The 600,000 Mile Man

 

So recently I sat down with Bill Diehl, the owner of a 2003 Honda Accord coupe…with just over 600,000 miles. I had heard he was coming in for a celebration after just passing that milestone, so I thought it’d be a good opportunity for a Q and A session.

But before I get to that, I want to talk about the car.

 

 

 

When I first heard a guy was bringing in a car with that many miles on it, I expected it to be an older Accord, from the 90’s, as those usually tend to last a long time. I also expected the car to be in rougher shape, but to my surprise, this one was in good condition. There were a few cracks in the leather and the floorboards of the driver footwell, but everything else was nearly spotless. Now the exterior was a bit of a different story; a few scratches, dents, dings, and paint fade. But with that high mileage, you almost expect it. What’s a car without some stories and character?

 

 

Then I moved on to the engine bay. Everything was original, belts and hoses too. All except for the duct tape on the air filter, which was the only duct tape in the entire engine bay, let alone the entire car. Diehl said he taped it up 120,000 miles ago.

Before our guest of honor arrived, we had cleaned it up and moved into our showroom in our certified building. When Diehl walked in, he laughed and said he had never seen it this clean, that it hasn’t been in a showroom since the day he bought it. It was a proud moment for him.

 

 

Then we sat down for the Q and A:

Did you buy the car brand new?

Yes sir, bought it in September of 2002!

How often did you have it serviced?

Whatever the recommendation was from Honda, every three or four thousand miles or so.

Were there any major issues with keeping it going for so long?

The alternator went out twice, left me stranded a couple times. The engine started burning oil around four hundred thousand miles or so. I took it in for service and the guy said it wouldn’t last another ten thousand. That was two hundred thousand miles ago. Other than that, it’s been extremely dependable. I’ve driven to over thirty states, and Canada.

Is there a secret to it?

Just the regular maintenance, you know. Taking care of it. Changing the oil and rotating the tires. I’ve had three sets of tires on it, each set lasted me one hundred thousand miles.

 Has anyone offered to buy it?

Only once, the guy offered me $2000 for it.

Have you ever considered trading in or selling?

Oh no, it’s not for sale. Maybe when I hit a million I’ll give it to Honda or something.

So is that your goal? A million miles?

Yes sir, that’s the plan. A million miles. I did the math, it’ll take me another eight years to get there. It takes nearly two years or so to hit a hundred thousand, so I usually do fifty thousand miles a year. Maybe then I’ll send it up to Marysville (Honda).

How do you plan on reaching a million?

Same thing I’ve been doing, just the regular maintenance every three or four thousand miles.

What are you going to do with the car once it hits your goal?

Good question. I don’t know, Honda says they’ll give me a new one.

Is this the first Honda that you put high miles on?

Yes, but I’ve always had Hondas. And they’ve always been Accords, and they’ve always been black. This would be my third one. My first one was in 1989, with the flip-up headlights, almost looked like the Prelude.

After chatting with Diehl for a bit, I learned he had bought the car from our very own Lamont Chandler, who is now a New Car Manager. Diehl services it with us here at Honda World now, working with our Service Director Dale Greathouse ever since he bought the car.

 

 

                                                                   Dale Greathouse (left) and Bill Diehl (right) celebrating 600,000 miles on Bill’s 2003 Accord

 

                                                                                                                 Bill telling his story to our New Owner’s class

 

                                                                     Bill’s cake, courtesy of our service department

 

Bill Diehl celebrates with us every hundred thousand miles he passes, and we’re honored to have him.

Keep up the good work Bill, see you at the next hundred thousand!

 

 

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Let’s Be Clear: Not Your Average Plug-In

It’s 2018. The future is here. Ever since the release of Tesla’s Model S, car manufacturers have been following suit by offering a full range of electric and hybrid vehicles, all with their own personal flair and somewhat-unique style, with more intent on gas mileage than aesthetics, which I cede is not the most important factor in car production.

Then there’s the Honda Clarity. It’s their newest contender in the race towards the future of the automobile industry. And its based on the Accord platform, one of their best-performing cars for nearly 40 years, so you know it’s got to be good.

 

The Clarity comes in three different engine setups: a plug-in hybrid, a full electric, as well as a hydrogen fuel cell, with the electric and fuel cell only available for lease in select markets. The third to release in the series, it comes standard with a 1.5L 4cyl. engine, and a 17kw/h battery. Overall, it puts out about 212hp, with gas mileage numbers in the mid 40’s and 47-mile maximum all-electric range.

In the interior, the Clarity PHEV is outfitted with a sophisticated leather design inspired by the 2018 Accord, along with the push-button transmission, and an array of other standard features from Honda’s wheelhouse, such as the Sensing suite, Smart Entry, HomeLink, and an 8in hi-res infotainment touch-screen with Apple CarPlay and AndroidAuto integration.

 

Now that all the boring stuff is out of the way, let’s talk about the important thing: how does it drive?

Let me preface this by saying personally, I’ve never been a fan of hybrid engines, mainly because my love for cars was developed by hearing an engine roar, that was part of the thrill for me. So naturally, I’ve always been turned off by hybrids, because they don’t make a lot of engine noise and are often aesthetically unpleasing.

As far as looks the Clarity has various futuristic design elements, along with a touch of nostalgia with the partial wheel-arch cover, reminiscent of the 1990s Insight. Looking out the rear window reminded me of driving the Crosstour, which was hit and miss for some, but overall the concept fit with the Clarity. Maybe not quite as good-looking as the Accord Hybrid or the CR-Z, but perfect for somebody looking for a quality PHEV that doesn’t want to drive something that resembles a flat-bottomed egg.

 

 

But something was different with the Clarity that separates it from other hybrids. You forget about what noise the engine is making when the 212hp is at your fingertips in an instant. In Sport mode, the shifts were smooth, yet snappy and responsive simultaneously. After a certain amount of pedal input (sorry boss), the 1.5L reared its small head with a glorious sound (compared to the whine of the hybrid battery, at least), and treated me with a decent amount of pick-up. It was the first time a hybrid put a smile on my face since driving the CR-Z a few years ago.

For more information about the Clarity, you can check out our YouTube channel or our website at http://ift.tt/2DHs4la. You can also swing by our showroom for a test drive!

By Christian Olsson, Honda Genius

Photo Credit: Drew Meyer and Christian Olsson 

 

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7 Car Accessories Perfect for Winter Driving

With winter weather incoming, it might be time to prepare your car for the harsh conditions and slippery roads. Here are OEM accessories that could make driving in the winter time easier for your daily driver or weekend cruiser, Honda or not.

1. Engine Block Heater: an engine block heater just warms up the engine compartment during cold temperatures. So instead of letting your car warm for 10 or 15 minutes, with an engine block heater it’ll only take less than a few minutes. You can pick one up at practically any auto parts store, for around $30 or $40.
2. Remote Start System: allows the driver to start their car from roughly 30ft away, most likely in the comfort of their own house or office. The remote start systems keeps the car locked, and keeps it running for about 10 minutes before shutting itself off. Most modern cars come standard with these, but you could also pick one up for around $100 or less.
3. First Aid Kit/Roadside Kit: bandages, flares, batteries, flashlights, jumper cables, tire-repair kits, etc. Anything to survive snowbanks…or the apocalypse.
4. Heated Steering Wheel/Heated Seats: keep your hands warm with a little touch of luxury while you’re on the road in colder temps. Talk to your local dealership about having them installed.
5. Roof Rack/Cargo Carrier (My Favorite): keep the contents of your backseat from flailing around (unless it’s a child, then use a seatbelt) by an easily accessible storage bin that’s also aesthetically pleasing. These roof-boxes are very useful for long road trips or trips to the ski resort. You can pick one up from nearly any auto store for around $200 or higher.
6. Rubberized Floor Mats: keep your floorboards nice and clean, just in case you track in some snow or salt. Most dealerships offer these with the price of the vehicle, but you can also pick up some generic ones for less than $50.
7. Winter Tires: You can find the studded tires in the northern parts of the country, but around here winter tires usually mean thick and knobby tread to give you more grip on slushy and icy roads.

Ask your local car dealer about other OEM accessories available for your car that better fits your style! See more at http://ift.tt/2qJquwm or swing by our showroom here in Louisville and ask a Honda Genius about accessories today!

 

By Christian Olsson, Honda Genius

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“Sport” Takes on a New Meaning

It used to be when you hear about or see an Accord Sport, you’d think “grandpa’s car” or “nothing really exciting.” And you’d probably be right. Granted there are a few exceptions, a few niche markets or certain demographics that enjoy it. But overall, the public’s general opinion of the Accord Sport has always been “meh.”

With a 2.4L four-cylinder engine that put out roughly 190hp (less than the Civic Si), 19” wheels and no other actual performance upgrades, the “Sport” badge was purely aesthetic. It didn’t handle differently, it didn’t have any more get-up to it than a regular Accord, it just let you “shift” the gears on its CVT for a little more fun. “Meh” indeed.

That was until the 2018 Accord Sport 2.0T released this month, with a plethora of new features that made it truly live up to its “Sport” badge. Along with the safety features, which come standard on every trim in the 2018 line-up, there are quite a few performance upgrades that come with the badge.

 

 

Under the hood, the Accord has a 252hp 2.0L four-cylinder turbocharged engine, mated to your choice of a 10-speed auto with paddles, or of course a 6-speed manual transmission, available only on the Sport trims. Equipped with 19” wheels and Macpherson Strut suspension in the front and a Multi-Link rear suspension, it’s not going to feel like a regular front-wheel-drive car.

So while many prefer the manual transmission, I had the chance to drive the 10-speed auto. Having driven dozens of different cars with different CVTs, DCTs, and DSGs, I’m used to paddles and slushboxes. However, the Accord’s CVT is by far Honda’s best-feeling shift, as far as an alternative to a six-speed goes. Even compared to a V6 Coupe, the shifts felt snappier and more responsive, and the car just seemed to play along. There wasn’t any lag between gears whereas the V6’s CVT just didn’t want to leave the gear it was in. The 2018 felt light and compact, compared to the V6 that just felt heavy and lumbering around corners and getting back up to speed.

 

 

Everyone has a different opinion on this whole V6-vs-Turbo 4 engine debate; on one side you have “no replacement for displacement,” while on the other side you have the trend of the nearly every car manufacturer that has fuel economy in mind. While I cede that six-cylinder engines are quite formidable and terribly fun to drive, turbocharged 4-cylinders can make the case – if done right.

Honda hit the mark on producing a fuel-efficient family car that also makes case for a respectable and fun daily driver and a good substitute for the V6 Accord. If you were looking for a racecar, try the Type-R.

-Christian Olsson

 

 

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What Makes the Honda’s CR-V Business Insider’s Favorite SUV in America?

Numbers don’t lie – with almost 4 million sold since its introduction in 1997 and an impressive seven years of documented sales gains for Honda, the CR-V is the best selling crossover SUV in America right now. But what is it about this compact SUV that continues to bring new drivers to the wheel? We wanted to take a closer look at the car that Business Insider recently touted as their Favorite SUV in America to find out what keeps the CR-V at the head of the pack in a market that is definitely not lacking in options. Here’s what we found.

The Feeling of Effortless Driving

One of the most obvious highlights of this exceptionally popular little crossover is the overall ease of use that it projects and delivers to the driver. This is something that Honda seems to understand well and has improved on with every iteration of the CR-V, honing it even further in the newest 2017 model. New technological driving assistance features actually deliver the increased performance and reduced steering effort that are promised. Driving, parking and overall wheel and steering control feel easy, precise and smoothly responsive.

Comfortable Convenience

The interior and famously comfortable and supportive seats of the CR-V have received a bit of an upgrade as far as style goes in the newest model, but these are almost entirely aesthetic touch ups. The driver and front passenger seats still offer some of the most comfortable seating that can be found in a crossover SUV – or just about any car, honestly – with great back support for long drives. The spacious storage between the front seats, as well as the two convenient USB outlets, combined with the comfort of the seating and the easy ride of this car make it a pretty perfect road trip machine.

Straightforward Simplicity

Another oft-mentioned draw of the Honda CR-V has always been its simplistic but well thought out functionality when it comes to loading, unloading, and altering the backseat and cargo areas of the car. The cargo compartment opens with ease and is spacious and uncomplicated – something you’d think would be standard in crossover SUV vehicles, but which can be cluttered and frustrating in other options on the market. There is no struggle or searching for hidden controls when you need to move or fold the back seat – just a one-motion pull tab that is visible and does what you think it should intuitively do. It’s this kind of detail, that eliminates guesswork from what should be a simple process but often isn’t with cars like this one, that has brought the CR-V to the forefront of its class and kept it there.

In short, the newest model of the CR-V does everything that the majority of drivers would expect it to do and it does those things well. Aside from a few aesthetic details that improve the look the of the car both inside and out, the reliable simplicity and overall comfort of the CR-V is still the standout reason that this car remains a favorite among modern drivers.

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What? Easter Egg in the 2016/2017 Honda Civic Center Console?

There may seem to be few mysteries to uncover under the practical Honda Civic. But Honda isn’t immune to spicing things up every once in a while, and unlike other car companies, they don’t feel the need to broadcast it from sea to shining sea. The 10th generation of these cars (2016 and 2017) has been redesigned, and Honda apparently wanted to have a little fun with their customers by putting an Easter egg into the center console. This little gem is all about celebrating the history of the car company.

The Hidden Meaning

The designers were behind this little addition to the car, not some flashy PR or marketing stunt to score more sales. The Honda PR team didn’t even know about the Easter egg, which is probably a good thing when it comes to keeping secrets. When you ask people what they think of when they think of Honda, they might say they’re a reputable company that makes long-lasting cars. But if you asked people 50 years ago what Honda was known for, they might have their fast motorcycles and race cars capabilities. The Easter egg embraces both the past and the future of Honda.

Finding the Treasure

It isn’t available in every car, but it can be found in any 2016 or 2017 year in an EX trim or higher. The egg is actually the rubber mat at the bottom of the center console that protects the compartment from spills and scrapes.

You have to take the rubber mat out, and turn it over. You’ll find a picture that shows many of Honda’s older accomplishments that have managed to break the old racing and engineering standards of the day. They must be particularly fond of their first private plane, as it’s present in each one of their designs.

First Design: RA106 F1, S800, RC213V, HondaJet

When it comes to motorsports, this design covers it all. In 2006, Jenson Button raced the RA106. At the time, Honda hadn’t appeared in an F1 event since 1968. The S800 won the GT-1 class in the endurance race in Japan in 1968,and their RC213V motorcycle was driven by champion Marc Márquez at MotoGP.

Second Design: RC166, McLaren Honda MP4/4, HondaJet

Motorcycle legend Ayrton Senna sits in the seat of the Honda MP4/4 race car. The RC166 is manned by Jim Redman, who won 6 times at the Grand Prix.

Third Design: NS800, Asimo, HondaJet

No cars in this one, but rather a celebration of Honda’s humanoid robot Asimo.The NS500 motorcycle was ridden by Freddie Spencer in 1983 when he won the world championship at the Grand Prix.

Fourth Design: Curtiss Special, RA272 Race Car, HondaJet

In 1920, these racing cars were brand new, and came about long before Honda was even a company name. Soichiro Honda (founder of Honda) was the riding mechanic for the Curtiss Special during the Fifth Japan Motorcar Championship in 1924. The other race car was raced in 1965, and was Honda’s first F1 race win.

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Why Buy Used Cars For Sale at Honda World

When you shop for used cars for sale at Honda World in Louisville, KY, you can be assured of a host of benefits you wouldn’t necessarily expect. Check out this list of reasons why your next vehicle purchase should come from us.

Better Value

When you buy a used car from an individual or even some other dealers, you can never truly be certain of the value you’re getting. The used car you’re getting may have a bevy of issues that isn’t apparent upon visual inspection. Or, it may not be priced competitively.

At Honda World of Louisville, KY, we promise excellent value on all our pre-owned vehicles. How do we do that? First, we vet each car that we sell. We accept only used cars for sale that are in the best condition for their age. Once in our care, our factory-trained technicians do a thorough inspection of the vehicle, checking both cosmetic and mechanical condition. Next, we recondition the car to our exacting standards. This may include repair or replacement parts, as well as complete detailing of the vehicle. In fact, after we’ve finished reconditioning the vehicle, many customers almost can’t tell it’s a used car!

Better Selection

Our pre-owned inventory of cars totals over 1,000 vehicles, ensuring that you have a better selection of used cars for sale than anywhere else. Why spend days or weeks driving from place to place in search of the used car you want, when you can find it on our lot at Honda World? We can almost guarantee that you’ll find the exact used car you’re looking for on the day you stop by our showroom.

Unparalleled Customer Service Features

We offer a long list of additional services with every used car purchase. This includes:

• Full Seven Days Return Policy – If for any reason you change your mind about your purchase, no problem. Just come on back and get a full refund, or pick out a different car.
• Clean Title Guarantee – You can be assured that there are no outstanding liens or claims on a vehicle you purchase from Honda World in Louisville.
• Factory-Trained Technicians – Our service techs are certified and experienced.
• No Charge Appraisals – Get a free price appraisal on any trade-in.
• CARFAX Report – You’ll know the precise history of any used car you are considering.
• Extended Service Plan Available – Bump up your service plan with this valuable option.

Buying a pre-owned car from Honda World is unlike any other used car purchase experience. We treat every customer as special and valuable. Our business is about building relationships, and we do everything in our power to become your go-to place when you, your family and your friends are in the market for a vehicle. Come on in to Honda World and find out what everyone else is talking about.

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