Howdy Honda Priority Spotlight: Automatic vs Manual Transmission?

You probably already decided which type of transmission you are going to have on your next car. However, the decision should really depend on what type of driving you usually do. For city driving an automatic transmission is usually recommended, but for driving in rougher terrain (steep curves, mountains, mud, etc) a manual transmission is your best choice. Why is this? What is really the difference between the two?  

Automatic

An automatic transmission offers drivers an easy way to drive a vehicle as the vehicle does all the shifting automatically. This allows for drivers to put more attention on the road itself and allows drivers to survey the elements surrounding them on a more frequent basis. Vehicles outfitted with automatic transmissions also are much easier to drive in large cities due to the frequent stop-and-go traffic, which can give owners of a vehicle with a manual transmission a headache.

Manual

Manual transmissions may be known as ‘harder’ to drive, but they offer a wide variety of benefits to drivers as well. The most popular reason why drivers select a vehicle with a manual transmission is efficiency, as manual transmissions offer more efficient fuel economy. Another big advantage of a manual transmission is that vehicles with a manual transmission are often-times cheaper than vehicles with an automatic transmission. Lastly, those who prefer a manual transmission like the added ‘control’ that it gives them behind the wheel as they (drivers) are the ones shifting the vehicle from one gear to the next.

Although each transmission offer a pros and cons, the final decision  should come down to the type of driving you engage in and what  you need your car to do for you (be fuel efficient, performance, etc). Honda has a quite a few models that come with a manual transmission: Honda Civic, Honda Accord, Honda Fit, and the Honda CR-Z. They are definitely worth a look as the y have top safety, reliability and resale value ratings. Give us a call at 512-443-4300 to schedule a test drive.

Source:What’s The Difference Between Manual And Automatic?

Android:

• Cheap Gas (free)
• TripTik (free)
• GasBuddy (free)

iPhone:

• Local Gas Price (free)
• iGasUp ($0.99)
• CheapGas! (free)
• Fuel Finder ($2.99)
• GasBuddy (free)

For our hypermile friends, I know that you work hard to maximize your fuel efficiency so these apps are just another tool to make your life that much easier. But if your heart is craving less stops at the gas station or your current car is nearing retirement age, this is the place to find a Honda that boasts over 30MPG’s in Austin TX.

How do you usually survive road trips with your kids and pets? If yours are anything like mine, they might consist of chaos topped with a good serving of whining and a sprinkle of sticky interiors; reason why I had to gather some advice from pro moms to get my road trip situation under control. After acquiring all of this great advice, I wanted to share the good stuff with all of you.

First of all, be prepared for everything. And for this, you have to be hyper-organized.

Tip #1: Buy a bunch of $1 games and toys at the dollar section of the super market or at the dollar store.

Tip #2: Pack items in different bags for easy access. For example, one bag for books, one for videogames, one for coloring books and crayons (by the way, get washable crayons and avoid any coloring stains), one for DVDs, one for snacks, etc. You get the idea.

Tip #3: Pack small snack bags for each child. That way you’ll reduce the chances of having food spilled all over the car and avoid fights.

Tip #4: Bring bottled water instead of juices and sodas. Juices and sodas have the potential to make a very sticky mess out of your car.

Tip #5: Don’t over hydrate your passengers so you don’t have be making bathroom stops every hour.

Tip #6: If the drive is really long, I would suggest dividing it into two days and enjoy one night at a hotel with a pool and such so your kids can get some excitement while on the road.

Tip #7: Teenagers – why not encourage them to make a fun project out of the trip. Something like taking photos and creating a video when you get back home.

Tip #8: You want your pet to feel good too. Bring his pad/blanket/pillow so he feels comfortable, and pack their favorite treats and toy.

Tip #9: Bring baby wipes – they clean everything! (Well, almost)

Tip #10: Get some exercise during your stops. Get yourself and your kids running and jumping while at a restroom stop to get the blood flowing and release some of that stored energy.

I hope these few tips will help you keep your sanity on your next family road trip. The only thing that we’re missing now is a new Honda Odyssey or Honda Pilot to make the trip ultra comfortable!

Ways to Save $$$ On Vehicle Expenses

Historically, buying a house will be the biggest expense in your lifetime with buying a car falling in second place. This means that you have to be very aware about your automotive expenses so your finances don’t suffer. Here are some tips we’ve gathered to help you keep your budget in check.

Let’s start by talking about how to budget your car purchase:

1. Stick to a price point you can easily afford. Again: stick to a price point you can easily afford.

2. Research resale values and reliability ratings. Some cars may be more expensive to own in the long run and/or won’t be worth as much as others.

3. Compare different warranties and loans.

4. Place top priority on fuel economy (have to save at the gas pump!)

Now, for the years that you own your car, you can also take steps to minimize your expenses:

5.  If you financed your car and your credit score has improved, refinance at a better interest rate to lower your monthly payments.

6. Shop for auto insurance every once in a while. Insurance companies need to stay super competitive in their prices, so you might be able to find a cheaper option.

7.  Improve your fuel economy by: avoiding abrupt acceleration and casting more, and by stopping at the gas station with the best price. There are many mobile apps and websites that are updated by users and show where the best gas prices are.

8. Coupons! We love coupons at Howdy Honda, so use them whenever possible!

In general, these are easy steps to follow and can really help you reduce your automotive expenses. Who doesn’t want to save money? Now, not to sounds sales pitch-y, but if you are in those first steps, really consider looking into a new Honda. Honda is renowned for being extremely reliable, having great resale value, obtaining optimal fuel economy and being competitively priced. Think about it, and give us a call (512-443-4300).

Car eyelashes

Leopard print floor mats

In-car seat organizer

Zebra license plate frame

What are you getting your mom for Mother’s Day?

1. Face forward and sit up tall in your seat, with your head up against the headrest.

2. Contract your bicep muscles and brace yourself with the steering wheel while keeping your wrists flat (not bent!).

3. Lastly, something you can do right now. Make sure that your seat is at least six inches away from the steering wheel, that way you aren’t hurt by the airbag when it deploys. 

What you’re trying to accomplish by doing all of this is distributing your body-weight over the largest area possible; this will help minimize the stress put on one specific area of your body on impact.

And always, always, always wear your seat belt. It’s baffling how many people go without wearing one when in 2009 alone more than 12,000 lives were saved because of them.

Check out this cool infographic about surviving a car crash:

 If you’re looking for a new Honda in Austin, TX that features a vast collection of safety features look no further than Howdy Honda as we carry a wide amount of vehicles that received  praise from both the NHTSA and the IIHS.

As you know, we are one of the main sponsors of the KVET Free Texas Music Series held at Nutty Brown Cafe on Wednesday nights. It’s been so much fun hanging out, listening to awesome country bands and being a little silly with the Howdy Honda photobooth, we wanted to share with you a few of the pictures we’ve taken.

Here’s the slide show:

Rare Earth Metals in Hybrid Technology | Illustration from: Sufiy

Apparently the clean tech industry has been mourning for a while the impending shortage of the minerals called “rare earth metals” which are used to make things like electric vehicle batteries and solar panels. 

I must admit I don’t really know too much about these rare earth metals, so I had to dig a little bit and go back to my 10^th grade Chemistry class to find out. The rare earth metals are 17 chemical elements from the periodic table. Although dispersed throughout the Earth’s crust, they’re not often found in concentrated and extractable deposits; hence the use of the word “rare” and the shortage warning.

Therefore, Honda has joined forces with Japan Metals & Chemicals to start mass-recycling rare earth metals found on the batteries of used Honda hybrid vehicles collected from Honda dealers worldwide. These rare earth metals will be used again on Honda batteries and Honda auto parts.

Since 1999, Honda has sold over 800,000 hybrids worldwide, but this mass-production process at a recycling plant is the first of its kind.

Howdy Honda Priority Spotlight: Fuel Economy

In a recent 2011 study conducted by Maritz Research, more than 40 percent of car consumers look at fuel economy as an “extremely important” option when shopping for a new vehicle. Taking that fact one step further, the annual study also found that 1 in 3 consumers believe that fuel efficiency will play the largest impact regarding the next vehicle they purchase. That percentage is even higher among younger buyers.

Fuel efficiency numbers are evolving strongly due to the millennial age group, ranging from late teens to early 30’s, and their large emphasis on fuel economy. 46 percent of Millennials view fuel economy as “extremely important” during their new vehicle search; this is the single highest percentage in any other age group by a landslide. Of those 46 percent, 41 percent believe that fuel economy is the single most important option when buying a new vehicle.

If you’re one of those seeking optimal fuel efficiency on your next car, you might want to check out some Honda models. Honda is renowned for fuel-efficiency because of their hybrid, electric and fuel-cell vehicle selection, and the EcoAssist technology they have implemented over the years. Some of the most fuel efficient Hondas we have here are: Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Insight and the Honda CR-Z.

The Honda Civic Hybrid offers a stunning 44 miles-per-gallon that will keep your money where it belongs, in your wallet. This also holds true for both the Honda Insight and the Honda CR-Z, as the Insight gets an average of 43 miles-per-gallon and the sporty CR-Z averages at 34 miles-per-gallon.

Modern buyers, like you, expect the best possible fuel-economy out of their new car; I mean, we expect it too! If you think about it, not only it saves money, but it’s also much better for our planet. The Earth’s resources are finite and we can help decrease our carbon footprint by being more efficient with our car’s fuel consumption. Cue saving-the-world music.

Honda Wins Edmunds.com’s 2012 Best Retained Value Brand Award

For the second consecutive year, Honda has claimed victory of Edmunds.com’s 2012 Best Retained Value non-luxury brand award. The site’s award aims to recognize brands and new car models that have the best projected residual value after five years of ownership.

Honda is known for making reliable and quality vehicles, and this award is a reflection of that effort. According to Edmunds.com, the average resale value of a Honda after five years of ownership is about 47.9% of the original price.

Joe Spina, Director of Remarketing for Edmunds.com said, “Honda has long had a reputation for dependable used vehicles, and that is reflected in today’s booming used car market…Honda’s family of vehicles continues to expand the company’s status as one of the best values available to car buyers today.”

Besides the brand awards, Edmunds.com also recognizes individual new car models and names a total of 23 Best Retained Value award winners in model-level categories. Honda has four 2012 model winners. These include: Honda Civic Hybrid for the Hybrid category; Honda Civic Sedan for the Sedan Under $20k category; Honda CR-V for the SUV $25k-$35k category; and the Honda Odyssey for the Vans category.