Staff Spotlight: Meet Albert Guzman, Decade Team Member

Last month, we introduced you to the first of our four staff members who make up our Decade Team, loyal employees who have been with Honda of El Cerrito for 10 years or more. Over the years, these four employees have truly exemplified what it means to be great team members, and we are so grateful for their tremendous service!

This month, we are pleased to introduce you to our second Decade Team member, Albert Guzman. Albert has been working as one of our sales representatives for the past ten years, and Honda of El Cerrito is the first and only dealership he’s worked with. Albert is a natural with our customers, and he says that his favorite part of the job is helping customers solve their transportation needs. The nicest thing a customer has ever said to him is “I’m going to send you my mother.”

When he isn’t at work, this Watsonville, California, native enjoys spending time with his family, volunteering at his son’s school, watching movies, and eating Japanese food. Thanks so much, Albert, for your incredible loyalty, dedication, and hard work! We wouldn’t be where we are today without you!

10 Cool Things About the 2012 Honda Civic

It’s hard to believe that Honda’s compact Civic has been in production since 1972. Forty years later, the car is still going strong and ranks as one of the best-selling cars of all time. With unrelenting sales in the US, it’s plain to see that the Civic is held dear by many American buyers. The 2012 Civic is the ninth generation of the car, and sees a new body shape, along with a new specification. With this kind of motoring heritage, the Civic boasts more than enough features to make it a really cool car. Here are ten of Honda of El Cerrito’s favorites.

1. The Honda Civic has developed a strong reputation for safety over the last forty years, and the 2012 model is no exception. The 2012 Civic features six airbags, as well as antilock brakes with brake assist (ABS), vehicle stability assist with traction control (VSA), and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) to help keep occupants safe.

2. The innovative Drive-by-Wire throttle system uses smart electronics to connect the throttle pedal to the throttle butterfly valve in the intake manifold, thus allowing the engine response to be optimized to suit the driving conditions and to better match your expectations.

3. The Civic features an Intelligent Multi-Information Display, abbreviated to i-MID for those that don’t have time to waste on so many syllables. The high-resolution, full-color LCD i-MID screen allows the driver to manage various commands while keeping his or her hands on the wheel, and displays all the information that he or she will need on the road, like gas mileage and air temperature. For extra personalization, can even customize the i-MID’s wallpaper by uploading your own images. How cool is that?

4. With so many things to concentrate on behind the wheel, drivers need all the help that they can get, and Eco Assist is a great ’at-a-glance’ feature, which aids drivers in establishing the best fuel economy. There are blue and green bars on either side of the speedometer display. As long as the bars stay green, you can rest assured that you are optimizing fuel economy. Simple.

5. Conventional cabin space in the compact class is fairly fixed, but with the Civic there is a new element of versatility. The EX features a 60/40 rear seat back, which can be folded down to create much more room for luggage or other cargo. Despite the car’s smaller roots, this gives the 2012 Civic plenty of options for interior configuration and a much bigger feel inside when you need it.

6. Satellite navigation is always a useful tool to have at the driver’s disposal, particularly on long journeys, but it’s also important that the he or she is not distracted. Honda’s Satellite-Linked Navigation System comes with voice recognition and is capable of understanding spoken numbers, street names, and cities, as well as 600 standard voice commands.

7. The Civic Hybrid is powered by the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA), which combines a 1.5-liter gasoline engine with an electric motor. The combination delivers an impressive 44 miles per gallon whether you’re driving in the city or on the highway.

8. The Si model comes with more power, delivering 201 horsepower at 7000 revs – over 60 horsepower more than the basic sedan. That means the driver needs more support to maintain a safe, comfortable driving position. High bolsters on the driver’s seat combine with cool, textured aluminum pedals for maximum grip.

9. For the absolute peak in environmentally-friendly vehicles, the Natural Gas Civic beats them all. Powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) this car produces nearly zero emissions. That gives it such strong credentials that in some US states, it entitles the driver to use a dedicated lane.

10. The HF sedan is the aerodynamic surprise of all the Civic trims. With a lowered ride, special underbody panels that stop the wind causing problems, a unique decklid spoiler, and specially-designed wheels, the HF delivers the best gas mileage of all the gasoline-powered models (41 miles per gallon on the highway.)

Motivating Your Family to Help You During the Holidays

At Honda of El Cerrito, we know the holidays are far too stressful for far too many people. Getting your family to pitch in during the holidays can keep the season fun, relaxing, and maybe even enjoyable! Here are some tips for motivating your family to help you out.

Make a plan. It’s a lot easier to motivate others to help if you have a plan, and the plan that includes them. As the holiday season approaches, make a calendar of important events and activities, and a list of things you need to do in preparation for those events. Once your list is complete, ask family members which ones they would like to do. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Have realistic expectations. Don’t expect your four-year old to cook the turkey this year or your teenage son to suddenly love grocery shopping. Play to your family’s strengths.

Use the holiday magic words. "Please" and "Thank You" are called the magic words for a reason. If you’re not an habitual user of these two words, start today and watch holiday magic unfold before your very eyes.

Plan fun family activities. In addition to making Jack a dull boy, all work and no play makes your family members resent you. Participating in fun holiday activities will make family members more likely to participate in not-so-fun holiday activities, or, better yet, it might make the not-so-fun activities fun.

Give praise. Children and adults crave positive recognition. If you want an action repeated, praise it liberally.

Be positive. It’s easy to give praise when you have a positive attitude. It’s very hard to motivate family members to help during the holidays if you’re complaining about how stressful the holidays are, how nothing gets done right, and how much there is to do.

Give family members autonomy along with responsibility. If you’re willing to delegate responsibility, you must also be willing to allow family members to make decisions. If, for example, you assign your teenage son to pick up Christmas lights, don’t scold him when he gets multicolored ones instead of white ones.

Ease up. Trying to do too much during the holidays leads to burnout and a lack of holiday fulfillment. It, therefore, behooves the holiday leader to take a break and give family members a break, too.

Keep the family healthy. Contrary to popular belief, eating 16 servings of holiday candy daily will negatively affect your health. Not exercising during the holiday season has the same unhealthy effect as not exercising in February. Not being healthy negatively affects one’s willingness to participate in holiday help. Make sure that some vegetables get eaten during the holiday season, and keep the family running strong.

Shining the spotlight on Benito Santiago

Meet Benito C. Santiago, a Journeyman Technician and Team Leader here at Honda of El Cerrito. Benito has worked with us for the past 13 years and currently resides in San Leandro, California. Benito works alongside his brother, Mel, in our service department.

When it comes to working at Honda of El Cerrito, Benito says the best part of the job is working with great employees, like his brother, and assisting all of our valued customers. When he isn't working, Benito enjoys working on his 1971 Camaro, going on bike rides with his son, camping, and eating good food with his friends and family! All of us enjoy working with these two brothers, and we look forward to helping your get to know our team better so you can enjoy your experience at Honda of El Cerrito even more.

The Best Golf Resorts in California

As many of you know, California presents some of the world’s finest luxury golf resorts for a varied experience of challenging golf, fine amenities, and recreational opportunities. Here are 3 top resorts for golfing that Honda of El Cerrito suggests you won’t want to miss in California!

Pebble Beach

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus said, “If I had only one more round to play, I would choose to play it at Pebble Beach.” The legendary Pebble Beach is one of the world’s most favored resorts. You’ll want to create your own golf memories here. The gripping challenge of the courses and the spectacular ocean view is a winning combination. Moreover, the resort’s accommodations and amenities are so expansive, you will never want or need to step off the property for anything.

Choose the Lodge at Pebble Beach for elegant and refined oceanfront enjoyment. You can also enjoy the Inn at Spanish Bay with a private patio looking out on pine forests, green fairways, or the Pacific. Finally, relax by your fireplace at the romantic Casa Palmero, an exclusive 24-room Mediterranean-style estate with luxurious living areas, handsome bar and lounge, heated pool, and lush landscaping. You’ll enjoy an entirely customized stay with a personal coordinator who will arrange breakfast delivery, fresh flowers, spa services and more. The entire Pebble Beach enclave blends superb tennis and golf (four courses to choose from), beaches and boardwalks, spa services, impressive shopping choices, and a variety of world-class dining options. All of this luxury is provided with absolute attention to service and hospitality.

Half Moon Bay Golf Links

Just 30 miles from San Francisco, the Half Moon Bay Golf Links and the Ritz-Carlton offer an unparalleled golf resort experience. Poised like a palace on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, the Ritz-Carlton delivers legendary personal service, a world-class spa, oceanfront dining, and 22 spacious suites among the 261 guest rooms. Named by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the “World’s Best Places to Stay,” the hotel rounds out your visit with horseback riding, wine tasting tours, tennis, a swimming pool, Segway tours, and amazing whale watching.

As for championship golf, the Half Moon Golf Links provide a variety of golf challenges on two award-winning courses. Guests enjoy fireside dining in the clubhouse Mullins Bar & Grill or delightful California cuisine in the oceanfront Navio restaurant. Add select California wines to some of the area’s finest seasonal bounty like Marin cheeses, artichokes, and asparagus, and dining will rank high among the many memories you will make at this prestigious resort.

Carmel Valley Ranch

Beyond the coastal fog belt, the Carmel Valley Ranch is poised in a beautiful setting amid some 500 acres of quiet woodland and lovely landscaped gardens. On-site recreation can be enjoyed year round including championship golf, an excellent tennis program, full-service Spa Aiyana, large outdoor pool, infinity hot tub, and cabanas. The resort lodge is the handsome centerpiece of the ranch, where contemporary style and California casual deliver a restful vacation experience. Spacious suites include private terraces, cathedral ceilings, and intimate fireplaces. Every aspect radiates relaxed and refined comfort. Lodge dining combines excellent local produce with artisan chef touches to create a pleasant California taste. Pool patio dining is also a favorite for views of the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains.

While this sampling of choices by no means exhausts California’s excellent golf resorts, the profiled properties underscore the excellence and diversity in style and service you can experience during your California golf getaway.

Honda of El Cerrito wants to know: what are your favorite golf resorts in California? Post your answers in the comments.

Blue Skies for Our Children: Honda Leads the Way on the Environment

Honda has adopted a new global environmental slogan. The company recently took up the “Blue Skies for Our Children” motto to help inspire its engineers and executives. The hope is to work toward new targets the company has set to help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that its products emit and to reduce the CO₂ that the company emits from producing those products.

Though the slogan is new, Honda has long been an industry leader in advocating for the environment. The Honda Civic was the first car to meet the stringent tailpipe emissions standards set by the U.S. Clean Air Act without the need for treatment of exhaust. The Civic also topped the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) very first list of the most fuel efficient vehicles in America.

A staunch believer in the importance of the environment and sustainability, Honda founder Soichiro Honda pulled the company out of Formula One racing in 1969. He shifted the resources previously allocated there to develop advanced environmental technologies. That shift led Honda to develop the first gasoline-powered Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) to be placed on the consumer market and secured the company’s place as the industry leader in emissions reduction, a tradition that continues today.

Learn more about Honda’s environmental efforts to clean up the skies. And, don’t forget Honda of El Cerrito is your source for new and used vehicles that meet the highest environmental standards.