encore888

The Insight seems like a rushed attempt to capitalize on the success of the Prius (although there was a very different earlier Insight, perhaps ahead of its time). Maybe a 3rd gen Insight will be a more worthy rival.

LexFather

G, your point is valid and we have discussed it. Looking at hybrids, they all are pretty upmarket, from the Prius IV/V packages, to the Lexus hybrids, the old Accord hybrid, Durango/Tahoe etc hybrids. THey are seen are "range" toppers.

Honda tried to go cheap and lost. The demographics support hybrid buyers have higher disposable income.

THe thing is they had YEARS to launch this car.

dunnojack

another sporty looking Insight....... that goes really slow.

montgb

iTrader: (7)

That make sense - I was wondering why I hadn't seen any Insights in my area (as opposed to at least a couple new Priuses). It seems that the Prius has an air of glamour about it (Hollywood stars drive it!) - it's almost a luxury car. Honda, by marketing the car to Joe Public, lost this sense of exclusivity. I'm not saying that all hybrid owners are image-conscious, but I'll bet it plays a bigger role than Honda realized.

Just my 0.02.

mmarshall

I had the same experience reviewing the new Prius. I had to look over and test-drive a bright red Phase V model one morning while it was still available (the only new Prius in the area)....it was sold just a couple of hours later. I ended up not only reviewing it, but explaining its features (and history) to a number of interested people right there next to me.

mmarshall

Honda, contrary to your post, still has quality construction, if you look at assembly quality and the precision with with parts fit and operate. I can often recognize a Honda control **** or switch, blindfolded, simply by sense and feeling alone (the same is true of non-active BMW power steering). But, you are correct, especially with the Fit and Insight, about cheap-feeling, over-plasticized interior trim. But, in the Honda line, that is more confined to the small entry-level cars than it is the Civic and Accord. More upmarket Hondas have nicer materials inside. Road noise, as you note, is sometimes higher in Honda products than in their competition, but that is more a factor of the amount of insulation they use, not how well they actually build or assemble the car. The Kia Soul I reviewed a few days ago, for example, also had high road noise, but that was not a factor of poor asembly quality either....just a simple lack of insulation.

That's true with the VTEC, but Honda, recently, has been putting most of their development dollars into other types of engine designs. With the FCX, they are going to be the first mainstream manufacturer in America with a street-ready hydrogen fuel-cell car (Mercedes might be, in Europe). The Honda FCX is already operating now, under lease, in some areas. The only thing really holding it back, right now, is the lack of a hydrogen-refilling infrastructure.

mmarshall

And the Prius isn't?

IMO, the Prius is no better-looking than the Insight, and the Prius interior, in a number of ways, is even worse. The only real advantages of the Prius over the Insight, from what I have found, are more back-seat room and a smoother, more sophisticated, more efficient hybrid drivetrain.

bagwell

everything but the MPG....

LexFather

Mike I find the Prius this go round actually attractive. What makes me hate it is the silly greenie ads on T.V

mmarshall

Maybe that is just a difference in our styling tastes. I've never liked wedge or bullet-shaped styling, and both the Insight and Prius are rather extreme examples of each.

However, as with most automotive matters, I respect your opinon.

superchan7

I think Honda rushed the powertrain, it seems a little weak and way too rough from what people are saying. Also, the back seat is a loser, I've tried it and it's nowhere near as useful as the Prius bench.

A lost opportunity due to those two major mistakes. One other thing I didn't like was the look of the seat fabric. It's comfortable enough, but it looks very rough and downmarket. Mazda have better seat fabrics.

RXSF

The prius front looks good, the rear looks completely the same but more boxed. I actually prefer the old rear better.

As for the prius running off the lots, everytime i pass by my toyota dealer on my way to work, i see at least 15 of them on the lot. Dont know if they are presold, but they are definately there in inventory. However, i see at least 3 everyday here