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.

Honda Accord Exhaust Systems |Buddy Club, GReddy, HKS, Invidia, RS*R, Skunk2, Tanabe


Honda Accord K&N Typhoon Complete Cold Air Intake |
Proven Horse Power and Torque Gains| Configurable to Short Ram or Longer Cold Air Intake

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