The word unusual doesn’t begin to describe what has been called the first gas-electric hybrid vehicle in the United States, the Honda Insight. It’s tiny, it’s a two-seater, it has rear fender skirts, and it’s available with a five-speed manual transmission, which this one has. The seller has this future collectible, first-year, five-speed 2000 Honda Insight posted here on craigslist just south of Everett, Washington, and they’re asking $3,900. That’s a steal, by the way. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Rockin’ & Rollin’ Rocco B. for the great tip!
Don’t laugh at the title. Whether you like hybrids or not (and I know a lot of you don’t, for whatever reason), or like their owners or not, you can’t argue with the fact that a first-year model of the first hybrid sold in the U.S., especially one with a five-speed manual, is a future collectible. It just is. Now, to come up with a timeline on when that will come true is the next challenge. If any of us could predict such things, we wouldn’t be reading about old cars on a website; we’d be in one of our many 49,000 sf mansions around the globe, living the life, because three decades ago, we would have predicted eBay, Apple, and Amazon stock would go through the roof and would have put everything we owned into that stock. For the rest of us, we live our little lives and speculate on which vehicles will rise in value or not. Some of us don’t even do that; we just watch Brady Bunch and eat canned beans. I mean, from what I hear.
Honda made their first Insight from 1999 for the 2000 model year, until 2006, and if this were a rare and desirable Citrus Yellow (lime green) example, I bet this listing wouldn’t have even made it one day. That’s the color you want. For $3,900, though, who really cares what color it is, just so it runs great, the hybrid system works as it should, and it has a five-speed manual. This one checks all of those boxes. This color is Silverstone, just for the record. We’ve only seen one Honda Insight here on Barn Finds, which I wrote up back in May, and I tried my hand at making a four-door version. They only came with two doors from the factory, until the second Insight, which only came with four doors. Speaking of four, the seller has only included four photos, so we don’t get to see the rear cargo area, but – are you sitting down? – they’ve included an engine photo!
There it is in all its glory. “Drop a ___ in it, Gilby!” No, don’t do that. Well, I have to admit it would be one of the best sleepers of all time, but the whole point of this car was to test gas-electric technology and to get the most MPG possible. Car and Driver only got 48 mpg while testing one for a few months, but that’s pretty good. Obviously, like me when I drive my hybrid, I slam the H out of it so I’m not that guy in a #$% hybrid. This engine is Honda’s whopping 1.0-liter IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) SOHC inline-three, which puts out 73 total horsepower, including the 13 hp that the battery pack and electric motor add to the mix. The seller says this one runs and drives well, the AC and heat work as they should, the hybrid system all works as it should, and they’re getting around 54 mpg on average. It does have some clear coat issues on the roof, and there’s a crack in the windshield by the rearview mirror, and it’s a bit “sticky” shifting out of 5th gear. I’m assuming due to the incredible velocity of the car by that point. No, I don’t know what that would be; the linkage could just need to be adjusted, maybe. Any thoughts on this little first-year Honda Insight?
I always thought these were really neat when they came out. I actually like the fender skirts. Its one of the design elements that draws me to it. And to have a hybrid WITH A STICK??? Sign me up!!!. I can’t remember the last time I saw one of these. Looks like a good deal.
Yeah, I have a soft spot for these too. They remind me a lot of that VW XL1, which would also be an awesome “collectible” to own/drive.
I have to believe that as energy density improves with battery storage, it’ll be pretty easy to convert one of these Honda’s to a full PEV, just eliminate the ICE altogether. Don’t see many on the road though, are about as rare as a CR-Z.
I did drive ability testing on these little beasts when I worked at Honda. Great little car BUT very loud driving in the rain; lack of sound insulation. I averaged right around 60 mpg during testing. Overall fun!
Former owner of a same year 5 speed. Fun to drive-quicker than you might think-great cornering! I wish I still had it. They don’t like long grades-the electric motor is a secondary “assist” function and the battery pack might draw down quickly if it’s old (and you’ll be downshifting to get the most out of the 3 cylinders. Still it runs fine on just the engine. There are aftermarket replacement battery packs and there are even shops that will swap in a standard Honda 4 cylinder if you want a small rocket ship! There is also strong enthusiast web support. The hardest replacement part to get is the IMA-pretty much unobtanium. If you ever see a canary yellow five speed with a John Lennon stamp on the dash that was mine.
It’s too bad that these early Insights didn’t have the cruise control option. This one looks like a good entry for someone wishing to step into the gas/electric hybrid field. GLWTS!! :-)
There is an industry developing right now for rebuilding high tech components that are otherwise unobtainable. High schools must start teaching kids how to do this imho.
Looks like Citroen SM that shrunk in the wash. I remember a guy living in one of these in Cambridge Ma with a single skull on top a few years back. Great mpg AND no rent. Yikes
Pretty cool little cars. I love the aerodynamic design. Years ago there was a guy using the body of one for LSR run at Salt Flats. He got airborne at 170?
Whew, I never know what the comments will be like on a car like this one. Great stuff, folks, thanks for all of the extra information on these little things! Speaking of no rent, Douglas, this one is just five average car payments in 2025, so it’s almost impossible to go wrong here. Five months later, you have a free car getting 50 mpg, and it’s probably cheaper to maintain than a new car.
I had a 2002, same color, with the manual trans, and it was a hoot to drive. I usually skipped third gear and yes, did surprise a lot of other drivers in my SanFran Bay Area commutes. When we bought it the lifetime mileage was 46mpg and the PO did a Sacramento/LA round trip @56mpg. Apparently they hypermiled compared to my technique but I still ran about 36 mpg. Hatofpork’s comment about upgrading the ICE to a 4 cylinder would have been super: this thing was only about 1900#. I still have the car cover for it in my shed, looking for a current owner to hand it over.
I bought a 1999 Insight in 2002 after the original lease was up. Cheap! I had to go to Dallas from Austin when I lived there. The rebate wasn’t taken by the dealer, So I applied for it. Got $7500 dollars back! Fun car. 5 speed, Wanted the green one, got the gray. If the batteries ever crapped out, the engine would continue on. I could see 99 MPG down most hills.
Oh I forgot to mention I have a spare engine for these in my garage if anybody needs one (no IMA) that I’ll let go cheap.
HatofPork – Where are you located? prob nowhere me… i would use the cover, at least.
Tom Lange 207-288-0978/[email protected]
Thanks!
207 is Maine, no? Right now I can’t get it out as there is a dead MGB in front of it (I can’t push it-too old and frail). Make me an offer in the spring. It’s on a rolling wooden dolly and weighs over 150lb so bring someone. As I said no IMA but everything else is there-I bought it as a spare. I’m in Manchester NH.
I am def interested, and will contact you in the Spring. How do I reach you? My info is below.
Tom in Maine (but with a son-and-a-Tacoma in Mass!)
I’ll call you tomorrow.
Impressive little machine for sure and I see it being collectible on the horizon. I daily a 2018 Hyundai Elantra as a gas saver for the long commute my 1965 Comet Caliente would guzzle down. With the “eco” button (overdrive) and a steady speed of 60 on the two-lanes that I use, I regularly get 46-48 MPG. I still feel small amongst the lifted truck monstrosities but would be a bit safer than this little guy, no matter how noteworthy he may be. It is a good stepping stone to gauge how quickly we’ve progressed on the efficiency standpoint but if pure MPGs are the concern there are larger, sturdier, late model vehicles that get near or identical milage.
I have two of the G1 insights, both manuals, both blue – one with 250k, one with 76k – I am often unsure in which car I am, they handle and drive so similarly. The IMA batteries died years ago so I disconnected them, and still average 55mpg on the 3-cylinder 1,000cc engine! Yes, with the IMA gone I have to shift more, and there is a big 1/2 gap going uphill, but i have not enjoyed a car this much since my Volvo 123 GT. Until the Prius Eco, this was the EPA’s highest-mileage non-plug-in car, at 61/53mpg, with a Cd of 0.25! It was really a concept car that explored the public’s reaction to the idea of a hybrid and whether driving habits could be changed, with some 14,000 US cars sold.
Honda offered a high-mileage challenge which Car & Driver won,195-miles from Columbus, OH to Detroit. Stretching things by running in a protective box behind a bigger car to avoid cross winds and drag, they averaged over 120mpg! I remember a New York Times article on the Gen1 Insight titled “The once and future mileage king.”
Batteries are expensive (several thousand)!