HFS's car thread | Nearly-5000-miles update

[axletramp]

Absolutely great car - love that Star Trek dash. Seriously considered one as a company car when they first came out (company insisted we had Hondas as they were a client) as I was doing 45k miles a year, but ended up twisting my boss' arm and getting a Golf GTi 1.8T. So wish I hadn't, I hated that car. But that Insight shape is just brilliant. 👍

 

[homeforsummer]

Certainly distinctive, innit? I know personal preference is a thing but I can never really understand when people call these things ugly. I feel like their childhoods were missing out on such brilliant things as the Jetsons, or any 1980s or 1990s movie with flying cars. It's like the sort of thing Marvin the Martian would drive.

 

[axletramp]

I notice that the new model Insight has almost identical performance figures to original: 12.5 secs to 60 and 112/113 mph top end. That's 885Kg for you I guess.

 

[homeforsummer]

Yup. Realistically the new one feels a bit more peppy, probably from the extra torque and the CVT, but then the current Insight is a 60 mpg car whereas mine is a 60 mpg minimum car. And mine looks cooler...

 

[coop500]

You've had a good selection of cars so far! Loving the Insight

 

[Joey D]

Looking good, I always loved how they looked like a late 80's/early 90's interpretation of what cars would look like in 2010. Definitely a car that was almost ahead of its time.

Shame they never seemed too popular in the states, or rather Michigan. I've always wanted to drive one just to see what they were like.

 

[Keef]

As far as I can tell, this Insight came to fruition back in the day before Honda came to be a terrible car company. Does that theory prove true?

 

[homeforsummer]

As far as I can tell, this Insight came to fruition back in the day before Honda came to be a terrible car company. Does that theory prove true?

Pretty much.

The Insight appeared while Honda was still making several of its best-ever cars - the DC2 ITR, the S2000, the NSX. It emerged the same year as the S2000, and was produced at the same factory as the NSX (from the same metal, natch). In its own way it's equally as engineering-led as any of Honda's most celebrated models. World's lightest 3cyl car engine, similar lightweight con rod design to the S2K, aluminum body/chassis, aluminum suspension, plastic fuel tank, magnesium gearbox. As a bit of an engineering geek I love how much effort Honda put into designing it properly.

Unfortunately, the second-gen Insight arrived in Honda's iffy period. Aside from it being a later development of Honda's IMA hybrid system there's little remarkable about it. Ditto the CR-Z, though I still think the CR-Z is a great fun little car to drive.

 

[niky]

The CR-Z represents so much wasted potential. Every time I drive one, I marvel at how much fun it is to drive... then I sulk because if they applied the same suspension and steering tuning to the Honda Fit, along with a stop-start equipped 1.8 liter motor... the result would be more fun, lighter, faster and probably more economical than the CR-Z.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

My dad was seriously considering a CR-Z for his new car. He really liked it, but then drove it back to back with the Scion FR-S and hasn't thought about the CR-Z since. The CR-Z just isn't sporty enough considering the mileage, styling, and price.

I personally would rather pay the CR-Z's price to get a good manual first gen Insight.

 

[homeforsummer]

CR-Z has the right feelgood factor for me. I like the looks, I like the interior, and performance-wise it's pretty much on-par with my old MX-5, which is just right for having fun with.

If there's wasted potential for me it's that Honda didn't channel a little more first-gen Insight and reduce the weight a bit. More aluminium, a little less kit inside etc. Always brings to mind the Spoon CR-Z that Speedhunters drove several years ago. Weighed 995kg. Even if you didn't bother with any engine bits that'd make it a whole heap more fun, and probably do wonders for lower-speed economy too. I'd really like to see what you could do with some subtle tweaking.

 

[MagpieRacer]

So, this happened:

More pics to follow...

Very jealous indeed. Always loved the look and the shape, the MPG figures are of course fantastic as well and from what I have read and watched, isn't a bad car to drive either. Just really hard it seems to get my hands on one.

Lucky boy.

 

[homeforsummer]

Thanks Just been out for a drive in it for the first time in a week, really does drive nicely. It won't satisfy speed freaks, but then as a journo I get to drive quicker stuff occasionally anyway. For the occasional trips I have to make this'll be pretty much perfect.

Building up a list of things that need doing with the car to slowly bring it back to mint condition (completed steps struck through).

• Trip computer button not working - an easy fix, lots of suggestions on the 'net
• Dashboard rattles - a few of these are things in the glovebox. The headunit is also rattling. Few other things. Again, not a difficult fix with a few carefully-placed bits of foam
• General squeaks - one I think is the bonnet. Catch isn't loose, but does allow more movement than I'd expect. Maybe needs a screw turned, maybe just needs more bits of foam
• Brake feel? - think this is an "early hybrid" thing. Pedal is very soft over the first half of its travel, which is presumably mainly when it's regenerating. May do a fluid change though to see if it helps
• Alloys need refurbishing - lots of companies around to do this
• Rattly parts in boot lid? - a plastic tab has broken in the trim and the rest of it is rattling around inside the boot lid. Find, remove, fixed
• General interior cleanup - few grubby bits that need swishing up
• Touch-ups to black painted window surrounds - the usual lacquer peeling on black window trim
• Hesitancy at low revs - most likely cause: EGR valve getting clogged. Easy fix
• Cloudy headlamp covers - UV damage to the polycarbonate. Again, an easy fix with various kits out there
• Squeaky wipers - rubber has presumably gone off. May get some of those flat blade wipers as a replacement
• Aircon regas - what it says on the tin

Really though, it's all minor stuff. Aside from the alloy refurb I'd be surprised if fixing the rest altogether cost more than a few hundred quid, so that suits me fine. After sorting the alloys and headlamps it really will look as-brand-new from five paces.

Edit:

Few more things to chuck on the list. First is to investigate the electric windows, specifically the driver's one which today decided it didn't want to raise again after I'd lowered it. Lots of faffing with the switch eventually changed its mind but I don't feel like waiting until it decides to conk out for good while lowered...

Next is to line all the cubby holes with felt. Stops rattles. Makes sense.

Lastly, I think I've found a new stereo headunit for the car, inspired by @Moglet's investigation into such things. Basically, all single-DIN units from regular manufacturers look atrocious. But conveniently, Becker does one which looks a lot more OEM, but has modern features, and even has a display in the right colour to match the other dashboard lights.

Finding one in the UK may be more difficult, but I'm sure I can find a way. Just need to make sure it's not one that costs a fortune either. Being Becker, you never know.

 

[homeforsummer]

Took a few quick pics today, as I've done a "introduction" article for one of my outlets, online tomorrow.

​

Still not done a long journey in it yet. Few more press cars on the way so it'll have to wait! Still, gives me time to fix a few of the issues.

 

[Moglet]

Lastly, I think I've found a new stereo headunit for the car, inspired by @Moglet's investigation into such things. Basically, all single-DIN units from regular manufacturers look atrocious. But conveniently, Becker does one which looks a lot more OEM, but has modern features, and even has a display in the right colour to match the other dashboard lights.

Finding one in the UK may be more difficult, but I'm sure I can find a way. Just need to make sure it's not one that costs a fortune either. Being Becker, you never know.

Becker units are always a good choice if you want something that doesn't look like a Halfords 'Fisher Price special'. 👍

 

[homeforsummer]

I'd come across their stuff before in more classic applications, but they appear to do some nice modern units too. Bigger, clearer buttons and a screen that doesn't look like a 1990s Alba hi-fi.

Also keen to see how much it would cost for someone to wire in a USB port for it somewhere, so I could hook up my phone without a wire trailing across the dash - there are a couple of convenient cubby holes in the dash where such a thing would be ideal.

 

[GTP_Ingram]

Do any of their units have Bluetooth? That'd negate the need for any wires at all.

 

[homeforsummer]

Do any of their units have Bluetooth? That'd negate the need for any wires at all.

Yeah, there's an upgraded one with Bluetooth, but the wire need is twofold. Partly for the connection, but partly for charging my phone. Rarely use Bluetooth if there's a wired connection handy as it lets me kill two birds with one stone.

 

[homeforsummer]

Cloudy headlamps + restoration kit + elbow grease = new headlamps!

​

Still got the other side to go, though, which I think is a little worse to start with. And realistically a little more on the one above, but it's pretty easy to see the difference. Upshot is £20 and maybe an hour and a half's work to fix both, rather than a hundred quid or so per side for replacements.

What the image also doesn't show is just how yellow it was, but it's whiter now as well as clearer.

 

[Moglet]

I've always wondered if those kits work as well as they make out to, and it looks like you've proven that they do! I bet they make the car appear quite a bit younger, it always surprises me how much of a difference the headlights on a car make.

 

[homeforsummer]

Yeah, makes a hell of a difference frankly. The headlamps and the scuffed-up and corroded wheels really do make the car look a bit downmarket in the metal, but once both of those are sorted, along with a few bits touched-up here and there, it'll look almost brand new.

The kit, by the way, is a Meguiars one. Comes with a buffing pad that attaches to a cordless drill, a polishing compound, and an extra kit for particularly stubborn bits. Not needed the extra kit yet but may use it for the harder-to-get areas. I've been careful so far as I'm trying to avoid getting too near the bodywork!

May also upgrade the bulbs as a matter of course. I'm not going for any white-coloured ones (I hate them, to be frank - the blueish white glow looks really cheap, to me) but I've been very pleased with a set of "all weather" ones I used both on the Panda and the MX-5. May go LED for the sidelights, if I can find something suitable. Ditto the rear lights, so the brakelights are nice and bright.

 

[Moglet]

Funnily enough I've just upgraded the sidelights on my CRV to LEDs. I bought the basic £10 pair from Halfords and they're a really nice shade of white, not too blue which can end up looking awful.

 

[homeforsummer]

I may look into that then. Need to find that happy medium between sidelights being like a candle in a pot of piss and them looking like nasty aftermarket chav stuff. It's funny how sensitive car styling is to anything that isn't of its era. Like people fitting angel eyes to E36 BMWs.

 

[Moglet]

If you're after something that will make the car visible during the day then I'd stay away from the 501s I got from Halfords as they're not as bright as some of the multi-LED units that Auto Bulbs Direct and the like sell. I'll try and get a photo of them in the dark for you so you can see what they're like.

 

[homeforsummer]

I'm actually more concerned about the light being the right colour, really. I expect a half-decent LED arrangement will be brighter than the tiny sidelight bulbs currently installed, but a nice, neutral white colour would be good from them. Would be interested to see what colour yours appear.

These are the bulbs I had on the Panda and MX-5, incidentally:

You'll note the light colour is fairly standard, somewhere between yellow and white, but I liked the slight multicolour tint to them too. It's something to do with the "all weather" coating the bulb has. Was always happy with the light output in both those cars, and can't see it being much different in the Insight, so will probably go with them again.

 

[Moglet]

It turns out that when it's really dark outside those Halfords LEDs put out quite a bit of light!

They are exactly the colour they appear in the photo, which is a bright white. I've got to change my dipped beams now though as they look orange in comparison.

 

[ExigeEvan]

I swapped the Alfa to some white (not blue! ) ebay LED sidelights and they work a treat.

Swopped headlights to Osram Nightbreaker Plus too.

 

[homeforsummer]

Thanks for the headlight info guys 👍

Just been out for a longer run in the car, partly as I've been meaning to take it on the motorway for a few weeks and partly because I didn't want it sitting unused in the garage while I have a few press cars on the go.

Car is probably in its element at a constant speed on the motorway. Unfortunately it was a bit windy today so had one run with a tailwind and the other with a strong headwind. With the former, at 70 mph it was doing around 80-90 mpg on the flat with brief spells up to 110-120 mpg or so when lean burn kicked in.

With the headwind it was a little more difficult but even so was doing 60 mpg or so at 70 mph. Partly helped as the electric motor was kicking in with the slightly heavier throttle openings, rather than it burning fuel instead.

With regards to the battery, was pleased to see the charge creep up to nearly full over the course of the drive. Since I've owned the car I've not seen it above about 2/3 full and was a little worried it wouldn't go any higher, but it just turns out it's happier charging on longer, higher-speed drives.

In general, it just seems to like sitting there at speed using not much fuel. Feels surprisingly stable for a light car with skinny tyres and a narrow rear track. Seats were perfectly comfortable over an hour or so's driving too. Really looking forward to doing a proper run in it at some stage.

 

[Clark]

How much better on fuel is this than the modern day 3 cylinders when driving econmically?

I know when thrashed those 3 pots are no better than my old 1.1 Clio which would do 45mpg no matter how you drove it.

 

[homeforsummer]

Last few 3-cylinder small cars I've driven, the Skoda Citigo and Peugeot 107, both managed about 60 mpg after a week. They're getting pretty good now and the Skoda struggled to go below 50 mpg even with a bit of thrashing.

60 is pretty much a minimum for the Honda though and on the motorway they'd struggle to get anywhere near it. Certainly not into the hundreds. Of course they're more practical too, but then I can't afford a brand new Up/Mii/Citigo so that's fairly redundant.