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Kia History from St. Petersburg Kia Dealer

Kia has a long and interesting history as an automobile manufacturer. In fact, Kia was founded in 1944 in Korea, and was called Kia Motors Corporation. In Korean, Kia means “to arise to the world from Asia”. The modern company of Kia is part of Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, with dealerships all over the world – including your St. Petersburg Kia dealer in Florida. American Kia vehicles are sold under the brand name of Kia Motors America (KMA). Kia is Worldwide Kia is found all over the world, with more than 1.5 million Kia vehicles produced each year in over 13 manufacturing facilities located in 8 countries. There are Kia dealerships selling vehicles in 172 different countries. Kia Motors America In 1992, Kia Motors America was incorporated. They opened their first 4 dealerships in Oregon and began with the Kia Sephia. Soon after, Kia Sportage was introduced. Every year, Kia grew and dealerships were added in other states and by 1995, there were over 100 Kia dealerships in 30 states. Financial Troubles for Kia Asia experienced a financial crises in 1997, and it was during this time that Kia declared bankruptcy. Hyundai Motor Company purchased 51% of the company, winning in a bidding war with Ford Motor Company who had owned part of Kia since 1986 but Hyundai won out and took over in 1998. Over the years that followed, Kia recovered financially and Hyundai now owns less than half ownership of Kia. Design Improvements Fuel Growth for Kia In 2006, Kia decided they needed some new designs if they were going to continue to grow and succeed in the marketplace. They brought in a new Chief Design Officer who had won awards for his previous designs in Germany working for Volkswagen and Audi. Peter Schreyer began working with Kia in 2006 and oversaw design activities in Kia design centers located in Los Angeles, Tokyo, Germany and Korea. He was instrumental in the new look for Kia, and the establishment of the signature Kia look, the brand that is easily recognized by the “tiger nose” design of the front end of Kia vehicles. Test Drive Kia Vehicles You can learn more about any of our Kia vehicles and take them for a test drive to find the one that matches your needs perfectly. Visit your St. Petersburg Kia dealership for a test drive appointment or to learn more about Kia.
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Preparing to Use Dealer Financing From Largo Area Kia Dealers

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!

Largo Area Kia Compares the 2013 Kia Sportage with the 2014 Kia Sorento

Both the 2013 Kia Sportage and the 2014 Kia Sorento are in the crossover class of vehicles.  They have a number of similarities and differences which should help you choose between them based on your individual needs for a vehicle.  Here is what you need to know about the two crossover vehicles that each seat 5 passengers from your Largo area Kia dealer: more Standard Features The 2013 Kia Sportage and 2014 Kia Sorento have a lot of standard features in common – meaning the features are included in the base price for both vehicles.  Regardless of which vehicle you decide to buy, you will have the following safety and technology features: Multiple airbags (driver, passenger, front side, and side curtain airbags) Front active headrests Adjustable front seatbelt anchors to fit all heights Brake assist system and 4 wheel ABS brakes Child safety locks Tire pressure monitoring system Electronic stability control Traction control system Hill assist control Side guard door beams Automatic headlights Intermittent wipers, rear wiper and rear window defogger Power adjustable rearview mirrors Both vehicles also include the same warranty coverage, with a 60 month/60,000 mile basic warranty.  Also included is a 120 month/100,000 mile Powertrain warranty, and a 60 month/100,000 mile anti-corrosion warranty Slight Differences Between Sorento and Sportage While many of the standard features are the same on the 2014 Kia Sorteno and 2013 Kia Sportage, there are a few items which are only available on the 2014 Kia Sorento EX V6 AWD.  If you want the following optional features, you will need to go with the Sorento and upgrade the features: Power driver’s seat with memory settings Exterior mirrors with memory settings Third row seating Power and Performance Another difference to expect between the 2014 Sorento and 2013 Sportage is in the power and performance.  The Sorento has a 3.3 liter, V6 engine while the Sportage has a 2.4 liter, 4 cylinder engine. The Sorento gets an average of 18 miles per gallon fuel efficiency in the city and 24 miles per gallon on the highway while the Sportage stretches your gasoline budget to 20 miles per gallon in the city and 27 miles per gallon on the highway. The price tag between the two vehicles is slightly different to reflect the available features and differences.  The 2014 Kia Sorento EX V6 AWD base price is $31,800 while the 2013 Kia Sportage EX AWD base price is $25,700.

Used Kia Vehicles Under $12,000 at a Clearwater Area Kia Dealership

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.