sell my Insight for $14K and get a used Civic Hybrid or??
#1
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
sell my Insight for $14K and get a used Civic Hybrid or??
someone has offered me $14K for my 2000 Honda Insight with 66K miles.
I've been thinking of getting a 4 door car for a while (TT back seat is barely usuable).
So do you guys think I should just keep the Insight and enjoy the great MPG or "upgrade" to the Civic (probably a 2004 or 2005) which offers more room and comfort but worse mileage. I commute about 52 miles 5 days a week, so its not a crazy long commute like some folks have.
Insight upsides:
unbelievable MPG
unique, kinda cool
reliable
Insight downsides:
no cruise control (would be about $350 to add)
2 seats
lack of power
Civic upside:
way more comfort
cruise control (helps with my crappy hip)
4 doors capable of carrying 5 people
doesn't look so funny
probably CVT
Civic downside:
MPG (guessing I can get 50mpg)
have to drive more at lunch
I've been thinking of getting a 4 door car for a while (TT back seat is barely usuable).
So do you guys think I should just keep the Insight and enjoy the great MPG or "upgrade" to the Civic (probably a 2004 or 2005) which offers more room and comfort but worse mileage. I commute about 52 miles 5 days a week, so its not a crazy long commute like some folks have.
Insight upsides:
unbelievable MPG
unique, kinda cool
reliable
Insight downsides:
no cruise control (would be about $350 to add)
2 seats
lack of power
Civic upside:
way more comfort
cruise control (helps with my crappy hip)
4 doors capable of carrying 5 people
doesn't look so funny
probably CVT
Civic downside:
MPG (guessing I can get 50mpg)
have to drive more at lunch
#2
Lexus Champion
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYC/ATL
Posts: 2,618
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would say sell it long as you don't regret it or feel it's gonna cost you more in anyway to drive the civic hybrid, and if the civic will be more comfortable then yes do it, comfort is always the main objective.
14k seems like a lot for that car, how much are they with low mileage/relatively new
14k seems like a lot for that car, how much are they with low mileage/relatively new
#4
Lexus Fanatic
I agree that a Civic Hybrid is a good consideration, but with the curent demand for them, they may be hard to find either new or used.
Hybrids of almost any type are in demand right now.....that is probably why you were offered 14K for an 8-year-old Insight (they sold for around 20K brand new).
I did a recent review of the current-generation Civic Hybrid, if it will help you.....it should also be good for those built in the last few years.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...8+civic+hybrid
Hybrids of almost any type are in demand right now.....that is probably why you were offered 14K for an 8-year-old Insight (they sold for around 20K brand new).
I did a recent review of the current-generation Civic Hybrid, if it will help you.....it should also be good for those built in the last few years.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...8+civic+hybrid
Trending Topics
#8
I can not understany why someone would offer 50% more than the car is worth. Espcially if you say 'gas mileage' that's the biggest reason NOT to over pay for a car like this.
Lets say it's worth $9k he's throwing $5K at the car because it gets good gas mileage? That makes about as much sense as wiping your behind before you take a dump.
he/she can buy a Civic or Miata or some other small 4-banger of similar age all day long for $6K to 9K. Plus a conventional CIvic will be even more reliable since it doesn't have 2x the components that can go wrong.
so he's pre-paying (or paying a premium) for what you say is 'unbelievable MPG' which really is anything but unbelievable when you consider how under-powered and slow the Insight is. It's also one of the smallest cars on the planet so gee guess it's a mystery how it gets good MPG (not).
So let's see a regular civic or Escort or whatever will get you mid-30s MGP and you can buy all day long for $7K or pay $14K to get a car that gets what? mid-40's maybe 50 MPG.
Take that $7K extra and buy gas with it and the insight will never pay for itself (at least not at this inflated price).
You need to sell this car before the guy comes to his senses.
Lets say it's worth $9k he's throwing $5K at the car because it gets good gas mileage? That makes about as much sense as wiping your behind before you take a dump.
he/she can buy a Civic or Miata or some other small 4-banger of similar age all day long for $6K to 9K. Plus a conventional CIvic will be even more reliable since it doesn't have 2x the components that can go wrong.
so he's pre-paying (or paying a premium) for what you say is 'unbelievable MPG' which really is anything but unbelievable when you consider how under-powered and slow the Insight is. It's also one of the smallest cars on the planet so gee guess it's a mystery how it gets good MPG (not).
So let's see a regular civic or Escort or whatever will get you mid-30s MGP and you can buy all day long for $7K or pay $14K to get a car that gets what? mid-40's maybe 50 MPG.
Take that $7K extra and buy gas with it and the insight will never pay for itself (at least not at this inflated price).
You need to sell this car before the guy comes to his senses.
Last edited by rai; 07-22-08 at 06:19 PM.
#9
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
#10
Lexus Fanatic
I can. I've driven both cars, both the old and new generations, and the Civic Hybrid, IMO, in general, is less annoying to drive than the Prius, for several reasons. The only significant advantages to the Prius, IMO, are more cargo area in the back from its hatchback design and its smoother start-up from idle without the jerk you get from the Civic Hybrid when you take your foot off the brake. But the Civic Hybrid has a better dash, more conventional gauges/controls, and is much easier for the average driver to get used to......that, IMO, cancels out the small advantage (not really that significant) the Prius has in gas mileage.....in my area the Prius averages around 45 MPG in suburban driving, Civic Hybrids, around 40-42.
Last edited by mmarshall; 07-22-08 at 08:43 PM.
#11
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
I can. I've driven both cars, both the old and new generations, and the Civic Hybrid, IMO, in general, is less annoying to drive than the Prius, for several reasons. The only significant advantages to the Prius, IMO, are more cargo area in the back from its hatchback design and its smoother start-up from idle without the jerk you get from the Civic Hybrid when you take your foot off the brake. But the Civic Hybrid has a better dash, more conventional gauges/controls, and is much easier for the average driver to get used to......that, IMO, cancels out the small advantage (not really that significant) the Prius has in gas mileage.....in my area the Prius averages around 45 MPG in suburban driving, Civic Hybrids, around 40-42.
#13
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
Seems to me you need to do a budget comparison of no change vs. change over 1-3 years so see how you come out. Selling/buying is obviously going to cost more plus more gas so for example, let's say you end up spending $5K to get into the new car and $2K more per year on gas (just wild guess numbers here) - in 3 years you've spent $11K more than doing nothing. Is that worth it to get 4 seats, cruise control, etc.? Maybe it is - I've changed cars before when there was nothing wrong with what I had, I just needed a change.
Anyway, only you can decide but budget should factor in somewhat, unless you really can't stand the Insight or its limitations any longer.
Anyway, only you can decide but budget should factor in somewhat, unless you really can't stand the Insight or its limitations any longer.
#14
Lexus Fanatic
Sure. The Prius will do better in some areas. In NoVA suburbs though where I live most of them average 45-46 MPG.
#15
Lexus Fanatic
Seems to me you need to do a budget comparison of no change vs. change over 1-3 years so see how you come out. Selling/buying is obviously going to cost more plus more gas so for example, let's say you end up spending $5K to get into the new car and $2K more per year on gas (just wild guess numbers here) - in 3 years you've spent $11K more than doing nothing. Is that worth it to get 4 seats, cruise control, etc.? Maybe it is - I've changed cars before when there was nothing wrong with what I had, I just needed a change.
Anyway, only you can decide but budget should factor in somewhat, unless you really can't stand the Insight or its limitations any longer.
Anyway, only you can decide but budget should factor in somewhat, unless you really can't stand the Insight or its limitations any longer.
I myself try to strike a balance between all of the above. I normally get a new car every 4-5 years or so. That strikes a reasonable balance between depreciation, trade-in values, operating costs, and the yearly personal property (car) value taxes we have in VA and some other states.
As far as putting up with an Insight, true, it is the ultimate in fuel miserness among U.S.-market production vehicles, but its miniscule size, two seats, 350-lb load limit (that's barely two small-to-medium-size adults, not counting luggage), rough noisy ride, and sluggish drivetrain does demand some compromises. I reviewed one in February 2000 (before I was with CL) and it was one of the most uncomfortable and confining modern cars I've driven.
Last edited by mmarshall; 07-23-08 at 03:18 PM.