Price: SOLD
Mileage: 119,300 Miles
Engine: 1-Liter 3-Cylinder VTEC-E ECA1 Engine
Transmission: 5-speed Manual Transmission
Exterior color: Monte Carlo Blue Pearl (B-66P)
Interior: Grey / Black Cloth Interior
Additional features:
IMA Integrated Motor Assist Electric Motor
Bumblebee Upgraded Battery Pack
54.5 MPG Lifetime Fuel Economy
65.3 MPG Current Trip w/ 1,300 Miles
74.4 MPG/810 Miles per Tank Best
Lightweight Reinforced Monocoque Frame
Lightweight Aluminum Suspension Components and Brakes
Electric Power Steering
Upgraded Aluminum Undertray
Digital Instrument Cluster with FCP Fuel Consumption Display
Reclining Bucket Seats
3-Spoke Sport Steering Wheel
Sony Stereo w/ Bluetooth and Matching Illumination
Air Conditioning
Power Windows
Power Door Locks
Cup Holder
Wide-Angle Rear View Mirror
Refinished 14” Aerodynamic Wheels
Fresh Bridgestone RE-92 All-Season Tires
Refinished 14” Hx Wheels Available for Extra
Grid Charger
Clean Carfax
California/Colorado Car
Recent Maintenance:
The first-generation Honda Insight was one of the greatest cars ever built and the first hybrid to reach the U.S. market. It was born in the late-1990s as the J-VX concept car, an evolution of the Civic HX and VX, and the spiritual successor of the CRX. But, unlike those cars, the first-gen Insight shared something with a Honda that was way more special—the Acura NSX. Like the NSX, the Insight featured a lightweight aluminum monocoque chassis, aluminum suspension, and brakes to reduce un-sprung weight, and a low-production engine assembled in the same Takanezawa, Tochigi, Suzuka plant as its supercar older brother. The result was one of the most efficient cars ever built. The Insight had the highest fuel economy and the lowest drag coefficient of any production vehicle for over a decade, yet unlike most hybrids, it was fun and engaging to drive—and it could be had with a proper manual gearbox. The sport steering wheel and FCP button are suspiciously similar to those in the AP1 S2000, the door handles are from a 5th generation Prelude, the electric steering rack is from an EC7 Civic, and the aluminum rear brake drums are reminiscent of the original CRX HF. Unfortunately, the Insight was too much, too soon, and often misunderstood by those who overlooked it. But those who know, know, and if you are one of them, welcome, and thanks for sharing a read…
We are first-gen Honda Insight fanatics at Glen Shelly. If you are looking for a first-gen Honda Insight, this 2001 Monte Carlo Blue 5-speed manual is the one! With 119,200 miles, it has already had the battery replaced by an upgraded Bumblebee BeeLine battery, has had cosmetic restorations, including the wheels and rear spoiler, and has an incredible ownership and maintenance history. It’s in the sweet spot between price and being imperfect enough to use and enjoy, yet not beat like so many with a gazillion miles—because the first-gen Honda Insight is that good! Upgrades include the Bumble Bee battery, aluminum undertray, modern Sony stereo with matching illumination and Bluetooth, and a wide-angle rearview mirror. Factory options include the three-spoke sport steering wheel, bucket seats, air conditioning, power door locks and windows, and keyless entry. The IMA is healthy, the trip buttons work, the rear hatch button works, the rear side skirts have no broken tabs, and the Carfax is clean. The lifetime fuel economy is 54.5 MPGs, the current trip average is 65.3 MPGs over the last 1,300 miles, and our best tank ever was 74.4 MPGs, covering 810 miles without refueling.
We purchased this Insight in February of 2023 to feature in the finale Episode of Life’s Too Short for Boring Cars. It’s the third Insight we’ve personally owned at Glen Shelly, as is as precious as any of the upmarket cars it’s shared the hangar with. It was originally delivered in June of 2001 in San Jose, California. It remained in California for the first 18 years, with a brief stint in Washington State. In 2019, it found its way to Fresno, California, commuting between there and the foothills. We purchased it from a fellow pilot and brought it to Colorado. Before coming to us, the battery was replaced with the Bumblebee battery, the aluminum undertray was added, the radiator was replaced, and lots of regular maintenance was done. When we brought it to Colorado, we set about sourcing a set of OEM wheels and refinishing them, mounting fresh Bridgestone RE-92 tires, installing a rear spoiler (the old one had cracked mounts), and ensuring all maintenance was up to date. That list included a valve adjustment, spark plugs (Properly Indexed), several oil changes, a brake fluid flush, coolant flush, clutch hydraulic flush, transmission fluid, the left front tie rod and an alignment, and wiper blades. We had some of this work done at the Honda dealership. We had a slot with our NSX specialist, but it was passed on to someone else who we didn’t know, so we redid the valve adjustment and spark plugs ourselves. We also checked the EGR for carbon build-up and indexed the O2 sensors. This maintenance, combined with some hypermiling techniques, allowed Insight to blow away the fuel economy challenge we set for it. It’s time to pass it along to another Insight fanatic. We are into it nearly $15K and have priced it fairly for the ownership history, color combination, transmission, and recent maintenance. An extra set of refinished HX wheels with older RE-92 tires is available for extra.
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