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If you intend to buy a car using dealership financing from Largo area Kia dealers, you will want to take a few steps to prepare for loan approval.  From understanding your car shopping budget to checking your credit score and getting pre-approved for a loan, there are a number of things you can do to improve your chances of getting approved for dealership financing: more Understanding Car Loan Options To ensure you are making a good decision about your car loan it is important that you understand the basic finance terms and requirements before you sign a contract for a car loan.  It will give you the knowledge needed to negotiate your loan terms and get the best deal for your situation.  Here are a few of the basics you should arm yourself with before going to the dealership: The car loan “term” is the number of months you will make loan payments. The “principal” is the amount of the loan needed to buy the car. The “interest” is how much you will pay the lender for the privilege of borrowing money. (often referred to as APR) Total loan amount is the principal and interest together at the end of the loan term. Get Pre-Approval For a Loan You can figure out what kind of buying power you have by filling out an online application for pre-approval.  Pre-approval is a good way to find out what your credit is like, if you aren’t sure whether you have good credit or not.  If you are pre-approved, you can come into the dealership with confidence to find a car and use our dealership financing.  If you are not approved, you can spend some time improving your credit score or figuring out an alternative method for buying your next car. Benefits Of Dealership Financing Many people prefer dealership financing over other sources of car loans because it makes it a “one stop shop” experience for buying a car.  You visit our St. Petersburg Kia dealership, choose a car, and fill out your loan paperwork at the same location.  You can often drive the car home on the same day.  The dealership financing department works with multiple lenders and can often find you a good deal even if other lenders have turned you down.  Stop in to see us and we’ll see what we can do to help you out!

Not everyone is in the market for a brand new car.  Whether you prefer pre-owned cars to avoid the potential problems with depreciation or you simply have a smaller car shopping budget, shopping for used cars at our Clearwater area Kia dealership is an enjoyable and rewarding experience.  Here are several vehicles currently on the lot with a price tag under $12,000: more 2009 Kia Rio LX The 2009 Kia Rio LX is a four door vehicle with a 1.6 liter, 4 cylinder engine.  It has 50,287 miles on it and is available for $10,000.  The car comes with AM/FM radio, CD player, MP3 and SIRIUS audio system, has air conditioning, dual power heated mirrors, and a power package (power windows, seats).  The 2009 Kia Rio LX has gone through a 101 point safety inspection and is a certified used car. 2009 Kia Sportage LX If you’re in the market for a pre-owned SUV, the 2009 Kia Sportage LX is a 2.0 liter, 4 cylinder engine, manual transmission, and is available for $10,500.  The vehicle has 78,106 miles and is a black cherry exterior color with a beige interior. 2008 Kia Rondo EX Kia’s station wagon, the 2008 Kia Rondo EX has a 2.7 liter, six cylinder engine with an automatic transmission.  This pre-owned car is volcanic red on the exterior and beige on the interior, has just 11,721 miles on it, and is available for $11,995. 2006 Kia Sedona LX Need a mini-van under $12,000?  There is currently a 2006 Kia Sedona LX mini-van at St. Petersburg Kia.  It has a 3.8 liter, six cylinder engine and automatic transmission.  It is white and has 46,929 miles on it.  The mini-van is listed at $9,295. 2004 Kia Sorento EX A sport utility vehicle, the 2004 Kia Sorento EX has a 3.5 liter, 6 cylinder engine and an automatic transmission.  This pre-owned vehicle is an ice-blue color and has 75,784 miles on it.  It’s listed at $9,295. The Crown Kia Confidence Plan You can buy a pre-owned Kia with confidence under the Crown Kia Confidence plan.  Pre-owned vehicles go through a 101 point inspection.  You receive a Carfax report and are guaranteed a clean title.  Each Kia under the plan has a powertrain warranty up to 100,000 miles and we list the vehicle at the current live market pricing so you don’t have to worry about playing pricing games.  Drive a pre-owned car home and if you aren’t completely satisfied with your purchase within 7 days or 500 miles, you can exchange it without hassle.

People are always on the lookout for the best deals and lowest prices whether it comes to our groceries to car shopping or car maintenance services.  It’s often true that you get what you pay for, and sometimes the lowest price is not going to provide you the most comprehensive service when it comes to car maintenance.  Our St. Petersburg Kia service department focuses on providing high-quality, long term and affordable car maintenance for our customers – helping you avoid repeat visits for service. more Using Cheap and Low Quality Parts Cause More Expensive Problems Some car maintenance service and repair shops find and buy the most inexpensive, non-factory parts they can to help keep their expenses down.  While they will probably quote you a lower price than a service center using factory auto parts, it’s important to keep in mind that cheap, non-factory auto parts can literally cause expensive damages over the long term.  Generic auto parts may not fit your vehicle exactly right which can cause new problems in your vehicle’s engine.  Factory auto parts may cost a little more to buy, but you can rest assured they are designed specifically for your Kia and will save you money over the long term as you will not be creating new problems with ill-fitting parts. Cheaper Car Maintenance Quotes May Result in Uncertified Mechanics Another reason some car maintenance service and repair centers can offer lower quotes is due to their employees having a lack of credentials.  If employees of a service center are not ASE certified, they can generally charge less for the time spent diagnosis and fixing your vehicle since they aren’t paying for the insurance coverage of their employees.  What you may not realize is a mechanic without certification may take longer to figure out what is wrong with the vehicle, and take longer to repair it – costing you more hours than you would pay for a knowledgeable, ASE certified technician.  The technicians at our Florida Kia dealership are certified and offer quality customer service. Updated and Quality Technology Our St. Petersburg Kia dealership invests in the latest technology and equipment to help our service technicians diagnose and fix your vehicle.  This helps keeps your costs down and ensures you get high quality service.  Some service and repair centers minimize their own costs by using outdated technology or older equipment leading to misdiagnosing your vehicle and repeat repair needs.

Many drivers experience aggressive feelings when behind the wheel, which can lead to overly aggressive driving habits that put themselves, their passengers, and everyone else on the road in danger.  Some aggressive driving habits include road rage, tailgating and speeding.  If you are guilty of these habits, you may want to take a closer look at your driving and minimize your need for an overly aggressive driving style to increase safety. Pinellas Park area Kia offers the following advice about common aggressive driving habits: more Road Rage With roads becoming increasingly more populated as time goes by the chance that someone will react with anger to another driver's actions is not entirely unpredictable.  Unfortunately, these reactions can lead to situations that can endanger the health and well being of one or more of the drivers involved or even to innocent pedestrians in the wrong place at the wrong time.   Road rage can be detrimental to the drivers' health even if no direct interaction occurs.  Acute stress often occurs in these times and can lead to chronic stress which often leads to negative health outcomes including heart problems.  Exercising calmness and rational thought at these times can save on from a great deal of future problems.  Learn deep breathing exercises and use them when you feel angry at another person’s driving.  If you must, pull off the road and calm down before you experience road rage and make risky driving decisions. Tailgating Following other cars too closely can be a major traffic safety issue.  Leaving little room to change lanes, feeling pressured by other vehicles to exceed the posted speed limits, and driving out of a range that feels safe are just a few of the dangers.  The risk for rear-ending accidents are increased when people are tailgating.  All of these stressful conditions can lead to the negative health outcomes discussed above.   One of the rules followed by many and suggested by some drivers education textbooks is the “2-second rule”.  This means being two seconds behind the person in front of you that would be reached at current speeds and being two seconds in front of the person behind you, speeds being the same. Speeding Not only is speeding against the law but it also a risky activity that can endanger fellow drivers around you.  Some people just drive faster than the speed limit at all times, to the point that it becomes a normal activity for them.  Regardless of the reason there are steps that people can do to stop the practice of speeding: Train yourself to be more aware of the speedometer. Those who are conscious of how fast they are going at all times tend to speed less. Use cruise control if your car is equipped with it. Drive under the speed limit. Most times this will not lengthen commute time to any real degree and it adds safety. Leave early for your destination so that you do not feel “rushed” to get there.

New safety features are developed with each new release of a vehicle.  One of the common, modern safety features found on Kia vehicles includes stability control.  Stability control is designed to improve handling of a vehicle for the driver in the event the vehicle starts sliding or skidding on the road.  If you’re interested in learning more about this safety feature, visit Kia near Clearwater and talk with one of our knowledgeable sales or service team members. more How Stability Control Works There are a collection of sensors around the wheels and on various places of the vehicle which “talk” to the central computer and indicate when the vehicle starts going off course.  The stability control feature examines information from each of the sensors and the input from the steering wheel to determine whether there are problems.  If needed, stability control can apply anti-lock brakes to one or more wheels automatically to help keep the driver in control of the vehicle. Benefits of Electronic Stability Control Statistics compiled by the government show us that single vehicle crashes have decreased by 34% for cars and as much as 59% for SUVs since electronic stability control has been installed on vehicles.  International studies indicate that electronic stability control is effective in helping a driver maintain control of an automobile, thus saving lives and reducing injury.  The lower death and injury rates experienced on the roads make us all safer on the roads. Difference Between Traction Control and Stability Control Stability and traction control is not the same safety feature.  Stability control senses wheelslip and lessens the power of the engine pushing the car or applies brakes to stop it while traction control does not to alter the vehicle's course as electronic stability control does.   It is important to note that stability control does not prevent the driver from losing control of the car in every situation.  Factors such as slick roads, improperly inflated tires, or improperly warn tires can easily lead to losing control of the direction and/or speed of a vehicle.  This is why it is very important to be aware of upcoming weather conditions.   Vehicle stability control is generally unobtrusive and virtually invisible to the driver of the car.  Even when the braking does occur it is not normally noticeable to any great extent.  When stability control is used, it generally happens without the driver even noticing.  This is beneficial since the driver won’t be over-compensating for the situation and increasing the likelihood of losing control of their vehicle.

The 2014 Kia Sedona EX is a modern minivan designed to meet the family traveler. While minivans may seem to be everywhere, quality automobiles like the 2014 Kia Sedona EX contain all of the features and benefits that make minivans so popular.  It has a very high level of family-toting efficiency which more than makes up for the lower miles per gallon rating of this vehicle than some of the compact models.  If you can’t fit your family and your belongings into a compact car, it’s time to look at larger vehicles like minivans.  If you are interested in test driving the 2014 Kia Sedona EX or wish to know more about it, visit our Largo area Kia dealership. 2014 Kia Sedona EX Appearance And Features The gray interior is a great match for the platinum graphite color of the outside of the car.  It has all of the roominess of this minivan's predecessors.  It seats seven people as well as offering an impressive 32.3 cubic feet of cargo space.   The 2014 Kia Sedona EX includes 17 inch multi-spoke wheels, leather-trimmed seats, and automatic climate control as standard options.  It also includes standard fog lamps and LED positioning lights.  The 2014 Kia Sedona EX has undergone a few design changes for its latest model, including a reworked bumper and grill.  There is a full sunroof.   On the inside of the car are individual storing units for iPads and tablet PC's to help keep each of your passengers organized and comfortable.  As well, this car comes with leather upholstery, an upgraded sound system, and a trip computer with a compass. Performance and Power The 3.5 liter v6 engine generates 269 horsepower.  This will lead to enough power when you need it to get out of tough situations while driving on the road.  It produces 246 lb-ft of torque.  The 2014 Kia Sedona EX offers average fuel efficiency for minivans, with 17 miles per gallon in the city and 24 miles per gallon on the highway.   The minivan provides a smooth ride, even when taking into consideration the size of the vehicle.  All of this is important when carrying loved ones as passengers. Visit our Largo Area Kia Dealership Stop by our Kia dealership near Largo and experience the 2014 Kia Sedona EX for yourself!  The best way to figure out if a car is going to meet your needs for transportation is to test drive a few you are interested in.  Think about how you will use your vehicle most often, and make sure you have enough room for passengers, sports equipment, luggage or anything else you tend to travel with frequently.

We are proud to offer you the 2014 Kia Cadenza Premium!  It answers the call of drivers everywhere for a larger sedan to fill family and other personal needs.  There is plenty of room for the safe transport of children to and from lessons, school or vacations.  Your adult passengers will enjoy plenty of leg room and a comfortable ride.  If you are interested in test driving the 2014 Kia Cadenza Premium, or wish to know more about it, visit our Tampa Bay area Kia dealership. 2014 Kia Cadenza Premium Appearance and Features The beige interior is roomy enough for any family outing or travel planned.  It is also a nice effect with the snow white pearl color of the outside of the car.  While it is very roomy and has a great deal of storage capacity inside of it, it is not what immediately comes to mind when you imagine a bulky family car.  Instead, the 2014 Kia Cadenza Premium has been designed with roomy functionality in mind.   The seats are ideal for long road trips, thanks to the heated seat functioning. The 2014 Kia Cadenza Premium also has a sunroof for when you just want to be closer to the outside.  For the sake of the safety of you and your family this car comes with a rear view camera, rear park assist, and front and rear side airbags. Performance and Power The Kia Cadenza Premium's 3.3 liter V6 engine generates 293 horsepower giving plenty of power clearance for one to keep their families and loved ones safe during trying times on the road.  The 6 speed automatic transmission leads to smooth acceleration and deceleration when the situation requires it.  The engine offers just enough power to feel strong on the roads, but not so much you are tempted to drive recklessly! Visit Our Tampa Bay area Kia Dealership The best way to find out whether or not a car will meet your family’s needs is to visit a local Tampa Bay area Kia dealership, like Crown Kia, and sit inside the vehicle’s you are interested in.  Driving the car around town will give you the best impression and help you make a decision as to which car meets your needs and for the price you are prepared to pay.  Schedule an appointment or just drop by the dealership to test drive a 2014 Kia Cadenza or any other vehicle on our lot.

Our St. Petersburg Kia Dealership is proud to offer you the 2014 Kia Forte EX!  This automobile is our answer to the growing consumer need for cars to be extremely fuel efficient while maintaining all the features and accessories found in larger automobiles.  The need for cars that fall into the compact rang yet still meet the desire for midsize comfort benefits has been achieved with the 2014 Kia Forte EX.  Not only is this automobile well priced and fuel efficient but offers amenities and features only often offered by bigger cars.  If you are interested in test driving this vehicle or wish to know more about it, visit our dealership. 2014 Kia Forte Appearance and Features This vehicle is roomy inside with a gray interior.  It also has well designed consoles made to not interfere with interior movement. It includes full electronic view of the rear of the vehicle from the driver's seat with a backup camera system for added safety.  Many car accidents are the result of blind spots directly behind the vehicle, and a backup camera can eliminate the blind spot.   For additional safety, the 2014 Kia Forte comes with 6 airbags, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, and a tire pressure monitoring system.  Also featured is Flex Steer which allows the driver to switch between levels of assisted levels of steering offered by the car. Performance and Power The Forte's 2.0 liter 4 cylinder engine generates 173 horsepower, giving it enough power to get out of situations that might arise on the road.  This is helped by the passing power that is created by 6-speed automatic transmission system.  You won’t get stuck behind a slow moving vehicle, again!  This amount of power is still delivered without creating any amount of reasonable sound inside the car.   The Kia Forte gets 28 miles per gallon of fuel consumption, which helps you save some money compared to vehicles that get fewer miles per gallon. Visit St. Petersburg Kia All of these features only add to the efficiency and comfort of the Kia Forte design.  It is a thing that should be seen by you in person!  If you want to come give this car a closer look or take the car for a test drive to see if it meets your needs for your next vehicle, feel free to come by our St. Petersburg Kia Dealership. You can look at the vehicle yourself and have any number of questions answered by any of our knowledgeable and courteous staff.

Even if you aren’t a die-hard do it yourself type, there are a number of basic car maintenance tasks that you can probably do yourself.  When you do your own car maintenance, you can save some money and not have to worry about finding a mechanic available when it works for your busy schedule.  For maintenance tasks that are too difficult for you to manage on your own, you can always call your Florida Kia service department and schedule an appointment.  Here are some tips for tasks you can probably do on your own: Common Car Maintenance People Can Often Do Themselves There are some car maintenance tasks that you can do with little or no experience if you take the time to review the instructions or even a “how to” video online.  Here is a short list of possible projects you could do yourself to save money and gain car maintenance experience: Replacing Windshield Wipers - If the rubber pieces on your windshield wipers are starting to show wear and tear, or the wipers are not keeping your windshield clear when it rains or snows, it is time to replace the wipers.  Purchase the correct wipers for your car, and then follow the instructions to replace them. Check Tire Pressure – if you have a vehicle that doesn’t tell you what your tire pressure is in the dashboard information center, then get a tire gauge.  You can check the pressure in your tires whenever it seems low and add air as necessary. Replacing Car Battery – all car batteries eventually need to be replaced.  You can disconnect and remove the old battery and just slide a new one into position and reconnect.  Just pay attention to disconnect and reconnect in the proper order: remove negative battery cable first when taking out the old battery and when you reconnect the new battery, start with the positive cable. Be Prepared with a Car Maintenance Kit If you plan to start doing some of your own car maintenance, you should put together a car maintenance kit so you have the necessary supplies when you need them.  It’s very frustrating to start a project only to discover you need to go to the auto parts supply store before you can do the work.   Here’s a list of items to keep in your car maintenance kit, so you are ready for most do-it-yourself jobs you might come across: Multiple wrenches in various sizes and/or an adjustable wrench Various sizes of screwdrivers, Phillips and flat Tire pressure gauge Pliers Jumper cables and/or a jumper box Work gloves to protect your hands Dry and clean rags

The 2013 Kia Rio is a subcompact car that doesn’t sacrifice style or equipment in exchange for its tiny size.  You can fit three passengers comfortably despite its small size, and you’ll appreciate the exceptional fuel efficiency of this vehicle.  To increase fuel efficiency even more, you can upgrade to the automatic stop and start technology.  In addition to fuel efficiency and comfort, the Kia Rio has performed well in various safety ratings and offers top of the line safety features to keep you and your family safe on the roads.  Your Largo area Kia dealer discusses the 2013 Kia Rio safety ratings and features: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Ratings The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) provides safety ratings for vehicles based on how they perform in high speed front and side crash tests.  They are an independent, educational and nonprofit organization that is on a mission to reduce deaths and injuries from car crashes in the United States. The ratings can be “good”, “acceptable”, “marginal” or “poor”.  The 2013 Kia Rio receives the following performance ratings: Right Leg/foot:  good Left Leg/foot: good Restraints: good Overall front: good Chest: good Structure/safety cage: good 2013 Kia Rio Safety Features The following safety features are included on the 2013 Kia Rio: Anti-lock brakes: if the tires stop rotating with the brakes pressed, the anti-lock brake system will engage and modulate the pressure on the brakes that allow the tires to rotate while slowing down.  This gives the driver more ability to maintain control and turn the car while braking and prevents uncontrollable slides caused by locking brakes. Stability control: if the handling limits of the Kia Rio have been exceeded, the stability control system will kick in and reduce power to the engine or apply brakes to help prevent the loss of control of the vehicle. Front-impact airbags: the driver and passenger’s heads are protected in the front seats with front airbags that engage when accidents involve the front of the vehicle. Side impact airbags: the driver and passenger will be protected from side impact accidents with airbags that protect the torso. Overhead airbags: airbags above the head will engage if the car is hit from the side or is involved in a rollover accident to help protect the driver and passenger’s heads. Seatbelt pretensioners: when necessary, the seatbelts will automatically tighten around the driver or passengers to ensure the individual is seated correctly to prevent injury during a collision. Anti-whiplash head restraints: the heads of the driver and passenger will be protected by anti-whiplash head restraints when the car is hit from behind to reduce the potential for whiplash injuries.

When the Kia Optima was redesigned in 2011 it was considered one of the best looking vehicles in the mid-size sedan class!  The 2013 Kia Optima maintains the sophisticated appearance and offers improved handling and new drivetrains.  If you are interested in test driving the 2013 Kia Optima or learning more about its features, visit your St. Petersburg Kia dealership. 2013 Kia Optima Interior Features and Appearance Inside, the Kia Optima has a classic appearance and a wide rectangular control area slightly turned toward the driver for ease of reach and use.  It has a somewhat minimalist appearance, like a cockpit almost. The backseat can fit three people, although watch your head getting in and out as the slope of the roofline can be a challenge for some passengers.  If you want to make your ride even more comfortable, you can upgrade to heated front and back seats. Performance and Power All versions of the 2013 Kia Optima have a four-cylinder engine, but the different versions each offer something different for different types of drivers. The base model offers a 2.4 liter, 4 cylinder engine with direct injection.  It provides 200 hp and rides quietly.  You can choose a 6 speed automatic or 6 speed manual. The 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid combines the 4 cylinder engine with an electric motor and battery. All powertrains provide at least 33 miles per gallon in turbos on the highway, with the hybrid reaching 39 miles per gallon. With any engine option for the Kia Optima you will have a smooth ride that handles well, and the suspension offers a quick and lively feel as you navigate the roads. Features and Options In addition to the possible heated front and back seats, you can also choose to add a rearview camera if you would like to decrease your blind spots when backing up.  All 2013 Kia Optima vehicles come with a Bluetooth interface as a standard option, along with power features, satellite radio, a USB port and cruise control. The EX trim level adds dual-zone climate control and a smart-key system.  At this trim level, you have the option of leather trimmed seats, Infinity audio and a panoramic sunroof. Visit St. Petersburg Kia If you want to see the 2013 Kia Optima for yourself or even take it for a test drive to see whether or not it will reach your needs – stop by our St. Petersburg Kia dealership.  The best way to find out if a car is for you is to drive it.

The majority of US teenagers cannot wait until they are old enough to get behind the steering wheel.  They see driving as their ticket to freedom.  The parents of teenagers, on the other hand, often dread the day when their baby is old enough to drive around town on their own and are concerned for their safety.  Parents are also torn over whether or not their teenager should pay for their own car and insurance, or if they should pay for it for them.  Your Pinellas Park area Kia dealership offers the following advice for keeping teenagers safe on the roads and what to do about cars and insurance: Safety Starts With Good Examples If you want your teenagers to make good decisions when it is their turn to drive, you need to make safe driving decisions when they’re in the car with you.  They are watching and learning driving habits long before they’re old enough to drive themselves, even if you think they aren’t paying attention.  Don’t use your cell phone while driving, don’t experience road rage, and obey speed limits and driving laws if you hope your teenagers will do the same. Driving Practice Don’t send your teenagers out on the road without adequate driving practice.  It is only by experiencing different driving situations that they learn what to do in those situations.  Have your teenager drive with you in the car as often as you can before they get their license or have permission to drive alone, so you can point out what they’re doing correctly and what they need to improve.  Try to give your teenager experience driving on country roads, in the city, on the highway, and have them practice parking, three-point turns, and backing up. If your schedule doesn’t allow for a lot of time driving with your teenager, enroll them in a driving course so they get to drive with an experienced driver. Cars and Car Insurance for Teenagers Some parents want their teenagers to learn financial responsibility and feel the car and car insurance is a good place to start.  Others feel they will have their entire adult lives to worry about finances and that they should provide the car and insurance for the teenager.  Regardless of the decision you make, keep in mind that many car insurance companies will provide discounts to students who demonstrate good grades.  While having your teen pay for his or her own insurance and/or car can be a good life-lesson, the disadvantage is it will require your teenager to work and the part time job around school hours may interfere with their ability to participate in sports or extracurriculars often necessary for college admissions.