Monday, August 29, 2011
Gene Langley did a wonderful job!
Gene Langley did a wonderful job. So did the other people involved. They were ready in advance and had everything waiting for me when I arrived. It was a great experience. - William Cress
Monday, August 22, 2011
I'm very pleased with my purchase
Elbert, Dave, and Jimmy worked together well to find the car that I wanted and make it happen. I am very pleased with my purchase. - George Ward.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Honda Advantage over Hyundai Assurance
The Hyundai Assurance program’s new trade-in value guarantee is getting a lot of attention in the press and from consumers. While it is a clever marketing ploy, a close look at the program reveals that it provides far more benefits for Hyundai than it does for consumers. Honda offers customers the real advantages of proven performance by a market leader.
The Hyundai Promise
The Hyundai Assurance program includes three elements.
The Hyundai Assurance program includes three elements.
• Trade-in value guarantee | • 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain protection | |
• Roadside assistance |
Of these elements, only the trade-in value guarantee is new.
The Fine Print
Trade-in values are established by Automotive Lease Guide and reflect anticipated market values after 24 to 48 months of ownership. The guaranteed trade-in value will, of course, be reduced for damage to the vehicle or excessive mileage.
In order to receive the guaranteed trade-in value, Hyundai customers must… | Hyundai customers give up… |
· Provide proof that all required maintenance was performed at authorized Hyundai dealerships | · The ability to have maintenance services performed at an independent shop if it is more convenient. |
· Trade their vehicle between 24 and 48 months after purchase | · The ability to trade their vehicles when it is the right time for them. · This also influences the term for which they might choose to finance a vehicle since they don’t want to owe more than the guaranteed value when they trade. |
· Purchase a new Hyundai vehicle (Leases don’t qualify) | · The ability to trade their Hyundai on a different make vehicle if they desire. · The ability to lease their new Hyundai if that makes better economic sense for them at the time. |
· Finance the new vehicle through Hyundai Motor Finance (HMF) | · The ability to use their own financing resources where they might get better rates or to pay cash. |
Who Really Wins with the Hyundai Trade-in Guarantee?
Hyundai gains the assurance of...
· A captive source of maintenance business for dealers
· A captive source of late-model, low-mileage used cars
· A captive source of repeat buyers
· A captive source of business for Hyundai Motor Finance
An analysis of Hyundai Trade-In Guarantee Website Values as of June 1, 2011, reveals that the guaranteed trade-in values are much less than estimated residual values for Honda vehicles. Honda has earned these values and a Honda customer has the freedom of choice in financing, trade-in time, and future model to choose from. Here are just a few examples, comparing the estimated ALG residual values for Honda models to the guaranteed trade-in values for comparable Hyundai models:
Honda Model | ALG 36-month Residual % | Hyundai Model | 31-36 Month Guaranteed Resale Value % |
2011 Accord Sedan EX AT | 55% | 2011 Sonata SE AT | 50% |
2012 Civic Sedan EX AT | 63% | 2012 Elantra GLS AT | 58% |
2011 CR-V 4WD EX AT | 59% | 2011 Tucson GLS AT AWD | 51% |
Where’s the customer benefit?
Honda Advantage
Honda is a market leader in retained value. In the past, respected market sources such as Automotive Lease Guide (ALG), Kelley Blue Book®, and Edmunds.com have recognized Honda and specific Honda models as having the highest residual/resale values and the lowest cost of ownership in their competitive sets. (Check out all the Accolades on the Honda Sales Portal, www.hondamobileassistant.com, and in past issues of Frontline.)
In 2011 Honda won the first ever Edmunds.com Best Retained Value Award for Non-Luxury Brands and four Honda models won model-level 2011 Edmunds.com Best Retained Value Awards.
By choosing Honda, customers gain a number of advantages, including...
In 2011 Honda won the first ever Edmunds.com Best Retained Value Award for Non-Luxury Brands and four Honda models won model-level 2011 Edmunds.com Best Retained Value Awards.
By choosing Honda, customers gain a number of advantages, including...
· Peace of mind that comes with driving a Honda, with Honda’s reputation for reliable and durable vehicles. (Ninety-three percent of all Honda vehicles registered in the last 10 years are still on the road.)
· Confidence that their Honda vehicle will cost less to own and retain more of its value at trade-in time than most other vehicles on the road without the need for a special “program.”
· Freedom of choice during their ownership cycle and when it comes time to trade. Choice about...
o Where they have their vehicle serviced
o When they trade
o What they buy
o Whether they finance, lease, or pay cash
o Whom they finance through
Warranty
Honda provides a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty and a customer can choose a Vehicle Service Contract (VSC) if their ownership cycle is longer. By requiring that customers trade their Hyundai vehicle after 24 to 48 months to take advantage of the trade-in value guarantee, Hyundai makes its 10-year 100,000-mile powertrain warranty meaningless. While it might improve Hyundai vehicles’ resale values, which helps Hyundai cover the trade-in value guarantee, Honda vehicles’ resale values are still superior.
Where’s the customer benefit?
Honda provides a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty and a customer can choose a Vehicle Service Contract (VSC) if their ownership cycle is longer. By requiring that customers trade their Hyundai vehicle after 24 to 48 months to take advantage of the trade-in value guarantee, Hyundai makes its 10-year 100,000-mile powertrain warranty meaningless. While it might improve Hyundai vehicles’ resale values, which helps Hyundai cover the trade-in value guarantee, Honda vehicles’ resale values are still superior.
Where’s the customer benefit?
Roadside Assistance
Many people already have roadside assistance through an organization like the American Automobile Association (AAA) or as part of their vehicle insurance. In addition, Honda’s available VSC includes roadside assistance. Finally, Honda vehicles have a proven reputation for exceptional reliability.
Many people already have roadside assistance through an organization like the American Automobile Association (AAA) or as part of their vehicle insurance. In addition, Honda’s available VSC includes roadside assistance. Finally, Honda vehicles have a proven reputation for exceptional reliability.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
2011 Honda Pilot 4WD EX-L vs. 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4X4
Pilot 4WD EX-L advantages over Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4X4 include greater passenger roominess and cargo capacity, unique safety features, better resale value, greater reliability, and a lower price (MSRP) when comparably equipped.
Greater Passenger Roominess and Cargo Capacity
Advantage: Pilot provides seating for eight compared to five for Grand Cherokee. In addition, Pilot provides more cargo space with the third- and second-row seats folded. Standard payload and tow capacity are comparable. Despite its greater roominess inside, Pilot is only 1.1 inch longer in overall length.
Better Resale Value
Advantage: Pilot 4WD EX-L maintains a 49% Automotive Lease Guide (ALG) residual value after 36 months and 37% after 60 months. Grand Cherokee Limited 4X4’s ALG residual values are 43% and 30% respectively.
Lower Comparably Equipped Price
Pilot 4WD EX-L is priced (MSRP) more than $3,300 less than Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4X4 when it is comparably equipped.
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2011 Honda Pilot
Greater Passenger Roominess and Cargo Capacity
Advantage: Pilot provides seating for eight compared to five for Grand Cherokee. In addition, Pilot provides more cargo space with the third- and second-row seats folded. Standard payload and tow capacity are comparable. Despite its greater roominess inside, Pilot is only 1.1 inch longer in overall length.
Specification | 2011 Honda Pilot 4WD EX-L | 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4X4 |
Seating (Standard) | 8 | 5 |
Passenger Volume (cu. ft.) | 152.7 (EX-L) | 105.4 |
Cargo Volume (cu. ft.) Behind 3rd/2nd/1st row seats | 18.0/47.7/87.0 | NA /35.1/68.7 |
Tow Capacity (Standard, lbs.) | 4,500 | 5,000 |
Tip: Sit in the third-row seat to experience the ease of access and roominess for adults.
Unique Safety Features
Advantage: Pilot offers the following unique safety features. Comparable features are not available on the 2011 Grand Cherokee.
Advantage: Pilot offers the following unique safety features. Comparable features are not available on the 2011 Grand Cherokee.
· Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS): OPDS will deactivate the front passenger’s front-side airbag if a child or a small-statured adult is leaning into the side airbag deployment path.
· Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) Body Structure: ACE body structure is a Honda exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal collisions.
Better Resale Value
Advantage: Pilot 4WD EX-L maintains a 49% Automotive Lease Guide (ALG) residual value after 36 months and 37% after 60 months. Grand Cherokee Limited 4X4’s ALG residual values are 43% and 30% respectively.
Greater Reliability
Advantage: According to USNews.com, the 2011 Honda Pilot has a reliability score of 8.0 out of 10, which is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality StudySM (IQS). Jeep Grand Cherokee has a reliability score of 6.0 out of 10.
Advantage: According to USNews.com, the 2011 Honda Pilot has a reliability score of 8.0 out of 10, which is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality StudySM (IQS). Jeep Grand Cherokee has a reliability score of 6.0 out of 10.
Lower Comparably Equipped Price
Pilot 4WD EX-L is priced (MSRP) more than $3,300 less than Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4X4 when it is comparably equipped.
Specification Chart
Specification | 2011 Honda Pilot 4WD EX-L | 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4X4 |
ALG Residual Values (36/60 months) | 49%/37% | 43%/30% |
EPA Fuel Economy Estimates (City/Highway/Combined – mpg)1 | 16/22/18 | 16/22/18 |
Base Price MSRP | $35,870 | $39,215 |
Destination Charge | $810 | $825 |
Comparably Equipped Price | $36,680 | $40,040 |
1 Based on 2011 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary, depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Monday, August 8, 2011
Civic Superiority: 2012 Honda Civic Sedan EX vs. 2011 VW Jetta SE
With superior handling, fuel economy, resale value, reliability, and front seat roominess, Civic is the clear choice.
Superior Handling
Superior Fuel Economy
Superior Resale Value
Superior Reliability
Superior Front Seat Roominess
- Civic has motion-adaptive electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering (EPS) to vary steering assist according to vehicle speed and to improve fuel economy. Jetta has hydraulic power-assisted steering that places a constant draw on engine power. Variable-assisted steering is not available on Jetta.
- Civic has ventilated disc brakes in front and solid disc brakes in the rear. Jetta SE has less efficient drum brakes in the rear.
- Civic has an independent multi-link rear suspension. Jetta has a less sophisticated semi-independent twist beam rear suspension.
- Civic has a turning diameter of 35.4 feet. Jetta has a turning diameter of 36.4 feet.
Superior Fuel Economy
- Civic Sedan EX with automatic transmission has a 4-mpg better city EPA rating and an 8-mpg better highway rating when compared to Jetta SE with automatic transmission. (See chart.)
Superior Resale Value
- Civic Sedan EX with automatic transmission maintains a 63% ALG residual value after 36 months and 48% after 60 months. Jetta SE’s ALG residual values are 55% and 39% respectively.
Superior Reliability
- According to Edmunds.com, the 2012 Civic Sedan EX with automatic transmission has a J.D. Power Overall Initial Quality rating of 4.5 out of 5. Jetta SE has an Overall Initial Quality rating of 2.0 out of 5.
Superior Front Seat Roominess
- When Jetta SE is equipped with the optional power moonroof, Civic Sedan EX has superior front seat headroom (37.7 inches vs. 37.0 inches), legroom (42.2 inches vs. 41.2 inches), and shoulder room (56.6 inches vs. 55.2 inches).
Jetta Advantages/Civic Answers
- Jetta has more rear seat room. Most customers will find Civic’s rear seat room more than adequate. You should really sit in the rear seat to experience Civic’s rear seat legroom.
- Jetta SE’s 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine produces more horsepower and torque. Civic Sedan EX is several hundred pounds lighter than Jetta SE and offers an optimum combination of performance and fuel economy.
- Volkswagen offers free maintenance for three years/36,000 miles. Civic’s fuel economy and resale advantages more than compensate for its maintenance costs.
Friday, August 5, 2011
I will call on him again
This is the second time I have purchased a car with Gene, I will call on him again when I buy my next Honda. -Kelly Watson
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Our Perspective... on Consumer Reports Review of the Civic LX
John Mendel
Executive Vice President of Sales
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
08/02/2011
In life, sometimes you disagree even with those for whom you have the greatest respect. And it seems as if that is what has occurred with the Consumer Reports review of the 2012 Honda Civic LX.
We have great respect for the magazine and its editors, but we fundamentally disagree with their suggestion that Civic doesn't rank among their recommended small cars. As for Consumer Reports, well, the magazine has named Civic as the "top pick" in its segment six times over the past 15 years. So, they are definitely finding fault with someone they have shown a lot of love in the past.
Interestingly, even using Consumer Reports own results, consumers can find ample reason to purchase a new 2012 Civic. The new Civic truly excels in areas that matter to small car customers, including fuel efficiency, safety, and reliability.
Finally, among many other very positive reviews of the Civic lineup, Motor Trend magazine recently tested eight compact cars, including Civic. The respected auto enthusiast magazine - which knows a thing or two about ride and handling - ranked Civic second among eight compact cars in the comparison drive. Many would be thrilled with this result. However, we disagree with Motor Trend as well - we think there is no better compact car than Civic.
Is the small sedan segment more competitive than ever? Without question. But in virtually every way, the completely redesigned 2012 Civic is a step forward that our customers will value and enjoy. So, while we will continue to have great respect for Consumer Reports, regarding their editors' review of the Civic LX - we will just have to agree to disagree… strenuously.
In life, sometimes you disagree even with those for whom you have the greatest respect. And it seems as if that is what has occurred with the Consumer Reports review of the 2012 Honda Civic LX.
We have great respect for the magazine and its editors, but we fundamentally disagree with their suggestion that Civic doesn't rank among their recommended small cars. As for Consumer Reports, well, the magazine has named Civic as the "top pick" in its segment six times over the past 15 years. So, they are definitely finding fault with someone they have shown a lot of love in the past.
Interestingly, even using Consumer Reports own results, consumers can find ample reason to purchase a new 2012 Civic. The new Civic truly excels in areas that matter to small car customers, including fuel efficiency, safety, and reliability.
- Consumer Reports own testing found that Civic's smooth and efficient powertrain returned "... an impressive 30 mpg overall on regular fuel and 47 mpg on the highway." Only one other compact car the magazine tested did better.
- In the area of safety, the magazine pointed out that Civic has earned a class-leading 'Top Safety Pick' rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Further, as noted in Consumer Reports findings, the Civic excels with a long list of important safety features that are standard on all trim levels.
- Civic has a stellar reliability history with Consumer Reports, and we have complete confidence that the new Civic will be a reliability leader as well. In fact, one of our plants building Civic (in Indiana) earned the top "platinum" award in the 2011 J.D. Power & Associates Initial Quality Study. So, Civic's quality and reliability story has a solid foundation.
Finally, among many other very positive reviews of the Civic lineup, Motor Trend magazine recently tested eight compact cars, including Civic. The respected auto enthusiast magazine - which knows a thing or two about ride and handling - ranked Civic second among eight compact cars in the comparison drive. Many would be thrilled with this result. However, we disagree with Motor Trend as well - we think there is no better compact car than Civic.
Is the small sedan segment more competitive than ever? Without question. But in virtually every way, the completely redesigned 2012 Civic is a step forward that our customers will value and enjoy. So, while we will continue to have great respect for Consumer Reports, regarding their editors' review of the Civic LX - we will just have to agree to disagree… strenuously.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Elbert was patient
Elbert was patient, considerate, knowledgeable as well as being very professional. You are fortunate to have a man of his caliber. -Kay Newell
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)