Do you have a KIA Soul? How do you like it?

[In_The_Wind]

I think Mr. I_T_W's pickup truck may be beyond reasonable repairs. In addition to needing a major brake job the crossmember chassis support is rusted through and needs replacement. The gas line is rusty.

We've done a lot $$$ of repairs on this 2001 Chevy Silverado.
Last week we had it flat-bedded to our old mechanic after the local repair shop said the brake job would cost over $1,000.

We will need to do some serious adjusting our budget for the next 66 months if we buy a new car but I won't have to worry about him every time he backs out of the driveway.

Between the towing (over and above the AAA limit) and the estimate from the shop we won't be using (cha ching) we are already out over $100.

[femmocrat]

1. We had two of them for six years total.

My son had one too. Here is their review: They are great little cars, no complaints about maintenance, etc. Gas milage on the highway was about 26 mph. Lots of room in the back for your "stuff.'' You will be amazed at how much you can get into them. Only (minor) complaint was that it wasn't super comfy on long trips. It drives a little "stiff" and after about 4 hrs, you can get tired. But perfect for short trips or commuting.

Hope that helps. I have an SUV, and we could actually get more large items into the back of the Soul. Also, they don't come in all-wheel drive, only front-wheel, which might be a consideration in NY. We're in western PA and never had any trouble going in the snow.

[In_The_Wind]

2. Your answer helps a lot. I believe he has driven a front-wheel drive in winter before.

If it looks like bad weather I can drive him to work in my 4WD Tracker. It's old but I've managed to put over 223,000 miles on it with few complaints.

We have too many birds to leave home for long trips these days. Love the birds, miss traveling down the Jersey shore for lunch. Oh well. With a new car I'll enjoy one more basket of deep-fried seafood while watching seagulls beg for scraps.

My main concern is safety. I believe the pickup may actually fall apart while he is driving. I hear clunks in the car and worry, he is blissfully unaware.

Again, thank you!

[whistler162]

4. Sister-in-law has had 2

and drives about 30 miles one way to work in Central NY. My brother puts snow tires on during the winter. She has hit 3 or 4 deer's with the first and the only major problem I know of was a leaky sun roof, why you get a sun roof in Central NY I have no idea.

You could look for off lease vehicles or dealer certified preowned.

Me I have a Subaru XV and love it in winter with AWD and snow tires, also drive 30 miles and get 29-31 MPG out of it.

[In_The_Wind]

5. We left a deposit on a dealer certified preowned 2013 KIA Soul.

The credit application should be approved tomorrow morning.

It's going to be so much fun driving 50 miles ( in lake-effect snow ) to unload all of Mr. I_T_W's stuff out of the pickup tomorrow. We also need the tags off the pickup before Kia's tow truck hauls it away.

Snow tires sounds like a must here in the Hudson Valley.

[LoveMyCali]

6. I think he'll be happy with it

I've had mine since 2014 and I love it. It's fun to drive but not bad in snow (I live in the foothills of the Adirondacks) and is good on gas and has plenty of room.

Hope you like yours as much as I like mine.

[whistler162]

7. Snows will be a good asset

well last year not so much.

Just remember even with snows cars have four main issues in winter weather. The driver on the righ , the driver on the left, the driver in front, and the driver behind.

[politicat]

3. I've had one since 2010.

I have been really happy with it. I have about 60k on it, and I haven't had any issues that weren't recalls. (The rear window wiper can get squeaky; the AC compressor in the early models needed to be swapped.)

It's perfectly comfortable for me, at 5'3", and is my "daily" driver. (I don't drive daily; I work from home.) My 6'3" spouse found the legroom a bit cramped, especially in the front passenger seat. His knees are too close to the glovebox. We had the seat mount moved back an inch, which was not cheap and not really worth it. Head, hip and shoulder room are fine. My late grandmother, who had mobility issues, found it easy to get into and out of the front passenger seat -- much easier than her HHR. Her walker, then her wheelchair, always fit fine. When we had a wheelchair in, we could only carry one other passenger, in the back smaller seat. The split back seat is extremely useful. I am comfortable in it for long trips, and had to make several between the Midwest and the Rockies; if Spouse and I both need to go, we either take his car or the train and rent.

With seats down, it has gobs of carrying capacity -- half an Ikea kitchen, including countertop. It also parks anywhere, thanks to the short wheel base.

I get 28 to 31 mpg, but I drive conservatively and am very good on maintenance. I have never gotten it stuck in snow, and the traction control is very good, even in the high Rockies. I have not gone off-road -- bad for car and ground. It does have a timing belt, rather than a chain, so make sure it gets replaced between 50K and 60K miles. Kia offers some really good maintenance packages if you buy new/certified used from a K dealer; they are worth the money.

Downsides: it has fairly big blind spots at 4:30 and 7:30 because of the large pillars. You have to be obsessive about using all three mirrors and checking over shoulder. Because the rear window is more or less vertical, it gets FILTHY and rain easily obscures it without the wiper. That wiper does not have variable intermittent on mine, so figuring out the speed can be delicate. High speed is not its strongest suit. It really is happiest when its green ECO light is showing, so if you're trying to pass while climbing a hill.... not so much. If your local driving culture teaches that freeway speed limits are lower limit suggestions, you may find yourself frustrated with the acceleration, pickup and mileage, because it gets noticeably less efficient above 70 MPH. (I actually ran this experiment, driving across Kansas. If I kept it in the green, 31-32 mpg. If I went 75-80, 27-28 mpg.) The high, square profile means high wind (40+ mph) can get uncomfortable. If you like to drive with windows down... I'd suggest something else. It gets an airflow reverb that hits my ears badly. At 60K, mine's door/window seals and sound-barrier are getting less efficient so the drive has gotten more white-noisy. The interior finish is plastic, some of the plastics will show scratches and dust.

But those downsides do not change my recommendation. I have been really happy. I wanted a Honda Element, but those were not available when I bought my Soul.

[In_The_Wind]

8. Finally ... We gots us a Soul!

Well, almost. We will be picking up our Soul on Friday afternoon.

Thanks for sharing your Soul story with us. We'll keep it under 70 MPH most times.

[politicat]

9. Congratulations! Enjoy it!

They are fun. (Especially if yours has the interior lights kits. Music is fun when you're in your own private dance party.) And extremely reliable, and Kia has been really great on service and customer care. They're in this for the long haul, and they do treat their workers very well.

ETA: Also, have fun with the puns. It can get really silly. I bought my soul, wanna trade souls? Sell a soul?

[Yurovsky]

10. My niece has one...

She's a band teacher, -Lefty of room for hauling instruments and such. Good mileage, nice stereo!

She's really happy with it.

[mexit]

11. Knock. Knock.

could we talk to you about our Lord and Savior and his plan for your infernal KIA Soul?

[In_The_Wind]

12. No, we cannot! However ... Welcome to DU, mexit. Hope you enjoy your stay.

[mexit]

13. Thanks

but its just Ashling

I had a problem with passwords on a bunch of accounts so I just decided to start over

I chose mexit because my wife and I are considering leaving here to move to Mexico

Brexit ... mexit

[In_The_Wind]

14. Oh my

I thought you were going to try changing my ways.

Ashling I remember you.