For Honda Civic Lovers

My 9-year-old broke her leg.  After more than 6 weeks immobilized in a long-leg cast, she was given a prescription to physical therapy to increase her range of motion in her knee and ankle.  As we stopped by the physical therapists office earlier this month, I tossed my car keys onto my daughters assigned bench and headed with her to the stationary bike to warm up.

After her warm-up, one of the physical therapist's assistants said, "It looks like you drive a Honda."

"All Honda's all the time," I asserted.  The assistant pulled out his keys to show me that he drives a Honda too.  And then the gushing began.

"I drive a Civic," he began and then launched into his favorite features on his not-particularly-new vehicle.  It made me smile. There are few people who are as dedicated to their cars as Civic lovers. Car and Driver must know this two because they put together a 37 picture montage honoring the Honda Civic.

It's a pretty incredible visual history featuring some amazing and beautiful old photographs.

And some interesting history including the CVCC, Natural Gas Vehicles and more.

It's first Car and Drive 10Best list in 1988.

Right up to today.

Whether you love the Honda Civic coupe, the Civic sedan or the Civic hybrid, you'll find something in the history that you'll love.

2016 Honda HRV Test Drive

As we climbed into the new Honda HRV between errands, my 14-year-old son asserted, "This is my new favorite Honda."

Although he's had his eye on the Civic for years, HRV--Honda's crossover--turned his head. And it's turning other heads, too. Car and Driver noted, "The HR-V mixes angles and curves in an attractive design that lends it a sporty look while hiding its budget-friendly roots."

The HRV has seating for 5 and a dumbfounding 3 different interior configurations.  It has tons of cargo space and that's before you fold down the seats for cargo space that blows out any small SUV or sedan.

I got to drive the high-end model, the EXL Navi.  It had HondaLink, blue tooth connectivity, backup camera (standard on every 2016 Honda), blind spot camera, moon roof and leather interior.  It was fun to drive and very sporty without feeling like I'm sitting on the pavement.

It comes with an automatic transmission, but it also has a "Sport" setting that allows you shift up and down manually with buttons on the steering wheel.

I can't really explain why, but I'm absolutely in love with the rear door handle.  Seriously!  It almost looks like a coup, but with the functionality of a sedan.  There is just something about that I find so attractive!  It's turning my head, too!

10 Cars That Go Over 200,000 Miles | 5 Are Hondas

For its June issue, Consumer Report ran an assessment of vehicles that are most likely to turn over 200,000 miles.  

As the USA Today put it, "With the average amount paid for a new car now firmly above $30,000, it makes sense to hold on to a vehicle as long as possible in order to squeeze every usable mile out of it before it needs to be traded in. But when it come to the long-mileage derby, the car you choose can make a big difference on whether you'll hit the magic 200,000-mile mark."

So which cars will get you to 200,000? Five are Hondas.  Five are Toyotas.  No other cars or brands made the list. 

The most trustworthy Hondas: 

Honda Odyssey

Honda Pilot

Honda Accord sedan

Honda CRV

and, of course, the Honda Civic. 

Read the rest of USA Today's article here.

Honda Stages | Blogger Contest Runner Up

By, Lee Gientke

Looking back over the years, there has been a Honda at every major stage in my life. You might say the Hondas I’ve owned were rites of passage.

The very first car I bought for myself was a 2000 charcoal gray Honda Civic. I bought this car in 2003 as the second owner shortly after I graduated from college, where I didn’t have a car. Buying this car was a marker of adulthood for me. I found the car in the newspaper listed for $5500 – a huge sum of money for me at the time. I can remember thinking how much I loved the styling and how quick the car felt even though it had a whopping 127 horsepower. I was also attracted to the things most people love about Honda’s: the reliability and fuel economy. As a recent college graduate I didn’t have much money to dump into a car so my maintenance regimen consisted of changing the oil and filling the gas tank. Fortunately, my Civic didn’t require much more than that.

My Civic lasted until 2006 when I got what I would call my first real serious job for a startup in Los Angeles. If you’ve ever lived in Southern California, you know that your car is a marker of who you are. While my Civic was great, it was time to upgrade the wheels. Here I was, finally making good money, living the single life in Los Angeles and while my Civic was awesome, it was time to get something more fun. The more fun car for me was a 2002 Honda S2000.

With a drop top, 240 horsepower and a redline of 8900 RPM, my S2000 was a blast. I loved dropping the top and driving along the California coast or later, up Provo Canyon on a spring morning. I loved how it felt like driving a go-cart and how it was quick around the corners. It was also amazing how smooth and stable it was going 80 miles an hour (or more!) as it was going 20. It was a really confidence inspiring and it just wanted to go fast. It was also the car I received my first speeding ticket in and it was the car that moved me from Los Angeles to Utah.

Unfortunately, getting married a couple months ago meant that my s2000 had to go, I know that there’s another Honda in my future. I would love to say my next Honda would be another screamer like a Civic Si or a S2000 (if Honda brought it back) but my wife is thinking more along the lines of a Pilot or Odyssey so we can transport more than just us. 

My Honda Love Story | Blogger Contest 2nd Runner Up

My Honda Love Story begins in 1995. I was only 8 at the time but I remember as my parents were visiting different car dealerships, I had fallen in love with this beautiful new green Honda Civic. It was so much better than our 10-year old other car (not a Honda) and it smelled like heaven. My father worked with the car salesman until he got a great price for the car and we took it home.

Not the original car, but my neighbor happens to own one just like by old one except in blue! 

I remember going out to the garage and just admiring it. I've never been a lover of cars, but this thing was beautiful! And my mother even mentioned that I may get to drive it when I turned 16 which, to an 8-year old, was one of the most amazing things she could have ever told me!

As silly as it may sound, I grew up with this car. It took me to piano lessons, swim lessons, softball practices, and tennis practices. The Civic took me to school and picked me up from school. It took me to museums and the zoo. I even spent many hours sprawled out on its back seat on long car rides for vacations (back in the day, apparently it wasn't as big of a deal to have an 8-year old child laying down on the backseat ... or maybe it was and I was totally breaking the law). The comfortable backseat and door kept me propped up for rides to Grandma's house and gave me a nice seat to immerse myself in books or a nap.

Finally, I turned 15 and a half and my parents decided that I should learn to drive on the Honda Civic. I was so excited to drive this car that I had grown so close to for the past 7 years. And over the next few months, I cried a lot in that car. It was a stick shift so not only did I need to know how to drive, watch everything around me, and not hit anything, I also had to remember when to shift gears. There really had been nothing tougher in my life than learning how to not stall the car every time I started moving and how to not roll back a few yards after being stopped on hills.

This little Honda Civic gave me my freedom (after I learned to drive it, of course). I passed my driver's test with flying colors and there was no looking back from there. My friends and I had some fun adventures in that car and it even took me on one of my first dates as a teenager. When I think of my childhood, I think of this car because it was there for all of my big moments up until I was 18. It heard me laugh, cry, yell, and even sing at the top of my lungs. There really was not a better car than my beautiful, enduring, and reliable Honda Civic.

Again, not the original Civic I fell in love with, but exactly like it except in blue! 

Kim Corrigan grew up in Sandy, moved to Utah Valley for college, and has remained there ever since. She enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She and her family love to do anything but stay home. Picnics, bike rides, special events, and vacations are at the top of their "Most Favorite Things to Do" list. Kim started Utah Valley Moms and socializes on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, and Instagram.

Learning to Drive the Bitty, Bad, Honda | Blogger Contest 1st Runner Up

Photo Credit: Wikipedia.com

It was a sunny afternoon in late June. I was around 16 and scared to drive. I didn't pass my drivers exam in high school and put off trying again for years. But my determined older brother took me to a local grocery store and decided he was going to teach me to drive whether I liked it or not. At the time he drove an old Honda Civic with over 130,000 miles and a stick shift (eeek!). I was beyond terrified to drive it to say the least.

After buying a few items we headed back out to the car of all cars. Instead of hopping into the driver seat, my brother got into the passenger seat. And looked at me expectantly. I almost immediately broke into tears. I was so scared to get into that Honda and test my skills (or lack thereof). After what felt like a billion years I was coerced into the driver seat. I can still remember the smell of the leather steering wheel as I gripped it with deathlike force.

I took a deep breath, put one foot on the brake and one foot on the clutch while easing that bitty, bad Honda Civic into first gear. I eased my foot off the clutch as I pushed down on the gas and I was off! I stopped for a red light and all bets were off. As the light turned green I slowly moved into the intersection. The Honda stalled. I'm pretty sure I said a few choice words, restarted the trusty Honda and put both feet on the correct pedals. Cars honked and went around me, and a few people even swore at me as they passed by.

I put the Civic in first gear again, and eased my foot off the clutch. And stalled the car again! Then the green light turned yellow and then back to red. All the while I was in the middle of the intersection listening to my brother tell me what to do and trying my hardest not to completely lose it. I slowly lurched a few feet forward during the next two lights. That's right; I was in the middle of the intersection for three entire lights!

Finally, I was able to squeak out of the intersection and go to the side of the road. After I caught my breath, I got out of the car and quickly switched places with my brother. I was DONE driving for the day. Mostly I was just thankful that I wasn't dead and that my brothers sacred Honda Civic was still intact.

The next time I got behind the wheel of that car was a much better memory. I had no issues at all. For whatever reason, the horror of that first lurching drive had given me the battle scars I needed to be able to handle a stick shift for life. And it was all because of a bitty, bad Honda Civic.

*****

Hi! I'm Jacki and I blog at www.mamasonadime.com. I am a mom to three little munchkins and love being involved in my community. I also love all things frugal, but I'm not willing to sacrifice quality in the process. Which means I'm all about getting more for less!

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https://twitter.com/MamasonaDime

Test Driving the Sporty 2013 Civic

In the spring of 2011 the newly redesigned 2012 Civic was unveiled--and universally panned.  Reviewers complained about the interior, the steering and the look.  But the Civic isn't just any car--it's Honda's number one seller.  So only a year into the redesign, Honda has set a new standard and dramatically "refreshed" its top seller.

Introducing the 2013 Civic just 19 months after its redesign, Honda has recreated the Civic adding impressive new features and a sleek new look.  If I had to sum up the 2013 Honda Civic in a word it would be--sporty.

Rather than feeling like I'm climbing to a run-of-the-mill compact car, I felt like I was climbing into a sports car--and I was driving the EX not the designed-sporty Si.  The gleam of the chrome on the exterior, the beautiful stitching on the interior and the perfectly responsive steering make this "refreshed" vehicle refreshing to drive.

Honda added a back-up camera standard on all Civics, as well as SMS text message (where the car reads your message to you), Pandora internet radio and Bluetooth streaming audio.  Not only is the car super quiet (another "refreshed" feature), but it is so darn fun to drive!

I drive an Odyssey.  I love that Honda's minivan is incredibly responsive and turns in mid-size car amount of space. But even that comparable tight turning, did nothing to prepare me for the responsiveness of the Civic.  Not only does it turn in a seemingly bicycle size circle, but there's just something perfect about the steering.

The steering isn't so responsive that it's jerky, but it's also not in any way stiff or difficult.  It's hard to describe, just know--it is amazing.  The thing just begs to be taken on a long drive up a canyon where you can just turn and turn and feel in love.

I also love the Eco button.  In this car, you have cool 3D-ish floating blue bars that frame the speedometer.  When you're driving in the most eco-friendly, gas-milage-saving way, they turn green.  I was almost ridiculously enamored with trying to keep the lines green.

The new 2013 Honda Civic really leaves me speechless.  I guess the only thing let for you to do is come test drive it yourself. 

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

Want a $3000 Fuel Card?

Honda and Clean Energy are teaming up to hand out $3000 fuel cards to all new Civic Natural Gas customers.   

After doing a few quick calculations, I realized that it would take an eon, at current natural gas prices, to use the entire three grand.  Honda said, "With a combined EPA fuel economy rating of 31 mpg and a fuel cost savings of up to 40 percent compared to a typical gasoline-powered contact cat, the Civic Natural Gas Vehicle can significantly reduce the pain at the pump."  And that's only once you start to pay for it!

Filling up with natural gas is very similar what you normally do at the gas pump.  It only takes a few minutes to fill and you're usually able to travel about 200 miles between filling up.  (I know on my gas-run Odyssey, I can usually go about 230 miles before filling up, so it's likely quite comparable to what you're currently doing.)

In addition to the personal benefits of free then lower fuel costs, it's also great for the environment.  The 2012 Natural Gas Civic was named the "2012 Green Car of the Year" by Green Car Journal and one of the "greenest vehicles of 2012" by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.  

"It you're looking to save money at the pump . . . and reduce your environmental impact, the 2012 Civic Natural Gas Vehicle is a great choice," noted Steve Center, vice president of the American Honda Environmental Business Development Office.

"Drivers have increasingly seen a greater percentage of their dollars going down their car's gasoline tanks," said Peter Grace, senior vice president of Clean Energy for sales.  "For the average driver, the $3000 Clean Energy fuel card provided by Honda will translate into two to three years of not paying for fuel."

I don't know how that translates for you, but not having to pay for gas would save me upwards of $80 a month.  I can think of a lot of things I can do with $80 a month for the next three years!  

To learn more about the CNG fuel card promotion check out: www.CGNfuelcard.honda.com.  Want to more about CNG filling stations around the country?  http://www.cleanenergyfuels.com

And to check the inventory of the Natural Gas Civics here in Orem click here.