Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Honda Is Tops in Holding Value

2013 Accord


American Honda Motor Company wins ALG's 2013 Residual Value Award for Best Mainstream Brand, besting competitors in long term value.  What that means for you (and me) as Honda owners, is that Honda retains its value even as it ages.  When it's time to trade-in, or sell your car,  you'll get far more for your Honda vehicle, than your friends who own some other make.  (Something I noted in this post on getting the most for your trade-in.)

2013 Odyssey
"Long-term value and reliability are both hallmarks of the Honda brand and we are honored to be recognized by ALG as the industry leader in these key qualities," said Michael Accavitti, vice president of national marketing operations at America Honda.  "The Honda engineering philosophy not only delivers immediate value to our customers, but will pay off in the long run as well."

The Honda brand's award of Best Mainstream Brand, recognizes the entire Honda lineup for exceptional vehicle quality, strong brand desirability, and long-term reliability.  In addition, The 2013 Accord, the Honda Odyssey and the Honda Fit, all received top honors in their individual categories, which were Best Midsize Car, Best Minivan and Best Sub-Compact Car, respectively.

2013 Fit
ALG determines winners through study of the competition in each segment, historical vehicle performance and industry trends.  ALG publishes the Residual Value Guidebook and is a leading provider of insights and consulting services to the automotive industry.

 I have to say that I love it when we win!  It makes me proud to be part of a Honda dealership.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Happy (Hilarious) Honda Days

I'm an advertising junky.  You know the kind, they like the Superbowl commercials better than the actual Superbowl.  So I was eagerly looking forward to the release of the new... drumroll ... 
Happy Honda Days commercials.  And let me tell you, they do not disappoint!  


Each spot opens with someone thanking Honda for giving their friend or relative a great deal on a new car.  The narrator gives a detailed account of why the car is such a great purchase, hilarity ensues.  

Enjoy.  



Steven's Pilot





Lisa's Odyssey





Samantha's Sister's Civic







Dad's Accord

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Honda's Got Your Back(up Camera)

No question, one of my favorite features in the 2013 Odyssey is the backup camera--which is now standard on all Odysseys.

As Cars.com explained, "Previously, a backup camera was only available on the EX-L, Touring and Touring Elite trims.  For 2013, the Pilot, Accord, Crosstour, CR-Z and Ridgeline also get a standard backup camera."

I have probably mentioned that I have five kids.  And my neighbors all have kids.  In fact, if you include mine, there are 18 kids that live on my cul-de-sac, not including friends, grandkids, etc.  Backing up is one of THE most dangerous maneuvers I do with my car each day.

Before backing out, I walk around my car, turn off my radio and the fan (AC/heat), roll down my front windows and back out really, really slowly.  But backing up with a backup camera is so much safer!  You can see where you're going and what's to the sides of you as well.

Despite my copious backing-up safety rituals, I have, on more than one occasion, pulled into the road only to realize that there was a child, just to the side of my driveway that I hadn't seen.  That has freaked me out every time.  (Shivering)

So I really put the 2013 Odyssey's back up camera to the test when I got to take it for a spin.  After pulling in my driveway, I grabbed a little 12 inch bike that we own and stuck it behind the van and put it in reverse.

I could not see the tiny bike from my rear-view mirror or either of my side mirrors.  In my daily ritual, only during the walk-around could I have even seen it.  But look what happens when you turn on the backup camera.
Regular View

Wide View

Top View

These picture were taken in the early afternoon with light filtering through the trees, making it even more difficult to see.  Even without ideal viewing conditions, I could easily see the bike.  Then, I could walk around and remove it before running over it.  (It's possible that I have *uh-hem* run over a few bikes in my day...)

To be candid, the backup camera is NOT designed to replace the walk-around.  You could still have a child or toy under you vehicle or directly behind the wheels.  But the scares I've had over the years with kids who appeared at the last minute would never have happened.  With the backup camera I would always have seen them.  And as a parent, that's incredibly reassuring.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Black Friday Event



This weekend only, get a FREE iPad Mini or 40" LED TV.  

For me, I'd pick the iPad mini.

What would you pick?

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Test Driving the 2013 Odyssey

Here in the heartland of Utah suburbia, minivans are a hot commodity.  Among minivans, the Odyssey is queen.  With Ken Garff Honda of Orem being Utah's #1 Odyssey Dealer, it seemed only appropriate to test drive the latest model.




I got to drive the top-of-the-line Touring Elite.


The first thing I noticed about the 2013 Odyssey, is that it can hold up to 8 passengers instead of the standard 7.  As Paul Stewart, the Odyssey specialist, began to show me, the Odyssey can be reconfigured in 10 different ways.  Seats can be taken in and out, folded over, or used.  Three child carseats can all be comfortably buckled on a single row in the new Odyssey.

The amenities the Odyssey is equipped with are jaw-dropping.  One of my favorites is the FM Traffic which alerts you to traffic incidents on the systems map.  While still parked in the Honda of Orem dealership parking lot, I could see where accidents had happened on I15 and incidents on State Street.

It handles like a car with quick, nimble turning lets you forget that you're in a van at all.  As Honda put it, "The 2013 Odyssey is--for lack of a better term--so un-vanlike."  I love the standard back-up camera, the power sliding doors and, in the EX-L and up, the power tailgate.

See, even 4-year-olds can work the sunshade.  
My four-year-old son's favorite feature was the built-in sunshade. You just pull the shade out from within the car and hook it onto the extended top hooks and--voila--the sun is immediately out of your eyes.  He also tested to make sure that you can still roll down the window when the sunshade is up and, if your arm is small enough, you can even stick your arm out the open window around the shade.

Like the 2013 Accord, the Odyssey has technology coming out it's ears...or, um, side mirrors. (Seriously, the Touring has Memory-Linked side mirrors with reverse gear tilt-down.  To be honest, I have no idea what that means, but I'm sure it is useful.)

If you have a large family riding in an Odyssey and anyone is bored, that is their own fault.  Honda has installed everything possible to make sure that won't happen.  There's the XM Radio, USB audio interface, 15 gig hard drive that you can down load your own CDs, the ultra wide rear entertainment system on which you can be both watching a DVD and simultaneously playing a video game.  It think it's possible that you could drive across the entire United States and never *have* to play I Spy. (Note: playing I Spy is a perfectly good activity, possibly educational and is endorsed by grandmothers everywhere.) 

Recognize that I'm not the only one raving about the 2013 Accord.  The Car Connection review said, "Among the best of the current bunch [of minivans]--and really, the template for why minivans are still relevant and enjoyable--is the 2013 Honda Odyssey.... With the current version, Honda looked directly to today's parents.  With Bluetooth connectivity, up-to-date infotainment and entertainment features, and lots of tech savvy, plus top-notch safety...this Odyssey is neither frumpy nor behind the times."

Monday, November 12, 2012

Don't Get Soaked by Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy blew through last month wreaking a special kind of damage.  As the East coast recovers and we help where we can (donate here or here to get money and resources to victims), it's important to keep an eye on the used car market, especially if you're in the market for a used car.  A recent NBC News report stated that Hurricane Sandy may have totaled as many as a quarter of a million cars.

Photo credit: CNN.com

Flooding a car is much like dropping your cell phone in the bathtub.  It ruins the engine, gauges and especially the electrical components of your car.  It can fill the interior of the car with mildew and mold while simultaneously rusting out the bottom.  Often, however, it takes a few months for the real damage to take effect on the car, giving criminals a window of opportunity in returning scrapped cars to the market. 

So how do flood cars get back in the market?  Unlike a cell phone, it is incredibly difficult to dry out a car after it's been flooded.  So flood cars are automatically totaled by insurance companies.  The car is then taken by the insurance company and sent to an auction where it will be sold for parts or scrap metal.  Unfortunately, there are always a few unscrupulous buyers--owners of chop shops--who are there to buy vehicles at lowest possible prices and return them to the market.

Buy moving the vehicle over a few states, these criminals can "wash" the title eliminating the "totaled" notation from it and presenting to potential buyers a clean-looking title.

If you're in the market for a used car, use these tips to make sure you don't get soaked.

1. Watch for smells.  Flood cars smell molly and old.  Also watch for overly perfumed cars, whose owners may be trying to cover the telltale bad smells.

2. Brand new carpet.  A four-year-old car should have four-year-old carpet.  If the carpet is brand new, it may be a flood car.

3. Check for water signs.  Lines in the trunk or interior of the car or fogging in head or tail lights means that you have a car that's been flooded.  Be wary of dirt or build-up in unusual places.

4. Look for rust.  Check the undercarriage, under the carpet, as well as behind the gas and brake pedals for rust.  A lot of rust on a new-ish used car is a very bad sign.

5. Check the VIN.  At the National Insurance Crime Bureau's website you can check the VIN, at no cost, to see if the car has ever been totaled by an insurance company.

6. Check CarFax. Get a vehicle history report from CarFax.  Ken Garff Honda of Orem provides a free CarFax history on every used car.  You can print it off of the Honda of Orem website or come into the dealership where a salesperson will print one for you and walk you through the vehicle history.

If you are in the market for a used car in the next 3-6 months, it is critically important to go through every step in checking for flood damage before you buy.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Honda Safety Feature Ranked #1


Edmunds Inside Line ranked their favorite new car features introduced on 2013 cars.  Their #1 favorite feature?  Honda new LaneWatch introduced on the 2013 Honda Accord.

Photo credit: Insideline.com
It looks like Edmunds and I agree!

Edmunds is even predicting that United States Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, will include this feature on "his wish list of future mandated safety technologies."

Monday, November 5, 2012

10 Must Have Accessories For Your New Car

There are so many different car accessories that deciding which ones to get can leave you puzzled.  If you want accessories that add value and protect your new vehicle, here are the accessories that you must get.

1. All-Weather Floor Mats. Most new cars come with a carpet floor mat.  The all-weather mats are rubber and help protect your car's flooring by keeping it clean and dry.

2. Door edge guard.  This handy gadget slides on the edge of the door preventing you from both "dinging" other cars and from chipping the paint on your vehicle.

3. Trunk tray.  The rubber trunk tray is to your trunk what all-weather mats are to your floor.  Among other things, it stops a leaky milk jug from stinking up your car.  Pull your trunk tray out, give it a quick rinse and air dry.  Pop it back in your trunk and you're good to go. 

4. Roof rack and cross bars.  For those with long travel plans.  Also goes along with...

5. Roof-top carrier.  Adds around 13 cubic feet of extra storage, depending on the model you get.

6. Window tint is a great investment.  It lowers the temperature inside the car and protects the interior from UV rays and fading.

7. Tow hitch and wiring harness.  This is a perfect addition on Ridgelines, CRVs, Pilots and Odysseys if you have outdoor toys that you need to get from point A to point B.

8. DVD players keep happy passengers and unbothered drivers.  Perfect for anyone who takes long road trips.

9. Fabric guard or leather guard protects your car's interior from stains and spills.  The "guard" products  protect the fabric from absorbing stains, to they are much easier to remove while protecting against both water and oil based stains.  

10. Undercoating.  Sprayed under your car, it makes your undercarriage rust proof.  This is critical for snowy climates, like Utah where salt is used to make roads drivable under slick conditions.  Undercoating also reduces road noise making your commute that much more pleasant.