The ice caps are melting, the atmosphere is thinning and the economic apocalypse is telling you to avoid buying that brand new vehicle.
Getting a 'less expensive' vehicle for your money is simple: buy a used one. However, if you want the utmost in atmospheric responsibility and a machine that communicates your green intentions to neighbors and fellow motorists, things get a bit trickier. If this sounds like your sort of thing, you may find yourself in the largely unexplored used hybrid car market.
In simple terms, a Hybrid is driven by the combined efforts of both a gasoline engine and an electric motor. The two help each other out to boost power or improve fuel economy--depending on the situation.
An on-board battery is recharged by a generator that's driven by the gas engine, so there's no need to plug the vehicle in. The power stored in the battery pack is then used to propel the vehicle in certain conditions.
Early this year, Honda launched their second-generation Insight hybrid at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) after the original left the market several years back. The first-generation Insight was never a best-seller or even particularly popular--but it was the first Hybrid sold in North America. It's got a loyal following, and it puts its owners into a plastic and aluminum piece of green motoring history.
That's a nice thought--though it comes along with a bit of a scary one. Hybrids are full of technology and hardware that is rare, complicated and relatively un-proven in terms of long-term performance. Many a used-car shopper won't touch a hybrid with a forty-foot pole. Pity, as they could be missing out on a good thing.
Insight isn't a car to set the performance enthusiast's soul on fire--but it seems a surprisingly trouble-free way to get around while making minimal impact.
In terms of fuel mileage, Insight delivers performance massive enough to nearly make up for its 70 horsepower engine. The EPA rated the Insight for some 70 miles per gallon, or better than 3.5L / 100 km during highway driving. This figure is only slightly worse in the city.
Propulsion comes by way of a 1-liter, three cylinder engine mated to Honda's original Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system. IMA blended electric and mechanical power as it saw fit, and further fuel savings came from a lightweight and aerodynamic body.
 |
| 2005 Honda Insight |
Getting a 'less expensive' vehicle for your money is simple: buy a used one. However, if you want the utmost in atmospheric responsibility and a machine that communicates your green intentions to neighbors and fellow motorists, things get a bit trickier. If this sounds like your sort of thing, you may find yourself in the largely unexplored used hybrid car market.
In simple terms, a Hybrid is driven by the combined efforts of both a gasoline engine and an electric motor. The two help each other out to boost power or improve fuel economy--depending on the situation.
An on-board battery is recharged by a generator that's driven by the gas engine, so there's no need to plug the vehicle in. The power stored in the battery pack is then used to propel the vehicle in certain conditions.
Early this year, Honda launched their second-generation Insight hybrid at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) after the original left the market several years back. The first-generation Insight was never a best-seller or even particularly popular--but it was the first Hybrid sold in North America. It's got a loyal following, and it puts its owners into a plastic and aluminum piece of green motoring history.
That's a nice thought--though it comes along with a bit of a scary one. Hybrids are full of technology and hardware that is rare, complicated and relatively un-proven in terms of long-term performance. Many a used-car shopper won't touch a hybrid with a forty-foot pole. Pity, as they could be missing out on a good thing.
Insight isn't a car to set the performance enthusiast's soul on fire--but it seems a surprisingly trouble-free way to get around while making minimal impact.
In terms of fuel mileage, Insight delivers performance massive enough to nearly make up for its 70 horsepower engine. The EPA rated the Insight for some 70 miles per gallon, or better than 3.5L / 100 km during highway driving. This figure is only slightly worse in the city.
Propulsion comes by way of a 1-liter, three cylinder engine mated to Honda's original Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system. IMA blended electric and mechanical power as it saw fit, and further fuel savings came from a lightweight and aerodynamic body.
 |
| 2004 Honda Insight |