September 04, 2005

Acura Handsfreelink

hfl_sys_home. This is the branded version of a Bluetooth connection for your cellphone.

In 2005 MDX's and later they have this, but it is not documented in the manual. At least I can't find it. They do have a site Handsfreelink.com that tells you about. They can store up to 50 phone numbers and pair up to six devices. Pretty cool. Johnson Controls makes this.

The instructions are a little bizarre and rely on the voice input system in the Acura MDX, so there isn't any graphical controls. You won't find it in the navigational computer screens. Here they are:

IMPORTANT: You must press and release the HandsFreeLink talk button on the steering wheel and wait for the beep before you speak. This step is required before all spoken commands.

# Power on the phone and ensure Bluetooth® is ON. Please refer to your phone's user guide for steps to turn on Bluetooth.
# Press and release the Talk button on the steering wheel and wait for the "beep" before you speak. Repeat this step before all spoken commands. This is the little button behind the steering wheel that is used for all voice commands.
# Say "phone setup"
# Say "pair"
# Say any 4 digit PIN code for pairing. Remember it as you will need to enter it into your phone later. HandsFreeLink will now instruct you to begin pairing process in the phone. I usually use 0000 or something equally easy.

This puts the car into the mode to make a connection. Now specifics vary by the type of handset you have, but here are the instructions for a Blackberry 7100t:

  1. On the Blackberry select OPTIONS
  2. Select Bluetooth
  3. Press Scroll Wheel to turn on Bluetooth
  4. Select ADD DEVICE
  5. Select device from list, hopefully you'll see the Acrua MDX there
  6. Enter 4 digit PIN code from earlier step
  7. After pairing is complete, press Scroll Wheel
  8. Select DEVICE PROPERTIES
  9. Select TRUSTED and press Scroll Wheel this means that the connection gets made automatically from now on.
  10. Select CHANGE OPTION
  11. Select YES
  12. Press Escape key
  13. Select SAVE

Posted by rich at 12:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 30, 2005

MDX Navigation DVD Order Form

Acura Order Form. Hard to find, but this is where you can order updated Acura Navigation System DVDs.

Posted by rich at 12:37 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

MDX HandsFreeLink

HandsFreeLink : Frequently Asked Questions HandsFreeLink is standard on the 2004 and 2005 Acura TL models, the
2005 RL, and any 2005 MDX equipped with the Touring Package.

This feature lets you connect any Bluetooth mobile phone to the onboard speaker system and microphone of an MDX. A great feature never discussed. Here is how to do it with a Blackberry 7100:

  1. Power on the phone and ensure Bluetooth® is ON. Please refer to your phone's user guide for steps to turn on Bluetooth.
  2. Press and release the Talk button on the steering wheel and wait for the "beep" before you speak. Repeat this step before all spoken commands.
  3. Say "phone setup"
  4. Say "pair"
  5. Say any 4 digit PIN code for pairing. Remember it as you will need to enter it into your phone later. HandsFreeLink will now instruct you to begin pairing process in the phone.
  6. On the Blackberry select OPTIONS
  7. Select Bluetooth
  8. Press Scroll Wheel
  9. Select ADD DEVICE
  10. Select device from list
  11. Enter 4 digit PIN code from earlier step
  12. After pairing is complete, press Scroll Wheel
  13. Select DEVICE PROPERTIES
  14. Select TRUSTED and press Scroll Wheel
  15. Select CHANGE OPTION
  16. Select YES
  17. Press Escape key
  18. Select SAVE

Posted by rich at 12:32 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 08, 2005

Honda Pilot

2005 Honda Pilot - Pictures, Specs of the Honda Pilot. Nina and Tom reminded me that although we love our Acura MDX, if you want to save a few bucks and want a roomier car as well, then the Honda Pilot is the car to get.

Consumer Reports confirms that these sister cars are great. Right now the Pilot is boxier (so Connie likes the sleeker MDX) and last year only the MDX had a DVD system, so that's why we like that car.

In 2005 though, the Pilot got the same engine (now its 255 hp) and you can now get the DVD entertainment system too. So, if you don't mind the boxier look and want to save some money, go for it! In fact, now there is an EX with satellite linked navigation that even includes a subwoofer. Wow.

Posted by rich at 09:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 02, 2005

Volvo Upgrades

Well, took a body blow to buying an Scion xB. The WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) was below zero. So, I guess I'll have to wait for the next practical alternative. Maybe the Hybrid Camry. In the mean time, since I'll our Volvo for a while longer, time to look for some upgrades to it including GPS, iPod Car Audio and better speakers.

A million years ago, I used Crutchfield's to install my own stereo and speakers. I can't tell you how satisfying this was, so maybe with a 10 year old car, its time to hack again.

Here's the latest (first see the previous post about a portable GPS that doesn't require car hacking).

Alternatives include getting picking out a new receiver (sometimes called head-end). There are quite a few on the market these days. And some interesting choices that let you do everything above:

*

Posted by rich at 08:48 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 01, 2005

TomTom GO 700

TomTom GO 700 Automotive GPS Navigation System. This portable navigation system got a great review. More user friendly than the Garmin or Magellan units. PC Magazine, Pocketgps.co.uk":http://www.pocketgps.co.uk/tomtom-go.php

Having used a bunch of navigation systems, this ease of use is just so important. Not a bad price ($750) for a portable unit. It isn't built into the car, but sometimes that can be an advantage in that you can get rid of it when it gets obsolete.

It comes with a 2.6GB hard drive so there are no DVDs and it has Bluetooth, so that you can answer from the screen (I don't know why you'd want to do that) and use its onboard speaker/microphone system like a handsfree system. More significantly, you can call any number in the navigation system from your phone.

Also it has a li-ion battery in it, so it can run up to 4 hours without being plugged in at all. The main con people have found is that screen is reflective so can be hard ot read.

Posted by rich at 08:55 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 28, 2005

Scion xB Upgrades

When I actually drove the Scion xB, it was cheap and great, but it had a couple of pretty big drawbacks. Fortunately, the thing is so customizable, that a quick visit to various enthusiast sites got me to the fixes for in order:

  1. Low Power. It is only 108 hp so it is sloooowww getting up to speed.
  2. Noisy. Wow, it is back to the old days particularly at highway speeds.
  3. Gadgets. Heck, what would a modern car be without a DVD and a navigation system.
  4. Leather. I know, who wants leather seats in a cheap car. Well, have some kids and then come back and comment.
  5. Rack. They have a clip on rack, but it would be nice to get nice rails.
  6. Sunroof. I know I shouldn't need one, but I've gotten used to it.

Now, it turns out that Scion dealerships have many fixes for these that turn a $14K car into a $20K one. I know, I priced it at Michael's Toyota. Let's see if the web can't help me do it cheaper. And hopefully help me find a local accessory place to do the work. The cool thing about such a cheap simple car is that I feel like you can just modify it easily.

  • Scion Life :: View topic - xB/xA Intake Buyer's Guide updated 4/28 Weapon-R. The easiest way to get more power is first of all to get a cold air intake. That's about 10% more power. The Injen IS2100 at $137 street is way cheaper than the factory intake and seems to work better. Main issue is that it has an additional air filter that you'll have to change. Actual dyno testing shows that 92.7HP and 95.8 lb/ft at the wheels fro the stock intake, while the Injen added +4 HP and +4.77 lb/ft. Not bad.
  • TRD Muffler. You can get a $299 muffler that is bigger. Supposed to add 2 hp and a little better fuel economy. The big concern is of course how loud the thing gets. Other choices include Strups
  • Read Sway Bar. Counter intuitive, but the best way to improve cornering is to leave the stock anti-sway bar in the front and add one in the rear to get balanced handling and prevent massive oversteer. Progress from partshippers.com makes a nice rear bar that's pretty easy to install. For newbies, the front bar prevents the car from tipping over (hence the term anti-sway), but makes the car fight you in the turn.
  • "Sound deadening". To bring down other road noise in the cabin, I sound deadened the wheel wells, cargo floor, and rear doors according to Karl Hunges on scionlife.com.

Posted by rich at 11:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Transport Recommendations

Had a chance to drive the Prius and the Scion, the Scion is a pretty cool car. In depth in 2005, here's my recommendations for cars.

The main criteria are a) reliable, b) fuel efficient (30 mpg or more), c) seats 5, d) can carry a bike easily, e) can get me and the kids up to a ski slope, f) not too expensive and g) isn't too big to get around the cities for the daily commute.

After studying Consumer Reports et al, here are my recommendations. These are all Japanese cars because of the realiability. Obviously, these are personal POVs, but folks keep asking and amazing thing is everyone of these is a Toyota product, not by intension, but interesting:

  1. Scion xB. You have to get over the ugly looks and the fact that it is slow and noisy (these are fixable, see the next post). But it is just $14K and it has as much room as an Explorer and incredible reliability. This is a big box and super practical.
  2. Toyota Highlander Hybrid. I have not had a chance to drive it, but it is a seven passenger SUV that is close to the Lexus RX400H but is much cheaper. Don't know its gas mileage yet, but if we didn't have an Acura MDX (love that car), this is the one I'd vote for for Connie. Obviously less cuteness factor than an MDX though, but it is supposed to get 30mpg which is pretty amazing since our MDX gets about 17mpg in practice.
  3. Toyota Prius. I really wanted to like this car, but it is just so small. Very high tech, but small. Gets a real 44+ mpg, but since it is a hatchback, the headroom is just so short. When the Camry hybrid comes out, I'd recommend that instead of this one.
  4. Toyota Sienna. This is the dream minivan, but mainly I like it because it has all-wheel drive so it is great on snow. Competes with the Honda Odyssey for most practical car. It loses on size and getting only 20mpg.
  5. Lexus RX400H. This is a luxury SUV that is a hybrid also. Main ding is that it costs over $44K, but it is ultra reliable.

Posted by rich at 11:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 06, 2005

R2D2 vs. t2B

R2-D2 versus the Scion t2B - Autoblog - www.autoblog.com _. Who would have every thought you'd get car names like t2B. This is the next generation xB (which is of course the US version of the Japanese bB. Confused yet?

Most interesting factoid. R2-D2 stands for "Reel two, Dialogue two" something George Lucas took from the filming of American Graffiti. I never new that. t2B stands for tall two-box, which is what this car is.

Posted by rich at 09:27 PM

March 24, 2005

Scion xB

2004 Scion xB - Test drive and new car review - 2004 Scion xB. This car is just about everywhere at our school. It sure is practical and I love the price. As Alex says, just about as ugly as sin, but maybe right for Dad. Ironically, it was supposed to be for youth, but middle aged practical folks actually buy it. Much like the Honda Element.

Young, hip and different? Or practical fuel-efficient micro-SUV? When Toyota launched the Scion brand, it intended the xB as the former. But in the year since going on sale, the xB has found a fan base with folks in their mid-30s. Sure, it's shaped like a packing crate, but so are most refrigerators, dressers, and, well, packing crates, all objects designed for maximum space efficiency. Come on, people. Love the box. $13,680 is all. Gets 31-35mpg and comes in a five speed. I'm in heaven!

Only seats five though.

Posted by rich at 09:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

March 11, 2005

Via Luke

mini-itx.com - news - VIA launches "Luke" Platform

VIA today launched their "Luke" Corefusion Processing Platform at the Embedded Systems Conference 2005 in San Francisco, California. Luke combines both an EdenT-N CPU and CN400 Northbridge into one convenient aluminium package, reducing board real estate beyond Nano-ITX dimensions.

This thing would make a great PC Mini. Its tiny and can run at 1GHz, has MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 decoding. It is really tiny.

Posted by rich at 12:07 AM | Comments (0)

February 02, 2005

Acura RD-X

_Well our 1996 Volvo just hit its $2K/year repair level. Pretty expensive for a car worth $8K. Main issue is having to go to the shop all the time. And really the parts are outrageous. $430 for a wiper motor. What a great margin business.

So time to think about the next car for me. I'm speeded out after a decade of BMWs, so on to more "interesting" cars for me. Here are some to think about:

Acura RD-X Concept Debuts at North American International Auto Show. This is one case where spam mail really works. I got a note from Acura about this. Kind of cool and will release in fall of 2006. It is a small SUV with all the features. Including the usual, but also GPS with real-time traffic, on-board hard drive for music, no window shield wipers (air blows stuff away!) etc.

Zapworld's Smart Car. Connie thinks I'm crazy, but this is the "famous" 8 foot long, 2-seater from Europe. Zap is finally able to import it. 60 horsepower, but also 60 mpg. Perfect for commuting if you ask me. They want to start a dealership network and the thing is just $15K so stay tuned.

Toyota Prius. The car that really started it all. Just $20K or so and with a huge waiting list. Pretty cool though and it does have five seats.

Acura RD-X Concept Debuts

Posted by rich at 12:47 AM | TrackBack

March 18, 2004

Hybrid Cars

Hybridcars.com. Proving once again there is a website for everyone, there's actually a news portal now for those interested in hybrid cars. No RSS feeds though unfortunately. Some interesting facts:

  • Toyota Hybrid Camry in 2006. Toyota plans to sell 100,000 hybrid Camry's out of the 400,000 total. The overall Toyota plan is to sell 300,000 hybrids annually by the middle of this decade.
  • Car Overview. A great overview of all the cars coming. The Prius, Honda Civic and Insight are the three out now, but coming are cribbed from them. Too bad the Sienna minivan isn't on the list. Now that's a car I'd buy. Talik about practical:

Coming in 2004:
Dodge Ram Pick-up
Ford Escape SUV
GM Silverado Pick-up
GM Sierra Pick-up
Lexus Hybrid SUV

In the Works:
Chevrolet Malibu Sedan
Chevrolet Tahoe SUV
GMC Yukon SUV
Honda Accord Sedan
Honda Pilot SUV
Mercedes S-Class Hybrid
Mercedes Grand Sport Tourer Diesel-Hybrid Station Wagon
Saturn VUE SUV
Toyota Camry Sedan
Toyota Highlander SUV

Posted by rich at 09:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

March 15, 2004

Gas Hybrids are Coming...

Well here they come, hat tip to my buddy Jeff for pointing this out to me:

  • Toyota Prius is named best car of 2004 and one of the ten best by Car and Driver. More importantly, production goes to 150,000 units next year. Who would have ever guessed that!
  • Lexus hybrid - RX400h. An amazing technical feat. This is a 40 mpg 4-wheel drive car. Features a electric engine in the rear so that it is a very neat way to be a hybrid.
  • Ford to use Toyota components for the Hybrid Escape. Toyota really does have the lead here. Their small SUV, the Escape will become a hybrid in 2004.
  • Toyota Highlander. Their truck-based SUV gets a hybrid version in early 2005.

What does it all mean for me? Well, that Lexus Hybrid or the Prius sure looks good to me :-)

Posted by rich at 08:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

December 14, 2003

Acura MDX Club

I wish I had discovered this user forum before I bought our MDX. Oh well, another example of how there are enthusiasts everywhere. This one is just for Acura MDX owners. There is a similar one for Honda Pilot owners. Here are some good things to know: * ACURA MDX . ORG - Wireless Headphones. How to use the two that came with the car. * "Honda Acura World":http://www.hondacuraworld.com/. The place for aftermarket stuff. You can get wireless headphones for $43 vs. $125 at the dealer. Other good stuff here too.

Posted by rich at 01:49 PM | Comments (12) | TrackBack

December 04, 2003

It's Winter Time: What About Chains?

tirechain.com. So the chains I get from Fred Meyer never seem like they'll work that well. With Connie's new car and us going in the snow, time to consult the Internet. Of course, there is an expert at tirechain.com to help you out. Never imagined so many different products could get reviewed. The long and short is that for cars there is a real chain and then there are cables which don't work as well. Check out their installation helper. I have to get one of these! "Vulcan Tire":http://www.vulcantire.com/chain.htm. On the other hand, the folks at Vulcan say that cables are just fine. They do recommend the so called Z-cable, these go diagonally across the tire so there is always traction (makes sense to me). And, they recommend that even with 2-wheel drive cars, you get chains on all the tires so handling stays the same. That also makes sense to me. Their mid-grade Z-chains are $65 to $90 for bigger tires and they include tensioners. This is about what full chains cost as well. For SUVs, the State of Washington normally doesn't require AWD vehicles to use chains except in exceptional conditions. BTW, so I remember, the Acura MDX has 235/65-R17 tires while the volvo is 205/50-R16. These designations are all a big wierd as a trivia point. 235 refers to how wide the tire is in millmeters, the 65 is the profile (so the smaller, the thiner the tire), the R means a radial tire and then 17 means the rim size in inches. There is also a beginning P that means passenger and LT that means light truck that people don't seem to use in catalogs anymore. R is usually omitted since that's the only type around anymore.

Posted by rich at 10:28 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

November 05, 2003

Acura MDX Pricing

Acura MDX Build and Price (Summary). OK, the list price of an MDX 2004 is: | | MSRP | | Touring + Navigation + DVD | $42700 | | Destination | $545 | | Total | $43245 | There are some extras of course: | Floor Mats | $117 | | CD Changer | $432 | | CD Attachment | $67 | | Acccessories | $616 | And of course sales tax. Most folks in Seattle are charging above this, although on the Internet, you can get the Internet rep to sell it for list price It's interesting to see the profit margins. These are from "Car Prices":http://www.car-prices-costs.com/2003-Acura-MDX.html for the 2003 model, but basically, the price went up $700, but the shape of the discount structure is similar: | | MSRP | Invoice | Freight | Hold-back | Base Cost| | Touring w/navigation | $40,500.00 | $36,482.00 | $500.00 | $1,215.00 | $35,767.00 | | Touring w/navigation system and DVD | $42,000.00 | $37,832.00 | $500.00 | $1,260.00 | $37,072.00 | So they are earning a 12% margin or $3,317 per car. Wow, nice that it is hard to get. Some of course sell it for above list price. "Autobytel":http://www.autobytel.com/content/research/rebates/index.cfm?id=12859;4 also has a complete list of dealer incentives for various cars. The Acura's are of course not among them :-) "Edmunds":http://www.edmunds.com/new/2004/acura/mdx/100350762/cto.html?tid=edmunds.n.nvc.nvc..1.Acura*&zip=98004 has a great true cost to own that shows first year depreciation at $7K dropping to $4K the next year. Shows why buying a 1-2 year old car is so great. By year 2, it is nearly $11K lower in cost. Hmmm. Maybe I should look for a 2003 MDX? "Future of MDX":http://auto.consumerguide.com/auto/new/reviews/full/index.cfm/id/37489. According to Consumer Guide, they'll update it in 2006 with a more powerful engine. Also, they note that its sister is the Honda Pilot and the Pilot is roomier (but uglier) with 8 seats not 7. So, what's a person to do? Look at used 2003 Acura MDX if you can find them. Around $37,000 or convince Connie the Pilot isn't that bad :-) The Pilot with a Navigation system is EX-L 4-door wagon w/navigation system in 2003 listed for $32,520.00 with a dealer cost of $29,254.00, destination charge of $460.00 and a hold back of $975.60 so actual dealer cost is $28,738.40. "Edmonds":http://www.edmunds.com/new/2004/honda/pilot/100343941/cto.html?tid=edmunds.n.prices.leftsidenav..4.Honda* has a true cost to own of 37K over five years. Right now, the top of the line Pilot (according to "Edmunds":http://www.edmunds.com/new/2004/acura/mdx/100350762/cto.html?tid=edmunds.n.nvc.nvc..1.Acura*&zip=98004) is selling for about $200 under MSRP (not a big discount) at $33,168 vs. $33,360 for the same Sage Brush Pearl she likes. According to "Car Price" this car also has a margin of about 12% like the Acura MDX or a nice $3,782 in profit. Negatives are that it doesn't have side or curtain air bags and it is much boxier, so roomier, but not as pretty. As "Consumer Guide":http://auto.consumerguide.com/auto/new/reviews/full/index.cfm/id/37586 says, it won't get updated to 2008. The Pilot costs far less than the MDX and has different styling. But the two share a chassis, V6 engine, 5-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel-drive system. Pilot's body is slightly shorter than MDX's, but the taller, wider Honda seats eight vs. MDX's seven and has 8.8 cu ft more cargo volume. It also has softer suspension tuning and 16-inch wheels vs. 17s.

Posted by rich at 10:57 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

November 01, 2003

Hunting for an MDX

Auto Consultants Northwest. Been hunting for an MDX. It is cool to be able to call lots of dealers around the country. Basically, if there is one in stock, you can get say a $1K discount maximum, otherwise, if you are lucky, you pay the list price. I also need to trade in a car as well. Saw these guys name on a license plate holder of all things, so I'm going to give them a try too.

Posted by rich at 12:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 05, 2003

Kid Cars Galore

Well, its almost the school season and we need a car that can carry 4-5 kids in addition to grownups. We looked at a ton of cars, but Connie really liked: * "Volvo XC-90":http://volvocars.com. They did a great job designing a car for someone who doesn't want a minivan (I'm not really a mom!) or an SUV (I don't want a huge truck) but something cute. Unfortunately, in order to be cure, the rear seat has to be small * "Acura MDX":http://acura.com. The non emotional choice. Not a sexy car and definitely a huge one. But, it has a big rear seat. For Rich, it is the fact that it is actually realiable. What about me? Well, I get Connie's car as a hand-me-down but in the mean time, my next car is going to be technologically cool and very practical (vs. fast like my current 540i), so these are: * Ford Escape Hybrid. Well, I"m sure the thing will fall apart, but it is pretty amazing that by summer 2004, there will be an SUV that gets 40 mpg. Sign me up. * "Toyota Estima":http://www.toyota.com/about/environment/technology/minivan.html. Only in Japan for now, but this is a hybrid minivan. Gets 40 mpg! * "Toyota Prius 2004":http://www.toyota.com/html/shop/vehicles/prius/index.html. An all new design. Looks like a car of the future. Only 5 seats, so can't really use with our three kids plus a carpool type.

Posted by rich at 09:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

January 14, 2003

Connie's New Car

Well, our 1996 Volvo was really in the shop quite a bit last year, so Connie would love a new one. She loves the Volvo brand and the new 2003 Volvo XC90 seems just the ticket given the number of bodies we need to take around. The main issue is that the third seat is really for tiny, tiny people. Also folks tell us it is just about unavailable. For me as techno-geek, I of course want the DVD navigation system, the Dolby Surround II sound. Yet, the idea of buying a 5,000 pound car is just appalling to me. So, here are some other suggestions of mine

  • Honda Odyssey. She just hated the idea of a mini-van. Maybe I should just get one, but then what's the point? It was supposed to be a new car for her. Lots of rumbles about reliability though, so I need to check Consumer Reports. And, yes, I should really get a Chrysler according to many including Slivka, but I can't quite bring myself to do it.
  • Volvo lease. Get one on lease and when Grace can't stand the backseat, hope the trade-in time comes.
  • Wait for the all wheel drive odyssey or my favoriate choice, a hybrid Honda

Posted by rich at 11:25 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

December 29, 2002

Winter tires

Customer Survey Results. I'm going up into the snow quite a bit this season. Other than borrowing Jennie's Subaru, I really should get a good set of winter tires. This looks like the best review board. It says, Pirelli Winter 210 Snowsport, Bridgestone LM-22 or the Dunlop Winter Sport M2 are the highest rated by users.

Posted by rich at 02:27 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack

December 09, 2002

Snow tire choices

Tires. I need snow tires and tirerack.com has just been great. These seem like a nice choice and reasonable price plus good performance on the dry and rain as well.

Posted by rich at 09:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack