Honda Windward

The all new Honda CRZ will be arriving soon...

It looks like Honda has another winner. More information coming soon.

CR-Z The CR-Z is already on sale in Europe and Japan, and will be reaching our shores by this fall. The production version of the US model debuted at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in January. Summary: 122hp hybrid 6MT, up to 38mpg Available: Autumn

Things You Should Do For Your Car

Purchasing an automobile is one of the biggest investments you'll ever make. It doesn't matter if you buy new or used - you'll end up with a hefty sum of money (the initial purchase price, the cost of insurance, fuel and maintenance) wrapped up in that shiny hunk of metal in the driveway by the time you decide to sell it or trade it in for a newer hunk of metal. Consequently, it makes sense to protect that investment from environmental damage and the typical wear and tear that comes with age. Here are five easy things you can do to maintain the value of your 4-wheeled friend and keep the cash you put into it from going down the drain.

 

Keep Up With Maintenance

The absolute easiest way to maintain the value of your car is to get it serviced frequently, and stick to the schedule maintenance timetable like glue. Although that includes things such as changing your oil, it also means not forgetting larger items like timing belts or water pumps. And make sure to keep all of your maintenance records; they show potential buyers that the car was cared for, not simply used.

Keep It Clean

A clean car is good for more than just looking sharp. Regularly washing your vehicle can keep moisture-trapping dirt deposits off the paint and out of nooks and crannies. It will also make any damage easier to spot - things like door dings and scratches that can develop into rust spots if left untended. This doesn't apply just to the exterior, either. Regular detailing can keep your interior looking and smelling its best while cutting down on wear.

Paintless Dent Repair

A single dent can make a huge difference in how a potential buyer looks at your car. The good news is that repairing everything from small door dings to larger dents has never been easier. We have a great way to go with paintless dent repair here at Honda Windward - fixing the trouble spot without having to go through the mess or expense of respraying a body panel. You can usually have the repair done for a nominal fee, and it can make a huge difference in how much you can ask for your car when selling it.

Car Cover

Whether your car is a $16,000 economy commuter or a $70,000 luxury sedan, a quality cover can go a long way toward reducing damage from the sun and weather. It can also keep it free of droppings from birds and other creatures. All these things can ruin your vehicle's finish and, in some cases, actually eat through the metal underneath. An inexpensive, breathable cover can cut down on that damage in a big way. It will also save the interior materials from harmful ultraviolet rays that cause colors to fade and leather and plastic to crack.

All Season Floor Mats

Factory floor mats take quite a bit of abuse over the life of your car. Every time you get in or out, the material suffers scratches that will eventually lead to tears or cracks. Having the all season floor mats will not only keep your vehicle in better condition but it will also make it much easier to vacuum.  Store the factory mats in a clean, dry place while you own the car, and simply reinstall them when it's time to sell - the clean mats will help the interior look as good as new.

Face Lift For 2011 Accords

Set to go on sale in mid-August, the 2011 Honda Accord Sedan and Coupe receive significant updates including improved fuel economy, enhanced exterior and interior styling and the addition of a new leather-equipped Special Edition (SE) trim level. Available as either a sedan or a coupe in 4-cylinder and V-6 variations, the Accord offers a unique balance of style, performance, efficiency and value specific to each individual model.

"For 2011, the Accord evolves again with sharpened styling inside and out, fuel economy gains and a broader application of popular features," said Erik Berkman, vice president of Corporate Planning and Logistics for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "The Accord is designed to deliver a consistently rewarding ownership experience in the areas that matter most to sedan and coupe drivers."

Improvements to vehicle aerodynamics, engine friction and transmission gear ratios all contribute to fuel economy improvements. The EPA fuel-economy ratings¹ for Accord 4-cylinder sedan models equipped with an automatic transmission improve by 2 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 3 mpg on the highway, for a city/highway rating of 23/34 mpg.

The 2011 Accord Sedan's exterior expresses a more upscale and powerful presence with a new style for the front grille, front bumper and rear deck lid, along with a new wheel design.

Building on the sedan's design character, the Accord Coupe's unique muscular stance is enhanced with a bolder front grille design, new front bumper shape, enhanced brakelight appearance and a new wheel design for V-6 models.

Striking a balance between value and luxury, the Accord SE Sedan offers the additional features from the popular Accord LX-P with the added luxury of leather-trimmed seating, heated seats, driver's power-lumbar support and a leather-trimmed steering wheel.

New features on certain models include steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters on the Accord EX-L V-6 Coupe, a USB Audio Interface on all coupe models and Accord EX and EX-L Sedans, and a rear view camera on sedans equipped with the available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation² System?. Additionally, Accord EX-L V-6 models receive a two-position memory system for the driver's seat. Additional interior updates on all models include new seat fabrics on models with cloth seats, an updated instrument panel design and more-refined accent points throughout the interior.

Interior styling on all models provides attainable luxury with generous standard equipment, world-class ergonomics and intuitive vehicle controls. The front seats are designed to provide generous lateral support and to complement the Accord's sporty side. The fold-down, rear seatback offers cargo-carrying versatility and also includes a lockable pass-through for long items like snow skis.

New for 2011, the most frequently used climate-control buttons are now positioned on the left side of the control stack, closer to the driver for ease-of-use, and less-frequently used buttons are now positioned on the right side. Vehicle clock adjustment is also made easier by more prominent control lettering.

A 190-horsepower, 2.4-liter, 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine is standard in the Accord  EX and EX-L Sedans and Accord  LX-S, EX and EX-L Coupes. The 2.4-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder engine in the Accord LX, LX-P and SE Sedans produces 177 horsepower.

The available 3.5-liter, 24-valve SOHC i-VTEC® V-6 engine produces 271-horsepower and takes advantage of Variable Cylinder Management? (VCM®) technology that can deactivate up to half of the cylinders while cruising to improve fuel economy. Preliminary EPA fuel-economy ratings³ for the 2011 Accord V-6 Sedan are 19 city/30 highway mpg, an improvement of 1 mpg in highway driving.

The performance-oriented Accord EX-L V-6 Coupe with the 6-speed manual transmission has a unique 3.5-liter V-6 VTEC engine (without VCM) that provides a performance-tuned valvetrain, intake and exhaust system to broaden the torque curve in the low- to mid-rpm range for enthusiast-level performance.

A 5-speed manual transmission is standard on 4-cylinder models and a 5-speed automatic is available. A 5-speed automatic transmission is standard on V-6-powered models. A 6-speed manual transmission is available exclusively on the Accord EX-L V-6 Coupe.

For safety, the Advanced Compatibility Engineering? (ACE®) is an exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal crashes. The ACE? design utilizes a network of connected structural elements to distribute crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle. This enhanced frontal crash energy management helps to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment.

The double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension inspire confident handling performance while also providing a comfortable ride. The 2011 Accord Sedan comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels with wheel covers, or 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels depending on the model.

Three audio systems are available - all with MP3/Windows Media® Audio (WMA) playback capability and an auxiliary input jack. The standard system provides a single-disc CD player, six speakers and 160 watts of power. Radio Data System (RDS) displays information broadcast by participating FM radio stations that often includes call letters, station type (searchable by genre) and programming information. Steering wheel-mounted audio controls come standard on every Accord. The Accord EX Sedan and LX-S Coupe add a 6-disc in-dash changer.

A premium 270-watt audio system comes standard on Accord EX Coupe and Accord EX-L Sedan models, and includes a six-disc CD changer and seven speakers including an 8-inch subwoofer. XM Radio® is standard equipment on all Accord EX-L models.

The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System (available on Accord EX-L) uses an 8-inch screen and an interface dial for user input. Features include the Zagat Survey® guide for restaurants, nightlife, hotels and attractions. Accord EX and EX-L Coupe and Accord EX-L Sedan models include Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® as standard equipment for connecting wirelessly with compatible mobile phones.

The Accord Coupe (4-cylinder) has 17-inch alloy wheels as standard equipment, with 18-inch alloys standard on the Accord V-6 Coupe. All Accords feature four-wheel disc brakes.

Currently more than 95 percent of the Accords sold in the United States are produced⁴ at Honda of America Manufacturing Inc.'s Marysville Auto Plant in Marysville, Ohio, and at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC, in Lincoln, Alabama. The Marysville plant is the sole global source of the Accord Coupe.

Accord...Among the Best Again

The Honda Accord is the benchmark among family sedans. The 2010 Accord is Car and Driver's "10Best" Award winner in the family sedan category for 2010. This is the 24th year Accord has won the award in the 28 years that it has been given. No other model in any other category can match Accord's dominance.

Honda Windward Supports
the Hawaii Food Bank



Please feel free to drop off your donations for the Hawaii Food Bank.  There has never been a better time to support the Hawaii Food Bank with your donations. All donations will be greatly appreciated by the Hawaii Food Bank and those in need. Be sure to take the time to drop off your donations.

The Honda Odyssey Concept,

on display at the Chicago Auto Show, introduces a sleek and distinctive exterior styling direction for the next generation of the industry's best-selling minivan, set to debut this fall, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.

The Odyssey Concept dramatically departs from conventional minivan styling with its low and wide stance, highlighted by a "lightning-bolt" beltline that further distinguishes the vehicle's profile. Compared to the cu rrent Odyssey, the Concept's slightly lower roofline (-1.0 inch) and wider stance (+1.4 inch) contribute to a sleeker, stronger and more dynamic presence with improved aerodynamics that help increase fuel economy. Forthcoming improvements to the production Odyssey's interior are designed to further enhance the current model's accommodating space for people and cargo.

"The Odyssey established its reputation by providing families with what they most want in a minivan - great functionality, an emphasis on safety and good fuel economy," said Vicki Poponi, assistant vice president of American Honda product planning. "Odyssey then further delighted customers with its surprisingly engaging, fun-to-drive and dynamic nature. The next-generation Odyssey promises to take these strengths to a higher level while adding more style and personality."

The steeply raked front and rear roof pillars, unique side-glass profile, chamfered roof line, and tapered rear cabin shape combine to create a dynamic and distinctive appearance from any perspective. The lightning-bolt beltline dives toward the rear of the vehicle emphasizing the new Odyssey's sporty appearance while enhancing outward visibility for third-row passengers. Aggressive body-to-wheel proportions reduce the perception of vertical height common to most minivan designs. Fender flares further accent the vehicle's securely planted and stylish persona. The concept vehicle's projector beam headlights, LED taillights and form-fit fog lights further heighten the sophisticated quality of the design.

Enhanced aerodynamics and advanced powertrain technologies will contribute to the next-generation Odyssey's increased fuel efficiency. The all-new 2011 Odyssey is expected to achieve an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating¹ of 19 city/28 highway miles-per gallon on select models (preliminary estimate determined by Honda).

Currently in its third generation, the Odyssey's unique array of features, including its superior driving dynamics, 3rd-Row Magic Seat® and efficient i-VTEC? V-6 engine with three-mode Variable Cylinder Management? (available) all combine to offer a sophisticated environment with room for up to eight people (seven on Odyssey LX). The Odyssey has been America's best-selling minivan since 2008² and is produced exclusively in Alabama by Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (using domestic and globally sourced parts). Both the concept and production vehicles, along with all development activity for the 2011 Odyssey, are being designed at Honda R&D Americas in Torrance, California, and Raymond, Ohio.

The Odyssey has won numerous awards and critical acclaim. Recent accolades include an Edmunds.com 2010 "Top Recommended" minivan award, U.S. News and World Report 2010 "Best Minivan for the Money" award, Automotive Lease Guide 2010 "Best Minivan for the Money," the Kelley Blue Book award as one of the ten "Best New Family Vehicles of 2009" and "2009 Best Resale Value Award" in the van category, which recognizes vehicles that are expected to have segment-leading resale value after five years of ownership.

Honolulu Magazine Ranks Honda Windward #1

Apparently, Honda Windward made a believer out of you. So what makes this dealership stand out from the rest? Let's start with the customer-pampering amenities: free, freshly ground coffee; a kids' play area; a Petspaw, in case your pooch needs a bath; express oil change; free service shuttle for customers; and free car wash with services. Then there's the employee loyalty: of the 115-person staff, three have worked there for 20 to 25 years and 15 have been employees for 10 to 20 years. Plus, you can buy, service, detail and repair your car all without leaving the premises. And the dealership gets bonus points for investing nearly $3 million in green technologies. "Our whole dealership is now solar-powered," says general manager Michael Stoebner.

Yet Another Reason To Go With Honda

Honda Windward Wins Again!

Check Out The BBB Rating When Deciding Where To Buy A Car

BBB for Honda in Hawaii

Honda Windward's BBB Rating

It is not easy to get the best ratings from the BBB. One more great reason to come and check out Honda Windward.

Stick With Honda Windward For Your Extended Service Contract

U.S. Fidelis is facing yet another class action lawsuit, the latest in a long line of allegations of fraud and manipulation by the company.

U.S. Fidelis sells extended warranties to consumers whose factory-provided service protection has expired. Lead plaintiff Benita Bruno's suit, filed in federal court in Michigan, says that U.S. Fidelis uses "high pressure sales tactics combined with fraudulent representations and omissions" to convince consumers to buy such warranties.

According to Bruno, U.S. Fidelis's "ruthless sales techniques" include telling consumers that failing to sign up for a plan right away will cause them to "lose out on any opportunity to receive coverage for their vehicles." Consumers who continue to resist receive additional phone calls, with better "incentives" offered each time.

Bruno also accuses U.S. Fidelis of severely misrepresenting the amount of coverage offered under its policies. According to the complaint, U.S. Fidelis uses heavy-handed techniques to convince consumers that they are buying "full coverage warranties," a far cry from what they end up receiving.

Bruno's story is typical of U.S. Fidelis customers. After seeing an advertisement for "full coverage warranties," she called the company in August 2009 to inquire further. A U.S. Fidelis representative told Bruno that "if she failed to purchase the warranty at that instance it would not be available to [her] at a later date." Bruno ended up sleeping on it and, despite its previous ultimatum, U.S. Fidelis sold her a warranty on September 2, 2009.

Shortly after making her purchase, Bruno discovered that, contrary to U.S. Fidelis's representations, her warranty "did not completely cover [B]runo's vehicle for repairs." Specifically, U.S. Fidelis's "sales representative failed to inform [B]runo of all of the terms of the [warranty], including conditions, exclusions, restrictions, and limits of liability."

Bruno is hardly the first to point out the difference between U.S. Fidelis's rhetoric and its results. The company is infamous for providing policies ridden with so many exceptions and loopholes as to be essentially worthless. Last April, a similar class action was filed against the company in Missouri. That suit also described a pattern of high-pressure sales tactics and bare-bones warranties that left consumers out in the cold when their cars broke down.

In March 2008, a press release by then-Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon alleged that the company sent letters to consumers warning that their factory warranties were about to expire when, in fact, most recipients had plenty of time left on their factory protection plans.

U.S. Fidelis has also cycled through several names in the past few years, never an encouraging sign. The company started as Dealer Services before morphing into National Auto Warranty Services and finally settling on its current name.

The present suit is brought on behalf of all Michigan consumers who purchased an extended warranty from U.S. Fidelis on or after April 1, 2004. Bruno's attorneys estimate that potential class members number in the thousands.

The suit says that U.S. Fidelis has "continuously and systematically established a pattern of racketeering activity through the use of [its] business plan of obtaining funds through mail, wire, radio, and television fraud," thereby violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). Bruno also accuses the company of violating several Michigan consumer protection laws.

ConsumerAffairs.com has received many complaints about U.S. Fidelis, and over a half dozen this year alone. William of Chicago offers a representative account:

"Back in July 2009, I saw an advertisement for this company, and at the time, I thought that it would be a good investment to purchase one of the company's extended warranties for my Chevy Impala. Boy! Was I wrong, I put my car in the shop twice only to have most of the repairs for my car not covered for some bull reason. I have since came to the conclusion that I am better off without the US Fidelity warranty and better off buying a warranty from GMAC. I had to incur a 690.00 dollar repair bill, plus I already have paid out a total of 700.00 in payments to US Fidelis, I want all my money back."

Accord Wins Again, Again, and Again!

For a record 24th time, the January issue of Car and Driver magazine has named the Honda Accord one of the 10Best Cars. An amazing record but not surprising when you consider the exceptional qualities the Accord has to offer, including an exceptional ride quality. As Car and Driver puts it, "In '08, the redesigned Accord sedan vaulted into the EPA's large-car domain yet retained the taut, square-jawed underpinnings that make it so gratifyingly competent to drive."[1] And when you throw the sporty Accord Coupe V-6 into the mix, the driving enthusiasts at Car and Driver had even more reasons to celebrate, "Row through the velvety manual six-speed-barking the front tires something fierce as you shift into second-and 60 mph manifests in 5.6 seconds."

Honda Accord To Get Mugen Accessories

LAS VEGAS - Honda's relatively low-key presence at the 2009 SEMA Auto Show was boosted by word that the automaker will make a complete line of Mugen performance accessories available for the Accord sedan in the U.S. starting on November 11.

The Mugen accessories will include 18-inch alloy wheels, front sports grille, front under-spoiler, side spoiler, rear under-spoiler, sports floor mats, machined aluminum oil filler cap and a "distinctive front emblem," said Honda in a statement. The accessories are pegged to the five most popular Accord sedan colors. They include Polished Metal Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Alabaster Silver Metallic, White Diamond Pearl and Taffeta White.

"Honda is committed to supporting personalization of our vehicles into the future," said Bruce Smith, vice president of Parts Operations for American Honda, in a statement. Pricing was not announced but please contact our parts department for more details.

Honda's 2009 SEMA Auto Show appearance included a 2010 Honda Fit with Mugen accessories and several historic Honda vehicles, including an N600, the first model that Honda sold in the U.S.

Good news for Honda customizers, but when will the Mugen accessories make it onto the Crosstour

Nuf Said About Texting! 

In 1997, Ford Motor Co. equipped the Mustang with one of the first RFID ignition immobilizers in the U.S. car industry. Theft levels for the Mustang immediately dropped 70 percent from just two years prior. The results were stunning, and pretty much every other carmaker followed suit.

Today, the RFID (radio frequency identification) industry claims a 90 percent reduction in theft rates for car models equipped with RFID starters, immobilizers and entry systems. Both automakers and insurance companies have full faith in the devices, even going so far as to label them unbeatable. And certainly, the technology is an impressive display of security innovation.

RFID relies on radio-frequency signals to create a system that, for the first several years it was in use, was indeed uncrackable. In the 1990s, many a car thief was thwarted by the rather brilliant addition of RFID immobilizers to regular old physical keys. An RFID immobilizer is a chip embedded in the top part of an ignition key. This chip sends out an encrypted string of radio-frequency signals, basically a particular number of impulses broadcast on various radio frequencies to create a specific code, when the driver inserts it into the ignition-key slot. Without this code, the car either won't start or won't activate the fuel pump. So even if someone hotwires the car or copies an ignition key, the ignition isn't going to work because it hasn't received the proper radio-frequency code.

If you have a car that comes with a special "valet key," the immobilizer probably shuts down the fuel pump if the car is started without the code. This means the car is going to run only on whatever fuel is left in the fuel line, which will only get it a couple of blocks. Thus the valet key -- valet parkers only have to drive a car very short distances. If they try to drive off with your car, they won't get very far. Neither will any other potential car thief.Early RFID systems, both keyless entry (the key fob device with the button you press to unlock the car) and vehicle immobilizers, used 32-bit encryption. That means they sent a code of 32 impulses. With 32 bits in the code, there are billions of possible combinations. In newer schemes, including remote starters that let you start a car with the push of a button, the codes have 40 bits, which increases the possibilities. With so many possible codes, the system seems unbeatable.

The number of new cars considered the safest by the U.S. insurance industry went up in the last year with Honda as one of the top auto makers
Honda Motor Co. had the many of the vehicles on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's annual list of the safest cars for the 2008 model year.

The institute requires new cars and trucks have electronic stability control, or ESC (VSA vehicle stability assist on Honda), to qualify for the award. Many auto companies are putting the anti-rollover technology into their fleets ahead of a U.S. government requirement for the systems by the 2012 model year.

``Vehicles should be designed to provide good occupant protection when crashes occur but now with ESC we have the possibility of preventing many crashes altogether,'' said Adrian Lund, the institute's president.

Lund cited studies that have estimated as many as 10,000 fatal crashes could be avoided annually if all vehicles had the technology.
Honda and its Acura unit had seven vehicles on the list: the Honda Accord, Odyssey, Pilot, CR-V and Element and the Acura MDX and RDX SUVs. Honda has had stability control on all SUVs, pickups and minivans since the 2007 model year and the technology is now standard on the Accord.

Electronic stability control senses when a driver may lose control of the vehicle and automatically applies brakes to individual wheels to help keep it stable and avoid a rollover. The technology helps motorists avoid skidding across icy or slick roads or keep control of their car when swerving to avoid an unexpected object in the road.

The institute said the awards help consumers compare vehicles without having to review results from multiple tests.

Why drive anything else but a Honda from Honda Windward?

Honda Does it Again!

Car and Driver Magazine has named the 2010 Honda Accord and the 2010 Honda Fit as two of the winners of its prestigious and highly competitive annual "10Best Cars" award. Now in its eighth generation, the Accord has achieved "10Best" status 24 times in the 28 years that Car and Driver editors have been conducting the competition, more than any other vehicle in the award's history. The Honda Fit has been honored with 10Best status in each of the four years that it has been on sale in the United States.

"The Car and Driver '10Best' awards recognize Honda's ongoing emphasis on performance, quality and safety," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Honda is honored to have its vehicles regarded so highly over the years with one of the most coveted awards in the industry."

2011 Odyssey will be arriving this fall...

Odyssey 2010 marks the 6th year of the current Odyssey's model cycle, and a replacement will be in showrooms this fall. With the 2011 Odyssey, Honda has placed greater emphasis on styling and efficiency. The new model will feature V6-only power (with VCM cylinder cut technology) and a 6-speed automatic transmission - a combo that's said to be good for an EPA highway rating of 28mpg. On the feature front, according to Honda the new Odyssey will offer two different rear entertainment systems. One of them features a 16.2" widescreen LCD which is capable of simultaneously displaying two different sources side by side. This RES also features an HDMI input, supporting hi-def sources such as video game systems and hi-def video players (WDTV Live, anyone?). A premium audio system will also be offered with 15GB of HDD storage (this implies that the HDD will be shared with an HDD-based navigation system with VGA display) Summary: Honda's roomiest people mover gets a full makeover for 2011. Watch For: The Odyssey takes another step forward. Available: Autumn