Learn me early Insight

The financial manager might be on board with an Insight. 
Only hybrid I really care for the looks and function of. Sure, it's an ugly duckling, but I've always missed my 86 CRX si, so...

I remember seeing a Toyota ad when the Prius was a couple years old, stating "we're the first mass produced hybrid, and still the best MPG"

That's not actually the way I remember it going, but without a dog in that fight, don'no. 
Looking at an 02, with 152K miles, 50 mpg average showing on dash (I know, that can be manipulated, but sound right)

I know hybrids don't have as green a footprint as "they" claim, but with a 100 mile/day commute coming, it sure would be a bit easier on the pocketbook. 

They're pretty simple by modern standards and are the eco-modding purist's favorite, being available with an H-pattern. Reliability on them is generally excellent but the batteries are getting up in age now so that will be your primary concern. There is plenty of info (and aftermarket parts!) out there on pack type conversions, plug-in conversions, and even all-battery EV conversions.

Hybrids generally do have a pretty green footprint, as long as you're not charging it from a super-dirty all-coal grid (not an issue here since the 1st-gen is not a plug-in and gets all its energy from gas anyway). Battery mining and production is nothing compared to ongoing fossil fuel extraction/refinement/transportation, think about the volume of material each type of powertrain needs over the car's life for one thing...

In reply to GameboyRMH :

My mistake for mentioning green at all. Don't want this to devolve into what some threads do. We have very different opinions on that. 
But that's ok... 

I do thank you for info on the batteries options. Prolly non cost effective for me, but all that info is great!

I know, at one time, there was a way to rejuvenate original batteries; either by paying someone almost as much as new batteries, or DIY if up to the challenge. I'd need to talk to owner about what's been done in that way. But first he needs to respond to my FB message. I've found 90% of ads I message, never do. 

You can run them without the big battery, there are ways to bypass the hybrid assist system. Some more "correct" than others.

But then it's even more slooooow.

They are tiny but surprisingly roomy inside, if that makes sense.

In reply to BlueInGreen - Jon :

Haven't sat in one, but CRX was surprisingly roomy as well. 
I imagine that tiny engine would struggle, stand alone. Especially if it had to pull the battery dead weight with it!

I could live with slow (as long as could maintain 55-60) but how bad is the mpg hit, battery less?

Welp. Local (hr drive both ways) contract got killed of. So back to pulling a camper. Insight never contacted me, anyway, and I guess ya can't force someone to respond to interest!

My friend bucklist purchased one last year and it was the shortest time he's ever owned a car. Said there are speeds it doesn't like going. Maybe he was just too accustomed to his 2g Prius? The insight was down on power and had some weird electrical quirks.

In reply to buzzboy :

If I ever find one for pre crazy price, that ain't junk, I'd like to find out. But $4500 being the low end of asking prices? I'll prolly never know. 
My truck is not the ideal DD. But I can buy a lot of fuel with 4500

BlueInGreen - Jon said:

You can run them without the big battery, there are ways to bypass the hybrid assist system. Some more "correct" than others.

But then it's even more slooooow.

They are tiny but surprisingly roomy inside, if that makes sense.

They are perfectly acceptable without the battery, the IMA does little except for heavy acceleration.

You can do 60mpg even without the hybrid system active.  The starter will need to be replaced every few years because it is not meant to be used all the time.

I believe they use the same power train as the crz.  The electric motor sits between the engine & transmission so there are manual options or you get a standard auto compared to a cvt in a prius.  People have k24 swapped crz's but I don't know if they get read of the hybrid system with that.

I feel like with a larger ice motor & more electric power the Honda ima sounds like it would be fun for a hybrid toy

In reply to Caperix :

First gen Insights have an Insight specific engine, not the L series used in the CRZ, with a similar IMA setup to manual CRZs.  I have only ever seen manual trans.

The CRZ is like a hybrid two seat Fit, the Insight had a lot of unique parts. LOTS of aluminum.  Aluminum body, aluminum suspension, even aluminum tie rods.

I'll try to remember some of that, should I look again later on. 
pull the battery weight out completely, and have a cool little commuter. Albeit slow, but as long as a non-turbo Benz diesel won't leave it standing in the dust, slow is relative!

or go other way, and plug in only...