Friday, December 28, 2007

Gas Saving Tips

Drive Sensibly
Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.
Fuel Economy Benefit:
5-33%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings:
$0.16-$1.02/gallon

Observe the Speed Limit
While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph.
As a rule of thumb, you can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas.
Observing the speed limit is also safer.
Fuel Economy Benefit:
7-23%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings:
$0.22-$0.71/gallon

Remove Excess Weight
Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2%. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.
Fuel Economy Benefit:
1-2%/100 lbs
Equivalent Gasoline Savings:
$0.03-$0.06/gallon

Avoid Excessive Idling
Idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than do cars with smaller engines.

Use Cruise Control
Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.

Use Overdrive Gears
When you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine wear.

Choose a Fuel Efficient Vehicle
Honda is the most fuel efficient automobile company in the US. Come by Honda Cars of Rock Hill and see our 2008 line up of fuel efficient, award winning vehicles. We are sure you will find one to fit your lifestyle!

Note: Cost savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $3.10/gallon.

Friday, December 21, 2007

Honda In the Press - Charlotte Honda

Honda Tops Leading Consumer Publication's Reliability Survey.

The Associated Press (AP) has reported that Honda topped the 2008 survey of vehicle reliability conducted by a leading consumer publication. The ratings are based on surveys of approximately one million online and print subscribers to the publication. While Toyota is still among the industry leaders, the AP noted that Toyota's scores have fallen. (Toyota placed third in the ratings behind Honda and Subaru.)

Five Hondas Win Total Value Awards Strategic Vision, a leading consumer research firm, announced its 2007 Total Value Index™ (TVI) results in October, based on the ratings of new vehicle owners. Five Honda models were segment leaders in their categories, including:

Civic and Civic Hybrid (Small Car)
Accord Coupe (Mid-Specialty Car)
Odyssey (Minivan)
Ridgeline (Standard Pickup Truck)


The calculation of TVI incorporates explicit statements that owners make about value (e.g., expected reliability, expected fuel economy, price paid, expected resale value, etc.). TVI also incorporates the importance of the variables that make up the ownership experience. You can learn more about Strategic Vision, Total Value IndexTM and each model's score at Strategic Vision's website, www.strategicvision.com.

USN&WR: Five Hondas Ranked "Best Car for You"
The October 22, 2007 issue of U.S. News & World Report featured a special report, "Finding the Best Car for You." Using a numerical score (1-10) in 23 categories, the editors tallied points based on several factors and input those points into a database. Some of the areas the magazine analyzed included reviews from more than 100 news sources, as well as government data such as crash-test rankings and fuel efficiency. The goal was to take the subjectivity out of the review process. When the scoring was done, Honda vehicles ranked best in four "Affordable Car" segments:

Honda Accord (#1 Affordable Midsize Car)
Honda Civic and Honda Fit (#1 and #2 Affordable Small Cars)
Honda Pilot (#1 Affordable Midsize SUV)
Honda CR-V (#1 Affordable Compact SUV)


ALG: Honda Wins Industry Brand Residual Value Award; Accord and Odyssey Are Tops in Their Segments Automotive Lease Guide (ALG) announced its annual Residual Value Awards in October. The awards include the vehicles in each segment that ALG predicts will retain the highest percentage of their original price after a conventional three-year lease. Honda received the Industry Brand Residual Value Award for the fifth consecutive year. Honda also received individual segment awards for Accord in the midsize car category and Odyssey in the minivan category. This was the seventh consecutive win for Odyssey.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

TPMS-Tire Pressure Monitoring System

All 2008 Honda models have TPMS

Tire pressure should still be checked manually once a month.

  • The Low Pressure Indicator (exclamation point inside a tire) simply means check the air in your tires as soon as possible.

  • The Low Pressure Indicator warning light goes on when a tire is 20% or more below the recommended tire pressure.

  • Recommended tire pressure is listed in the driver’s door jamb. DO NOT use the tire pressures listed on the tire.

  • Tire pressure can decrease due to tire damage, slow leaks, or changes in outside temperature. When the weather changes, tire pressure changes too. For every drop of 10 degrees Fahrenheit in temperature, the tires lose 1 psi (pound per square inch). Tires also normally deflate naturally over time, as much as 1.5 psi per month.

  • When the Low Pressure Indicator illuminates, it means that you should manually check all tire pressures and make sure the tires are inflated to the pressures indicated on the sticker in the door jamb. On some models a road test may be required for the indicator light to go off. There is no need to visit a dealer unless the TPMS light remains on.

  • When the TPMS indicator illuminates, it means that the Tire Pressure Monitoring System has a fault and the system is no longer monitoring the tire pressures. A dealer visit is required. If a dealer visit is not convenient, you should manually check all tire pressures and make arrangements to visit a dealership soon.
Contact Honda Cars of Rock Hill:
686 Galleria Boulevard
Rock Hill, (SC) 29730
http://www.hondacarsrockhill.com/

Honda Odyssey and the Competitors - Honda Cars Rock Hill

In the November 2007 issue, the editors of Car and Driver compare the Honda Odyssey EX-L with the Nissan Quest SL, Toyota Sienna LE, Hyundai Entourage Limited, and Dodge Grand Caravan SXT. When the comparing was done, Odyssey was solidly in First Place! Here is what the editors had to say about Odyssey and each of the competitors:

Fifth Place: 2007 Hyundai Entourage Limited
Pros:Second least expensive model as tested. "On the road, the powertrain impresses." HVAC and audio controls are "a short eye flick off the road." Third-row split seats are folded down and removed easily. Cons:"Outer fantasyland" front styling. "Toe space" in second row is "limited." Seat cushions are "too low to please adults." Ride quality is "unpleasant" on rougher roads. Removing second row seats is a "pig wrestle." "Narrow passage" to get into third-row seats.

Fourth Place: 2007 Nissan Quest SL
Pros:"We like the space-bubble exterior styling." Longest minivan and longest wheelbase. Best 70-0 mph braking distance (186 ft) and skidpad score (0.78 g). Lowest step-in height. Wide passage to the third row seats. Second lowest curb weight. Most second- and third-row interior volume. Tied for most cargo capacity. Cons:Most expensive model as tested. "Steering is a bit vague on-center." "Accelerator response yo-yos when moving away from rest." Slowest 0-60 time (8.8 seconds). Uncomfortable driver's seat. Difficult to remove third-row seats. Least horsepower. Slowest 30-50 mph time (5.0 seconds).

Third Place: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
Pros:"Inside, the Dodge has carved in so many nooks, crannies, cup holders, and juice-box niches that the soccer team will have to find something else to squabble over." "The Stow 'n Go seating … is back and easier than ever to operate." Second most horsepower. Second best 0-60 time (8.0 seconds). Tied for first 30-50 mph time (4.0 seconds). "Very little road noise." "The new 4.0-liter SOHC V-6 is a strong performer…" Chrysler's long experience satisfying minivan customers really shows in the cleverness of the interior features. Wide variety of storage compartments. Cons:"…it's isolated in that indifferent way that keeps the driver from feeling in charge." Longest braking distance 70-0 mph (203 ft). "If we have a reservation about Stow 'n Go, it comes down the rickety feeling of the mechanism." Optional console between front seats is "wobbly." Interior has a "cheap motel look about it … with plastic gestures everywhere…" Cloth upholstery looks "plebeian."

Second Place: 2007 Toyota Sienna LE
Pros:"If choosing a minivan came down to the powertrain, this Toyota would be a slam dunk." Second-row seats rated highest for comfort. Door panels are "scooped out to give exceptionally good elbow space." Least expensive model as tested. Lowest curb weight. Most front row interior volume. Most horsepower. Best 0-60 mph time (7.2 sec). Tied for first 30-50 mph time (4.0 seconds). Tied for best fuel economy (17/24 mpg). Tied for most cargo capacity. Cons:"Less satisfying are the generally aloof responses of the controls." Brakes feel "wooden." "The steering lacks sharpness." Third-row headroom is "scant." "Folding the [third-row seats] drew low marks because of the effort required to unlatch them…" "…Third-row shoulder belts will dig into youngster's necks…"

First Place: 2007 Honda Odyssey EX-L
Pros:
"This Honda has all the competitors covered when it comes to driver confidence. It feels purposeful, motivated, even athletic in ways the others do not." Driving position is "one of the best in the business." "The driver's seat is easily the most comfortable of the group." "The Odyssey is the only eight-passenger hauler of the group…" Comfortable second- and third-row seats. "Excellent foot space under the rows ahead." Tied for best fuel economy (17/24 mpg). Third row "stows easily." Cons:"The suspension motions are stiffer than the others, and the interior is quite loud, with notable wind noise and plenty of roar and thump…" Narrow opening to third-row seats.

Conclusion"Minivans are the sum of lots of little pluses and minuses, but the Odyssey's intuitive, confident stride over the road has once again won us over."