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Archive for the ‘Honda Vehicles’ Category

2013 Honda Civic achieves highest safety ratings among all small cars

Friday, May 17th, 2013

2013 CivicOur favorite small car, the Honda Civic is leading the small car segment in terms of safety ratings. The Civic received the highest possible rating from both the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2013 Honda Civic sedan achieved the top 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from the NHTSA for their New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). The sedan and coupe also earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, including the top GOOD score in their new small overlap frontal collision test, making the Civic the first and only small car to receive this distinction.

“Car shoppers cannot find a small car with higher overall safety ratings than the 2013 Honda Civic,” said Art St. Cyr, vice president of product planning and logistics at American Honda. “Safety ratings leadership across product lines is a fundamental part of not only our strategic business plan, but also out philosophy as a company.”

This recent achievement puts Honda in an incredible place in the automotive marketplace. It is the only auto manufacturer with every single one of its tested model year 2013 vehicles earning a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

Why wheel locks are important: A safety lesson from a dealership in Georgetown TX

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013

Honda-Wheel-Locks-Austin-TXAs you might have heard over the weekend, 192 wheels and tires were stolen from 48 new cars at a Georgetown TX dealer. The theft is valued at a loss of $100,000 for the dealership and police have no information on potential suspects. You can read the news articles here and here.

Why would a group of people (we’re assuming it’s a group of people because the theft was too big for one person to do alone) steal the wheels and tires from 48 new cars? Well, we know there’s a big market for “cheap” wheels and the price of tires has risen dramatically with the increase of petroleum price. But the more important question is HOW did these people achieve this? And, if they were able to do this to 48 cars in a few hours without anyone noticing, how vulnerable am I that this could happen to me?

Although there’s no app for that, there is a solution: wheel locks. Wheel locks protect your wheels and tires from getting stolen. As you know, wheels don’t have alarm systems and they can’t be tracked – once they’re gone, there’s no way of recovering them. Wheel locks prevent this from happening by locking your wheels and tires in place and serving as a security sign (like security system signs on front yards). It also protects you from having to spend $600 on a new set of tires.

At Howdy Honda, we put wheel locks on every vehicle – we want to protect you from having to spend a significant amount of money on new tires and protect ourselves from being in a situation like the dealer in Georgetown. So while wheel locks might seem like added “stuff;” there is a real, useful and smart reason why we do it: safety. It’s much better to spend a little bit extra now, than have to unnecessarily spend 5x, 6x, 7x more on a new set of tires later.

And just like any other Honda accessory, the factory wheel locks are made with a superior quality alloy (which is better than what you’ll find in Pep Boys or any other automotive shop) and they are covered for 3-years/36k miles.

Honda factory wheel locks cost about $60 here at Howdy and you can stop by the dealership to buy them or order Honda parts online.

How to identify break problems on Honda vehicles

Friday, May 10th, 2013

honda-brake-repairBrakes are an incredibly important part of your Honda vehicle. Please make sure yours are working smoothly to ensure the safety of every passenger.

Brake Squeal and Wear Indicator

On Honda cars, all four brakes have audible brake wear indicators. So when your brake pads need replacing, you will hear a distinctive metallic “screeching” sound when you apply the brakes. If you do not have the brake pads replaced, they will begin screeching all the time. Do note that your brakes may sometimes squeak or squeal when you apply them lightly; don’t confuse this with the brake wear indicators. The brakes will make a very audible “screeching” noise.

Low Brake Fluid & Flushing the Brake Fluid

If your brake fluid is low, it may be leaking or brakes could be worn.

Brake fluid is hygroscopic, which means that it absorbs moisture. When that moisture finds its way into the braking system, it can corrode metal and seals. Flushing the system with new fluid removes the condensation before extensive damage occurs.

When you’re flushing the system, always use Honda Heavy Brake Fluid DOT 3. If this specific fluid is unavailable, only use DOT 3 or DOT 4 from a sealed container. However, only use these as a temporary solution. The use of any non-Honda brake fluid can cause corrosion and may decrease the life of your brakes.

Honda Genuine Brake Pads

Honda Genuine Brake Rotors function the best with Honda Genuine Brake Pads. Particularly since Honda brake pads are tested extensively on Honda vehicles in the most extreme situations and environments.

Now, it’s not only for this reason that Genuine Honda Brake Pads effectively help prevent premature disc wear and minimize noise. They’re also precisely engineered with state-of-the-art materials that produce superior performance, proper wear, long life, and are specifically designed to dampen noise and reduce vibrations.

Honda Genuine Brake Rotors

Brake rotors are vital to dissipating the heat that comes from the pads every time you use the brakes. Genuine Honda Brake Rotors are built to take that heat time for lasting performance and reliability. They’re made with the optimum mix of materials and compounds to safely withstand long periods of wear and to help prevent overheating and warping.

If your brakes show any of these signs, please contact our Honda Service Center in Austin by calling 512-443-4300.

2013 CR-Z & Insight a USAA Best Value

Monday, May 6th, 2013
2013-Honda-Insight -Austin-TX

2013 Honda Insight

USAA released its 2013 Best Value vehicles last month, naming the top automobiles that offer affordability, reliability, and safety. The 2013 Honda CR-Z and Honda Insight were both rated by USAA as a Best Value. The former was named in the Best Value List for the Coupe category and the Best Value for Teens. The later was named a Best Value for Teens.

The Best Value List presents vehicles that offer the, you guessed it, best overall value among all the vehicles that USAA evaluates as part of its USAA Preferred system. Their proprietary statistical model uses quantitative data to analyze vehicle’s cost, safety and reliability of over 70 automobiles. USAA Preferred vehicles rank in the top 40% of each vehicle category AND are an IIHS’s Top Safety Pick. The top vehicles for each category are included in the Best Value List.

As for the Top 10 for Teens list, USAA also selects USAA Preferred vehicles, but they have to cost less than $25,500 and rank highest in safety, reliability, and insurance costs – important factors for parents of teen drivers.

“This year we raised the bar on the importance of safety standards. Vehicles must earn a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tp qualify as USAA Preferred,” said Steve Thompson, vice president for USAA Car Buying Service. “A USAA Preferred vehicle is a great value financially, and is among the safest vehicles on the road.”

“Most Trusted Brand” among New-Car Shoppers in the US

Wednesday, April 10th, 2013
KBB Brand Image Awards 2013

KBB Brand Image Awards 2013

New-car shoppers have once again spoken in Kelley Blue Book’s 2013 Brand Image Award study and the verdict is clear. Among all of the auto manufacturers, Honda kicks butt. Period.

For the second time, Honda was named “Most Trusted Brand” and, for the third consecutive year, “Best Value Brand.” However, the awards didn’t stop there. Honda also took home top honors by claiming “Best Overall Non-Luxury Brand,” officially making Honda the brand with most awards in the 2013 study.

The Brand Image Awards are based on new-car shopper’s perception data from KBB’s Brand Watch study. The research study annually looks at more than 12,000 in-market new-vehicle shoppers and offers insights into their perceptions of brands. The “Best Overall Non-Luxury Brand” Award is received by the brand who achieves the highest average score across ratings of all non-luxury models and the weight of importance of each of the factors in the study.

The “Must Trusted Brand” Award, on the other hand, has only been won by Honda since its inception two years ago. That speaks to Honda’s reputation for building solid vehicles that instill confidence and trust among car shoppers.

2013 Honda CR-V and Odyssey “Best Cars for Families”

Thursday, April 4th, 2013

Honda CR-VAustin TX

U.S. News & World Report presented its annual “Best Cars for Families” Awards to recognize vehicles “that offer the best combination of quality, space and family-friendly features.” And two of our favorite vehicles were included in this year’s honors.

The 2013 Honda CR-V was praised because of its “impressive safety and reliable ratings make it a smart choice among affordable compact SUVs.” Also, “the Honda CR-V shines with nimble handling, a spacious interior and a standard rearview camera.” Add to that the standard Bluetooth Handsfreelink and you can start to see why the CR-V is in the top of the list for families.

Meanwhile, the comfortable seating, seating configurations and roomy cabin made the 2013 Honda Odyssey stand out among the pack. The publication noted that people raved about its “car-like performance” and excellent safety features.

Both Honda vehicles are Top Safety Picks of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and five-star overall performers in the safety tests from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Honda Odyssey Austin TX

2014 Honda Odyssey Introduces Game-Changing Feature

Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013
2014 honda odyssey

2014 Honda Odyssey at the 2013 NYIAS

Our favorite minivan, the Honda Odyssey, was re-introduced to the world at the 2013 New York International Auto Show as a thoroughly refreshed 2014 model, setting the new standard as the “ultimate family vehicle.” What will you find in our showroom this summer? Besides a host of exterior, interior and safety upgrades, the 2014 Odyssey will bring something never before seen in a vehicle.

At the NYIAS, Honda displayed the 2014 Odyssey Touring Elite to demonstrate all of the new and improved features. Behind the scenes, Honda updated the structural integrity of the vehicle to help it achieve TOP SAFETY PICK+ status. The Touring Elite will also come with advanced safety features like an expanded view driver’s mirror, Forward Collision Warning (FWC), and Lane Departure Warning (LDW).

As far as exterior styling goes, the new Odyssey will look sleeker and more sophisticated with a more deeply sculpted hood, new front fenders, bolder twin-bar grille, refreshed lower front facia with integrated chrome e-trimmed fog lights, darker-finish projector-beam headlight housings, and LED taillight bars.

Inside the 2014 Odyssey you will find an all-new center stack and new finishes. On the Touring Elite you’ll have an array of new standard technology like keyless Smart Entry with Push Button Start, HD Radio, SMS text messaging function and HondaLink.

Now the feature that will push you from wanting the Odyssey to needing the Odyssey is the first-ever in-vehicle vacuum system, the HondaVac. Honda partnered with industry leader Shop-Vac to develop the innovative HondaVac which will come standard on the Touring Elite trims. You will find the vacuum integrated in a dedicated space on the driver’s side bulkhead of the rear cargo area. The powerful vacuum comes with a replaceable filter, canister bag and expandable hose with attachments, and can reach every corner of the vehicle’s cabin – is that amazing or what?! The HondaVac runs on an electric motor that doesn’t need an outlet or recharging, it operates continuously when the engine is running and can continue to operate for up to eight minutes when the Odyssey is turned off.

Watch all of the action in the new 2014 Odyssey in the video after the jump:

2014 honda odyssey inside

 

2014 odyssey hondavac

HondaVac 2014 Honda Odyssey

HondaVac

 

 

Consumer Reports’ Top Honda Picks for 2013

Monday, March 18th, 2013

After a year of no love shown to Honda by Consumer Reports, we’re back in business for 2013. In fact, Honda picked up three slots on this year’s Top Picks list; chosen from more than 280 vehicles the publication recently tested.

Earning a Top Pick status from Consumer Reports is no easy task. Each Top Pick has to excel in the road test, earn an average or better predicted-reliability rating, and perform adequately in independent safety tests conducted by government or insurance agencies.

The Consumer Reports’ Top Honda Picks for 2013 are:

Honda Odyssey Austin TX

Honda Odyssey in Austin TX

 

History of Honda Infographic

Monday, March 11th, 2013

Do you know the history of Honda?

Check out this awesome infographic shared by our friends at HondaReview.com to learn how one of the world’s largest manufacturing companies came to be:

history of honda

Source: HondaReview.com

Next Gen Civic Hybrid to Get New Two-Motor System

Tuesday, February 19th, 2013

Honda Civic Hybrid Austin TX

Toshihiro Mibe, managing officer in charge of powertrain development at Honda R&D Co., recently announced to Automotive News at an industry conference that the next-generation Honda Civic Hybrid will get a two-motor system.

As part of Honda’s overhaul of its powertrain lineup, the new two-motor system aims to vastly improve the hybrid’s fuel economy. In fact, Honda is thinking about two types of two-motor systems; one for the Accord Hybrid and one for the Civic.

The two-motor layout permits extensive electric-only driving, with one motor powering the wheels and the other recharging the batteries. The difference between the systems would be the battery capacity.

 Mibe stated that the fuel economy delivered will be much better than that of the current generation, but he wasn’t able to provide figures. Currently, the Civic Hybrid uses a one-motor system that is 30 percent more efficient than the Integrated Motor Assist, motor found on non-hybrid Honda models.



Howdy Honda is your Austin TX Honda Dealer

Howdy Honda is a friendly car dealership that takes great pride in our our Texas roots. We make a personal commitment to every customer that visits our dealership that they will be treated warmly with the utmost dignity and respect. We want our customers to be customers for life which is why they are considered part of our Honda family. View and leave us a testimonial about your experience.

Whether you are looking for a new Honda car or used car in Austin Texas we can help you into the car of your dreams. We pride ourselves on our great prices on Honda SUVs and crossovers in Austin. We also sell great vehicles to great customers from Bastrop, Georgetown , Leander, Round Rock, San Marcos, Buda. We also have plenty of Honda hybrid cars on our lot.

Here at Howdy Honda we are always updating our list of Hondas that are on sale in Austin TX. If you find a car on sale that you are interested in don’t hesitate to see what we can offer you for trading in your car. You can also fill out our car loan credit application to see what kind of financing is available for your budget. If you are looking for auto parts or automotive repair in Austin Texas we can help you get your car back on the road as well.

Enjoy your visit... We are Howdy Honda... Austin friendly and Texas proud!

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