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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.
  1. 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.

A new Honda Civic lease in Los Angeles is an option where you only pay for the depreciation of the car over the time of the lease plus fees and interest rather than paying for the whole car. You usually have to pay a pre-determined amount at the signing of the contract and then the rest of the cost is spread over the monthly payments When it comes to the decision of whether to lease a vehicle there are many things to consider. Not everyone is aware of the various benefits to leasing so here is a list of advantages of leasing on your next car.

Lower Monthly Payments

A lease’s monthly payments are generally lower then the monthly payments if you were buying the car. This is because you are only paying for the depreciation rather than the whole car. However, this also means that at the end of the contract you do not own the car. The lower payments mean that you can afford to drive a better make, trim or model with more options than if you were purchasing the car.

Latest Technology and Safety Features

Since the vehicle you are leasing is new you will get to have the newest safety and connectivity technology. New Honda Civic leases have the options of various advanced safety features including driver assistance technology. Research the choices that are available to you and how they will benefit you on a day to day basis. Many new vehicles also have Apple CarPlay or support for Android Auto.

Reliability and Peace of Mind

Your leased Civic will be covered by warranty for the term of the lease. This means that you don’t have to be concerned if your vehicle needs any expensive repairs as the dealership service department will handle them.

Easy Trade-In

When the term of the contract is up and your lease is over, all you have to do is take your Honda to a dealership in Los Angeles, pay any final fees and any charges for any mileage over the agreed upon amount or to much wear and tear on the car and leave it there. There is no concern about dealing with the time-consuming job of selling or trading in the old car and any hassle or haggling that this would involve. Many people chose to then start another lease on a new car.

Smaller Down Payment

Another benefit of a lease is that the down payment that you have to pay before taking it off the lot is usually less than if you were buying it. Some leases may not even need a down payment at the time of signing.

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.

Huge strides have been made in vehicle technology in recent years, something that only continues to improve. There have been serious advancements in comfort, safety, and functionality. Potential buyers looking for a new Honda car or SUV in Los Angeles now have many more decisions to make regarding specific features that are important for them and their family.

Pedestrian Detection

Through the use of surrounding sensors, pedestrian detection offers a wonderful safety feature. It is particularly useful for families who have concerns about children wandering around behind the vehicle, and can even come in handy for avoiding carelessly placed toys and bicycles.

Lane Departure Warning

This can be a life-saver, literally, if it ever comes into play. If someone were to fall asleep while driving, for example, the lane departure system would send up warning signals (sounds, lights, sometimes vibrations). It is also useful for detecting general wandering among lanes and is handily disengaged if the driver uses their signal light. The only limitation is that it needs clear lane markings to function properly.

Wifi

Although many, or most, people now have wifi availability on their phone, it can also be very handy to have a direct wifi connection within your vehicle. From connecting children’s devices to syncing all devices to the vehicle systems (stereo, speakers, etc.), having in-car wifi just makes everything easier. 

Auto-Trunk

Hard on the heels of the one-touch trunk and hatch technology that allows people to use their foot to open them, automatic trunk systems take this one step further. In this case, the vehicle recognizes the approach of the keys and offers up a signal, typically a quiet beeping, and if the keys remain near the back of the vehicle for a pre-determined amount of time (usually a few seconds), the trunk will open automatically without any action on your part. Extremely convenient when arriving at the vehicle with your arms full.

Inter-Vehicle Communication

Another feature that is evolving quickly, inter-vehicle communication serves a number of useful functions. Providing the vehicle with access to its surrounding environment, the standard GPS directions can be enhanced to include current traffic details, travel times, detours, and weather info. Opting for this feature in your new Honda Accord will allow it to communicate directly with other similarly-equipped vehicles, sharing directions, location, and ETA details.

With such a wide range of impressive technology available today it can be difficult to choose the features that are most important for your situation. Whether you are looking to buy new Honda Accord or take on a lease, prospective Los Angeles buyers are certainly spoiled for choice.