Get a 92 -95 civic VX or CX and give it the aero treatment. I get 66 mpg at 70-75mph. In addition to improving the mileage, the aero mods have made the car a lot quieter and given it more "horsepower" at highway speeds. Use the money you saved in buying an older car to install more comfortable seats, a killer stereo, and other creature comforts.

I say go for the Insight with a 5 speed if you can, remember that it's only 2 seats, but if you are commuting that much, then what more do you need? it's also mostly alluminum, so if you live in the rust belt of the US, it will not rust out! but mostly, it's a car designed for commuting and getting the best mileage out of any car sold in the US, sure other people have gotten good mileage with other cars, but comparing what it is off the shelf, you can't get much better.

Insight Boxing Tournament
 

I agree there, but having driven one recently, there is a huge "comfort factor". The suspension is very rigid and there's a lot of road noise -- something similar to the old Integra Avus mentioned earlier. Otherwise, the car would be perfect (in fact, I kinda want one myself).

RH77

Speculation
 

This is just foggy recollection, but I think they wanted to keep it lowered for under-car airflow drag, and consequently less suspension travel. I'm told you feel like your kidneys have been in a boxing match after a long commute.

Brainstorming, what would be wrong with a heavy-duty truck style seat to absorb the shock? I'm sure most of us have seen bus drivers or other large-vehicle operators bouncing up-and-down in their air-suspension seats. Since my lower-back lacks "shock absorbers" anymore, I need all I can get -- or else the consequences are quite unpleasant (otherwise I'd lower the 'Teg for cD).

But the problem is that the Insight doesn't have a lot of headroom for this kind of application, even if there's something that will fit in there -- unless a custom setup is developed. You could probably take a standard Insight seat and develop a scissor-style vertical movement mechanism with adjustable pneumatic "shocks" mounted horizontally (adjustable to individual weight/preference). Cushy bump-stops would be a "must" on both limits. A big problem: DOT compliance and safety. If it's custom, accident/impact dyanamics would have to be examined and if you could keep it a secret if inpections are required.

RH77

pic below is better . image here deleted.

The basic problem here, in light of fuel cost, environmental concerns, and mental health, is that no one should consider having to drive that far top get to work. I live 2 miles from work, and that was an intentional decision made years ago when we bought the house, when we moved so I take my current job. A 250 mile commute is obscene.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I am putting the integra up for sale.

I looked at the www.fitfreak.net/ forum, and some are getting mileage that didn't do as well as factory numbers.

rh77 -

Wow. I had heard things like this about the Insight. Great for commuting as long as your not the one commuting. Kidneys or MPG? ..... I thought about it for awhile, and ..... kidneys (but just barely, ;) ). The Insight needs smooth roads to be practical. What a mess. Might as well get a Hog.

Sounds like the Honda VX is still the commuter winner.

CarloSW2

Nothing new really, Volvo started this over 40 years ago in the Amazon/122..... I have yet to find a Toyota car that had BAD seats in the last 25 years. My last Camry was miles above my Merc W123 in the seat department.