Choose the Right Vehicle for You: Tips for the Modern Car Shopper

Car shopping can be an overwhelming process, especially when it’s been a while since you have purchased a new vehicle. There are so many choices; it can be hard to know exactly what you need. Here a few tips to help you find the perfect vehicle for you.

· Decide what you can afford: Loving a vehicle is no use unless you can afford it. A good rule of thumb is to allocate no more than 20 percent of your monthly household income for all the cars in your household. This not only includes the car payment, but also the gasoline, insurance, and preventative maintenance costs. Make sure to crunch the numbers before making the decision to purchase.

· Decide between new and used: There are trade-offs with each, you need to decide what is more important to you. Buying a used car means you can get a more expensive car for your money, but you risk having a shorter warranty period and possibly not knowing the cars full history. Buying new means you’ll get less car features for your money but you will benefit from the full warranty and lower interest rates.

· Narrow down your buying choices: Make a list of cars that you’ve noticed around town or at your local auto show and begin researching them. There are many reputable sites that can help you learn about the features of the cars so you can narrow down your list based on what’s important to you.

· Assess the cost to own: An independent site like Edmunds.com can help you research the cost of ownership of different vehicles in your area. This will give you a better idea of whether or not a particular car will fit in to you budget

· Don’t rush the test drive: To get the most out of your vehicle you’ll want to own it for 5 years or longer, so make sure that you’ll be happy driving this car for years to come!

Drive Happy: How De-stress Your Driving Routine

The daily commute can cause our stress levels to get a little out of control. When you’re stuck in traffic, and the kids are screaming in the back seat it gets pretty easy to reach your boiling point. Here are some tips for a more Zen driving experience.

1. Allow extra time to get to your destination: Nothing causes more stress than being late. As the minutes tick by, you are more and more likely to get in to trouble on the road. Allow yourself extra time and just eliminate the scramble all together. You will feel much more relaxed, and will be much more likely to arrive at your destination safely.
Of course sometimes you’re just “running late”. In these cases be sure to remind yourself that no traffic ticket or accident is worth being on time.

2. Plan your route beforehand: Make sure you know where you’re going before you start your engine! This should be pretty simple between your smartphone and in-dash navigation system. If you check the route beforehand you can get a jump on any construction delays or accidents.

3. Entertain the kids: When children get bored they get noisy. Make sure that you have some sort of entertainment on hand for them like electronic games or videos. Your eardrums will thank you.

4. Keep snacks nearby: Many of us get cranky when we’re hungry. We all know the feeling of being stuck in traffic on the way home from work, while the grumpiness sets in. Keep small, non-perishable snacks in your car (ones that are easy to eat while driving of course). Your stomach will be happy, and your stress levels will go down.

Three Common Driving Distractions and How to Deal with Them

1. Chatting with passengers: Statistically, people get in to more accidents when their car is overloaded with chatty kathy’s. If you’re the driver it’s your responsibility to maintain the order in your vehicle. If their too talkative and you can’t concentrate, it’s ok to tell them to put a lid on it.

2. Playing DJ: There’s nothing better than cruising down the road to your favorite song but it can also be a huge distraction. Every time you take your eyes off the road to change the radio station, or switch the song, you take the risk of getting in to an accident. To avoid this make sure your playlist is ready to go before you get in the car, that way you aren’t tempted to mess around with it while behind the wheel.

3. The infamous cell phone: This is the most important one! If you must talk on the phone, make sure that you are connected to a hands-free device. We recommend putting your phone away all together. If it’s an emergency, pull over to the side of the road and have your conversation. No call or text is worth endangering your safety or the safety of someone else!

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.
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  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.
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  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.