Jeremy Clarkson reviews the new Insight Hybrid

[KS71owner]

Sorry to paste the copy here, but all the links to Times UK were down on my end. This is worth it though. 

Much has been written about the Insight, Honda's new low-priced hybrid. We've been told how much carbon dioxide it produces, how its dashboard encourages frugal driving by glowing green when you're easy on the throttle and how it is the dawn of all things. The beginning of days.

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 goes. It's terrible. Biblically terrible. Possibly the worst new car money can buy. It's the first car I've ever considered crashing into a tree, on purpose, so I didn't have to drive it any more.

The biggest problem, and it's taken me a while to work this out, because all the other problems are so vast and so cancerous, is the gearbox. For reasons known only to itself, Honda has fitted the Insight with something called constantly variable transmission (CVT).


It doesn't work. Put your foot down in a normal car and the revs climb in tandem with the speed. In a CVT car, the revs spool up quickly and then the speed rises to match them. It feels like the clutch is slipping. It feels horrid.

And the sound is worse. The Honda's petrol engine is a much-shaved, built-for-economy, low-friction 1.3 that, at full chat, makes a noise worse than someone else's crying baby on an airliner. It's worse than the sound of your parachute failing to open. Really, to get an idea of how awful it is, you'd have to sit a dog on a ham slicer.

So you're sitting there with the engine screaming its head off, and your ears bleeding, and you're doing only 23mph because that's about the top speed, and you're thinking things can't get any worse, and then they do because you run over a small piece of grit.

Because the Honda has two motors, one that runs on petrol and one that runs on batteries, it is more expensive to make than a car that has one. But since the whole point of this car is that it could be sold for less than Toyota's Smugmobile, the engineers have plainly peeled the suspension components to the bone. The result is a ride that beggars belief.

There's more. Normally, Hondas feel as though they have been screwed together by eye surgeons. This one, 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. This is hairy-shirted eco-ism at its very worst.

However, as a result of all this, prices start at £15,490 — that's £3,000 or so less than the cost of the Prius. But at least with the Toyota there is no indication that you're driving a car with two motors. In the Insight you are constantly reminded, not only by the idiotic dashboard, which shows leaves growing on a tree when you ease off the throttle (pass the sick bucket), but by the noise and the ride and the seats. And also by the hybrid system Honda has fitted.

In a Prius the electric motor can, though almost never does, power the car on its own. In the Honda the electric motor is designed to "assist" the petrol engine, providing more get-up-and-go when the need arises. The net result is this: in a Prius the transformation from electricity to petrol is subtle. In the Honda there are all sorts of jerks and clunks.

And for what? For sure, you could get 60 or more mpg if you were careful. And that's not bad for a spacious five-door hatchback. But for the same money   



The man has a way with words, to be sure. 

[bakerhillpins]

It's the first car I've ever considered crashing into a tree, on purpose, so I didn't have to drive it any more.


The man has a way with words, to be sure. 

I think that line right there sums it up! 

Thanks for that tidbit. 

[Landonsrt]

He is always very flamboyant when it comes to describing something he hates, or really likes.

I understand what he is saying about th CVT. Most new nissans have them and people are always complaining that there is something wrong with their Maxima, Altima, Sentra or Versa to me. They say it sounds like it never wants to shift or makes really loud noises when accellerating. We just have to tell them it is all normal. and I know for a fact it it because my wifes maxima has one too.

[Magnumcharger]

After a flight to Toronto, I rented a new Dodge Caliber with a CVT transmission, and my experiences with it - for the week I drove that piece of shit - could easily be mirrored by Jeremy's writings!

(PS: I LOVE Top Gear!)

[Khyron]

makes a noise worse than someone else’s crying baby on an airliner. It’s worse than the sound of your parachute failing to open. Really, to get an idea of how awful it is, you’d have to sit a dog on a ham slicer.

LMFAO!

[BB1]

Yeah, I rented a Caliber too, P U. 

[bull]

That was awesome. I loved this term he coined: "Toyota's Smugmobile" in reference to the Prius. I just call it the Toyota Pious.

[Ghoste]

Wow, I'm astounded to hear of an auto reviewer do anything with a foreign car that doesn't involve him talking about how it gave him multiple orgasms.

[Landonsrt]

Then i guess you havent seen the video that Clarson made when he came to the us and did a (document) on american cars. He did the Prius first, I believe, and they blew it up! Even though its not an american car, he included that one. All he did was bash every american car such as the corvette, viper and ram. He also ran on about how lazy and fat every american is. I really hate his view about the U.S., but he is still funny.

[Ghoste]

I'm almost afraid to ask, but what then does he like?

[Aero426]

All he did was bash every american car such as the corvette, viper and ram. He also ran on about how lazy and fat every american is. I really hate his view about the U.S., but he is still funny.

I do not recall Jeremy bashing the Viper at all.   He laid down plenty of rubber with the thing.    

That Insight review is pretty good.  He's fun to listen to.

[Landonsrt]

he did lay alot of rubber on it. He also lost control of it and spun it off the track. He called the designers crazy for certain things they did to the car. He also said it worthless on the road. The only car he like was the Ford GT. He then said the only reason he liked it was because all the parts for it came from overseas which meant it really couldnt be an american car.

Here's the link from the DVD im talking about. The good, the bad ad the ugly.  Its long and entertaining. I just cant stand his view of us. Make sure to watch all of them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo7U_bTsiC4

[Ghoste]

I think I'll pass, it sounds to me like he's just another moron who says anything that he thinks will be controversial enough to make people give him attention.  Even though I'm no fan of the Prius I've already determined that since I've never heard of the guy before the very best thing I can do to help cure his attention whore syndrome is go on with life ignoring him.

[BIRD67]

CLarkson is a genius! If you haven't seen it, you must watch Top Gear on BBC America, He is absolutly hilarious!

[Ghoste]

I don't know.  From what you guys have described so far he really sounds like he is just an automotive shock jock.  Howard Stern bores me and so far all of his imitators bore me too.

[Aero426]

Clarkson is generally fun to watch.   

Google "Top Gear Peel P50" and watch that one.   

[Magnumcharger]

Clarkson is to Television as HemiGeno is to Wingcars....well spoken and full of good information.
And entertaining too.

[KS71owner]

I think I'll pass, it sounds to me like he's just another moron who says anything that he thinks will be controversial enough to make people give him attention.  Even though I'm no fan of the Prius I've already determined that since I've never heard of the guy before the very best thing I can do to help cure his attention whore syndrome is go on with life ignoring him.

He's anything but. The man has been reviewing cars for decades, and he has a fantastic dry humor. Watch Top Gear just once, you might be surprised.

[bull]

Yes, but as previously stated he really doesn't seem to like the US much or anything built here. Seems to me he's a bit too quick to prejudge American cars.

[KS71owner]

He does like a few things from the States....but he's a Brit, making fun of Americans is like a hobby for them.   Actually he owns a Ford GT, he had high praise for the Viper and he liked the newest Corvette too. He is a bit of a Eurocar purist, but that's just his taste. Richard Hammond on Top Gear is the muscle car guy...he owns a 69 Charger R/T, a vintage Shelby Mustang and he just bought a new Challenger.

[mikesbbody]

Yes, but as previously stated he really doesn't seem to like the US much or anything built here. Seems to me he's a bit too quick to prejudge American cars.

I agree, I cant stand him 

[kcederwall08]

Actually i think its Richard Hammond, one of top gear's other hosts that owns the 68 charger. They actually did a review of it on the show once.

Heres the link to it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cEhjWlhMT8

[bull]

I'll give Clarkson props in one area though, he sure knows how to drive.

[bull]

Check out this review. Lol funny... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sv8J8u7wrYg&feature=related

[Jon Smith]

I'll give Clarkson props in one area though, he sure knows how to drive.

Sabine Schmitt showed him up though on the ring in her transit van 



the 68 charger rt hammond drove for the show wasn't his..
he had a 69 non RT which he sold on and is now a general lee