Honda has followed up with me on a couple of issues we've had with our long-term 2010 Insight, those being the Bluetooth speakerphone that won't stay connected and our mysterious self-starting engine.
First off: Our flaky Bluetooth speakerphone -- which, it turns out, isn't actually being flaky. One of the Honda PR gurus directed me to www.handsfreelink.com, the home page for Honda and Acura's Hands Free Link Bluetooth system, and suggested I check to see if our phones were compatible. The site has a handy menu system that lets you look up your phone by manufacturer or carrier. Turns out our phones -- Robin and I both have the same model, a low-end Nokia -- are not fully compatible with the Hands Free Link system. Specifically, there are problems with pairing -- and that's exactly the trouble we've been having.
I was a little taken aback; I assumed that Bluetooth was a standard, and that if a device said it was Bluetooth compatible, then it was Bluetooth compatible. Silly me! I'm not sure who to be mad at, Honda or Noika, but I'm leaning towards Nokia; this isn't the first compatibility issue I've had with this phone. So, lesson learned: Not all Bluetooth phones work with all Bluetooth devices. My old Motorola Razr is supposed to be fully compatible with Hands Free Link, so I'm planning to charge it up and see how well it works.
Honda also gave me an answer on our Auto Stop issue. A little background: Like most hybrids, the Insight shuts off its gasoline engine when it's not needed -- say, when the car is sitting at a red light. Over the past couple of months, Robin and I noticed that the engine would only stay shut down for about 30 seconds, then it would mysteriously start itself back up again. Our friends in PR asked their friends in engineering and learned that this is a known issue related to an interior humidity sensor. Apparently, if the humidity inside the Insight reaches a certain threshold, it will run the air conditioning compressor -- which, along with cooling the air, also dehumidifies it -- in order to keep the windows from fogging. And in the Insight, the only way to run the A/C compressor is to run the engine.
I'll admit, this one sounds a little far-fetched to me. California isn't exactly the most humid spot on the planet, although this has been a relatively wet winter. I want to check this one out a little more closely, but I may not get a real answer until the weather gets hotter and drier, which won't be for a few months yet. The fact that there was a ready answer leads me to believe that we're not the first Insight drivers to ask about our unstopping Auto Stop.
Of course, the biggest issue in our January update was a problem with me, not the car -- I hadn't been checking the tire pressures regularly, and it wasn't until the car popped up a LOW TIRE PRESSURE warning that I realized the tires were way, way underinflated. I pumped up the tires mid-month and saw an immediate change in our fuel economy. That trend has been continuing. We've only put about 160 miles on the Insight this month -- both Robin and I have been down with colds -- but we're averaging 43 MPG, which is much better than usual. This week, I have a press event in Las Vegas, and I've elected to drive the Insight rather than fly. (You have no idea what a big deal that is -- I am a frequent flier mileage whore.) Yesterday I made sure all four tires were at exactly 33 psi, and I'm eager to see what kind of fuel economy I get on my trip to Sin City. Any guesses? -- Aaron Gold
Photo © Aaron Gold
Perhaps the biggest problem for this car is the Ford Fusion…a larger, well built, well featured car that isn’t terribly much more $$ and gets similars MPGs. For me, I’d likely be shopping at my Ford store.
The Insight low twenties, the Hybrid Fusions I’ve seen seen, low thirties, that’s significant in my view. Would love to buy American but hatchbacks make more sense than sedans. After driving a 2010 Prius for several days, no brake problems just boredom one’s, I’m still leaning toward a TDI VW, good gas mileage and fun to drive.
Mike in Minn….
The price difference between the Fusion & the Insight, depending on model & equipment, is anywhere from $4K to $12K.
However, if I were shopping for a hybrid, the Fusion is the only car I would consider. Since I’m not a fan of either hybrids or EV’s, my next vehicle will be a diesel!
I stand corrected. To round off base prices $20,000 for the Insight; $28,000 for the Fusion.
$8000 could indeed make all the difference to many buyers even factoring in the size difference.
Carl, what do you think of the Golf or Jetta TDI? I’ve been considering them for my next car. The Fusion Hybrid is also on my test drive list. Looks like it might be a choice between sport and size.
I haven’t driven a Fusion,Insight,or Prius. But I love my 2010 Jetta Sport Wagon TDI/DSG. My previous car was a Lexus RX-350. And aside from missing some of the Lexus luxury features I like the Jetta better.
Jetta TDI review:
http://cars.about.com/od/volkswagen/fr/09_jetta_tdi.htm
I just drove the 2010 Golf TDI and will have a review posted soon (I have a bit of a backlog right now).
Both are stellar cars. So far, I’ve gotten the best fuel economy out of a Jetta TDI sedan with the DSG automatic transmission, but had the most fun in the Golf TDi with a manual. — Aaron
Thanks Aaron and Jerry. The manual sounds like the ticket for me depending on the mileage difference. I am fortunate to have a wife who prefers manual transmissions so that is likely the direction I’ll take. I’ll be looking for a while yet, plus I have to drive some distance to get to a VW dealer with a good reputation. Looking forward to the Golf review!
Get a VW or Audi Diesel…Your mileage will be stellar and you won’t have ANY issues with false starts/stops or batteries that will eventually have to be replaced. Which by the way, as you are surely aware, will cost YOU in the thousands. TDI’s last for hundreds of thousands of miles without any significant maintenance and 95% of the car is FULLY RECYLCLABLE. The emissions from a TDI is nearly non-existant and the tailpipe drips water.
Has VW fixed the issue with the DSG popping out of gear and refusing to re-engage? Last I heard it was a software problem…
I’ll be test driving a TDI Jetta Sportwagen tomorrow at Carlsbad Subaru. I’ll let you know how “fun” a ride it is for a wagon. I can bet the Golf is a riot, especially since it has the GTI’s suspension and other accoutrements. As for the Jetta Diesel sedan…gotta wait till they get one in.
The new TDIs do look great on paper, but after living with annual recurring problems on my Golf for 7 years, and dealing with terrible VW customer support, both at the dealership and at headquarters, I’m not ready to commit to another VW.
I’m with you Aaron, you think the car really has a humidity sensor in the cabin?
Or did you have the HVAC pointed to the “defrosters” on the windshield? That would also likely cause the compressor to kick in.
Having owned two VWs, I can’t possibly imagine buying another one, no matter how many MPG their TDIs get. When you get to know the service manager by name, and have the service department’s phone number memorized, it’s time to switch brands.
Slava & Chris, what were your problems???
And what model year were they?
‘98 Passat GLS V6 and an ‘02 Beetle GL. It’s been a while since I owned them, but here’s what I remember off the top of my head:
Passat: Expensive aluminum front suspension components wore out quickly, two catalytic converters, oxygen sensors, fuel sending unit in gas tank. Check Engine light would come on constantly.
Beetle: Windows falling into door, dash cluster failure, burned oil from day 1, bolts would come loose and parts would dangle under car, numerous electrical problems (both failure of devices and contact corrosion issues), paint failures.
Both: Both cars had constant problems with the rear brake calipers seizing. The dealership claimed that the cars needed annual brake servicing (at a cost of $100 per car). No other car I ever owned has such brake problems.
Oh, and both cars were sold before they hit 50k miles.
Well hopefully they have gotten better lately, but my friend had a ‘96 Jetta.
The strut mounting plates wore, and literally tore out. New ones had to me welded in at less than 50,000 miles. Numerous electrical gremlins – he drove without tailliights for about a month as they couldn’t track it down(mostly in the day luckily). At about 110,000 the transmission went out, and he just send the car to the junkyard, it wasn’t worth fixing.