My friend the Kaiser Permanente doc knows a little bit about cars, enough to have a BMW 3 Series and an Audi Q7 3.2 in his garage. So he was more than a little eager to get an introduction to our long-term Honda Insight hybrid.
The big surprise to me is that every little thing about the Insight seemed to be a big surprise to him, as if the car were an example of industrial magic. Who knew that when the car stopped at a light, the engine did, too? Who knew that the instrument panel gave you a little reward for driving efficiently? Who knew that the batteries last more than 100,000 miles (so far, anyway)? Who knew that the rear seats fold down to provide a flat cargo floor?
It reminded me that much of the enthusiasm for hybrids is simply built on enthusiasm for basic, no-frills transportation. And because electricity seems so simple, plentiful and cheap, everyone assumes an electric car must have the same virtues. That's why guys like my friend the Kaiser doc are always a little bit disappointed when they discover that a Honda Insight is more expensive than a Honda Fit.
For all the Honda insight's little dynamic eccentricities, I think it's a really interesting car, so perfect for Honda's brand image. And my experience with my friend the doc makes me think that the whole thing of electricity in the automobile is better served by a cheap car like the Honda insight than a super-duper sports car like the Audi E-tron.
Michael Jordan, Executive Editor @ 6,250 miles
carlisimo says:
12:43 PM, 09/18/09
I question his alleged knowledge about cars, especially if it's based on his choice of vehicles.
That Audi looks ungainly... I can see why the R8 has those colored blades. It's an odd body shape, too long in the middle.
I'd say something on-topic, but all I learned from the post is that some people are really out of touch with lower-end cars!
hybris says:
07:30 PM, 09/18/09
All I learned from the post is that some people are really out of touch with lower-end cars!
Translation: Rich Fools. (Understatement but I didn't want to overstep my bounds.)
nealibob says:
07:09 AM, 09/19/09
This may have been covered a million times already, but does the electric assist in the Insight actually do anything more than offset its own weight? That would be beyond letting them put a hybrid label on it, of course. Seems to me that the same tiny engine with some alternator tricks in a lighter car would return the same efficiency, with perhaps a little bit less torque at times, a loss offset by a true simplicity gain. I say there is absolutely nothing simple about a car that combines two drive power sources into one drive train, and I have a hard time believing that this car is any better than a tiny, cheap diesel or even gasoline vehicle.
starbird says:
07:39 AM, 09/19/09
I took one for a test drive and my opinion is that its too dangerous to get onto the beltway in the mornings, the car shakes violently when its stationary and traffic go past it, visibility is really poor out the back (worse than a mini clubman), and its pretty noisy, particularly when the engine is straining (anything above 55).
Saying that if you did under 8 miles aday and never went on the highway it might be worth a look (I was also surprised how economy the seats felt. No padding and cheap. I expected more from Honda).
estreka says:
02:22 PM, 09/20/09
Are you trying to tell me the proletariat has cupholders now!?
clarkma5 says:
08:18 PM, 09/20/09
There's no such thing as a Q7 3.2. And I hardly consider a 3-series and a Q7 to mean ANYTHING in terms of "car knowledge" credentials...everyone and their brother owns a 3-series and the Q7 is Audi's poorest effort in the lineup IMO.