Abs crack leh.... ABS is hard plastic... depend on quality also lah

This is what I share @ autoworld forum..

My Insight is hitting 10K service now...

After all the hoohaa about Hybrid... let me share my experience of driving it...

I will compare to my previous car City IDSI 2006 and compare the performance with my friend BMW 320i (Unfair rite hahaha I'm evil!!!)
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Fuel Consumption... how much you can save seriously in real life driving not the JC test result etc etc...

(Kepong Carefour -> Sg. Buloh -> Subang Airport and back) My journey to work milage
My average Honda City IDSI will give me around 350 to 400KM mileage
Insight will give me around 650KM mileage.

Highway (Kepong-> Sg. Buloh Tol -> Taiping Perak)
The best City IDSI milage meter is 17.5km/l (YES I MANAGE TO HIT THIS MUAHAHA)
The best Insight is 25.8km/l (It can do better but so far this is the highway record) so far I have seen people hit up to 28km/l
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Quality of the Car (Exterior and Interior)

Exterior
City Exterior is pretty good but the looks is a debate since 2004 haha
Fit and finish is OK paint job is smooth.
The bumper clip is horrible it always give way even minor hit it look pretty bad...
The light is Standard H4 clear reflector helogen (you install HID police will be very happy) it is not HID ready.

Insight Has better fit and finish the join and gap is much refine and you will notice it is made in japan
Paint job is not as good as Malaysia CKD, it is very rough you can see the orange skin effect under sunlight... it is mainly due to thick anti rust... it is good for rust proof but not so nice to look at haha
The clip is stronger more support and stronger clips
Headlight is Projector with manual electronic levelling yes it is HID ready
The looks is good... with Mugen kits even better

Interior
City Interior is mainly Beige in colour vs Insight is Black
The seat overall is better than city cause there is more back support and side (semi bucket seat) support
The rear Head clearance is very bad on insight if you are tall you will have problem...
The split rear glass you need to get used to it... some hate it...
The boot space City is better but loading stuff Insight is better. I still like City ULTRA Seat...
Insight is very quiet way more quiet than City the NVH is superb!!!
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Performance and Technology

Performance - Top Speed
City IDSI top speed : 170km/h (On S mode paddle to the metal)
Insight top speed : 200 km/h (Econ - Off / D mode / Still can press the accelerator paddle) it can still go but 200 is scary!!! We test this during Seremban-KL highway run with my friend BMW 320i even he is impressed by the 1.3l car haha!!
(P/s: I cannot overtake 320i but manage to keep up with his car which is awesome)

Performance - Acceleration (Hill Start)
City IDSI - The CVT will have a little lag while Engine build up the torque to boost you will feel city boost at around 2000 rpm range... you will notice this when you stop at the hill

Insight - The electric motor will kick in very fast and boost you so in hill start it is easier and you will notice the CVT work less in this scenario.

Performance - Acceleration 0-100++ km/h
City IDSI is not very strong at 0-100 as it is IDSI you want strong you have to op for VTEC...
Insight - Electric Motor kick in very fast and strong you will notice tire skids and VSA kick in to hold it to the road and sling shot... the electric motor will very fast drive the engine to 5K RPM and will let the engine take over from there overall you will feel a little G-force pulling (very mild) overall it is fast!!

Performance - Breaking
City IDSI basically all the City will suffer soft breaking due to ABS thats because this ABS does not come with BA (Break Assist)
Insight have 2 Break Regenerative and Normal Brake... it have ABS / BA / Traction Control / VSA / Panic Stop
The break is very light and the break is very strong... some say the Drumbrake at back of the car is bad but the breaking power is there and it all thats matter... you can have super 4 disc and if you cant stop you are doom anyway.. haha!!
Because of regenerative brake the brake pads wear is very minimum...

Performance - Handling

Both car has very good handling but Insight is on the harder ride side... City ride is softer...

Conclusion.

Is it worth is :
1. YES if you are looking for a replacement for a everyday family car.

Compare to TDCi / TDi turbo diesel...
- Different kind of car.. a Diesel car can achieve what Hybrid can do but @ malaysia Diesel quality is still very low... my experience with 2 Diesel pickup truck you need to overhaul the fuel injector filter as it become dirty easily... another thing is price... if you can afford a Polo why not... but put into consideration of maintenance. maintaining a conti car is not cheap...

Compare to Prius
- Prius is a better hybrid if you dont mind spending additional RM40K. some say Prius standard offering not available on insight...my answer with 40K you can have all their fittings!!! haha

Battery How very scary!!!
- Try google.. the Insight battery is basically D cell NimH joint together so I believe there is cheap aftermarket replacement in the future in U.S. people are retrofitting aftermarkets D cell into the 1st generation Insight at a super cheap price... I have no worries unless D cell went extinct... (Insight batteries is D cell nimh made by Sanyo)
- On Prius batteries I believe it is proprieties and you will not have after markets parts... and I believe it is more expensive to replace although it last longer by additional 3 years... think about it... (Prius cell is a custom size made by Panasonic)

Should I wait...
YES but price and Government policy may change it may go lower or may go higher the RISK is yours...

need to pay us muahahaha!!! no $$ no talk....

Regenerative brake uses the IMA motor to brake converting kenetic energy to battery hence no brake pad is used. Please google regenerative brake before comment

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Added on January 14, 2012, 4:20 pmYeap worth it try google sierra glow in sunway awesome product...

This post has been edited by calvin_ng: Jan 14 2012, 04:20 PM

Hahahaha

Sierra glow I think rm600 rite 5 years guarantee hehe

Better dont do High REV on your car.. 0-20W is way to thin and any high rev driving will damage your engine....

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Added on January 16, 2012, 9:26 amhuh... reset stearing wheel??? like how??

This post has been edited by calvin_ng: Jan 16 2012, 09:26 AM

rims wont void warranty

hahaha your SA very bad... my SA say no problem muahahaha

my old city change Rim also and still my absorber is warranty and my bushing too well I'm not going to your Service center hahahaha

no visor for me... I dont wind down window.. unless pass toll laa

Rear wing I'm still looking for the Ori ones... super expensive hahaha

haha no visor for me...

nope dont think so if you want go Showroom hopping may get you a good deal

At this speed I'm holding the staring wheel for dear life hahaha and out take a video dem pro!

Hahahaha carefully bro at this speed it is pretty fast fo a say 1.3l car hahaha agree

Can reach 200 but that time I'm alone diving so no video sorry hahaha