June 25, 2013 at 2:12 pm by Alexander Stoklosa Honda has priced its refreshed-for-2014 Odyssey, and though we’re sure many of you have been pining to know how much the updated minivan costs, the real news is how much its vacuum cleaner costs. That’s right, when it debuted at this year’s New York auto show, the 2014 Odyssey made waves with its new built-in HondaVac vacuum. Seriously, the feature is so forehead-slappingly fitting for a family hauler, you can almost hear Chrysler’s van team kicking themselves for not thinking of it first. Anyway, it turns out the HondaVac will cost a pretty penny, since it is standard on the top-of-the-line, $45,280 Odyssey Touring Elite. Aside from the clever new sucking device, a host of new safety features and a new transmission highlight the Odyssey’s equipment upgrades for 2014. A six-speed automatic transmission is now standard across the line—which still consists of LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Touring Elite trim levels—meaning all Odysseys are now rated for 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

(The six-speed previously came only on Touring and Touring Elite models, leaving the rest of the lineup with one fewer forward speed and lower 18/27 mpg ratings.) easy way to clean plastic vertical blindsSafety-wise, Honda’s LaneWatch blind-spot tech, which uses a camera to display the passenger-side blind spot in the dashboard screen, as well as Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning systems are now available. best bagless vacuum cleaner 2010Full pricing below, including new features for each trim level:air duct cleaning indianapolis in Odyssey LX ($29,655) New standard features include the six-speed automatic transmission, four-way power driver’s seat, and Bluetooth; best ways to clean sofa cushions

the price increases $150 over last year. Odyssey EX ($32,955) Adds 17-inch aluminum wheels, 270-watt audio system, and dual dashboard display screens. leather cleaning kit sofasNew standard features include LaneWatch blind-spot display, pushbutton start with keyless access, Aha radio compatibility; duct cleaning machine for saleprice increases $300 over last year. Odyssey EX-L ($36,455) Adds leather seating surfaces. New standard features include Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning; EX-L with Navigation model includes new Multi-Angle rearview camera; price increases $400 over last year. Odyssey Touring ($42,710) Adds 18-inch aluminum wheels, rear-seat entertainment system. New standard features include Multi-Angle rearview camera; price increases $350 over last year.

Odyssey Touring Elite ($45,280) Adds 650-watt, 12-speaker audio system. New standard features include HondaVac vacuum, HD radio, Neural 5.1 surround sound audio system; price increases $425 over last year. Comparison Test: 2013 Honda Accord EX-L vs. 2014 Mazda 6 Grand Touring Instrumented Test: 2013 Honda Civic EX-L Instrumented Test: 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite Overall, Honda didn’t increase Odyssey prices by much—and while the fuel-economy bump for the lower trim levels alone would justify the slight price hikes, the added content more than makes up the difference. We kind of wish the HondaVac were available in lower-spec Odysseys; after all, kids will be just as messy in a $30,000 van as they will be in a more expensive one. Still, we’re fans of Honda’s people-mover, having enjoyed putting 40,000 miles on our long-term 2011 Odyssey Touring Elite, and now it has more safety and sharper looks.The car interior is a harsh environment. It has to deal with extremes of temperature, as well as UV damage that can cause fading or cracking.

Then there are deposits from fast food, spilled coffee, animals, babies and so much more. In fact, many interiors could be considered a biohazard and, while shoving your hand down the back of your seats might present a health risk, isn't it time you gave yours a clean? I'll admit, we're guilty of neglecting our own cars, so over the past few years we've visited our friends at Meguiar's to get a thorough understanding of the correct techniques. The first article was an exterior car cleaning guide ran in the 12/11 issue of Eurotuner magazine. or by searching for Meguiar's on the homepage. For our third installment, we're concentrating on the best way to clean and deodorize your car's interior, the best products to use for each job and the recommended techniques. As in the past, we sought Meguiar's help because they offer superb online tutorials and even conduct classes at the corporate headquarters, so the team knows how to educate people. In fact, our day began in the classroom with head teacher and Meguiar's Product Expert, Professor Mike Pennington.

Just like paint and wheel care, using the correct products can maximize your effort, ensuring good results and avoiding potential problems. However, Mike always stresses that whether you're using Meguiar's or any of its competitors' products, always read the label before use. If in doubt, test a small, hidden area first.How to Clean Car Interior - Tips & Tricks Keeping the interior clean is important from a hygiene perspective, as well as maintaining the value of your car. But before you start you need to identify the materials that are used. Generally you will have either cloth, vinyl or leather seats. The leather can be perforated, which introduces different problems, but you might also have suede or microfiber to consider. You will also have glass, plastic, metal, paint and carpet. All these need to be considered when selecting your cleaning products. You should also assess whether the interior needs to be cleaned/restored or maintained/protected. The former will require a multi-stage process and is generally done before selling a car or when you buy one, or if the interior has been neglected for a while.

Simple maintenance/protection is a quicker, one-stage process that can be done on a regular basis along with other car care chores. When tackling your interior, it's best to start from the top and work down - the headliner to the carpets, for example. This means you're not getting dirt on clean surfaces as you go. You should also work from the furthest corner towards yourself. So if you're at the driver's door, start in the rear on the passenger's side and move forwards. Again, this prevents you having to go back over areas you've already cleaned. This may sound obvious but let's start with the basics. So remove all the large objects, such as wrappers, bottles, papers, fries, trash, etc from the interior, including under the seats. Slide the seats backwards and forwards to improve access and clean out the seat runners as you go. The next step is to vacuum thoroughly. Remove the mats and clean separately out of the car. Use a brush with medium-stiff bristles on the mats and carpet as you vacuum.

This will lift the fibers, allowing you to clean deeper into the material, but don't brush so hard you damage the cloth. Use a soft brush to loosen dirt and dust from the vents, console, radio, heater controls, etc. Don't forget to clean in the folds and pleats in the seats, door panels, etc. You may need to pull the cloth to open these areas but they can conceal a lot of dirt. Cleaning the headliner is a delicate business. Even if you have a fancy microfiber or leather liner, it's recommended you simply wipe with a cloth dampened in water. Wipe in one direction to prevent the dirt being rubbed in, and fold the cloth regularly to expose a clean surface. If you have dirt that water won't remove, Meguiar's recommends you consult the manufacturer because most cleaning products can remove the dye from the headliner, leaving it blotchy. The next step is to clean all hard surfaces with something like Meguiar's Quik Interior Detailer. Wiping with a clean cloth will allow you to assess the condition of plastic, vinyl and painted areas such as the dashboard, door cards, console, steering wheel, etc.

For leather, you have two options. You can use a one-step product such as Meguiar's Rich Leather Cleaner/Conditioner if you're just maintaining the interior. While the separate Meguiar's Leather & Vinyl Cleaner can be applied before the Leather Conditioner if the condition of the hide requires it. The two-stage process will clean, moisturize and protect the leather better but it will take you longer. One caveat is for perforated leather, where a regular cleaning lotion can clog the holes. And since the Porsche we were cleaning had perforated seats, we used the Leather & Vinyl Cleaner spray bottle, but gels are also available. To clean leather, choose the correct product and apply. In this instance we sprayed it on. Then wipe away with a cotton towel applying medium pressure. Despite the clean appearance, we were surprised to discover the towel was black with dirt after a few wipes. Apply Leather Conditioner to a foam sponge applicator and wipe it over the leather surface.