[Marspilgrim]

Pardon if this has been asked before but I am wondering if driving down the highway, or even to work at 25 MPH, what happens if I fumble my Mountain Dew and it hits the Park, Reverse, etc. button? Other than that I think it's awesome to no longer have a huge gear lever like I'm trying to get a steam locomotive moving. A lot of mainstream reviewers really don't like the buttons and I don't understand why, and I'm a baby boomer. The Insight is on my short list for a spring purchase and the production line should have all the kinks worked out by now.

 

[Verdier]

I've never tried it but I'm positive all it'll do is pop up an error message on your screen or tell you the option is not available at this time. I've made mistakes in the car before and it's quite verbose in telling you what you did wrong and how to do it right. I wasn't a fan of the buttons when I first looked at it, but I got use to them immediately. Don't worry about these kind of things the systems are designed to make it difficult to harm the car like this.

 

[AMCooper63]

I have not been brave enough to try it. Some cars ignore it. Others do exactly what you requested. I also wonder what happens if you attempt to turn the car off while at speed. I've heard that some cars will ignore it, others make you hold it in off position, and just others make you press it three times rapidly. No idea what the Insight does.

 

[hasarad]

I once hit drive while I was still moving backwards out of the driveway. Was very uneventful. Just a popup that I could not go to drive since I was still moving backwards. I'd assume the answer to your question would be similar. The Insight would do what it can to protect itself.

 

[pcsailor]

I wouldn't do it. I hear that's the self-destruction method :smile:

 

[mgldan]

On a maybe related note: I was perusing the press kit last night and was reminded that if you have the electric parking brake on, and you hit the gas pedal while the driver's belt is buckled, the parking brake will be automatically turned off.

So I really doubt that pressing the gear shifter while the car is in an incompatible motion will cause harm.

 

[dj1anddt2]

Pressing park while driving doesn’t do anything.

Pressing the cars push to start button while driving will slow the car to a stop and shut the car off. I learned that when trying to press the hazard button on my old 15 civic which was a round button 2 inches next to the round push to start button - a foolish design flaw. I’m glad the insight has it as a rectangle above the infotainment system lol.

Also one time I pressed the power button when I stopped in my garage before hitting park by accident and it shifted to park and put on the emergency break before shutting off.

 

[andrew28]

I love the look and the design of the Honda Insight electronic gearshift. I think you need to be holding the brake to change to Park, Reverse, Drive so even if you accidentally hit Park while in motion, nothing should happen. I had a Ford Fusion with the knob looking electronic gearshift. I would reverse and want to go to drive but accidentally go to park because I missed my selection by turning it too quick or the wrong direction. I'm pretty sure Honda has done a lot of usability testing on it because it's not unique to the Insight and was introduced to some 2017 Honda/Acura vehicles awhile back. Any issues should had been iron out by now after 2 years.

 

[insightfully]

I found this video on the Honda electronic gear shifter very helpful for its multiple scenarios. (Although I'll need to watch it another 5+ times and take notes to fully digest EVERY option it explores...) The demo is on an Accord, but applies to other models with push-button gear selector.

Note the explanation of "Neutral Override | Shift Lock Release" (see 2:40 to 5:38) in case the car is dead and transmission needs to be put in neutral for towing. This video is the only place I've seen this mentioned; even the Insight Owners Manual seems to miss this information.

 

[insightfully]

I have not been brave enough to try it. Some cars ignore it. Others do exactly what you requested. I also wonder what happens if you attempt to turn the car off while at speed. I've heard that some cars will ignore it, others make you hold it in off position, and just others make you press it three times rapidly. No idea what the Insight does.

I still haven't been brave enough to attempt, but found this video with more good tips. It's training on the 2018 Accord by "HondaPro Jason" but he mentions a few times that some Accord features parallel the Insight.

He confirmed that holding the power button down kills the engine, and pulling and holding the parking brake engages ABS to bring the car to a full stop. Incidental, short activation of either button does nothing.

[see 33:52 - 34:55] youtube.com/watch?v=9flFBu9alRQ