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The very first Honda minivan that can now be accessed easily by wheelchair-bound people is now on sale. This is according to an announcement given out by VMI. The minivan is the Honda Odyssey and it was Northstar who did the conversion.

The new Honda Odyssey has been specifically redesigned by Northstar. According to the latter, they made sure that everything with regards to the Honda Odyssey was changed so as to suit and keep the accessing of wheelchair users easier. Even the design, validation processes, and engineering were completely looked over. Perhaps only the exterior auto parts Honda seemed to be those that were not changed. Northstar also does say that this project of theirs is actually the latest in their list of lowered floor side entry minivan conversion.

So far, the Honda Odyssey has been recognized through various awards from automotive groups and organizations. The list of recognition does include the Best Overall Van Value of the Year from IntelliChoice and the Best Overall Minivan of the Year from the same group.

Doug Eaton is the president and chief executive officer of VMI (the company that would be selling the new version of the Honda Odyssey) and he says, “Honda is a recognized leader in the automotive industry in quality, resale value, and ride and handling. The Odyssey is the benchmark of product quality in the minivan segment and it strengthens our product lineup. We believe that accessibility of the Odyssey will achieve the level of performance that demanding Honda customers expect.”

As per Honda’s end, this new version of the Honda Odyssey is going to be a great achievement for them. John Watts does say, “The agreement between Honda and VMI extends the reach of Honda, making Honda derived vehicles more accessible to more customers than ever before. Honda is a mobility company at its core, and offering wheelchair accessibility is consistent with our philosophy.” Watts is the product planning manager for the company.

If you are going to take a look at this new Honda Odyssey, you would most certainly find more room in the interior. Also, the floor has been lowered eleven inches to give those in wheelchairs a better view and a better handling.

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The 2005 Honda CRV has new exterior and interior styling, additional standard safety equipment as well as the addition of a new Special Edition (SE) model with features such as leather interior and body-color bumpers.

The Special Edition has heated leather seats and door mirrors, and a leather steering wheel and shift knob. Externally, the CR-V SE also adds body-colored bumpers, side molding, door handles and hard spare tire cover. The exterior of the Honda CR-V has newly designed front grill, cylindrical-shaped headlights and aerodynamic front bumper, side sill and side protector, rear combination lights and rear bumper, new Arch flare with one-piece mudguard. It also has 16″ wheels for all trim levels, along with a new EX alloy and LX steel wheel designs.

Interior features for the CR-V have also been significantly updated for the 2005 model year. On the EX trim level, steering mounted audio controls and outside temperature gauge has been added. Also, all models now feature new retractable grab rails and larger seatback pockets.

Added features include integrated keyless remote entry, steering wheel mounted audio controls and outside temperature gauge added to EX trim level , new cam-driven ‘Real Time’ 4WD mechanism on all models (replaces hydraulic pump-type system). All models (LX, EX and SE) come with A/C, power windows and locks, cruise control and 16-inch wheels (another new-for-’05 feature) already included. The step-up EX adds an electric sunroof, keyless entry and secondary steering wheel-mounted controls for the audio system. Top SE versions add heated leather seats, body-colored bumpers, and a hard plastic spare cover for the tailgate-mounted spare.

The CR-V performs well with adequate acceleration and good fuel economy coming from its 160-horsepower 2.4-liter in-line four-cylinder engine. Honda’s industry-leading ‘Safety for Everyone’ program equipped all CRV’s with a longer list of standard safety equipment including front side airbags, side curtain airbags, and Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with Traction Control, side-impact door beams and front/rear crumple zones.

If this is Honda we have now, then Partstrain is the Auto Parts Company that takes care of an amazing vehicle like Honda CRV 2005. In stock at its online store at http://www.partstrain.com/ShopByVehicle/HONDA is a complete array of Honda Replacement Parts, Aftermarket Parts and Accessories from engine and electrical parts to radiator parts, auto body parts and trim. Accessories like Honda bumpers, ground effects body kits and Honda spoilers to get that modified look for your Honda. Their friendly customer service staffs await you and are ready to serve your every auto parts replacement needs.

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As Honda’s entry level, subcompact vehicle, what’s not to like about the
Civic?

As an ideal example of getting what you pay for, the 2004 Civic includes
almost 40 style options - 2-door to 4-door to hatchback, gas to hybrid
and 5-speed manual to automatic.

For my weekly drive, I tested the 4-door EX sedan with a 127-
horsepower, 1.7-liter, 16-valve, 4-cylinder engine. The appealing
magnesium gray metallic exterior was complemented nicely with a
mixed dark and lighter gray interior. The color combination, combined
with Honda’s straightforward, unassuming exterior styling resulted in
anything but an entry level visual presentation.

Among all of the variously configured Civics, the base prices vary nearly
$8,000. My vehicle was priced at slightly more than $18,000 - which
catapults it into a well-deserved perennial best-buy category when
matched against the Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Jetta
or Golf.

Consider some of the standard exterior features: power moon and
sunroof, 15-inch alloy wheels and power exterior mirrors.

Standard interior features include cruise control, power window and
door locks, driver and front passenger vanity mirrors, map light, 12-volt
accessory socket and AM/FM/CD with four speakers.

A simple, well-designed dashboard, with well-lit numbers and dials,
further add to the vehicle’s attractiveness.

Of course, a car’s looks don’t mean much if it performs poorly. For Civic
owners — and all subcompact owners — one potential concern is a
vehicle’s positioning and safety in inclement weather conditions and
among larger vehicles, particularly on freeways.

The Civic is only 174.6 inches long and 67.5 inches wide, but it fare
wells in all types of conditions. It maneuvers through traffic confidentially
and without hesitation, despite its limited horsepower and four-cylinder
engine.

There is, however, an increase in engine noise at high speeds, and the
automatic shifting could be smoother in around-town situations.

Perhaps the most impressive Civic feature is its fuel efficiency. With
estimates of 31 mph in city driving and 38 mph in freeway conditions,
economy is bliss, particularly in recent times when gas has surpassed
$2 per gallon in many parts of the country. I drove the car for a week and
still had more than a half-full tank remaining.

Considering its price range, the Civic is also good choice in many other
areas. As a six-foot, 180-pound driver, I didn’t feel squeezed in, but two
similarly sized rear-seat passengers could use more head and leg
room.

The Civic also has a large trunk for its class, further adding to its status
as one best vehicles in its price range on the market. Like most Hondas,
the Civic also has a tremendously reliable repair record, which adds to
its high resale value.

2004 Honda Civic EX

Safety features — Driver’s and passenger’s front and side airbags, ABS
brakes, emergency trunk opener, front and rear crumple zones.

Fuel Mileage (estimates) — 31 mpg (city), 38 mpg (highway).

Warranty — Bumper to bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; corrosion, 5 years,
unlimited mileage.

Base price range– $12,810-$20,650.

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