Kia Cadenza: The New Face of Luxury

Our new model, the Kia Cadenza, has been a long time coming, and we couldn't be more excited. As Kia's first luxury vehicle, it hit the market with a bang. It's affordable prices, beautiful interior and exterior, and competitiveness within the luxury car market have all caught the eye of buyers and critics alike.

The 2014 Cadenza includes: 

• 3.3L Vx6 engine 
• Automatic transmission 
• Up to 19 cty/28 hwy mpg 
• Navigation System 
• Bluetooth 
• iPod input 
• Satellite radio 
• Side/Curtain Airbags 
• Stability Control 
• Traction Control 

Edmunds.com raves about the Cadenza saying, "The front-wheel-drive Cadenza is longer and wider than the Optima and essentially shares its platform with cousin Hyundai's Azera. As such, it packs a 3.3-liter V6 with 293 horsepower along with a six-speed automatic. Kia tweaked the steering and suspension to give it a more sporting personality than its relative. But this is still more a luxury cruiser than a sport sedan. And as we'd now expect from Kia, the Cadenza offers a wealth of standard and optional high-end features along with sharp styling that manages to make it stand apart from the crowd without looking strange."

If you want more features, Kia offers Premium and Technology packages:

• The Premium Package adds a panoramic sunroof, adaptive high-intensity-discharge headlights, a 7-inch screen in the instrument cluster, premium leather upholstery, heated front and rear outboard seats, a ventilated driver's seat with an extendable cushion and memory feature, a power-adjustable heated steering wheel, and a power rear sunshade. 

• With the Technology Package, the Cadenza comes with 19-inch wheels instead of 18-inch rims, an electric parking brake, adaptive cruise control with full-stop capability, a "water-repellant" windshield, a blind spot warning system, and a lane departure warning system.

We're very impressed with the Kia Cadenza, and so many others are too! It is quickly bringing a competitive, more affordable edge to the luxury car market. Are you impressed? Come in to test drive one TODAY (you will even automatically be entered to win a 2013 Kia Soul). And remember, next week for the 4th of July, all invoices are in the window! No haggle, no hassle, just rock bottom prices on Optimas, Rios, Souls, Sorentos, Sportages, and even Cadenzas!

Arrive Alive

I bet you never would have guessed that...

• One in three people will be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lifetime
• Almost every 90 seconds, a person is injured in a drunk driving crash
• In 2011, 9,878 people died in drunk driving crashes - one every 53 minutes
• An average drunk driver has driven drunk 80 times before first arrest
• Drunk driving costs each adult in this country almost $500 per year
• Drunk driving costs the United States $132 billion a year
• 50 to 75 percent of convicted drunk drivers continue to drive on a suspended license
• In 2010, 211 children were killed in drunk driving crashes. Out of those 211 deaths, 131 (62 percent) were riding with the drunk driver
• In fatal crashes in 2010, the highest percentage of drunk drivers was for drivers ages 21 to 24 (34 percent), followed by ages 25 to 34 (30 percent) and 35 to 44 (25 percent)
• About one-third of all drivers arrested or convicted of driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence of alcohol are repeat offenders
• The average person metabolizes alcohol at the rate of about one drink per hour. Only time will sober a person up. Drinking strong coffee, exercising or taking a cold shower will not help
• Buzzed driving IS drunk driving
• 90% of all drunk driving happens after drinking with family, friends, and coworkers. There is almost always somebody around who could be part of the solution. Don't let drunk driving happen right in front of you
• Drunk driving is responsible for approximately 27 deaths in the United States every day. That's 9855 preventable deaths every year

Prevent it...

• Take the SoberDriver's Pledge. Make a personal commitment to avoid driving drunk as well as to prevent drunk driving by helping others
• Call a cab
• Designate a driver
• Ask someone else to take you home
• Hide keys. Don't be afraid to take someone's car keys. If the person gets angry, it's probably proof you're doing the right thing

Keep Yourself (and Others!) Safe...

Law enforcement officials say there are several signs associated with drunk driving:

• Making wide turns
• Weaving, swerving, drifting, or straddling the center line
• Almost striking an object or vehicle
• Driving on the wrong side of the road
• Driving at a very slow speed
• Stopping without cause
• Braking erratically
• Responding slowly to traffic signals
• Turning abruptly or illegally
• Driving after dark with headlights off

Keeping these things in mind can help you avoid a dangerous situation. If you spot what you think is an impaired driver, keep a safe distance and call 9-1-1. Do not attempt to stop the vehicle yourself.

We love our Kia family and we want you to arrive alive every time! 

Texting and Driving: LOL to TTYL

Did You Know? 

• In 2011, over 23% of auto collisions involved cell phones? That's over 1.3 million crashes.
• Text messaging makes a crash up to 23x more likely.
• 13% of drivers 18-20 involved in car wrecks admitted to talking or texting on their mobile device at the time of the crash.
• Teens who text while driving spend approximately 10% of their driving time outside the lane.
• Forty percent of all American teens say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put people in danger.
• Sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent-at 55 mph-of driving the length of an entire football field, blind.

What Can You Do? 

• Give Clear Instructions - Give teen drivers simple, clear instructions not to use their wireless devices while driving. 
• Lead by Example - Children learn from their parent’s behavior. Be an example for your children and if you need to text or talk on the phone, pull over to a safe place.
• Become Informed and Be Active - Set rules for yourself and your household regarding distracted driving. Tell family, friends and organizations to which you belong about the importance of driving without distractions.
• Take the Pledge - Encourage your family, friends, co-workers, and community to take the pledge against texting and driving. 

5 Tips to Keep Your Car Driving Smoothly This Summer

1. Check Your Tires
Before hitting the road this summer, you can take several simple precautions to keep your family safe and save money at the pump. Did you know that under-inflated, over-inflated, worn down or misaligned tire can be extremely dangerous, particularly in hot summer weather? Use the penny trick to see if you still have enough tread on your tires. Stick a penny in the tread, and if Lincoln's head disappears, you're good. If your tires are not up to par, come in to see us and we will get you rolling in a new, SAFE set of tires.

2. Change Oil and Oil Filter
Is the summer heat making you thirsty? Your car could use a drink, too. Oil keeps hardworking engine parts running clean, smooth and cool. Most owners’ manuals suggest that you change your oil and oil filter every 7,500 miles (12,070 kilometers). Most of us do a lot of heavy driving during the summer when an engine is more likely to overheat so check your oil before you head out on that road trip with the family. To check your oil, let your car run for a few minutes, then park it on a level surface and shut off the engine. Open the hood and locate the oil dipstick. You're looking for two things: the level of oil and how the oil looks. If you're low on oil, you can either add another quart or change the oil completely. The oil should look brownish yellow and clean on the stick. If the oil is a dark color or there's a lot of dirt and grime in it, then you definitely need an oil change and oil filter replacement.

3. Check Hoses and Belts
The hoses connected to the radiator help pump coolant to and from the engine block, and the belts run the fan that helps cool the system further. If the hoses crack or the belts snap, the radiator will quickly overheat, leaving you stranded. Check hoses for cracks, leaks and loose connections. Hoses should be firm, never soft and malleable. The most vulnerable parts of the hose are those nearest to clamps where the hose connects to the radiator or the engine. Belts can also be visually checked for cracks and damage. Take note if the belt looks excessively slick or smooth. Remove the belt to make sure that the material hasn't started separating into different layers.

4. Check Your Brakes
Your brakes are the single most important safety feature on your car. Don't put yourself or your family at risk this summer by riding around on worn down or faulty brakes.Brakes need to be replaced when the lining on your brake pad or brake shoe is worn down. You can have your brake linings checked at any normal service shop or at a brake specialist.

 

Here are some signs that your brakes need to be checked:

• Your brake pedal becomes very soft and mushy
• Your brake pedal is very hard and resistant
• Your brake pedal rests too low or too high
• Indication or warning lights on the dashboard
• Loud and constant scraping and grinding sounds coming from the brakes

5. Check The Cooler and Radiator
The summertime is tough on cooling systems. Sitting in traffic on a hot day is one of the quickest ways to overheat your car. This is because there's no air flowing across the engine to help keep it cool. Check under the hood and make sure that your coolant levels are fine. The general rule is to flush your radiator and add new coolant at least every two years. Flushing the radiator is done with a special chemical that cleans debris and build-up on the inside of the radiator. For summer driving, coolant should be added as a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and water. You can even buy premixed coolant so you don't have to bother with the measurements. If you see a small puddle of coolant under your car when it's been parked for a while, then you have a coolant leak. Take it to the service station as soon as you can to get your system checked out.

Oasis Center for Girls's Car Wash

We here at Kia Autosport could not be more excited to host Oasis Center for Girls's car wash on June 21st from 11am-1pm. The car wash is part of Oasis's "Girls Can Do Anything" camp .The suggested donation is $5 per car, but any amount is welcome! All proceeds will go to charity.

 The Oasis Center for Girls is a nonprofit organization in Tallahassee whose mission is to "improve the lives of women and girls through celebration and support". They focus on personal, professional, and economic concerns facing women, girls and their families. In 2007 Oasis was created by women who believed in the vision of a general resource center for women and girls.

Their Girls Can Do Anything Summer Camp is designed to enhance leadership development, decision-making skills, self-esteem, and embrace how fun it is to be a girl! Come out on Friday, June 21st to support the amazing impact that Oasis is having on young girls' lives in our community.

The car wash is a great chance to not only come away with a squeaky clean car but also a full belly! June 21st is also Kia's monthly Employee Appreciation day, and we will be having a summer cookout with free food for everyone! You don't want to miss this fun day so come out and see us for free food, a car wash for charity, and a look at our brand new Kia Cadenza!