Well done Calvin... I like ur passion of doing comparison when u actually own both car and write a fr from ur experience. That is a very comprehensive report I must say. Kudos to u. To ckk125, thanks for your correction too.

Mine 1 already top up to change 3m double sided tape, so far no problem at all

Just to share.

Both normal and regenerative braking on Insight are two separate physical component controlled and triggered by the same brake pedal (and of course with the aid of electronics).

In the first stage, when the car is still moving and you take your feet off the accelerator completely, the car computer will trigger mild regenerative braking (you can see the IMA needle start to move downwards from the middle point). This is achieved by switching the IMA motor that are sandwiched between the internal combustion engine and the CVT to become generator, charging the IMA battery, thus creating load and drag, slowing down the car (just like when you drop your gear in manual transmission car to slow it down without braking when you going downhill). Conventional brake pads on the wheels are not engaged at all at this stage.

In second stage, when you want Insight to even slow down further, you will start to step lightly on the brake pedal. The car computer recognized that you intend to slow the car further, thus increase the level of regenerative braking. The amount of regenerative breaking is controlled by the MDM (Motor Drive Module) by varying the amount of charge allowed enter the IMA battery (the more charge means more loading to the IMA regen motor, thus more drag and slowing the Insight more). The needle on the IMA meter will continue to move downwards further till max regen. Conventional brake pads on the wheels are still not yet engaged at all at this stage.

In the final stage of braking, when you really need the Insight to slow down even further or to a stop, you will step on the brake pedal even harder. When the MDM had already triggered the maximum possible regen and you still step on the brake pedal further downwards, the system knows you need further braking power, more than what the regen can do to slow your Insight down, thus start engaging the conventional brake pads on each wheel.

The design concept of the braking system in Insight is to allows wasted energy of slowing down or going downhill to be collected and stored in the IMA battery by means of regenerative braking, and conventional brake pads braking only comes into action during more agressive braking and holding car in position when in full stop. So one of the fuel saving tips we can learn here is to avoid last minute a.k.a. hard braking i.e. anticipate stopping and brake mildly earlier. Apart for able to harvest the slowing down kinetic energy to charge the IMA battery for next acceleration assist, you also less likely to use and wear off your brake pads.

sweet explanation bro. that's what I understood and practice too. downside is my brake disc/rotor looks rusty most of the time... haha

Just did my 10k service. Told them the aircond smelly and they replace the air filter for me.

I got my loan approved at 2.52%, HLB, which i think is good enough.

guys, wanna check with insight owner. with Econ mode turned off, is the air con still blowing cold air when vehicle is at a stop?

with the econ mode off, the period of intermitting cold air will be shorter.

This post has been edited by chris_tco: Jan 14 2012, 12:03 PM

thanks for the info chris!

you can always override that by changing air-cond to manual mode..

got my black color Insight on black friday the 13th
first car in my life, feel so excited and now i keep searching for methods to keep my car stay shiny always
the sales person of tinted shop suggested me to go for car coating which cost about 2.5k-2.9k for whole car plus dunno how many years of warranty. Wondering izzit worth for the money, or should i go for cheaper one

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

Ok...

Hahahaha

Just sierraglow your baby. no regrets. Plus it ain't 2.5k.

This post has been edited by lunchtime: Jan 14 2012, 05:39 PM

Sierra glow I think rm600 rite 5 years guarantee hehe

Just done my 40kkm srvice....rm900++....but the person dont no how to set again the cvtf service reminder....any guys can give me the info

Done at which sc?

wow...this is the major service huh...price was kinda steep

Hoyeah..got 800km ++ for a full tank..26 - 25km perliter..