Get the Best Gas Mileage Possible on Your Summer Road Trip

Planning your summer road trip is already stressful enough–why worry about what you’re spending on gas? Here are a couple of things to avoid and a couple of things to remember while you’re out on the road.

DO be assertive (not aggressive). Speeding up and braking sharply slices your highway gas mileage by 33 percent.

DON’T drive with the windows down. While you may think you’re cutting costs by avoiding use of the air conditioning, you are actually making your car work harder to maintain speed because of aerodynamic drag.

DO make sure your tires are properly inflated. Driving on partially deflated wheels does nothing but damage to your gas mileage.

DON’T use a rooftop cargo box. If you need the extra room, try a cargo tray that attaches at the rear bumper. It’s much easier on your mileage.

Three Ways to Keep Your Car Organized for this Summer

Let’s face it; it gets a little crazy over the summer. Your kids are always in and out of the car and it can get a little messy. Here are some tips to help your car survive the crazy days of summer.

1) Be Prepared: Have a tray or cardboard box in the back that holds the essentials. Some of these items could include extra clothing, emergency water bottles, trash bags, and paper towels.

2) Trash can: Keep at least one in the car at all times. Make sure you empty it when you stop to get gas or get out of the car. This will ensure that it doesn’t overflow and make a huge mess!

3) Rules: Make sure your kids know that their items are their responsibility. Set the expectation that anything that they bring in the car must leave the car when they get home.

If you’re more of a SOUL sister than a minivan mama, read this.

If you’re a “cool mom” that’s also budget-conscious, you probably have a hard time finding the right vehicle to suit all your needs. You’ll need plenty of cargo space to haul road trip luggage and sports equipment, but you don’t want a double-wide wagon. You refuse to pay the price that comes along with a gas-guzzling SUV, but you want your style to stay current. And, to complicate it even further? You aren’t rocking the minivan look– but you won’t compromise when it comes to safety. Times are tough!

Luckily, the 2014 Kia Soul eats tough times for breakfast. And it knows the importance of eating a well-balanced breakfast every day. That’s why it’s the perfect blend of style, safety, and sass to fit right in with your busy–and cool– life. Come see us to take one for a spin today!

How to Have the Best Auto Show Experience

Auto shows are great events for everyone from the die-hard enthusiast to the merely curious. However, no matter where you are on the car lover scale, it’s important to keep in mind a few tips when you go.

• Since almost no sales happen during an auto show, make sure to pick up business cards along the way! If you see something you’re interested in buying later on down the road, having those cards will really put you ahead of the game.
• 
  Check out the show’s official website before you go. It will give you all kinds of information, from the calendar of events to the floor plan to where your interests are going to be located.
• 
  Be sure to really inspect the cars you truly like! Check out the interior, various features, the engine, and even the trunk! Remember, this could be the car for you, so really get to know it.