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In Which States are Car Repairs Most Expensive?

Wednesday, January 16th, 2013

By: David Nelson

Owning and operating an automobile can be a costly adventure for many people. Of course, the price you pay for your Honda is a smart long term investment, as we all know a Honda is one of the most reliable names in the automobile world. In general, car owners can easily forget to factor in monthly fuel, maintenance, and insurance costs, and there’s also the added expenses when repairs are necessary. The tricky thing is that repairs can cost more or less, depending where you live in the country.

For example, drivers in Wyoming paid the highest average costs in the U.S. for general car repairs, according to CarMD.com Corporation.1 The average cost for a vehicle with a check engine light on came to an average of $389.18 in Wyoming. That’s 17 percent higher than the U.S. average for overall repairs, including a 19 percent more for labor and 15 percent more for parts. The lowest? That was in Indiana, where drivers paid $283.95 per transaction. Other western states that made it into the top five most expensive states for car repairs were Utah (#2), California (#3), Montana (#4) and Arizona(#5). These states are home to half of the nation’s national parks and many other car-driving tourist locations.

Texas Personal Loans

Texas is one of the middle states for car repairs. Texas set the benchmark in line with the national average at a cost of $333.75, If you have to get car repairs there, you can choose to find cash advance in Texas to help you, if your short-term cash flow. A payday loan is a cash advance you can get before your regular paycheck comes in. You secure it with a personal check or electronic transfer. There’s usually a fee involved to borrow the money, and it’s wise not to let the loan get too large, as payday lenders usually charge high interest rates.

What’s the Options?

There are options to costly car repairs 2 in service centers: You can opt to buy car parts on your own, and have your main auto shop do the repairs; you can buy refurbished or aftermarket parts, or you can learn how to do repairs yourself. The first option seems more reasonable. Many car owners can find lower-priced car parts and with a manufacturers’ guarantee on them, and can get them installed correctly at their local auto shop for a fraction of the overall price.

Aftermarket | Refurbished Parts

You might also want to buy an aftermarket or refurbished car part. Benefits include a lower price (about half of the cost of new parts); they come with warranties and have already been tested for defects. Using aftermarket or refurbished parts can certainly save you hundreds of dollars on the cost of replacement parts.

Lastly, if you’re skilled enough with your Honda cars to get out the tools and work on the car yourself, then go for it. However, if you’re not that confident making repairs yourself, please bring your vehicle to our Honda Service Department in Austin TX.

Remember, it always helps to have a backup vehicle available, just in case something goes awry with your own auto repair. Any kind of delay can slow down your own auto repair, whether it’s another part that needs repair, or a rare part that you need to have shipped in from elsewhere. As in most car-related experiences, it helps to maintain your car, keep its oils filled and take care of your investment.

1.) corp.carmd.com/Page/Detail/214?subId=215

2.) www.business2community.com/automotive/save-money-on-car-repairs-five-money-saving-tips-0289388

David Nelson is a consultant who specializes in business strategies. He holds a degree in business administration with a major in finance and lives in the Chicago area.
 

The brands we drive

Thursday, April 12th, 2012
I just came accross this pretty cool infographic about the automaker brands that we drive here in the United States. Which brand do you drive? (We secretly hope it’s a Honda!)
The brands we drive infographic

Source: AYTM

Technology for the Money Saver

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012
used honda dealer austin

Credit: MSN Editorial

One of the things that almost everybody who is shopping for a car right now has in common is that they want a vehicle with a good, decent fuel economy. We see it here at Howdy Honda all the time – even at our used Honda dealership building. People want to stop spending so much money on gas. And now with the increase in government-mandated fuel standards, automakers are looking to ways technology can help them achieve this goal. Let’s look at four technologies that are helping our cars be “greener” and save a ton of money: 

1. Start/Stop Technology 

What Start/Stop technology does is essentially stops your vehicle when drivers are at a standstill (heavy traffic, stop-light, stop-sign). This saves fuel and minimizes your vehicle’s emissions. 

2. Transmissions 

A vehicles transmission is another part of the automobile that has been revolutionized within the past couple of years. Many car manufacturers are beginning to equip manual transmissions with two-clutch pedals to help bolster efficiency even more. Manufacturers are also offering consumers more gears within the transmission itself. It is more common now to see a vehicle outfitted with at least 6 gears. 

3. Lighter Weight 

Lighter vehicles increase fuel economy as engines don’t have to power as much mass, translating to better fuel economy. This is all made possible by switching the materials used to include; plastics, carbon-fiber, magnesium and aluminum. Not only do they decrease the weight, but they maintain vehicle strength and durability. 

4. Aerodynamics 

Aerodynamics is getting a lot of attention from automotive engineers as they are spending more time than ever in the wind-tunnel. Shaping a smoother car physique adds significant efficiency by not only reducing fuel consumption, but also by cutting down on wind noise.

Drivers: Austin is notorious for speed traps

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

austin notorious for speed trapsAccording to a recent report published in AOL Autos but created by Trapster and CNBC.com, revealed that Austin TX is in the top 10 cities with the most speed traps.

The data, compiled by the Trapster community of 15 million drivers, analyzed the number of reports users submitted within a 30-day period. The company discovered that these top 10 cities, including Austin, had over 3,000 to 4,000 reports submitted in that time period.

In Austin, the majority of the speed traps reported were in areas where the “speed limit drops suddenly and unexpectedly.” These areas then become an easy target for law enforcement and anyone unaware can become a traffic violator.

It is estimated that over 100,000 traffic tickets are given each day to motorists across the nation; and it just so happens that Austin is one of the top 10 ticket-giving cities. Our advice: learn the speed limits for the roads you take on your daily commute. This way you can know what the speed limit is at all times and avoid a traffic violation due to a speed trap.

Stay ticket-free Austin!

How do automakers come up with car names?

Friday, February 24th, 2012
how do automakers come up with car names

How do automakers come up with car names?

So how do car manufacturers come up with names for their car lines? After all, it’s just a name and it will only take up a small space on the back of a vehicle that costs tens of thousands of dollars. How hard could it be? Try really hard.

The name of a car model is the result of the perfect mix between research, imagination, and a little bit of good judgment. Automakers face a big challenge when it comes time to name their new model line. They need to select a name that hasn’t been already trademarked, doesn’t mean anything negative in another language, and doesn’t have a negative connotation. It must also be pleasant to the ear, easy to understand, reflect the car’s image, and resonate with the primary market. Tough.

The process of naming a new car starts as early as two years before the vehicle hits the showroom floor. The name is a critical component of the car’s marketing plan, so the naming process usually involves third parties, like advertising or branding agencies, as well as the company’s top executives. Parties involved look for creative inspiration in a myriad of places like dictionaries, maps, seasons, minerals, themes, product codes and corporate archives to come up with a list of potential names.

The final name will depend on the automaker’s goals: What connection do they want the consumer to make between the name and image of the car? What emotion should the name of the car evoke? This, folks, is behind-the-scenes marketing magic at work.

What do you think is the story behind the Honda Civic’s name? How about the Honda Fit? Let us know what you think!

Places around Austin TX you can Drive to for a Romantic Valentine’s Day Date

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

2012 Honda CR-V Austin TXTaking as a jump point Honda’s “Leap list” campaign for the 2012 Honda CR-V, I decided to put together a few spots around Austin TX and surrounding areas where you can hop on your 2012 CR-V and take your loved one on a romantic adventure. I’ve listed a few ideas that might not be common for Valentine’s Day, but could be a nice change of pace for this day and where you can make new, fun memories with your better half.

Zilker Botanical Garden

The Zilker Botanical Garden is right next to the Zilker Park and it features various themed gardens where you can go, relax with your sweetie and enjoy each other’s company. There’s a really nice and quiet Japanese garden which is perfect for sitting and having a nice conversation. The Botanical Garden is free and open most days of the year.  2220 Barton Springs Rd. Austin, TX 78746

Rendon Park at Festival Beach

The Rendon Park at Festival Beach is one of the best and less crowded parks in Austin to have a picnic.  The park sits by the river and has some of the prettiest shade trees on the Town Lake hike and bike trail (it’s close to where I35 crosses the trail and the lake). One thing about picnics? You don’t need a reservation! They are less and less common and can be super romantic, so start planning guys. 2101 Bergman Ave. Austin TX 78702

Hill Country Wine Trail

This one activity can be a bit on the expensive side (a couple’s ticket for the 2012 Wine Lover’s Trail is $60 on the texaswinetrail.com), but a great idea nonetheless and the drive on the 2012 Honda CR-V will make the road trip painless. With the wine trail pass you can visit as many wineries in the Hill Country as you can in one day (there are over 15!) and taste the great wines produced right here in Texas. You can also buy a bottle or two to take home and have a romantic dinner later in the evening. Remember to not drink too much if you are the one doing the driving.

Westcave Preserve

Another place you can take your other half is to the Westcave Preserve near Johnson City. This requires a little bit of hiking, but not too much as the round trip trail is about a mile long. Short, but spectacular, this nature preserve starts overlooking the Pedernales River to then encounter the dramatic limestone canyon. For a weekend trip, it’s a a $5 per person fee with tours at 10 AM, 2 PM and 4PM, and there’s. 24814 Hamilton Pool Road  Round Mountain, TX 78663

Cathedral of Junk

This excursion is for the quirky at heart and you won’t have to leave central Austin to enjoy it. The Cathedral of Junk is the unique collection of junk Vince Hanneman has on his backyard and turned into a 3-story structure. Don’t worry about intruding because he welcomes all visitors (just make sure to call first). This ode to junk and all things South-Austin-y is a great place to take your date. You can explore together a vast collection of things and it’s perfect for a photo op. 4422 Lareina Dr., Austin TX 78798 / Call: (512) 299-7413

 Picnic at the Texas State Capitol Building

And I stand my ground – picnics are a great idea for a Valentine’s Day date. The Capitol Building houses a wonderfully big open green space where you can enjoy a picnic any day of the week. There is ample green area so you’ll be able to find a quiet and remote spot to spend quality time with your sweetie. 1100 Congress Street  Austin, Texas 78701

These are just a few different Valentine’s Day ideas and I’m sure there are many more places where you can hop on your 2012 CR-V and have a great time with your loved one. If you want to check out the 2012 Honda CR-V before you head out on your Valentine’s date, just stop on by! Where’re located on E. Hwy 71, Montopolis exit. Happy Valentine’s Day!

DIY Accessories from recycled car parts

Thursday, January 12th, 2012

Cars serve many purposes throughout their life. From transporting goods and people, to being a gold mine for DIY-ers once they (cars) reach the end of their life. Wait, what? Yes, if you are not much of the creative type you may be surprised at the accessories that can be made from recycled parts found in/on junkyard vehicles. For example,

License Plates

The one thing that may be the most commonly repurposed is the license plates. License plates are transformed into a plethora of accessories including home décor, trendy handbags and even bird houses!

DIY accessories from recycled honda parts austin

Dedicatedhouse.com

 

Tires

Another cool idea coming from recycled vehicle parts are sandals. By gathering a few old tires at a junkyard you can design and shape the sandals however you’d like! There are a few tutorials that can help you make sandals from old tires.  

Sandals from tires for honda austin

Maasai Treads Sandals

Seatbelts and Seat Fabric

Don’t forget the cart parts that are not in high demand like license plates and tires: seatbelts and seat fabric. Some people have used seatbelts as straps for a purse/backpack and the old seat fabric to make the purse/backpack itself. Others have even gone far enough to make guitar straps out of seatbelts!

honda parts austin

By Couchguitarstraps on Etsy

Car Mats, Upholstery and Rods

Advanced DIY-ers have also made rugs from yarn and car mats, wallets from upholstery, and even cufflinks out of rods bearing from different car makes.

honda parts austin tx

By Couchguitarstraps on Etsy

It’s time to put your thinking cap on because the possibilities are endless. What would you make from old car parts?

For those looking for a new or used car in Austin, look no further than Howdy Honda. With a wide variety of new Honda models and a plethora of used cars it doesn’t make sense to start your car search anywhere else but here. 

9 Smartphone Apps for you and your car

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

9 Free (or almost free) car apps for your phone

As part of our commitment to provide the best Honda service in Central Texas, we are starting a blog series with general advice to help our readers get the most out of their cars and save money on car-related issues.

In this post you’ll find nine really awesome (and mostly free!) car apps for your smartphone. How many times have you gotten lost in a parking lot or on the street looking for your car? Or how many times have you gotten upset with yourself because you’ve had to stop at a pricey gas station? This has happened to us many, many times so we’re glad to put this list together and be able to share it!  

1. Trapster (free) – Trapster is a cell phone social network that works as an “early warning system” through user submitted information. It alerts users on camera locations and other roadway hazards like school zones, accident reports and real-time traffic data.

2. Road Trip Lite (free) – Road Trip Lite tracks how much you’re spending on fuel and maintenance. Although a “Lite” app, this free version has no limit on the amount of data you can’t store.

3. AccuFuel ($0.99) – AccuFuel is an app that monitors fuel efficiency and lets you see how your driving habits affect your fuel consumption. It can also track multiple vehicles at once, so you can see how much others in the household are spending on gas.

4. Rev Lite (free) – Rev Lite is an application for real gear heads. Although it needs an accessory cable, the app displays, records and tracks cornering, braking and acceleration G forces, as well as specific OBD-II vehicle metrics.

5. GarageBuddy ($0.99) – GarageBuddy is the perfect app for advice on all parts related to your car. It has calculators, converters, tables, and other tools that you’ll need to calculate or measure anything to do with your car. You can also record all of the car’s important information so you can have it ready for when you take a trip to the parts store.

6. Fuzzy Codes (free) – Fuzzy Codes is the “lite” version of Fuzzy Cars, however, don’t be fooled. Fuzzy Codes works with your On-Board Diagnostics-II (OBD) trouble code reader to help you find the root of the car issue.

7. iCar App (free) – The iCar App helps you located your parked car and suggests the best routes for you to get there. It can send you the car’s location through email, has a timer to remind you when the parking meter is running out and even finds the nearest parking lot or gas station.

8. iWrecked-Auto Accident Assistant (free) – This app is an accident resource: it lets you log in all the details of a wreck you were involved in, including time-stamped pictures, and puts it all into a professional PDF which you can send to your insurance company.

9. RepairPal (free) – RepairPal is an auto emergency app that gives you information on roadside breakdowns or any small problem. It also gives you information on repair estimates, finds mechanics in your area and has a one-touch access to roadside assistance.

We hope these tools will help you keep track of your car’s performance and provide you with easy access to important information. However, if you run into any mechanical issues, need a quick oil and filter change or are looking for specific Honda parts in Austin, TX, don’t hesitate to come by our Express Service lane or schedule a service appointment online.

Honda Works on Hybrid High-Performance Car

Friday, May 6th, 2011

Howdy Honda Austin TexasFast car would take over Acura NSX spot

Honda recently announced a plan in which the president of the company plans to produce a car that would replace the Acura NSX, a luxury sports car with a V10 engine.  While the plan isn’t for the replacement to have a V10, a plan is in the works for this fast car to be fuel efficient and in line with Honda’s current carbon conscious cars.  At Howdy Honda, the superior Honda dealer in Austin, Texas, we’re anxious to see how this pans out—we love fast cars.

While at the Shanghai auto show, it was revealed that the high-performing sports car would be a complement to the CR-Z.  The CR-Z is already available and is Honda’s current sporty hybrid.  This model will be a more luxurious and pumped up car and, according to the Takanobu Ito, Honda’s president, will be the kind of sports car Honda wants to make.  Rather than a model that is not environmentally friendly.  Prior to Ito’s announcement it was expected the car would not have any electric power.

Continuing with innovation after the recent Honda Civic new models were released just shows how fast Honda is moving.  This is a company that just won’t slow down—just like its cars.  Honda’s reputation for building cars that are on the road longer and for having the most eye catching designs on four wheels will continue to be the norm.

Whether you’re anxiously awaiting this luxury hybrid sports car or you’re looking for one of the new Honda Civics, Howdy Honda in Austin, Texas is the best place to look.  We have many other Hondas, new and used waiting for you.  You might just want to come down, take a look around.  Possibly take advantage of getting the best oil change in Austin while you’re here—we do that, too.



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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