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Lifestyle

The New Kia Soul: 5 Reasons Why Drivers Are Madly in Love

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Countless drivers today are checking out the Kia Soul. They know this manufacturer has an excellent reputation for reliability and value and want to see for themselves why so many drivers are buying these cars. The 2024 Kia Soul continues with this tradition. The following are five reasons drivers are madly in love with this car.

Ample Room

When a person hears the word subcompact, they may think of a small vehicle, one with limited room. Don’t let this designation fool you. The 2024 Kia Soul has over 62 cubic feet of space in the cargo area. The 60/40 split-folding seats ensure you can carry items large and small with ease. In addition, this vehicle carries five people easily, thanks to the 100 cubic feet of passenger space. However, ample room in the cabin is only one great thing about this year’s model, which is why you may want to start looking into kia finance specials.

You won’t mind sitting in the front seats for hours, as they have been designed with comfort in mind. While the rear seatback isn’t adjustable, most people find they aren’t bothered by it. This may be due to the ample headroom and legroom for both the driver and passengers. Four adults can take a ride in the car without feeling cramped, even if they are going long distances. They’ll enjoy the tall and narrow windows, as they can see the world around them. You won’t mind taking these long trips either, as you can adjust the seat and the steering wheel to fit your size.

Other features make for an enjoyable ride. These features include ambient lighting and dual-zone climate control. You also have the option of upgrading to heated adjustable seats, if that is something you would enjoy.

Performance

While the ride may be comfortable, you need power to move the car. The Soul takes you around town with ease. One drawback is the car doesn’t accelerate rapidly, thanks to the 2.0-liter engine. Nevertheless, the steering feels natural when you are moving from center, and the cornering abilities are great. The transmission is an automatic CVT, but you won’t be able to tell this, as it feels as if you are driving a traditional automatic.

However, the brake pedal can be touchy, particularly at low speeds. You may find it takes time to adjust to this. The Soul will brake quickly in an emergency, which is the important thing. All-wheel drive is not an option offered at this time.

A Stylish Ride

One reason many drivers take a second look at the Soul is this vehicle offers unique styling. It brings together what people love about an SUV and a conventional hatchback. Kia isn’t resting on its laurels either. Every year, the engineers try to find ways to improve on this car. In 2024, drivers can invest in a Kia Soul EX Designer package, which comes with features such as special interior options and 18-inch wheels.

For those who want a sporty look for their vehicle, the GT-Line is perfect. This trim level comes with 18-inch Sport alloy wheels, two-tone paint, and a steering wheel that is Sport-designed. However, if you prefer another trim level, you can still find a ride you love. All come with interior decorative features, such as a steering wheel encased in leather, a power sunroof, or privacy glass in the rear.

Technology

While the Kia Soul may come with a lower price tag than some of its competitors, the technology found in this car is sure to impress. Most models come with a 10.2-inch integrated touchscreen that takes up a large portion of the dashboard. The vehicle comes with in-dash navigation, the ability to subscribe to SiriusXM radio, and more.

Many people don’t expect to climb into a Kia Soul and find a Harman Kardon stereo, but that is exactly what they will see. It offers outstanding bass response and great sound quality regardless of what type of music you prefer. Every vehicle comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, and you can opt for wireless charging along with charging ports.

The technology extends beyond the stereo system. You benefit from driver assist systems that don’t put out false alarms. Industry experts love the adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems, so be sure to check those out when taking this car for a test drive. Ask about additional features such as Remote and Push-Button Start as well as the Smart Key option. Other features to ask about include forward collision warning, automatic high-beam headlights, and automatic emergency braking.

Protection

Kia stands behind its products, as the warranty shows. You get bumper-to-bumper coverage for five years or 60,000 miles. The powertrain warranty extends for 10 years or 100,000 miles, and your car also comes with free roadside assistance for five years or 60,000 miles. When you buy this car, you know you won’t be facing high repair bills in the coming weeks, months, or even years. The manufacturer will handle repairs for those things that go beyond normal wear and tear.

JD Power ratings consistently remain above 80. The biggest complaint of customers is the dealership experience. They rank this experience in the low 70s regularly. This rating looks at factors such as customer service, work quality, and dealership facilities. For this reason, choose your dealer carefully to ensure a great experience all around.

According to CarEdge, you will spend approximately $6,896 on repairs and maintenance if you keep this vehicle for ten years. The site goes on to say the odds of needing a major repair, one that costs $500 or more, is slightly over 21 percent during the first ten years of car ownership. The risk of a major repair increases with each year you own the car. Factor this into the car buying process, and you will see the Kia Soul is an excellent deal, particularly in the first ten years you own it.

US News and World Reports places the 2024 Kia Soul at the top of the subcompact SUV category. While this vehicle isn’t perfect, it has a lot to recommend it. If you are in the market for a new SUV, this is one you want to check out.

Lifestyle, Tips

How To Keep Your Car Running On The Road With Few Troubles

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A car is an expensive asset to own. Whether you’re someone who has a Land Rover or a Vauxhall Corsa, they’re all going to provide a different degree of expense and that goes beyond simply paying for the car in the first place.

It’s not just the running costs but all the costs that come when you take it in for its annual service. Is it going to pass its MOT or are you going to need to shell out a lot of money? It’s a nail-biting moment for any household and an expense that simply cannot be avoided.

With that being said, it’s worth knowing what advice is best when it comes to keeping your car running on the road without too much trouble. Here are a few tips that might help you keep your costs down when it comes to maintaining your car this year and beyond.

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Drive it carefully

First and foremost, make sure to drive it carefully. This is important because if you’re not driving it carefully, then you’re likely to do more damage to it. It’s not just the threat of crashing it or crashing it into another car but how you use your car can cause financial costs you don’t want.

Overuse of the brake pads for example or going over potholes that could damage your tires and the alloys. These are all things that can be avoided if you’re driving it carefully.

Consider how you’re driving your car now and whether you’re doing everything you can do to avoid the costly repairs and fixes that might be needed when you drive too erratically or without caution.

Get it checked annually 

Getting your car checked annually is important, especially when it comes to the MOT servicing that you’re legally required to get. Otherwise, if you don’t, then you’re not allowed to run it on the road.

It’s good to get the date each year noted in your diary so that you can get it checked over by the garage every time something might need to be fixed or updated. You may be blissfully unaware that nothing is wrong and therefore you won’t realize how big the problem is until you get your car into the garage.

If anything is wrong before your MOT, get it taken in because chances are you might be able to save yourself some money in the meantime. 

Conduct the relevant car maintenance in a timely manner

Make sure that when it comes to your car’s maintenance, you’re doing it all in a timely manner. This is important because when there are problems with the car or certain tasks that need doing, like filling up the oil in your car’s engine, the longer you leave it, the more damage it could do.

There are some typical maintenance tasks that you should be doing on your car regularly to keep it in good condition. These include:

  • Check your engine oil levels
  • Change oils and filters regularly
  • Checking your fuel levels and don’t go too low in the tank
  • Checking your antifreeze levels
  • Check your brakes feel and perform the same

These are just some typical maintenance tasks that you’ll want to stay on top of in order to keep your car performing efficiently.

Start your car and leave the engine running briefly before moving

Before you start moving your car on the road, let the engine run briefly. This is important to do, especially if you’ve not used the car in a while or it’s a particularly cold day. That can often be a problem because when the battery or engine has been used or has been quite cold, it might have a few troubles running efficiently on the road as a result. 

When you first step into the car, start the ignition and leave the engine running for a couple of minutes. This will help give your car’s battery and engine time to warm up before you set off.

This is something you should do regardless of how short or long the drive ahead will be!

Avoid overpacking your car on trips

Overpacking your car on trips is never a good idea because the weight can make driving a lot more challenging. Not only do you have to ensure your car has a good grip on the road but that might influence how fast or how slow you’re able to go in order for it to remain safe.

Car packed with luggage, road trip, travel, vacation, maintenance

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When you overload your car, you’re also putting more pressure on the car itself and the heavier it is, the lower it will sit, meaning there’s a chance you might catch it on the road somehow.

Avoid overpacking where you can and always approach your packing with the attitude that if you feel you’ve got too much in the car, then you’ll want to remove some stuff before you leave.

Be aware of everyone on the road

It comes as no surprise or knowledge that there are more cars on the road than there were some thirty to fifty years ago. That does mean that you’ve got a lot more drivers to contend with and not all of them are going to be as talented on the road as others are.

Many may have developed bad habits and those bad habits are something that you don’t want to deal with when you’re trying to drive the best that you can. However, when it comes to driving, it’s important that you have eyes on the back of your head.

Be aware of everyone on the road so that you can ensure no accidents occur or that you’ve mitigated as much of the risk to you and your safety as possible while on the road. 

Have a good towing service on speed dial

Should anything happen where you can’t physically move your car because it may have broken down, always have a towing service on speed dial. These can be lifesavers, especially when you’re in a situation where it’s an emergency and you’re perhaps in the middle of nowhere with a broken-down car.

Keep your car running on the road with these top tips!

Lifestyle, Tips

A Step-By-Step Guide to Purchasing a Used BMW

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You already know what the brand stands for, and its strong reputation for quality and reliability is rightly influencing your decision to buy a used BMW.

When you search used BMW Phoenix, for example, you will find an impressive array of vehicles that are the epitome of what this iconic car maker stands for.

With such a wide selection of luxury cars to choose from, here are some tips on narrowing down your options and the steps to take when purchasing a used BMW.

Work out your budget

One of the first things you need to do is work out a realistic budget. Once you know how much you can afford to spend on buying a used BMW, including how much deposit you can offer and what monthly payments you can afford if you are taking out a finance deal, this will help guide you toward the models that fit your needs and meet your budget.

There are certain factors you need to account for when working out your budget. You need to remember that a sales tax might be applied to the total price. You will also have to pay interest on a car finance loan, which will add to the total cost.

Important finance tip – If you are going to apply for finance it would be a good idea to check your credit score before you fill in the forms. If your credit score is good, it might help you to negotiate a better car finance interest rate.

Find a suitable seller

It is all very well buying a used BMW from a private buyer but any potential cost saving could be wiped out if you subsequently discover that the vehicle is not in the condition you expect.

Buying your used BMW from a reputable dealer is usually a smart move. You get the assurance of a warranty if there are any issues, which is not something you get very often when you buy privately or from a car dealer that does not specialize in BMWs.

A good car dealer will want to uphold their reputation. That means you should get a certified pre-owned BMW that has been checked over thoroughly before being sold.

Compare prices

Some used BMWs will cost more than cars of a similar age. This price difference is usually influenced by things such as the condition of the vehicle, its service history, mileage, and whether there is a service history to check what work has been done.

Allowing for these key factors, it is always a good idea to check the estimated market value of a BMW model that you are interested in. You should also remember that the level of trim and the presence of additional features will also be influential when it comes to deciding what sort of price each BMW will be sold for.

Make sure you take a test drive and arrange to inspect the car at the same time. Ask your dealer as many questions as you want before agreeing to buy.

If you follow these steps you should be able to find a used BMW that ticks all the right boxes and gives you years of trouble-free motoring.