Thursday, March 26, 2009

Honda Care Service Contract Price Increase

Honda has announced a new set of higher prices for their Honda Care and Acura Care Service Contracts. These prices take effect on Wednesday April 1. Prices on the Bernardi Service Contracts site will be updated accordingly on Wednesday morning.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Honda Owners Workshop: 3/2009 - In Depth


On Tuesday evening, March 10, Bernardi Honda held its Honda Owner Workshop in the Pre-Owned Showroom.
The event was attended by 50 Honda clients who enjoyed a sumptuous dinner served by Bronzetti’s Pizzeria Restaurant in Framingham.
The Chef, Mike Albee also served the guests.

General Manager Joel Richards opened the program with a short talk about Bernardi Honda, Honda vehicles and the many valuable services available to our Honda customers. Rick Voss, Service Director, described a service visit with a step-by-step explanation from the moment the car enters the service drive, to the Advisor interview and write-up, to the pick up and check out at the Cashier’s Station. Rick encouraged the crowd to take advantage of our extended hours and location by stopping in for a washer fluid top off or a tire check at their convenience.

Service Manager Mark Saraceno was up next to explain the standard warranty versus extended warranty plans.

With gas prices hitting all-time highs, Shop Foreman Don Keller’s advice on how driving habits affect fuel economy was very well received. Don also answered several technical questions and offered to meet personally with customers on their individual concerns.

To achieve the best performance from a Honda vehicle, it is important to use only Genuine Honda Parts. Steve Cullinane, Parts Director, discussed the quality difference between Honda parts and other after-market products. Most of the body shops in Bernardi Honda’s market insist on Genuine Honda Parts for their repairs and purchase them from our extensive inventory.
Do-it-yourselfers can also buy Honda parts and accessories at our retail counter or through our innovative parts website, BernardiParts.com.

To round out the evening, Kristin Cullinane, Customer Relations Facilitator, thanked our guests for their very important feedback and comments. Based on the information we receive directly from customers as well as the results of surveys provided by American Honda, we develop policies and practices designed to ensure the highest level of customer satisfaction, and she encouraged the group to let us know how we are doing and where we can do a better job. Every customer received “Bernardi Bucks” certificates which can be used for service or other purchases at Bernardi Honda, and the night’s raffle prizes included a $100 Shell Gas Card and gift certificates generously donated by Bronzetti’s as well.

We received many positive comments from our departing guests who were pleased to learn about the many valuable services available to Bernardi Honda customers. Programs such as this workshop provide our customers with important information about their Honda vehicle and Bernardi Honda’s commitment to its motto, Bernardi for Now… Bernardi for Life.

Special thanks to our staff members who took part in the evening’s program, including Kariene Estey and Rob Caron from the Parts Department, Sallie Longeri of Customer Relations, Lauren Willens and Sasha Gaspar of the Sales Department, Tom Parks of Maintenance Services, Jim Blaney and the entire Transportation Staff and the Pre-Owned Sales Staff.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

2010 Honda Insight - Delayed...

Honda informed Bernardi that a transportation problem has caused a delay in the release of the all new 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid. Originally scheduled to be released on March 24, we are now expecting a delay until at least March 31.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

2009 Honda Insight Parts and Accessories

BernardiParts.com has updated its site so that it now includes all parts and accessories for the all new 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid which will go on sale Tuesday March 24.

Honda has notifed us that the following accessories will not be available on March 24:
  • XM Radio and attachment - Delayed to early April, 2009.

  • Door visors - Delayed to April, 2009

  • Fog lights – Delayed until Installation instructions are available in late March

Friday, March 13, 2009

Honda Floor Mats - $39.95

To make room for 2010 accessories, American Honda is selling off some of their accessories for which they have an excess inventory. They have offered Bernardi a limited number of trunk trays at drastic discounts. We are selling them to you AT OUR COST. These trays are valued at $110. They are all being sold for $39.95. The sale will end on March 31 or when supplies are exhausted.

2010 Honda Insight Accessories


Accessories were not an afterthought in the design of the most affordable Hybrid in the US - the all new 2010 Honda Insight. They were designed right along with the Insight. Honda's objective was to produce accessories for the new Insight that met the same fit, finish, and functionality standards for quality as does the Insight. You can also expect the accessories to match exactly the factory colors.

As the highly anticipated new Insight hybrid was being designed, the team brainstormed ideas for accessories and then considered how each one might affect mpg, price and weight. In deciding what accessories to offer for the Insight, Honda engineers kept in mind the goals of the Insight so as to not not contradict its affordability and efficiency.

Bernardi Honda has ordered $250,000 worth of accessories and parts for the all new 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid which will go on sale at BernardiParts.com on Wednesday March 18th.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the accessories designed for the 2010 Insight Hybrid. We have done our best to include the cost of requred installation kits in the accessory price.
  • Honda Insight Electronic Accessories

    • Engine Block Heater with braket kit: $53.24
    • Fog Lights with attachment
      (body matching color): $318.241
    • XM Satellite Radio with Attachment and Antenna:
      $225.81
    • USB Adapter with Attachment: $198.9
  • Honda Insight Interior Accessories

    • Auto Day/Night Mirror: $212.94
    • Cigarette Ashtray - Cup Holder Style: $15.21
    • Door Visor: $60.84
    • Floor Mats - All Season: $74.88
    • Floor Mats - Carpet: $74.88
    • Leather Steering-Wheel Cover: $45.6
  • Honda Insight Exterior Accessories

    • Car Cover: $169.65
    • Body Side Molding (body matchng color): $145.08
    • Bumper Applique - Rear: $42.12
    • Door Edge Film: $26.91
    • Nose Mask - Full: $114.66
    • Splash Guards: $71.37
    • Underbody Spoiler - Front (body matching
      color) $249.21
    • Underbody Spoiler - Rear (body matching color) $249.2
  • Honda Insight Wheel Accessories

    • Wheel Locks: $33.9
  • Honda Insight Interior Cargo Accessories

    • Cargo Tray: $71.37
    • Cargo Cover: $139.23

As with all new Honda vehicles, the 2010 Insight is prewired for all Honda Electronic
Systems Accessories. 3-year/36,000-mile warranty when installed at the time you
purchase a new Honda vehicle.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

2010 Insight Eco Assist System


Honda’s all new 2010 Insight Hybrid includes a unique Ecological Drive Assist System (Eco Assist). This system monitors your driving habits and provides real time and historical feedback to encourage efficient driving behavior.


The speedometer’s background color changes as your drive - depending on the fuel efficiency of your driving style. By observing the speedometer background’s response to your driving practices, you are coached in real time on how to improve the fuel efficiency of your driving habits.
  • Blue — Your gas guzzler style of driving offers ample opportunity to save wasted fuel by avoiding aggressive starts and stops, etc.
  • Blue-green — You are moving in a more fuel-efficient direction.
  • Green — Excellent Fuel Consumption – characterized by smooth acceleration and braking, etc.


In addition to real time fuel efficiency monitoring, Eco Assist provides feedback about cumulative, long-term fuel efficiency. This is done through an LED information screen inside the tachometer. The number of leaves on the display signifies the extent to which your driving is fuel efficient – the more leaves – the more fuel efficent. When the ignition switch is turned off, the ‘leaves’ in the top line of the display score driving in the just completed cycle (startup to shutdown), while a horizontal bar in the lower part of the display scores cumulative lifetime performance.

The system also features an "ECON" button that, when switched on, optimizes the transmission, power train, and regenerative braking to optimize fuel consumption.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Affordable Honda Insight Hybrid


Bernardi Honda will receive its first shipment of the all new 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid on March 24. To schedule a test drive and personal tour by an Insight expert, please call 774-290-1401

Unlike the release of other new vehicles, Honda has committed to provide an adequate supply of Insights to its dealers to avoid shortages. Initially, Bernardi will have more than 30 Insights available – with at least 9 entry level Insight LX models which will sell for $19,800*.

At $19,800, the 2010 Honda Insight is the most affordable US hybrid. It is priced $2,200 less than the base version of the Toyota Prius and almost $4,000 below the Honda Civic Hybrid. This low price will enable the Insight Hybrid to have a really low life-time cost of ownership.

At the high end, the Insight is even a better bargain. The EX-Nav version of the Insight is selling for $1,170 less than the Prius Touring edition and includes Honda’s award winning navigation system. An extra-cost package must be purchased to add Navigation to the Prius Touring edition.

Edmunds is reporting the 2010 Prius entry level price will be $3,700 more than that of the 2010 Insight. At todays gasoline prices, that amounts to savings that is worth more than 2,000 gallons of gasoline.

Honda Owners Workshop: 3/2009 - Overview

On Wednesday, March 10, Bernardi Honda hosted 43 of its new and certified pre-owned customers for dinner at its Natick, MA showroom. The Bernardi management team provided short informative talks on tips and techniques for operating and maintaining Honda cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs, such as strategies for maximizing fuel economy and maintenance steps required to ensure warranty coverage. Dan Enderle, Honda Factory Service Manager, spoke about Honda's on-going quality improvement process and encouraged attendees to provide him with suggestions.

All in attendance were given a package that included a mug, official pen, and a participant certificate that could be used to purchase Bernardi products and services. At the end of the event a raffle was held where items such as restaurant gift certificates and gas cards were awarded.

Bernardi's next Honda Owners Workshop will be held on May 5th. Honda owners and those considering the purchase of a Honda may register by calling Sallie Longeri at 774-290-7411.