylinder VTEC-E gas engine with Auto Stop mode
  • Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) electric motor
  • 5-speed manual transmission
  • Air conditioning with electronic climate control and cabin air filter
  • Power windows with drivers express down
  • Power door locks
  • Factory AM/FM cassette stereo with eurostyle roof mounted shorty antenna
  • Remote keyless entry
  • Automate security system with shock sensor and user selectable soft chirp when locking and unlocking
  • Reclining bucket seats
  • Two-tone Sport cloth interior
  • Passenger seatback storage pocket
  • Electroluminescent style instrument cluster with tachometer, digital speedometer, and multi-function displays for instant and average fuel mileage, two trip odometers, etc.
  • Front center console with two cup holders
  • Rear console with storage bin
  • 12V power outlet
  • Tinted glass
  • Clear lens headlights with jewel effect reflectors
  • Intermittent wipers
  • Rear window wiper and washer
  • Dome light with driver and passenger map lights
  • Dual power body color outside rear view mirrors
  • Body color door handles
  • Visor vanity mirror
  • Remote fuel door release
  • Engine immobilizer theft deterrent system
  • Aerodynamic and light weight bright finish aluminum wheels
  • Locking glovebox
  • Carpeted and embroidered floor mats
  • Behind the seats storage pocket net
  • Cargo area light
  • Cargo net tie-downs
  • Child seat strap anchor
  • Rear window defroster
  • Rear mini spoiler
  • Electrically assisted rack and pinion power steering
  • 4 wheel anti-lock brakes
  • Grid charger harness with extension harness and convenient connection port
  • Maximum Regeneration/IMA assist off switch
And many more items too numerous to mention.

There are over 150 photos ahead and if you don’t have a high speed internet connection and get an “X” where a picture should be you may need to hit the Refresh button a few times. If that still doesn’t work, CLICK HERE to see the pictures individually.

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

CLEAR LENS HEADLIGHTS WITH JEWEL EFFECT REFLECTORS:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

BODY COLOR MIRRORS AND DOOR HANDLES:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

ROOF MOUNTED EUROSTYLE SHORTY RADIO ANTENNA :

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

FACTORY FLOOR MATS :

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

72 MPG ON A 300 MILE HIGHWAY TRIP:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

AUTO STOP INDICATOR LIGHT:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

MAXIMUM REGEN/ASSIST OFF MOD SWITCH:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

SEATBACK STORAGE POCKET:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

BEHIND THE SEAT CARGO ROOM:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

REAR STORAGE POCKET NET:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

FOUR REAR CARGO TIE DOWNS:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

DUAL REAR WINDOWS:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

CHILD SEAT TETHER POINT:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

REAR STORAGE COMPARTMENT UNDER LOAD FLOOR:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

JACK AND ALL THE TOOLS:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Hosting provided by FotoTime

The car is in great condition inside and out. It has a nice dent-free body with just the normal minor nicks, dings and touched up scratches you would expect on a car of this age and mileage. The only blemishes of note include a 6 inch touched up scratch on the right quarter panel and a 2 inch one on the left, some small fine grain paint chips (aka road rash) on the front of the hood and lower front bumper, and the rear spoiler must have had some bumper stickers that were removed as you can faintly see what they were. The paint itself is beautiful and shiny and this shade of bright red just about glows in the sunlight and would be the envy of even a Ferrari owner. It has been cleaned with Meguiar’s Smooth Surface Clay System, polished with Meguiar’s Mirror Glaze cleaner polish and topped off with Meguiar’s Ultimate Synthetic Wax for a high gloss shine. The headlights were detailed with the 3M headlight polishing system for a crystal clear look. All the glass, moldings, trim and emblems are excellent. I checked the car out top to bottom and found no evidence that is was ever wrecked or that it even has had any previous paint or bodywork done to it except the rear bumper which I had refinished because of scratches and the front that the previous owner did. In fact, it still has the original VIN stickers on all body panels. Remember, it’s hard enough to find a three year old or 30,000 mile vehicle that hasn’t had at least a fender-bender requiring a bumper, hood or fender to be replaced or repaired, let alone a 10+ year old car with over 100,000 miles on it.

Hood:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Front bumper:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Left fender:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Right fender:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Left door:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Right door:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Left quarter panel:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Right quarter panel:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Rear bumper:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Rear hatch:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

In addition, this Insight has all it’s underbody panels installed. If a mechanic forgets to replace a panel after an oil change or you run over a curb and break one off, your gas mileage may suffer as the aerodynamics under a car are just as important as above it. If you are looking at other Insights for sale as well, check underneath and make sure all the following panels are still intact as they are not cheap to replace.

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Front bumper aluminum underbody panel:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Front underbody panels:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Rear underbody panels:

Hosting provided by FotoTime

The interior is in great condition as well and included are a pair of factory floor mats. It has excellent upholstery, carpet, dashboard and door panels with no cracks, rips or tears or any significant signs of wear. Only the drivers seat cushion right bolster shows some dirt. The car doesn‘t appear to have been smoked in. In fact, it’s not even equipped with a lighter. The cargo area is nice and the engine compartment has been fully detailed and is clean enough to eat off of.

Mechanically it runs and drives excellent. The engine runs strong and feels smooth while accelerating and throughout the cruising range and it starts instantly whether hot or cold. The steering wheel is on dead center going down the road with no shakes or vibrations at speed, the brakes are firm with no pedal pulsations or pulling to one side when stopping and the suspension is tight. The clutch is feather light and buttery smooth while the precise shifter action lets you flick off shifts with just your finger tips. The A/C blows ice cold. The battery pack was replaced in 2008 at a Honda dealer. The transmission was just completely rebuilt because of a noisy input shaft bearing (ISB). Since the transmission was out and apart I decided to replace all the ball bearings (with OEM Honda parts made in Japan), including the differential bearings, and to perform the synchronizer modification to eliminate the common 3-2 downshift grind issue these cars have. Before putting it back, the flywheel was dressed, a new Koyo pilot bearing, Exedy clutch disc, Honda pressure plate and Honda throwout bearing (all made in Japan) were installed. It has a set of four identical like new Goodyear Integrity tires. The spare tire doesn’t look like it has even been used.

The car has been fully checked out and serviced with $5,400 worth of new or recent parts, maintenance and repairs with original Honda or other name brand parts so that only your enjoyment rather than your immediate attention will be required on delivery. Some of the items checked or serviced include:

  • New Honda 0W-20 synthetic oil change
  • New Honda oil filter
  • New Honda air filter
  • New cabin air filter
  • New throttle body cleaning
  • Recent Honda PCV valve
  • New EGR plate cleaning
  • New Honda NGK “B” stamped iridium spark plugs to match B cylinder head
  • New valve adjustment
  • New Honda valve cover gasket
  • New Honda Long Life Type 2 (blue) coolant flush and change
  • New Honda front brake pads
  • Recent front brake rotors
  • Recent rear hub and bearings
  • Recent rear brake shoes
  • Recent rear brake drums
  • New parking brake adjustment
  • New Castrol Dot 4 Synthetic brake fluid flush and change
  • New Castrol Dot 4 Synthetic clutch fluid flush and change
  • New Exedy clutch disc
  • New Honda pressure plate
  • New Honda throwout bearing
  • New Koyo pilot bearing
  • New rebuilt transmission with all OEM Honda bearings, axle shaft seals and synchronizer mod
  • New Honda manual transmission fluid
  • Recent Diehard battery
  • New Honda exhaust pipe gasket
  • New Honda negative battery cable
  • New Honda engine ground cables
  • New Honda transmission ground cable
  • Recent set of four Goodyear tires
  • New Honda rear wiper blade
  • Photos of some of the parts replaced, checked or serviced:

    Parts replaced:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Oil change:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Oil filter:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Air filter:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Cabin air filter:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Throttle body cleaning:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    PCV valve:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    EGR plate cleaning:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Spark plugs with the proper amount of anti-seize on the threads:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    B stamped plugs to match B cylinder head:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Valve adjustment:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Valve cover gasket:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Engine SUPER CLEAN internally:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Coolant flushed until water is clear from the radiator:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    As well as the engine block drain plug:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Front brake pads:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Front brake rotors:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    17 mm new, 15 mm minimum thickness:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Rear hub and bearing:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Rear brake shoes:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Rear brake drums:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Parking brake adjustment:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Brake fluid flush and change:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Clutch fluid flush and change:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Flywheel surface dressed:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Pilot bearing:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Clutch disc:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Pressure plate:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Throwout bearing:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Transmission fluid change:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Transmission rebuilt:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Synchronizer mod:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Battery:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Axle shaft seal:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Exhaust gasket:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Negative battery cable:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Engine ground cables:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Transmission ground cable:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Other than routine oil and filter changes, with all the above mentioned servicing the car has recently received, you should be good to go for another 100,000 miles before requiring major maintenance.

    Overall this is a super sharp car that looks absolutely fantastic in this New Formula Red color. If you’re going to buy a car in general and an Insight specifically, you might as well get the hottest possible color they made. Sure, blue is nice, silver is good if a bit bland, and Citrus is great but nearly impossible to find, but only this shade of red really catches everyone’s eye. Remember, as you step out of your home every day, and as you set eyes on your Insight, there is nothing like a bright red car to get you feeling excited about your day ahead. You’ll probably be driving this car for a few years, so just ask yourself, would you rather wake up every morning to a New Formula Red Insight, or just some other color you “settled” for. And you’re sure to get many questions and complements about it at the mall or supermarket parking lot from total strangers. If you don’t want attention, or if you are the least bit shy, don’t buy this car, I warn you. This Insight is a mid-year production June 2000 model so all the bugs of the early production models have been worked out by the time it was sold. Also, it’s been a two lady owner southern car, titled in Virginia and Maryland all of its life, which probably explains why it’s so clean. CLICK HERE to see the title. Plus it has a clean and clear Carfax. CLICK HERE to see the Carfax.

    The car comes with the owners manual:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    One factory key and remote:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    A front license plate bracket if you need it:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    And a conveniently located grid charger port (charger NOT included):

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    A grid charger is a device similar to conventional battery charger that can greatly extend the life of a battery pack in a hybrid vehicle. The battery pack consists of 120 individual 1.2 volt D cell size nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries. Over time, the voltage and capacity of the individual batteries will begin to vary and cause an imbalance that reduces the overall performance of the entire pack. A grid charger can restore the balance by discharging the pack uniformly and then charging it back to it’s maximum potential. And this isn’t something you have to do every day either, it’s like a maintenance item that you can perform every two or three months and can be done overnight. In addition to the grid charger itself, the car needs a harness to connect it to the battery pack. This car has a Genesis One or Hybrid Revolt grid charger harness as well as an extension harness that places the plug-in port at a convenient location at the back of the cargo area. (Grid charger itself not included.) The harness with the extension and the labor to install it, which requires the removal of the battery pack, would cost close to $500. While the harness was made for a Genesis One or Hybid Revolt charger, an adaptor cable can connect most any brand of grid charger, even a homebuilt model, to the car.

    Rear structure components: Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Grid charger extension harness:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Battery pack and modules:

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    Hosting provided by FotoTime

    This car also has the brake and clutch switch modification that lets you get maximum regeneration while coasting without having to step on the brake pedal, and to shut off assist manually. The IMA recharges the battery whenever the car is coasting or you step on the brakes. The amount of regen is greater when you use the brakes and many drivers can achieve maximum regeneration by just lightly stepping on the brake pedal but before there is any actual momentum robbing braking action at the wheels. It can be a fine line between allowing the car to regen with the brake pedal without actually slowing it down by energy wasting braking. The brake switch mod simulates stepping on the brakes but no actual braking action is utilized, by holding down the momentary switch mounted conveniently in the center console where your right hand can comfortably. The clutch switch mod shuts off assit from the IMA and can help the engine run smoother and stay in lean burn longer on flat roads, and it can save battery assist for times when you want to use it most. In other words, save up the assist for when you climb a long uphill grade by not using it during moderate hills. Press the switch up for this function and it stays engaged until you turn it off.

    It’s no secret that Honda lost money on every one of the early Insight models it sold but that was the price to pay for cutting your teeth on the new technology that wouldn’t pay off for years to come. Some have speculated that it cost Honda upwards of $50,000 to build each Insight, while Honda insiders put that figure at under $30K. Regardless, the price new of this Honda Insight was over $20,000! CLICK HERE to see the original price sticker (from an identical but other Insight I owned), but because the Insight was a hot new model, most dealers were adding additional market adjustment markups (read rip off), so with tax, title and tags, you were lucky if you got ANY change back from your $25,000 bill!

    If you are serious about buying an Insight that is ready to drive, this is about as low as they go in this condition. Sure, you can find many of these cars that look nice and seem like good deals in the $3,000 to $4,000 range, but if after getting it home you have to spend another $5,000 for a battery, transmission and other common repairs, it’s no bargain. While the six year old IMA battery in this car isn’t brand new, it works fine, and the other listings for Insights that have no mention of a battery replacement, or the seller doesn’t know if it was ever replaced, likely still have the original battery. In addition, since this car has a grid charger harness, it’s likely the battery will be in better condition than most. Remember, you can get a great deal on Ebay with prices sometimes way below retail, but no bidder is going to “steal” a vehicle and no seller is going to give one away either. Also when comparing prices to the other Insights listed for sale, remember the things that you won’t have to spend money on, soon after getting it home. With this car you won’t have to spend $2,500 on a transmission rebuild or $800 for a clutch job, you won’t have to spend $2,000 on a new IMA battery, you won’t have to spend $400 for a new set of tires, you won’t have to spend $300 on a complete front brake service, you won’t have to spend $300 on a complete rear brake service, you won’t have to spend $300 on a coolant and brake flush, you won’t have to spend $300 on a valve adjustment, tune-up and filters service and you won’t have to spend $300 on any upcoming scheduled maintenance. With many of the other listings on Ebay, Craigslist or on dealers lots, you’re lucky if they even check the oil before delivery. When comparing this car to the others, also keep in mind that this car was never in an accident, has a clean Carfax, runs excellent, is fully serviced, hasn’t been smoked in and is clean inside and out.

    If you are looking for a nice Insight in excellent condition at a good price, then this car is hard to beat. Also remember that we don’t charge dealer processing fees or document fees that many other listings have for $200 or more and bury in their fine print. And don’t be fooled by some other auctions that are advertised as NO RESERVE and start at $100 or some other low price. Since no dealer is going to risk loosing thousands of dollars if their auction doesn’t bring enough money, you can be pretty sure he has some “people” bidding on it for him. Especially those auctions that are private listings where it says “User ID kept private.”

    Gas prices are already back over $4 a gallon in some parts of the country and analysts predict it won’t be long before we see $5 a gallon in California, possibly by later in the summer this year. This is in addition to the usual upward rise in car prices during the spring. When that happens, the demand for these cars will skyrocket along with their prices. Back just a few years ago when the AVERAGE national price for gas peaked at over $4, these cars were selling in the $8,000 to $10,000 range in similar condition and mileage. So if you’ve been putting off a car purchase waiting for a better deal to come along, don’t wait much longer as prices won’t be any cheaper than they are right now for these cars if gas prices rise much higher.

    TERMS OF THE AUCTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: Since this car may be advertised locally, auction can be canceled at any time (unless auction ended early with BUY IT NOW) due to prior sale without liability to any bidder. A down payment of $500 (plus any additional delivery charge) is required within 3 days of the close of the auction, balance due in cash on delivery or certified funds on delivery if I deliver it or you pick it up, or before it’s dropped off at the transporter if a shipping company is transporting it, but no later than 7 days after the close of the auction without prior agreement. I accept bank or certified checks, money orders, credit cards through PayPal (accepted for down payment only). If paying balance with funds other than cash, buyer to fax copy of monetary instrument no less than 24 hours before picking up vehicle.

    The car is sold as is. Buyer is welcome to inspect car BEFORE the end of the auction or to have someone check it out on your behalf provided you authorize whoever is checking the car to provide me with a copy of the results. I have tried to accurately describe this car, both mechanically and cosmetically but you can expect a certain amount of minor flaws on ANY used car including squeaks, rattles, drips, nicks, chips, scratches, blemishes and any other marks that are consistent with the age and mileage of the vehicle. There is no possible way to include all minute details and imperfections, however, I believe my listing accurately depicts this vehicle and if there are any issues they are noted in the description. Also remember that a vehicle is made up of thousands of mechanical parts and components and in an older or higher mileage used vehicle a part that is working fine now may go bad the next day, in a week, or a month from now. It’s nearly impossible to tell when a particular part or component will fail as most don’t exhibit prior symptoms, however, proper preventative maintenance as this car has received, can prevent most problems or breakdowns from happening.

    In fairness to all bidders the reserve price will not be disclosed so please don’t even ask.

    Buyer responsible for transportation and car must be paid for in full before it can be released. May deliver. Email or call for delivery quote or for any other questions. atikovi@email.com Maryland and District of Columbia dealer. Phone 202-246-5201. Please do not bid if you don’t intend to buy.

    FREE DELIVERY TERMS: Free delivery within 500 miles of the Washington DC area if bidder purchases vehicle with Buy It Now. (35 cents per mile for additional miles as shown in MapQuest.com from zip code 20001 to your address.) That is still the same rate as when I started on Ebay 14 years ago even with more than double the gas prices. Remember, the Buy It Now option disappears once the reserve price is met. The Buy It Now price is $5,995.

    AUCTION ENDS: 10:00pm sharp, EASTERN TIME Wednesday April 30th unless Buy It Now is used.

    SPECIAL OFFER FOR QUICK SALE: DOUBLE THE FREE DELIVERY RANGE: Use Buy It Now before the halfway point in the auction, 10:00pm EASTERN TIME Friday April 25th and I will double the free delivery miles to 1,000 miles total.

Auto Services in District Of Columbia

Professional Auto Body Inc ★★★★★

Automobile Body Repairing & Painting
Address: 628 S Pickett St, Chevy-Chase
Phone: (703) 751-4224

NAPA Auto Parts ★★★★★

Automobile Parts & Supplies, Automobile Accessories, Battery Supplies
Address: 6627 Iron Pl, Fort-Mcnair
Phone: (703) 642-9380

Midas Auto Service Experts ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Automobile Parts & Supplies, Mufflers & Exhaust Systems
Address: 1001 S Glebe Rd, Anacostia
Phone: (703) 920-2220

Koons of Silver Spring Inc. ★★★★★

New Car Dealers, Automobile Body Repairing & Painting, Used Car Dealers
Address: 3111 Automobile Blvd, Chevy-Chase
Phone: (301) 890-6100

Crossroad Tobacco ★★★★★

Automobile Body Repairing & Painting, Motorcycle Dealers
Address: 5715 Leesburg Pike, Naval-Anacost-Annex
Phone: (703) 820-3711

Automotive Service Garage ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Automobile Body Repairing & Painting, Automobile Parts & Supplies
Address: 500 N Fayette St, Naval-Anacost-Annex
Phone: (703) 879-7735

Auto blog

Edmunds ranks the best used cars for 2013

Sun, 15 Sep 2013

When people ask us what car we would recommend for them, it's usually not easy to answer. To make a useful recommendation we must consider which of the numerous vehicle segments fits their needs best, and then choose one of the many vehicles offered in each segment. For some people, new cars don't meet their expectations of value, because they lose so much of it the moment they are purchased and driven off the dealer lot. For them, there's always the used-car market, where great deals can be found, but cars' histories of reliability and maintenance records - and perhaps that Certified Pre-Owned warranty - become ever-important factors playing into purchase choice.
To help out, Edmunds has done us the favor of assembling a list of the best used vehicles money can buy, covering model years 2006-2011, according to what it considers the most important criteria when shopping for used autos: reliability, safety, value and availability. That means unreliable, unsafe, super-expensive or limited-edition models don't appear on the list, but instead cars from each segment that are more likely to satisfy the general population.
There are some real goodies on the list, including but not limited to vehicles such as the capable Honda Fit, the cultish Honda Accord coupe (which can be had with a 240-horsepower V6 and a six-speed manual transmission some years), and the powerful Chevrolet Corvette. While Edmunds' choice of the Volvo C70 for best used convertible baffled us at first (not that it's a bad car), it redeemed itself by stating that the Mazda MX-5 still is an unofficial top choice if you don't require more than two seats.

Honda N Box + has incredible versatility as oddly humorous JDM video shows

Thu, 10 Oct 2013

We want the Honda N Box +. Strangely enough, this video spot, shot in Japanese and gushing with production values that are a bit foreign to us, makes us want the little Honda even more. You see, we don't need to know Japanese to see that the kei car's 'universal bridge' feature isn't a gimmick - it actually looks extremely convenient - and that the car's multi-space system takes interior functionality to a new level. We don't require a translator to laugh at the gags in this spot, either, though we won't pretend to understand them idiomatically.
But really, the video is worth a watch, if for no better reasons than to enjoy a confusion-based laugh, and to marvel at the tiny car's extremely efficient use of space. We don't expect the N Box + to be offered for sale anywhere near North America, so to get your kicks, you'll have to head below to watch the commercial.

Honda Urban SUV Concept leaks out ahead of Detroit debut

Sun, 13 Jan 2013

Next up on the 2013 Detroit Auto Show embargo-break-a-palooza: the Honda Urban SUV Concept. Thanks to Indian Autos Blog, we now have the first press shots of the small crossover concept - a vehicle that will someday make it to production, riding on the Honda Fit platform.
It may have some big features - namely, the large headlamps, big wheels, and bold body lines - but the Urban SUV Concept will compete with smaller vehicles like the Nissan Juke or Fiat 500L. Indian Autos Blog reports that both 1.6- an 1.8-liter four-cylinder engines are being speculated for use in the production model, as well as a diesel powerplant for foreign markets.
That's all we know for now, but stay tuned to see the full smattering of official images and details as part of this week's Detroit coverage.