New Honda New car review 2008-2009

BMW and Honda top the quality list
by Anthony Fontanelle
In South Africa, quality of new vehicles is deteriorating despite the decrease in the number of problems encountered by car owners in every 100 vehicle of a certain model according to data revealed by J.D. Power and Associates. J.D. Power and Associates is a leading authority in vehicle quality analysis in the global automotive industry. Yesterday, the firm’s initial quality study revealed that the average problem per 100 vehicle complained by owners climbed to 245 problems compared to last year’s 239 problems. The results were based to the responses made by a total of 8,600 new vehicle owners who purchased their vehicles for the first five months for this year. The problems cited by the subjects are those they encountered during the first three to seven months of ownership. Ideally, this period, the vehicle should be at its best driving condition since they are fresh from showrooms and dealerships. J.D. Power and Associates discovered a total of 228 individual problems across nine categories. The vehicles that gained the lowest scores reflected fewer problems, therefore, of better quality than those with higher scores. This year, BMW replaced Honda as the highest ranking vehicle brand in South Africa. BMW totaled 142 problems per 100 vehicles. Honda which makes quality Acura CL brake dust shields follows the German brand. Third, fourth and fifth are Subaru, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo respectively. In 2006, the honorific five is comprised by Honda with reported 150 problems followed by BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Subaru, Audi and Hyundai. The car with the lowest problem in the industry is the Honda Jazz belonging in the small car segment. Honda’s little vehicle consistently received an award for four consecutive years. Out of the five worst performing cars in the study, four were also ranked lowest last year. This year’s five vehicles with the most problems are shamefully carrying the brands of Tata with a total of 567 followed by Volkswagen, Fiat, Opel and Renault. JD Power and Associates Vice-President Brian Walters commented that BMW had made significant improvements in its vehicles thus climbing from the third post in 2005 and on top this year. The Mercedes-Benz East London passenger vehicle assembly plant that produces the Mercedes-Benz C-Class leads other South African plants in initial quality, with 103 problems per 100 vehicles. “The Mercedes-Benz East London plant was recently retooled to produce left-hand drive vehicles, which are exported to the US. It is particularly impressive that this plant, in the face of major changes to its production line, has been able to produce vehicles of such outstanding quality,” said Walters.

Honda Donates $1M To DSO
by Anthony Fontanelle
Musical and generous. That is what Honda Motor Co. radiated when it donated $1 million to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. The donation will allow more children to participate in the youth training program of DSO.The second largest Japanese car maker’s first major gift to DSO is by far the most sizeable thing it has given to an American arts organization. The donation will be used to fund the Power of Dreams String Project, which will provide introductory music education and string training in Metro Detroit communities where opportunities for children are nonexistent or families could not afford the instruments or lessons, according to the Detroit News.The Honda grant is expected to add 200 beginning string players to DSO classical training programs, which now include about 450 young musicians in five ensembles, the report continued. The grant, which will be divided in equal installments over the next five years, is also aimed to pay for private string lessons for 20 children in grades three through six.What’s more, the grant sets seed money for a Power of Dreams Music Education Fund. DSO solicits public contributions for such fund.”This is exactly the kind of partnership we’ve been looking for to assure the stability of these vital programs long-term,” said DSO president and executive director Anne Parsons. “While we are very proud of our educational programs, it’s a struggle every year to raise the considerable amount of money needed to keep them going.”They “have long been among our major corporate donors” to the DSO’s annual fund drive, which in fiscal 2007 generated $3.5 million for all corporate sponsors combined, said DSO press director Jill Woodward. That is nearly a quarter of the orchestra’s record total of $14.6 million for the year. “Certainly in the corporate category, the Big Three have a long history of giving. The Max wouldn’t be here without them,” she added.Honda giving considerable donations in America signals its desire to increase its presence in the territory. This could be the result of the intensifying pressure among the Big 3.The designation of Honda’s large DSO gift for training children reflects the company’s philanthropic emphasis on both youth and education, said Gary Kessler, the senior vice president for human resources at American Honda Corp. “We’re mindful of the benefits to a child from music education,” he said.”Research shows the relationship between musical studies and personal discipline and effectiveness in all areas of learning. We want to make a difference in lives, and we’re excited about a synergy between Honda and the DSO’s excellent educational programs.”Leonard Slatkin, the DSO’s music director designate, said that he expects Honda’s collaboration with the DSO to provide “musical opportunities that will make an impact on our young people. The innovative quality of Detroit’s initiatives, and my ability to lead in this area, is one of the things that attracted me to the DSO. Together we will be leaders in the field.”Like the flexibility of Monroe shocks,(site:replacementshocks.com/performance-shocks-sitemap.html) the automakers are finding ways to reach out to different organizations to increase industry presence and to help accordingly.