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Free Delivery! Free 2nd Set Of Re92s, Grid Charger Port, 1 Owner, Rebuilt Trans! on 2040-cars

US $6,995.00
Year:2000 Mileage:140966 Color: Silver /
 Gray
Location:

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States
Advertising:
Transmission:Manual
Body Type:Coupe
Engine:1.0L
Vehicle Title:Clear
Fuel Type:Hybrid-Electric
Condition:

Used

VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
: JHMZE1371YT003358
Year: 2000
Interior Color: Gray
Make: Honda
Number of Cylinders: 3
Model: Insight
Trim: 2-door
Drive Type: FWD
Mileage: 140,966
Warranty: Vehicle does NOT have an existing warranty
Exterior Color: Silver

You can get up to four new Bridgestone Potenza RE92 tires with this car absolutely FREE! That is IN ADDITION to the four new Michelins already installed on the car. Save them as replacements, use them on your other Insights or sell them for cash. For details and conditions, see the terms of the offer at the end of the listing.

This auction is for a 2000 Honda Insight Hybrid finished in Silverstone Metallic with the two-tone gray and black interior. It’s powered by a hybrid gasoline-electric powertrain (hence the name Hybrid) consisting of an all aluminum 1.0 liter 3 cylinder VTEC-E gas engine coupled to a battery powered electric motor known as the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA). Power is then routed to a conventional 5-speed manual transmission that drives the front wheels. This powertrain combined with a light weight body, excellent aerodynamics and numerous gas saving features, allows the Insight to average mpgs in the 60’s in normal driving and over 70 mpg without much effort.

This is the last manual transmission Insight I have left out of the three others I’ve sold this year. At a Buy It Now Price of $6,995 and the reserve at a little less, plus up to $500 worth of tires as icing on the cake, this is the best deal out of them all. Not to mention the one with the lowest mileage and most servicing. I sold this RED Insight having 182,000 miles with Buy It Now within 48 hours of the start of the auction in April for $5,995. I sold this SILVER Insight with 157,000 miles after the auction ended in July for $6,200. And I sold this CITRUS Insight with 192,000 miles through an internet forum in July for $7,000.

If you are already familiar with the Insight, you may want to skip over the next few paragraphs that give a comprehensive and detailed overview of the car, and go straight to the pictures and description.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FIRST GENERATION HONDA INSIGHT

A hybrid powertrain combines the best features of two different propulsion systems into one integrated seamless powerplant. An internal combustion engine produces little power and torque at idle and low engine speeds but greater power as the RPMs increase. An electric motor on the other hand puts out its maximum torque at ZERO rpm. What that means is you can utilize the maximum torque output of the electric motor when accelerating from a stop, and the greater power output of the gas engine at higher RPMs for cruising at highway speeds, or any combination of both at speeds in between, to optimize both acceleration and fuel economy. Additional benefits of this system are regenerative braking that makes use of energy that other cars waste while braking and coasting by recharging the battery pack, and engine cut-off at stop lights when other cars are wasting gas idling.

The Insight’s layout consists of a 10-killowatt 22-pound thin electric motor sandwiched between the engine and transmission to boost the car’s performance when needed. During coasting and braking the motor also serves as a generator (a.k.a. regenerative braking) to recharge a 144 volt nickel-metal hydride battery pack located behind the seats. Think of this IMA system as a supercharger that provides additional performance without using much energy, and in fact, because it recovers the Insight’s momentum to recharge the battery pack, it’s more efficient than any supercharger could ever be. The engine doesn’t have an alternator. The IMA keeps the high voltage battery pack charged and an inverter powers most 12 volt electricals including keeping the 12V battery charged, which itself is mainly used just to power up the IMA control modules when you first turn the key.

The other key component of this Insight Hybrid’s powertrain is the 5-speed manual transmission. It uses widely spaced gears for maximizing engine output that provides brisk acceleration from a stoplight, while a high top gear ratio allows for effortless highway cruising. In fact, at 60 mph, the engine is only turning at 2,100 rpm, and at 75 mph just 2,600 rpm which is very low for such a small engine and which contributes to the excellent gas mileage.

The Insight Hybrid has a few other tweaks to save fuel including an extensive use of composite and aluminum body panels and inner structural components, aerodynemic rear wheel fender skirts, smooth profile and light weight aluminum wheels, special tires that reduce rolling resistance, a mini front air dam and rear spoiler along with numerous underbody panels which give the car a drag coefficient of just 0.25 (one of the lowest of any production car), electrically assisted power steering that reduces parasitic losses on the engine, and probably the best feature, an idle shutoff mode called Auto Stop that turns off the engine as you come to a stop and provides you with an eerie silence at most every traffic light. Quite soothing after a long day at the office. The IMA automatically restarts the engine the instant you put the transmission in gear. The IMA starts the engine most of the time, and in fact, you may go for years without ever using the conventional 12 volt starter. About the only time the 12V starter is used is if the IMA battery is discharged from the car sitting a few months.

When you combine all these features with a low curb weight of under 2,000 pounds, the Insight earns an EPA mileage rating of 61/70 MPG city/highway. The highest of any production car out there then, and 14 years later, even now. And those numbers are obtained in a lab under simulated driving conditions. You can do a bit better with just a minor adjustment to your driving style. On the last tank of gas, I averaged 66 MPG on over 600 miles of mixed city/highway driving. If you do mostly highway driving, expect to average over 70 MPG. And if you practice any hypermiling techniques, you can get even higher figures, with some owners reporting continuously breaking the 80 mpg mark and even exceeding the 100 mpg barrier for short distances. (Disclaimer: YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY.) Combined with the Insight’s 10.6 gallon fuel tank, it’s hard not to get at least 500 or 600 miles between fill-ups.

Not only is the Insight economical to drive, it’s also economical to maintain. Most systems have low or reduced maintenance components. For example, instead of a timing belt that needs periodic replacement, the Insight engine uses a steel timing chain that should last the life of the car. It uses iridium tipped spark plugs with 105,000 mile service intervals, extended life coolant with a 120,000 mile service interval, and a fuel filter that never needs servicing. The oil capacity for the small 1.0 liter engine is just 3 quarts so even full synthetic oil changes are under $30. And the Insight has a Maintenance Required indicator system that illuminates a light on the dash when routine service is due. A car driven primarily on the highway requires less maintenance than one subject to city use with constant stopping and starting.

While the Insight doesn’t cost much to drive or maintain, it’s also well built and very reliable. It’s not unusual to see these cars going strong with mileages over 300,000 miles. There are a few dozen that have topped 400K miles, a handful that hit the half million mile mark and there is reportedly an owner that uses the car in his courier business that has over 600,000 miles. The biggest concern to many new Insight buyers is the battery pack. In reality, there is little reason to worry too much about the battery pack wearing out on an Insight. First of all, unlike other Hybrids like Toyota’s Prius where the battery is integral to the powertrain, such that if it quits the car is undriveable, on the Insight, that is not an issue. The Insight battery pack can be disconnected and the car driven indefinitely in that condition. Remember, the Integrated Motor Assist is just an assist, like a supercharger. In steady highway driving and other driving situations that don’t require lots of power, you would be hard pressed to tell that there was anything unusual if the battery was disconnected, and the gas mileage would be nearly identical as with the battery connected. The only situation where mileage might drop is in city driving where the Auto Stop feature would be disabled, and even then, the reduction in mileage would be minimal. After all, it’s still a 1.0 liter powered sub 2,000 pound aerodynamic car. In fact, it’s quite common for owners of Insights in less than nice condition where it’s not worth spending much money on, i.e., with body damage or other mechanical issues, that have a bad battery pack to just disconnect it instead of spending the money on a new battery pack, and keep driving it like always.

For those that do want to replace the battery pack, there are now aftermarket replacements available that cost much less than a Honda pack. In addition, since it’s not the ENTIRE battery pack that goes bad but individual cells within the pack, you can replace just those bad cells. And this car is equipped with a grid charger port, details of which are mentioned further in the description, which extends battery pack life considerably. As to the battery pack in this car, I do not know if or when it was ever replaced.

The first generation Insight was a radical new design for Honda, and one that turns heads going down the road and prompts many questions from passersby as you exit the vehicle. It’s still a fresh design for most people since few have even seen it close up. With only about 4,000 sold the first year (which is about how many Civics are sold in just one week), and a total of 17,000 made for the entire seven year production run from 2000 to 2006, it’s a rare car to see on the road. If you’re tired of driving the same boring cookie cutter designed car that everyone else is driving, this car may be for you. If you are into being green, then besides getting great gas mileage, the Insight is also certified by CARB (California Air Resources Board) to be an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV). And you don’t give up anything in comfort and room with the Insight. Headroom and legroom is plenty for all but the tallest basketball players and there is no claustrophobic feeling like you get in some other small cars. Driving it is also no different as it accelerates and merges into traffic with ease and keeps up with 75-80 mph highway speeds without breaking a sweat. In many states, the Insight may be eligible for numerous perks such as being able to drive alone in the HOV carpool lanes without a passenger, being exempt from annual emissions inspections, free or reduced parking rates at downtown or airport parking lots, etc. Check your state or local government for more details.

Its exterior style is very unique, combining sleek form with aerodynamic function. From its stylish lines and sweeping curves, it incorporates numerous design elements to create a look that is like no other car on the road. From the slightly bulging headlights up front, to the bright finish aerodynamic profile wheels and fender skirts on the sides, to a roof mounted euro style shorty antenna up top and to a two window rear hatch in the back, it looks futuristic from any angle without being flashy. But if you like high tech design, you will really like the interior. Observe the electroluminescent style instrument cluster with displays for instant, average and long term fuel mileage. Touch the small diameter dimpled grip steering wheel that fits your hands perfectly, and admire the two-tone sport weave fabric on the seats and door panels. Try the buttons and switches and notice the precise soft-touch feel as they are engaged. Not only are the colors elegant but all the textures have a rich feel and look. From the perforations on the steering wheel, the graining pattern on the dash and door panels, or the layout of knobs and switches on the dash, everything looks and feels like it came from a more expensive car.

This Insight is fully equipped with all the desirable safety, comfort and convenience features and equipment including:

  • 1.0 liter 3 cylinder VTEC-E gas engine with Auto Stop mode
  • Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) electric motor
  • 5-speed manual transmission
  • Air conditioning with electronic climate control and cabin air filter
  • Power windows with drivers express down
  • Power door locks
  • Factory AM/FM cassette stereo with a eurostyle roof mounted shorty antenna
  • Remote keyless entry
  • Integrated switchblade key remotes
  • Reclining bucket seats
  • Two-tone Sport cloth interior
  • Passenger seatback storage pocket
  • Electroluminescent style instrument cluster with tachometer, digital speedometer, and multi-function displays for instant and average fuel mileage, two trip odometers, etc.
  • Front center console with two cup holders
  • Rear console with storage bin
  • 12V power outlet
  • Tinted glass
  • Clear lens headlights with jewel effect reflectors
  • Intermittent wipers
  • Rear window wiper and washer
  • Dome light with driver and passenger map lights
  • Dual power body color outside rear view mirrors
  • Body color door handles
  • Visor vanity mirror
  • Remote fuel door release
  • Engine immobilizer theft deterrent system
  • Aerodynamic and light weight bright finish aluminum wheels
  • Locking glovebox
  • Behind the seats storage pocket net
  • Cargo area light
  • Cargo net tie-downs
  • Child seat strap anchor
  • Rear window defroster
  • Rear mini spoiler
  • Electrically assisted rack and pinion power steering
  • 4 wheel anti-lock brakes
  • 5 mph impact rated bumpers
  • Grid charger harness with extension harness and convenient connection port
  • Maximum Regeneration/IMA assist off switch
And many more items too numerous to mention.

There are 150 photos ahead and if you don’t have a high speed internet connection and get an “X” where a picture should be you may need to hit the Refresh button a few times. If that still doesn’t work, contact me for a link to see the pictures individually.

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CLEAR LENS HEADLIGHTS WITH JEWEL EFFECT REFLECTORS:

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BODY COLOR MIRRORS AND DOOR HANDLES:

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ROOF MOUNTED EUROSTYLE SHORTY RADIO ANTENNA :

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66 MPG OVER 600 MILES:

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AUTO STOP INDICATOR LIGHT:

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SWITCHBLADE KEY REMOTES:

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MAXIMUM REGEN/ASSIST OFF MOD SWITCH:

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BEHIND THE SEAT CARGO ROOM:

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SEATBACK STORAGE POCKET:

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REAR STORAGE POCKET NET:

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FOUR REAR CARGO TIE DOWNS:

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DUAL REAR WINDOWS:

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CHILD SEAT TETHER POINT:

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REAR STORAGE COMPARTMENT UNDER LOAD FLOOR:

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SPARE TIRE DOESN’T LOOK LIKE IT WAS EVER USED:

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JACK AND ALL THE TOOLS:

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The car is in great condition inside and out. It has an excellent dent-free body with hardly any of the minor nicks, dings and blemishes you would normally expect on a car of this age and mileage. Only one barely visible door ding and some faint scratches on the front bumper. The paint itself is beautiful and shiny and this shade of silver just about glows in the sunlight. It has been cleaned with Meguiar’s Smooth Surface Clay System, polished with Meguiar’s Mirror Glaze cleaner polish and topped off with Meguiar’s Ultimate Synthetic Wax for a high gloss shine. The headlights were detailed with the 3M headlight polishing system for a crystal clear look. The wheels are nice overall but do have assorted scuffs and scratches. All the glass, moldings, trim and emblems are excellent. The rear spoiler which on most cars have peeling clearcoat issues, looks like new, as well as both door beltline moldings. I checked the car out top to bottom and found no evidence that is was ever wrecked. I couldn’t even find any previous paintwork. In fact, it still has the original VIN stickers on all body panels. Remember, it’s hard enough to find a three year old or 30,000 mile vehicle that hasn’t had at least a fender-bender requiring a bumper, hood or fender to be replaced or repaired, let alone a 10+ year old car with over 100,000 miles on it.

Front bumper:

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Hood:

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Left fender:

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Right fender:

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Left door:

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Right door:

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Left quarter panel:

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Right quarter panel:

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Rear hatch:

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Rear bumper:

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In addition, this Insight has all it’s underbody panels installed. If a mechanic forgets to replace a panel after an oil change or you run over a curb and break one off, your gas mileage may suffer as the aerodynamics under a car are just as important as above it. If you are looking at other Insights for sale as well, check underneath and make sure all the following panels are still intact as they are not cheap to replace.

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Front aluminum underbody panel:

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Front plastic underbody panels:

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Rear underbody panels:

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Right bumper air deflector:

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Left bumper air deflector:

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The interior is in great condition as well. It has nice upholstery, dashboard, door panels and headliner with no cracks, rips or tears even on the drivers seat bolster, or any major signs of wear. Only some of the light gray fabric shows a little dirt, which is common with this material. The car doesn‘t appear to have been smoked in. In fact, it’s not even equipped with a lighter. The cargo area is nice and the engine compartment has been fully detailed and is clean enough to eat off of.

Mechanically it runs and drives excellent. The engine runs strong and feels smooth while accelerating and throughout the cruising range and it starts instantly whether hot or cold. The steering wheel is on dead center going down the road with no shakes or vibrations at speed, the brakes are firm with no pedal pulsations or pulling to one side when stopping and the suspension is tight. The clutch is feather light and buttery smooth while the precise shifter action lets you flick off shifts with just your finger tips. The A/C blows ice cold. The transmission was just completely rebuilt because of the common 3-2 downshift grind these cars tend to have. Since the transmission was out and apart I decided to replace all the ball bearings (with OEM Honda parts made in Japan), including the input shaft bearing (ISB) which is the second trouble spot in these gearboxes, the differential bearings, and to perform the synchronizer modification to eliminate the grinding issue forever. Before putting the transmission back, the flywheel was dressed, a SACHS clutch kit consisting of a new Nachi (OEM Honda supplier) pilot bearing, Exedy (OEM Honda supplier) clutch disc, genuine Honda pressure plate and Nachi throwout bearing (all made in Japan) were installed and the clutch fluid was flushed and changed with Castrol Dot4 fluid. It has a new matching set of four identical low rolling resistance (LLR) Michelin Energy Saver tires. These are the only alternative tires to the hard to find original Bridgestone RE92’s that won’t reduce gas mileage like any other tires will. In addition, these Michelin’s have a 400 treadwear rating compared to the 260 on the Bridgestone’s so they will last nearly twice as long, plus, they ride considerably smoother than the Bridgestone tires. If you are looking at other Insights for sale as well, make sure they also have one of these tires, as any other brand will reduce your gas mileage 5-10 mpg. They have been balanced with weights mounted on the inside of the wheel for a super clean look. The spare tire doesn’t look like it has even been used.

The car has been fully checked out and serviced with $5,800 worth of new or recent parts, maintenance and repairs with original Honda or other name brand parts so that only your enjoyment rather than your immediate attention will be required on delivery. Some of the items checked or serviced include:

  • New Honda 0W-20 synthetic oil change
  • New Honda oil filter
  • Recent air filter
  • New NPN cabin air filter
  • New throttle body cleaning
  • Recent Honda PCV valve
  • New EGR plate cleaning
  • New Honda EGR plate gasket
  • New EGR valve cleaning
  • New Ishino EGR valve gasket
  • New Honda NGK “B” stamped iridium spark plugs to match B cylinder head
  • New valve adjustment
  • New Honda valve cover gasket
  • New VTEC solenoid screen cleaning
  • New coolant flush with distilled water
  • New Honda Long Life Type 2 (blue) coolant change
  • New Honda upper radiator hose
  • New Honda lower radiator hose
  • Recent front brake pads
  • Recent front brake rotors
  • Recent rear hub and bearings
  • Recent rear brake shoes
  • Recent rear brake drums
  • New parking brake adjustment
  • New Castrol Dot 4 Synthetic brake fluid flush and change
  • New Castrol Dot 4 Synthetic clutch fluid flush and change
  • New Exedy clutch disc
  • New Honda pressure plate
  • New Nachi throwout bearing
  • New Nachi pilot bearing
  • New rebuilt transmission with all OEM Honda bearings, axle shaft seals and synchronizer mod
  • New Honda manual transmission fluid change
  • Recent Honda 12 volt battery
  • New set of four Michelin Energy Saver tires
  • Photos of some of the parts replaced, checked or serviced:

    Parts replaced:

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    Oil change:

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    Oil filter:

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    Air filter:

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    Cabin air filter:

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    Throttle body cleaning:

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    PCV valve:

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    EGR plate cleaning and gasket:

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    EGR valve and gasket:

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    Spark plugs with the proper amount of anti-seize on the threads:

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    B stamped plugs to match B cylinder head:

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    Valve adjustment:

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    Valve cover gasket:

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    VTEC solenoid screen:

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    Coolant flushed until water is clear from the radiator:

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    As well as the engine block drain plug:

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    Upper radiator hose:

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    Lower radiator hose:

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    Front brake pads:

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    Front brake rotors:

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    17 mm new, 15 mm minimum thickness:

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    Rear hub and bearing:

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    Rear brake shoes:

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    Rear brake drums:

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    Parking brake adjustment:

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    Brake fluid flush and change:

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    Clutch fluid flush and change:

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    Flywheel surface dressed:

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    Pilot bearing:

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    Clutch disc:

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    Pressure plate:

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    Throwout bearing:

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    Transmission fluid change:

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    Transmission rebuilt:

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    Differential bearings:

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    Synchronizer mod before and after:

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    Axle seals:

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    Battery:

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    Other than routine oil and filter changes, with all the above mentioned servicing the car has recently received, you should be good to go for another 100,000 miles before requiring major maintenance.

    Overall this is a super sharp car that looks absolutely fantastic in this Silverstone Metallic color. And you’re sure to get many questions and complements about it at the mall or supermarket parking lot from total strangers. If you don’t want attention, or if you are the least bit shy, don’t buy this car, I warn you. This Insight is a mid-year production model built July 2000 so all the bugs of the early production models had been worked out by the time it was sold. Also, it’s been a one owner southern car, titled in Maryland all of its life, which probably explains why it’s so clean. CLICK HERE to see the title.

    The car comes with two switchblade key remotes, one valet key and an emergency wallet key:

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    A front license plate bracket if you need it:

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    And a conveniently located grid charger port (charger NOT included):

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    A grid charger is a device similar to conventional battery charger that can greatly extend the life of a battery pack in a hybrid vehicle. The battery pack consists of 120 individual 1.2 volt D cell size nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries. Over time, the voltage and capacity of the individual batteries will begin to vary and cause an imbalance that reduces the overall performance of the entire pack. A grid charger can restore the balance by discharging the pack uniformly and then charging it back to it’s maximum potential. And this isn’t something you have to do every day either, it’s like a maintenance item that you can perform every two or three months and can be done overnight. In addition to the grid charger itself, the car needs a harness to connect it to the battery pack. This car has a Hybrid Revolt grid charger harness as well as an extension harness that places the plug-in port at a convenient location at the back of the cargo area. (Grid charger itself not included.) The harness with the extension and the labor to install it, which requires the removal of the battery pack, would cost close to $500. While the harness was made for a Genesis One or Hybrid Revolt charger, an adaptor cable can connect most any brand of grid charger, even a homebuilt model, to the car.

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    Grid charger extension harness:

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    Battery pack and modules:

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    This car also has the brake and clutch switch modification that lets you get maximum regeneration while coasting without having to step on the brake pedal plus keep the AutoStop function on longer and to shut off assist manually. The IMA recharges the battery whenever the car is coasting or you step on the brakes. The amount of regen is greater when you use the brakes and many drivers can achieve maximum regeneration by just lightly stepping on the brake pedal but before there is any actual momentum robbing braking action at the wheels. It can be a fine line between allowing the car to regen with the brake pedal without actually slowing it down by energy wasting braking. The brake switch mod simulates stepping on the brakes but no actual braking action is utilized, by holding down the momentary switch mounted conveniently in the center console where your right hand can rest comfortably on the handbrake. The clutch switch mod shuts off assist from the IMA and can help the engine run smoother and stay in lean burn longer on flat roads, and it can save battery assist for times when you want to use it most. In other words, save up the assist for when you climb a long uphill grade by not using it during moderate hills. Press the switch up for this function and it stays engaged until you turn it off.

    It’s no secret that Honda lost money on every one of the early Insight models it sold but that was the price to pay for cutting your teeth on the new technology that wouldn’t pay off for years to come. Some have speculated that it cost Honda upwards of $50,000 to build each Insight, while Honda insiders put that figure at under $30K. Regardless, the price new of this Honda Insight was over $20,000! CLICK HERE to see the original price sticker, but because the Insight was a hot new model, most dealers were adding additional market adjustment markups (read rip off), so with tax, title and tags, you were lucky if you got ANY change back from your $25,000 bill!

    If you are serious about buying an Insight that is ready to drive, this is about as low as they go in this condition. Sure, you can find many of these cars that look nice and seem like good deals in the $3,000 to $4,000 range, but if after getting it home you have to spend another $5,000 for a battery, transmission, tires and other common repairs, it’s no bargain. While I don’t have any history on the IMA battery in this car, it does have a grid charger harness so it’s likely the battery will be in better condition than most. Remember, you can get a great deal on Ebay with prices sometimes way below retail, but no bidder is going to “steal” a vehicle and no seller is going to give one away either. Also when comparing prices to the other Insights listed for sale, remember the things that you won’t have to spend money on, soon after getting it home. With this car you won’t have to spend $2,500 on a transmission rebuild or $800 for a clutch job, you wont have to spend $500 to $1,000 on paint or bodywork, you won’t have to spend $500 for a new set of tires, you won’t have to spend $300 on a complete front brake service, you won’t have to spend $300 on a complete rear brake service, you won’t have to spend $300 on a coolant and brake flush, you won’t have to spend $300 on a valve adjustment, tune-up and filters service and you won’t have to spend $300 on any upcoming scheduled maintenance. With many of the other listings on Ebay, Craigslist or on dealers lots, you’re lucky if they even check the oil before delivery. When comparing this car to the others, also keep in mind that this car was never in a wreck, is a one owner, runs excellent, is fully serviced, hasn’t been smoked in and is clean inside and out.

    If you are looking for a very nice Insight in excellent condition at a good price, then this car is hard to beat. Also remember that we don’t charge dealer processing fees or document fees that many other listings have for $200 or more and bury in their fine print. And don’t be fooled by some other auctions that are advertised as NO RESERVE and start at $100 or some other low price. Since no dealer is going to risk loosing thousands of dollars if their auction doesn’t bring enough money, you can be pretty sure he has some “people” bidding on it for him. Especially those auctions that are private listings where it says “User ID kept private.”

    Gas prices are already back over $4 a gallon in some parts of the country and analysts predict it won’t be long before we see $5 a gallon in California, possibly by next the summer. When that happens, the demand for these cars will skyrocket along with their prices. Back just a few years ago when the AVERAGE national price for gas peaked at over $4, these cars were selling in the $8,000 to $10,000 range in similar condition and mileage. So if you’ve been putting off a car purchase waiting for a better deal to come along, don’t wait much longer as prices won’t be any cheaper than they are right now for these cars if gas prices rise much higher.

    TERMS OF THE AUCTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: Since this car may be advertised locally, auction can be canceled at any time (unless auction ended early with BUY IT NOW) due to prior sale without liability to any bidder. A down payment of $500 (plus any additional delivery charge) is required within 3 days of the close of the auction, balance due in cash on delivery or certified funds on delivery if I deliver it or you pick it up, or before it’s dropped off at the transporter if a shipping company is transporting it, but no later than 7 days after the close of the auction without prior agreement. I accept bank or certified checks, money orders, credit cards through PayPal (accepted for down payment only). If paying balance with funds other than cash, buyer to fax copy of monetary instrument no less than 24 hours before picking up vehicle.

    The car is sold as is. Buyer is welcome to inspect car BEFORE the end of the auction or to have someone check it out on your behalf provided you authorize whoever is checking the car to provide me with a copy of the results. I have tried to accurately describe this car, both mechanically and cosmetically but you can expect a certain amount of minor flaws on ANY used car including squeaks, rattles, drips, nicks, chips, scratches, blemishes and any other marks that are consistent with the age and mileage of the vehicle. There is no possible way to include all minute details and imperfections, however, I believe my listing accurately depicts this vehicle and if there are any issues they are noted in the description. Also remember that a vehicle is made up of thousands of mechanical parts and components and in an older or higher mileage used vehicle a part that is working fine now may go bad the next day, in a week, or a month from now. It’s nearly impossible to tell when a particular part or component will fail as most don’t exhibit prior symptoms, however, proper preventative maintenance as this car has received, can prevent most problems or breakdowns from happening.

    In fairness to all bidders the reserve price will not be disclosed so please don’t even ask.

    Buyer responsible for transportation and car must be paid for in full before it can be released. May deliver. Email or call for delivery quote or for any other questions. atikovi@email.com Maryland and District of Columbia dealer. Phone 202-246-5201. Please do not bid if you don’t intend to buy.

    FREE DELIVERY TERMS: Free delivery within 500 miles of the Washington DC area if bidder purchases vehicle with Buy It Now. (35 cents per mile for additional miles as shown in MapQuest.com from zip code 20001 to your address.) That is still the same rate as when I started on Ebay over 14 years ago even with more than double the gas prices. Remember, the Buy It Now option disappears once the reserve price is met. The Buy It Now price is $6,995.

    AUCTION ENDS: 10:00pm sharp, EASTERN TIME Sunday September 14th unless Buy It Now is used.

    SPECIAL OFFER FOR QUICK SALE: DOUBLE THE FREE DELIVERY RANGE: Use Buy It Now before the halfway point in the auction, 10:00pm EASTERN TIME Tuesday September 9th and I will double the free delivery miles to 1,000 miles total.

    SPECIAL OFFER FOR FREE BRIDGESTONE RE92 TIRES: Use Buy It Now and I will throw in two brand new (2014 production) Bridgestone RE92 tires. Use Buy It Now before the halfway point in the auction, 10:00pm EASTERN TIME Tuesday September 9th and I will throw in a total of four of these tires.

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2017 North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year entries announced

Wed, Jul 6 2016

Over 40 vehicles will compete for the 2017 North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year awards. If that name looks a little strange, it's because the competition added a third category. In years past, pickup trucks, crossovers, SUVs, commercial vans, and minivans competed for the same award. That's why there were occasionally weird comparisons, like last year's competition between the Volvo XC90 and Nissan Titan XD. The new format separates pickups and commercial vans into the truck contest and CUVs, SUVs, and minivans into the utility competition. A complete list of eligible vehicles is below, but here are a few highlights. For one, the entire list of entries has a luxurious lean. Of the 43 vehicles, nearly half of them are from premium brands. There are two eligible Bentleys – the Bentayga and Mulsanne – the Rolls-Royce Dawn, Jaguar F-Pace, Audi Q7, and the Mercedes-Benz GLS-, E-, and S-Class Maybach. The performance ranks are lofty, too, with the Audi R8, Acura NSX, Alfa Romeo Giulia, Mercedes SL- and SLC-Class, Porsche 718, and F-150 Raptor. The mainstream entries are just as comprehensive. From the Chrysler Pacifica to the Chevrolet Cruze to the Fiat 124 Spider to the Mitsubishi Mirage, NACTOY has covered an enormous price range with this year's contestants. Of course, these are only the eligible vehicles. They'll need to run through three rounds of judging, starting in September at NACTOY's traditional Hell, MI, test drive. The Canadian and American journalists involved in the judging will announce this year's nine finalists – three in each category – on December 6. Cars Acura NSX Alfa Romeo Giulia Audi A4 Audi R8 Bentley Mulsanne Buick Cascada Buick LaCrosse Cadillac CT6 Chevrolet Bolt Chevrolet Cruze Fiat 124 Genesis G90 Hyundai Elantra Infiniti Q60 Jaguar XE Kia Cadenza Lincoln Continental Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan Mercedes-Benz S550 Maybach Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class Mini Clubman Mitsubishi Mirage/G4 Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman Rolls-Royce Dawn Toyota Prius Prime Volvo S90 SUVs Audi Q7 Bentley Bentayga Buick Envision Cadillac XT5 Chrysler Pacifica GMC Acadia Infiniti QX30 Kia Sportage Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class Jaguar F-Pace Mazda CX-9 Nissan Armada Trucks Ford F-Series Super Duty pickups Ford F-150 Raptor Honda Ridgeline Nissan Titan half-ton Related Video: Featured Gallery Bentley Bentayga View 23 Photos News Source: Automotive News - sub.

Weekly Recap: Car-pedestrian crashes remained elevated in 2014

Sat, Feb 28 2015

The death of American Horror Story: Freak Show star Ben Woolf served as a reminder this week that car crashes involving pedestrians remain a problem, and a new study issued on Thursday reinforced that the situation isn't really getting better. The Governors Highway Safety Association found a slight decline, 2.8 percent, in the number of pedestrian deaths in the first six months of 2014. Fatalities dropped from 2,141 to 2,125 compared with the same period in 2013, though the association says it's a statistical wash when factoring in undercounting. Deaths are still 15-percent higher than in 2009. "The number of deaths remains relatively high and is cause for concern," wrote Allan Williams, who compiled the report and is the former chief scientist at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This is the first look at data from last year, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will issue its full-year results later. The GHSA found some progress on the roadways, as 24 states and the District of Columbia reported drops in pedestrian deaths. In some states, the problem isn't even a problem at all: Nebraska and Wyoming reported one fatality apiece, though large population centers in urban areas are where most accidents occur. "This is a clearly a good news, bad news scenario," Jonathan Adkins, GHSA executive director, said in a statement. "While we're encouraged that pedestrian fatalities haven't increased over the past two years, progress has been slow." Other News & Notes Cadillac previews CT6 during Oscars Cadillac previewed its upcoming flagship sedan, the CT6, in commercials that aired Sunday during the Oscars. As expected, the creased sedan carries on Cadillac's recent design language, and the car in the commercial looks like a larger version of the CTS and ATS sedans. The CT6 will be revealed this spring at the New York Auto Show and launch late this year. It will be assembled at General Motors' Detroit-Hamtramck factory on a rear-wheel-drive chassis, and the CT6 is the first car to use Cadillac's revised alpha-numeric naming scheme. The commercials also kicked off Cadillac's "Dare Greatly" campaign, which is the first with its new advertising agency, Publicis Worldwide. Honda unexpectedly changes CEOs Honda unexpectedly announced this week that it will change CEOs. Current chief Takanobu Ito will step down in June and be replaced by company veteran Takahiro Hachigo.

Acura NSX will use Cosworth block, plus other neat tidbits

Sat, Aug 15 2015

The blue NSX you see here was built just two weeks ago. Prototype number six, it rolled off Acura's newest assembly line in Ohio and was rushed out to the Monterey peninsula for various car week activities. We had a chance to sit down with several members of the NSX team to discuss the car, the long road from concept to production, and some interesting details. Below are some choice bits from our conversations. Acura is pretty proud of the fact that NSX version 2.0 was designed and is being built in the US. The new assembly line, called the Performance Manufacturing Center, is in Honda's hometown of Marysville, Ohio. While the line is brand new, the building has seen many uses over its lifetime, most recently as a warehouse facility. PMC staff numbers about 100, with 60 technical and 40 non-technical associates. The car uses parts sourced globally, and one of those sources is Cosworth. The engine blocks and heads come from the English firm and get assembled into twin-turbo powerhouses at Honda's nearby Anna, Ohio, engine plant. The Cosworth name is rarely associated with a bad engine, so we were geeked to hear the NSX's 550-plus-horsepower hybrid powertrain has good genes. Acura hasn't decided how many cars will come to the US each year, but supplies will be limited. We're told there is a total figure for global sales – basically anywhere Honda and Acura vehicles are sold – but they're not ready to divulge that number. Dealer allocation is also yet to be sorted out, although we're told that any dealer that has the necessary tools and equipment to service the new NSX will be able to sell them. Acura currently has 272 US dealers. The switch from the transverse engine originally planned to a longitudinal twin-turbo engine threw everyone involved for a loop. The designers had to lengthen their nearly finalized design, and the engineers working on the production process had to revise or redo much of their work. Though we've been waiting a while for the car since the concept first surfaced in 2012, it's pretty amazing to think that the car was engineered one and a half times and a new factory was built in about three years. But yeah, it's delayed, with series production now set to commence in the spring of 2016. One result of the switch to a longitudinal engine is a transmission hump in the cargo area aft of the engine. The hold is still sized to fit a bag of golf clubs, though it will be a tight fit.