Safest Cars for Teen Drivers

By my 10 year high school reunion, a dear friend had passed away from muscular dystrophy.  Wanting to honor him and others we had lost, a former classmate of mine and I reached out to find the names of those lost from our graduating class.  Much to my surprise, we had lost another classmate only 4 months after graduation.  He was killed in a single car accident as he drove north one day toward Salt Lake City.

This story is far too common.  Research conducted by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) found that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers.  The good news is, that the IIHS research suggests that the type of vehicle driven has a big effect on the degree of risk.  So the IIHS compiled a list to help guide parents in making safer choices.

2007 Honda Element

Honda pre-owned vehicles earning this first recognition from IIHS as among the best, safer choices for teen drivers under $20,000 include the Honda Accord Sedan (2012 and later), Accord Coupe (2013-14), CR-V (2012 and later), Element (2007 and later) and Honda Odyssey (2011 and later). But not everyone can drop $20, 000 for a teenager's care.  So, additionally, the Honda Pilot (2006 and later) and the Honda Odyssey (2005-10) were included on the list of good choices for teen drivers under $10,000.

2005 Honda Odyssey

According to IIHS automotive vehicle registration statistics, Honda is the most durable, longest lasting brand in its class. 

Honda has a long history of leadership in the development and application of advanced technologies and designs meant to enhance the safety of all road users, including automobile occupants, motorcycle riders, and pedestrians. Honda operates two of the world's most sophisticated crash test facilities, one in the U.S. and one in Japan, and is responsible for numerous pioneering efforts in the areas of crashworthiness, airbag technology, collision compatibility and pedestrian safety. American Honda leads the industry for 2014 in third party crash test ratings with more models rated TOP SAFETY PICK and TOP SAFETY PICK+ by the IIHS than any other manufacturer.

For added piece of mind, customers who choose a Certified Pre-Owned Honda from an authorized Honda dealership (like Ken Garff Honda of Orem), an extensive limited warranty is included with each sale. 

As my oldest daughter turns 16 this year, I'll have the piece of mind knowing that she'll be driving a Honda, one of the safest vehicles on the road. 

Introducing the 2016 Honda Pilot

Here at Ken Garff Honda of Orem, we are beyond thrilled to introduce the first of our 2016 line-up, featuring the gorgeous, redesigned Honda Pilot. Just watch... and try not to drool.

The all-new 2016 Honda Pilot delivers more family-friendly utility, more advanced technology and more premium attributes (can anyone say 5 USB ports!) than ever before, all while boasting class-leading safety features.

We will let you know THE MOMENT we get the 2016 Honda Pilot on our lot. We expect we'll get them in during the summer.

Test Driving the 2015 Honda Fit

I've be dying to test drive the 2015 Honda Fit.  I finally got a turn and the results are that I'm impressed.

When I first pulled out of the lot, I was impressed with the responsive steering and the zip when you accelerate.  It's sporty-ness really reminded me of driving the beloved Honda Civic.  The Fit is definitely an entry level car, so while it doesn't have the fancier finishes, I was still blown away by what I did find: Honda tech.  It's completely rippling with the very latest Honda technology which includes the back-up camera, Lane Watch, blue-tooth radio, navigation and more.

And, of course, I had to see what would fit in a Fit.  (Otherwise, why test-drive, right?)

You can fit a lot in a Fit, in fact, you can fit enough to send two junior high age boys on an overnight campout.

And you might just have all of the scout leaders and other dads oo-ing and ah-ing over your ride.  In part, because they'd really like to have your gas milage.

Honda Odyssey One of the Safest Cars on the Road

The other day, I stumbled on an article from the Associated Press that said,  "The chances of a driver dying in a crash in a late-model car or light truck fell by more than a third over three years, and nine car models had zero deaths per million vehicles registered in the U.S. according to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety."

In the study, they examined fatalities involving 2011 model year vehicles and looked at how many driver fatalities occurred in a particular model over the course of a year of operation.

One of those nine, zero deaths per million vehicles?  The Honda Odyssey.

For Honda, long lauded for it's impressive safety rating, this is yet another positive note.  But it's important to understand that while safety ratings have been improving across the board over the last 8 years, "the gap between safest and riskiest models remains wide."

Your best bet in buying a safe car?  Go a little bigger.  Mid-size cars, SUVs, and minivans ranked higher than smaller, low-priced vehicle.

To read the whole article, including which models had the highest death rates, go here.

Don't Get Jammed

If you're like me, gridlock is on your top 5 (or 10, if you're pretty zen) list of pet peeves. No one likes wasted minutes sitting in avoidable traffic.  You can listen to your favorite AM radio station (queue the VERY distinct memories of every trip I've ever taken with my dad) OR you could let your car do the navigating. 

That's right! Among Honda's slew of helpful features in 2015 is a little nugget called Honda FM Traffic.  

It's easy to use:

Icons indicate the location of incidents and traffic-flow conditions

Interstates and expressways are color-coded to indicate traffic-flow levels

The information is gathered by NAVTEQ™ from multiple sources, including highway patrol incident reports and transportation departments

The information is refreshed approximately every 90 seconds (that's way faster than "on the 9s") 

Honda engineers argue that information is your best weapon against getting caught in gridlock, and the Honda FM Traffic feature helps you steer clear of slowdowns by keeping you informed of traffic speeds and traffic incidents in your path.  It offers the convenience of traffic information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, when you need it. In contrast, radio traffic reports are typically available only during rush hours. Secondly, radio traffic reports are not customized to your particular route—they may provide travel times between key hot-spots, but you’re left calculating what that means for your travel. In contrast, Honda FM Traffic information is available for a wide network of roads in all covered markets and may be used by your compatible device to determine your personalized traffic-optimized route, and arrival time.  Best of all, the traffic information is delivered through FM radio frequencies, so the service is 100-percent free, with zero subscription fees. (Three cheers for FREE!) 

So you're welcome, Honda drivers.  Rush hour just got a lot easier.  

Chain Up!

In this snow-pocalypse of a winter, you may be wondering exactly how to stay smart and safe out on the roads. (Sugar and I usually choose to abstain from sliding around on the ice unless we absolutely HAVE TO.)  

Of course, snow tires are always a good idea... but what if you're planning on venturing into the mountains for a little cold weather fun?  Have you considered tire chains but thought they were over-kill?  

If you're braver than I am and planning on heavy winter driving, our friends at the Department of Motor Vehicles have a few suggestions for you for chaining up this season:   

1.   The same way it is a good idea to test the braking and steering on a snowy or slippery road, you should test putting on the tire chains before you reach the mountain roads where they may be required.

2. Pick an open stretch of street, or a vacant parking lot. Take the chains out of their packaging or case, and untangle all of the links so they are hanging free in a web shape. Place the two separated chains by the tires to which you will apply them. For a front-wheel-drive vehicle, the chains should go on the front tires. For rear-wheel-drive vehicles, the chains should be applied to the rear wheels. Some trucks and extreme conditions may call for tire chains on all wheels, which is fine, but make sure you put the chains on the right tires when you only have two.

3. With the car parked, parking brake engaged, and car in gear, place the chain onto the tire, holding it from the top and ensuring that it is evenly placed over the wheel. Obviously, the bottom part of the chain cannot cover that portion of tire that is touching the road. Just fit the rest of the chain onto the wheel as best you can.

It should be noted that some chains have rings that go on the inside of the wheel, and help guide the chains into place. For these ring-type chains, be sure the open connection is on the bottom of the wheel. Once you place the chains on and the ring is going around the inside of the wheel, you can connect the bottom of the ring. This usually requires you to get right down under the car by the tire. You may need to change position to get the best angle on the connection.

4. Once the chain is evenly and securely on the three-quarters of the wheel that is not touching the road, repeat the process on the other side. When both chains are on, check to make sure the front of the car is clear, and drive forward a few feet. You only need to drive far enough to expose the rest of the wheels that were previously touching the ground. Put the car in gear or in park, engage the parking brake, and get out of the vehicle again. Now you can secure the chains squarely on the remaining wheel surfaces.

5. Next, tighten the chains by using a closer link on the chains. Now you are ready to drive, but only for a little bit. After you have driven 50 to 100 feet, you must get out and re-tighten the chains, which will likely have some slack from evening out across the tires.

Don't be alarmed by the bumpy ride. After all, you are driving with chains on your tires. For your practice run with the tire chains, you will likely be on a dry road, so limit the driving, but this is a good chance to get to know how they feel and how the car rides with the chains on.

Of course, we won't leave you stuck with chains on all the time, so let's review how to remove them: 

Taking the chains off is much easier, once you have disconnected the inside rings or chains. This once again requires you to get right down to the lower inside of the wheel. (You may want to invest in some snow pants for all this snowy work!) However, once the inside ring or chain is disconnected, you can't simply pull the chains off! The chains will not disconnect on the bottom, where the tire is resting on the ground.

Simply lay the chains to the side of the tires as flat as possible, making sure that they are not still around the wheel or axle of the vehicle. Then you will drive forward a few feet, enough to get the car's tires clear from the chains. When putting the chains back in a bag or packaging, try to make sure they are not tangled together, and make sure they are dry.

You're ready to tackle the snow! And whether you chain up or stay in town, remember to drive safely this season! 

Don't Mind Us...

...we're just winning more awards!

The Honda CR-V has won Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year for 2015.

The CR-V claims the title with a long list of vehicle enhancements for 2015, including its improved fuel economy and uncompromising driving dynamics, thanks to the inclusion of Honda's Earth Dreams Technology™ power train, the launch of an all-new Touring trim, the debut of Honda Sensing™ safety and driver assistive technologies, and the CR-V's excellent value for money paradigm.

Motor Trend editor-in-chief Ed Loh, said, "The 2015 Honda CR-V impressed our judges with its extensive list of delightful design and thoughtful engineering improvements. Our editors were especially impressed by Honda's responsive and efficient continuously-variable transmission and sophisticated safety systems – particularly the smart and seamlessly integrated Lane Keeping Assist system. Efficient, practical, and a joy to drive; the 2015 Honda CR-V does virtually everything well."

"It is an honor to receive such a prestigious award from the expert staff at Motor Trend," said Jeff Conrad, SVP & General Manager of Honda Division, American Honda Motor Co, Inc. "Our engineers, planners, and dealers work hard to deliver class leading products to our customers, and it's extremely rewarding to be recognized for that hard work. This award from Motor Trend reaffirms for us that we're meeting that goal."

Priced from $23,320, the CR-V is offered with:

• Honda Earth Dreams Technology™ 
• 185-horsepower, 2.4-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine
• CVT (continuously variable transmission)
• either front- or all-wheel drive
• EPA-estimated 27 mpg city/34 mpg highway/ 29 mpg combined for front-wheel-drive models, and 26/33/28-mpg for all-wheel drive (best-in-class fuel economy!)

The 2015 CR-V is expected to receive a Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and its official safety ratings will be released later this year. The 2015 CR-V is manufactured exclusively for the North American market at Honda plants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico using domestic and globally sourced parts.

The recognition from Motor Trend validates the sales success of the Honda CR-V, which sold more than 300,000 units last year, and is on track to do the same in 2014. CR-V's strong sales performance has been a consistent triumph for the Honda brand since the vehicle's introduction, leading CR-V to become the best-selling SUV in the industry over the past decade.

Okay, now that we're done apple-polishing, go take your own test drive of the CR-V at Ken Garff Honda of Orem.  We'll even let you start with a virtual test drive here.