I drove our Honda Insight over the weekend and I didn't like it. To borrow the old break up line, my dear Insight, it's not you, it's me.
You're perfectly fine for who you are. We had a great time over the weekend driving up to the Bay Area and taking Mom out for a Dim Sum Mothers Day brunch. Sure you got great mileage driving down the coast (41mpg), a bunch of cargo space for my photo gear and I really appreciated that, but overall I find you annoying.
The reason I think you're annoying wasn't because I found your regenerative brakes grabby and jerky, nor your hybrid system that hesitated a lot when I hit the gas or even the weak gas engine you've got. I didn't like you because you didn't mold to my driving style and I wasn't willing to change. Driving you is killing who I am.
I'm sure there are a lot of fish out there that really get who you are and can really appreciate just how special you are on the inside, but that person isn't me. Maybe other people are willing to change their driving style to get the most out of you, but I like who I am.
Besides, I don't want to be mean but the new Mustang has got over 300 hp and is getting 30 mpg. Take care and have a good life.
Scott Jacobs, Senior Photographer
ptcdawg says:
11:22 AM, 05/10/10
Mustang...300HP yes...getting over 30 MPG...fail....
I'm guessing it would do good to get HALF the mileage of the Insight...get it to follow you on about a 50 mile or so trip of all types of driving.
firstwagon says:
11:25 AM, 05/10/10
+1 ptcdawg
hybris says:
11:35 AM, 05/10/10
I can agree with you Mr.Jacobs.
I wonder if the Stig would want to drive a Hybrid?
questionlp says:
11:51 AM, 05/10/10
The only hybrid the Stig might drive (and secretly enjoy) is the ActiveHybrid X6 ;)
As far as the 2011 Mustang V6 is concerned, if you are into the throttle a lot, I highly doubt you will see 30 MPG, much less 24 MPG.
adavis2493 says:
01:05 PM, 05/10/10
I think you guys should do what you did with the M3, where you had an old one and a new one.
You guy's should buy a 2001-2005 Insight and see how that works out. I'd be greatly amused.
Look, I found one!
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&csDlId=&csDgId=&listingId=41562076&listingRecNum=1&criteria=sf1Dir%3DASC%26alMdId%3D21300%26mkId%3D20017%26stkTyp%3DU%26mdId%3D21300%26rd%3D50%26crSrtFlds%3DstkTypId-feedSegId-mkId-mdId%26zc%3D90404%26rn%3D0%26PMmt%3D1-1-0%26stkTypId%3D28881%26sf1Nm%3Dprice%26alMkId%3D20017%26rpp%3D50%26feedSegId%3D28705&aff=national
ONLY 8,000 MILES!!
mheikka says:
01:24 PM, 05/10/10
I admire your candor, Scott.
Most of the current crop of hybrids require one to sacrifice some (or in the case of the Insight, most) of that familiar 20th century "feel", performance and "driving experience" to get double the fuel economy of something like a Mustang. One has to drive efficiently in a hybrid, because doing anything else is frustrating, given the current state of hybrids. To car guys, that's asking too much.
Over this past year, my family has saved over 475 gallons of fuel over 19k miles with the Insight (versus the Element it replaced), for mostly commuter driving. That's at least $1400, given the rising price of fuel over the past year. I doubt anyone driving any Mustang can make that claim.
stwok says:
01:28 PM, 05/10/10
Scott, you should drive the new CR-Z, that's a hybrid more towards your style I think.
lucien4 says:
01:32 PM, 05/10/10
Even if Mustang would really get 30 mpg, you should know better that's still a 36% difference. But as many I doubt it's only 36% difference...
I don't understand why you are trying so hard to defend why you hate it. There's really no problem saying you don't like the car without having to rant about it how awful it is according to your personal criteria...
It will beat the Mustang in fuel economy and cargo space if that's criteria someone else finds important.
felonious says:
02:41 PM, 05/10/10
Painfully well written.
ed124c says:
03:45 PM, 05/10/10
The Insight is too close to the price of a base Prius, and Nissan is selling Altima hybrids in the low 20s.
However, gas savings for any hybrid are OK, but all the facts won't be in until some of these hybrids get old and nees new batteries. Yes, I know that Toyota says battery prices will be way down by then, but the price has to be factored into the gas savings. And where is all the electricity for battery recharging coming from-- the sky.
I will studiously avoid hybrids. I am 68 and will probably never own one. A new Fiesta? Now that's another story!
cr_driver says:
04:58 PM, 05/10/10
Mustang and honda insight in the same sentence? And talking about fuel economy?
LOL, this speaks great of the mustang! At least on paper.
Way to go Ford.