Category Archives: Honda – DO NOT USE

The cars women love

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Posted in General Auto News, Honda - DO NOT USE, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen - DO NOT USE

Although making up over 50 percent of the US population, women only account for 36% of new car sales. A recent study by TrueCar.com revealed what women are looking for when they buy a car.

The answer appears to be a mix of style, fuel efficiency, affordability and space, according to the Los Angeles Times. Although the top seller for women was the Volkswagen Beetle, small crossovers led the way in the rest of the study – the Nissan Rogue, Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, for example.

Stereotypically, cars are still thought of as a “male” interest, and in many ways they are, especially among exotic car buyers. The study put most pickup truck purchasers at over 80 percent male, and brands like Ferrari and Lamborghini rise to around 95 percent male, with Bugatti actually at 100 percent.

The study looked at the registrations of over 13 million new US vehicles to determine the statistics. Other popular models among women included the Nissan Sentra and Volvo S40. The top female brand was Kia with 45.8 percent, followed closely by Suzuki and Mini, clearly illustrating the desire for affordable vehicles.

Women who want to save on their vehicle purchase should look on the used market. Late-mode used Nissan models like the Rogue, for example, can be found at a steep discount off the manufacturer’s sticker price.

Goodwood Festival of Speed will showcase new models

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Posted in General Auto News, Honda - DO NOT USE, Mercedes-Benz

Auto shows are an important event for car enthusiasts. Not only are they a collection of beautiful cars, but they’re also an opportunity to glimpse the new models set to debut.

Across the pond, the hallmark auto show in the UK was the British International Motor Show. Unfortunately, the event was cancelled this year due to the economic downturn, preventing many new models from debuting. According to Edmunds Inside Line, organizers of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, a racing event, have announced plans to add an auto show component in response to the absence, and several new models will be on hand, including the Honda CR-Z and Civic Type R Mugen and the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.

The race is known for the “Goodwood Highclimb,” a section of hill on the track that tests the power of the vehicle in a different way than flat tracks do. Attendees will be able to test the new models on the climb.

Whenever new models debut, automakers like Honda and Mercedes typically sell off their older models at a reduced price. By waiting for these cars to hit used car dealers, drivers can save a bundle.

New York used Honda drivers should watch out for “jigglers”

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Posted in General Auto News, Honda - DO NOT USE

A recent New York police department memo revealed that used Hondas were the most frequent targets of theft by car thieves on the streets of the city.

Thieves using “jigglers,” chunks of metal designed to mimic car keys, reportedly swiped 68 Accords and 65 Civics in the month of May, according to the Wall Street Journal. The totals made used Hondas the top two models stolen in the New York area.

The police report stated that the jigglers commonly work with older models of the cars. Of course, part of the reason that so many Hondas were stolen is that Accords and Civics are popular vehicles. Other frequent targets were Nissan Maximas and Altimas and Toyota Camrys.

Dodge Caravans were also stolen 49 times. Investigators suspect that the Caravan’s roomy interior allowed thieves to remove the back seat and use the car to steal motorcycles off the street.

New York drivers in the market for a used vehicle should do some research before they buy. Used Hondas and Toyotas are historically reliable cars, which is part of the reason they are so popular. A quick Internet search will offer drivers tips on how to make their car jiggler-proof.

Edmunds lists “true cost to own”

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Posted in Auto Loans & Financing News, Honda - DO NOT USE, How To, Toyota

Those who are shopping for a used car might be wary of any repair costs that can be associated with vehicles that have a high mileage. To help shoppers, the auto website Edmunds has awarded the top cars in each class and price range that boast the cheapest “true cost to own.”

Edmunds compiles “true cost to own” data based on an algorithm that considers a variety of factors, such as predicted repair costs. It broke down the results according to the size and model of the vehicle as well as the price.

Honda and Toyota were the big winners, with five and four cars in the lineup, respectively. Honda won awards for the Fit, Accord, CR-V, Ridgeline and Inisight. Toyota won for the Tacoma, Sienna, and Yaris coupe and sedan. The two brands also had luxury cars make the list, with Honda’s Acura MDX and Toyota’s Lexus IS 250.

That’s good news for anybody considering a used Honda or Toyota, as they will be happy to know that their used car purchase likely will not cost them much money down the road.

Other winners included the BMW 1 Series, Ford Shelby GT500, and Nissan Cube.

Pickup sales pick up

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Posted in Ford, General Auto News, Honda - DO NOT USE, Toyota

Dealers across the country are reporting an increase in pickup sales, a sign that the economy is recovering because Americans aren’t as worried about gas prices and small business are buying the vehicles to transport goods.

Sales of pickup trucks hit 151,000 last month, a whopping 19 percent increase over last year, according to the Associated Press. Many of those sales were full-size models, popular vehicles among contractors and builders.

John Blevins of Kentucky recently bought a Ford F-150 XL for his heating and air company. It was a purchase he had been putting off for awhile.

“In the last two to three years, we downsized quite a bit,” he told the news source. “We were holding off on buying anything new because we didn’t know what was going to happen.”

Pickups are useful vehicles for their safety, towing capacity, and large storage space. Small business owners who are interested in purchasing a pickup for their company would do well to look at used models such as the Ford F-150, Honda Ridgeline, and Toyota Tundra. Buying used can save the company money while also providing it with a reliable vehicle.

More cars get “Top Safety Pick”

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Posted in Audi, Ford, General Auto News, Honda - DO NOT USE, Hyundai, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has recently unveiled nine more cars for its prestigious “Top Safety Pick” award. The IIHS tests every new model in several tests to earn the award, and the car must perform well in each test in order to qualify.

This year’s awards added a new test for roof strength, which is important in rollover situations, according to the Chicago Tribune. In addition, the cars must pass 40-mph frontal crash tests, side crash tests, and rear crash/whiplash tests, as well as be equipped with an electronic stability control system.

Ford picked up awards for its Ford Fusion and Flex, as well as its luxury Lincoln MKZ and MKT. The Audi A4 and Hyundai Tucson were also recent winners.

The tests take some time, so the winners are released in waves. Previous 2010 model award-winners include the Honda Civic and Element, Mercedes E and C Class and Toyota Corolla and Avalon.

The IIHS has done the tests since 2006 and keeps archives of all the winners by model year on their website. Drivers searching for a used car can use this as a resource to ensure that their next purchase is of the highest quality.

Searching for efficiency with the midsize crossover

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Posted in Chevrolet, Ford, Honda - DO NOT USE, Nissan, Toyota

SUVs are a handy way to transport cars full of kids or luggage quickly and easily. For those who don’t need off-roading capabilities, a midsize crossover is the perfect fit.

When purchasing an SUV, one important consideration is fuel economy. SUVs have a reputation for being gas guzzlers, but new technology and the smaller size of crossovers has improved efficiency, according to Edmunds.

In this class, the Ford Edge and Honda Crosstour lead the way with 18 city/27 highway miles per gallon. City drivers may consider the Toyota Venza, which trades one mpg on the highway (26) for one in the city (19). The Nissan Murano gets 18 in the city with 23 on the highway, while the Chevy Equinox posts 17/25, although they are a bit roomier than the others. All of the cars feature 6-cylinder engines.

Car buyers should balance their desire for efficiency with their need for space and features. The Ford Edge has a slight, well, edge, over the competition, as it has just undergone a complete redesign for 2011, according to the Detroit Free Press.

With the new Ford Edges being introduced, drivers can search the used car market for any 2010 Edges that dealers were unable to sell. They can also find deals on all the cars mentioned above.

Accord may overtake Camry as America’s favorite car

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Honda - DO NOT USE, Toyota

The title for best-selling car in the country is hotly contested in the auto industry, but the last few years have been dominated by the Toyota Camry.

However, according to recent May sales figures, Toyota’s fellow Japanese auto giant Honda is gaining ground in the rivalry. Honda sold 124,967 Accords in May, falling just shy of Camry’s 125,804, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Toyota has faced criticism amid a wave of recalls because of unintended acceleration, and recent Toyota Camrys were included in the recall. This damage to the company’s safety-first reputation may be leading some to choose Honda, although Toyota is offering better financing packages in an attempt to woo customers back.

Despite the rivalry, some say that the two Japanese companies respect each other greatly and adhere to an honor code, according to the news source. Honda could introduce special offers on Accord to surpass Camry, but it would be seen as unfairly attacking the competition in a time of trouble.

The last time Accord won the battle was in 2001, when it sold 414,000 cars. With the influx of brands and models, its unlikely a car will ever post sales figures like that again. Many of these cars are still on the road, and savvy consumers can get deals by buying a used Honda.

Honda and Ford move to top of auto market in U.S.

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Posted in Ford, Honda - DO NOT USE

Once the premier automaker in the U.S. market, Toyota has recently dropped two spots and made room for Honda and Ford in the top two positions.

According to an April survey by the nonprofit publication Consumer Reports, 57 percent of current Toyota owners would “most likely” purchase a new Toyota vehicle, says Reuters. This figure is down dramatically from December, when 70 percent said they would buy another vehicle from the Japanese automaker.

More than half respondents said that the reputation of a brand was the most compelling factor in their choice of a new car, a factor which could have contributed to the negative approval rating because of Toyota’s recent negative publicity due to recall issues.

Though the brand’s reputation has suffered a blow, the sales of used Toyotas may not be as drastically affected.

In comparison to the opinions of Toyota owners, 68 percent of Honda owners and 61 percent of Ford owners said they would return to their brand.

As a result of dropping two spots in Consumer Reports’ ranking, Toyota may continue to extend sales incentives aimed at attracting more drivers in the U.S.

Honda announces free repair of power steering hose for Acura TSX

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Honda - DO NOT USE

Owners of Honda Acura TSX can go to their dealers starting in late May to replace their car’s power steering hose, which has been the subject of a recent recall by the Japanese automaker.

“The recall is being conducted due to the potential for premature deterioration of the exterior surface of the hose as a result of prolonged exposure to high under-hood temperatures,” Honda said in a statement.

The announcement comes a day after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration pointed out that high temperatures under the hood can cause Acura’s power steering hose to crack and leak power steering oil.

In response, Honda is recalling approximately 167,000 Acura TSX models with the 2.4L inline 4-cylinder engine released between 2004 and 2008 in the U.S. The free repair involves installing a new power steering hose, O-ring gasket and fluid, Honda added.

Honda spokesman Chris Naughton said the carmaker had received one report of a minor fire connected to the power steering hose, but there have been no reports of accidents or injuries, the Associated Press reported.

This is the second recall announced by Acura in April. Earlier, it announced the recall of 1,850 2010 ZDX crossovers because of a dashboard material that was cut wrong, which can cause the passenger-side airbag to deploy improperly.