GTP Cool Wall: 1999-2006 Honda Insight

[White & Nerdy]

Why is it a constant fear?

'Cause I, with my spendthrift ways, am not getting any richer, but the voices screaming about pollution and peak oil are certainly growing louder and shriller.

I know you have this deluded mindset that you need to stand up for the "Old ways" and "What it means to be a man"

That's the other thing. I'll tell you something, but you've probably guess already. I was born in 1995... and I hate my generation. I look around at all the BS going on these days, from bronies to rampant leftism to the environmental hoopla, and think WHAT THE 🤬 IS WRONG WITH YOU GUYS? I just have this feeling that the adult world I am now joing is not the same one I had to look forward to just a few years ago. Something started going pear-shaped right around the time the financial crisis hit, and I think gas prices reaching for the sky was the first symptom of it. I remeber some of the things my parents have said, about how all hell broke loose in the late 60's and 70's, and I can't help but think I'm living through 1970's redux. Think about it: massive environmental hysteria with car culture in the crosshairs, massive societal revolution (this time a complete rebellion against gender norms, specifically the masculine norm, and against traditional marriage), an obnoxious new genre of music that's more noise than music (then it was death metal, now it's dubstep), political arena suddenly tilting hard to the left. Just about all that's missing are barf-inducing fashions (as far I know) and neutered "muscle cars" that can't even break into the 15s. And I'm sitting here, getting paid $10 an hour on a schedule that ensures I'll miss most of the car shows this summer, helpless to do anything about any of it. By the time I'm in any situation worth mentioning, it'll likely be even worse. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if, by 2020, I'm considered weird or unusual just for being traditionally masculine, at least as far as I can even pull that off.

 

[Aquarelle]

I'm not even going to bother with this one, I'm too offended to begin.

Actually no. Y'know what, I am.

This, is called progress. People are now able to feel comfortable being open about who they are rather than becoming mentally damaged keeping it all bottled up inside.

People against tradiational marriage? what on earth are you talking about, nobody is against traditional marriage. People are asking for marriage equality, the ability to marry the person they love regardless of their gender. It has no influence or effect on "Traditional marriage"

Okay yeah no this is too much. I'm too offended and disgusted by this to continue.

 

[homeforsummer]

'Cause I, with my spendthrift ways, am not getting any richer, but the voices screaming about pollution and peak oil are certainly growing louder and shriller.

They aren't, really. The message is no more strong now than it was say, a decade ago. The only difference is it's now easier for those who do want more efficient cars to get hold of them.

And let's not forget - cars don't just use less fuel now, but they're also quicker than ever too. And most, realistically, are better to drive - I've had a go in some absolute crackers over the past year or so. When I was a kid I absolutely loved the Honda NSX. Got to drive one the other day - was every bit as good as I hoped it'd be, but for context I did drive a Volvo wagon the week before that would absolutely leave it for dead just about anywhere.

Obviously, "quality" of performance is as important as "quantity", but then the Lolvo was hardly lacking in quality either - it sounded bloody brilliant, for a start.

Put it this way - there are some excellent cars out there and if there's any incentive to work hard in life (i.e. raise yourself out of a $10 an hour position where you miss all the season's car shows), it's to put yourself in a position to be able to buy some of them. I like electric vehicles, and I'd like to see more of them on the roads, but I'm certainly not worried about non-electric vehicles suddenly disappearing overnight. And I'm sure as hell going to enjoy them in the meantime.

 

[Famine]

Today I learned that the existence of the Honda Insight is an attack on "traditional" marriage (whatever that is) and if you obsess over pastille-coloured toy horses you're "traditionally masculine". Every day's a school day, it seems.

I guess I should tell my wife that our wedding is a sham because I think the Insight is cool and someone who's never placed his fun sausage in a lady's joycanal says so.

Incidentally, I'd like @White & Nerdy to take a Political Compass test and post his first-time result chart (without going back and retaking it to game the results because he was unhappy with where it put him) in the appropriate thread.

 

[Azure Flare]

@UrieHusky I'll take over:

'Cause I, with my spendthrift ways, am not getting any richer, but the voices screaming about pollution and peak oil are certainly growing louder and shriller.

As said before, WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF OIL!!!1!

That's the other thing. I'll tell you something, but you've probably guess already. I was born in 1995... and I hate my generation. I look around at all the BS going on these days, from bronies to rampant leftism to the environmental hoopla, and think WHAT THE 🤬 IS WRONG WITH YOU GUYS?

Geez, again with Pony. For somebody that hates it so much, you sure do talk about it a lot...

I just have this feeling that the adult world I am now joing is not the same one I had to look forward to just a few years ago. Something started going pear-shaped right around the time the financial crisis hit, and I think gas prices reaching for the sky was the first symptom of it.

Prices for fuel have shot up since the turn of the century because parents thought that buying a giant-ass SUV thinking that it was "safer" (which is bullcrap, I feel safer in my car than I do in my Mother's (freaking nice) Jeep or my Dad's Ram) actually drove up demand for it, so prices starting going up.

I remember some of the things my parents have said, about how all hell broke loose in the late 60's and 70's, and I can't help but think I'm living through 1970's redux. Think about it: massive environmental hysteria with car culture in the crosshairs, massive societal revolution (this time a complete rebellion against gender norms, specifically the masculine norm, and against traditional marriage), an obnoxious new genre of music that's more noise than music (then it was death metal, now it's dubstep), political arena suddenly tilting hard to the left. Just about all that's missing are barf-inducing fashions (as far I know) and neutered "muscle cars" that can't even break into the 15s.

The world is just moving on, for the better. Cars like the BMW i8 for example are proof that it isn't all doom-and-gloom for cars. High compression ratios, lightweight materials, and forced induction are the way of the future for cars until we as humans find a better option.

Oh, and while I do think that power is fun, a car that can turn a corner a ton more fun than a car that only goes straight.

But I do hate dubstep.

And I'm sitting here, getting paid $10 an hour on a schedule that ensures I'll miss most of the car shows this summer, helpless to do anything about any of it.

I get paid slightly less than you do, but I own $1000 worth of sim racing hardware (A sweet-ass GranStand and a T500RS + TH8RS. ), and I do now actually own The Kia now (Yes, I never did mention that it wasn't mine, but I did pay to use it, but I do actually own it now). I also am planning to attend the USGP at COTA for a 2nd time, might even drive the track.

Then again, I do work my ass off for 40 hours a week...

By the time I'm in any situation worth mentioning, it'll likely be even worse. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if, by 2020, I'm considered weird or unusual just for being traditionally masculine, at least as far as I can even pull that off.

While I may not subscribe to being a masculine manly-man that is all that is male, I just do things my way. I may have a boyfriend, but I am pretty sure that I am more of a man than you are.

 

[homeforsummer]

I guess I should tell my wife that our wedding is a sham because I think the Insight is cool and someone who's never placed his fun sausage in a lady's joycanal says so.

While you're at it, do either of the Minifams want my car enthusiast card? Nobody has claimed it yet.

 

[Famine]

While you're at it, do either of the Minifams want my car enthusiast card? Nobody has claimed it yet.

I'm afraid they're disqualified through not being traditionally masculine enough. And the older one - who wants to win GT Academy in 2019 and is attending her third successive Le Mans this year - likes actual horses. Imagine!

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

I only came back to this thread to see slash's post on this and yet again it's blown up into another argument between a few people which has gone way off topic.

 

[Gotbeefboy564]

Better looking than any Prius but I gave it a meh.

 

[Jet Badger]

I only came back to this thread to see slash's post on this and yet again it's blown up into another argument between a few people which has gone way off topic.

I guess you could change your username to "Slashfan" now that it's free

 

[Roger the Horse]

@White & Nerdy, are you just trolling, as I hope you are, or really incredibly unhappy?

If so, may I strongly, strongly, advise that you seek help. Go see a counsellor, call one of the many helplines that exist for deeply unhappy people, hell, you could just go see your GP and ask what they can do to help. But seriously, as a not entirely sociopathic human being who has suffered from various mental health problems throughout their life, I feel I have to say, you're not behaving in a manner indicative of a healthy mind; but I want you to know, help exists, and it's far easier to get than you might think.

 

[Bopop4]

.

It is truly scary that people like you are allowed to vote.

Next you'll be telling us what plants crave.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

@White & Nerdy, are you just trolling, as I hope you are, or really incredibly unhappy?

If so, may I strongly, strongly, advise that you seek help. Go see a counsellor, call one of the many helplines that exist for deeply unhappy people, hell, you could just go see your GP and ask what they can do to help. But seriously, as a not entirely sociopathic human being who has suffered from various mental health problems throughout their life, I feel I have to say, you're not behaving in a manner indicative of a healthy mind; but I want you to know, help exists, and it's far easier to get than you might think.

@White & Nerdy This is good advice. You talk just like my grandmother, and she has serious mental health problems which she refuses to acknowledge or try and treat. It means that she's convinced that she's always right and that the whole world is out to get her. You need to talk to your doctor and find a good mental health specialist. Seriously, I'm not trying to be offensive or silly, I'm being serious and I'm trying to help you, as is Roger.

 

[CarBastard]

@White & Nerdy, are you just trolling, as I hope you are, or really incredibly unhappy?

If so, may I strongly, strongly, advise that you seek help. Go see a counsellor, call one of the many helplines that exist for deeply unhappy people, hell, you could just go see your GP and ask what they can do to help. But seriously, as a not entirely sociopathic human being who has suffered from various mental health problems throughout their life, I feel I have to say, you're not behaving in a manner indicative of a healthy mind; but I want you to know, help exists, and it's far easier to get than you might think.

It's the best thing I can't tell him right now and I feel kind of bad for not thinking about that before. Psychologic treatment helped me a bunch and it's nothing to be ashamed of 👍.

 

[TheCracker]

That's the other thing. I'll tell you something, but you've probably guess already. I was born in 1995... and I hate my generation. I look around at all the BS going on these days, from bronies to rampant leftism to the environmental hoopla, and think WHAT THE 🤬 IS WRONG WITH YOU GUYS? I just have this feeling that the adult world I am now joing is not the same one I had to look forward to just a few years ago. Something started going pear-shaped right around the time the financial crisis hit, and I think gas prices reaching for the sky was the first symptom of it. I remeber some of the things my parents have said, about how all hell broke loose in the late 60's and 70's, and I can't help but think I'm living through 1970's redux. Think about it: massive environmental hysteria with car culture in the crosshairs, massive societal revolution (this time a complete rebellion against gender norms, specifically the masculine norm, and against traditional marriage), an obnoxious new genre of music that's more noise than music (then it was death metal, now it's dubstep), political arena suddenly tilting hard to the left. Just about all that's missing are barf-inducing fashions (as far I know) and neutered "muscle cars" that can't even break into the 15s. And I'm sitting here, getting paid $10 an hour on a schedule that ensures I'll miss most of the car shows this summer, helpless to do anything about any of it. By the time I'm in any situation worth mentioning, it'll likely be even worse. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if, by 2020, I'm considered weird or unusual just for being traditionally masculine, at least as far as I can even pull that off.

Dude, you're a ****ing dinosaur. You pine over a tiny period of time that came and went before you were even born, and to be honest, never existed in the way you imagined it did anyway. You need to embrace the world around you. No it's not perfect, but it's not perfect for anyone else either (news flash! it never has been) you need to stop letting the issues that get to your parents become your problems, because you really don't need them to be. Humans got to where they are today because they adapted. You don't adapt to your surroundings, you struggle and die out.

 

[Parker]

Dude, you're a ****ing dinosaur.

 

[DK]

Bloody hell, at least W&N has a job and a car (albeit a crap one). The only chance I have of finding work before I finish my BSc in Computer Science is by going to England for the summer.

 

[Turtle]

This whole argument about trying to convince W&N to think about things differently reminds me of a certain Pink Floyd album.

And I know this is off topic but anyone who is in a constant state of unhappiness should see a doctor. I know because I've had to multiple times in my short life, and it ended up being more helpful than I thought.

 

[homeforsummer]

I like the idea that if W&N takes this advice, the Mk1 Honda Insight will have indirectly helped him become a happier person.

 

[motortrend]

The true downsides to an EV is the time it takes to recharge the battery, driving range, and the batteries will wear out over time.

Although, I do LOVE the Tesla Model S. There is one (silently) running around Carthage, and it's an elusive thing. I see it every once in a while, which is why I don't have a picture of it.

This, electric cars have existed since the car existed, but the problem was their range and charging in a time of very little road infrastructure let alone anything for charging a battery nor the battery tech itself. What I think many people don't understand is how much electric energy (be it produced from any other source) is involved in pretty much every material. Another thing to consider though is that some places still depend highly on petrol to produce electricity but with newer ways to produce electric energy this is changing rapidly.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

While you're at it, do either of the Minifams want my car enthusiast card? Nobody has claimed it yet.

I'll take it, then I can frame it up and say "HA" every time I walk past it.

I only came back to this thread to see slash's post on this and yet again it's blown up into another argument between a few people which has gone way off topic.

Um it's one person, the rest of seem to be able to vote without our political agenda being given. This is the same guy who voted uncool because a car was some communist love machine.

You want to place blame do it to the person who actually derails the thread he created, not "a few people" as if some noble cause is being spoken when it isn't the truth.

It's the best thing I can't tell him right now and I feel kind of bad for not thinking about that before. Psychologic treatment helped me a bunch and it's nothing to be ashamed of 👍.

I laughed at this more than I should have, and for that I'm apologizing.

 

[Liquid]

I was born in 1995

19 years old maximum.

There, we've cracked it. Guys, case closed.

 

[White & Nerdy]

For clarification purposes: I don't think everyone is out to get me, I just think that, due to shifting mass tastes or whatever, a lot of the things I like will be gone before I can get to them. And also, that some of the things that are "in" and "popular" now are grade-A stupid and represent cultural decline on a massive scale. As for constant unhappiness, well, I don't think "constant" is quite the word for it. I can enjoy myself if I can forget all this stuff, but whenever I think of politics, or culture, or the state of the auto industry, I get this sense of foreboding, this sense that car culture, culture at large, and even the United States itself are too far gone to save. That all I can do is sit here listening to the death rattle of civilization.

 

[Doog]

I can enjoy myself if I can forget all this stuff, but whenever I think of politics, or culture, or the state of the auto industry, I get this sense of foreboding, this sense that car culture, culture at large, and even the United States itself are too far gone to save. That all I can do is sit here listening to the death rattle of civilization.

Don't think about it then.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

Does anyone mind if I make a post about the Insight or are we still discussing W&N and his almost certain mental problems?

I think the Insight is absolutely sub zero, perhaps among the ranks of the coolest cars ever made. Why?

The styling looks very futuristic, like a NASA experiment for the road. It's pretty, too, since it's low and sleek. I really doubt it will ever look that aged. And people pay attention to it, it looks different enough that even people who don't pay attention to cars are intrigued by the shape.

The technology is cutting edge, and beautifully executed. This is a car that appeals to engineers based on its powertrain. The petrol engine uses innovative lean burn technology to reduce consumption significantly, and the hybrid system is one of the first of its kind. It's still one of the most efficient cars ever built, in real world driving.

 

[niky]

I get this sense of foreboding, this sense that car culture, culture at large, and even the United States itself are too far gone to save. That all I can do is sit here listening to the death rattle of civilization.

Nobody who hasn't lived through the Cold War actually knows what the death rattle of civilization actually sounds like. Sorry if this last line makes me laugh.

-

You live in the fattest, richest region on Earth, getting paid over ten times as much as most global villagers do for a job that requires just the tiniest bit of mental muscle and a modicum of physical muscle. And you have enough free money to own your own car, with the opportunity to buy a brand new one of your choice if you simply apply yourself to it.

-

You have 99.9% less problems than the rest of the world. No need to invent new ones just to have something to kvetch about.

 

[Azuremen]

For clarification purposes: I don't think everyone is out to get me, I just think that, due to shifting mass tastes or whatever, a lot of the things I like will be gone before I can get to them.

So get an education and move onto a real career instead of planning on your next big compromise in the car world. Or develop a useful skill set that is desirable. For example, I can make more in a couple of hours doing photography than you make in a week. Why? Because desirable skill set.

Instead, you spend your time worrying about what other people like and building misguided arguments on that.

And also, that some of the things that are "in" and "popular" now are grade-A stupid and represent cultural decline on a massive scale. As for constant unhappiness, well, I don't think "constant" is quite the word for it. I can enjoy myself if I can forget all this stuff, but whenever I think of politics, or culture, or the state of the auto industry, I get this sense of foreboding, this sense that car culture, culture at large, and even the United States itself are too far gone to save. That all I can do is sit here listening to the death rattle of civilization.

You're 19 and live in the middle of nowhere Alaska. You've not experienced culture nor understand it even from a historic view point. The time periods of "manly" men and land yachts was the most consumerist, trend following era to exist, with the Suburb culture in full swing. Yuppies bought status icons for the sake of status and people that didn't make money bought imports because they could afford the gas. Open up some history books and actually read a bit.

Nobody who hasn't lived through the Cold War actually knows what the death rattle of civilization actually sounds like. Sorry if this last line makes me laugh.

You mean something like growing up in the sticks with stock piled foods, learning to hunt, ride dirt bikes, and basic survival skills at age 4? Or having valuable metals to trade in case the currency collapsed?

But I can't be a real man because I like the Insight and cartoons.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

19 years old maximum.

There, we've cracked it. Guys, case closed.

Wow, a teen that hasn't even lived long enough but someone told him what the "golden days" were like to such a degree he thinks he lived them. Now he sounds like a senior at the local diner telling people it's all gone and America just aint the same.

I'm laughing so hard at this.

 

[Wolfe]

I hate my generation. I look around at all the BS going on these days, from...rampant leftism to the environmental hoopla, and think WHAT THE 🤬 IS WRONG WITH YOU GUYS?

What you don't seem to understand is that you've got nearly 50% of the population on your side, while most of the other half thinks the very same thing about you and your kind. That's politics. The rest of us think both sides are whackos.

I can't help but think I'm living through 1970's redux...

• Massive environmental hysteria -- I was being taught "reduce, reuse, recycle" a few years before you were conceived, and I grew up with Captain Planet on TV. Nothing has taken a sudden turn; even the global warming stuff has hardly changed popular perception of environmentalism. I'm pretty sure what's actually upsetting you are the effects of Corporate Average Fuel Economy. But hey, it's bringing curb weights down so you have to admit it's not all bad.
• Massive societal revolution -- Don't worry, the southern portion of the contiguous united states has got your back. You have more allies than you think.
  
• Political arena suddenly tilting hard to the left -- It swings back and forth, and it will swing again. When I was your age, "dubya" was president and right wingers had the ball. Just wait three years.

...I just think that, due to shifting mass tastes or whatever, a lot of the things I like will be gone before I can get to them.

If you like going fast and changing gears, buy a motorcycle. It's warm enough for part of the year, isn't it? A bike is by far the most affordable route to what you're after, and I think they'll be around for years after new cars are all "boring" to you.

...some of the things that are "in" and "popular" now are grade-A stupid and represent cultural decline on a massive scale.

Words like these have been spoken since the dawn of civilization. We'll survive.

 

[Liquid]

I bet people thought that the ignition key was lazy and felt that it would devalue starting a car manually with a starter handle. True car culture ended that very day.

90 years of decadence, debauchery and devalued car enthusiasm.