Posted on 05/23/2009 1:04:17 PM PDT by T.L.Sink
Much has been written about the Insight, Honda's new low-priced hybrid. So far, though, you have not been told what it's like as a car; as a tool for moving you, your friends and your things from place to place. So here it comes. It's terrible. Biblically terrible. It doesn't work. Acceleration is poor. And the sound is worse. So you're sitting there with the engine screaming its head off, and your ears bleeding, and you're doing only 23 mph and you're thinking things can't get any worse, and then they do because you run over a small piece of grit. There's more. Normally, Hondas feel as though they've been screwed together by eye surgeons. This model, however, feels as if it's been made from steel so thin, you could read through it. And the seats, finished in pleblon, are designed specifically, it seems, to ruin your skeleton.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
too bad obami isn’t in one of these
Thanks for that reference. I never attended the Wharton School but I did my graduate work at Penn so I’m already half convinced! Actually, I think the worst option is the one being forced on us now. It’s the semi-nationalization of the banking and auto manufacturing industries which (I’m NOT being alarmist!) is definitely a version of fascism. I think this bodes ill for the future of the American free enterprise economic system.
Man, I love it when Brit writers tear into something. Much better than American writers in my opinion.
Not only is the writer a Brit, he probably the ONE Brit who’d know the insides of a car better than anyone...Jeremy Clarkson, one of the three hosts of the UK’s “Top Gear” show.
These guys test cars (among other things) for a living, and usually make it entertaining when they do. For instance, Jeremy took a Ford Fiesta (Europe-only Ford vehicle, about the size of a Focus) and actually had it loaded aboard a Royal Navy landing craft, and the other three passengers were British Royal Marines. The Marines were holding a landing exercise. Clarkson actually drove the car off the landing craft amongst the tanks and other Marines on foot, through the surf, and onto the beach, where the Marines got out and did their thing. I was laughing so hard I was crying.
In any case...if Jeremy Clarkson says a car is a worthless piece of crap, believe him and avoid that car like the plague
I think old Henry Ford, Sr. junped with joy in his grave at River Rouge for not taking that bailout money! But my fear is that when the CAFE standards become law, Ford will be forced to comply. As I said to another FReeper, I think we’re definitely on a path to fascism with the quasi-nationalization of our banking and auto manufacturing industries. Obama is, in effect, CEO of GM and Chrysler. Maybe “commissar” woulds be a better word!
I agree. My favorite Brit “hero” now is that guy Hannon who is denouncing the failed socialism in Britain. He’s been on Rush, Hannity, YouTube, etc. Have you seen him? He’s articulate, smart, blunt and offers America a warning we should all heed.
It depends on gas out the factory. The engine is a secondary system and it’ll probably be as difficult as doing any engine swap. Since the secondary fuel is gas it’s of less primary importance.
Ethanol is cheap because it’s subsidized. And ethanol isn’t really all that environmentally friendly in the way that we do it.
Actually scratch that. It doesn’t “depend” on gas unless you go over the range limit.
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That’s a valid point to be sure. They do see more of the smaller cars than we do.
Given the logo, I assume those are teleprompters out front...
Price?
Not sure what the price tag is now...we have had ours for about three years or so and got a nice tax credit when we bought it. The vehicle we had before that was a Dodge Caravan which I hated. Probably because it was a mini van and I pride myself as a fairly tough guy.
The Escape has room for the kids and space to haul other items in the back, and is not overly large. Does well in the snow during my NW Indiana winters and I am a big fan of the hybrid technology.
It is primarily my wife’s vehicle and I get stuck with the Chevy Aveo. Talk about a tin can on wheels. I only use it to get myself around town. If we hit the road we take the Escape.
I paid $48,000 for my 2005 F250”
TV Land will sometimes play old commercials when I watch Andy Griffith, which is the best show of all time, but that's another topic. I remember seeing a commercial for a Thunderbird or something similar for around $3000. Just shook my head in disbelief
When my dear old Dad bought his 1959 Chevy Impala convertible brand new it cost him around $3200 , with the 348 engine and, except for air and power windows, most of the other bells and whistles. Back in those days anyone who spent more than 3k on a Chevy could be declared legally insane.
We need to start a running tally, a daily count of highway deaths attributable to CAFE standards. It should read, X number of people gave their lives on US highways today, for the sake of CAFE standards. Obama lied, People died.
We could put a sign out that says one of the many ways Obama has devised for you to perish.
Maybe it’s just another way for the liberals to practice eugenics, like a form of very late term abortion. They probably think that anyone who is stupid enough to buy one of those death traps, deserves to die in one.
I agree. The Yugo is back.
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