2006 Honda Civic Ex Automatic 4 Door No Reserve Ready To Go 100% on 2040-cars

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Custom Honda motorcycles perfect for evading zombies in The Walking Dead

With characters constantly being killed off, the zombie-infested world of AMC's The Walking Dead definitely isn't one of the more lighthearted shows on TV. Still, getting to be an actor on the show looks like one of the best jobs around, especially with a recent two-wheeled addition of a zombie-hunting Honda for one character. Early in the series, Norman Reedus' character Daryl Dixon rode a motorcycle but lost it over the course of the series' tumultuous stories. When talking with producers about future stories, he said that he wanted to be on a bike again, and they agreed. Reedus suggested Classified Moto to the producers because the company had already built a custom cycle for him. The builders there came up with a pair of custom Hondas that are made to look beat-up and utilitarian in the show's post-apocalyptic world. There's even a mounting point on the back for Daryl's trademark crossbow. The bikes also had to be reliable in the real world for filming. According to Classified Moto, it chose the Hondas as a base because the company had experience building customs on them and parts were easy to get. While Classified Moto now gets its bikes on TV this week, this isn't its first brush with celebrity. The company previously built Battlestar Galactica star Katee Sackhoff a highly modified Honda, as well.

Takata airbags were adopted in late 1990s to save a few dollars per vehicle

According to a new report from The New York Times, General Motors started using airbags supplied by Takata in the late 1990s as a cost-saving measure even after receiving warnings about their safety. Takata's airbag modules were reportedly 30-percent cheaper than its competitors' offerings. GM approached Autoliv, which until that time had been its main airbag supplier, to see if it could offer a competitively priced alternative to Takata. Autoliv tested Takata's airbag inflator and found that it was unsafe, according to scientists who worked for the supplier at the time. Chris Hock, who until recently still worked for Autoliv, said the inflator "turned it into shrapnel" when tested. GM was subsequently warned by Autoliv that Takata's ammonium nitrate inflators were potentially dangerous. Still, "General Motors told us they were going to buy Takata's inflaters unless we could make a cheaper one," said Linda Rink, who served as a senior scientist at Autoliv at the time. A spokesperson for General Motors told The Times that it would be inappropriate to comment on discussions that "occurred two decades ago between Old GM and a supplier." So far, no Takata-supplied airbags have ruptured in an accident, and GM was far from the only automaker to make a switch to Takata airbags in order to save money. A total of 64 million airbags have so far been recalled from nearly every automaker selling vehicles in America. A spokesperson from Honda said in a statement to The Times that "There was no industry understanding in the late 1990s" that ammonium nitrate airbag inflators were risky. The majority of deaths linked to Takata airbags were in vehicles built by Honda. Takata still produces airbag inflators that use an ammonium nitrate compound, despite the devices being blamed for at least 14 deaths. Click here for NHTSA's dedicated site on open Takata recalls. Related Video: News Source: The New York TimesImage Credit: Joe Skipper / Reuters Government/Legal Recalls GM Honda Safety autoliv

'Butching up' the 2017 Honda Ridgeline

Honda has announced a number accessories for the Ridgeline at the Chicago Auto Show: black roof rails, cross bars, running boards, and fender flares; a skid plate; a hard tonneau cover; special 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires; and a towing kit. Most of these items are to be expected, while a few others raise an eyebrow. It appears that Honda is testing the waters to see if there is an audience for a "butched up" Ridgeline. The skid plate, fender flares, and all-terrain tires all move it a step in that direction visually. I'm not absolutely certain, but I don't think these accessories, which have a slight nod towards off-roading, have been offered by Honda in the past. Perhaps an informed reader can clarify that? There's been no word yet as to whether the tire size is larger, but looking at the image, it appears the tire may have a slightly taller sidewall. I believe the factory 18-inch tire offered is a 265/60, so this may be a 265/65 tire. Again, someone at the Chicago show could clarify this. As tepid as this may seem, it's a start. That's the good news. If these items prove successful, they may just push Honda enough to offer a beefed up trim level. Fingers crossed. This concludes my series of Ridgeline reports. I'm hoping to be at the New York Auto Show in March, and the Ridgeline is on my list of vehicles to crawl all over. If I learn of anything new, you can be assured I will report it here. Related Video: Image Credit: Honda Honda Truck open road