Camaro Out Sells Insight Two to One

[ErictheBastard]

Originally Posted by ...m...

The All-New Chevy Camaro: as American as Vegemite and Maple Syrup.

...the original insight was considerably slipperier and achieved significantly better real-world fuel economy than the prius, albeit at the expense of convenience and aesthetics, but there's no denying that it was a truly groundbreaking and revolutionary engineering exercise...

The original Insight also looked strikingly like the original CRX, of which the popular HF model (less than $9k in 87) turned in 52mpg WITHOUT any of the weight and complications of a hybrid car.

[BrianK]

The original Insight also looked strikingly like the original CRX, of which the popular HF model (less than $9k in 87) turned in 52mpg WITHOUT any of the weight and complications of a hybrid car.

Agreed, though I believe we can thank stricter safety and emissions regulations on the decrease in gas mileage since the 80's. Added to that, no one seems to make a decent quality small car these days (aside from the Mini), so everything is huge and bloated, or small and cheap. The original CRX weighed about as much, if not less than, the Elise, no?

[deddie]

Originally Posted by PhlypSide

Sh*t someone should make an electric 7 clone or Atom....

I recall seeing a video a couple of years ago where an Atom was converted into a fully electric car. It was as freaky fast as the gas version.

[sonza68]

Originally Posted by BrianK

The original CRX weighed about as much, if not less than, the Elise, no?

Based on the specs I found, it was actually quite a bit less. It looks like the '84 CRX HF weighed in at a meager 1713 lbs. The late models were about Elise weight.

[BrianK]

Originally Posted by sonza68

Based on the specs I found, it was actually quite a bit less. It looks like the '84 CRX HF weighed in at a meager 1713 lbs. The late models were about Elise weight.

Imagine that.. a small car that holds a ton of stuff, equipped with AC, stereo, cruise; used decent quality materials for the time; looked good; was of comparable quality to the camrys and maximas of its day (which meant better quality than its US counterparts); didn't cost a ton; weighed very little; and got fantastic gas mileage. Aside from the Mini, what car fits that bill today? It's no wonder more people buy the Camaro than the Insight.

I ordered one of these last year (for this very reason). #440 on the wait list. Expect it sometime next year. Series Hybrid. 1600lbs (hmm... did I make that up? it's possible. I could google it, but I'm not going to. hehe). All the amenities (safety & comfort-wise). Final stats on the hybrid are still in the make, but I expect far better than 100 mpg (combined gas/electric). Aptera Motors

[...m...]

Originally Posted by BrianK

I ordered one of these last year (for this very reason). #440 on the wait list. Expect it sometime next year.

...i hope it ships and delivers on its promises - far too many comparable initiatives have stumbled on their way to market...

[ErictheBastard]

Originally Posted by ...m...

...i hope it ships and delivers on its promises - far too many comparable initiatives have stumbled on their way to market...

Seems the 3-wheel concept is sloooooooooowly becoming understood and accepted. I read a very interesting engineering brief years ago arguing the inherently superior stability of such a design over 4-wheeled counterparts. Of course Morgan were onto this in the 1920s and 1930s. Then the Reliant Robin got it all horribly backwards and wrong (how could that thing even reach production????).

Hope this one goes well. Sure, it will be derided for its 'futurismo' styling even though it is a functional part of the overall package. I'm not too obsessed with crashworthiness, so I hope the feds don't festoon it with a bunch of nanny-state safety contrivances that compromise its purpose.

[SweetDaddyD]

Originally Posted by Ian

That's disappointing to hear. I've been thinking about a hybrid for my 50 mile commute. The Insight seemed interesting; cheaper than a Prius, (arguably) slightly better looking than the Prius.

Golf diesel. Better in every way. (Ok now someone is gonna come along and tell me a way it's not better. - You'll never actually convince me though! haha)

On a totally unrelated side note- I did see super swampers on a full size Lexus SUV (LX470) yesterday here in the middle of yuppieville. WTH?

[lotusforsale]

Yeah, the Camaros are hitting the streets big time around here, I see several different ones on the road in the greater Balt/Wash area each day. The novelty will wear off soon.

They are/were pinning high hopes on the 6 cylinder Camaro. Not helping it that in most comparo tests now coming out in magazines, the 6 cylinder Hyundai Genesis spanks it pretty good in nearly all performance categories.

[BK_DC]

Originally Posted by ErictheBastard

The original Insight also looked strikingly like the original CRX, of which the popular HF model (less than $9k in 87) turned in 52mpg WITHOUT any of the weight and complications of a hybrid car.

It did even better than that. Back in the day, I drove a 5MT CRX HF. Due to the extreme light weight, low RPM low HP engine, my typical highway MPG was right around 60. Typical combined city/highway (and this was in college -- so lots of short trips, lots of trying to make it accelerate faster) was around 55 MPG.

It didn't have A/C. Had the roll-up windows. Very lightweight panels and engine components. Like a Lotus without any balls.