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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Thursday, July 30, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
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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.
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.
Honda Accord Exhaust Systems
Thanks for visiting!
.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
New Slogan for Accords "Made in Alabama"
Honda has been building some models in the United States for 30 years. Right now they have been manufacturing both the four and six cylinder Accord models at their plant in Marysville, Ohio and making the Odyssey minivan and Pilot sport utility at its Lincoln plant in Alabama. They also recently moved the Ridgeline assembly from Canada to Lincoln.
This move accomplishes several things for Honda. It allows expansion of the four cylinder line at Marysville which can now produce more cars in the same space. It also gives the folks at Lincoln more to do as sales for the Odyssey and Pilot lines are slowing down in this economy.
In some cases this might be viewed as combing losers, as Accord sales are down 22% this year with the Ridgeline down 60%, and the Odyssey off 22% and the Pilot 24%. However, I am optimistic that the lines will start recovering by the end of the year.
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This move accomplishes several things for Honda. It allows expansion of the four cylinder line at Marysville which can now produce more cars in the same space. It also gives the folks at Lincoln more to do as sales for the Odyssey and Pilot lines are slowing down in this economy.
In some cases this might be viewed as combing losers, as Accord sales are down 22% this year with the Ridgeline down 60%, and the Odyssey off 22% and the Pilot 24%. However, I am optimistic that the lines will start recovering by the end of the year.
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Friday, July 10, 2009
New Honda Accord Coming
Honda has recently announced that there will be a new Accord model. However, it is not your standard sedan or coupe. Nope, this is a cross over. It will be called the 2010 Honda Crosstour CUV. How about that for a mouthful. I had to read it twice to get it right.
Honda is playing this one very cozy and close to its vest. No real details about the new vehicle. Other than the name, almost nothing else is know right now.
One report does give some additional information which has not been confirmed.
Left Lane News offers more information: "Although visually similar to the upcoming Acura ZDX, the Crosstour will not ride on the ZDX's platform. Based on a modified Honda Accord chassis, this all-new crossover vehicle will start production in September of this year at the East Liberty factory in Ohio (the ZDX will be produced in Alliston, Ontario)." The Crosstour will compete with the Toyota Venza.
Keep your eyes open, as in a recession, Honda is playing a high stakes game introducing a brand new model.
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Honda is playing this one very cozy and close to its vest. No real details about the new vehicle. Other than the name, almost nothing else is know right now.
One report does give some additional information which has not been confirmed.
Left Lane News offers more information: "Although visually similar to the upcoming Acura ZDX, the Crosstour will not ride on the ZDX's platform. Based on a modified Honda Accord chassis, this all-new crossover vehicle will start production in September of this year at the East Liberty factory in Ohio (the ZDX will be produced in Alliston, Ontario)." The Crosstour will compete with the Toyota Venza.
Keep your eyes open, as in a recession, Honda is playing a high stakes game introducing a brand new model.
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Honda Accord Cold Air Intakes
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Thursday, July 2, 2009
Consumer Reports Spanks Honda Insight!
As a rule Consumers Reports has only had high praise for all Honda products. I'm sure that they were looking forward to testing the Insight and comparing it to the Toyota Prius.
Just how disappointed they were can be understood by this quote: "The (2010) Insight is the most disappointing Honda Consumer Reports has tested in a long time,"
If you are a Consumers Report's follower this is indeed a death blow. I subscribe and use their evaluations before I make a major purchase. Our last one was for a vacuum cleaner. We choose one of their top brands. If I was in the marketplace for a hybrid, after reading this report it would not be on my list.
The full report about how Consumers felt is here:http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090630/cato_honda_090702/20090702?s_name=Autos
Or you can purchase the magazine, as I do.
The most interesting part of this particular article to me was how badly Honda missed the mark. They had a clear Toyota target to shoot at. I know the initial strategy was to offer a lower entry price - which they did. They also get reasonable mileage with the Insight. But it seems they missed out by making a true hybrid. Rather they got only some of the pieces correct.
Comments or E-mail me
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Just how disappointed they were can be understood by this quote: "The (2010) Insight is the most disappointing Honda Consumer Reports has tested in a long time,"
If you are a Consumers Report's follower this is indeed a death blow. I subscribe and use their evaluations before I make a major purchase. Our last one was for a vacuum cleaner. We choose one of their top brands. If I was in the marketplace for a hybrid, after reading this report it would not be on my list.
The full report about how Consumers felt is here:http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090630/cato_honda_090702/20090702?s_name=Autos
Or you can purchase the magazine, as I do.
The most interesting part of this particular article to me was how badly Honda missed the mark. They had a clear Toyota target to shoot at. I know the initial strategy was to offer a lower entry price - which they did. They also get reasonable mileage with the Insight. But it seems they missed out by making a true hybrid. Rather they got only some of the pieces correct.
Comments or E-mail me
Honda Accord After Market Parts
Honda Accord After Market Parts
Thanks for visiting.
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