RUMCars Forum
General Category => RUMCar Mart => Topic started by: Chris Thomas on June 22, 2014, 10:40:04 AM
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Dear Friends
Before you say it. I know a Honda Insight Mk 1 is not a microcar.
But it is for sale.
Yes my beautiful red Honda is for sale. Blub Blub!!!
I have at last conceded that my knees do not like getting down that far, or more accurately getting me back up again. It has been the best car I have ever owned. and I wish I could keep her. But common sense tells me that others could have her and get just as much enjoyment out for it.
The car has done 110 000 miles, which for a Honda engine means it is only just run in. It has been carefully services and maintained. The battery pack is working perfectly and is known to last between 150 000 and 200 000 miles. There is no rust as it is all aluminium and exceedingly light. It has a small 998 cc 3 cylinder engine which is supremely smooth and will accelerate up to 110 mph if you like that sort of thing. I much prefer getting 100 mpg from her. Possible on long journeys on the motorway.
It has the original seats and carpets in original condition and due to the small numbers imported into the UK is a classic car waiting to be discovered.
How much do I want for her? £3500. Now that sounds like a lot for a 12 year old car. But bear in mind the savings. Per year you will save, for 10 000 miles driven, at 80 mpg you will save £750 on petrol, and with no road tax another £50 +, so after 4 years the car will have almost paid for itself. At the end of that period the car will probably be worth more than you paid for it. Meantime you will have had an enjoyable motoring experience.
If this sounds like a car you would like to own, please give me a ring and arrange to come and see it. 01883724774
Chris Thomas
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Some photos would be nice.
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Dear Barry
You may have noticed that I have not added images to any of my blogs as I am not a face book or drop box or any other web site subscriber, hence I will send images direct if anybody is interested. If I have not sold it by the end of July then it will be at the Hammond collection open day in Kent
Did you want me to send you an image or two direct?
Chris Thomas
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i am not either chris but that doesn't stop you putting your own pics on the forum at all
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Dear Richard and Barry
I hope this works
Chris Thomas
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Oh it did work
here is another
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But I only seem able to do one image per blog for some reason!!!!
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Out and about right now. Will reply later.
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But I only seem able to do one image per blog for some reason!!!!
You may attach up to 4 images per POST.
After attaching the first image, click the "(more attachments)" link below the first one.
Another "Choose File" button will appear. See pic for clarification (red arrow was added)
(http://rumcars.org/attachment.jpg)
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Dear Jim
many thanks
Obviously practice makes perfect, also others had posted more than one image so I thought there must be a way. It just takes me longer to sus these things out as I get older.
Chris Thomas
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If it had the best suspension system, like my BX, it was rise to make exit and entrance easy. Yet we appear to be loosing this suspension system to expediency. Would that the best automotive design were available in one sensibly produced package! Instead most cars seem to carry at least one humongous fault that puts you off purchase and persuades me classics are the best and greenest buys. The remaining issue is safety thereafter, as all this modern stuff gets driven as if its indestructible and you, in your car, are in the way. Fortunately I have the option of not having to go into built up areas, or on big roads, very often.
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Dear All
My Insight is now sold to a lucky man in Leicester.
I am sorry if you wanted it, but you were just too slow.
Chris Thomas
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What was your actual and exact overall lifetime gas mileage average, as would show upon the dash, after pushing in the round display button?
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Dear Steve
The average over 111000 miles was 68.8 mpg. The lowest I ever recorded was 50.88 mpg (on a tank full) in December 07 when I was only doing short runs into town, 2 miles at a time and the engine was not getting up to temperature and the aircon was on to demist. The best I ever did only once was 116 mpg on a 40 mile run in June 04 along the M25/26/20. probably with a tail wind.
I will be sorry to see her go when the new owner comes to collect her.
Chris Thomas
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Not quite as good as a Trienkel then. Probably beating a Schmitt. Now it would be really interesting to see the total pollution debts of those cars, including sorcing the materials, manufacture, maintenance and running, roadspace rental etc. - we will assume minimal use after end of use to be kind, as all are classics. Which would be the most green car? My bet, the Trienkel.
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And the cost of how many rebuilds in 111,000 miles?
Comfort?
Time to get to where you are going.
Passengers?
Hard to compare, after all, a push-bike would be even cheaper.
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That tends to confirm something that I was told several years ago by the Shell answer man.
That being that the formulaion of gas as sold in California was regulated to a mix that would produce fewer emissions, but give 5- 7% worse gas mileage when compared to other states.
To wit; I did manage 69.5 mpg on my 150 mile round trip trek to Zuma Beach in Malibu, as I took a scenic route that had my car climbing some very steep grades for about 25 minutes. As the battery has no chance to be recharged whilst they are being utilized to help the car up these slopes, I did obey its instruction to downshift into second gear on about a half dozen instances during this phase- so of course this lowered my gas mileage.
I am an extremely attentive driver when it comes to maintaining my overall lifetime gas mileage on this vehicle.
After 13 years of use, I have piled on 165,000 miles, and averaged exactly 65.0 m.p.g.
I can only wonder what it might have been if I had been permitted to use your mix.
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silly question but are you both on Imperial or U.S. gallons - no idea which is the larger , but i am sure you both do
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And the cost of how many rebuilds in 111,000 miles?
Comfort?
Time to get to where you are going.
Passengers?
Hard to compare, after all, a push-bike would be even cheaper.
The rebuilds would be in the calculation at 3rd rebore, I would suggest allowing for a crank and chains etc. The Trienkel was expected to reach 50k miles before major work. So 35k miles is a good condition time to rebore for engine efficiency. This is minimal to pollution debt and some of the parts can be re used.
Is time part of the green calculation? It can be allowed for. Most trips in cars are short ones so only the longer ones really come into play. Remember a well made Trienkel will cruise at 50 mph, I am not talking of one of the ill built modern crappers. What is the average speed on differing types of roads today? Remember that the slower you go the less held up you are, so the more efficient your driving is.
Indeed a push bike would. But can your family of three fit on one, or two? Can you collect a Christmas tree, or fridge on one? Its a different spec to what we are comparing.
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silly question but are you both on Imperial or U.S. gallons - no idea which is the larger , but i am sure you both do
I do not know but I am certain Texas ones are bigger.
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And the cost of how many rebuilds in 111,000 miles?
Comfort?
Time to get to where you are going.
Passengers?
Hard to compare, after all, a push-bike would be even cheaper.
The rebuilds would be in the calculation at 3rd rebore, I would suggest allowing for a crank and chains etc. The Trienkel was expected to reach 50k miles before major work. So 35k miles is a good condition time to rebore for engine efficiency. This is minimal to pollution debt and some of the parts can be re used.
Is time part of the green calculation? It can be allowed for. Most trips in cars are short ones so only the longer ones really come into play. Remember a well made Trienkel will cruise at 50 mph, I am not talking of one of the ill built modern crappers. What is the average speed on differing types of roads today? Remember that the slower you go the less held up you are, so the more efficient your driving is.
Indeed a push bike would. But can your family of three fit on one, or two? Can you collect a Christmas tree, or fridge on one? Its a different spec to what we are comparing.
Your argument is always sound and believable Al!
Ditch the Insight and get a heinkel, much more economical, comfortable and ecologically sound. No stress driving on a long run.
I will let you explain that to my wife. ;D
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Are wives green..... No lets not go there!
I never said it was a practical alternative today but I get annoyed when the green debate conveniently leaves out awkward facts to win its case. A drive round the green capitol of Britain, Brighton and West Sussex, tells you all you need to know about green. Lets pollute some other poor sod we cannot see and charge the population at large for it. Its another form of socialism. True green means getting uncomfy or some personal investment since the Government are not genuinely interested.
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I was measuring my MPG in Imperial gallons, but Steve would have measured in US gallons which are smaller.
Regardless of which it is, it is still twice what you would get out of most petrol cars, and after 15 years cars are only just managing to reach the same MPG as my Insight did. Progress, or is it pressure from the oil companies who want to sell petrol.
Chris Thomas
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it is still twice what you would get out of most petrol cars, and after 15 years cars are only just managing to reach the same MPG as my Insight did. Progress, or is it pressure from the oil companies who want to sell petrol.
Indeed so. Your last comment is another whole topic of which I suspect that many a good idea is being sat on for increased profitability, till the time is right. The Insight and chums make far more sense than pure electric cars nationwide, unless we proceed onto power cells at service stations. That is a long way away I think, and might be superseded by far better frictionless train type technology for A route transportation with, or without, your personal vehicle. Such systems can deal with a far greater density of movements. Could be that the car becomes the preserve of the rural and wealthy.
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My last 13 years of concentrated effort have been redeemed! :D
Even with our less effecient mix, I have been able to manage lifetime average of 78.125 m.p.imperial gallon.
Which makes my 350 mile trip back from Monterrey average out to 88.1 m.p.imperial gallon!