Balmer Lawn Honda

New CRZ Offers

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:32:31 +0000

CRZ OFFERS

Create your own CR-Z offer by choosing 3 of these great options:

3 years complimentary servicing
4th year extended guarantee
£300 insurance contribution
3 years road tax
Flexible finance

Offers valid on new retail CR-Z models ordered from 2 April 2012 to 30 June 2012 and registered by 30 June 2012. All figures above are based on solid paint. Offers applicable at participating Dealers and are at the Promoter’s absolute discretion. Subject to model, colour and stock availability.

Servicing: Three years’ complimentary servicing or 37,500 miles, whichever comes first, and includes a maximum of three services. Complimentary servicing covers the manufacturer’s scheduled servicing only.

Insurance contribution: A monetary amount of £300 will be paid at time of purchase as a contribution to insurance costs.

4th Year Extended Guarantee: Additional ’1 Year Warranty’ coverage extends the original Standard Warranty to 4 years / 120,000 miles (whichever occurs first), and will Guarantee the vehicle is free from material and manufacturing defects (mechanical and electrical item only, excludes items which can be expected to wear).

Road Tax: A monetary amount equivalent to the cost of Road Tax (VED – Vehicle Excise Duty) for the first three years of the vehicle’s life will be paid at time of purchase at the prevailing rates of First Year and Subsequent Year VED.

Honda Hire Purchase (HP): Indemnities may be required in certain circumstances. Finance is only available to persons aged 18 or over, subject to status. All figures are correct at time of publication but may be subject to change. Credit provided by Honda Finance Europe PLC, 470 London Road, Slough, Berkshire SL3 8QY.

New Jazz Offers

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:25:48 +0000

Create your own Jazz offer by choosing 3 of these great options:

3 years complimentary servicing
4th year extended guarantee
£300 insurance contribution
3 years road tax
Flexible finance

Offers valid on new retail Jazz (including Jazz Hybrid) models ordered from 2 April 2012 to 30 June 2012 and registered by 30 June 2012. All figures above are based on solid paint. Offers applicable at participating Dealers and are at the Promoter’s absolute discretion. Subject to model, colour and stock availability.

Insurance contribution: A monetary amount of £300 will be paid at time of purchase as a contribution to insurance costs.

New Insight Offers

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:06:57 +0000

INSIGHT OFFER

Select a new Insight 2012 and choose from two flexible finance options.

A 3 year Complimentary Service Plan is also available

Offers valid on new retail Insight models ordered from 15 March 2012 to 30 June 2012 and registered by 30 June 2012. All figures above are based on solid paint. Offers applicable at participating Dealers and are at the Promoter’s absolute discretion. Subject to model, colour and stock availability.

Servicing: Three years complimentary servicing or 37,500 miles, whichever comes first, and includes a maximum of three services. Complimentary servicing covers the manufacturer’s scheduled servicing only.

Latest Industry News

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:40:03 +0000

Honda UNI-CUB -Move over Segway, Honda has revealed a unique mobility device for scooting about indoors

16th May 2012

Are you tired of walking around the office? Honda thinks it has the answer. The new UNI-CUB follows on from the U3-X mobility concept shown in 2009, and features revolutionary technology from Honda’s world famous humanoid robot Asimo. Riders simply shift their weight to alter its speed or direction and thanks to the new wheel system, the UNI-CUB can even move diagonally or sideways to make it easier to manoeuvre around obstacles.  Honda says the UNI-CUB “promotes harmony between the riders and others”, as the high seating position allows them to maintain eye-level contact with other pedestrians. The hands-free controls also allow more freedom compared to the earlier U3-X, where riders held the seat to balance. The device follows on from Honda’s continuing development of next-generation motability devices. It will continue testing at Japan’s National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation from June 2012 through to March 2013. Staff will be performing demonstrations and annual pass holders will be offered test rides.

8 May – Google gets Nevada driving licence for self-drive car

Driverless cars will soon be a reality on the roads of Nevada after the state approved America’s first self-driven vehicle licence. The first to hit the highway will be a Toyota Prius modified by search firm Google, which is leading the way in driverless car technology.
Its first drive included a spin down Las Vegas’s famous strip. Other car companies are also seeking self-driven car licences in Nevada. The car uses video cameras mounted on the roof, radar sensors and a laser range finder to “see” other traffic. Engineers at Google have previously tested the car on the streets of California, including crossing San Francisco’s Golden Gate bridge. For those tests, the car remained manned at all times by a trained driver ready to take control if the software failed. According to software engineer Sebastian Thrun, the car has covered 140,000 miles with no accidents, other than a bump at traffic lights from a car behind. Bruce Breslow, director of Nevada’s Department of Motor Vehicles, says he believes driverless vehicles are the “cars of the future”. Nevada changed its laws to allow self-driven cars in March. The long-term plan is to license the public to drive such cars.

30 April – Honda welcomes 500 new employees to Swindon plant

Japanese car manufacturer Honda has welcomed 500 new members of staff at its Swindon plant. The expansion was announced in December and takes the number of workers at the plant to 3,500. An extra shift has been introduced and production is expected to almost double to 180,000 cars in 2012. Honda director Andy Piatek said it was an important day for the company. “I am delighted to welcome our new associates,” he said. The firm said the second shift at the South Marston site coincided with growing demand for its new Civic hatchback models.Professor Garel Rhys, director of the Centre for Automotive Industry Research in Cardiff, welcomed the announcement. “It’s very good news to hear in a way there’s a two-pronged attack,” he said. “One, you’re going to get the extra workers taking up the workforce to this colossal 3,000 plus, that’s an amazing number in this day and age. “But it’s going to be reinforced by a new product.”

29 April – BTCC News – Honda Win

Gordon Shedden was a dominant winner in today’s second wet Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race at Thruxton.

Shedden started from sixth on the grid but, after two opening laps on a sodden circuit behind the safety car, he then swiftly picked off those ahead to secure his third win of the season. He also set the race’s fastest lap in his Honda Yuasa Racing Team Civic.

27 April – Honda profit recovers from floods

Japan’s Honda Motor has reported a 61% jump in first quarter profits, as car and motorcycle sales recovered from a year of disasters.Net income for the January to March period was 71.5bn yen ($883m; £547m) up from 44.5bn yen for the same period a year earlier, the company said.Japanese car makers suffered production disruptions after the tsunami in Japan and floods in Thailand in 2011.The problems meant profits for the year to 31 March fell 60% to 211.4bn yen.
Records forecastAnalysts are expecting Honda’s rivals – Toyota and Nissan – to see a similar recovery in the first quarter of the year.Honda, the third largest car maker in Japan, was widely regarded to have been the worst hit of all the Japanese car makers.It was the last to get its supply chains back in order after the huge earthquake and tsunami in Japan in March 2011.Its car plant in Thailand was only back in operation at the end of March 2012 – a six month disruption after the floods in October.Finally, the strength of the yen has also worked against Honda and other Japanese exporters. A strong yen cuts into overseas earnings.

Friday’s earnings put an end to five financial quarters of drops in operating profits.

Honda attributed the recovery to improved sales in Japan and North America. It saw an 8.7% jump in sales to 2.41tn yen.

27 April – Ford earnings fall amid Europe’s economic weakness

Ford, the second-largest US carmaker, said first quarter net income was $1.4bn (£862m), down from $2.6bn for the same quarter last year.Ford said about half the drop was due to it paying a higher tax rate. Ford made a loss of $149m in Europe where many economies are struggling. The carmaker’s sales in Europe were down by 60,000.

Ford also reported losses in Asia, Africa and South America. However, in North America pre-tax profits rose 17% to $2.1bn, which was its best performance in the region since 2000.

23 April – 5 Star Civic

The new Honda Civic has scored a full five-star Euro NCAP rating. The new model Civic, which features Vehicle Stability Assist, driver and passenger airbags, curtain airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners and Honda’s Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), continues Honda’s strong record of Euro NCAP results.

The Civic’s CMBS is a radar-based emergency braking system that works above 10mph. In the event of an imminent collision, the system offers a series of warnings before activating the seatbelt pre-tensioners and braking the car, bringing it to a complete stop.

The Civic also scored well thanks to its ‘Advanced Compatibility Engineering’ body structure, as well as pedestrian protection features, including an energy-absorbing front end and bonnet hinges to minimise harm to pedestrians in the event of a collision.

The Civic’s result means that every Honda currently on sale in the UK has achieved a five-star rating.

23 April – Fire in small German town could curb world car production

When a fire in the small town of Marl in the west of Germany closed down an obscure chemical plant on 31 March, it barely made headlines.

Two people died and that was a personal tragedy for their families and friends, but the shock waves did not resonate far beyond.

Except, it turns out, to the other side of the Atlantic – in Detroit, Michigan. So tight is the global car industry’s supply chain that one break in a small link threatens the lot. About three weeks after the fire, executives from the world’s biggest auto-makers and their suppliers have met with furrowed brows to take stock of the implications of the fire. And they are serious.

It turns out that the braking and the fuel systems of cars depend on a resin called PA-12. And PA-12 is made out of an inelegantly named chemical: cyclododecatriene, or CDT. Evonik Industries’ plant in Germany was responsible for a good chunk of the world’s supply – one estimate put it between a quarter and a half.

Real worry

The supply of PA-12 was already tight because it is also used in solar panels. In addition, Evonik says that it will take at least three months and perhaps longer before its damaged chemical plant can resume full production. That has set off alarm bells throughout the car industry. Earlier this week, more than 200 executives from companies including General Motors, Volkswagen, Toyota and Ford met in Michigan. Under the auspices of the Automotive Industry Action Group, six technical committees were set up to assess the impact of the shortage and to seek alternatives. The group said that it was clear that “a significant portion of the global production capacity” had been compromised.

After the meeting, the big car companies were saying nothing on the record. But some sources now say there is a real worry that the potential impact could be serious, including a slow-down in production.

23 April – Honda to invest $560m to expand its operations in China

Honda Motors has said it will add a new car assembly line and build a new engine factory in China to cater for growing demand in the country.The Japanese carmaker says it plans to invest a total of 3.56bn yuan ($560m; £350m) to expand its operations.The new assembly line will have an initial capacity of 120,000 units per year, which will be doubled over time.The move comes as global carmakers have been looking to tap into the Chinese market, the biggest in the world.Honda said it would enhance its research and development capabilities in China “to further strengthen its operation to deliver new products which focus on Chinese customers”. The new car assembly line is expected to become operational by 2014 and will increase Honda’s total production capacity in China to 600,000 cars a year. China’s economic growth in recent years has seen income levels rise in the country resulting in growing demand for cars. Faced with slowing growth in developed markets such at the US and eurozone, global carmakers have been keen to increase their presence in China, in an attempt to win a slice of the lucrative market.And they are leaving no stone unturned.

20 April – Nissan to manufacture two Infiniti models in China

Nissan Motors has said it will start manufacturing two models of its luxury brand Infiniti in China in an attempt to tap into the fast-growing market.Nissan is looking to increase its Infiniti sales in China. Last year it sold just under 20,000 units in the world’s biggest car market. China currently imposes import tariffs on luxury goods, which makes Infiniti cars more expensive for buyers.Analysts said the move would help bring the costs down and boost sales.Carlos Ghosn, Nissan’s chief executive, has set a global sales target of 500,000 luxury cars per year by 2016. China, which has seen a rise in demand for luxury vehicles, is expected to play a big role in achieving that goal. While making cars in China is likely to boost sales, analysts said the company would have to ensure that it maintained proper quality controls.

19 April – Audi buys Italian motorcycle firm Ducati

Volkswagen’s Audi arm has bought Italian motorcycle firm Ducati for an undisclosed sum.

The 20-member supervisory board of Europe’s largest carmaker agreed to add a 12th brand to its portfolio.

The purchase will be completed when approval from the necessary regulators is received.

Ducati has won 13 rider’s Superbike World Championships since 1988, and the deal means Audi’s rivalry with BMW will now include superbikes.

However, one expert has questioned the wisdom of the purchase.

“I can’t think of a concrete reason for Audi to warrant a business case for buying Ducati,” said Stefan Bratzel, director of the Center of Automotive, at the University of Applied Sciences in Bergisch-Gladbach.

“Ducati does not enhance Audi’s business model in any way, it is just a trophy in the wall cabinet.”

18 April – Lada 2107 production ceases after more than 40 years

Russian car-maker AutoVaz has announced that it will stop production of its Lada 2107 model, better known in Britain as the Lada Riva, after more than 40 years.

The boxy saloon became the butt of many jokes due to its poor build quality and reliability. Originally called the 2101, the four-door car was based on the 1966 Fiat 124, and was last updated in 1982 as the Lada 2107. Despite its basic underpinnings it has remained popular in Russia thanks to a combination of low price, simple mechanicals and cheap parts.

In total AutoVaz has sold more than 18 million examples of the Lada 2107, but has announced it will stop production next week due to a drastic fall in demand.

17 April – Honda 100 Million

Honda Motor Co., Ltd has announced today that Honda’s cumulative worldwide Power Equipment production reached the 100 million-unit^*1 milestone during 2011.

Honda’s Power Equipment business dates back to 1953 and is based on the original spirit of Honda – to utilise technology to help people – when an engine for agricultural equipment was launched with the aim of reducing the manual labour of farmers.

Since then, Honda has been utilising its core technology, the engine, to gradually expand its Power Equipment offering and the product line-up now includes tillers, generators, outboard engines, pumps, lawnmowers, snow blowers as well as many other products.

Honda has always been proactive in developing products in the areas of energy conservation and creation and as a result, has been increasing the diversity of its Power Equipment line-up which now (in certain countries now) includes a compact household gas engine cogeneration unit and a solar power system which adopts CIGS thin-film solar cells^*2.

In Japan, Honda Power Equipment products are produced at Kumamoto Factory and Hosoe Plant at Hamamatsu Factory. In regions outside of Japan, Honda Power Equipment product production began in 1984 with the production of lawnmowers in the United States of America.

This was closely followed in 1986 by the opening of Honda France Industries which produces walk-behind lawn mowers, brushcutters and generators for the European market. Today, the factory can produce over 1,700 units a day and in 2008 celebrated production of its 3 millionth unit.

Today, Honda Power Equipment products are produced at eleven production plants in nine countries and are used regularly by people in more than 150 countries around the world, positioning its Power Equipment business as one of the key pillars for Honda’s business along with the Motorcycle and Automobile businesses.

ss Car Reviews

New CR-V Offers

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 12:05:50 +0000

CR-V

Travelling by CR-V is already a rewarding experience, with generous standard equipment such as cruise control, dual zone climate control and parking sensors. And now you can enjoy an upgrade with our compliments.

Upgrade from ES-T to EX with a saving of £2,520
Additional features include:

Leather upholstery
Panoramic glass roof
Premium audio system

Upgrade from SE+ to ES-T with a saving of £2,490
Additional features include:

Integrated Navigation System
Leather/Alcantara upholstery with heated front seats
18″ alloy wheels

Both offers are available with:
2 years 0% APR Representative

3 year Service Plan for only £299

Offers valid on new retail CR-V ES-T and EX models ordered from 15 March 2012 to 30 June 2012 and registered by 30 June 2012. All figures above are based on solid paint. Offers applicable at participating Dealers and are at the Promoter’s absolute discretion. Subject to model, colour and stock availability.

CR-V ES-T models available for the On The Road price of equivalent SE+ model – discount of £2,490 inc VAT will be applied to retail invoice.

CR-V EX models available for the On The Road price of equivalent ES-T model – discount of £2,520 inc VAT will be applied to retail invoice.

Service Plan: Three years’ servicing or 37,500 miles, whichever comes first, includes a maximum of three services, at £299.

Honda Aspirations (PCP): Indemnities may be required in certain circumstances. Finance is only available to persons aged 18 or over, subject to status. All figures are correct at time of publication but may be subject to change. Credit provided by Honda Finance Europe PLC, 470 London Road, Slough, Berkshire SL3 8QY. You do not have to pay the Final Payment if you return the car at the end of the agreement, you have paid all other amounts due, the vehicle is in good condition and has been serviced in accordance with the Honda service book and the maximum permitted mileage of 10,000 per annum has not been exceeded.

New Showroom!

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 12:53:20 +0000

Our Brockenhurst Showroom has just completed its ‘changing rooms’ makeover. The work was completed on time even though the weather was against us and is now ready to welcome all our customers past, present, and future.

Take some time to come and visit us and hopefully you will be just as impressed with the transformation as we are

Look forward to seeing you soon….

Special Offers

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:32:25 +0000

Special Offers

Parking Sensors

For only £249.99 inc VAT we will fit a set of coloured parking sensors to your car. This quality set of sensors is fitted by our factory trained technicians in our own workshop. They come complete with a 12 month warranty and could save you a repair or your insurance excess!

01590 623464 Brockenhurst / 02380 877800 Dibden / 01722 412222 Salisbury

Help For Heroes

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:00:21 +0000

The Sales Manager at Brockenhurst took part in a sponsored motorcycle ride in aid of the Help for Heroes charity.

The event, called Ride for Heroes, was to be held during the Easter weekend 2010 and involved making a visit to the most far flung military bases in the UK – Anglesey (W), Lossimouth( N), Sutton Heath (E) and Helston (S), this covered over 2200 miles and had to be completed in just three days which when you consider the state of the road network in the UK was quite a task. The trip descended into a battle of wills between man and nature when the weather in Scotland took a turn for the worse and just keeping on the road was a challenge in visibility of less than 50 metres and temperatures of -8c. Out of the original 10 that were to start the adventure the final 5 that made it to the end were exhausted but elated.

I was only able to take part due to the kind understanding and unfailing support of the Directors of Balmer Lawn and I am very grateful for that.

The staff and customers of Balmer Lawn and August Motors raised over £750. May I thank all those people who donated and supported this challenge. Mark Gibbins

TOTAL MILES – 2278

HOURS IN SADDLE – 37

FUEL USED – 49.95 gallons

AVE MPG – 45.6 mpg

AVE SPEED – 61.56 mph

BIKES DROPPED – 1

BREAKDOWNS – 0 (All Japanese bikes!)

Parts Questions

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:09:18 +0000

Q. I have an old Honda – can you still supply parts for it?

A. We can get parts for most models up to 20 years old, if you need further advice please contact the parts departments on 01590 623575 (Brockenhurst) or 01722 413000 (Salisbury)

Q. Do you sell only genuine Honda parts?

A. We can supply genuine parts for most manufactures.

Q. How long do my parts take to arrive?

A. A lot of our parts are next day delivery – we advise customers at time of ordering.

Q. Can you fit parts that I buy elsewhere?

A. The Service Team will be happy to quote you for this.

Sales Questions

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:07:11 +0000

Q. How much is my current car worth?

A. Many factors including mileage, age and condition effect a vehicles values therefore it is advisable that you contact your local branch who will be more than happy to appraise your car.

Q. What time do you open?

A. The Dealerships are open from 0800hrs until 1800hrs Monday – Friday, 0800hrs to 1700 hrs Saturday and 1000hrs to 1600hrs on Sundays. We can also arrange for home visits or later opening if this is more convenient.

Q. What type of cars do you sell?

A. We supply all the New Honda Range and we stock in excess of 100 used cars of different makes and models, we specialise in 4 x 4 type vehicles and we can also source a vehicle for you if you cannot see what you require.

Q. Do you have finance facilities?

A. We offer finance through Honda and other finance companies. We are FSA accredited and can supply you with a printed quotation on the vehicle of your choice.

Q. Do your cars have a warranty?

A. All our pre owned cars come with a full 12 month parts and labour warranty (subject to age and terms). All new cars have a 3 year 90,000 mile manufactures warranty.

Q. Do you have an Exchange Scheme on used cars?

A. Yes we do, please see http://www.honda.co.uk/cars/used/30daypolicy/ for full details.