Honda and Acura topped a ranking of vehicles that retain their value over time.

3 C's of credit-Capacity, collateral, and character

When you want to borrow money, lenders will look at a number of things before agreeing to grant credit to you. First, lenders want to know if you have the financial ability to repay the loan. This is known as capacity. Second, lenders look for any property you have to back the loan-again, this is called collateral. And third, lenders want to know if you will make your payments and how you have handled other loans in the past. This is called character. Capacity, collateral, and character represent the three C's of credit.

The most common types of credit include revolving credit, installment credit, and service credit.

Revolving credit allows you to borrow up to a specific dollar amount. The monthly payment may vary as your balance changes. As you repay the credit, you will be able to borrow it again. Credit cards are revolving lines of credit.

Installment credit allows you to borrow a specific amount, for a specific period of time. The monthly payment usually remains the same. When you have repaid the amount, the loan is closed. Car and mortgage loans are considered installment credit.

Service credit allows you to pay for a service at a later date. If you cannot make the payment in the agreed upon time, there is a penalty. Utility companies offer this kind of credit.

Most types of loans can be categorized as secured or unsecured. Secured loans are backed by property that has value, also called collateral. An example of a secured loan is a car loan, as the car is security or collateral for the loan. In other words, if you don't make the loan payments, the lender can take back or repossess the car.On the other hand, an unsecured loan does not have any property backing the loan. If you, for example, apply for a signature loan at a bank or credit union, this would be considered an unsecured loan. Many credit cards are unsecured; however, not all are. Some credit cards are known as secured credit cards. A secured credit card may be secured by your savings account or by the merchandise you purchase. If you don't make the payment, the lender can and will take the item you pledged as security. Before you sign any credit card agreement, make sure you read and understand all the fine print.

To understand the role a lender plays in the credit-granting process, you might think about what you would want to know if someone wanted to borrow money from you. You certainly would want to know that they have a job and that they have the ability to pay you back. You would want to know how long they have been at their job and that they would make every effort to pay you back. Knowing whether the potential borrower had repaid their other loans on time and in full would also be important to you. Lenders are no different.Lenders are in business to lend you money-that's their job. They have federal and state government regulations, as well as company guidelines they have to follow.

Some people think that lenders look for any reason not to give a loan, but this simply is not true. Lenders want to make loans, though they want to make them to people who will repay the loan. When you want to borrow money from a lender, you need to fill out the application completely and honestly. If you aren't sure how to answer a question on the application, call the lender and ask for help.When you meet with a loan officer, be helpful and polite. Answer their questions to the best of your ability. Again, put yourself in the position of the lender-if you were going to lend money to someone, you would expect to be treated politely, honestly, and with respect.If you are turned down for the loan, ask why. It doesn't do you any good to get upset with the loan officer. You may be turned down for any number of reasons. Ask the loan officer what actions you could take to qualify for the loan in the future. Just because one lender turns you down for a loan, however, doesn't mean another lender will do the same. If you are turned down at one financial institution, make an appointment to see a loan officer at another bank or credit union.

The way you handle loans made to you will determine whether you have "good credit." What exactly does it mean to have good credit? You can achieve good credit by making all of your payments, as agreed, in full monthly payments. If you want good credit, you cannot skip payments or pay less than the full amount due. If you have made financial mistakes in the past, it's still possible to build good credit by committing to paying all of your bills on time and in full. Cheers and happy buying!

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Morgan State University claimed its first National Championship title at the 2012 Annual Honda Campus All-Star Challenge, the largest academic competition among Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

In a letter recieved by Doug Malinoff, President of University Honda. American Honda Motor Company announced this award.

"Congratulations! University Honda has Earned The Professionals "Customer Service Experience" Award."
"Your dealership has achieved an overall Customer Service Experience score of 93.3% for the calander year 2011.  This achievement reflects your dealership's consistent dedication to delivering the highest level of service in the industry."

Congratulations once again for this noteworthy achievement and continued success throughout the year.

Sincerely,
Ron Lynbrook
Assistant Vice President
Parts and Service Operations
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Honda News posted a photo:

Honda delivers a 2013 Fit EV to the city of Torrance as a part of the Honda Electric Vehicle Demonstration Program.

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Spy Photos, Crossover, Honda

We'll be honest: Not only have we already seen the production 2012 Honda CR-V in the flesh, we've driven it. And we aren't the only ones. In fact, these spy shots were taken during a local CR-V media drive that's taking place in Detroit, and while we can't talk about our impressions of Honda's all-new crossover just yet, we can tell you that the vehicle in these pictures is the final production model.

Honda will officially take the wraps off its 2012 CR-V at the LA Auto Show next week, with the first examples hitting showrooms before the end of the year. It's common knowledge that the new CR-V will continue to use Honda's 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, though mated to a new (or, at least, revised) transmission that will enhance both performance and fuel economy. The CR-V's interior gets a healthy update, too, with some new materials used throughout the cabin. The overall form and function of the interior, however, won't differ much from the current model.

You'll be able to read our full impressions of the 2012 Honda CR-V next week. Until then, click through our attached image gallery to see the production crossover out on the street.

Production 2012 Honda CR-V caught ahead of LA Auto Show debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda News posted a photo:

On November 8, 2011, Honda unveiled an all-new ASIMO humanoid robot newly equipped with autonomous behavior control technology. The all-new ASIMO can now continue moving without being controlled by an operator. With significantly improved intelligence and the physical ability to adapt to situations, ASIMO took another step closer to practical use in an office or a public space where many people come and go.

All new for 2011 when it was named the Most-Efficient Two Seater by the EPA¹, the 2012 CR-Z debuts today with one available feature change a new black seat fabric becomes an option on cars with the Crystal Black Pearl exterior color, replacing the standard silver mesh sport seats. The 2012 CR-Z starts at $19,545, plus a destination and handling² charge of $770.

The CR-Z is available in two models the well-equipped CR-Z and the feature-rich CR-Z EX. A six-speed manual transmission is standard equipment and a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is available. Standard features on the CR-Z include Vehicle Stability Assist, an AM/FM/CD/USB audio system with six speakers, automatic climate control, power windows and door locks, remote entry, cruise control, and more.

The CR-Z EX adds High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Headlights with Auto-On/Off, fog lights, a 360-Watt AM/FM/CD Premium Audio System with seven speakers including subwoofer, Bluetooth HandsFreeLink, perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel, and more. The CR-Z EX is available with the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System³ with voice recognition.

Technological Sophistication Inside and Out

The exteriors one-motion wedge form begins at its low-slung hood to form a broad forward stance. A side profile with a deeply inset beltline adds a dynamic element, while the short wheelbase and large, wide front grille accent the vehicles athletic look. Exterior colors include Crystal Black Pearl, Milano Red Pearl, North Shore Blue Metallic (exclusive to CR-Z), Premium White Pearl and Storm Silver Metallic.

A high-tech appearance and intuitive controls define the interior. Instrument panel meters illuminate with a three-dimensional blue color theme resulting in a multi-layered appearance. Set against textured black materials and aluminum-style trim accents, the upper portion of the dashboard extends toward the driver to provide a wraparound cockpit environment. Premium sport-oriented seats are designed to provide firm lateral support along with everyday driving comfort. A mid-ship console behind the front seats optimizes cargo space, and a hard-shell separator can be closed to create additional hidden storage.

The CR-Z features a six-speaker, 160-watt AM/FM/CD audio system with an auxiliary input jack for connection to a portable audio player, and all models include a USB audio interface⁴ for connecting an iPod⁵ or other compatible audio device. Other audio features include speed-sensitive volume control and CD/MP3 text readout. The radio data system shows supplemental programming information from participating radio stations while also offering search-by-genre capability (not available on the CR-Z EX with navigation).

The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System³ is available on the CR-Z EX model and features a 6.5-inch display. The navigation system database includes more than 7-million points of interest and integrates the audio system. The voice recognition feature is capable of inputting numbers, street names and cities, in addition to more than 600 commands. Data storage is via a single DVD that contains information for the entire United States.

Performance and Efficiency

The CR-Z hybrid powertrain is a unique variation of Hondas original IMA technology , which originally debuted on the 2000 Honda Insight, the first hybrid vehicle available for sale in North America. The system utilizes a four-cylinder, 16-valve, single-overhead cam engine with intelligent Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (i-VTEC) that receives additional power from the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) systems DC brushless electric motor. The system delivers a combined peak output of 122 horsepower at 6000 RPM and 128 lb-ft. of torque at 1000 to 1750 RPM (123 lb-ft. at 1000 to 2000 on CVT-equipped models).

The 10-kilowatt electric motor assists in acceleration and also acts as a generator during braking or coasting to capture kinetic energy that recharges the 100-volt IMA nickel-metal hydride battery pack. The gasoline engine can automatically turn off during vehicle stops to improve efficiency. When starting on steep inclines from a stop with the manual transmission, hill start assist temporarily prevents the vehicle from rolling backwards during the moment between releasing the brake, depressing the throttle and releasing the clutch.

EPA-estimated fuel economy⁶ is 35/39/37 city/highway/combined mpg on CVT-equipped models and 31/37/34 city/highway/combined mpg on manual models. The CR-Z is rated as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) in states that adhere to California Air Resource Board (CARB) ZEV standards (EPA Tier 2, Bin 2 in all states).

Three-Mode Drive System

Activated via three backlit buttons to the left of the steering wheel, the three-mode drive system allows the driver to select between individual modes of performance for Sport, Normal and Economy driving styles:

• Sport mode enhances engine throttle responsiveness, electric power steering effort and the electric motor power assist.
• Normal mode standardizes steering, engine response, motor assist and air conditioning settings.
• Econ mode can increase the potential for enhanced fuel efficiency by optimizing throttle angle for smooth acceleration, lower engine rpm and limiting power and torque by approximately 4 percent (except at wide-open throttle). It can also reduce the air conditionings overall load on the engine and modify the cruise control to operate more efficiently.

Safety by Design

The CR-Z demonstrates a commitment to safety in its design and construction. The Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure helps protect vehicle occupants in a frontal collision. Additional safety technologies include: standard dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; standard front-side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); side-curtain airbags, active head restraints; an anti-lock braking system (ABS); a tire pressure monitoring system; and a pedestrian injury mitigation design in the front of the vehicle.

Sport-Tuned Chassis

The front MacPherson strut and rear H-shaped torsion beam suspension are tuned to provide a sporty driving experience. All models are equipped with 16x6-inch aluminum wheels with 195/55R16 86V tires, while accessory 17x7 alloy wheels with 205/45R17 84V tires are available. The standard anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake distribution (EBD) uses ventilated front discs and solid rear discs. The low vehicle height and placement of the battery and other hybrid components beneath the rear cargo area further contribute to a low center of gravity and responsive, sporty handling. Electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering enhances steering performance and improves efficiency.

Warranty

The 2012 Honda CR-Z is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile new-car limited warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, and a 5-year/unlimited-mile corrosion limited warranty.

CR-Z Manufacturers Suggested Retail Pricing²
CR-Z (6MT) $19,545
CR-Z (CVT) $20,195
CR-Z EX (6MT) $21,105
CR-Z EX (CVT) $21,755
CR-Z EX (6MT) with Navigation $22,905
CR-Z EX (CVT) with Navigation $23,555

Additional media information, including detailed pricing features and high-resolution photography of the 2012 Honda CR-Z, is available at www.hondanews.com. Consumer information is available at automobiles.honda.com.

Connect with Honda:
Honda Media Newsroom (for journalists): www.hondanews.com
Honda CR-Z (for consumers): automobiles.honda.com/cr-z/
Honda CR-Z on Facebook: www.facebook.com/hondacr-z
Honda on YouTube: www.youtube.com/honda
Honda on Flickr: www.flickr.com/hondanews
Honda on Twitter: www.twitter.com/honda

¹Environmental Protection Agency list of 2011Most and Least Fuel Efficient Vehicles, http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bestworst.shtml
²MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $770 destination charge and options. Dealer prices may vary.
³The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System is available on the CR-Z EX in the United States, except Alaska. Please see your Honda dealer for details.
⁴The USB Audio Interface is used for direct connection to and control of some current digital audio players and other USB devices that contain MP3, WMA or AAC music files. Some USB devices with security software and digital rights-protected files may not work. Please see your Honda dealer for details.
⁵iPod is a registered trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. iPod not included. Compatible devices include fifth-generation iPods and later and iPod Nano.
⁶Based on 2012 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

Third-party trademarks: The Bluetooth word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such marks by Honda Motor Co., Ltd., is under license.