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Honda Insight Prices Paid and Buying Experience - READ ONLY

187 messages,  Last post on Feb 11, 2009 at 7:43 AM

You are in the Prices Paid & Leasing Experiences Archive Forum.

What is this discussion about? Honda Insight, Hybrid Cars, Coupe, Hatchback

Messages Page 5 of 19

#38 of 187 badnuls by rickabt

Jul 18, 2000 (11:47 pm)

I sell new Hondas in Northern California where the market for the Insight is extremely great. Among my colleagues, sometimes they are disappointed when they meet an Insight shopper because of the unlikely chance of selling them anytime soon. I'm not surprised, however, about your problems finding a knowledgeable or willing dealership in the Northeast.


Just about two weeks ago, we California dealers were elated to hear some great news for us. Honda Motor Sales announced that they would be increasing the allocation of Insights to California dealers on account of the fact that Northeastern dealers refused an increase in their allocation.


Sadly for you, Insights will eventually become more dificult to find in your neck of the woods, but easier to find here in California. Of course, with so many sales calls and shoppers stopping by each dealership in this region, we could easily sell double the number we get now for MSRP or more as soon as or before they arrive at the lots.


Then again, the average roundtrip for commutes in this marketplace is much, mcuh longer here than in the Boston area.


As for the lack of knowledgeable sales associates at Honda dealers, Honda does seem to be partly to blame for this. I had plenty of experience with Toyota prior to selling Hondas, and dealers were getting information about the Prius as much as two years ago. Meanwhile, Honda kept the car a virtual enigma until the very moment they began to arrive at the first lucky dealerships. Production and delivery are happening at a glacial pace, and many smaller or mid-size dealers have not yet even recieved their second Insight.


Many salespeople actually feel that their likelihood of selling an Insight is so small that it is negligible ... therefore, they feel rather ambivalent about the car itself. My colleagues don't feel this way, but we do get frustrated when there are so many customers coming in to ask for them, yet there is nothing to show.


These are not excuses for bad salesmanship in regards to the Insight, but it may help explain why Badnuls has found little help in the quest for an Insight.


Similarly, Honda has not even given sales staff any clue about the all-new 2001 Civic. It's just weeks away, but other than spy photos I found in a British journal, I have little info about what bodes to be my bread and butter in just a few weeks. I understand the rationale ... Honda wnats us to remain focused on selling the remaining 2000s.


If you want to know more about the car and you live in the northeast, perhaps you can ask your local dealers if you can have a chance to view the Sales Training videotape. We have allowed that a few times here ... usually whenever all of us are busily helping customers buy cars actually available at the dealership. If no one obliges, insightman.com is a great resource.

#39 of 187 Just got mine.... by rcooper1957

Jul 19, 2000 (2:36 am)

I just took delivery of my Insight about 10 days ago. I have a 100 mile+ round trip commute in Southern CA - and with gas prices the way they are I decided to take the plunge. Although I am getting nowhere near the 70MPG quoted by the EPA I am getting almost 60MPG on a commute that is uphill one way. :>) I am still on my second tank of gas and have gone over 1100 miles. I purchased mine at Honda of Oxnard in Ventura County - they seemed to know a fair amount about the car and were anxious to get this one on the road so that they could sell another! I can't believe the stuff that is posted about dealers in the northeast. Shame on them. This is my third Honda and (so far) my favorite. I traded a 99 Infiniti G20t and although I liked it, I love this one.

#40 of 187 Tax credit or deduction? by jetson2

Jul 20, 2000 (6:47 pm)

There is a discussion thead on the Prius town hall topic http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/engaged/edmund.cgi?c=Sedans&t=3508&a=1&H=120&f=0
Summary, there is a tax credit for electic cars - some dealer mentioned a deduction - still being hashed out.

#41 of 187 carlady by mzn

Jul 22, 2000 (2:08 am)

Thank you, rickabt, for providing such detailed information!


carlady/host

#42 of 187 Love my insight by winker98

Jul 29, 2000 (1:52 am)

Bought my Insight last week from a dealer in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It is a great driving experience and I like feeling like I am "having a relationship" as I drive as the car is always letting me know what it is doing. I got 76.5 miles to the gallon on a 410 mile trip. I am really enjoying this car.

#43 of 187 Insight impressions from Montreal by stelmar

Aug 01, 2000 (1:15 pm)

Almost 3000km so far of aggressive, 135km/hr autoroute as well as hard accelerating stop-and-go city driving. Am only getting an average of 4.6l/100km ( about 51 miles/US gallon ) but this is still not bad. Have however noticed that 3.5l/100km ( high 60's mpg's ) is do-able on the highway at 95-100km/hr. Too bad there's no cruise.
Unloaded a beautiful Audi A4 to "do the right thing for the planet." Now, except for the skitteriness of the skinny tires, I love the Insight. Boy do I get looks. Not like the far too common A4. Am leasing for 2 years. Looking forward to a fuel cell or perhaps even a pure, increased range, plug-in EV.

#44 of 187 Insight forum by acerone

Aug 11, 2000 (6:04 am)

Check out the forum at www.honda-acura.net kind of slow right now but in time who know's.

#45 of 187 contemplating by dudka

Aug 19, 2000 (9:07 pm)

i was at the dealer today. they have a silver insight on the lot, with a/c it will be $20500 or so. i was just wondering if anyone got the car at or close to invoice ($18000). also, is the insurance cheaper on the insight than the civic. i have a 99 civic ex. and was thinking of trading it in for the insight, but the price tag is a little bit scary, 20 grand for a 2 seater. i know i will be investing into something that may replace the internal combustion engines for good, but....it will increase my payments by a $100 a month. also, does anyone know if NY state has tax credit for the electric vehicles? how about federal government?
the worst part is that they also had a souped up Si for $17000 lol

#46 of 187 contemplating by dudka

Aug 19, 2000 (9:07 pm)

i was at the dealer today. they have a silver insight on the lot, with a/c it will be $20500 or so. i was just wondering if anyone got the car at or close to invoice ($18000). also, is the insurance cheaper on the insight than the civic. i have a 99 civic ex. and was thinking of trading it in for the insight, but the price tag is a little bit scary, 20 grand for a 2 seater. i know i will be investing into something that may replace the internal combustion engines for good, but....it will increase my payments by a $100 a month. also, does anyone know if NY state has tax credit for the electric vehicles? how about federal government?
the worst part is that they also had a souped up Si for $17000 lol

#47 of 187 oopps by dudka

Aug 19, 2000 (9:07 pm)

sorry for double

Messages Page 5 of 19

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