honda
#PRODUCTWATCH: 2020 HONDA CIVIC 5D SPORT TOURING
Life has been a bit challenging as we navigate this Pandemic and one thing we missed so much about our “old life” was the time got to spend Test Driving the Honda Canada family of cars. Now that we’ve entered Stage III of Ontario’s reopening, we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate it than catching-up with friends old and new in the 2020 Honda Civic 5D Sport Touring.
The car in Crystal Black Pearl continues to sport the Civic‘s refined sporty and flashy aesthetic. We received several compliments from friends who were wowed by its style at first glance. But believe me, this attraction is more than just about looks.
In terms of performance, the 2020 Honda Civic 5D Sport Touring possesses a 180-hp, 1.5 litre, 16-valve, direct injection, DOHC, turbocharged 4 cylinder engine with a state-of-the-art Drive by Wire Throttle System. This means that it is able to create force of movement via an electronic throttle without any cables from the accelerator pedal to the throttle valve of the engine. The vehicle has a quick acceleration and agility and is power-assisted with ventilated front disc/solid rear disc brakes.
Above this, it nails all the marks with its ECON button mode and Econ Assist System. Our weekend travels took us from suburbs to country to city and we did with unheard of value. Its Fuel Economy tallies-in at 8.0 / 6.6 / 7.4 (City/Highway/Combined). One note, it runs on Premium fuel.
Honda never disappoints packing-in the features and the 2020 Honda Civic 5D Sport Touring is no exception. We’re surprised how other manufacturers don’t offer a wireless charging plate for your smartphones still, but the Civic always shows up with the options for helping us stay connected. Passengers also get charging ports too, so everyone’s happy. Bluetooth Sync was incredibly easy and the connection was reliable. We enjoyed our Spotify playlists through its 542-watt Premium Audio System with 12 speakers including subwoofer and navigating options on the 7″ Colour TFT meter Display Audio System has made us forget what life was like before these luxuries. We’ve finally gotten the hang of the Civic‘s advanced Climate Control system and stayed cool in our travels with it working at peak efficiency.
Drivers get 8-way driver seat power adjustment, while the front passenger gets 4-way adjustment. Seats are leather-trimmed and come with heating options, which we don’t quite yet need in this summer heat, but summer’s over in a little over a month! *womp womp* That being said, we treasure ice cold drinks and the handy beverage (or sanitizer!) holders for us and all our passengers. It’s all in the details and time and again the Civic gets it.
The 2020 Honda Civic 5D Sport Touring is all about small enhancements which bring so much value. We adore its LED Foglights and Rain-Sensing Wipers, which thankfully didn’t come into play much during our Test Drive but definitely will be a factor in other times.
All these talking points about features and performance are great, but what always should come first is safety. The Civic continues to be incredibly intuitive, knowing just when to give warnings ahead. Its Honda LaneWatch Blindspot Display, Collision Mitigation Brake System, Lane Departure System, Road Departure Mitigation, Lane Keeping Assist, Vehicle Stability Assist, SmartVent Side Airbags, i-SRS Airbag, SmartVent Side Airbags all are there not to save only your life, but the lives of those you love and others around you. Nobody’s perfect, but the Civic is here to ensure we do our best to be safe and aware always.
The Multi-Angle Rearview Camera has made reversing and parking a breeze and you don’t realize this till you drive another car which isn’t equipped with this.
While the Civic‘s Childproof Locks sometimes are a bit cumbersome especially when you don’t have kids in the back and the passenger just wants to get out, it is there for a purpose. The Civic also comes with a Theft-Deterrent System and we cannot stress how amazing it is having something like Proximity Entry. We always seem to have some bags in our hand and we don’t have energy to fumble for our keys when all we want to do is get into our car!
We’re grateful for the memories we got to make and the 2020 Honda Civic 5D Sport Touring allowed us to salvage that bit of a Summer that we’ve lacked as we make it through one of the most challenging times in our lives ever.
Take a drive with us down Memory Lane this past weekend! Lots of cuteness to behold, you’ve been warned!
The 2020 Honda Civic 5D Sport Touring starts at $30,576 CAN. More here.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#FIRSTLOOK: 2020 CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL AUTOSHOW
Now in its 46th year, the Canadian International AutoShow takes place once again at Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The Show which draws about 300k visitors annually, features the latest and greatest from some of the world’s top auto manufacturers, giving car enthusiasts a chance to see up-close concept cars and the cars of their dreams.
Some of our favourites made a huge splash at the Show, including Acura, Honda, BMW and Ford! A huge thanks goes to Acura Canada who are back with their dazzling A-Spec vehicles, inviting us out to the Show!
See some highlights for us!
ACURA CANADA
Acura Simulator
The 2020 Acura NSX 😍 (valued at $189,900 CAN)
#PROJECTILX – a collaboration between Acura Canada x Importfest Performance to customize the 2019 Acura ILX Premium. Fans can have their say. Follow @AcuraCanada on Instagram.
HONDA CANADA – The Civic has been the best-selling car in Canada 21 years straight!
FORD CANADA – their Ford Mustang has been crowned best-selling Coupe four years straight!
BMW CANADA
ALPHA ROMEO CANADA
Other things to see which are fun for the family are a Toys “R” Us Pop-Up and also Disney‘s ONWARD (And a Bit Backwards) Exhibit, featuring fan favourites Lightning McQueen from Cars, Toy Story 4‘s Duke Caboom motorcycle and also Guinevere, a van seen in Disney and Pixar’s upcoming ONWARD starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland. Photo Ops are welcome. The Animated Feature opens March 5, 2020.
Toys “R” Us Pop-Up
At the Ontario Provincial Police Exhibit. Getting in trouble as usual! 🚨
The 2020 Canadian International AutoShow runs through Sunday, February 23, 2020. More here.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#PRODUCTWATCH: 2020 4D 1.5 HONDA ACCORD TOURING
It was a week of celebration and we’re happy to have shared it with one of our faves of all time, the 2020 4D 1.5 Honda Accord Touring! With both Chinese New Year and my niece Jessica and now nephew-in-law Mitch‘s wedding (they’ve tied the knot after 13 years together, meeting in high school!) taking place in Niagara Falls, we had much to fête and a test drive of the Accord Touring made it all possible.
First thing’s first – the vehicle is nothing short of elegant. Its long body and sleek composition are a statement of class and we had the pleasure of driving it in a Modern Steel Metallic. One glance and you know you are starting at luxury.
So many awesome memories this week in the 2020 @HondaCanada Accord Touring which has taken me through all the weather conditions. Can't wait to tell you about it on the site! pic.twitter.com/4NULmnVUOM
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) February 2, 2020
The Accord Touring runs on a 1.5-litre, 16-valve, Direct Injection, DOHC, i-VTEC® turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and operates at 192 horsepower. Our travels took us farther than ever. City, country, to the border and back to the burbs, the Accord Touring empowered us and it always reassuring knowing we can do it all on superb Fuel Economy, at 8.2 (city)/6.8 (highway)/7.6 (combined) litres per 100km. With a week of intense travelling and commuting, we spent only approximately $85 CAN on fuel which is very reasonable.
We were thrown an array of weather conditions this past week. We saw snow, rain and relentless flurries driving back from the wedding in Niagara Falls, but never once did we not feel safe. Vehicle Stability Assist was a major MVP in our travels. While we are lucky in the City and most rural areas reaping the benefit of plowed roads, we had a scary moment in particular out in the country in Caledon where we encountered a bit of slipping and sliding. Despite being mitigated by Vehicle Stability Assist, we found ourselves unable to proceed further up a small, unplowed road. With a clear head and no cars around fortunately, we reversed, went forward, reversed, applied foot to pedal and made it through the obstacle in no time to see our two namesakes Mr Will (Prince) and A Pic by Mrwill (Princess). The two met at long last. Mr Will happens to be training at the same facility where A Pic by Mrwill is enjoying her retirement as she readies for becoming a mom. Lucky me!
But above this, the Accord is jam-packed with intuitive safety features. A 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Auto high-beam, Brake Assist, Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS®), Forward Collision Warning (FCW) System, Honda LaneWatch Blind Spot Display and Lane Departure Warning, among many others. I remember last year, previewing the 2019 Honda Accord Touring and dealing with the Tire Pressure Monitoring System indicator going off in the cold weather, but that never once happened with the 2020 model.
The rear camera is definitely an asset for parking downtown or at the mall, and while snow sometimes limits our ability to utilize this, covering the camera and the car’s sensors, the Accord Touring never stops trying and lets you know when it can’t do the job, managing your expectations. Bottom line, sometimes we become so dependent on features and need to rely on our eyes and just focus.
The car is armed and ready with the HondaLink™ Assist Automatic Emergency Response System™ and Assist Automatic Emergency Response System. It has no shortage of Airbags: Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor System, SmartVent™ side airbags and an i-SRS Airbag System (front).
The 7″ colour TFT meter display with Driver Information Interface gives the Driver plenty of insights and we adore its Display Audio System with Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System which believe it or not, we finally used after having depended on the Google Maps app on our phone for a long time now. It was simple to use and just as effective! The Accord Touring‘s 452-watt AM/FM Premium Audio System with MP3/Windows Media® Audio playback capability and 10 speakers including subwoofer provide for an outstanding driving experience. We adore our SiriusXM, but appreciate how simple it is to sync our Huawei P30 Pro via Bluetooth, customizing our drives with our Spotify Playlists. And let’s not forget all those charging options, including a charging plate for our phone.
In keeping with tradition, you can hear that sound system yourself!
Finally // Beautiful Stranger.
Thanks @Halsey for the gorgeous tune. pic.twitter.com/XKz565GaI7
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) January 24, 2020
Continuing with the direction of previous models, Climate Control is customizable for Driver and Passenger, with dual-zone options and an air-filtration system. Rear-seat heater ducts are available for those sitting at the back too. We cannot deny how much we love the seat heaters (coolers too!) and steering wheel heater on those unbearably-cold January mornings. Push-button engine starts and proximity entry make our experience that much simpler and we’re here for it!
The 2020 4D 1.5 Honda Accord Touring continues the Accord‘s history of excellence and starts at $38,976 CAN. More here.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#PRODUCTWATCH: 2019 HONDA CIVIC 5D SPORT REVISITED
How do you mess with perfection? Honda long has been refining its top-selling showpiece, the Civic, and we were lucky enough a second time to get to review the 2019 Honda Civic 5D Sport. This time around we won’t talk about specs and features but more how it was our saving grace when we needed it most.
We had all sorts of plans to celebrate Black Friday and Cyber Monday. That is, until we got a concerning phone call from our Mom Thursday afternoon. I advised her to have Dad looked at as he was showing erratic behaviour last week, often tired and growingly-confused. After bringing him in to see their Family Doctor, he told her to have Dad checked-in at the ER right away and that’s when the phone call came. My Mom was inconsolable.
I began suspecting the worst, that maybe he had a stroke and having to leave work early to be by his side, every worst case scenario ran through my mind driving-up the DVP. I picked them up in the Honda Civic 5D Sport and off we went to the Hospital.
After several tests, ultrasounds, CT Scans and about eight hours of waiting, we were so relieved that while it was deemed his symptoms weren’t related to a stroke, it was revealed he had an infection incubating, which affected his coherence. It wasn’t till he was asked to do so, he wasn’t able to remember my name, the current year, nor could he write his own signature on his admittance forms at the Hospital. And this apparently is commonplace in elderly people experiencing this infection.
The Doctor sent us on our way after everything, referring us to multiple specialists to follow-up with. We had a late night dinner, all of us starving. Dad’s appetite was ferocious going for a third helping despite initially insisting he wasn’t hungry and didn’t want to eat. The Civic 5D Sport took us around as we struggled finding a place open in the wee hours of the morning. Google, while great at generating search results, isn’t always on-top of restaurant business hours. We were lucky finding a Pharmacy open late too to fill his urgent prescription, again made possible by our time in the 5D Sport.
Dad slept well that night and first order in the morning was getting him fed and medicated. He had no energy and insisted on sleep. While I was ready to cancel my cross-border Black Friday shopping plans, Mom let me know a short road trip was in good order, so skipping out for a few hours while Dad caught-up on sleep while oddly-timed, worked out just great. One of my brothers came by also to help, thankfully. One, we missed all the traffic at the Border and two, the crowds weren’t so bad at the Walden Galleria as all the early-rising shoppers had cleared-out. Getting a table at The Cheesecake Factory (the only American restaurant she likes) was quick and simple, as we ate an early dinner, beating the dinner rush. I snagged a couple winter coats – one dressy and one practical – got some Christmas shopping done and got Mom a new bag, which made her day. I even tried on a few ridiculous jackets which gave Mom some much-needed laughs! We then head back home to check-in on Dad.
See Gallery below. Hover cursor right to navigate.
Sometimes life’s roadblocks aren’t always on the road itself, sometimes they are. Sunday was my day to catch-up with our namesakes A Pic by Mrwill and Mr Will. I was less than thrilled to read the Forecast. While the weather was a mess to say the least, I was driven – pardon the pun – to see my beloved babies. While nobody likes driving in bad weather, we were pleasantly surprised by the few cars on the road. Our Snowplows on the 401 were working hard to keep us safe. And Yorkdale Shopping Centre, which notoriously is horrible for parking, was actually relatively empty for once enabling a quick visit for more Christmas odds and ends.
As we drove into Caledon on country roads, the scenic snow-filled route was actually meditative and driving was a breeze. This, paired with SiriusXM‘s Hallmark Channel blaring Holiday favourites, was just perfect.
While some roads were slippery, the Civic 5D Sport‘s Traction Control System kept us safe, as did its Forward Collision Warning, Honda LaneWatch Blind Spot Display and Multi-angle Rearview Camera – which we can’t live without!
Now, with the heavy snow, we did get a warning: “Some Driver Assist Systems Cannot Operate: Radar Obstructed”, but as always, it is best to drive with that extra bit of caution in inclement weather and reduced visibility anyway.
The Civic 5D Sport‘s Fuel Economy using ECON mode remains a game-changer and our week of travels, taking us from the burbs to the City, to the countryside and even Buffalo, tallied-in at less than $100 CAN. Its Fuel Economy comes in at:
City 9.3 L/100km
Highway 6.5 L/100km
Combined 8.0 L/100km
This beauty in Aegean Blue Metallic is controlled by a 7″ colour TFT centre meter display. Climate control, an array of audio and entertainment options are at the control of your finger tips. We adore the charging plate for our Smartphone, plus several charging ports for our passengers. Our passengers and I loved the heated seating options which are a necessity in these frigid conditions.
That Audio System once again proves superb. It sounds so great, we thought we’d sprinkle a little of that Holiday mood over your way!
Every year we make a point of visiting some of our most valuable partners before the Holidays, dropping-off some Holiday goodies. We are happy we had a chance to do that, because our partnerships are what keeps us thriving! We are saddened our dear dog Billy couldn’t be our Co-Pilot like in past years.
The Civic 5D Sport certainly won’t solve all our life problems. Dad is feeling a bit better. We got more of our Holiday shopping done. And well, we can’t avoid some of the weather conditions we’ll face. The car was there for us and was a reliable friend when we needed it.
2020 Civic models are now available. More here.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#PRODUCTWATCH: 2019 HONDA ODYSSEY TOURING
I’ll be the first to admit I have an aversion to large vehicles so what better than to tackle that irrational fear on your Birthday? The 2019 Honda Odyssey Touring was my vehicle of choice to ring-in a weekend of low-key celebrations and was it ever a pleasant surprise! I’ve always had it in my head that mini vans were tougher to drive and harder to park, but I learned otherwise. I have never felt more secure driving a vehicle than this and to be honest, it was just the same as driving any Sedan other than that it accelerates just a click slower with its additional weight.
The true test of comfort in this mini van empowered with a 280 horsepower, 3.5-litre, 24-valve, SHOC, i-VTEC V6 engine was driving my friend, who is that back-seat driver who panics at every thing on the road. A car drives along beside you, she freaks-out literally. Not once did she go into panic mode in our travels. Ditto for my mom when driving her to my Birthday dinner. She was safely nestled behind me minding her own business in her sizy chair alongside my dad, both seated in the second of three rows in this ride which seats eight comfortably. The Honda Odyssey Touring offers a feeling of safety and comfort that calms the most anxious of passengers. That is a first for me.
We noticed first and foremost that the Odyssey Touring in gorgeous Obsidian Blue Pearl, was long and large. And with this came the expectation that it was a gas guzzler. Now it does have Honda‘s signature game-changing ECON mode, which certainly helps with fuel economy, tallying-in at 12.2/8.5/10.6L/100 km (city/highway/combined); it also has idle stop aiding our wallets and the environment a bit further. Overall, we were able to fill a tank on just over $60 with these fluctuating gas prices, which is highly-reasonable considering our long journeys from suburbs to city to countryside over six days.
The most amazing features on the Odyssey Touring are its power tailgate and quite possibly the largest and deepest trunk I have ever seen in my life! Passenger doors are powered and close and open on their own at the pull of the latch. So cool! State of the art.
My favourite thing about the 2019 @HondaCanada Odyssey! pic.twitter.com/ZHAhUuTK20
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) October 22, 2019
Don’t be fooled by its mini van pedigree, the Odyssey Touring is packed with pure sophistication and luxury. It is highlighted by a beautiful moonroof, gray perforated leather seats, push-button gears, proximity entry, HD Radio, SiriusXM-capability, ambient lighting, plus heated steering wheel and seats too. If that weren’t enough, the driver and passenger seats have a cooling option as well, because we see basically all the temperatures here in Canada. 🍁
Charging ports are next-level with a variety of options, front and back for driver and passenger, plus a charging plate as well. We wouldn’t expect any less of Honda. Last but not least, passengers in the back are treated to a 10.2 inch screen with the mini van’s Advanced Rear Entertainment System, where they can watch Blu-rays and stream programs and movies!
It’s audio system boasts a 550-watt AM/FM/CD with MP3/Windows Media playback and 11 speakers with subwoofer. The acoustics make my heart sing! 🎶
In addition to feeling safe, the Odyssey Touring is loaded with safety features. Lane Departure, Road Departure Mitigation, Tire Pressure Monitoring, Hill Assist, Vehicle Stability Assist, i-SRS Airbag System, Front-Knee Airbags, SmartVent Side Airbags, Lane-Keeping Assist and let’s not forget that amazing Rear-View Camera which makes reversing and parking so simple! We love that the rear-view mirror adapts to lighting and tints slightly in the sunset, protecting the driver from that blinding glare.
I cannot speak highly enough of the 2019 Honda Odyssey Touring. It is a masterpiece and crowd-pleaser that any family would be honoured to call their own.
The 2019 Honda Odyssey Touring sells at $54,336 CAN. More here.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#PRODUCTWATCH: 2019 HONDA PASSPORT TOURING
What a Canada Day weekend it was! We had the sheer joy of driving the 2019 Honda Passport Touring for the occasion and it was magical. While the Passport is just making a comeback after being absent from production since 2002, its return certainly is welcomed, enhanced with sensibilities of the now. The versatile mid-sized five-door SUV is a melding of style, sophistication and practicality. It spaciousness is an embarrassment of riches for a single driver like me, although I can’t deny it was super-handy for running errands and stocking-up for the weekend! Fittingly, we got to drive it in a patriotic Deep Scarlet Pearl for our long weekend adventure!
Boasting a powerful 3.5-litre, 24-valve, Direct Injection, SOHC, i-VTEC® V6 engine, we were king of the road, navigating with its 9-speed automatic transmission with Grade Logic Control, operating at 280 horsepower. The Passport Touring‘s Fuel Economy tallies in at 12.5/9.8/11.3 City/Highway/Combined. We admire Honda‘s commitment to Fuel Economy and the environment with its dealbreaking for many, Eco Assist system, idle-stop engine and ECON mode button, easy on the wallet and the earth we live.
Power and economy aside, the Passport Touring is obsessed with our safety. It possesses 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist, Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system, Honda LaneWatch Blindspot Display, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with Tire Fill Assist and Blind Spot Information (BSI) system with Rear Cross Traffic Monitor system and the ultra-convenient Auto High-Beam which helped greatly in our evening drives, taking us city to countryside. Its Immobilizer Theft-Deterrent System is an added protection and we are notorious for fumbling for our keys and can’t live without Proximity Extry which the SUV has.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. Honda‘s Multi-angle Rearview Camera with dynamic guidelines is life-saving and makes us a pro at parking at the trickiest spots. Fitting in between two trucks at the airport? No problem! Parallel parking downtown? Please.
Driving in the Passport Touring is a joy with its powerful 550-watt AM/FM Premium audio system with MP3/Windows Media® Audio playback capability and 10 speakers including subwoofer. Everything from Bluetooth Audio to Sirius XM is an entertainment option and there is an abundance of charging options including 12 and 115-volt outlets, plus USB and wireless charging.
Keeping with our Honda Caraoke tradition, we’re still buzzing with delight after attending the sold-out Ariana Grande show at Scotiabank Arena! I’ll let the sound quality speak for itself!
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I’m so into you, into you, into you 🎶 #Caraoke #IntoYou #ArianaGrande #HondaPassport #CanadaDay
The Passport Touring‘s extra-large moonroof was made for this weather we experienced Canada Day weekened, giving our drives pure mood and ambience.
Its Tri-Zone Climate Control and air filtration system is a thing of wonder, keeping my passengers calm and cool amidst the blistering weekend heat, letting them in both front and back, customize their own tenperature settings. Front seats have heating and cooling options as well, the latter which definitely got put to good use.
See some Snaps including our weekend at the historic Queens Plate Festival, our favourite event of the Summer! Strapped for time, we got to preview a smooth ride along the 407 which got us there right in time! Hover cursor on the right of each album to navigate further.
More on the 2019 HONDA PASSPORT TOURING starting at $49,900 CAN here.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#PRODUCTWATCH: 2019 HONDA ACCORD HYBRID TOURING
There isn’t much to say about the 2019 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring that we haven’t already said in our previous peace. The beauty of a ride soars on all fronts and was just as superb as we recall in our Holiday adventures. More here.
The 2019 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring powered by its 2.0-litre, 16-valve, Direct Injection, DOHC, i-VTEC® turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, offers outstanding fuel economy as our travels took us from the suburbs to the city, to the country! We had a busy, star-studded week at the 2019 Accord Hybrid took us there! With gas prices plummeting once again, we were able to make it through our five-day weekend on less than $40 and believe us, we saw a lot and had the AC on with the car’s highly-efficient Climate Control, as we finally saw some sun once again. Believe me, we put that moonroof to use as well, zipping through Burlington and working on our tan. We earned this amazing weather! We’ve seen this car now through sun, rain, snow, heat and cold and it prevails under all conditions.
One minor quirk we noticed after parking the park in the heat was that multiple alarming alerts with its Active Safety features among others, alerting us to bring the car to a dealer including:
- LANE KEEPING ASSIST SYSTEM
- ROAD DEPARTURE MITIGATION SYSTEM
- AUTO HIGH-BEAM HEADLIGHTS
While this took place we also noticed a bit of freezing navigating Display Audio System, which led us to do a Factory Default Reset. After parking the car overnight we noticed the alerts went away for good. If you recall over the winter, the car’s Tire Pressure Monitor System alert came on as well which caused a minor panic on Christmas Day for us, but alas was nothing to be concerned about after verifying tire pressure at the gas station.
We can’t resist the abundance of charging port options and neither could our friends who tagged along and the luxury of the leather-trimmed seats, the driver’s seat adjustable 12 ways , putting you in control of your drive like never before.
The Accord Hybrid synced beautifully with the Huawei P3o Pro we’re testing on its 452-watt AM/FM Premium audio system with MP3/Windows Media® Audio playback capability and 10 speakers including subwoofer, delivered audio magic and we can prove it! We’ve got Elton fever after witnessing the magic that is ROCKETMAN recently. You must see it!
The Blues.💙 pic.twitter.com/5xz0o0cWuM
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) June 8, 2019
See some more Snaps of our delicious, star-studded weekend:
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A Morning in Burlington at our faves, The Sunshine Doughnut Co., Kelly’s Bake Shoppe and meeting our friend Julie‘s cute new pup, Wyatt!
We’re super-stoked about the Queen’s Plate which takes place Canada Day weekend at Woodbine Racetrack and we witnessed some magic in Canadian-born, American-based filly DESERT RIDE romping in the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks. She solidifies her spot against the boys in the Queen’s Plate and we can’t wait to see what’s next for her!
She came out of nowhere! American-based Canadian-bred filly DESERT RIDE takes the $500k Woodbine Oaks under Steven Bahen for Sam-Son Farm. She is trained by Neil Howard. pic.twitter.com/SoDXtY4GDh
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) June 9, 2019
SISTER PEACOCK takes the inaugural running of the William D. Graham Memorial under @JockeyJesse, for Team Stuart Simon. pic.twitter.com/t3VPAaICaV
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) June 9, 2019
Loved catching-up with my Godkids this weekend @APicbyMrWill x @MrWilltheHorse! Check-out their latest update on their Diary!https://t.co/0sbffE7cqP pic.twitter.com/nECVpivWPV
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) June 10, 2019
Glitches aside, we’re still in love with the 2019 Honda Accord Hybrid!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#PRODUCTWATCH: 2019 HONDA ACCORD 4D TOURING 1.5L
Mother’s Day is for memories! Mom’s had a tough year and she deserved the best Mother’s Day ever. While Mom’s car’s been in the shop to fix a fender bender, Mother’s Day was saved by none other than 2019 HONDA ACCORD 4D TOURING 1.5L. Who needs red roses when you have this luxurious, sleek and spacious ride in Radiant Red Metallic? Mother’s Day is about spending quality time with the woman we have to thank most and we had the perfect fit. This car took us shopping, to the races and to dinner, doing it with flare! 🌹
In terms of performance, the front-wheel-driving 2019 Honda Accord 4D Touring 1.5L is packed with power, effortlessly gliding on highway or city. It is powered by a 1.5-litre, 16-valve, Direct Injection, DOHC, i-VTEC turbocharged 4-cylinder engine at 192 horsepower @ 5500 rpm and 192 lb.-ft of torque at 1600-5000 rpm. Its ECON mode continues to be a big selling point for Honda, packing-in plenty of value for your dollar.
Style and convenience highlight the car, crammed with various luxuries like heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front and rear seats, plus sophisticated Climate Control that lets driver and passenger customize their temperatures respectively. Folding door mirrors are on-trend as are its automated wipers which activate at the drop of moisture. LED fog lights, daytime running lights, brake lights, tail lights and auto high-beam give us one less to fuss about as does its super-helpful proximity entry. We can’t live without this, to be honest. We ain’t got time to fumble for keys! Above this, we’re sold on its beautiful chrome grille and door handles, plus that one-touch Moonroof.
We love that Honda recognizes that staying connected isn’t a driver-only concern, but passengers need this too. There are plenty USB ports front and back, ensuring everybody’s happy! A wireless charging plate worked perfectly with the Huawei P30 we’re trying, charging it up quickly. The car’s Display Audio System with Honda satellite-linked navigation System and bilingual voice recognition recognize the needs of Canadians. There are a litany of audio menu options and once again, we’re thrilled to listen to SiriusXM Hits 1 on its 452-watt AM/FM Premium Audio system with MP3/Windows Media Audio and 10 speakers with subwoofer. We streamed our Spotify playlists with ease using Bluetooth Audio via HandsFreeLink.
We’re all for keeping mom safe and the Honda knows it. Parallel parking downtown, backing-in and out are a breeze with its multi-rear view camera. Unpredictable Toronto traffic calls for the need for Brake Assist, Blind Spot Information System with Rear Cross-Traffic Monitor System, 4-wheel Anti-Lock Braking System, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Vehicle Stability Assist, Forward Collision Warning System and Lane Departure Warning System. The state-of-the-art Traffic Sign Recognition hologram on the driver’s side windshield are helpful in keeping the driver aware of speed limits. And of course, the i-SRS Airbag System has your back.. and front!
The 2019 Honda Accord 4D Touring 1.5L is mom-approved.
The 2019 Honda Accord 4D Touring 1.5L starts at $36,190 CAN. More here.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#PRODUCTWATCH: 2019 HONDA CIVIC 5D SPORT
It was a Good Friday, indeed! We’ve been looking for a quick escape from the City for a bit and both Mom and I needed a pick-me-up after what’s started as a dismal 2019. Hence, some shopping and family time was in good order and when it comes to shopping, one blessing of living in Toronto is that Buffalo’s array of awesome malls are just a short drive away.
The 2019 HONDA CIVIC 5D SPORT came to the rescue this Easter Holiday weekend and true to form, it carries on the Civic‘s amazing legacy of practicality and style. And if anything Mom and I needed that jumbo hatchback trunk from our Walden Galleria, Target and Fashion Outlets adventures!
We just drove the 2019 Honda Accord Touring recently, hence we got used to shift gear-free driving that oddly when going back to a shift gear, it took a bit of getting used to. That is the magic of Honda innovation influencing our behaviour! The 2019 Honda Civic 5D Sport with its 2.0-litre, 16-valve, Port Injections, DOHC, i-VTEC 4-Cylinder and 158-hp engine made us a master of the highways, powering us through a torrential downpour of rain on Good Friday and the long weekend Saturday where my parents and I partook in our annual tradition, opening day at Woodbine Racetrack!
While fuel prices have skyrocketed earlier this year, we still were able to fill a tank and drive to Buffalo, plus run errands around the City for $50 only, much thanks to the Civic‘s game-changing ECON Mode.
The Civic‘s style remains untouchable and we felt sheer confidence being seen in Aegean Blue Metallic, giving us a spiritual lift in the gloomy gray weather we experienced this long weekend. Its 18″ dark aluminum-alloy wheels are a scene-stealer. Its one-touch moonroof was made for this improving weather and will come in super-handy. Honda spoils us continually with Proximity Key Entry so that fumbling for keys no longer is in our vocabulary.
Like many recent offerings from Honda, its centerpiece is its 7″ colour TFT centre meter display which acts as a control hub for the roomy ride including Climate Control, which allows the driver and front passenger to customize their temperature. Heated front seats were a warm blanket of snuggles when temperatures dipped this past weekend, while Android Auto/Apple CarPlay have evolved for drivers of the now. And when we weren’t busy being obsessed with SiriusXM Hits 1, we were streaming our new favourite artist, LIZZO with the car’s Bluetooth Steaming Audio. We stayed charged with a variety of charging options.
Your safety is top priority with Honda and the Civic is no different. A Forward Collision Warning System was on-top of things as was its Lane Depature Warning System. Changing to the right lane or backing-out was made easy with its signature Honda LandWatch Blind Spot Display and Multi-angle Rearview Camera. Although we never hope to have to see them, there are the i-SRS Airbag System and SmartVent Side Airbags to protect us from harm’s way. We also will never get bored of its automatic wipers which went to work with the first drops of rain and also its helpful rear-windshield wipers which we feel every car needs.
A first happened, my Mom said “Goodbye” and pat the car after dropping her off. I asked her where she thought I was going and she told me “I wasn’t saying bye to you, I was saying goodbye to the car!”. That’s the Honda effect.
See some our adventures!
The 2019 HONDA CIVIC 5D SPORT starts at $27,376 CAN.
Click here for more.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#PRODUCTWATCH: 2019 HONDA ACCORD TOURING 2.0
We couldn’t pass-up a chance to test drive the new 2019 Honda Accord Touring 2.0 after catching wind of its arrival. You know how much we adore the Series!
We’ve been a bit down about losing our dear Billy a few weeks back and with there being so little downtime since then with event after event to cover, we really haven’t had a moment to ourselves and time to catch-up with dear friends and the Accord Touring 2.0 gave us exactly this. Time to drive far away, clear our mind and reflect.
The Acccord Touring 2.0 builds on its predecessors’ legacy of style and elegance. We felt elevated driving the Lunar Silver Metallic masterpiece across all terrains: bumpy country roads, highways and city concrete.
Its 2.0-litre, 16-valve, Direct Injection, DOHC, iVTEC, turbo-charged 4-cylinder engine meant pure power… all 252 horsepower of it! For the first time ever we got to experience its Adaptive Damper System which individually can adjust the shock absorbers’ forces to match the vehicle’s payload, the state of the road surface and even the driving style. State of the art!
Like recent evolutions in offerings from Honda, we fully have gotten used to shift gear-free driving. The heart and soul of the vehicle is its intuitive Display Audio System and panel with HondaLink Navigation System. Its HandsFreeLink connected easily to our Android, allowing us to stream our favourite playlists off Spotify when we weren’t vibing-out to SiriusXM Hits 1 or their newly-launched all-hits Pandora channel. Its 452-watt Audio System with ten speakers is magical.
We love some of the things Honda continues to do for user-friendliness in Climate Control, recognizing the different, customized needs of driver and passengers. We adore that there are seat warmers and coolers. The heated steering wheel option came in handy as we transition from the frigid winter to spring. We love that there are several charging ports and a charging plate ensuring everyone is happy!
The ventilated front seats and perforated leather-trimmed seating surfaces deliver comfort and purpose and we received several compliments about roominess from our friends who were lucky enough to ride along.
Safety always is first with Honda and we loved its Traffic Sign Recognition, keeping us updated on our travels with changes in speed limits in a holographic manner on the car’s windshield. Its Blind Spot Information System does much work for us so that we can stay focused on the drive and its Collision Mitigation Braking System, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, plus Lane and Road Departure Systems keep us on alert. Upon a few drops of moisture on the windshield we notice our windshields begin to wipe automatically. Now that’s intuition!
Like the 2019 Honda According Touring that we tried over the Holidays, we once again saw that pesky Tire Pressure Low warning light surface again after driving over a speed bump in the country. If you’ve double-checked the tire pressure and all is fine, try re-calibrating by going into Vehicle settings on the Accord‘s touch-screen display and under TPMS Calibration. We selected the Calibrate option which made the warning go away.
We couldn’t avoid rising gas prices this time around after being spoiled all winter long, but we got plenty of value out of a tank of gas on ECON mode driving country to see our namesakes Mr. Will and A Pic by Mrwill, to city for work and Press Junkets, including the one for hotly-anticipated Teen Romance, AFTER which is poised for big numbers.
We created many memories in the 2019 Honda Accord Touring 2.0 with our family (inluding my nephew’s cat Jinx!) and friends and couldn’t have had a better sidekick to do it all in.
The 2019 Honda Accord Touring 2.0 retails from $40,976 CAN. More here.
See some Snaps:
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Hijinx with Jinx. pic.twitter.com/knSkV9wypj
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) April 8, 2019
In loving memory of Billy. I’ll never forget all our adventures together in the many Honda vehicles we’ve been in together over the years. Recorded in the 2019 Honda Accord Touring 2.0.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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