2001 Honda Insight MK1

On sale here is a 2001 Insight, still in the hands of its first owner. With a business in Edinburgh, the car was bought as a town runabout, a purpose for which it was ideally suited. He paid £17,000 for the car.

In fact, so enthusiastic was our seller about the futuristic Honda, he is in fact the proud owner of two of them.

Amongst the many appealing factors is the zero-rating for road tax and buyers today should know that Insights are ULEZ compliant.

With little use in recent years, the time has come for our seller to slim down his collection of interesting cars, so the Insight is to go. Its replacement has already been purchased, something from the stables of the good Mr Musk. Our seller, embracing future technology once again.

Resplendent in shiny silver, the Insight still has the ability to turn heads. However, being used as a city runabout has led to a few battle scars. The bumpers in particular show signs of some parking contretemps, with some deep scratches in evidence.

The keen eye may also be drawn to the corrosion on the door bottoms and the noticeable scratches elsewhere, such as on the boot lid and driver’s sill. All is revealed in our photo gallery.

Wheels look to be in fair shape and the tyres all have plenty of tread.

There are seats for just two in an interior that is both simple, yet distinctive. It’s in reasonable shape but there are some areas in need of attention.

Most noticeable is the wear to the driver’s seat, resulting in a rip to the fabric. A good automotive upholsterer may well be able to affect a good repair. The seats are however most comfortable and supportive. There is also an area of staining on the back of the passenger seat.

The dashboard, with its quirky LED design, works well with the large central digital speedometer a standout feature.

All UK Insights came with a manual gearbox and the change is a sweet one. Combined with a light clutch, city driving is never a chore.

Carpets have been protected by genuine Insight overmats, thus ensuring they have remained in good condition.

We do note that some of the interior plastics are marked, the glovebox and passenger footwell being the most noticeable areas.

With no rear seats, boot space on the Insight is surprisingly generous. Beneath the boot floor is the spare wheel. The boot space carpet does show some sign of bobbling.

Our seller informs us that the heated rear window no longer operates and it’s the same story for the passenger window. It is possible that the latter may be fixed in the next few days.

The Insight’s engine bay presents very well and there is quite a lot crammed in. It all looks in good order with nothing obvious that we can spot.

We always include plenty of photographs of a car’s underside and that is most certainly the case here. We suggest you spend some time perusing them at your leisure.

Although not mentioned by MoT testers, we do notice some areas of corrosion which should be dealt with without delay. A good clean up, and the application of plenty of underseal are doubtless required.

We are told the car starts first time and drives well. Our seller has mentioned that Insights prefer to be driven regularly, less the IMA battery goes flat. He is including in the sale a maintenance charger, ideal if the car is to be left idle for an extended period of time.

We have already mentioned that this is a one owner car, and our seller has undoubtedly maintained it during his extended ownership. Only the more recent invoices are to hand, but they show that servicing was carried out in both 2020 and 2021.

Front discs and pads have not been fitted but are provided with the car along with a new rear shock absorber which also requires replacement.

The current MoT certificate is valid until 8th December 2022 and there are copies of old certificates in our picture gallery. There were some advisories last time.

Those looking for a modern classic car may not immediately think of a Honda Insight but look closer and this is a very interesting and collectible car.

The perky engine ensures that motorway journeys can be undertaken with ease, yet thanks to the slippery shape and clever hybrid technology, it is positively parsimonious. Expect 60 to 70mpg unless you are especially lead-footed.

Low running costs are guaranteed, and Honda has an enviable reputation for reliability, which extends to its older models.

Undoubtedly ahead of it time when launched, many manufacturers are only now catching up.

The vendor says "these cars appear to be bombproof. I have an acquaintance who has one with 308,000 on the clock and there are many with 200,000 recorded. There is much information on these cars and their mpg attainments on the owners website- insight Central."

So, a classic car, with futuristic looks, and a rare one to boot. And all this for between £5,000 and £7,000. A bit of a bargain we think.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with its vendor in Kinross, Scotland. To arrange an appointment to view, use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions.’