Poll: What is Your Favorite Car Color

We thought it would be interesting to hear from you, and to see which car color our customers prefer the most. Vote for your choice below, and compare your vote to the results to see how many others agree with your choice :)

What is Your Favorite Car Color?

White

Black

Silver

Blue

Red

Purple

Poll Maker

For all of your Honda needs, visit our website: Honda of Gainesville

Gift Ideas For the Honda Enthusiast in Your House

With the holidays and Winter birthdays fast approaching, now is a great time to get ahead on some of your gift shopping. For the Honda gear head in the family there are plenty of great options that they will enjoy.

Here are some great gift ideas to help you with the Holiday shopping:

To get a gift that doesn't go under the tree, visit our website and browse our great selection of Honda vehicles: Honda of Gainesville

Throwback Thursday: Classic Honda Photographs

Throwback Thursday is a growing trend in the social media multiverse, and we are definitely participating. Check out these great photos nd let us know which is your favorite.

Whether you own a classic Honda or a new model, we are your stop for all your car needs: Honda of Gainesville

A Brief History of Gainesville

We thought it would be fun this week to do some digging into the history of Gainesville, FL. The town has a rich and ongoing tradition, and it is important to know where one came from to move forward.

Here it goes:

1. In 1824 Florida is annexed to the United States and Alachua County was created. Newnansville, at the time, was deemed the county seat.
2. When the Florida Railroad was proposed the county voted to create a new county seat, and in 1853 Gainesville was founded.
3. Following the Civil War, Gainesville saw pushes in cotton production and education, with Gainesville Academy and the Union Academy being two new schools in the local area.
4. In 1906 the University of Florida began operating outside of the town, and subsequently the population grew and economy improved. 
5. After World War 2, Gainesville saw a large amount of expansion, including the growth of the University, the installation of new businesses, and the building of a new Courthouse and other public buildings.
6. Moving beyond the 1970's a large push to preserve the original nature of the town succeeded in the creation of the historic district and efforts in this light continue.

There is plenty more to discuss, and plenty of local knowledge to learn from. If you have more to add, we urge you to write your experience or knowledge in a comment below!

Adventures in Your Area

Honda vehicles are built for the road ahead, and we love to hear stories of our customers taking trips in their Hondas. Whether it be to the beach, a cabin, or to a relatives house, get out there and enjoy what your area has to offer.

Here are some great destinations to consider:

1) Sanibel Island

2) Siesta Key

3) Caladesi Island State Park

4) Apalachicola National Forest

Don't forget to get your car serviced before you hit the open road! Visit our website to check for current service specials designed to help save you money: Honda of Gainesville Service Specials

Have a Happy Halloween and Stay Safe With These Tips

Fuel Saving Tips to Make Your Wallet Happy and Tank Full

With the push for fuel efficiency in Honda vehicles, it is important to be aware of habits that you have as a driver that may hinder the full capability of your vehicle. Check out this awesome graphic to get some good pointers and help save on gas.

To find the Honda with the right gas mileage for your needs, browse our selection at our website: Honda of Gainesville

Have You Taken the Honda Museum Tour?

Honda has made their museum in Japan available for virtual tour with the help of Google Maps. If you haven't checked this out already, it is definitely worth the time! Look at classic Honda vehicles, racing cars, and everything Honda at the link below.

Honda has had a long, vibrant history in the auto industry and their museum catalogs the ongoing tradition of the company. Let us know what your favorite part of the tour is in a comment below!

Take the tour here: Honda Museum - Japan

To find out how Honda vehicles can improve your driving experience, and to find the right Honda for your needs, visit our website: Honda of Gainesville Main Page

Fuel Economy and The 2014 Honda Fit EV

With more and more households looking for clean energy solutions, it is no surprise that Honda is pushing the boundaries of what their vehicles can do as well. Honda has been recognized for its efforts to find better and create more affordable "Green Technologies" and the 2014 Honda Fit EV is a testament to that mission.

 Learn more about the Honda Fit EV here: Honda Fit EV

Read about Honda's Green energy commitments here: Honda's Blue Skies for Our Children

To check out new/used Honda vehicles, and to find the perfect one for you and your family, visit our website and start browsing today: Honda of Gainesville Website

Taking Time to Plan the Route!

Taking a family road trip is fun, lots of fun! Whether it is to a favorite camping spot, or in the winter to get in some slope time, the journey is often the best part of the vacation. We thought we would provide some tips to help make the most of your time on the road. Enjoy, and let us know were you plan to travel next!

1. Google Maps is a good source for local events and attractions along the way.
2. Road Trippers is an excellent website to get the most out of your trip
3. Co-Pilot Live is a great mobile app for road trips, and has some excellent interactive features
4. GasBuddy is a mobile app that can help you save some cash along the way.
5. Open Table is a great way to find good restaurants in an unfamiliar area.

We hope your next road trip is the best one yet, and that these tips helped you get the ball rolling. Have fun and let us know where you visited!

Visit our service website as well before you hit the road and ensure that your vehicle is running at its best: http://www.hondaofgainesville.com/schedule-service-appointment.htm

Honda Has More Success at Baltimore Grand Prix

Honda and Honda Racing have had a large presence in the IZOD IndyCar Racing series for some time, and with current races prove why they are among the best to beat. Recently, at the Baltimore Grand Prix, Honda had three cars in the top-five, and eight in the top-20. This is a great result for all the drivers, and for Honda itself, which continues to remain dominant in the IndyCar series.

Currently Honda sits tied with Chevrolet for the Manufacturers' Championship, with eight wins to each of their names. In addition, Scott Dixon and Simon Pagenaud (both are Honda drivers) sit in second and third respectively for the overall points championship.

Stay tuned to the IndyCar series, and cheer on Honda as they move towards another wonderful season!

Check out our website to find a Honda vehicle that is right for you, and learn why Honda remains at the top of their game: http://www.hondaofgainesville.com/index.htm

Diana Nyad dodges sharks, swims 110 miles, and lands herself in the record books

Swimming 110 miles from Cuba to Key West, FL sounds hard enough within itself, even for a young-gun athlete. Add in the danger of sharks, dehydration, and the solitary nature of swimming in a vast ocean and the task becomes even more daunting.

This, however, did not phase Diana Nyad (64), who after 4 previous attempts has accomplished her goal of completing the swim without protective caging. She began on Saturday in the waters outside of Havana, Cuba and ended her journey two days later in Key West, Fl. Diana is the first person to complete the swim unaided by a protective shark cage, making the accomplishment that much more impressive. 

Diana is quoted by the New York Times as having said along the beach shortly after the swim, "I have three messages. One is we should never, ever give up. Two is you never are too old to chase your dreams. Three is it looks like a solitary sport, but it takes a team."

A big congratulations to Diana and all involved in the accomplishment. It is not often that one learns of a 64 year old who is doing the kind of activities that Diana is, and she is a true inspiration.

For more about the swim click here.

From the entire team at Honda of Gainesville, congratulations to Diana on her accomplishments!

Labor Daze Fest 2013 in Gainesville, FL

In honor of Labor Day 2013 the city of Gainesville will play host to the third annual Labor Daze Festival. The family friendly event offers local music, vendors, food, children’s activities, and is in honor of the workers of Gainesville.

Trisha Ingle, the event organizer, is quoted by The Gainesville Sun as saying, “This is by locals, for locals and about locals [..] We don't have anything like it that caters specifically to locals and the people that make this city run, the workers.”

This provides the perfect opportunity to get the family out of the house and celebrate along with the local population. Events such as this one drive the heart of a successful community, as it provides a singular forum for open discussion, and to celebrate recent successes.

Take part in the fun and drive the family out in your Honda vehicle to save on gas. Hope all goes well and that your enjoy the festivities.

For additional information, the following links may help:

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20110901/ARTICLES/110839963

https://www.facebook.com/events/192055634191981/

Enjoy the Great Outdoors With Your Honda

Looking to get out of the house and spend some quality time with your Honda?  Why not take a drive down one of Florida's best reserved natural, historical, and scenic regions?  Scenic US 441 Corridor along with SR 331 offer miles of country roads with beautiful lakes and prairies interspersed with rural homesteads.  Get out there and enjoy the beauty of our state in your Honda!

Visit www.HondaofGainesville.com for all of your Honda needs. 

Summer Storms May Pose Danger

Keep yourself and your family safe during those torrential summer downpours we are all-too familiar with.  Summer heat can warp and crack wiper blades making them less effective during unexpected storms.  Change out your wipers each summer to ensure that you will have the visibility you need to maneuver safely during summer storms.  Visit our website for all of your Honda needs.  

3 Reasons Honda is the coolest brand that goes beyond selling automobiles

Find your next vehicle on our Honda of  Gainesville website!

1. Honda Jet
2. Honda Marine
3. Honda Power Equipment

Pictured above, the HondaJet has room for the family, luggage, golf clubs, and even man’s best friends.

Want to beat the heat with a fun local activity? Check out some of our favorites in Gainesville!

Gainesville is filled with fun activities to do! Here's some of our favorite local attractions:

1. Butterfly Rainforest
2. Florida Museum of Natural History
3. Kanapaha Botanical Gardens
4. Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park
5. Florida National Scenic Trail

Visit www.hondaofgainesville.com to find your next vehicle!

Receive a discounted fluid exchange service!

Hurry into Honda of Gainesville to receive a sizzling summer special.

To find your next Honda visit www.HondaofGainesville.com

Tweet using ‪#‎wantnewcar‬ and Honda might respond with a personalized Vine video.

Three cheers for another 5-star review on Cars.com!

"As soon as a pulled in the service area was greeted by service department and he started writing up the services my vehicle needed." - Pinkcat3

Congratulations to the Honda of Gainesville team for earning this 5-star review on Google+ Local!

 

"Sheryl was great! Answered all my questions regarding features. Julio was very friendly and personable." - Ellie B.

Honda of Gainesville received two 5-star reviews on Dealer Rater!

"From the beginning process down to the end Matt was very honest and friendly with me." - MSBLACK32696

"All I can say is, all the people that works there are friendly, great, and willing to help you in any circumstance, especially my Sales Specialist Jeremy Dean." - Maxwell A.

$199.00 per month for 36 months. $2,999.00 total due at signing. Includes down payment with no security deposit. Excludes taxes, titles and dealer fees. For well-qualified buyers that also qualify for the CR-V Conquest or Loyalty Programs.

Click here to view this event!

Honda and GM: Going it Alone, Together

Based on our shared belief in the unique potential of fuel cell electric vehicles to meet the future needs of our customers and society, Honda and GM have initiated a long-term technology partnership with a specific purpose: co-development of a next generation fuel cell system and hydrogen storage technologies targeting the 2020 time frame.

Let's be clear: both Honda and GM will continue to develop our own unique products for our customers.  But we are joining efforts to leverage our technological expertise with the goal of accelerating the development of highly advanced fuel cell technology in order to introduce even more affordable fuel cell electric vehicles.

Honda has a long history of environmental leadership that has played a key role in helping the auto industry reduce pollution, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. This includes the area of fuel cell technology. Ten years ago, the Honda FCX became America's first fuel cell electric vehicle available to individual customers. The stylish Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell electric sedan debuted in 2008 and was named World Green Car in 2009.

Despite this history of fuel cell technology leadership, Honda has never shied away from collaborating with another company when it has the potential to create new value for our customers and strengthen the Honda brand. In fact, more than ten years ago, Honda and GM had a successful partnership in an exchange of technologies and components. Since that time, we have maintained a strong relationship that served as the foundation for this new joint project.

Today, GM has vast experience with fuel cell propulsion systems and a deep understanding of fundamental technology, including class-leading knowledge of chemical reaction and advanced materials.  At Honda, we're confident in our expertise in the structural design and advanced production process technologies of the fuel cell.

GM and Honda have more patents in the area of fuel cell technology than any other automakers. And we have found much of our combined expertise to be complementary. GM and Honda will openly share this intellectual property with one another, which we believe can achieve the world's strongest partnership in the area of fuel cell technology.

In fact, we are developing a successor to FCX Clarity that we plan to launch in 2015, with the concept model debuting later this year. And there is the possibility that some technology from GM may be applied to this new fuel cell model.

Fuel cell electric vehicles have the unique potential to meet the future transportation needs of our customers and society. But to realize the widespread use of future fuel cell vehicles is a big challenge that requires a significant advance in cost reduction and in the refueling infrastructure that will support them. In each area, we believe that two companies can do more together than the simple sum of our individual efforts.

The Honda Environmental Vision expresses our passionate desire to "Realize the freedom and joy of mobility and a sustainable society where people can enjoy life." We believe this new strategic partnership between Honda and GM, two long-term leaders in fuel cell technology, has the great potential to help us do just that.

Courtesy of Honda News and Views

Our dealership received a 5-star review on Cars.com!

"Nancy rocks!! She was knowledgeable, friendly, patient, helpful, non-judgmental." - CR-V

Kudos to the Honda of Gainesville team for providing this guest with top-notch service!

"Matt was almost catering to my Mother and Father on every little need they had, and was willing to go above and beyond for them." - Quinton B.

Honda of Gainesville received an excellent review on Google+ Local!

"I cannot recommend Honda of Gainesville enough. The team was friendly and professional." - J.G.

Congratulations to Chris on the fabulous review from a happy customer!

"Of all the years I have been purchasing vehicles I have never been given the outstanding customer service given to me by Chris Irvin. You can tell in his action of his performance that he is there to give the customer the best deal he can and defiantly loves his job. He takes pride in his performance. Honda of Gainesville is blessed to have such a wonderful and dedicated employee." -  Lynette

Read more reviews written by our customers here.

Congratulations to Matt Like for this excellent review from a happy customer!

"The dealership was nice and everyone else we interacted with were great, but Matt is a cut above the rest. My husband and I truly appreciated his helpful attitude and genuine care for his customers. We would definitely recommend Honda and working with Matt based on our experience." - Tiffany W.

More Google+ Local Reviews

Are you the 2014 Honda Fit?

Despite being the oldest model in North America's subcompact sweepstakes, the current Honda Fit remains a paragon in its segment, offering unparalleled packaging, good road manners and robust reliability. In fact, even with far more modern competitors like the Chevrolet Sonic, Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Accent and Nissan Versa Note on the scene, it may well still be the best of the bunch.

All of which explains why we're so nervous about the next-generation model, shown in these apparently leaked stock shots scanned from an in-country magazine (no, that rear end really isn't that wonky, it's the page curl distorting the image).

Will the next Fit retain the current car's incredible seating flexibility? Will it still offer a sweet-shifting manual transmission and a four-cylinder seemingly happy to bounce off its rev limiter all the livelong day? We won't know until we try it, but if these shots are representative of what we can expect in North America, it certainly will look very different. While the same two-box shape with roughly the same greenhouse remains, the front end looks much more aggressive than before, with squinty-eyed headlamps blending into a Civic-like grille, all sitting over a lower fascia with unusually oversized air intakes. The profile view is dominated by the front quarterlight and a new sharply rising character line that originates in the front fenders and terminates in the headlamps.

It's important to note that these images are said to be that of the new Japanese-market Jazz, but there has historically been very little difference between the appearances of the NA Fit and the JDM model. We might see more differentiation in powertrain, however – IndianAutosBlog, which first posted the images, says that the Jazz will receive 1.2- and 1.4-liter four-cylinder, and reports that a three-cylinder model is also possible. On the diesel front, Honda's new Earth Dreams 1.6-liter i-DTEC four is expected to make an appearance, but we certainly wouldn't expect that powertrain in our market, even if it's clean enough to run without aftertreatment. 

Courtesy of Autoblog

Congratulations to Matt on this awesome review from a happy customer

"The dealership was nice and everyone else we interacted with were great, but Matt is a cut above the rest. My husband and I truly appreciated his helpful attitude and genuine care for his customers." - Customer

Keep up the great work! See more DealerRater reviews here.  

Get to know the 2013 Honda CR-V with this useful review video.

Wallpaper Wednesday

If you're a Ridgeline owner, why not give your desktop a facelift and show your love for your vehicle all at the same time? Enjoy your Wallpaper Wednesday, fans!

Honda's Environmental Short Film Series Receives National Award Recognition

The first film in Honda's Environmental Short Film Series, Paint by Numbers, has been awarded two Telly Awards in the Green/Eco-Friendly and Social Responsibility categories. The Telly Awards, now in its 34th season, honors the best film and video productions, groundbreaking online video content, and outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs.

Honda's Environmental Short Film Series highlights some remarkable initiatives - dreamed up and developed by Honda associates - that fulfill the company's vision for reducing its environmental impact and creating a sustainable future. Paint by Numbers, the first film in the series, tells the story of how Honda engineer Shubho Bhattacharya was inspired to develop technology to reduce the energy needed to operate the auto body painting system at Honda's manufacturing plant in Marysville, Ohio. Auto body painting accounts for the most energy use in Honda's production process. With the help of his fellow associates, Bhattacharya conceived Honda's Intelligent Paint Technology, which has cut Honda's North American manufacturing CO2 emissions by about 10,000 metric tons per year.

"Honda associates are always dreaming up innovative ways to reduce our environmental impact," said Marcos Frommer of Honda North America, Inc., one of the producers of the film series. "Short films are a great way to share our associates' sustainability initiatives, and we're honored to receive this recognition from the Telly Awards."

A judging panel of more than 500 accomplished industry professionals, each a past winner of a Silver Telly and a member of The Silver Telly Council, judged the competition, evaluating entries against a high standard of merit.

Courtesy of Honda Media Newsroom

Congratulations to Harris on this awesome review from a satisfied customer!

"Harris is super easy to work with. We have bought other cars with him and will always use him in the future." - Customer

Read more great reviews here.  

Our sincerest gratitude goes out to Cathleen for taking the time to write this fantastic review of our service department!

"The service center has a clean, pleasant waiting area if you choose to wait for the repair or they will give you a ride to work or home if you need one for a longer repair. All of the staff we have had contact with have been kind, courteous and efficient." - Cathleen B.
 
To see the rest of her review, visit our Google+ Local page.  

Wounded veteran Marine Corporal Barry Walton returns home for the Indianapolis 500 to join Mario Andretti in Honda's Fastest Seat in Sports Sweepstakes.

The shape is new, but respect for the Civic is well established. The Civic Hybrid puts the dynamic in aerodynamic.

Honda Civic and Honda Odyssey Earn Best Retained Value Awards from Edmunds.com

Honda models have captured three 2013 Best Retained Value Awards from Edmunds.com. The Honda Civic was honored in both the Sedan and Coupe $20-$30k categories and the Honda Odyssey led the minivan segment for maintaining the highest projected residual value after five years of ownership as a percentage of value when new.

"Honda models definitely punch above their weight when it comes to value with class-leading quality, safety ratings, standard features and a company commitment to avoid value-sapping fleet sales" said Mike Accavitti, senior vice president of automobile operations for American Honda.
"Updates to the 2013 Civic took it from best-selling in 2012 to undeniably best-in-segment this year, and with a significantly-updated Odyssey on the way this summer, we're looking forward to providing even more value to American families."

Courtesy of Honda Media Newsroom

Kudos to the Honda of Gainesville team for receiving a review on Dealer Rater!

"Matt Like was very professional and knowledgable." - Jordanh08

Honda of Gainesville received many great reviews on Google+ Local!

"The salespersons were very considerate of my needs and ensured that my questions were answered sufficiently." - Valerie W.

"Every employee I talked to was open and welcoming. The free muffins didn't hurt either"- Hannah K.

"Our experiences at Honda of Gainesville have been positive." - Norm N.

Kudos to our team for receiving two 5-star reviews on Dealer Rater!

"Chris was extremely knowledgable, friendly and did his best to calm my nerves about the whole process." - darlakayhill 

"I appreciate the fact that (Ryan) took the time to find out what my needs for a car were and the first car he suggested was right on target." - Linda S.

Honda of Gainesville received many great reviews on Google+ Local!

"I found the staff to be incredibly welcoming and knowledgeable." - Danielle K.

"Everyone there was pleasant, the facility was clean and appealing." - Christian K.

"When I purchase from this dealership, I know what to expect - the best and nothing less." - Diane B.

With a new front grille and front bumper, the 2013 Crosstour makes a bolder statement right from the start. Visit Honda of Gainesville to test drive this vehicle today!