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

2003 Honda Insight With Custom Subwoofer And Recently Replaced Ima Battery on 2040-cars

Year:2003 Mileage:73056
Location:

North Hollywood, California, United States

North Hollywood, California, United States
Advertising:

You are bidding on a two-door 2003 Honda Insight hatchback that has approximately 73,056 miles on it (see picture of odometer) with a recently replaced IMA battery. The car features an upgraded sound system, including a limited edition custom-made subwoofer designed specifically for this model of Honda Insight. Except for ordinary wear and tear, and a few bumps and scratches, the car is in very good condition, with a clean interior and exterior, as shown in the pictures of this listing. 

I am the original owner and bought it from the Honda dealership in San Francisco in 2003. Maintenance has been performed exclusively at Honda dealerships in Hollywood and North Hollywood. Most of my driving has been back and forth from work on local roads which is why the mileage is so low. My wife and I are starting a family and I am selling the car because I need a four-door with more space room for babies, pets and stuff.

This is a first generation hybrid that has obtained a lifetime average miles per gallon rating of 39.9 mpg (see picture). It is a Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV) and includes a regenerative braking system and other features to maximize its fuel economy.  Were it not for years of bumper-to-bumper commutes in Los Angeles, the fuel efficiency might be even higher. On highways and road trips, the fuel economy hits 60 miles per gallon.

Included with the car are three keys, one of which is new and has yet to be programmed by the dealership, plus a valet key and two original keyless entry fobs (never used or tested).

NOTE: The picture of the driver's seat is washed out due to the Southern California sun. Without the glare of the sun, the driver's seat looks the same as passenger's seat (see picture). Apologies for the bad picture.


TERMS OF SALE
The car is being sold AS-IS, with all faults, including but not limited to those described herein, as well as any other faults or defects, whether or not presently known or discoverable with or without inspection and operation of the vehicle. Should the motor vehicle be found defective following its purchase, the buyer is fully responsible for any and all servicing, repair and all other expenses. I hereby disclaim any and all representations and warranties in connection with this sale, expressed or implied.

The car is being sold WHERE-IS. The car is located in North Hollywood, California and the buyer assumes all responsibility and costs for pick-up in North Hollywood from my home.  I will cooperate with you in your efforts to have it shipped anywhere in the Continental US at your expense. 

Buyer is required to pay the sales tax on the winning bid amount to their respective county and state they reside in. You will also be required to pay the registration, transfer fees and other DMV fees whatever they may be.

Payment criteria is a $500.00 deposit upon winning the auction (within 2 days) via PayPal with the balance to be paid by certified bank check within 7 days following the deposit. The sale will be final with no refunds. Payment in full must be received and cleared by my bank before I make the vehicle available for pick-up.

You can reach me at 510-393-2781 with questions from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. PST. I cannot allow test drives but you may request to schedule an appointment for inspection in North Hollywood during the bidding time period (keeping in mind that I have a day job).

 

VEHICLE DETAILS, SPECIFICATIONS AND ADDITIONAL PICTURES

The remainder of this listing provides details about (1) the recently replaced IMA battery, (2) the upgraded sound system and (3) additional pictures.

RECENTLY REPLACED HYBRID BATTERY
The main battery pack for the Honda Insight hybrid system was replaced with a new battery on November 12, 2010 at the North Hollywood Honda dealership. I can produce maintenance records to confirm that, if requested by buyer.

UPGRADED SOUND SYSTEM
The vehicle includes an aftermarket sound system installed by professional audio experts. I upgraded the speakers, added an amplifier and installed a custom-made subwoofer. In 2011, I installed a modern stereo/CD player that integrates with iPhone/iPad for hands-free phone use, playing music and turn by turn directions with Siri.

Speakers
I replaced the two factory speakers with a MB Quart QSC 213 Q-Series 5-1/4" Component System which includes two additional tweeter speakers that are installed in the driver and passenger doors. Pictures of the tweeters are included with this listing. The upgraded speakers fit under the speaker cover of the factory speakers without changing the look of the door (except for the small tweeters).

Amplifier
As part of the upgrade, I added a JL Audio Slash Series 300/4 75W amplifier to power the sound system.

Stereo/CD Player/Bluetooth
In 2011, the Insight was broken into and the stereo was stolen. I replaced it with a updated Kenwood KDC-X995 eXcelon In-Dash USB/CD Receiver. The stereo plays CDs; permits hands-free phone use with Bluetooth; integrates well with iOS and Siri (music, turn by turn directions, dictation to Siri, Siri reads text messages, etc.); and features Pandora and HD Radio. Some features require a smart phone which doesn't come with the car.

Custom "Shoebox” Subwoofer (Pictured)
The crown jewel of the upgraded sound system is a custom-made subwoofer that was designed and made by Honda Insight enthusiasts specifically for this generation of the Honda Insight. The Japanese model of the 2003 Insight had a navigation computer option. That option was not available in the U.S. version of the car but the cavity for the nav-computer is still there.  The subwoofer takes up NONE of the precious cargo space because it occupies the nav-computer cavity. It is in the back of the car to the right of the small "trunk space" on the other side of the liner for the storage space. See the shoebox sub picture. Feel free to do Internet searches for "shoebox sub" and "Honda Insight". You will find that an enthusiast named John Wayland made a limited run of Shoebox Subs that fit in the cavity left for the missing navigation computer. This car has one of those subwoofers!

I'm no audiophile or expert but the upgraded speakers and custom sub give a very rich sound without taking away from the cargo space of the car.

ADDITIONAL PICTURES

http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll161/darkelfo/Honda%20Insight/IMG_5242_zps3754b258.jpg
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll161/darkelfo/Honda%20Insight/IMG_5252_zpsa8cca101.jpg
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll161/darkelfo/Honda%20Insight/IMG_5245_zps14ccd3ab.jpg
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll161/darkelfo/Honda%20Insight/IMG_5327_zpsbb1251f1.jpg
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll161/darkelfo/Honda%20Insight/IMG_5326_zps44d29add.jpg
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll161/darkelfo/Honda%20Insight/IMG_5325_zpscf44c5ec.jpg
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll161/darkelfo/Honda%20Insight/IMG_5324_zps421b7d48.jpg
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll161/darkelfo/Honda%20Insight/IMG_5323_zps0eabddb4.jpg
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll161/darkelfo/Honda%20Insight/IMG_5322_zps230cd25b.jpg
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll161/darkelfo/Honda%20Insight/IMG_5321_zps13734e0e.jpg
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll161/darkelfo/Honda%20Insight/14-IMG_5270_zps8133882d.jpg
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll161/darkelfo/Honda%20Insight/13-IMG_5269_zps1e546094.jpg
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll161/darkelfo/Honda%20Insight/IMG_5261_zps15041546.jpg
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll161/darkelfo/Honda%20Insight/IMG_5263_zps03bb8576.jpg
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll161/darkelfo/Honda%20Insight/IMG_5259_zps343915d8.jpg
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll161/darkelfo/Honda%20Insight/IMG_5258_zps33d54741.jpg
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll161/darkelfo/Honda%20Insight/IMG_5245_zps14ccd3ab.jpg
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll161/darkelfo/Honda%20Insight/IMG_5282_zps314dbbf8.jpg
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll161/darkelfo/Honda%20Insight/IMG_5300_zpsc7ee3fbd.jpg
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll161/darkelfo/Honda%20Insight/IMG_5306_zps893f45c7.jpg

DISCLOSURES

In 2011, the car was broken into. In the process of trying to take the stereo, the thieves destroyed some components of the dash. I had those components replaced with new parts at the dealership. And it was a good excuse to replace the stolen stereo with a new and better model (see upgraded sound system section above).

When the car was broken into, the front VIN plate was either stolen or not replaced by dealership when they replaced the dash components.  So the car is missing the VIN plate on the front window (all other VIN stickers and engravings are on the vehicle).  The California Highway Patrol has verified that the VIN number for the vehicle is correct and valid and I will provide the original signatures and documentation from CHP to the buyer together with the title.

The car has a slight dent on the right side above the rear wheel cover (pictured). There are some paint chips on the door frame from getting in and out of the car. The vehicle has other ordinary wear and tear which I have tried to show in the pictures.

The AC works very well but it has an odd glitch where the fan will on occasional stop blowing. The AC continues to cool but the fan does not blow. The Honda dealership was unable to determine the cause. In any event -- and this is NOT a joke -- if I bang on the dashboard above the AC control panel, the fan usually starts blowing again. If that doesn't work, hitting a pothole or any real bump in the road fixes the issue. I gave up trying to get the dealership to figure it out because I have a practical work around. It has worked every time.

Auto Services in California

Your Car Valet ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Automobile Body Repairing & Painting, Window Tinting
Address: 2445 Santa Monica Blvd, Topanga
Phone: (310) 463-1877

Xpert Auto Repair ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Brake Repair
Address: 3120 W Magnolia Blvd, Verdugo-City
Phone: (818) 557-0204

Woodcrest Auto Service ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Towing, Emissions Inspection Stations
Address: 18400 Van Buren Blvd, Redlands
Phone: (951) 398-4190

Witt Lincoln ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, New Car Dealers, Used Car Dealers
Address: 588 Camino Del Rio N, Imperial-Beach
Phone: (877) 651-9755

Winton Autotech Inc. ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Automobile Inspection Stations & Services, Auto Oil & Lube
Address: 23990 Hesperian Blvd, Hayward
Phone: (510) 786-6500

Winchester Auto ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Automobile Parts & Supplies, Battery Storage
Address: 3261 S White Rd, Alviso
Phone: (408) 270-2800

Auto blog

Automakers score 8 out of top 20 most-watched ads on YouTube [w/videos]

Fri, 14 Dec 2012

Who would have ever thought there'd be a day where people are able to skip television commercials only to go to websites to watch them later? Such is the joy of a DVR and YouTube. AdWeek tabulated the 20 most-watched ads on YouTube, and found that nine were car-related including eight coming from automakers.
Volkswagen continued its Star Wars theme with two ads in the top 20, including the highest-ranking car commercial The Bark Side spot at number three with almost 18 million views, which doesn't even have a single car in it. Some of our favorites are from Chrysler with Clint Eastwood in It's Halftime in America and House Arrest with Charlie Sheen for the Fiat 500 Abarth. Chevrolet, Honda, Audi and Toyota were the other automakers in the top 20, but we'd be remiss if we didn't at least mention one of the coolest ads on the list, the Hot Wheels corkscrew jump.
Of all the car videos, only the Fiat ad wasn't played during a Super Bowl. Check out all eight videos - in order - after the jump. Nike took the top spot with its My Time is Now ad that has been seen online more than 20 million times with Pepsi's Uncle Drew posted up in the runner-up; some of the other videos include four Old Spice commercials and an ad in which Snoop Dogg is pedaling Hot Pockets.

Honda safety campaign hunting for faulty Takata airbags in junkyards

Tue, May 12 2015

Honda has been working for months to recall about 5.5 million vehicles to replace their faulty Takata airbag inflators. With many of these models dating back over a decade, some of them aren't on the road anymore; instead they're sitting in salvage yards across the country as a possible source for inexpensive, recycled parts. There's a serious risk for injuries and fatalities if these bad components end up in cars still on the road, and the automaker is on the hunt to track the dangerous parts down. According to Automotive News, Honda thinks there could be over 24,000 recalled Takata airbags in the company's vehicles in junkyards in the US. The automaker has been working with an outside business to find them and issued notices to salvage lots around the country about an offer to buy the parts back. So far, it has tracked down around 3,900 inflators. Bizarrely, Honda is facing pushback on this safety campaign from the Automotive Recyclers Association. "The buyback program appears to be offering recyclers a price for airbags materially lower than the fair parts value," organization CEO Michael Wilson said to Automotive News. Although, under federal law it's illegal to sell faulty components to people. The trade group also has a pending lawsuit against the automaker for alleged lost value in buying vehicles with Takata inflators. In addition to getting the word out to auto recyclers, Honda had a nationwide advertising campaign for people to get their cars fixed. However, the company and Takata are facing many lawsuits for injuries and deaths related to the faulty inflators.

Japanese automakers ramping production for renewed American sales

Wed, 21 Nov 2012

The 2011 earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan took quite the toll on the automotive industry in that nation. Not content to lean on that tragedy as excuse for slagging sales, the Japanese automakers are planning on a major production expansion in North America. The aim is to reclaim the market share lost from the Tsunami-based dip, and overcome a dollar/yen exchange rate that makes exporting to America unprofitable.
Following the Tsunami, Japanese automakers ramped up production in their North American facilities to compensate, but according to Automotive News, Nissan, Honda and others have all reported plans for still-further increased production in the year ahead. As part of this ramp-up, Mazda will open a facility in Salamnca, Mexico before March of 2014. Part of that increase in output is 50,000 units of a Toyota-badged compact car, which Mazda will produce.
Other Mexican production facilities opening include a Honda plant, which will open in Spring 2014 in Celaya, and a Nissan plant, set to open later this year in Aguascalientes. Nissan also said that it will need another plant in North America within the next five years. According to Nissan Boss Carlos Ghosn, the company aims to raise its stake in the US market from 8 percent to 10, and adding production will help achieve that goal. Even Mitsubishi is aiming to boost production at its Normal, Illinois plant. Production of the Outlander Sport is currently at 50,000, which Mitsubishi wants to raise to 70,000.