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2000 Honda Insight - MT / AC / Good IMA / Grid Charger

Condition: Used
Make: Honda
Model: Insight
Type: Hatchback
Trim: Manual Transmission with A/C
Year: 2000
Mileage: 197,505
VIN: JHMZE1377YT002862
Color: Silver
Engine size: 3 Cyl Hybrid
Number of cylinders: 3
Power options: Air Conditioning, Power Locks, Power Windows
Fuel: Hybrid-Electric
Transmission: Manual
Drive type: FWD
Interior color: Gray
Safety options: Anti-Lock Brakes, Driver Airbag, Passenger Airbag
Vehicle Title: Clear
Interested? Contact seller!

2000 Honda Insight Manual Transmission with A/C Description

This is an as-is sale. Please read the entire listing before bidding!
You are bidding on a silver 2000 Honda Insight with Manual Transmission and Air Conditioning.
I'm selling it only because it will no longer pass inspection in Virginia. The primary catalytic converter's housing has rusted and my local mechanic referred me to the dealer to replace the whole converter, which is $$$. I've used hose clamps as a temporary fix and it drives just fine that way, it just won't pass inspection here.
I've gotten over 70 MPG on the highway driving (well over 500 miles per tank) and at least 50 MPG around town. The car's lifetime MPG is 60.1. You'll be the smartest person on the block when gas gets expensive again!
This is a 16-year-old car, so I've tried my best to document its known issues, many of which can be addressed at a low cost by a home mechanic.
The good stuff first:

IMA system and battery work great.
Grid charger and discharger from Hybrid Automotive are included.
No error lights. Check engine light (CEL) is off.
A/C blows cold and climate system works well.
Digital instrument panel works normally.
No grounding issues - a common problem with old Insights.
12v battery only 1 yr old.
Rear wheel aero panels are in good condition with new dzus fasteners from element6.
No body rust. The car body is made from aluminum and plastic and doesn't rust like a normal steel-bodied car.

Known issues:

Exhaust - As mentioned above, the primary catalytic converter's housing has rusted and I had to secure it in place with hose clamps. The heat shield also has some rust and had to be hose clamped in place as well. There is a rattle when you go over big bumps.
ECU - A known issue with early Insights is an erroneous check engine light with a P0420 code (degraded catalytic performance) when the cats are still working properly, due to a calibration issue with the ECU. This vehicle has the original ECU and I've installed an 02 sensor spacer to keep the P0240 code away. The ECU otherwise works fine and the cats still light off normally as well.
Transmission - A known issue with manual transmission Insights is wear of the gear synchronizers. This one has minor issues with the 2nd gear synchronizer. Shifting up through the gears from 1st to 5th works normally, but there can be noise and vibration when downshifting into 2nd if the engine RPM isn't close to the 2nd gear speed. If you match RPM, you'll never notice it. The transmission otherwise shifts smoothly, it does not pop out of gear, and the input shaft bearing is in good shape.
EGR system - A known issue with Insights is clogging of the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) passages, which causes rough running in low load / low RPM situations. In this car, you occasionally notice this in 5th gear at about 50-55 MPH. It goes away if you speed up or downshift into 4th gear. Cleaning the EGR system will resolve this issue.
Engine mounts - A known issue with Insights is wear and tear of the rear engine mount, which can cause vibration when backing up in reverse. This car's rear mount is ok. There's a little vibration in reverse but it's not bad.
Power windows - A known issue with Insights is wear and tear of the auto-down switch for the driver's side window. It will get stuck in the auto-down position which can trip the motor's circuit breaker unless you push it back up slightly. You just have to remember to push the switch back up or give the breaker a minute to reset.

Condition notes:

IMA system - Works normally. Battery charges and assists, idle stop and start works properly. The previous owner installed insulation in the battery compartment for better cold weather performance and you may want to remove this if in a hot climate. A Prolong grid charger and discharger from Hybrid Automotive are included.
Audio - Old-school Honda OEM radio with cassette player. Includes the optional rear speakers. The speakers are pretty small but they all work.
Brakes - There is a little bit of noise and vibration, mostly at low speeds. Otherwise they work normally and stop securely. ABS system works well.
Suspension - No known issues. This isn't a sports car but it's surprisingly flat when cornering.
Controls - Center-left dash vent's left-right control is broken. All other controls work well.
Upholstery - Car was used by a smoker in the past. I'm not a smoker and I had the car shampooed and installed a new cabin filter. The upholstery is in pretty good shape for a 16-year-old car. There's some wear in the trunk area, and just a little wear to the seats. New custom floormats from Costco are included.
Body - The body is in very good shape for a 16-year-old car. There is a dent in the hood (does not affect hood latch - see picture) and a few minor dings and scratches.
Clutch/Flywheel - Works normally when warm, with no slipping. When cold, there can be a little bit of vibration when starting from a stop, but it goes away after a few minutes.
Power locks - Passenger side power lock does not work. Probably needs a new servo. Manual locking works normally. Car has keyless entry but the remote is missing.
Tires - Bridgestone Potenza RE92 low rolling resistance. Passed inspection this year but should be replaced soon.
Cruise Control - 2000 Honda Insights do not have Cruise Control, but an aftermarket system can be added.

If you wish to drive it in Virginia, you'll need to repair the exhaust system and have the car re-inspected. First-generation Honda Insights are unique cars, so bidders not familiar with these cars should review the Insight Central Knowledge Base at http://www.insightcentral.net/KB/ before bidding.
Happy bidding!

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