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2011 Honda Odyssey Offers 8 Passenger Seating and New Child Seat Features

Are you tired of 7-passenger vehicles that can’t fit all your kids and cargo? Sick of wagons and vans that lack features found in luxury cars? Well now your troubles are over! The rumors you’ve heard. The videos you’ve seen. It has arrived! The 2011 Honda Odyssey is the ultimate Family Transport!

Hauling lots of children along with their friends and gear? Want great seating flexibility with much better fuel economy than monster SUVs and full size vans? Looking for safety and high-end entertainment possibilities? Look no further! The new Odyssey is now king of the carseat and kid cruiser category, usurping the role from the Toyota Sienna 8-passenger models.

In the amazing new Odyssey, you can now easily fit most combinations of child safety seats 3-across in the second row. This is accomplished with a few inches more width inside overall, a new “wide” seating mode and a much wider “Multifunction” middle seat (available on EX and above models). This seat even features LATCH, the lower anchors and top tether anchors not present on the PlusOne middle seat of the previous Odyssey.

Yes, it’s true! Three LATCH positions in the middle row for all EX and Touring models. In the third row, there are two LATCH positions in the outboard seats and a third top tether anchor for the middle seat. All three top tether anchors for the third row are on the back of the vehicle seats. So, that’s a total of 5 LATCH positions in the 8-passenger EX/Touring trims and 4 LATCH positions for the 7-passenger LX trim level.

What does it offer over an 8-passenger Sienna? For starters, previous generation Sienna minivans that had the full size “Front and Center” 8th seat were not very common and only optional in lower trim level packages. Today, the Odyssey matches that and goes beyond, by making it standard in most trim levels. As for the third row seat, there is a nice increase in both shoulder room and legroom. That means a lot more space for adults, kids and carseats that get wider at the top. With the added inch of legroom, even a rear-facing seat should fit fine and allow plenty of room for the passenger in the 2nd row, too. Plus, access to the third row is easier, with over an inch more space for entry from the side when the 2nd row chair is moved forward.

All the head restraints can be removed. That can be a big advantage compared to some new vehicles where they are fixed and pose problems with some child seat installations. The new head restraints in the third row allow the seat to fold easily when down. They also conform to new requirements that make them relatively uncomfortable when down, such that older kids and adults are more likely to move them up where they offer protection from whiplash injuries.

Carseats are hardly the only issue with keeping kids and family safe. What about crash tests? Well, for those you will have to wait, but I am told that Honda fully expects a “Best Pick” rating from the IIHS. That is only awarded to vehicles that get top results in all their individual tests, including frontal offset and side impact crash tests plus their rear and roof strength ratings. Honda also expects to receive the 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA. As you may know, the overall rating is new for 2011 and includes tougher individual frontal and side impact crash tests, including a new side pole test in addition to the one using a conventional barrier. Rollover risk is also included in the new overall rating. Scoring both an IIHS ”Best Pick” and a NHTSA overall “5-star” rating will be extremely impressive for any vehicles that accomplish it!

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6 Airbag Safety Tips

Practicing airbag safety in your vehicle is more than just having an airbag installed and letting it do its job. An airbag is made of a highly elastic material, which inflates at a very high speed if there is an accident. The airbag functions as a cushion, thereby protecting the inhabitants of the vehicle from collisions with hard objects and the vehicle itself. When used with seat belts, airbags help save many lives. However, because airbags deploy at very high speeds with tremendous force, they come with their own risks, which can results in serious injury and even death, if proper precautions are not observed.
Tip 1: Wear Your Seat Belt

In the absence of a seat belt, an airbag can be very dangerous. The occupants of the vehicle can be propelled forward at high speeds. When they collide with the airbag at such speeds, the results can be fatal. Some vehicles have separate lap belts and shoulder belts, both of which should be worn when traveling.

Tip 2: Seat Children under 12 in the Rear of the Vehicle

Children under the age of 12 are safest in car seats. They must also be properly and securely strapped in. a young child may not be properly secured with a seat belt, which may be loose. It is important to set up the car seats in the back of the vehicle. This is because if they are kept in the front of the vehicle, the children may be too close to the dashboard. In the event of a collision, the airbag may be deployed and can strike the children at very high force. This force can seriously injure young children.
Tip 3: Never Place a Rear-facing Infant Car Seat in the Front

A rear facing car seat must always be placed in the back seat of the vehicle. If a rear facing car seat is placed in the front and if the airbag is deployed, it can hit the car seat at a great force that can be life-threatening to a young infant. Never hold an infant in the lap while driving.
Tip 4: Sit a Safe Distance Away from the Dashboard

Whether you are a driver or a passenger in the front seat, it is important to keep a safe distance from the dashboard. Keep your seat pushed back as much as is comfortable. This will prevent the airbag landing at close proximity. It will also reduce the chances of burns from the hot gas that is used in airbags.
Tip 5: Avoid Leaning against the Side if Your Vehicle has Side Airbags

Never lean against the side of the vehicle or its window. Be aware of the airbag placement in your vehicle and ensure that all the passengers follow the same safety precautions.
Tip 6: Never Store Objects between Yourself and the Airbag

If you keep any objects between yourself and the airbag, they could be deadly in the event of a collision. When the airbag is deployed, these objects become wedged between yourself and the airbag. Thereby increasing the chances of fatal injuries.

The First Minivan

The 1936 Stout Scarab came about in the early 1930s when William B. Stout, head of the Stout Engineering Laboratories in Dearborn, Michigan, dreamed of rear-engine/rear-wheel drive. Stout created the 1936 Stout Scarab so that drivers would have better visibility. His Scarab, with its flush glass and electric door locks, bore scant resemblance to any car on Depression-era roads.

Although the Scarab looked long -- like an old Greyhound bus with postwar "bathtub" Nash overtones -- the dimensions weren't terribly startling. The 135-inch wheelbase was on the long side, but the overall length of just over 16 feet-about the same as a 1936 Pontiac-allowed only minimal overhang at each end. And the rear-mounted engine couldn't be more commonplace: an 85-bhp flathead Ford V-8 hooked to Ford's three-speed gearbox. On a 6000-mile trip, Stout's car got a creditable 18.8 mpg.

Scarab interiors were as unique as their bodies. Only the driver's seat was fixed. All the others could be moved around the big, flat floor-even positioned around a fold-down table if desired.

A Stout ad in Fortune announced that 1936 production would be "limited to 100 cars," with prices starting at $5000. Scarabs actually cost a lot more to build, however, and nearly all of them went to Stout board members, including such notables as Phillip Wrigley and Harvey Firestone.

Ahead of its time? Absolutely. Not everyone falls for the unorthodox shape, but they all take notice if a Scarab glides into view. Just a glance at that elegantly fanned rear grillework confirms that the Scarab was -- and is -- something special.

Which of these is believed to be the oldest plantation in the United States?

Monticello
Bremo
Carter's Grove
Shirley

See answer under Car Doctor.

Ask the Car Doctor

Winter Auto Maintenance Checklist

By Matthew Wright

In addition to the added perils of winter driving, the change in weather can bring peril to your car's systems. Freezing temps, salted roads and wintery precipitation can gang up on your car if you don't give it a baseball-bat sized maintenance session. These winter maintenance jobs will keep you out of trouble.

• Check your antifreeze
Your antifreeze (the juice that goes in your radiator) is an essential part of your car's winter protection. Your car contains a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze. Make sure the level is full and the mixture is close to 50/50. Many service stations and repair centers will check this mixture free, or you can buy a tester for around $5. You did remember to perform a radiator flush last spring, didn't you?
• Inspect your tires
The last line of defense between you and an oak tree are your tires. Winter is not the time to get cheap about your tires, so take the time to check the tread depth. The National Highway Transportation Safety Board says you need at least 2/32" of depth to be safe. It's been my experience, especially in winter weather, that anything less than 4/32" (1/8") be replaced soon. The old penny test is as reliable as anything to find out whether your treads are ready for winter action. Also, be sure to check your tire pressure. Believe it or not, they lose a little pressure when it gets cold, so pump 'em up.
• Replace your wipers
Wipers? What do your windshield wipers have to do with winter weather? Two things. First, anything falling from the sky is going to end up on your windshield, and unless you have a team of beavers riding on the hood of your car the task of clearing it falls on your wipers. Second, in areas that see snowfall in the winter, you're also driving through that soupy muck that's left on the road once the highway department does their thing. This muck includes a lot of sand and salt, both of which end up on your windshield. It takes wipers that are in top shape to keep your windshield clean and safe.
• Check your windshield washer fluid
You'll be using lots of washer fluid as you try to keep your windshield sparkly. A mile stuck behind an 18-wheeler will have your windshield looking like a Desert Humvee if you're low on washer fluid. *Tip: Don't fill your washer fluid reservoir with anything except washer fluid, it won't freeze!
Annual Maintenance Procedures
On top of the checks you need to perform to ensure safe winter driving, now's a good time to do some annual maintenance. These aren't necessarily specific to winter driving, but it's a good point on the calendar to get around to doing this stuff.
• Clean your battery posts
Starting problems are a bummer any time of year. Regularly treating your battery to a cleaning can keep electrical gremlins at bay.
• Inspect your spark plug wires
Cracked up plug wires affect performance, gas mileage and general reliability. Be sure yours are in top shape.
• Inspect your brakes
Brakes are not a good area to cut corners. Be sure your brakes have enough meat left to get you through the season.
• Check Your Engine Oil
This should go without saying and should be done at least monthly. But in case you're an amnesiac ... you should also do an oil change!
Cold weather safety should be a concern for anybody living in a cold climate. These tips will give you the upper hand when Old Man Winter tries to put a chill on your winter travels. If you're extra curious about staying generally safe in winter weather, the National Weather Service has an excellent Winter Safety & Awareness guide that covers everything from how storms brew to a list of history's billion dollar winter wonders.

Make sure that your automobile is up to date on its service schedule.

Click Here to schedule a service appointment at your nearest Hall Automotive Service Center.

The correct answer is Shirley
It was originally called Shirley Hundred and was built in the 1723. During the Civil War, Shirley served as a Union military hospital. Carter's Grove was built in 1750.

*Based on 2010 EPA mileage estimates, reflecting new EPA fuel economy methods beginning with 2008 models.