Heated Windshield Washer for Your Accord

The following is from a recent article I wrote for www.ezinearticles.com. Several people have purchased this product, and I thought Accord owners might be interested also.

Are you crazy?

That's the first thought I had when a friend of mine mentioned he had just installed one on his car.

For the life of me, I could not understand why anyone would want to purchase a product that heated the water in your windshield washer.

Well, after talking to him, and doing a little research I found out that this is a pretty good idea. Especially if you live in parts of the country that gets frost, ice or snow on your windshield.

If you have ever had to stand outside in freezing cold weather and try and clean your view with an ice scraper I'm sure you thought to yourself, there has to be a better way. There is, and that is simply by heating the washer fluid. The heated water or chemicals melt that frost, ice or snow, while you sit comfortably inside the car.

Turns out the idea can be used at other times of the year also. I really hate when I'm driving on a trip and some bugs decide to die on my window. The wiper blades seem to just smear their little bodies all over the place, and it becomes even harder to see then when I began to clean the window. Heated water helps loosen them up and makes it easier to clean up the mess.

If this now sounds like a good idea to you, here are some things to consider before you purchase one.

1. Look for system that is universal, and will fit a wide variety of vehicles.

2. Look for one that you can install by yourself, and avoid expensive installation charges.

3. Seek an American made model, and help our balance of trade.

4. Find one with a warranty.

5. Avoid cheap foreign made rip-off products.

6. Purchase a system that integrates with your current washer system. Don't drill holes in your car to add a strange contraption.

7. The best systems heat the fluid in less than a minute.

8. Get a system that heats the water to at least 125 degrees. Warm water does not clean as well as hot water.

9. Check out the installation manual, if there is one, first to insure that a particular product will work and fit in your vehicle.

10. Are there any reviews on the brand you are thinking of purchasing? Impartial reviews will help you decide on the right product.

Windshield Washer Heater http://www.accordmania.com/product/Honda-Accord-Alpha-Therm-Windshield-Washer-Heater/Default.aspx

Honda's Ad vs. The Way Things Go

Of course I like cars, or I would never have started a car oriented blog and several web sites selling automotive parts.

Some of my interest in cars is how do they work? I'm always amazed at how something is designed. A problem is faced and some engineer figures out a way to solve it. In many cases it is part of a larger design where all of the pieces must work together to accomplish a particular function.

I'm sure you have seen the fantastic Honda commercial "Cog" where different components of a car are started moving like a series of dominoes. A beautiful example of how one part can influence another.

I have always given creative credit to the folks that made this commercial. What I did not realize is that they were following in the foot steps of others, who had pioneered this type of project.

One of the earliest I have run across is called "The Way Things Go". If you have not seen this one, you can check it out here:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x12ffc_fischli-weiss-the-way-things-go_creation

Thanks for visiting.

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SW, BG and MX Grillcraft Grills for your Car, Truck or SUV

Car and Driver10 Best Cars for 2010

Today (November 25, 2009) I just received the January 2010 Car and Driver magazine. One of my favorite reviews is in this issue - their 10 best cars for a particular year.

I was very pleased to read that two of my favorite cars made the list. The 2010 Honda Accord and the 2010 Honda Fit. Quite an accomplishment for the Honda Motor Car Company.

I like the Accord because of two critical reasons. First I think it is the best sedan/coupe in its class, and second because I have two web sites (wwww.accodmania.com and www.accordtopia.com) that sell only Accord parts. If I did not like the Accord then I am in the wrong business.

The Honda Fit is another story. I like this car because I have one on order. It is somewhere on a boat between Japan and the USA. It is supposed to arrive sometime next month then I have to pay for it. Between then and now I have to sell a 1984 Ferrari and a 1999 Jaguar to raise the funds. But that's another story for tomorrow.

The Car and Driver report mentioned that they considered 58 contenders, $2.5 million in value, and ran 12,000 test miles.

The winners were:

Audi S4
BMW 3-Series/M3
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V
Ford Fusion Hybrid
Honda Accord
Honda Fit
Mazda MX-5 Miata
Mazda3/Masdaspeed3
Porsche Boxster & Cayman
Volkswagen GTI

Later I'll mention some of the non-winners (losers)

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Honda Accord Crosstour - What is it?

In my last blog I commented on how confused I was getting with all of the different types of vehicles being made and where they all fit.

Looks like I am not alone. Edmonds reports that potential buyers are also confused. That means that when they are comparing the Corsstour to other cars there does not seem to be a particular car or model, but a wide variety.

For example, they say that some potential buyers compare this car to the Toyota Vensa. While others compare it to the Chevrolet Equinox or the Toyota RAV-4. These I guess I could understand.

However, the article also says some potential buyers are comparing the Crosstour to the Audie A4 and the BMW 3 Series. Now I'm getting more confused.

You can see the entire article here:

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/edmunds-data-suggests-honda-crosstour-buyers-dont-know-what-it/


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SUV, CUV, Wagon, Mini Wagon, Sedan, Coupe?

I don't know about you, but I'm starting to get a little confused when I read about the designations that car manufactures are using for their products.

Life used to be so simple. Did I want a sedan or coupe? Needed more room then choose a wagon. But wagons went out of style and I believe that hatchbacks filled some of these needs.

Then SUV came in. A sedan mounted on a truck chassis. Initial ones drove and felt like trucks. After a while they were softened and began to feel and drive a little more like cars.

Now we have the CUV's like the Honda Accord Crosstour, and the Acura ZDX. People seem to be asking for a combination vehicle with sports car handling and performance, SUV utility, and some luxury touches. At least that's how these cars are being advertised. Will they succeed in the marketplace. It will be interesting to see how they all do. It looks like SUVs are selling less and less each year, and of course part of this may be to the high price of gas.

As I mentioned, I have purchased a Honda Fit. On one hand I look at this vehicle as a small or mini wagon. I don't plan on going off road or driving in heavy snow, so I don't need 4 wheel drive.
I would love the sports car handling of a CUV, but do I really need it? No not at this time.

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Honda Accord Slips in Safety Rating

The 2009 Accord won many different safety ratings, as I have reported before in prior blogs.

I would have expected this trend to continue, however alas it has not. It was just reported in

http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038556_iihs-picks-the-safest-new-vehicles-for-2010

that the accord was not listed among the top 10 by the iihs (Institute for Highway Safety) for 2010 models.

The number of cars that they have approved reached 94 models for the 2009 model year. However, for 2010
they are cutting the number way down. The reason is tougher standards for roofs, in case of a roll over.

Some of the cars that passed really amaze me, as so many are US cars like the
Chevrolet Malibu,Chrysler Sebring sedan and the Dodge Avenger.

Read all about it, and weep for the falling Accord (which is still one of my favorite cars).

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SW, BG and MX Grillcraft Grills for your Car, Truck or SUV

Fit to be Tied?

Sorry about the stupid title for this blog.

I'm still wrestling with what to do when my wife and I move to Oregon. So the purpose of this blog is not to answer the question, but to ask anyone who reads it, to jump in with "what they would do"
answers.

To review for a second. My wife and I and two large yellow labs have to get up to Oregon, once our house in San Diego sells. The question is what is the best and most economical way to do this.

Based on past experience we have ruled out flying the dogs up, and taking a plane. So this leaves, from a practical standpoint, driving up. (I have not checked, but I don't think the dogs would enjoy a train ride).

We have three cars, none of which I would want to drive up to Oregon with two dogs. So we have made the decision to sell all three. As I have mentioned before, I plan to buy a 2010 Honda Fit for the trip and as our main car for the foreseeable future.

Now, if I buy the car from a local California dealer, I would have to pay sales tax, and all registration fees, which I'm guessing would be around $2000. Within a month or less we would move to Oregon and have to register the car all over again, and pay more fees. Not something I want to do.

On the other hand, if we purchase a new car in Oregon, there is no sales tax, and very minor registration fees. Two problems. First, buying it there, means that we have to drive it back to San Diego, and drive it around here for a while. Not sure what California would think about that.

The second problem is that we are California residents and not Oregon residents at the moment. Turns out Oregon car dealers can only sell to Oregon residents. And the state wants multiple documents to prove residency. Such things as a driver's license, utility bills, bank accounts etc.

So that's the problem. What would be your solution?

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SW, BG and MX Grillcraft Grills for your Car, Truck or SUV

Toyota Exits Formula One Racing

Almost a year ago I blogged that Honda had decided that they could no longer participate in Formula One racing. They pulled out just a short time before the start of the 2009 season.

As most fans know, their team was taken over and renamed Brawn GP. And the Brawn GP won both the constructor and driver's championship for this year.

Just recently Toyota announced they were pulling out of Formula One racing and would not be involved next year. The announcement came as a little surprise for a couple of reasons. First, while many people thought they would pull the plug, it was anticipated that the announcement would take place on November 15th. This meeting was scheduled to discuss their 2010 budget, and it would seem to be an appropriate time to announce their racing plans.

The second reason this was a little bit of a shock is that Toyota was one of the companies who signed the Concorde Agreement in July of this year, and it committed the company to be a Formula One team for three more years.

I think someone at Toyota is in trouble. Hard to believe that in July they were willing to commit to three more years, and in just over three months later decide that they are out. Someone screwed up big time.

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2010 Accord Coupe

Road and Track on line has a good review of the Honda Accord Coupe for 2010. You can read the entire article here:

http://buyersguide.caranddriver.com/honda/accord/2010/honda-accord-coupe

I have a couple of comments on their article. First they mention that the Accord Coupe with a V6 is now the hot Honda with the demise of the S2000, except perhaps for the Civic Si. I have to agree with this. I am a sponsor on www.driveaccord.net and the one car that the enthusiasts mention is the V6 coupe. If you want an Accord to modify for more performance or appearance this is the one to purchase.

More people lament the fact that they purchased the coupe with the I4 engine. Nothing wrong here if you want better gas mileage and a lower price. But if performance is your thing, its much better to spring for the V6 rather than the I4 and try to make it more powerful.

The base prices range from $23,265 to $32,015 and you of course can add different options. So while the v6 coupe is not a true sports car, you can get a lot of bang for your buck, and have a great car for a lot less than most sports cars.

I was impressed with the highway mileage of 31, as the Fit I just purchased only gets 33 and it is a much smaller and lighter car. But the Fit sure wins in cargo space. The Accord coupe gets 12 square feet and the Fit 20+. The Fit also expands to over 50+ with the rear seats down. While I really like the 2010 coupe, the interior space on the Fit won me over.

For all of the specs and a quote if you like, check out the link above.

Thanks for visiting.

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SW, BG and MX Grillcraft Grills for your Car, Truck or SUV

I Just Purchased a Honda Fit

I have discussed some of the features I liked about the Honda Fit and yesterday I put a deposit on one.

A deposit - yes?

My wife and I have decided that it is time to move from sunny San Diego, Ca to Overcast and Rainy Southern Oregon Coast.

We just put our home on the market, and all week have had people in and out preparing the house for sale. Two handy men for two days, two cleaners for half a day, and several hours of run cleaning this morning. Next week part of our patio deck is being replaced (termite inspection) and then two and half days to trim trees and get the back yard ready.

So what does all of this have to do with a Honda Fit? Glad you asked. We are faced with getting two 100 lb plus each dogs up to Oregon. We will never transport them in an airplane, so it looked like a car was the way to go. None of our current crop of cars was worth taking up there, which was why I was looking at purchasing a new one. I wanted a fairly inexpensive car that would haul all of us up there.

Once I decided upon a Honda Fit, the question came up, where to buy it. If I purchase the car in California, I will pay both sales tax and all kinds of registrations. Perhaps around $2,000 or so.
If I purchase the car in Oregon, no sales tax and minimum taxes for registration. So do you see where I am leaning?

Now, how to buy a car in Oregon and get it down to San Diego? First problem is, the Oregon dealer cannot sell me the car and have it delivered to San Diego. Second, he can't sell it to me until I am an Oregon resident.

So here is the convoluted plans. As soon as my house goes into escrow, my wife and I will fly up to Oregon. We plan on renting a house for a couple of months, until we find a new home. Once we get there, I will have a lease, and then will open a bank account. Now we can be considered residents.

Later for the rest of the story.

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Brawn Wins Formula One!

Late last year I was commenting on Honda's pulling out of formula one races. They dithered around for a while and then pulled the plug.

At seemingly the last minute Ross Brawn stepped in and purchased the team. It was just three weeks away from the season start.

There is one more race scheduled in the 2009 season, but for the titles, the season is over.
Brawn GP has won the constructors trophy and their number one driver, Jenson Button has become the Formula One Driver's Champion.

"Jenson Button won six of the first seven races -- and teammate Rubens Barrichello proved a consistent high-point scorer as well -- Brawn GP became the dominant force in the 2009 season."

This was just reported in today's USA Today's on-line report. If you are interested in formula one racing or real upsets, then I suggest you read the entire article,

I missed the race today, and this is one of the few races that I really am sorry I did not see.

Check out the article for a bunch of very strange events - perhaps one of the strangest races in years.


http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/2009-10-18-3567802721_x.htm

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Honda Fit Conclusion

In the prior two blogs I mentioned several reasons for looking at a Honda Fit as my next car. In this blog I'll wrap up my reasons.

One key reason is the size of the car. It is a sub-compact but handles and loads like a larger car. Over the years I have driven small cars and large station wagons and pickup trucks. Of course along with sport cars. I have to say that I don't like large cars. Yes they may be safer in an accident, and on a long trip they may be better, but all in all they are a pain.

They use more gas, have much larger turning circles, harder to park, harder to get in and out of in tight spaces and I always feel they are bigger than the traffic lanes I drive in. Ya, I know I'm a little crazy, but that's the way I feel. Big is not better.

The second reason is safety. My newest car (my wife's car actually) is a 1999 model. There have been some improvements in car safety since then. The fit comes with Active Front Head Restraints, Front Airbags, Side Airbags with OPDS (Occupant Position Dection System), Side Curtain Airbags, Side Impact Beams, ACE Body Structure (Honda's front end construction), Vehicle Stability Assist, ABS and Traction Control.

It also has 10 cup holders, and my Ferrai has only one (me).

Last, and perhaps most important is the color choices. Several years ago at a car show my wife fell in love with a purple Lamborghini. Now I don't have $300,000 plus to buy her one. But the Honda Fit comes in a new shade called Blackberry Pearl. And it's close enough to purple to keep her happy.

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Honda Fit Continued

As I mentioned earlier, our next car may be the Honda Fit. What first caught my eye was the amazing amount of interior space. And how easy it was to configure. First this is a sub compact, but it has more room than many small SUVs.

It starts out as a four to five passenger car. I would really say four, but Honda claims you can put 3 adults in the back seat. Now let's say you want to carry more stuff in the back. You start out with just over 20 cubic feet behind the rear seats. Fold them down and now you have 53 cubic feet of storage space. Wow!

Let's assume a different need. This time you have a long object, like a ladder, rug, surf board or what have you, up to 7 feet 2 inches in length. So you fold down part of the rear seat and you can carry this object. The rear seat is one of those 40 - 60 splits, so in addition to this long thing you want to carry, you can also have a passenger sitting in the rear.

All three of these configurations are typical and available in other cars. However, Honda has another trick up their sleeves. This one is called the "magic seat". Recall that the rear seats fold forward. They also fold up. That is the seat portion folds up and connects to the back. This leaves a deep well when you open the rear doors. You can now carry an object up to 4 feet tall. How's that for innovation?

More later.

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Honda Fit

I was always considering that my next car would be a Honda Accord. However in the past few days I have changed my mind. My next ride will probably be a Honda Fit. Why a Fit? Several reasons.

First is total cost. I have two very expensive cars today. A Ferrari and a Jaguar. True, they are not very new, and not worth a whole lot, but boy are they expensive when it's time for repairs. This time around I wanted a new car, for not a lot of money.

Next was the fact that my wife and I have two dogs. I guess you would call them large size, as one weighs 110 lbs and the skinny one 105. They take up an entire back seat and like to stick their heads out of the window when we are driving slowly in the city. They ride today in the back seat of a Toyota Camry. The seat used to be covered in nice leather. Today it is covered in duct tape and a blanket. Besides ruining the seat, there is a second disadvantage, in the gap between the seat edge and the back of the front seats. The dogs can fall into this gap and hurt themselves.

A Honda Fit offers a flat, carpeted bed, when the rear seats are folded down. Easy for the dogs to jump up and still able to look out of the windows.

The Fit is also rated the #1 sub compact by various car mags and organizations. Different looks, great mileage (highway 33-35 depending on the transmission), light on the initial fee (under $20,000), peppy but not very fast.

Five speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. My wife would be using the normal automatic transmission and I would wear out the paddle shifters.

More tomorrow.

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Honda - 40 Years in Canada

The Windsor Star recently ran an article by Manabu Nishimae the president and CEO of Honda Canada Inc.

In it he wrote about the long history of Honda in Canada starting in 1969 with a motor cycle and power equipment company. I found this interesting, because while I know Honda makes a lot of equipment besides cars, it is the automobile that I think of each time I hear the name.

It was not until 1973 that Honda in Canada sold it's first automobile. He did not say what model it was, but since the first Accord did not come out until 1976, I assume it was a Civic.

Mr. Nishimae also said "At present, we serve Canadians across the country with 275 vehicle dealerships - 227 Honda and 48 Acura stores - in addition to a large number of motorcycle, ATV, power equipment and marine dealers in every province. We also employ more than 5,000 associates in manufacturing and sales and, indirectly, more than 16,000 through our national dealership network.

So happy birthday Honda of Canada.

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Crosstour Manufacturing Plant Announced

Honda Motor Car Corporation seems to like dribbling out a few details at a time about their new vehicle the Crosstour. The following was posted in the Chicago Tribune News web site:

EAST LIBERTY, Ohio - The Honda Motor Co. says a plant in western Ohio will be the production site for the automaker's new crossover utility vehicle.

Honda of America President Hidenobu Iwata (hee-DUH'-no-boo i-WAH'-tuh) said Thursday that the Honda Accord Crosstour will be built at the East Liberty plant that now produces the CR-V and the Element.

The Crosstour is a tallish, five-passenger wagon-like SUV based on a mid-size sedan. It goes into production this fall. Honda officials would not say how many will be manufactured.

Production is not expected to result in any new jobs at the plant that employs about 2,400.

The engines will be supplied by Honda's engine plant near Anna and the transmissions from the automaker's plant near Russells Point.

I find it interesting that no new jobs will be created. This of course suggests that something they are already producing at the plant will be cut back, thereby freeing up labor for the new car.

What do you think?



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News About Honda Accord Crosstour

News is starting to dribble in about the Honda Accord Crosstour. If you are interested in some teaser type articles, I'll give you some links to check out.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-us-spe-cars-new-models-rdp,0,2890954.story

http://www.examiner.com/x-2270-NY-Autos-Examiner~y2009m9d1-Official-photos-of-2010-Honda-Accord-Crosstour-released

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2009/09/68498199/1

http://wot.motortrend.com/6576405/auto-news/2010-honda-accord-crosstour-first-official-photos-released/index.html

So far the details are skimpy, but you can see some pictures. I'm not impressed, but then again I'm not an SUV lover.

What do you think about this new, top of the line Accord?

Grillcraft Grilles | MX | SW | and BG Models

www.accordmania.com

www.accordtopia.com

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Cash for Clunkers Final Results

The Law Librarian Blog has reported some final figures on the "Cash for Clunkers" government program that just ended.

A couple of their findings were a little surprising to me. Not that the total number of vehicles turned in was 690,114 car sales. Nor the fact that $2.877 billion was spent on the program.

What surprised me was that 84% of the trade ins were trucks!.

Here is a chart from their web site:

RankTop 10 Trade-in Vehicles
1Ford Explorer 4WD
2 Ford F150 Pickup 2WD
3 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4WD
4 Ford Explorer 2WD
5 Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan 2WD
6 Jeep Cherokee 4WD
7 Chevrolet Blazer 4WD
8 Chevrolet C1500 Pickup 2WD
9 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD
10 Ford Windstar FWD Van

Top 10 New Vehicles Purchased
1 Toyota Corolla
2 Honda Civic
3 Toyota Camry
4 Ford Focus FWD
5 Hyundai Elantra
6 Nissan Versa
7 Toyota Prius
8 Honda Accord
9 Honda Fi
10 Ford Escape FWD

3 Hondas, 3 Toyotas, 2 Fords, a Hyunda and a Nissan were the most purchased new vehicles under the program.




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IIHS Safety Test Results for Honda Accord

One of the on-line car oriented newsletters I receive is My Ride. You can read it here:

www.myride.com

This issue shows the results of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) testing of 2009 cars. Interesting results if you want to check out different brands and models here:

http://www.myride.com/content/shared/articles/templates/index.cfm/article_id_int/6563/id/29946

The 2009 Accord received Good ratings in all tests. These included Frontal Offset; Side Impact and
Rear Crash Protection.

Key Safety Features on the 2009 Accord include:

Anti-lock Breaking System (ABS)

Electronic Stability Control (optional)

Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Front and Rear Head Curtain Airbags, Front Seat-Mounted Torso Airbags.

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Toyota Cutting Production

Now I'm getting a little confused. Is the recession slowly ending or are we going deeper. I would think that the major auto manufacturers like Toyota and Honda would have staff's that are spending all of their times trying to figure out where the economy is going.

Just a few posts ago I commented that Honda was back to Saturday production schedules at some of its US plants because of increased demand.

Today in Bloomberg.com it was reported that Toyota plans to close one of its domestic (Japan) assembly lines. This is the first time they have done this, and it is a reflection of the lowest level of sales they have experienced in 30 years.

Toyota has already cut production this year by 49%, and now they are taking an assembly line off line from the first quarter next year until mid 2011.

“Toyota is desperate to cut costs,” said Yuuki Sakurai, chief executive officer of Fukoku Capital Management Inc. in Tokyo. “The company needs to stop building unpopular and unprofitable cars.”

Not very good news for Toyota or the rest us.

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Good News and Bad News

The good news is the Honda Accord is a very popular car. The bad news is that it just might be too popular. The following is from the egm Car Tech site:

The National Insurance Crime Bureau has released its popular list of most stolen vehicles for the year 2008. The 1994 Honda Accord dethroned the 1995 Honda Civic as the most stole vehicle in the nation for last year.

I'm a little puzzled as to why a 1994 car tops the list? Any ideas? If so, please leave a comment.

This is especially strange to me, as have a 1994 Camry, which we purchased new. It might be worth $3,000 on a good day. I have two large (110lbs and 104lbs) labs. The Camry is used to haul them around and local trips around town. Every day at 7:00am or so my wife and I take the dogs to the local park. Under the new rules, dogs can run free from Dawn to 8:00am. Once we get to the park I leave the car unlocked with the rear windows rolled down (we drive slowly this way so the dogs can stick their heads out of the windows).

Now I wonder, am I asking for someone to steal the car? The third most popular car to steal is the1989 Camry!! Soon they might want a newer car, like mine?

Anyway here is the complete list of the top 10:
1. 1994 Honda Accord
2. 1995 Honda Civic
3. 1989 Toyota Camry
4. 1997 Ford F-150 Pickup
5. 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup
6. 2000 Dodge Caravan
7. 1996 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
8. 1994 Acura Integra
9. 1999 Ford Taurus
10. 2002 Ford Explorer

Is your car on the list?


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Honda Accord 2010 Details - Part 3

The Accord coupe is also being offeredwith a V6 Engine. This model is considered the performance Accord. With the 6-sp-eed manual transmission you get the 3.5 literV-6 VTEC engine. Notice that there is no "i" as part of the VTEC name. This is because it does not have the VCM technology. This V-6 engine offeres an exclusive valve train, exhaust and intake system that broadens the torque curve in the low -to mid-rpm range. This is where the "hot shoe" drivers want an increase in torque, and they received it.

For those of you who want a four cylinder engine. A 190-horsepower 2.4-liter, 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine is standard in the Accord Sedan EX, EX-L and Accord Coupe LX-S, EX and EX-L. The 2.4-liter Accord Sedan LX and LX-P four-cylinder engine produces 177 hp and features a DOHC i-VTEC valvetrain system. When equipped with the available automatic transmission, both 4-cylinder engines achieve an EPA rating of 21/31miles per gallon3 city/highway.

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Honda Accord 2010 Details - Part 2

Some of the changes are subtle, but may be very helpful to owners. For example, the climate control buttons are now of a lighter gray to help differentiate the controls in relation to nearby dark grey audio system buttons. This is a step in the right direction. The best example of this type of engineering was with a Rover 2000 TC I had a number of years ago. Each control, from the choke, to the radio, light switches etc. were all of a different shape. So unlike the new Accord where you still may make a mistake when its dark, the Rover controls could be identified with your eyes closed.

The top of the line engine is the 3.5 liter V6. It comes in at least two flavors. One is the i-VTEC, which produces 271 horsepower using a 24 valve SOHC (Single OverHead Cam) with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) technology which allows up to half of the cylinders to be deactivated when cruising. This can result in an EPA rating of 19/29. This particular engine is available only in the Accord Sedan.

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Honda Accord 2010 Details - Part One

Honda has now released a variety of details about the 2010 Accord sedans and coupes. I'll cover some of them, and the rest in the next post.

Let's start with some new features that are more upscale. Bluetooth's HandFreeLink will now be part of vehicles equipped with leather seats. This used to be only available with Accords with the navigation option. Now there is rear seat ventilation ducts on the EX and EX-L models which give rear seat passengers better airflow. Not a biggie, for us drivers, but I'm sure appreciated by our passengers.

How about a trunk roof lining on the Accord EX models. Boy that sure would make me buy one.

Here is some more direct from Honda. "The Honda Accord offers something for a diverse range of people seeking anything from a comfortable family car to an aggressive coupe with looks and power, " said Erik Berkman, vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

We sure have come a long way since 1976.

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Crosstour Getting Closer to Detals

Earlier this year I mentioned that Honda had announced a new car called the Crosstour.

Next month the company will release more details about the actual car. Right now it is just a rumor mill fueled by interest in the new vehicle and fanned by the company. They are releasing some teaser details, and holding back on others.

It will be called the Accord Crosstour, and it appears to be slotted in Honda's lineup above the CR-V and the Element but beneath the Pilot SUV. Honda obviously believes there is a market for a fourth in this grouping.

The engine is thought to be the current 2.4 liter four cylinder for the entry level and the 3.5 liter V6, both being offered in the current Accord line. It is also possible that the 2.3 turbocharged engine from the Acura line may also be an option.

One interesting feature shown on the prototype was an AWD. Will this be standard or an option? Honda is not talking, but we should know more in September.

I'm interested how this new Accord model will play in light of the current recession and the end of the "cash for clunkers" program. Honda has proven to be a shrewd market predictor over the years. Let's see if they are right this time around.

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Great News for Honda - Increased Manufacturing

The Columbus Business First has reported that Honda is increasing production at one of its USA manufacturing plants.

The East Liberty plant will be going back to Saturday shifts in September, and they may last the remainder of the year.

Workers at East Liberty assemble the CR-V crossover, which, along with the Civic were Honda’s only two vehicles whose July 2009 sales topped July 2008 sales.

There are no plans to add weekend work at the Marysville plant, which primarily builds the Accord sedan and coupe, the Acura TL sedan and Acura RDX sport-utility vehicle.

Honda also is bringing Saturday work back to its Lincoln, Ala. plant, which makes the Accord V6 sedan, Ridgeline pickup truck, Odyssey minivan and Pilot SUV.

Is it possible that we have reached the bottom of the current recession, and are now slowly climbing out? Looks like some indications are getting better, while others stay in the dumps.


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Honda Accord Forum

I recently decided that my Honda Accord web site needed some more exposure which might lead to new business. After looking around at various Accord forums I decided to advertise on www.driveaccord.net.

This is one of the most active forums I have seen. Total membership is just over 13,000. The most people they have had on-line was 498. Just a moment ago and I found that there was 55 members and 114 guests on-line at 6:00pm PST.

There are larger accord oriented forums available, but after spending some time here I really like seeing the questions and the answers that members are coming up with.

If you are an Accord owner I strongly suggest you visit them at: wwww.driveaccord.com.

You never know when you might have a burning question about your car.

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GrillCraft Grills

I just opened a new web site called www.autogrillcraft.com. So far my web sites have been devoted to one car, i.e. the Honda Accord. It was now time to expand and I selected grills as a potential opportunity to explore.

The Grillcraft line has an excellent reputation, and changing the grill on a vehicle is a reasonably fast and inexpensive way to change a key feature. Grillcraft makes grills for automobiles, SUVs, and trucks.

Like many smart manufacturers they try and not be all things to all people. That means that they make products to for vehicles that people want to modify, and not every vehicle being manufactured fit this category. They also say they will not do a custom grill. This is smart manufacturing. If you wan to be successful you must optimize your workflow. Building custom grills one at a time, can be a profitable business, but you have to have your company oriented in this direction.

If you are interested in see what is available, please visit my new site:

http://www.autogrillcraft.com

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Bad News for Honda | Giant Recall

The news today was bad for Honda Motor Car company and many owners. Honda is recalling 440,000 vehicles because of their air bags. This includes 2001 and 2002 Accords.

Seems like there were six injuries and one death due to defective air bags.

Speaking on the topic, Honda Motor Co said, "Metal fragments could pass through the cloth airbag cushion material, possibly causing an injury or fatality to vehicle occupants."

Honda will be sending out notices to registered owners to have their air bags replaced.

No mention was made on how expensive it would be for the company to complete this recall. They said that the bags would be inspected and replaced if necessary at no cost to the owners.

If you own an Accord or even a Civic check out www.owners.honda.com/recalls for more details. It could save your life.

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BMW to Pull Out of Formula One Racing

I enjoy watching formula one racing because it represents the pinnacle of automobile engineering. How to make a four wheel vehicle go as fast as possible around a race track.

I don't have the latest numbers, but at one time I had read that it is the most popular sport in the world. It is an area where car manufactures spend a fortune and bet their reputations on being able to compete.

But it is expensive, and sometimes the cost is hard to justify. Late last year Honda decided that it could no longer justify its participation in this racing series. What struck a lot of people as ironic was that Honda had spent a fortune on its team and cars in preparation for the 2009 season, and then pulled out. So what happened? A new team called Brawn was formed from the Honda team, and the miracle happened. The new team has been number one and left Ferrari and more experienced teams in the dust so far this year.

Now BMW has decided that they will be leaving Formula One this year. BMW become involved when they took over the Sauber team ahead of the 2006 season. So far BMW has had a very poor 2009 season. It is now eighth in the constructors standing.

Mercedes, the other major German car maker involved in Formula One, said it regretted BMW's pullout, "but it will have no influence on our F1 engagement."

Formula One management has been pushing to reduce the costs and add new teams. This latest news from BMW gives strength to their argument.

For more details about this decision: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5id5sOxCNKIZpNSItukVGva9woSiwD99O2M7O0

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Honda Accord Tops Reliability in UK

Today in the UK Guardian was an article about the results of a comparison by Which? Car.

I have never heard of Which? Car. Have you?

Anyway they surveyed motorists and the Honda Accord came in the top spot with a score of 98.5. Second place was the Honda Jazz with a score of 98.2 reliability rating.

The survey was based on information from the owners of more than 84,000 vehicles. They were asked questions about breakdowns, faults and niggles they had experienced while driving. I love English words like "niggles".

Now an aside. I recently heard on the radio (US version) someone talking about the difference in accent by an English speaker and an American English speaker. The reason was something I had never heard about. Seems that in America we are still speaking the English that was popular in England in the 17th century. However, the language has moved on in England, while remaining almost frozen in the US. How's that for progress.

Back to the survey. Other Japanese brands took five of the remaining top 10 spots, so it was a sweep for the Japanese car makers.

How about the other end of the scale? Dead last out of 121 car makes was the sporty Audi A5.
I don't follow the Audi, as I have never had one, but I seem to recall that they did not do too badly in car magazine road tests. If I'm correct in this, then it just points out that how a car does in a particular test when it's brand new and how it holds up for the long run are two different animals.

Drop me a line, or make a comment. It's awful lonely talking to yourself.

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