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When you are ready to get your first car or replace your existing car, one of the first decisions you have to make is whether you want to buy a new or used car.  Our Tampa Bay area Kia dealership offers both new and used Kia vehicles to buyers, and each person makes their decision based on how much they plan to spend on their car purchase, what kind of warranty they want, and how confident they are in used car maintenance needs.  Here are some considerations to help you make your decision between new or used Kia vehicles: Used Kia Vehicles Many drivers prefer used vehicles over new, since a new car loses so much of its value the second it is driven off the showroom floor.  Used Kia vehicles also make it possible for drivers to get more features and bells and whistles for less money – which helps people who want the technology but need to stick to a budget.  Buying a vehicle that is even just one year old can offer considerable savings over buying the same vehicle in the latest model.   If you decide to buy older used cars, you will want to keep in mind that while the price tag gets lower the older the vehicle is, you’ll also tend to have more maintenance issues with older vehicles.  If you’re not a do-it-yourselfer, having extensive car maintenance needs can result in having to pay more over the life of the car in repair expenses than if you had just purchased a newer car in the first place. New Kia Vehicles If buying your vehicle with a car loan, you’ll generally get a better interest rate when you buy a new car.  For people who will make a loan payment, many prefer a new car for the lower interest rate and because they’re going to make payments on the vehicle anyway, they figure they may as well go top of the line! Newer cars should not have any maintenance concerns beyond the typical oil and filter change for many years and miles – and if you do have problems, it will be covered under the warranty for three to five years or for so many miles.  New cars are good to go, while a used car may need a new battery soon after you buy it, brakes, rotors, transmission or other costly maintenance sooner – and more frequently.

Coming soon to our St. Petersburg Kia dealership in Florida are the all new, 2014 Kia Forte Sedan’s.  Previous models of Kia Forte vehicles were known for a loud engine, particularly at higher speeds, and a harsh suspension but both of these have been improved and the 2014 Kia Forte Sedan will feel like an entirely different car to those of you who have traveled in the previous models. Kia Forte Design Changes The Kia California Design Center created a new, streamlined design for the 2014 version of the compact, economy car.  The front of the vehicle has a more aggressive look, and a roof with an extreme slope followed by a short deck.  The appearance looks good – and offers a drag coefficient of .27 which offers great gas mileage. The interior of the Kia Forte has just slightly less space than it had previously, but the decrease is so minimal that the average driver or passenger would not notice.  The trunk space is larger than both the Ford Focus and Chevy Cruze vehicles, offering total volume of 14.9 cubic feet. Forte Models and Speeds The Kia Forte base model is an LX with a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine.  You have an option with the LX for a six-speed manual or an automatic; whereas the EX version is only available as a six-speed automatic.  The Kia Forte EX has a 2.0-liter, GDI four-cylinder.  The speed isn’t overly impressive with either model, especially since the transmission shifts so smoothly so you don’t really feel the speed, but what you will probably appreciate is the way the power is delivered to the front wheels in a smooth and quiet way. Interior Technology The Kia Forte offers the hands-free infotainment system standard on the EX model, with a 911 connect for emergencies and roadside assistance.  Your car receives maintenance notifications as they are needed, and you can connect with Siri, Twitter, and Pandora radio all free for the first 10 years or 100,000 miles. 2014 Kia Forte Pricing Official pricing has not yet been released, but The Kia Forte LX with a manual transmission, satellite radio, power windows and mirrors, and air-conditioning will run around $16,000 while the EX version with a back-up camera, cooled glovebox to keep your candy from melting, and a sliding center armrest will start around $19,000. You will find the new 2014 Kia Forte at our Florida Kia dealership around mid-March.

Car shopping is an exciting time, especially if you’re in the market for a new Kia.  An affordable car is at the top of just about every car buyer’s must-have list.  Here are some tips for saving money on a new Kia from our St. Petersburg Kia dealership in Florida, which should help you get the lowest possible price on your new car: Prepare and Get Your Homework Done The best part about car shopping is browsing the inventory of cars in our showroom but if you want to make educated decisions and get the best price, you will want to prepare and do your homework before you visit us.  Use online car forums to research what people are saying about the different Kia vehicles you’re interested in.  Reviews and comments from real people driving the vehicles can help you make a decision about which model will work best for your situation. You can also research price ranges of the different models of Kia vehicles so you have a better idea whether there may be negotiation room on the sticker price of cars you are interested in. Check Insurance Premiums Before You Buy When you are shopping for a new Kia, it’s a good idea to compare car insurance premiums for the different models you are interested in before you make your decision.  Insurance premiums vary depending on the type of car you drive, and in some cases the cost can vary drastically and may lead you to choose a car that is less expensive to insure to keep your ongoing expenses for car ownership down. Compare Car Financing Options If you are unable to buy a car from our St. Petersburg Kia dealership with cash of your own, chances are you are probably looking to get a car loan.  You have a variety of options when it comes to car financing, including getting a loan through our dealership financing, your own bank or credit union, or through another car loan lender.   Take a look at all of your options for financing the cost of a car.  You want to get the lowest possible interest rate on the loan, since this can save you hundreds or even thousands over the life of a car loan.  If you check several options for car loans in a two or three day period, it will only count as one inquiry on your credit report, since it is expected that car buyers would shop around to find the best deal.