2010 Honda Insight Hybrid
Hybrid technology is, by and large, a good thing On that we can all agree But clean-running and environmentally responsible though they may be, hybrid cars have been out of reach for all but well-heeled buyers Most consumers simply aren’t willing to - or can’t - shell out the $30,000 - $40,000 needed to get behind the wheel of a part-internal combustion, part-electric automobile . .There are a few exceptions, of course General Motors’ Aura Greenline sedan has a reasonable price tag, all things considered, as does the Chev Malibu Hybrid, but in terms of what you get for your money, hybrid vehicles have yet to attract consumers in any significant numbers especially younger buyers . . .Honda is hoping to change that with the introduction of its second generation Insight hybrid Priced below both the Civic Hybrid and popular Toyota Prius, it’s aimed squarely at first-timers and buyers under 35, according to Honda Canada manager of production planning, Ryan Kelly . .”The number of hybrid products on the market is six times greater than it was when we first introduced the Insight, in 2000,” he observed at the launch, in Scottsdale “And there are 38 times as many of them on the roads but few of them are being driven by younger buyers ” So when it goes on sale this Spring, the 2010 Honda Insight will be priced in a “sweet spot” around $20,000 or below, according to Ryan Kelly . .With technology fundamentally similar to that found in the current Civic Hybrid, the new Insight is expected to yield fuel consumption of 4 8 L/100 km in town and a miserly 4 5 L /100 km on the highway These are better numbers than the Toyota Prius and only marginally inferior to those delivered by the first generation Insight, which is still the fuel consumption champ in Canada . .Like the Civic and original Insight, the new Insight will have a compact electric motor sandwiched between the vehicle’s internal combustion engine and a gearless CVT transmisison The engine displaces 1 3 litres and the electric motor develops 10 kilowatts Together they generate some 98 horsepower and 123 foot-pounds of torque The engine also features Honda’s i-VTEC variable valve technology, drive-by-wire throttle, and is virtually identical to that found in the Civic Hybrid, if a smidgeon less powerful It is purpose-built just for hybrid drivetrains and is what Honda calls a “low friction” powerplant Total output for the nickel metal hydride battery pack is 128 volts, and Honda claims it will last for 15 years or 240,000 kilometres whichever comes first . .Managing the combined output of the batteries, electric motor, and gas engine is Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system, which in this configuration, is more powerful and lighter than that found in the Civic or the original Insight The IPU (Intelligent Power Unit) for the new Insight is located under the floor in the rear cargo area, along with the battery pack Unlike its predecessor, this model will actually seat five adults, but back seat elbow room is still at a premium, and the guy in the middle will be snug With the back seats folded flat, the Insight provides some 450 litres of cargo space . .Behind the wheel, drivers are confronted by a “two tier” instrument panel and multi-information display An eye-shaped nacelle above the tachometer and IMA readout displays vehicle speed with a tri-colour background that shows you at a glance if you’re driving sensibly and gleaning maximum mileage from the drivetrain Top fuel economy gives the display a green background, while “somewhat less than efficient” shows light blue, and inefficient driving behaviour shows dark blue Like all good hybrid vehicles, the new Insight has regenerative braking that harvests electrical power during deceleration . .But that’s not all An “Econ” switch located on the left side of the dash allow s you to choose driving modes, and the multi-information display also has a cute little “tree” graphic that “scores” your driving performance . .”The economy mode harmonizes the engine, electric motor and transmission,” explains Yuji Fujiki, Honda’s project leader for the Insight, “as well as reducing the time the air conditioner operates, and controlling the idle time of the engine when the car stops ” To wring optimum fuel economy out of the entire system, the driver would ideally be in “green” mode, with all the “leaves” of the tree in place . .It may sound kind of childish and maybe even a tad precious, but the whole arrangement actually works well and is easy to get along with and quite user-friendly On a 45-kilometre driving loop laid out at the product launch, I managed a 5 0 L/100 km fuel economy average, and that was while keeping up with traffic and staying at the speed limits The key is to avoid jackrabbit starts, letting the engine’s momentum carry the vehicle, coasting downhill, and braking gently and well ahead of stop signs/traffic lights The system is designed to allow drivers to closely monitor their performance, and it’s almost fun to use According to Honda, the whole idea is to encourage drivers to “take an interest in developing fuel-efficient driving habits over the long term ” . .The new Honda Insight will be offered in two trim levels: LX and EX Most of the usual modcons - power windows, etc - will come standard with the LX, and the EX will have extras such as a Navigation system, steering wheel-located paddle shifters, Bluetooth capability, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, and lightweight alloy wheels .
Source: www.rsstnx.com
Your Best Car Deal Avoiding Dealer Scams
Obviously, not all car dealers are dishonest and unethical However, all car dealers are in business to make money The way they do that is simple They use every psychological trick, to take as much out of your wallet as possible . .The Credit Score Scam: . .You come in to buy a car, without a recent credit report (bad dog!/stupid dog!) Because now your friendly helpful dealer gets to run your credit rating And guetoo low But,because he/she/it(hey, this could be San Francisco!)is friendly and helpful, there is a solution! it’s, . .The Interest Rate Bump Scam: . .Enter the dealership’s friendly financing counselor, who,even with your terrible credit score,somehow manages to get you the cash you need for your dream-mobile,for only 8% What the friendly counselor doesn’t tell you - is the real rate 6% Guess into which pocket the other 2% goes? . .The Subject to Financing Scam: . .Imagining that somehow you’ve got the deal of a lifetime,you glide home in your shiny,new dream-mobile A week or so passes Then you get a call from .your friendly,helpful dealer with some bad news Your loan didn’t go through But - not to worry, because ever helpful and friendly(not to mention .resourceful) dealer,has managed(even with your terrible credit) to get you new loan with a lower monthly payment! What you don’t learn,until you arrive to sign on the dotted line,is that the rate of the loan,like politicians promises, has increased . .The Trade In Scam: (one of mmmmmmmany) . .Some weeks after trading in your old pile o’ junk, for your brand new dream-mobile,you get a call from the bank They want to know why you did’nt make your last payment on pile o’ junk You explain that you traded in,and that your friendly,helpful car dealer is responsible for those payments When the bank asks if you’ve got that in writing, then you realize that your pals at friendly and helpful must have just forgotten to make the payments And guess what direction your credit rating heads now? . .The Dealer Prep Scam: . .After scoring the deal of a lifetime,with everything signed and sealed - you suddenly get hit for an extra $600 or so For what? You rightly ask Why,for the .folks at friendly n’ helpful to prepare your dream-mobile for delivery of course! Such as the state of their "art",they are able to say this with a straight face,their tone implying that you are a few bricks short of a full load Even though the manufacturer’s sticker on the windshield states that "suggested retail price includes pre-delivery service!" . .These are just a few of the "tools" of the car jockeys trade For you to get the dream-mobile you want, at the price you want, you need to understand and accept that you will never, I repeat,NEVER out bargain friendly,helpful car sales shark These people are professionals They do it day in, day out, on (you’ll pardon the pun) auto-pilot You may think you’re smarter than the average bear And you may well be But attempting to outdance a sales professional is financial suicide . .Knowledge is, indeed, power So know your credit score Have your credit report in your pocket Have your financing arranged BEFORE you pass the portals of friendly n’ helpful motors Negotiate from strength Call them on their b s And don’t hesitate to walk if the "deal" isn’t right Take your cue from that old country song - "The Gambler " - "You’ve got to know when to fold " . .Good luck!.
Source: www.rsstnx.com
Car Buying Tips To Help You Negotiate Buying A New Car And Avoid Automobile Dealership Scams
It happens many times in one’s life! The time comes that you are planning to buy a new car How many new automobiles have you bought up to this point? How many of those purchases do you feel went your way and was to your advantage and satisfaction the day after? Well, this time if you are planning to buy a new car do not just go off into autodealershipland and talk to a salesman . .Learn how to negotiate buying a new car first! Buying a car is like going to war! There are the soldiers that fight the war until it’s bitter end or someone calls a truce, and then you have the diplomats that attempt to end a war with diplomacy Well, buying a car is like going to war You can fight it out until the bitter end and in most cases many people lose to the dealership/salesman because they have superior knowledge and mind game techniques that help them win the battle . . .Then of course there are those that prepare for war and gain knowledge of the weaknesses of the “enemy” in order to defeat them either by force or by diplomacy! If you are planning on buying a new car, I would prefer that you are armed with the requisite knowledge to end the battle quickly and to your advantage! You must be well armed and well protected from the different sales stategies that an automobile dealer and their sales force will use . .If you go to the local car dealer and you are unprepared, then you will most likely end up being pressured into buying a vehicle that you do not really want and that is not truly ideal for you The number one best thing that you can do is to learn and employ effective stategies for negotiating buying a new car so that you can get the best deal possible and not be taken for a ride before you even get off the lot! . .If you are looking for the best value for you money then prior knowledge of how to negotiate buying a new car is essential! Remember!, You must be careful with making decisions regarding large purchases especially now that we are in a “recession” you just don’t know what a salesman or dealer might try just to make a sale and meet a quota! You must also remember that if you are in a place financially to negotiate buying a new car that you are in a place of advantage and if you know what you are doing then you hold most if not all of the marbles . .Do not just go buy a car from the advertisements that you see on television or hear on the radio Buying a new car requires careful planning Perform your due diligence and do proper research This is the key to getting the absolute best price on the car you want and will once again give you the upper hand in negotiating buying a new car Do not buy a car on a whim because you might be disappointed so many days or months down the road Make sure that when the time comes that you are ready to talk to a dealership that you have learned how to negotiate buying a new car and you have honed those skills with research Be a smart consumer! . .Remember, that salesmen are armed with their own bag of tricks that they may use to lure you into buying a car that is not right for you, but is great for them You must be able to counter a salesmens moves with your own “ammo ” You must know and remember that in learning how to negotiate buying a new car that almost everything in a new car purchase is negotiable! The trick is to know what you need and want and to determine in advance how much you are willing to pay for your new car Many people are tricked into buying a car simply because they are not clear as to what they want and how much they are willing to spend and if they have the budget that they might not have planned for and they are not clear as to what kind of car they wanted in the first place By doing proper research and planning ahead you will be prepared for negotiating buying a new car and you will come out of the dealership happy knowing that you were prepared to make the purchase the right way!.
Source: www.rsstnx.com
