Any Insight (hybrid) owners/racers?

[Guillermo]

I'm going to buy a Honda Insight (electric assist hybrid car).
Is there anyone here that races one?
I have questions and would like to contract someone with experience with this very unique car.
To give you an idea how special this car is, it has aluminum front brake rotors!

I'm not planning on taking to the track (at least not more then 1 or 2 laps at a time :D )
I'm mostly interested in solo II/autocross.
And yes I will be replacing the OEM 165/65R14 special low rolling resistance RE92 tires with 185/60/14 yokahama ES100 ultra high performace summer tires. They should work well on this 1850 lb car.

Does anyone here race an Insight?

[ice/solo racer]

A friend of mine ran his insight at a couple of events including the top gun shootout.I never drove the car but it did seem to work ok,it is super light so thats a bonus.

[miataboi]

I've has a theory sinse it first came out...

I will buy the FIRST write-off one that I see...

Swap in a turbo motor...
And you've got the PERFECT fwd drag car...


LIGHT... AND.... wind-tunnel tested for 100's of hours by the factory!!!!!

OMMFG!!!!
Probably get it down to 1600 lbs!
:D

[Shaman]

Swap in a turbo motor...
And you've got the PERFECT fwd drag car...[/B]

I vote 10L supercharged nitromethane Hemi.

6,000 horsepower, baybee.

But maybe I'm getting carried away...

[Guillermo]

Believe me you cannot make this car any lighter if you are going to change the engine. Even if you remove the 120 D-cell Ni-MH battery pack and the 1L ultra light aluminum engine.
The Insight is built in the same labour extensive factory in Japan that makes the S2000 and the NSX.
A new Insight sells for $28,000 Canadian but I've heard Honda losses about $20,000 Canadian for each new one they sell!
Full aluminium frame/body/skin/hood etc...
Sure there are some old small cars that weigh almost the same but this car has one of the best crash safety rating for a modern small car (and they usually weight 600-1000 lbs more)
Rims are 14" x 5.5" aluminum magnesium alloy and i've heard they weigh about 1/2 of a OEM civic alloy rim. These rims cost $400 US each!

The Insight comes with a carbon fiber dip stick for goodness sake!

For those of you interested in advanced technology in cars check this out: (You won't believe the technology in this car that has been on the market for 3 years already!

http://www.insightcentral.net/encyclopedia/index.html

[Guillermo]

But if you are willing to increase the weight of the car by 200-300 lbs to double or triple the horse power, now we are talking!

[Marsh]

Geuillermo, if guys can take 700lbs out of a Talon while retaining all the stock steel body panels and AWD transaxle then I think Dave could find a few pounds to take out of an insight. There is a rediculous amount of metal needed to meet crash standards that has no structural advantage in terms of performance.

[ice/solo racer]

While I'm not up to speed on auto electrical systems,it would be interesting to look at upgrading the electric motor instead of the gas one.Electric motors deliver 100% torque at all speeds right?,so adding torque would seem to be the better system to improve for solo 2 and street driving.
The insight charges its batteries when braking right?so after making a run you'd have to take a drive to have things fully charged(would'nt get any charging with me driving-I try and avoid the brakes!);)
Since the insight is in B1 than any lightening etc. would move it BSS,not sure if the light weight would be enough to overcome the super tall gearing needed for getting back up to speed after hairpins etc.

[TYSON]

I know a guy here in London with an Insight, I think he'll come out to one of the WOSCA events soon. I'd like to see how it works for this, too!

[Yvan]

I haven't driven one but I have heard from those that have that unlike electric cars they do not have the torque. For example, the GM EV1 can pull much harder from a stop than the Insight.

When I was shopping for a car last time I took a serious look at the insight but the fuel savings just couldn't offset the price since I only drive 20000-25000km/year. Very nice car though and I seem to be one of the few that think it looks cool.