It's time to put away those ghoulish costumes for another year, and if you are smart you will either ration the candy to the little lovelies or when they are sleeping you can either throw half of it out, or, if you have a warped sense of humour like me, you could eat as much as you can stomach then wake your kids at three in the morning and let them see what it is like to have to look after a hyper adult.
Each Halloween I see parent's driving their cars around, their kids get out of the car and run to the door, nab the candy and head back to the warmth of the car before going to the next block.
I think it is a reason for mom or dad not to get out in the cold with the little darlings.
But if you were a kid and the folks had the car with them what better way to get around than in the new Honda Accord with heated rear seats. Leave them cranked on high and every time the kids get in the butt gets this warm rush before they jump out and run to the next house to beg more sugar. They will thank you for it.
The new Honda Accord, redesigned for this 2013 model is a fine looking vehicle, not that the previous model wasn't, but every few years customers demand changes and so Honda has obliged. But it hasn't just gone with new looks, it has gone for a different interior with new technology and in the touring model I drove, a wonderfully smooth 2.4-litre four cylinder that gets an outstanding 51 mpg on the highway and provides an ample 185 horsepower.
Due to the state of our snow-laden roads and the all-season tires on the Accord there was not much chance to hammer the gas, but it certainly wasn't bothered by all the undulations caused by the packed snow.
Very little noise enters the passenger's compartment whether it be engine noise or otherwise. The interior is loaded with gadgets and equipment to make your driving and entertainment experience more satisfying.
Take for example the lane watch blind spot display. What happens here is when you put your right turn signal on a little camera on the outside rear-view mirror projects an image from the side of the car on to the eight-inch screen in the centre of the dash. This screen sits near the front of the dash making it easier to see without taking your eyes off the road. The camera allows the driver to see what is or isn't in his blind spot. This is especially good when changing lanes or turning corners. You can see vehicles, pedestrians or even cyclists in the ever-increasing bike lanes.
The Accord also came with forward collision warning system. If you are approaching another vehicle at a speed that the car thinks is too fast it will show a warning below the windshield telling you to slow down. There is also a lane change warning signal in case you start to stray out of your lane.
While some may say this is becoming a bit of a nanny state with all these safety gadgets and we should be able to drive without all the warnings, it will only take one avoided crash or one missed cyclist to get you to see that these are all valuable technologies. Closer to the driver in his power, heated and leather-covered seat is a five inch touch screen to navigate the satellite radio, navigation system, Bluetooth and much more.
Honda has also seen what most of us have noticed, that an awful lot of people these days are attached to their cell phones 24/7, texting, emailing etc. So Honda has included what it calls Hondalink, which keeps you connected through AHA by Harman. Basically what this does is allow you to connect to the Internet, via its touchscreen with voice recognition once you connect your phone. You will have access to your Internet music services, podcasts, audio books, facebook and so on. Honda says it also incorporates the standard HandsFreeLink Bluetooth wireless mobile phone interface, text messaging and email functions.
It means wherever you go you can stay connected.
The new Accord has taken another big leap forward with its redesign, engineering and incorporation of what is important to people today. Good gas mileage, comfort, safety and always being in touch with friends and family.
Vehicle:
Honda Accord
Vehicle type:
4-door sedan
Transmission:
6-speed manumatic
Engine:
2.4-litre four cylinder
Horseppower:
185 @ 6,400
Torque:
181 @ 3,900
Price as tested:
$33,630
Mileage:
7.8 l/100km 36 mpg city
5.5 l/100km 51 mpg hwy
