A Review of John Howerton Honda in Beckley, WV

John Howerton has been our "Honda home" since 2012 when we purchased a 2012 Odyssey van.  We had a good sales experience then and more recently, in January of 2015 when the van needed some repair work on the piston rings.  Thankfully the repairs were covered under warranty.  The service staff was excellent.  From the first time I called to make an appointment for the problem I was having, I was met with professional courtesy.   The issue took longer to repair and test than I expected (nearly a week in the garage) and even though I grumbled about having to rent a vehicle, the service department did everything within their power to explain what the trouble was and to offer a helping hand in renting a car and giving me a ride to Enterprise-Rent-A-Car.  

I picked up my van on a Saturday and by the following Monday, my service engine light was flashing again.  I immediately took it back to J. Howerton Honda.  Once again, the service department was courteous, moving me to the front of the line and taking my van in right away to evaluate the problem.  Since it was going to be more than an hour wait, they also offered a vehicle to me to complete my errands that morning.   That considerate gesture went a long way to make the extended wait worthwhile.  Upon returning, it was discovered that I had a loose wire related to my fuel emissions.  It was fixed and I drove away without further issue.

February 2015 brought heavy snowstorms to our area and I revisited the idea of trading the Odyssey for a 4WD Honda Pilot.  I was happy to learn that a white Pilot was available at another dealer and that John Howerton Honda could obtain this for me.  I spoke on the phone with the sales rep several times over a week to work out a deal agreeable to both of us and exchanged text messages to confirm it.

On a Monday morning I went first thing to the dealer to check out my new ride.  It looked great and as promised.  We spent a long time going through all the preliminary paperwork such as settings for the vehicle, license and insurance info, etc.  I'm sure you know the drill.  After nearly an hour I was presented with the legal financial documents which did not show the agreed upon purchase price.  I stated the amount was wrong and showed them my text messages with the sales rep.  Thus began a 30 minute or more haggle over the price and down payment.  I should have walked away, but I didn't.  I took the offer closest to the originally agreed upon purchase price.  I paid more than what was promised.

I filed a complaint with the BBB, not just because they did not honor the previous agreement, but because they attempted to place the "misunderstanding" on my shoulders rather than acknowledge their fault in promising one thing and delivering another.

So, all in all -- if you need service for your Honda, I highly recommend John Howerton Honda service department.  If you're looking to make a purchase, I suggest you deal elsewhere.   I hope my experience can help you.

"Good judgement comes from experience.  Experience comes from poor judgement."

Byzantium: The Lost Empire

I’ve just watched the 2 part series, courtesy of Netflix, of John Romer’s fascinating program produced by The Learning Channel (1997). This is the type of documentary I enjoy most, feeling as if I’m not just a passive observer, but intensely engaged in the commentary and scenes opening up before me. And, in the case of Romer, it’s like following a friend along the ancient streets of Constantinople, over 15 centuries ago. A gentle speaking friend who knows the place well and is anxious to share it with you in that most pleasing British accent.

This was the perfect introduction to the ancient empire of Byzantium, which was the center of Christendom on earth for over 1,000 years. I’ve had a keen interest in Byzantium since converting to Orthodoxy... the icons, architecture, the court, including such notable figures as St. Justinian and his beloved wife, St. Theodora. Mr. Romer is so gifted in this work, displaying not only his thorough historical research, but presenting it with such care, ...even poetic at times. His love of ancient peoples and this era of Christendom in particular is obvious throughout the film.

I was amazed to know that the great Hagia Sofia, the famous cathedral of the ancient Byzantines, is still standing. Originally built in the 4th century, after the Turks conquered Byzantium in 1453, it became a mosque and then a museum. The entire history is fascinating; thankfully we still have relics, icons, sculpture and other artifacts to provide a glimpse, a window back into this glorious era.

The music in the documentary is a nice touch, too as we travel from busy, modern day Istanbul (ancient Constantinople) back to the days of Emperors worshipping in some of the most splendid cathedrals our world has ever known.

Five Stars.