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In their early years, many drivers tend to purchase sporty vehicles. This is often because they have disposable income and don’t need a large amount of storage space. However, at a certain point in time, many drivers in California become parents. This is an amazing and life-changing moment. After a driver has a child, they will often replace their sporty vehicle with something practical and convenient. Although there are a plethora of options to choose from, most parents end up purchasing a minivan. This is because minivans are outstanding vehicles that offer a wide array of benefits. Drivers that are aware of these magnificent merits need to do some research before they go to a Honda dealership in the Los Angeles area. After doing some homework, drivers will be able to make an informed decision when they purchase a minivan. Reason Young Families Should Purchase a Minivan #1 - Accessibility Unlike most vehicles, minivans have sliding doors. These entrance ways are generally low to the ground and very wide. This makes them very easy to get in and out of. Whether the passenger is young or old, they can enter a minivan in a pinch. These large doors are also great features for parents in California that have young children. This is due to the fact that the driver doesn’t have to get into an awkward position while installing their child’s car seat. This practical component can save drivers from aches and pains. Reason Young Families Should Purchase a Minivan #2 - Super Spacious When compared to a small vehicle, like a hatchback or sedan, drivers can see that minivans are extremely spacious. A majority of minivans have three rows of seats and can fit eight to nine people (when all of the seats are up). This means that drivers can pack their entire family (and some friends) in their vehicle with ease. Additionally, most modern minivans offer more than enough cargo room. One of the most generous minivans on the modern market is the Honda Odyssey, which you can find at a dealer in Los Angeles. Reason Young Families Should Purchase a Minivan #3 - Packed With Entertainment Features In the past, drivers and passengers in California had to use the radio to stay entertained on the road. This lack of entertainment options made car rides feel long and boring. Thankfully, this is no longer the case. Many modern minivans are filled with outstanding entertainment features. Some examples are: Entertainment Feature #1 - Satellite Radio Practically all modern minivans still come with a radio. However, drivers are no longer limited to local stations. Contemporary minivans allow drivers to access satellite radio stations. These amazing stations play a number of different genres of music. From 90s rap to classical opera, drivers can listen to whatever they please. Entertainment Feature #2 - Bluetooth Connectivity Nothing is worse than dealing with a tangled AUX cord, especially while driving on the road. Twisted cords are not only distracting, but potentially dangerous. Thankfully, many modern minivans come with Bluetooth connectivity. This feature allows drivers to wirelessly connect their smartphones to their vehicles. Drivers can use Bluetooth to play their favorite music, talk on the phone, and much more. Entertainment Feature #3 - LCD Screen A decade or so ago, passengers would have done anything to watch a movie or series while on the road. For a long time, this seemed like a distant dream. Fast forward to today and many minivans feature high-quality LCD screens. These amazing features allow passengers to watch movies and TV shows from the comfort of their carseat.

The Autocon convention finally introduced the latest Civic Type R Honda in Los Angeles on March 2017. With a prominent splitter, wing, air-channeling lumps, vents, roof spoiler and three exhaust pipes, it is quite clear that this car is highly placed on the automotive scale and it is here to fight its more established competitors. Everyone wants a fair deal when it is time to buy a new car. Here are some tips to help you make your car buying experience less intimidating. Determine your budget Decide how much you want to spend on your car by factoring in the cost of car insurance as well as the monthly car payment. Financial experts recommend on allocating no more than 15-20 percent of your monthly budget to car-related expenses. Arrange financing in advance Decide on the kind of financing you will use. If you plan to get a lease or a loan, you should plan ahead. This helps you compare the rates offered by your bank and other local banks for the most favorable terms. Know the invoice price Never walk into a car dealership without this information. The invoice price is what a dealer pays the manufacturer. The manufacturer usually suggests a retail price for the car to the dealer that they expect. This means the rest of the money goes to the dealer. Knowing the invoice price upfront helps you get a good deal. Check the manufacturer’s website for rebates Sometimes buyers receive coupons in the mail that entitle them to additional rebates. Ensure you know whether you qualify for any rebates and that you receive each one. Some dealers are known to withhold such information to keep additional profits. Research the dealers Finding a fair dealer saves you many frustrations. You can conduct an online vetting by checking out websites that post reviews of dealerships. It is also crucial to get quotes from multiple dealers before paying a visit to find the best offer. This also comes in handy during negotiations. Time your purchasing The best time to make a purchase is when car sales are slow. Provided you are not too choosy about having the latest car model, many dealers accept lower offers at the following times to reach their goals and qualify for bonuses from manufacturers. At the end of a model year for remaining inventory. During the last week of December when business is slow. During weekdays especially on midweek mornings. Do not make the purchase on the first visit Use the first visit for a test drive as well as an opportunity to know the dealer. The dealership representatives will try to sway you into making a decision but be adamant. The above tips will start you off in the right direction to get the best deal on your new car.

New vehicles today in Los Angeles Honda dealerships offer a vast array of safety, entertainment, and comfort features that weren’t available even just a few years ago. There have been tremendous advancements helping families, in particular, making vehicles much safer and providing all sorts of new ways to keep children entertained and happy. Cargo Space If there is one thing that every family realizes, it is just how much stuff they have to haul around. Shuttling kids to and from sports and filling the vehicle with hockey equipment or the like, packing up all the beach paraphernalia for a summer trip, or even just visiting family over the holiday, all of these activities require considerable room in the vehicle. Which is why SUVs and vans are popular choices for families due to their excellent amount of cargo space. Ceiling Pockets This is one of those great ideas that make you wonder why someone didn’t think of it sooner. It’s one thing to be able to fit everything in your car, but if you want to keep some semblance of order you also need places to store toys, books, tablets, etc. Ceiling pockets, door storage, and hidden compartments are all great features for the family on the go. Back-Up Camera You never know when your toddler or pet might be lingering behind your vehicle when they aren’t supposed to be. Back-up cameras and collision sensors are great for providing peace of mind, making sure that nobody gets backed into and no bikes or toys are run over either. Wifi Having a wifi hotspot centered on the vehicle itself really opens up a lot of possibilities for both parents and children. Along with saving on mobile data charges on phones and tablets, having a vehicle wifi connection allows for multiple devices to connect at the same time. It allows the children full access to all their games and shows and, theoretically, internet access to work on any homework projects. Easy Clean Interior This can be a wise choice for families with children who routinely turn the back rows into a mess of toys, food, drink, and sometimes stuff you don’t even recognize. Having interior materials that don’t stain and are easily wiped clean of all the things kids are great at spilling and dropping means no extra time huddled back there scrubbing away after you get home. Families today have many choices when it comes to customizing their new vehicle. When shopping at their nearest Los Angeles Honda dealership, it is important to rank all the different features before starting your search so you know what to focus on while browsing.

If you’re looking to lease or buy a new car this year, you’re going to be faced with a plethora of fun gadgets and add-ons as a part of the experience. So before you get upsold on something you may not really need, it’s a good idea to do your research in advance. Here are some of the newest add-ons to be aware of before your next car purchase. The Warranty Obviously everyone is going to want a decent warranty to accompany their latest purchase. But always ask a dealer if there’s an option to extend the initial period in order to get the most bang for your buck. Also be sure to check whether it includes maintenance on simple parts like tires. And do a cost-estimate of the overall situation before you go to the dealership to make sure that it’s worth your while. Prepaid Maintenance Plans These kinds of plans can make things easier and even include deals on service and repairs. It’s a nice idea, too, if everything is offered at the same site. That way you can get to know the staff as you return on a regular (but hopefully not too regular) basis. It aso ensures that your initial maintenance costs stay fixed over time. But before you say yes to this type of add-on, be sure to have a solid idea of what type of maintenance you’ll actually need over time to make sure it’s worth it. Incentives Incentives come in two types, factory-to-consumer and factory-to-dealer. Manufacturers offer extras to the consumer in order to encourage you to buy. They may take the form of cashbacks or low financing rates. Be careful when you’re looking at these, as sometimes they can turn out too good to be true. Non-advertised incentives are motivation for the dealer to sell more vehicles. If you know about anything like this, you can mention it to the dealer in order to get a lower price, if they don’t mention it first. Gadgets Well, this is the fun stuff. Gadgets like USB chargers, specialty sound systems, interactive displays, cams, wireless docking and the like can be so fun...and can also be unnecessary, depending on what you’re doing. So be sure to give it a thorough thought before you walk onto the lot. Buying a car need not be as stressful as it seems. If you’re looking to lease an affordable car in Los Angeles, new Honda Civics remain at the top of their class. Contact your local dealer for more information.

The technological revolution that has affected every facet of our lives, from communication to information to transportation, has most certainly resulted in massive strides in vehicle safety. The number and sophistication of these new features are staggering and making driving in Los Angeles safer than it has ever been before. Crumple Zones These are strategically placed sections of the vehicle that are designed to be weaker. This allows the manufacturer to control which areas of the car collapse in a crash, ensuring that the other areas are protected from the worst of the impact. Typically, this means areas furthest from the passenger zone collapse, increasing the safety of the people inside the vehicle. Side-Impact Beams By adding additional reinforcements along the side, vehicles such as the Honda Fit have vastly increased passenger protection from side-impact crashes when driving the streets of Los Angeles. One of the most dangerous types of collisions, these sturdy beams provide an impressive new level of safety. Airbags While airbags themselves are not a new development, modern airbags are far more sophisticated than those in older vehicles. Providing even further protection from side-impact crashes, side curtain airbags that drop down and cushion the head have been a huge advancement. Regular airbags have also improved, now being able to recognize the size and weight of passengers to avoid dangerously deploying when children are in the seat. Traction Control You are always safest and most in control when your tires are firmly attached to the road and rolling, not spinning or sliding. Traction control identifies when vehicles begin to spin and automatically cuts the accelerator, preventing out of control spinning and fish-tailing. Besides the obvious safety advantages, this will also lead to increased tire life by minimizing spinning. Anti-Lock Brakes Basically the flip-side of traction control, anti-lock braking systems intervene when they recognize the brakes being applied in a particularly forceful manner. If the wheels are allowed to lock up the driver loses the ability to steer and the vehicle can quickly veer out of control. Anti-lock brakes create an intermittent pulsing that continues to apply stopping power while keeping the wheels rolling, meaning you will still be able to control direction and try to avoid whatever collision is looming. These are only a handful of the new safety features available on highly-advanced new vehicles in Los Angeles such as the Honda Odyssey. Anyone considering purchasing a new vehicle should study all the available options before starting their car-shopping, then prioritize them to ensure they focus on the ones that are most important for them and their family.

For parents with kids of any age, car safety is bound to be a top concern. And if you’re looking to buy a new car, this is probably going to be the first thing you consider. But the thing is that there are so many things to research, where do you even start? If you’re wondering what safety and child-friendly features to look for in an affordable family car, read on for more info. Whether you have a family or not, this is a crucial thing to research before looking into purchasing a car. There are various types of safety standards and ratings, of be sure to check in the right places as you look. Cameras Some examples of safety features to consider include external rear-view cameras, which can assist with parking and backing up. These are to be an accessory on all cars in 2018. Collision Prevention Most new cars have special features like front and rear automatic braking and brake assist. These use radar and ultrasonic sensors for crash avoidance. You’ll also want to look for antilock brakes and stability control features. Lane departure warning is another relatively new interesting feature that is useful if you are doing a lot of highway driving. Traction control and parking sensors can also be extremely useful for any stressed out parent. Space It’s not just about the amount of space a car has, it’s how it’s set up. More and more cars these days have a nice, spacious feel but aren’t as huge to drive around as the traditional minivan used to be. That being said, looking for specific spaces to store extra baby stuff is a must. A lot of sedans these days offer extra trunk space for things like strolers, but in general families are best to look for wagons or SUVs to really get what they need for multi-child families. Car Seats This element of family car operation is traditionally confusing, so if you’re wondering how to handle it, you’re not alone. The good news is that all cars have LATCH anchors to fit car seats now. You should also take note of state laws which require, for instance, rear-facing seats for babies up to a certain weight. There are organizations that can help you to ensure that your car seat is installed properly, and they sometimes even hold neighborhood events that parents can freely attend to ask all of their safety questions. If you’re looking for a family-friendly starter car that’s reliable and affordable, why not think about a Honda Fit in Los Angeles. Contact your local Los Angeles Honda Odyssey dealer for more information on financing and safety.

“Driver awareness systems” or “driver assistance systems” are becoming commonplace for all kinds of car makes and models. But if you haven’t had the pleasure of trying one out yet, you may still be in the dark about what exactly they are. If you’re looking to buy or lease a new car in the future, here are some specific features you should know about when it comes to driver assistance systems. Adaptive Cruise Control Most of us are familiar with cruise control features as they have been around for quite a long time. It’s a great feature to consider for those doing a lot of highway driving. Unlike the traditional counterpart, adaptive cruise control actually uses sensors to tell the speed and location of surrounding vehicles and then decides on a safe distance from them. It can also sense obstructions and will slow down in that case. Automatic Braking Systems These are safety mechanisms that keep your car from crashing into other cars. They are setup to basically sense other vehicles via various technologies. The system helps to actually brake the car depending on what object it senses and where the object is. It usually uses GPS data to do this. Night Vision This is an interesting technology that allows drivers to see things at night via a special lighting set up that’s based on infrared light sources. These lights are typically able to sense objects that are further than headlights can see. Cameras are used to show the driver this data, since humans can’t actually see it. This is a great thing to use if you’re doing a lot of highway or rural driving at night. Hill Descent Control Originally developed by Land Rover makers, this is basically cruise control for steep grades or rough terrain. It automatically adjusts for the vehicle based on the type of terrain it’s running over. GPS Most of us understand the basics of GPS by now, but what you may not know is that they are typically integrated into high-tech infotainment systems. Display screens and information gathering techniques vary between brands, so if you’re shopping for a car be sure to check and see if the GPS system and associated displays are easy to understand and use while actually being on the road. It’s important to note that, while these types of systems are different from year-to-year, they are constantly being improved. The 2018 Honda CRV in Los Angeles is an example of affordable option that comes with driver assistance systems. Contact your local Los Angeles Honda dealership for more information on financing options for that one or the Honda HRV.

If you are in the market for small SUV in Los Angeles there are a lot of choices but some definitely rate higher than the others. The Honda CRV has many features that will impress in a myriad of ways while driving the streets of Los Angeles. When looking at the specifics of this SUV the following list highlights some of its best features. Space When you are looking at the space of a vehicle you have to consider both the occupant and cargo area. It can be surprising how some small SUVs can look quite large from the outside but once inside the seating areas can feel cramped or the cargo area fits far less than you need it to. The CRV has comfortable seating spaces with ample leg and head-room for the driver and the ability to fit a minimum of two adults in the back seat. The cargo area will surprise you with how much you can fit in it, partially due to the low load floor. The back seats can also be folded down to double the cargo space. Research and compare the cargo area storage stats from different small SUVs and see how this one tends to be at the top. There is also an adjustable parcel shelf that can be moved into three different heights to accommodate a tablet, bag, or other accessories. Fuel Efficiency Everyone wants a vehicle with a good fuel efficiency to save money on gas. The Honda CRV’s fuel efficiency is impressive on both the front wheel drive and all-wheel option. The best part of the fuel efficiency is that you don’t trade in power. The combination of the available Real Time AWD with Intelligent Control System results in an even acceleration while maintaining smooth handling. Safety Features You should always consider safety when looking at vehicles. The new Hondas have many standard safety features which include a Tire Pressure Monitoring System, LED Daytime Running Lights, advanced front airbags, multi-angle rearview camera, side curtain airbags with rollover sensor, LATCH child seat anchors, driver/front passenger seat-belt reminders and child-proof rear door locks. Other options include driving aids such as collision mitigation which will apply the brakes when it senses that an accident is about to happen, road departure mitigation that gives warnings when the vehicle is about the leave the road, and lane-keeping assist. If you look at the Honda CRV and like what you see but would like to have a smaller SUV with a lower cost but many of the same features and performance, it is time to look at the Honda HRV. Both have high efficiency, safety, practicality, and great engineering and you can never go wrong driving a Honda HRV in Los Angeles.

Our last road trip special started out in Huntington Beach and made its way all the way down to San Diego, enjoying all the great scenery and fun activities along the way. But we certainly can’t neglect the north, which has just as much (or more) to offer avid road-trippers. So, pack up the Honda Accord and get out of Los Angeles for the day, the weekend, or maybe even a whole week. Malibu This is a great starting point, chock-full of beautiful mansions, picturesque canyons, and incredible ocean scenery. Who knows, you might just pass a celebrity or two out for their daily beach walk. Santa Barbara Known for its amazing stuccoed white buildings with their red roofs, Santa Barbara has occasionally been referred to as “The American Riviera”. High-end dining, luxury hotels, and elegant dining options are available on seemingly every corner. Pismo Beach A surfer’s delight, Pismo Beach has the obligatory great waves and incredible scenery common to any perfect beach town. No one-trick pony, however, it also features Dinosaur Caves Park and Monarch Butterfly Grove. San Luis Obispo Affectionately known as “SLO”, this is one of the oldest cities in California and is wonderfully located right in the middle of wine country. Hearst Castle This beautiful retreat built in the early 20 th century was originally referred to as the “Enchanted Hill”. Originally the home of Senator George Hearst, it now boasts an excellent art museum, fine dining, and informative tours. Big Sur This rough and gorgeous section of coastline lies sandwiched between the roaring Pacific to the west and the Santa Lucia mountains to the east. The roads are winding, the views are stupendous, and there are plenty of available hiking trails. Carmel-by-the-Sea Like a slice of Europe dropped onto the rugged California coast, visitors find themselves enthralled with the moss-covered cottages and their cobblestone courtyards. Check out the 17-mile drive past famous Pebble Beach golf course. Santa Cruz This cool town is full of vintage shops, skateboarders, modern restaurants, and graffiti. Santa Cruz is also hugely popular with beach volleyball players. San Francisco The Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, the Mission District, touristy Fisherman’s Wharf, and a ride on a vintage cable car – just the starting points for a great San Francisco weekend. While the debate rages on – north or south? – those who take the time to get out of Los Angeles on a Pacific Coast road trip really can’t go wrong either way. Whether you’ve got the surfboards packed on top of your vintage VW van or are just going for a comfortable cruise in your Honda Accord, there is more than enough to keep you occupied on one of the world’s great drives.

Hybrid cars are big sellers in California, and it’s nice to know that they are becoming more and more popular and accessible to the masses. After all, cars are one of the biggest polluters, and anyone who lives in Los Angeles will be able to tell first-hand stories about the smog. So now that there are so many more hybrids and electric cars on the market to choose from, is it time to bite the bullet and make a more ethical choice, even if it’s a little pricier? Here are some points to help you decide. Mileage You’re obviously going to save on fuel with a car like this, but how much you save depends on how much road you cover. The amount of savings that you will see depends on your overall usage---basically, the more you use it, the faster you’ll see that payback from fuel. Length of Trip Hybrids and especially electric vehicles can’t actually be driven that far on a single charge, and stations are showing up more and more, but are still relatively rare. So you will need to make sure that within your daily trip you’re able to recharge regularly. Of course, between technological innovation and the fact that there will be more stations in the future, this is likely to be less of a factor in the coming years. Highway Driving The more time you spend on regular roads (not the highway), the more you’ll save on lifetime costs for these types of vehicles. Hybrids especially are designed with stop-start technology, meaning that they’ll get good mileage if this is your regular pattern. Charging Stations Are you able to get a charging station at home, or do you know that there’s one nearby that you can use readily? While they are becoming more commonplace, this is still an issue when it comes to electric vehicles. Driving Performance If you love driving at high speed a hybrid will use up more gas in these instances. Many models probably aren’t designed for performance driving at this time either. Bonuses for Going Green If you’re in california and you drive a zero emission or natural gas vehicle, you’ll be able to qualify for special privileges such as the use of HOV lanes. You should also be eligible for special tax credits if you have a green vehicle. Today we’re seeing more and more affordable green vehicle options out there that are just as safe, reliable and stylish as other cars. Honda even offers a plug-in hybrid Accord. If you’re in the Los Angeles area and you’re looking to buy a greener vehicle, visit your local Honda dealer today.

Road-tripping along the beautiful California coast is one of the iconic American activities that far too many Los Angeles residents never get around to experiencing. Despite the easily accessible beauty throughout the state, road trips close to home are one of those things that seem all too easy to put off to another time. Whether you drive a convertible Caddy or a practical Honda Civic, make sure you don’t fall into this trap. Set aside a weekend to get out and enjoy some of these amazing Pacific highlights. Huntington Beach Everything that comes to mind when you think about California beach life. A variety of terrific surf breaks for beginners and experts alike. Dozens of beach volleyball courts, a wide variety of beach-front bars, and plenty of nearby shopping. Don’t miss the International Surfing Museum. Laguna Beach This beautiful, placid coastal city is the perfect place to slow down, enjoy the scenery, and maybe even brush up on your knowledge of nature and biology. Well-known for its fascinating tide pools, you will also want to check out some of the trendy cafés and galleries, or stop by Crystal Cove State Park for some snorkeling or scuba diving. Oceanside The home of an annual Ironman competition, Oceanside is all about getting physical with a wide array of outdoor activities. From swimming, paddle-boarding, kayaking, and surfing to walking, running, or biking, this is the place to go for exercise in a beautiful environment. Encinitas Yet another of the terrific surf destinations along the California coast, Encinitas has been named one of the top 20 surf towns in the world by National Geographic. A big hippie and surfer hangout full of surf shops and cool cafés, Encinitas has also been called the “flower capital of the world” thanks to its bevy of natural flowers and the San Diego Botanic Garden. La Jolla It’s hard to go wrong in stunning La Jolla. Obviously, the location offers amazing scenery, there is a world-renowned coastal walking trail to enjoy, and the quiet village atmosphere makes it a favorite of the many return visitors. Plus, it is also justifiably known for outstanding food, with a huge selection of top restaurants, many featuring great coastal views. San Diego Around 130 miles south of Hollywood you’ve reached your final stop, where you can settle in to enjoy some of San Diego’s famous microbrews, wander the Gaslamp District, and take some time to enjoy pretty Balboa Park. It tends to be the sights close to home that are least appreciated. Avoid that mistake by getting out of Los Angeles and hitting the road in your new Honda Civic for some sun and scenery.

While buying brand new may seem like a pricey consideration to some, there are actually many benefits to choosing this route if you're already in the market for something that will last. You may think that it will cost a lot more, but there are plenty of affordable cars out there that will not cost much more than their used counterparts but will take you much further. Fewer Repairs Beyond just your basic costs that can be unpredictable but that are more frequent the older your car is, there are always basic maintenance costs. From oil to tires to break pads, there are regular maintenance costs that you have to factor in no matter what. You’re just going to have less to fix if you buy a newer car. Fuel Depending on what model you buy, of course, you’ll probably have a loot better fuel efficiency the newer your car is. And if you are in the market for an electric or hybrid car, then you’ve got it made as far as saving on long term fuel as well as enjoying extra rebates. Previous Ownership If you live in a warm climate like California, you’ll need something stylish yet affordable, so a new Honda car might just be your best bet for cruising the streets of Los Angeles. And with a brand new car, there will be no worry whatsoever about what the previous owners did (or didn’t) do in terms of care and maintenance. You don’t have to worry about being “ripped off” or entering into some sort of dishonest deal. You’ll know every single detail about your purchase from the get go, and they’ll be no guessing or mishaps. Overall Maintenance If you keep on top of all of your car’s maintenance needs, and are committed to driving safely on the road, you’ll prevent wear and tear over time, thus slowing the overall depreciation curve. The other thing is that with newer cars you’ll have a comprehensive warranty as well as extra incentives to help you save money. Safety There’s something to be said about the innovative safety technology that’s coming out today with the newest cars. From side airbags to anti lock brakes, you can be sure that you’re getting the best of the best in terms of technology with a new car. If you’re living in a warm place like Los Angeles and are looking to lease an affordable and new car, you may want to consider putting a stylish new Honda Accord or LX Sedan on a lease. Contact your local Los Angeles dealership for more information on financing options.