Tibur Waltson <Toush@hi.com> wrote:
>>"ziggie" <tmpw23@yahoo.com> wrote in message

>> I am thinking of buying an Insight, but have heard that the only place
>> that will repair it is a Honda dealer.Is this true?
>> Are other independent garages unfamiliar with it, and, as a result,
>> stay away from it?This would affect my decision about buying one.

I had that problem with my Mazda RX-2. I couldn't get my uncle's shop to
change the plugs and points, because they didn't work on rotaries.
I bought a timing light, dwell meter, and never looked back.

My Civic Hybrid is different though. I can't work on it. With my other
recent cars, my service record at anyplace other than the dealer is
abysmal. There is too much specialized knowledge required.

> I have a feeling not all Honda tech would be informed about
> electric motors systems. They may spend half a week relearning
> everything about electric motors systems - wasting your time.

You think the electric motor is going to fail? I think there are thousands
of other components more likely to fail, some already familiar, others
disgnosed by computer.

> I've heard the 10-year about $10k NiHM battery is a bummer. I

Where did you get an estimate of $10k? That's nonsense. Half the price of
the car new, for one component that I could change myself in an hour?
The Civic has 120 each of D-Cell 1.2v NiMH batteries, at 6 Amp Hours.
I found 9000mAH for $6.83 quantity 100+, $819.60 total.
In ten years, I expect the price of NiMH to drop more.

> I'm not scaring you away from going electric. It's open-minded
> folks like you that help keep electric cars price down so I can
> afford one too.

This isn't electric. It's hybrid.

http://makeashorterlink.com/?N36A423A7
will lead you to 160 articles in this newsgroup with Insight and either
break or fail in the article.

One of them refers to a price quote of $1300 of the battery pack, and
mentions that if the battery pack goes dead, you can drive without it while
you shop price. The battery pack has an 8 year/80,000 mile warranty, so I
don't have to worry about the cost immediately, but I'll be out of warranty
before I anticipate a failure anyway.

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Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8-122.5