Carmichael Honda is pleased to announce that it carries one of the most forward thinking alternative cars available today. The Honda Civic GX NVG is what the future holds for automotive technology. This isn’t simply a companies hat toss into the ring of “green” vehicles. This is the latest evolution from a  company that is the dominant force in the fuel efficient vehicles.

This is not a car that is over priced and unreliable. It is rated as one of the top in its class in looks, power and price. Here is the test drive photo gallery to prove the looks part, but lets dig a little deeper on the topic of power. The official read is 113 horsepower 1.8-liter SOHC 16-valve i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed automatic transmission with grade logic control, front disc brakes, EPA-certified Tier-2 Bin-2, ILEV, CARB-certified AT-PZEV. The non tech translation is that its zippy and nimble. If your like us and you like an interior that is as good looking as it is functional than the Civic will make you very happy. The concern we have heard from some people is they worry about it breaking down. Honda offers a great warranty on it as well.  All this can be had for less than $25,000.00 and with the fact that natural gas as a fuel is considerably less expensive than gasoline, it will continue to be a great investment.

As with any financial purchase, there are terms that most of us just don’t understand. Here is a brief list to aid you in the car buying process of  buying a car. Don’t be someone who will ask a technical question about the car but not about how it will be financed. We understand that money is tight and you need to get the best deal you can in both the price you pay and the terms of the loan.

1) Down Payment – This is the amount that is given to offset the difference between the price of the car and the amount financed. When possible, you should try and put down around 20%. This helps in both allowing you to have a greater number of financial institutions consider your loan and will keep up (as much as possible) the value of your car.

2) Credit Report – How we handle our financial responsibility has far reaching affects on our ability to purchase with credit. The better your credit record, the better deal they can give you. When you apply for a loan, ask to see a copy of your credit.

3) Amortization- This is your monthly payment and its reduction on the loan to its end. In most cases payment is made to the principal and paid interest over a certain amount of time.

4) Balloon Payment – Some loans exchange a lower monthly payment for a large payment at the end. While this can be a great deal, it can be an issue at the end of the loan. You always want to consider this type of loan carefully.

5) Term – How long will your loan be? The longer it is stretched out the lower the payment typically is. What should be considered however is that a longer term loan can be more expensive at the end given you paid interest for a longer period of time. Auto loans are typically available in 24, 36, 48 and 60 months.

6) Trade in Value – Your car is an asset that you trade in for a value. If your upside down (Your cars market value is lower than your loan amount) in your loan it will be a factor in the deal as well. The value of your car is determined as an industry average by such companies as Kelly Blue Book and Black Book (Which a reputable dealer will gladly show you) taking into consideration factors such as high miles, overall condition and if certain upgrades that may have been made.

7) Finance Contract – As with any extension of credit, a contract is involved. It is very important that you READ AND UNDERSTAND this contract fully. You need to know what your rights are, what you will be paying and what the long term amount will be. Believe me when I say that the dealer wants you to know this as it decreases the chance of problems down the line.

The car buying process can be very confusing (It doesn’t matter if its your first time or tenth) process. Hopefully this post will give you some idea of the terms mean. The best advice that can be given is ASK QUESTIONS of the dealer and make sure that they have a great reputation.

At Carmichael Honda we offer one of the best detail services around. We do everything you need to make your car look and smell it’s best. Car’s get dirty for a number of reasons be it trips to the snow, your teenager and your furry friend. No matter the reason, keeping your car clean feels good. Detailing clay is a fine abrasive that when used with a detailer can pick up the exterior items that have found their way onto your paint. Here in Sacramento we have an issue with sap and a simple car wash simply inst enough.

1. Wash and dry your car throughly. This allows you to have the best possible surface to work from.
2. Cover the area you want with liquid detailer (don’t be shy, use plenty).
3. Flatten a small piece of the clay.
4. Run the clay horizontally until the area is clean.
5. After your finished, rub it with your hands to feel how smooth the surface is.
6. Re wax that area as the clay will have removed the wax.
7. Show off your car.

Keeping your car looking it’s best is not only a personal joy but helps keep the value of your car up. Contact our parts department for more information on these items as well as other excellent products we can help with.

When it comes to value and great looks, Honda has always been hard to beat. The Civic offers top reviews in Performance, Safety and reliability. The civic comes in both gasoline and hybrid engines, giving yet another edge over the competition. The fact that it holds it’s resale value much better than most isn’t bad either.

US News had this to say about the 2010 civic.

Choosing to buy a Civic is the easy part. The hard part is deciding which trim is right for you. The basic Civic comes in both sedan and coupe models and comes in several trims (DX, DX-VP, LX, LX-S, EX and EX-L) which range in price from approximately $15,500 to around $22,000. The Civic SI is performance-oriented trim, which offers 57 more horsepower than the base model, a few more performance options and a starting price of around $6,500 more. The Civic Hybrid has a separate review. The GX is an eco-friendly alternative to the Hybrid and runs on Compressed Natural Gas, but it’s only sold in California (and other states that have accepted California’s Zero-Emission Vehicle regulations) and it starts at about $10,000 more than a base Civic.

New Car Test Driver said –  The Civic continues to hold its position at the top of the highly competitive compact class, thanks to innovative styling, refinement, Honda reliability, and a broad model line that ranges from the eco-friendly Civic Hybrid to the racy Civic Si.We suggest you visit your local Honda dealer ask to try out a few models of the Civic, no matter what is written this will be the best way to tell what is right for you.

West Sacramento hosted the first annual “Pink Boot” drive to fight breast cancer. “It can happen to you, absolutely can happen to you. One in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime,” said survivor Louis Roachford-Gould.

“I just made a big commitment because the people going through breast cancer are going through a heck of a lot worse than me walking for three days for 60 miles,” said Judy Brosi-Chrzanowski, with Team One Step Closer.

Carmichael Honda is one of the many business’s in Sacramento that continue to raise funds to help fight cancer and raise awareness. The Susan G. Komen foundation has been one of the most recognized champions for the fight against breast cancer. The money that is raised goes to not only fund the research of cancer drugs but is used to raise awareness. The key to surviving breast cancer is early detection and treatment. According to the American Cancer Society, when breast cancer is confined to the breast, the five-year survival rate is close to 100%. The early detection of breast cancer helps reduce the need for therapeutic treatment and minimizes pain and suffering, allowing women to continue leading happy, productive lives. Unfortunately however 1 in 8 women will still be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes.

The good news is that treatment options continue to improve for those who are struck with the disease. Treatment for invasive breast cancer usually involves a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and/or targeted therapy.

The CR-Z has a lot to offer todays Honda enthusiast, It has a sleek and dynamic look as well as the power to back it up It comes with a revolutionary three-mode drive system giving you the choice of Economy, Normal or Sport. Under the hood is the 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine with Honda’s compact and lightweight Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid-electric system. You have your choice of  a 6-speed manual transmission or a high-tech Continuously Variable Transmission.

It has the spirit of the classic CRX and is bound to make it’s mark on the sports car market for some time to come. Check out the Edmunds first drive review to find out more.

We want to take a moment to say thank you for checking us out. More than just a place for great deals on cars, more than just a place that you can get your car serviced. Carmichael Honda has been a part of the community for many years and we value your patronage. Were not going anywhere, as  a matter of fact we remodeled recently and would love to have you come down to check us out.

In today’s economy the need for people working together is greater than ever. It’s one of the reasons that we have joined the fight against childhood cancer, a devastating disease that no one should ever have to face. On the bright side we are involved in many local events, one we are particularly excited about is that we have been chosen to provide the pace car for Antelope HS 3rd annual fun run. One way to help make the needed changes in the community is to exercise our right to vote. We are please to announce that we have been chosen as a polling location for the state wide direct primary election.

We would like you to follow us both on Twitter and our Facebook profile to find out what we are up to. Meet our staff, check us out and see if we can be of some help. Both the questions and the coffee are free.