Category: Honda

Latest reviews and road test on all Honda cars. Unprecedented information about Honda parts, recalls, and maintenance.

  • Top 10 Strangest New Car Features

    One of the most exciting things about new car launching is when the anchorperson announces all the new features a new car has. Often, we will hear some interesting yet practical new car features, which attract you to buy the car. However, we will also hear some weird car features that are way ahead of our time. In other words, these car features are not really practical to be used. Read through the top 10 strangest new car features here and you may notice that your car is actually having one of these weird features.

    Top 10 Weirdest New Car Features

    These are some of the strangest features offered by car makers to tempt their customers. You can say these features are cool, weird, strange, or bizarre.

    1. Openometer in a Mini Cooper Convertible

    Openometer Mini Cooper convertible
    The newest Mini Cooper convertible has something that other convertibles don’t have, the “Openometer”. Openometer is a gauge that records the time spent driving with the top down. This features has been around since the 2010 models. Openometer, we leave the rest for you to comment.

    2. Bear-Proof Sunroof in a Nissan Qashqai

    Nissan Qashqai Bear-Proof Sunroof
    The newest Nissan Qashqai features a bear-proof sunroof. The brochure reads: Sun roof can withstand the weight of a bear without breaking. What if the area you are living has no bear?

    3. Refrigerator in a Hyundai Equus Ultimate

    Hyundai Equus Refrigerator
    When you buy a 2013 Hyundai Equus Ultimate, you get a standard refrigerator fitted to the center console of the rear seat. You can put beer or can drinks into the fridge before you begin your journey. A mini-fridge? Yes.

    4. Dog Friendly Package in a Honda Element

    Honda Element dog friendly package
    In 2010, Honda offers every Honda Element buyer the Dog Friendly package. Obviously, this feature is to target Honda fans who love dogs. Dog friendly package costs $995 and the package comes with a custom-fitted, soft-sided crate with a built-in, spill-resistant water bowl. It also has an electric cooling fan mounted in the cargo bay and a portable lamp to give your pets access to the crate.

    5. Active Perfuming System in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Active Perfuming system Mercedes-benz
    The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class offers their consumers a “Active Perfuming System”. This feature costs $350 as an option. You can turn it on or off or control the intensity (low, medium, or high). There are four types of fragrances to give your car a brand new smell: Freeside Mood (light citrus), Nightlife Mood, Downtown Mood, and Sports Mood. The question is, would you want to spend $350 to buy cologne for your car?

    6. Picnic Table in a Honda CR-V

    Honda CRV picnic table
    For those who used to purchased a brand new Honda CR-V in 2001, you should be able to remember that a picnic table is part of the car. This is a Honda picnic table, it is designed to be attached to the floor in the cargo of the car. See also: Honda CRV problems.

    7. Gentlemen Functions in a BMW 750i

    Gentlemen functions
    Gentlement functions is a feature that allow BMW 750i driver to increase the leg room for rear passengers. When you select the function from the screen, the front seat will move forward to allow more leg room for the passenger behind. The feature is not weird, but hey, Gentlement Functions?

    8. 400 mph Top Speed Key in a Bugatti Veyron

    top speed key
    You will never know there is a “Top Speed Key” if you don’t own a Bugatti Veyron. It is the fastest super exotic sports cars that is capable to reach a top speed of 400mph. However, you need the “Top Speed Key” to unlock the car to its fullest power otherwise the top speed will be remained at 250 mph. This key will lowers the suspension of the car as well as open the rear spoiler for better aerodynamic.

    9. Glowing Speakers Lights in a Kia Soul

    Kia Soul LED speakers weird features
    Start your Kia Soul and play some songs. You will see the lights surrounding the speakers pulse and glow according to the beat of the music. Without doubt, it is fun for certain people but it is weird for some too. Do you really need that flashy lights? OMG!

    10. Adjustable Dashboard Lighting in a Ford Mustang

    Ford mustang dashboard lights
    Ford Mustang is one of the coolest muscle cars of all time. However, it becomes not cool if the gauge cluster can be tuned to different colors. Do you really need a red light gauge to make your car go faster? Last but not least, don’t forget to check out the weirdest old car features.

  • Best Used Cars under $10,000

    Looking to buy an inexpensive yet reliable used car? Check out the top 10 best used cars under $10,000 dollars here. These cars are chosen among hundreds of different types of cars available in the U.S, UK and Australia. They are cheap to drive in terms of low running costs such as cheap spare parts, low yearly insurance costs and road tax. Of course, most of these cars come with good gas mileage (miles per gallon) and good safety rating too. Before you begin, you might want to go through our Car Buying Guide.

    Toyota Camry (6 Years Old or Older)Toyota Camry used cars

    A brand new Toyota Camry costs MSRP from $22,970. However, you can get a 6-7 year old Toyota Camry under $10,000 in the market. The name “Camry” is as popular a household car name as you will find. Six or seven years old Camry, it is highly recommended if you are looking for a five-passenger sedan with budget under $10,000. It is good for short or long distance drive.

    Honda Civic (5 Years Old or Older)

    Honda Civic used cars
    Thanks to its superb fuel economy (44/47 mpg) and appealing performance, the Honda Civic has been one of the most popular compact cars sold in the America since 1973. Price wise, a new Civic is under $20,000 but a 5-year old Honda Civic is exactly below 10 grand. Inside, the dashboard is made with high quality material and it definitely looks new even it is a used car. See also: 2012 Honda Civic.

    Nissan Versa (2 Years Old or Older)

    Nissan Versa used cars
    The Nissan Versa is one of the best choices for those who want a close-to-new car. A brand new Nissan Versa Sedan costs around $12,000, thus, you can get a 2-year old Nissan Versa for under $10,000. The Versa is available in sedan and hatchback and both body styles come with first-rate fuel economy, comfortable interior, high resale value, affordable, low running costs, cheap car insurance and more. With all these good ratings, the Nissan Versa is one of the best used cars under $10,000 dollars for anyone.

    BMW 3 Series (8 Years Old and Older)

    BMW 3 Series used cars
    The BMW 3 Series offers a large amount of interior space and great fuel efficiency. It is broken down into 320i, 328i, 328d, 335i and ActiveHybrid 3 models. A brand new BMW 3 Series Sedan costs more than $30,000 but you can get a 8-year old BMW 3 Series just under $10,000. Well, the only drawback with the BMW 3 Series is the short-lived outlook.

    Ford F-150 (6 Years Old or Older)

    used Ford F150
    Regardless of Ford F-150 Regular Cab, SuperCab or SuperCrew, a 6-7 year old Ford F-150 costs under $10,000. Thanks to its reliability and powerful engine, millions of F-150s have been sold in the United States and worldwide. Without doubt, it is one of the best used cars under $10,000 for those who are hunting for a superb all-around truck or pickup truck. See also: Ford F150 Repair Manual.

    Ford Mustang (6 Years Old or Older)

    Ford Mustang used cars
    With a 3.7-liter V6 engine under the hood, the Ford Mustang is probably the fastest cars under $10,000 dollars budget. This is a great option for those who want a fast car with limited budget. The only draw back is the gas mileage is not as good as the other cars in this list because that’s the price to pay for a 300 horsepower car with 270 pound-feet of torque.

    Chevrolet Colorado (5 Years Old or Older)

    Chevrolet Colorado
    With the same budget, you can also consider a 5-year old Chevrolet Colorado. You can consider Chevrolet Colorado Extended Cab, Regular Cab or the Crew Cab. This American-made compact truck comes with a reasonable amount of hauling capability. It could be a value buy for those who need a truck for basic work. Three words – cheap, big, and good.

    MINI Cooper (5 Years Old and Older)

    Mini Cooper
    The Mini has a long story to tell but you only need to know the changes within the past 5 years because that’s between the buying budgets. With $10,000 or less, you can get the second generation Mini which is R56. The Mini Cooper R56 is available as a two-door hatchback car but it seat four people. With 29/40 mpg, the Mini Hardtop is ranked no 8 in the best gas mileage car list. What you buy is not just comfort and amazing fuel economy but also a superb handling that couldn’t find it in other cars.

    Toyota Corolla (5 Years Old or Older)

    Toyota Corolla best used cars
    We have seen the Toyota Corolla in the U.S. since 1968. With almost half a century in the business, the Toyota Corolla is one of the most wanted cars regardless or new or used cars. Consumers on a budget definitely love the Corolla because it is inexpensive, reliable and fuel efficient. A five-year old Toyota Corolla Sedan is just right below ten thousand dollars. Also, the Toyota Corolla is the best-selling car in automotive history and therefore it is chosen as one of the best used cars under $10,000 dollars.

    Mazda 3 (4 Years Old or Older)

    Mazda 3 used cars
    For $10,000 you can get a close-to-new Mazda 3 compared to other cars in this list. A 4-year old or older Mazda 3 Sedan or Hatchback can be purchased under $10,000. No doubt the Mazda 3 is a small car but you will love the sharp handling. It is an affordable and practical car for teens or for those who just need a car for short distance use.

    You might be able to find your next car in the top 10 best used cars under $10,000 list above. Read these tips if you are buying a used car because there are too many things to learn especially if this is your first time buying a car. Also, read the best cars for teenager if you want something else. Instead, if you have a question about buying your next car, share your comment here.

  • Top 10 Best Selling Cars in China 2014-2015

    This is the list of top 10 best selling cars in China from 2014 to 2015. The ranking is based on search index provided by China’s leading search engine, Baidu. Therefore, the list of best selling cars in China is 99.99% accurate as Baidu is used by millions of Chinese car buyers almost every day. Among the top 10 highest searched car brands, we don’t see any Chinese car brands although there are about 48 Chinese car makers in today’s China. Also, we don’t see any British car manufacturers in the list too. So, what’s in the list? Are there any car brands Americans love? Yes, there are some and let’s take a look at the list here.

    Best Selling Cars in China

    best selling cars in China

    1. Volkswagen

    If you happen to travel to China, especially big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, you can see Volkswagen almost everywhere. Volkswagen is known as ??, pronounce as Da 4 Zhong 4 in Chinese, which literally means “Public”. No surprise! It is really used by public.

    2. Kia

    Kia is ranked number 2 for 2015 with 722,902 searches. It is the earliest known Korean car brand founded in 2000. Thanks to the fuel saving technology on all Kia cars, this brand is growing very fast over the years.

    3. Toyota

    It is Toyota, still need further explanation?

    4. Audi

    With 538,359 searches, the Audi comes in number four. For sedan, the Audi A4L, A6L, A3, and A8 are most popular. For SUV, the Audi Q5, Q3 and Q7 are popular in China. As for Audi sports cars, the Audi R8, Audi TT and TTS top the list.

    5. Ford

    One of the longest American car brands Ford comes in number 5 with 528,338 searches. Ford Motor Company is one of the biggest car makers in the world and it is not surprise to see the people in China love Ford.

    6. BMW

    The German car maker BMW has 507,004 searches in first and second quarter in 2015. BMW fans in China mostly buy BMW 3 Series, 5 Series and 7 Series for sedan cars. BMW X1, X5, X3 and X6 are made for SUV lovers. As for sports cars lovers, the BMW i8, BMW Z4 and BMW 1 Series are quite popular in China.

    7. Peugeot

    Peugeot is the only French automaker appears in the list of top 10 best selling cars in China. Peugeot logo is a standing lion and it was founded in 1858 as a bicycle manufacturer. Peugeot 408, 508, 308S, 2008, 3008, 4008 and the RCZ are a few most wanted Peugeot cars in China. See also: List of car brands.

    8. Honda

    Honda is one of the longest car brands in Japan and it is not surprise to see many of them on the road in China. Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Honda CR-V, Honda XR-V, Honda HR-V and Honda Civic Type R are those common Honda cars you can see in China. The Honda Civic Type R is loved by younger generation who would bring the car to racing track.

    9. Hyundai

    Other than Kia, Hyundai is another Korean car maker that enters the China market. The Hyundai ix25 and ix35 are two very popular SUV in China.

    10. Mercedes-Benz

    Mercedes-Benz, the pioneer in automobile history has 417,338 searches in Baidu. There are A to Z of Mercedes-Benz models available in China and people definitely love it due to the safety features. Mecedes-Benz A class, Mecedes-Benz C class, E class, GLA class, GL class, M class, R class and the special Mercedes-Benz SLS, you name it.

    1. Chevrolet
    2. Buick
    3. Changan
    4. ChangCheng (Great Wall Motors)
    5. Nissan
    6. Mazda
    7. BYD
    8. Porsche
    9. Chery
    10. Land Rover

    Buying a car? No experience? Don’t know what car to buy? Check out our Complete Car Buying Guide for free.

  • Best Six Speed Manual Transmission Cars

    Nowadays, there are lesser and lesser manual transmission cars on the road. For stick shift lovers, it is sad to see this situation because there are not much of choices as automakers are cutting down manual transmission cars due to the market needs and traffic regulations. However, it doesn’t stop some car makers to build good cars with three pedals. If you have passed old school driving classes (learning to drive a manual car) and have passions in driving six speed manuals cars, check out the delicious A-list of top 10 best six speed manual transmission cars you can go for.

    1. Toyota 86 a.k.a Subaru BRZ a.k.a Scion FR-S

    Toyota 86 six speed manual

    The Toyota 86 (also known as Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S in the US and Canada), is a rear-wheel drive sports coupes developed by Toyota and Subaru. This car is inspired by the legendary Toyota AE86 from 1983 to 1987. Under the hood, it features a 2.0 liter Boxer engine produces 200 PS at 7,000 rpm. Both manual transmission and automatic transmission are available but the six-speed manual transmission accelerates slightly faster. See how a Toyota 86 Drift.

    2. Mini John Cooper Works JCW

    MINI John Cooper Works JCW

    No doubt the Mini John Cooper Works GP is the faster Mini ever produced but the production is limited. In fact, six speed manual transmission car hunters can go for the Mini John Cooper Works (Mini Cooper JCW). Mini John Cooper works are bred for the track with a 208-hp turbocharged engine. The fun to drive this car is twice as much as the normal Mini Cooper and the handling is superb with a six-speed gearbox.

    3. Honda Civic Type R

    Honda Civic Type R

    Honda Civic Type R is Honda’s most powerful car that you would see on the road. It definitely makes everything work for your speed. The close-ratio six-speed gearbox is one great example of this methodology. The latest Honda Civic Type R is powered by a new direct-injection 2.0 liter turbocharged VTEC petrol engine with 306bhp and 400 Nm of torque. The engine red lines at 7,000 rpm and it is definitely one of the best six speed manual transmission cars you can get today. See also: Honda Civic: 100K km does no harm.

    4. Ford Fiesta ST Six Speed Manual Transmission

    Ford Fiesta ST

    The 197-hp Ford Fiesta ST will never let you down in any situation. Fun, power, handling or cornering, you name it! It is a fun-to-drive car with high quality cabin. Just like the Ford Focus ST, there is a six-speed stick located in between the front seats of the car. Both of them are the few six speed manual transmission cars built by Ford today. If you are looking for an economy small car that feels like a sport car, go for it!

    5. Audi R8 Six Speed Manual Transmissions

    Audi R8 6-speed manual transmissions

    The incredible Audi R8 comes with an excellent 7-speed S tronic transmission. However, Audi also offers R8 buyers a stick between the front seats. Moreover, you can pair this stick with either a 430-hp V8 or the crazy 525-hp V10 engine. Every shift to the manual gearbox will absolutely give you a “Click” feel.

    6. Subaru WRX STI

    Subaru WRX STI

    The Subaru WRX STI features a 2.5 liter that produces 305 hp. With such power that feels like a supercar, the Subaru WRX STI gives you 23 mpg highway and 17 mpg City. For people with the budget below $35,000 dollars, you can access to Subaru official website and use the Build Your Own WRX STI page to build a Subaru. For both Subaru WRX STI and WRX STI Limited, a 6-speed manual is the only transmission Subaru offers.

    Other Cars with Six Speed Manual Transmissions

    Some other three pedal six speed manual transmission cars that have good reputation: 

    7. Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 – The Cheverolet Camaro Z/28 offers not only maximum comforts but also maximum performance. Unlike some other cars in the list above, a six speed manual is the only transmission offered by Chevrolet.

    8. Audi TT RS

    9. Honda Civic Si

    10. Nissan 370Z NISMO

    11. Acura ILX 2.4

    12. SRT Viper

    13. Chevy Corvette C6 Z06, ZR1 and 427

    14. Volkswagen Golf R

    15. Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

  • Honda CRV problems

    2012 Honda CRV
    This page is a collection of all Honda CRV problems shared by CRV owners from around the world. Some problems are provided with solutions while some remains unsolved. Over the years, the 2007 Honda CRV received the most complaints especially wheels and hubs problems and electrical problems. If you own a Honda CRV and you would like to report a problems or share your experience, please contact us and we will have it include in this page. Now here is the list of reported common Honda CRV problems.

    Model: 2012 Honda CRV
    Problems: Rear hatch won’t open (Not a big problem)
    Description: The rear hatch won’t open for sometimes and it seems like it is lock. I have to try it out few times.
    Solution: Sent to the dealer and have the electric lock replaced.
    Report By: Anonymous

    Model: 2012 Honda CRV
    Cons: Engine upgrade is not available, only a 2.4L four-cylinder available; Honda does not offer manual transmission for the 2012 model; Rear seats don’t slide fore and aft.
    Report By: Edmunds

    Model: 2011 Honda CRV
    Problems: Air-conditioning (A/C) not working
    Description: The other day when I am about to leave the gas station, a car came from behind in a very fast speed. I did not notice it and I step on the brake very hard to stop my car. My car speed at the time was about 20 mph. Since then, my AC is giving problem. The AC blower is still working but the air is hot and no cold air. I checked under the hood and found both fans are working.
    Solution: I sent the car to a private mechanic which is also a friend of mine in Virginia. It took him only 10 minutes to diagnose the problem and another 5 minutes to replace a blown fuse. I do not know why this happened but thank god the solution is so simple and it cost me less than $50 including labor charge.
    Report By: Cecilio, Virginia

    Model: 2010 Honda CRV
    Problems: The car is underpowered and lack of torque
    Description: I’ve owned a Honda CR-V for almost a year. Overall, the car satisfied me with the interior design and spacious trunk. The only problem I have with the car is that it is seriously underpowered. The car is lack of torque when climbing up hill or to overtake cars in front.
    Solution: What can I do except Honda make it better in the future?
    Report By: Denver, Malaysia

    Model: 2002 Honda CRV
    Problems: Air conditioning malfunctions, engine and transmission problems.
    Description: Leaking transmission fluid is one of the most common problems for Honda CR-V with automatic transmission.
    Solution: Send the car back to dealer.
    Report By: N/A

    Model: 2001 Honda CRV
    Problems: Vibrating Noise from the underneath
    Description: First I would like to clarify that this was a used car, so I am not sure if the car has gone through any serious accident before. However, I can feel the loud vibrating noise and it seems coming out from the underneath.
    Solution: It could be rubber boots, protectors, axle boots, tie rod boots, driveshaft, or bad bearing.
    Report By: Twitch, United States

    Honda CR-V’s competitor or similar cars: Ford Escape, Mazda CX-5, Acura RDX, Hyundai Tucson, Toyota RAV4, Subaru Outback, Subaru Forester, Nissan Rogue, Kia Sportage, BMW X3, and BMW X1.

    The Honda CRV has gained its popularity in the late ‘90s when it was first introduced in the United States in 1997. With more 5 million units of CR-V sold over the last decades, majority CR-V owners are satisfied with the performance and design of the car although there are minority of owners experienced the uncommon Honda CRV problems. If you are still in dilemma choosing the right car, why not follow our step by step car buying guide to choose the right one?

    See also some other interesting topics in the Honda family: Honda Insight vs. Toyota Prius, 2012 all-new Honda Civic, 2010 Honda City Review.