Ideal Honda Vehicle Orientation Experience
I wrote a few days ago about how I felt that auto shop should be a mandatory course in high school as I see basic automotive skills as knowledge that everyone should have. As fate would have it I ended up going to a vehicle orientation with my mom for her new 2009 Honda Accord. The whole shebang was put on by the dealership and offered free dinner (why I went) and I thought it was a pretty interesting concept.
Once I arrived I was stoked on the fact that the free dinner wasn’t even half bad, sandwiches, fresh fruit, and m&m meat shop-esque Chinese finger food platter. After polishing that off we were split into groups based on sex (which they explained was due to the fact women have different questions than men) and taken to 6 different stations. The stations included:
Exterior/Interior Maintenance
Under the hood/Boosting a dead battery
Tire changing
Under body
Collision
Warranty explanation
For me all of the stations were fairly straight forward and I didn’t learn anything new about vehicles in general however for someone who knew nothing, like my mom, it was probably a real eye opener. Judging by the fact that some people have no idea how a locking lug nut works or how to change a spare safely (ie don’t put your hand under the tire to see if its of the ground) more dealerships should be offering this kind of service.
The collision station was the one I liked the most because it explained that you don’t have to go with the shop your insurance chooses to repair your vehicle (and I never have) and warned against signing anything from a tow truck driver at the scene of an accident. The signing often makes it hard to get your vehicle to the shop you want it at and just lines the drivers pockets.
I think free orientation sessions like these should be offered with every new vehicle (and maybe it does I have never bought one) since it gives those who have enough knowledge the option to skip it and those who want to learn a little more a controlled, safe, friendly environment to do so.
So kudos ideal Honda for setting this up. Next time though more chicken skewers I took the last one and it was not nearly enough.
