Giantaxe

Thanks for all the links. That workaround still works! Plus, unlike the Google Maps App, the car volume control works as I would expect. So I'm still puzzled about Google Maps.

The Economist app is primarily designed for reading. I can understand that Apple needs to ensure that any apps in CarPlay are primarily hands free, so presumably that's where The Economist app fails the test. They did recently introduce an updated app with enhanced audio features; still no dice.

If I press "Auto" a green light comes on but it does not set A/C to on from off. Which is weird, because without AC how can it adjust the temperature downwards to that set? In fact, if Sync is on and the A/C is off and then I turn A/C on, Sync goes off. Seems like a big design flaw.

ddsrph

Got fiberglass body home after driving with trailer to Nebraska. Body by Shell Valley is excellent quality. Have mounted to frame except for fenders. Now making brackets to install steering wheel/shaft and brake pedal assembly.

HDWill

I had an '09 Accord that I bought new. After five years and 70,000 miles, it started burning oil (a quart every 1,000 miles) and had weird electrical problems I couldn't get fixed (ignition would fail 30% of the time, and wipers would behave erratically). So my belief in Honda's ultra-reliability took a hit, though of course problems are going to crop up occasionally with any manufacturer. But I am thinking of getting another new Accord, since they are more fun to drive than my current Ford Fusion.

I feel bad for the person who bought my old Accord from Carmax. They paid $9k and got a bit of a lemon.

Steerpike

Not to get too picky about this, but not only does it need to be 'primarily hands free', but also, minimally distracting / easy to use while driving. Some of the elements are - big, easy to read information (no small fonts); big, easy to hit 'touch' areas (no cramming of small touch buttons onto the screen), and so on. Waze was initially a big mess of information and buttons; I don't know what they did exactly to 'conform'. This is Apple's 'design guideline' for CarPlay - https://developer.apple.com/design/h.../introduction/ . Interestingly, it seems like CarPlay offers support for 'automaker apps' so that you can control aspects of the vehicle itself from within the CarPlay environment - https://developer.apple.com/design/h...utomaker-apps/ I wonder if that means you can download an app from Honda that will offer some basic controls from within Carplay?

I know that Android Auto can be run on the phone screen itself; that is - it gives you the same User Interface on the phone screen that is presented by Android Auto on the car display. Don't know if Apple offer a similar experience. I guess the idea is, even without an 'Android Auto'-compatible vehicle, you can get the 'streamlined user interface' for safer driving experience on your phone screen. I've played with it occasionally, but never adopted it.


Have you found a good Honda forum yet? I used to be active on an old Acura forum that was very helpful but that was 10+ years ago. Honda attracts enough 'car nerds' to possibly make it worthwhile. I'm on a 'lexus' forum but they aren't exactly the most techie of drivers!

Giantaxe

I haven't found anything that allows Honda car controls to be controlled from CarPlay.

Not on CarPlay. I can actually use my 'phone as normal and, for example, fiddle around with the The Economist app and start audio whilst driving!

I've looked at a couple but not in any great detail. I should pursue this as it's been really useful over the years to have a forum for my BMW.

I worked out that I actually maligned Honda on this climate control issue. When you press "Auto" it actually does use A/C if it needs to lower the interior temperature. But when you then go to the climate menu, it shows the A/C as neither on nor off. I can sit on the menu and see it (correctly) show the actual and any subsequent changes to the fan speed and mode (air direction) as the temperature in the car changes towards the set temperature, but it never shows A/C as on or off. Weird. So that display deficiency is, I think, the bug.

username.exe

Thought I'd circle back on this enquiry...
So after looking at a LOT of cars online, I purchased a 2017 Kia Optima plug-in hybrid in jet black. I'm stoked with it, it's very comfortable, drives well, has all the options and is easy on the gas.

Anatomy of a Painful Purchasing Decision:
Ultimately, the hybrid models of some of the cars I was looking at weren't that much more than the gas equivalents (surprisingly), and being that some of the gas stations in my neighborhood are near $4 a gallon, that wasn't a hard decision to make. I was also surprised at the jump in price between Hyundai/Kia and Toyota/Honda. The Korean cars have developed a good reputation for reliability, and I'm one for trying different things, so I narrowed my search down to hybrid Hyundai Sonata's, and hybrid Kia Optima's quite quickly.

The painful part - dealerships.
Since the missus insisted on a few of the luxury options, my pool of potential vehicles in my budget narrowed somewhat. I ultimately contacted four dealerships to initiate discussions (dotted around So Cal). I'm not one to waste half a day sat in traffic, test driving, and then sat behind a desk grinding out a deal, so I asked the dealerships to itemize their fees over-and-above the sticker price. Only one of them would, and, to my shock, included over $1,700 for 'theft deterrent' which best I could get out of them boiled down to window etching/stickers. I told them to waive it and I'd be there to test drive - they refused.

The other dealers all refused to describe or itemize their fees, insisting on 'working a deal on the floor'. I want to know if I'm in budget before I waste my day... they all REFUSED. Frustrated, I backed off and kept an eye on listings. So, when is the price the price (and how do you compare without transparency on the fees)?

In then end I found the car on a carvana-like site (called Shift). No-haggle (the price was reasonable, and the fees were itemized upfront). I texted them in the morning, and by 5pm that afternoon someone had driven the car to my house for a test drive. I completed the purchase on their ipad there and then. I could not be happier with this new business model, being fed up with evasive sales reps, excessive fees for services I don't want, being forced to commute in without knowing whether it would be in budget... I won't be going down that path again.

Anyway, I'm pleased with the car and hope I'll be driving it for a few more years, yet!

Steerpike

Interesting!

What's the range on electric only - if that's even a reasonable question? Is the gas considered backup / emergency only, or is it fully expected that you will drive in a 'hybrid' manner? Can you force it into different modes, based on your knowledge of how you will be driving that day?

What was the mileage on the car, and what would it have cost you to buy the 2020 (or 2021) model of the same car new?

chawkins99

We recently had a very good experience buying a used car:

Wife wanted to replace her 2018 Ford Focus with something larger with 4WD/AWD. We regularly visit friends who live down a mile-long sand road.

After searching for a couple of weeks, located a 2018 Nissan Rogue AWD at a local Honda dealer. We had priced up her Focus at $11-12k and was ready to walk if they tried to low-ball us.

Went to the dealership about 4.30pm (thinking it would discourage them from stringing it out for hours). After checking our ID, they gave us the keys and said take it for a test drive. We left the keys to the Focus for them to evaluate.

After about 30-minute test drive, rolled back at the dealer. The sales guy jumped in the back and showed us their appraisal... $13,500.

As we were paying cash and owned the Focus outright, there was no financing involved. We were all done and dusted by 6pm.

I was a bit disappointed that I didn't get to haggle.

username.exe

For electric only, I had read online that it can do 29 miles, which is almost exactly my distance to work. That said, on the few trips I've taken where I've exhausted the battery, I think I've gotten about 24 on average. Gas is fully hybrid - it's like you get your first 29 miles for 'free'... (besides what it cost you to charge it, which based on my research is about 4 times cheaper than the equivalent in gas).

There is an 'Eco' mode which will program the car to 'behave' in a more economical manner. It also has a dual clutch system (that I'm yet to play with) that will let you manually move up and down the gears, which kind of solves my gripe with the prius where it was a bit sluggish getting on to the freeway. You can also watch how the car is behaving on the dash as you drive - it will tell you whether you're drawing power from the battery or engine, or whether you're charging the battery (regen breaking etc.). There's a lot to play with that I haven't messed around with, yet. You can also get a dynamic report as you're driving as to what percentage of your trip has been aggressive/normal/economical. If I were to pay attention to that I'd imagine it could reset my driving style and habits a bit.

The car has 22k miles on it - it was a lease return and I have to say, it's in immaculate condition. Brand new it's $36k plus an extra $5k+ for the options (panoramic sunroof, leather seats, premium audio etc.), but I think it's eligible for a $4k credit too. I don't tend to buy new because I like the thought of someone else taking a hit on the initial depreciation, as long as I can get in to a low mileage used car in good condition. I paid $17.5k plus tax and some minimal fees. Maybe that's a good deal, maybe not... I think I'll know in three years' time based on whether I'm breaking down on the 5 or not

scrubbedexpat097

How do you figure out if you are being scammed on a online sale?
We have our trike for sale on Bike Trader. There are pictures and descriptions of the trike. We had some interest with people asking questions that we replied to but it went no further. Then we had someone say they would send a check to us and when it had cleared they would send someone to pick up the trike. No questions about the trike or the price. I responded with asking if before payment did they want to look at it or test ride it. They answered no and if we preferred they would send a cashier check not a personal check.

It seems very odd to me. Looking on Google apparently cashier checks can be fake. So gut feeling was to go no further with this.

Would you pay for a vehicle sight unseen?? Would you trust the cashier check?

Nutek

No and No.

Also, Clicky

spouse of scouse

Tell them to bog off.

Pulaski

It's a well known racket with big ticket items for sale on line, most commonly cars. Don't touch it with a barge pole!

You are likely to be sent a check/ MO for more than the asking price and you'll be asked to deposit the check and send the excess back - but you're sending them real money and you will find a week or two later that the check/ MO was a worthless fake.

In any case MO's are easy to forge, and even if they're not forgeries an MO may be stolen and bounced by the bank on which it is drawn for that reason.

username.exe

Doesn't pass the smell test.

scrubbedexpat097

Yeah, that was why gut feeling said no further!
People are complete bastards aren't they!!