Monroeville Kia Mazda

Friday, June 17, 2011

Don’t Forget Dad!

Posted by Monroeville Kia Mazda on 11:46 AM

Father’s Day is this Sunday, June 19th. What was the best advice you ever received from your Father? Share it with us! We’d love to hear it.

Or just enjoy some of these pithy quotes about our favorite dads:

"A new father quickly learns that his child invariably comes to the bathroom at precisely the times when he's in there, as if he needed company. The only way for this father to be certain of bathroom privacy is to shave at the gas station." -- Bill Cosby

"A father is always making his baby into a little woman. And when she is a woman he turns her back again." -- Enid Bagnold

"A father is a guy who has snapshots in his wallet where his money used to be." – Unknown

"My father always told me, 'Find a job you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life.' " -- Jim Fox

"A father is a banker provided by nature." -- French Proverb

"My father said, 'Politics asks the question: Is it expedient? Vanity asks: Is it popular? But conscience asks: Is it right?'" -- Dexter Scott King

"When I was a kid, I said to my father one afternoon, 'Daddy, will you take me to the zoo?' He answered, 'If the zoo wants you, let them come and get you.'" -- Jerry Lewis

"Small boy's definition of Father's Day: It's just like Mother's Day only you don't spend so much." – Unknown

"By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong." -- Charles Wadsworth

Check out more quotations here.

Kia Sportage is About.com’s Reader’s Choice

Posted by Monroeville Kia Mazda on 2:06 PM

The 2011 Kia Sportage is About.com’s Reader’s Choice.

About.com, one of the country’s leading online information providers, recently asked its millions of readers to pick their favorite rides of 2011, and in the Best New Crossover Vehicle category, the votes were all about the new Kia Sportage. In fact, the dynamically designed Sportage dominated the rankings with 64 percent of the votes—no other rival received more than 15 percent.

It’s yet another impressive honor for the Kia crossover, which also was recently named a “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

“Launched as part of Kia’s ongoing design-led transformation, the 2011 Sportage continues Kia’s commitment to offering consumers unmatched levels of styling, technology, performance and overall value,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, Kia Motors America. “The Sportage continues to add to its list of industry and consumer awards and accolades, and as the second Kia vehicle to offer a turbocharged engine in the U.S., we are confident consumer consideration for Sportage and the entire Kia lineup will continue to grow.”

Mazda2 Named “2011 Best Overall Value on Fuel-Efficient Vehicles”

Posted by Monroeville Kia Mazda on 1:57 PM

The Mazda2 was named the “2011 Best Overall Value on Fuel-Efficient Vehicles” by TrueCar.com. This is especially impressive because the Mazda2 has only been on the market for a year.

The list took into account both a vehicle’s purchase price and its average annual fuel costs, and included only those with seating for four or more occupants. MSRPs were for the least-expensive model configured with an automatic transmission, and, per TrueCar, the study “did not include pure electric vehicles because there is no cost associated with filling up a tank.”

For the nimble and responsive Mazda2, that means EPA fuel-economy ratings of 27 mpg city/33 mpg highway/29 mpg combined, to go with a base starting price of just $14,980. Of course, the Mazda2 offers a surprisingly high level of content for that low outlay, including air conditioning, halogen headlights, power windows and locks, 60/40-split folding rear seats, power side mirrors, Mazda’s Dynamic Stability Control and Traction Control System, and a full suite of air bags, with advanced front air bags, front side-impact air bags and side-impact curtain air bags.

The highly regarded hatchback also delivers Mazda’s hallmark zoom-zoom driving dynamics, thanks to a peppy 1.5-liter I4 engine and an enthusiast-oriented suspension with MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion-beam axle at the rear.

The bottom line: The Mazda2 is a fuel-sipping, fun-to-drive bargain that gives its owners more than they bargained for.

Happy Memorial Day!

Posted by Monroeville Kia Mazda on 10:32 AM

How are you planning to celebrate/ honor Memorial Day weekend? Is the holiday a chance to barbeque and hang with friends, or is it a more solemn occasion as you remember a loved one? Share with us!

But no matter how you choose to spend your weekend, we want you to stay safe. Here are some tips for grill safety this weekend:

Keep food covered or refrigerated until ready to be cooked. Cook meat to 170 degrees Farenheit as a minimum.

Cooking (by any method) of meats (particularly red meat and chicken) at very high temperatures until surface charring occurs can cause cancer causing substances (Heterocyclic Amines (HCA)) to form. To avoid this, use marinades and turn frequently.

Inspect your grill before you ignite to ensure everything is in working order.

Don't use a grill indoors including garages, overhangs and canopies.

When using a grill, you should use a 10-foot perimeter from anything combustible, including your house.

Do not allow children and pets to play near a grill.

Only use approved ignition fluids – don't use gasoline to ignite a grill.

Keep a fire extinguisher, garden hose or bucket of sand nearby to douse a grill fire.

These tips are from: http://bbq.about.com/od/grillinghelp/tp/grillsafety.htm

Kia Sorrento Named “Top Pick” by Consumer Reports

Posted by Monroeville Kia Mazda on 11:58 AM

The 2011 Kia Sorrento was named a “Top Pick” by Consumer Reports.

The “Top Pick” honor goes only to the best all-around models from the different CR vehicle categories, and each one must put up superior performances in a wide range of key quality, safety and reliability measures.

The Sorento claimed the highest spot among “Family SUVs,” thanks to “a roomy, nicely finished interior [that] includes comfortable seats and easy-to-use controls,” according to CR. Other Sorento advantages noted by the publication included the vehicle’s smooth-running V6 engine, which delivers an impressive mix of performance and fuel economy, and its high-value combination of an affordable MSRP with premium levels of standard content—“making it one of the bargains of this class.”

In addition, both the Kia Forte and Kia Soul were named to CR’s list of “Best vehicles under $20,000.” And significantly, both start well under that ceiling: The former has a base price of $14,995 and the latter has a starting MSRP of $13,300, and even the up-level models specifically called out by CR—the Forte EX and Soul Plus—only set the publication back by $18,540 and $17,690, respectively. (Consumer Reports buys all vehicles it tests directly from dealers.)

Even the least-expensive Kia model was able to open some eyes at Consumer Reports. The affordable Kia Rio, in both sedan and five-door hatchback body styles, earned kudos for offering some of the best visibility in the industry.

Motortrend Says The Mazda CX-9 “Keeps the sport in sport/utility vehicle”

Posted by Monroeville Kia Mazda on 9:03 AM

Motortrend says the Mazda CX-9 “keeps the sport in sport/utility vehicle.”

A key to the CX-9’s top rating was a heavy dose of Mazda’s “zoom-zoom” approach to driving dynamics. Typical comments from MT writers included:

“As a high speed, canyon-carving seven-seater, the CX-9 is severely gifted. It actually inspires confidence when you push, quite unlike the rest of the field.”

“Throttle response and front-end dynamics make it a hoot to take on undulating mountain roads. The excellent chassis smoothes out any nasty chop.”

“Out of this group, the [CX-9's] entire driving experience is second to none.”

That kind of performance comes courtesy of a well-engineered suspension that boasts MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link setup at the back, with stabilizer bars at both ends. Add in a 273-hp 3.7-liter V6, a six-speed electronically controlled transmission with Mazda’s Adaptive Shift Logic and an advanced all-wheel-drive system, and it’s easy to understand why MT called the CX-9 “the best driver here, no questions asked.”

Yet the CX-9 also offers the kind of interior functionality drivers look for in a big crossover. It seats seven in comfort, with the second row offering fore and aft adjustability for extra room. For added versatility, that second row features a 60/40 split folding configuration, with the folding third row providing a 50/50 split. The CX-9 can even tow up to 3,500 lbs. when properly equipped.

The real kicker? Not only did Mazda’s big crossover trump its rivals, but it was the least-expensive vehicle in the comparison—by $500.

Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda5 and Mazda6 Earn Top Recognition From Consumer Reports

Posted by Monroeville Kia Mazda on 1:42 PM

In 5 separate categories the Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda5 and Mazda6 Earn Top Recognition From Consumer Reports.

Mazda’s commitment to spirited driving also was a key to the kudos received by the Mazda3 and Mazda6 s, which bested all rivals in terms of “Driving Enjoyment.” The Mazda3 earned the nod in the “Small Sedan” class, thanks to features like its well-sorted suspension and chassis, choice of two responsive I4 engines, and enthusiast-oriented suspension. In addition, boasting a starting price of just $15,800, the Mazda3 sedan earned a place on CR’s list of “Best Vehicles under $20,000.”

The Mazda6 earned its “Driving Enjoyment” title in the “Family Sedan” class. Mazda’s mid-sizer is available with a robust 272-hp V6, a slick-shifting six-speed manual transmission, and a suspension specifically tuned to keep drivers in touch with the road. The setup is a double-wishbone independent suspension at the front, with a multi-link arrangement at the rear, delivering precise handling everywhere.

Finally, the nimble new Mazda2 made CR’s “Best overall fuel economy” list, thanks to its ability to reach 33 mpg in the publication’s own real-world fuel-economy testing—and that goes with EPA ratings of 29 mpg city/35 mpg highway.