Is your vehicle getting long in the tooth?

I talk to many people who are worried that their primary vehicle is starting to take more and more effort to keep it on the road. Most of these people have vehicles that have given them long and faithful service but one month they need a new air conditioner and another month they need to replace the brakes. One person I spoke to needs $4,500 worth of transmission work on a car that probably have a residual value of about $4,000.00. Timing with an older vehicle can be critical. Selling your current aging vehicle before an air conditioner or transmission goes bad could give you money towards a down payment, while waiting might put you in a situation where you have no residual value left.

Many of these people would love to buy a new vehicle but simply can't afford to take on new long-term debt at the moment. Some of these people put off selling their vehicle hoping that they can nurse a few more months out of it and somehow be in a better position to buy a new car. Many of these people rely on their vehicles for work and can't tolerate any down time.

I try to work with customers to give them options. One option is to buy a newer used vehicle. Honda Certified Pre-Owned cars must be 6 years old or newer and the engine must have less than 80,000 miles. Each vehicle includes:

• 150-point mechanical and appearance inspection
• 7-year/100,000-mile Powertrain warranty from the vehicle's original in-service date
• 12 months/12,000 miles (whichever comes first) non-powertrain warranty from the original warranty expiration date or, if the original warranty has expired, from the Honda Certified Used Cars purchase date.
• $0 deductible
• CARFAX® Vehicle History Report™
• Warranty is transferable
• Roadside Assistance
• XM Satellite Radio 3 trial months of service

My sister called me to ask about a CRV. I told her about a very low mileage CRV in immaculate condition that would save her over $10,000.00 over a new CRV.

If you have a vehicle that is getting a little long in the tooth, it might be a good idea to bring it to our showroom to sell towards getting a newer, more reliable vehicle you can have confidence in for your summer vacation.

For people who absolutely want a new vehicle, another option is leasing. Leasing will require you to have a down payment. When you lease a car, you are financing the depreciation of the car over the period you plan to drive the car. It is possible that you can sell your aging vehicle and use the proceeds for a down payment. Because Honda cars have lower depreciation than other brands, it is possible to drive a brand new car for an amazingly small monthly payment. Of course, all leases will place limits on how far you can drive the car over the lease period the car must be returned in good condition. However, leasing is a very good option for many people and it is an option I can personally discuss with you,

One more consideration is that because cars are lasting longer and come with longer warranties, it is reasonable to pay off a new vehicle over a longer period of time. The key to making this practical is to select a vehicle you know you can be happy with for five to six years. Extended warranties are optionally available that you can consider at the time of purchase.

If you are concerned if your vehicle can safely transport your family to your next vacation destination or worried you might break down on the way to or from work, it is probably time to consider your options.

I am available to help,

Bunmi

Bunmi Barnes                                                   bunmisellscars@gmail.com
obarnes@hondaofchantilly.com
Main: 703-633-4200

Honda of Chantilly

4175 Stonecroft Blvd.
Chantilly, VA 20151
Get Directions

Welcome to Honda of Chantilly

My name is Bunmi Barnes. Welcome to Honda of Chantilly. My goal is to make your car buying experience easy, fun and stress free. I am creating this newsletter as a way to share information with my existing and future clients. I hope that you enjoy my newsletter.

Buying car can be a stressful experience. There are few investments we make that are more expensive than buying a car. Most people will only buy a new car a few times in their lifetime. My goal is to help you find the car that meets your current and future needs for the least amount of money possible. This newsletter will helpfully help you be more confident making your next decision.

Did you know that the average age of automobiles in the United States is 11.4 years old. This is the oldest average ever. Of course, part of this is due to the fact that cars last longer than ever. Today's cars will give you more trouble free miles than what was possible a few years ago.

I talk to many people who tell me stories of cars made 20 and 30 years ago that started to break down in five or six years. Today's cars are designed using computers and built with robots using materials that are more durable than older cars.

Of course, in the 11.4 years since some people have bought new cars, cars have continued to get better and better. Cars built 11.4 years ago didn't have GPS navigation, streaming audio, multiple air bags and many other features that come standard in today's automobiles. Most older cars with automatic transmissions probably have three and four speed automatic transmissions compared to today's automatic six speed automatics as well as continuously variable transmissions now available. Today's customers can also choose to buy a Hybrid or an Electronic Vehicle.

Honda

I am so pleased to be selling Honda cars. I am from Nigeria. My first car was a 1995 Honda Civic. My Civic, which I named Bumzi was probably acquired through auction and shipped to Nigeria. Many of the cars brought into Nigeria would be considered at the end-of-their life in America.

I drove “Bumzi”for three years and then passed her off to my sister. My sister is still driving Bumzi. Bumzi is now nearly 20 years old and still running. I can assure you, the last ten years of so haven't been easy for Bumzi. The weather and roads in Nigeria are not as easy on cars as they are here in the US. None-the-less, Bumzi is still running.

Most people that chose Honda cars do so based on their reputation for durability and reliability and they have a resale value higher than their competitors. Honda cars typically offer better fuel economy, more features for the money and more headroom and legroom than the competition.

I am also pleased to be selling Honda cars that for the most part are built here in the United States.

Honda Fit

The new 2015 Honda Fit is completely redesigned. It is now built in Mexico which will make the Fit more available. In the past, all Honda Fit cars came from Japan. In Asia it was sold at the Honda Jazz. The new Honda Fit The new Honda Fit is clearly a “best in class”car. The new model is mated with a CVT transmission and now gets 33 in the City and 41 on the highway. The Honda Fit beats all of its competitors for interior space, legroom and headroom.

Honda Civic

As I mentioned above, my first car was a Honda Civic. When I got it, it was already 10 years old. My sister is using it and it is still running. I have a soft spot for the Civic and understand why the Civic has been one of the most popular compact cars sold in America since its introduction in 1973. The Civic has had a long-standing reputation for reliability and low running cost. The Civic is available in a 140-horsepower 4 cylinder or as a hybrid. The Hybrid offer a combined driving MPG of 44. The Civic Coupe is rated 39 Highway and 31 City or a combined 33.

Honda Accord

While the Civic and Fit provide best in class efficiency and practicality, the Accord adds luxury and a bit of sport to the package. The Honda Accord has been consistently rated one of the best family sized cars on the market. In fact, Car and Driver has selected the Honda Accord as the best sedan 10 times since 1983 – more than any other car. Despite being “family sized”, the Honda Accord delivers 36 MPG on the Highway and 27 in the city. A Hybrid version of the Accord is available that offers 50 MPG in the city and 45 miles on the highway or a combined 47 MPG. For someone who drives a lot of miles in the city, the Hybrid might be the ideal choice. Gas-only cars get their best economy on the highway and worst in city driving. Hybrids flip that around because most can shut off their gas engines at stoplights.

Honda CRV

US News and World Reports and many other magazines rate the Honda CRV the best Compact SUV on the market. The CRV is roomy when compared to the competition. It offers impressive 23 MPG city and highway. It comes standard with a rear view camera. It has the highest reliability and safety ratings in its class. Of course, like all Honda vehicles, the CRV has a history of higher resale value than the competition.

Honda Odyssey

The Honda Odyssey is another Honda Vehicle that is constantly top-rated by several publications to include US News and World Reports and Edmonds.com. The Odyssey is rated 19 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway. Among the positive comments by professional reviewers are “superb handling for a van”, “Lots of available tech features”, “Good fuel economy” and “High quality cabin materials”. Kelly Blue Book says “Among the gold standard for such people movers is the 2014 Honda Odyssey. Like the Nissan Quest, the Odyssey's exterior styling strays from the more traditional rounded shapes of the Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Town & Country, but inside, the Honda shines with features and functionality (yes, there's even a built-in vacuum cleaner). Add a strong yet efficient engine and outstanding safety and reliability records, and the Odyssey can win over many a minivan critic”.

Honda Pilot

The Honda Pilot is one of the most practical and family-friendly vehicles in its segment. It can carry up to eight passengers. It has a smooth power train and a spacious interior. The Honda Pilot features a cylinder-deactivation system that helps the V6 cut fuel consumption while coasting or cruising. The Honda Pilot gets a 25 MPG highway rating which is one of the best ratings for a vehicle of this type.

Conclusion

Please let me know if you find this newsletter helpful. If you have any friends who are looking for used or new cars, please give them my contact information.

If you are interested in either new or used car, please contact me. You can get pre-approval for your loan by filling out the following information at this link.

Please remember to ask for Bunmi when you come into Honda of Chantilly.

Bunmi Barnes                                                   bunmisellscars@gmail.com
obarnes@hondaofchantilly.com
Main: 703-633-4200


Honda of Chantilly
4175 Stonecroft Blvd.
Chantilly, VA 20151
Get Directions