Lehigh Valley Auto Dealers

How would you like to be the proud recipient of a free Honda Insight? If so, you may have two chances this summer as the company is giving away two of these new hybrid cars at spotlight music festivals dealing with the environment.

The two festivals where one 2010 Honda Insight hybrid will be given away at each event include Lollapalooza in Chicago and Austin City Limits in Texas. In addition to giving away two hybrids, Honda is also organizing a number of green activities and events designed to bring more awareness to the concern over global warming and other environmental issues.

This year’s Lollapalooza in Chicago takes place from August 7-9. Some featured acts include the Beastie Boys, Snoop Dogg, Depeche Mode, Jane’s Addiction and The Killers. Austin City Limits takes place from October 2-4 and features acts like the Beastie Boys, Pearl Jam, the Dave Matthews Band and much more. Start looking for tickets now before it’s too late!

If you cannot attend either event or if you think you are just too old to be hanging out with a bunch of screaming teenagers, you can visit your Lansdale area Honda dealer and purchase a 2010 Insight hybrid. With more than 40 miles to the gallon, you could even drive to both events without spending a fortune!

Drinking and driving is something that our society will probably have to deal with for many years. Many drivers who drink before getting behind the wheel simply do not consider the consequences of their actions. Your PA dealers would like to offer the following statistics for you to ponder. Maybe someone will read these numbers and think twice before driving after they have been drinking.

• About 30 percent of all fatal collisions during the week are related to alcohol. More than 50 percent of fatal accidents occur on the weekends.
• Of all the fatal collisions that occur between midnight and 3:00 a.m., more than 75 percent had alcohol involved. This means that those three hours are the most dangerous times to be on the road.
• The next most dangerous time to be on the roads is between 9:00 p.m. and midnight when more than 60 percent of fatal crashes were related to alcohol and intoxicated drivers. The hours between 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. are also dangerous as 60 percent of traffic-related fatalities are the result of alcohol.
• A standard drink is typically as follows: 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 72-proof spirits. Each of these contains more than one-half ounce of alcohol.

Your Doylestown area Honda dealer encourages you to have a safe alternative to driving your car after you have been drinking. It’s not only the legal thing to do, but it’s also your responsibility as a driver.

You have seen posts on here before about the dangers of handheld cell phones. But did you know hands-free cell phones are just as dangerous as handheld units?

One man wrote an editorial about this very problem. He said legislators are making a big mistake when they only propose bills that regulate the use of handheld cell phones when behind the wheel because those are only part of the problem. According to him, “the problem is not where your hands are. The problem is where your head is!” What he means by that is that cell phones are major distractions whether you have both hands on the wheel or not.

To further explain his theory, he discusses how a driver must take their eyes off the road to look for a phone number, to dial a phone number and other things associated with calling a person. Even if the driver is merely receiving a call, they must take their attention away from driving for a moment to answer that call. Even a moment could mean life or death for someone if the situation is just right.

Your Pottstown area Honda dealer wants to make sure you stay safe behind the wheel. Even if hands-free cell phones are legal, it does not mean they are safe. Stay off the phone when you are driving and help every driver get home safely.

It looked like the legislation to ban cell phone usage while driving was going to pass in Pennsylvania. There were so many arguments for the bill that it almost seemed certain. That wasn’t the case, however, when Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives voted on it, the outcome was surprising.

The Republicans in the House were not satisfied with the way the bill was worded. They also thought the penalty for using your cell phone while driving was too harsh, especially in a time when people are getting taxed every time they turn around. They called it a sneaky tax that would punish innocent people who unwittingly broke the law.

Other states have similar laws. California recently passed a ban on using handheld cell phones when driving. New Jersey did the same thing. The Philadelphia City Council also passed an ordinance last week that banned talking on a cell phone when driving, cycling or skating on the city’s streets.

What do you think about banning cell phones while driving? I think we can all agree that we should give all of our attention to the task at hand when behind the wheel, but should using a cell phone be against the law? Your Pottstown area Honda dealers would like to have a discussion on this topic so leave your thoughts about it below.

Your Allentown auto dealers know that car insurance is essential these days. It protects you in case of an accident and it is also required by law if you are going to get behind the wheel. But did you know your rates can skyrocket if you get traffic tickets?

Many insurance companies will look at your driving record before presenting you with a policy. If you have several traffic violations, you will likely be charged a higher premium than someone who has a clean driving record. This is pretty much common knowledge for most drivers. But even if you get a ticket after your policy is in effect, your rates could go up. Some insurance companies re-evaluate your record on your birthday. Others may do it more regularly. This is to help them know if you are a careful and conscientious driver or if you are careless.

However, most states limit the amount of time that a driving violation can stay on your record. If you were the cause of an accident in 1982, that’s probably no longer showing up on your driving record in most states. Most violations only stay on your record for 3-5 years while most accidents only show up for seven years. Of course, this depends on your state and some other factors as well.

Now that you know a little more about auto insurance, visit your Doylestown area Honda dealer and get the car you’ve always wanted and the coverage that you need!

Every car needs its regularly scheduled maintenance. Some newer cars can go longer without it, but the procedures still need to be done regularly for smooth riding and proper operation. But many people are letting the maintenance go too long in hopes of saving money, but that’s a huge mistake.

If you’re worried about saving money, getting the problem fixed as soon as you notice it is the best thing you can do. “When you hear that little squeak on your brakes and you go, ‘I know that’s brake pads but I’m just going to wait,’ that $200 brake job may become a $2,000 break [sic] job,” explained Lauren Fix with the Car Care Council.

Fix suggests trying local repair shops if you want to get maintenance or repairs done at a discounted price. She also suggests staying away from those quick change oil places for anything besides an oil change.

With April being National Car Care month, your Pottstown area Honda dealer wants to encourage you to maintain your vehicle and fix possible problems before they become major problems. Your car is probably the second largest investment you’ll ever make. Don’t skimp on repairs because you will just end up paying more in the long run.

If you are a new teenage driver or if you are a teen waiting to get your license, you probably will not like the new legislation being proposed in New Jersey.

In an effort to reduce the number of driving-related teen deaths, Governor Corzine is expected to sign two new pieces of legislation aimed directly at teen drivers. The first bill would require teens with a learner’s or exam permit to have at least 12 months of practice before receiving their provisional license. This is twice as long as the current requirement of six months.

The other bill would require teen drivers who have a learner’s or exam permit to put a reflective decal on their automobile. In addition to these bills, teen drivers are not allowed to use their cell phones (even if it is hands-free) while they are behind the wheel of a car.

Your Doylestown area Honda dealer would like to give our support to New Jersey’s governor for signing these bills into law. There are too many young teens dying on the roadways simply because they do not have enough practice or because they are distracted by their cell phones. How do you feel about the new laws? Do they go too far or not far enough? Let us know your thoughts below.

Your PA dealers would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Harry Kalas, the legendary Phillies announcer that passed away today before a game.

Kalas, age 73, was credited with the famous phrase “Outta Here!” and has been announcing games for the Philadelphia Phillies since 1971, replacing Bill Campbell. Before that, he was on the broadcast team for the Houston Astros.

“We lost our voice today,” said David Montgomery, the Phillies team president. “He has loved our game and made a tremendous contribution to our sport and certainly to our organization.” Kalas was found around 12:30 p.m. this afternoon in the broadcast booth. He was immediately rushed to a local hospital.

When the Phillies won their second-ever World Series last year, Kalas was in the announcing position for the entire last game. He also joined fans and team members on the field for the celebration and sang “High Hopes” by Frank Sinatra into a microphone.

Your Lansdale area Honda dealer would like to offer their condolences to the Kalas family and the Phillies during these troubling times. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers in the days and weeks to follow.

A new round of ads for Honda has hit the airwaves recently and the automaker’s message can be summed up in two words: quality and value.

The new campaign strives to teach consumers about the long-term value they should consider when making a car purchase. The new multi-faceted campaign, created by RPA, is dubbed, “True Cost to Own a Honda.” It encourages car buyers to do their homework on vehicles before making their final decision. The main focus that the ads push is to find the cost of owning a vehicle for a five-year period. The ads ask consumers to compare the reviews of Honda costs with the reviews of other car companies and make their own decision.

“We want to [teach] consumers that, at the end of the day, it should not be about getting the big incentives and percentages off. It should be about long-term value,” said Christan Miller, the manager at Honda regional marketing.

The various ads are running on TV, radio and several auto-related websites on the Internet. Why not do your own homework and then head to your Pottstown area Honda dealer for a great price on a car that is known for quality?

Despite the economic downturn and lower gas prices, a recent report compiled by AA shows that the cost of driving is basically the same in 2009 as it was in 2008. For instance, if you are driving a sedan 15,000 a year from your Doylestown area Honda dealer, you may expect to pay about $8,000 a year for gas, maintenance, insurance and other costs associated with automobiles. In 2009, that cost is going to stay about the same, give or take a few dollars. On average, you may expect to pay roughly 55 cents per mile.

On the other hand, if you are driving your SUV, your savings may increase. Between 2008 and 2009, the cost of owning an SUV dropped by more than 1.3 per mile. That makes the average cost per mile about 68 cents.

One of the reasons that costs have not gone down despite the lower gas prices is due to the higher prices to meet fuel economy standards in the industry. “While motorists are experiencing relief at the pump,” said AAA Automotive Vice President Marshall L. Doney, “those savings have been countered by revised Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy estimates and increases in vehicle ownership costs such as insurance premiums, depreciation, finance charges and other fees and taxes. ”

You can read more about how AAA calculates the cost of owning particular types of vehicles in this article.