Monday, December 31, 2012

Congratulations to Tim and the rest of the Sales Team at for this review on DealerRater!

Dr_logo_web

"...Worked hard to get me the price I wanted for my trade. Very personable attention to His customer. Would trade there again in the future." -Customer


Stop by our DealerRater page to read more of what our customers are saying about us.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Maintenance Tip: Wax The Lights

Okay, we admit it's a little detail, but in winter’s gloom and short days, every last lumen you can squeeze out of your headlamps is going to improve your safety.

Here's an easy two-minute drill: Make sure the headlamps are clean of dirt, rub car wax (any type will do) on the lamps, let it dry and buff it off. Repeat. For bonus points, do the taillights.

The slippery surface you leave behind will be less likely to build up an "icicle" coat when road slush refreezes on your car -- and will make it easier to remove it if it does.


Courtesy of www.kiplinger.com
Wax

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia provides funding to Troup County Schools for Child ID kits

Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. (KMMG) provided an $8,000 donation to the Troup County School System Thursday that will be used to provide Child ID kits to children in the local community.

The news release explains that the Child ID kits will allow parents to store comprehensive and confidential records and descriptions and quickly share this information with police and other responders, saving valuable time in the event of an emergency.

“The well being of the children in our community is of critical importance to Kia Motors and the team members of KMMG,” said Randy Jackson, KMMG’s vice president of human resources and administration. “We thank Dr. Cole Pugh and the Troup County School System for their willingness to be our partner in this project to help increase the safety for this area’s children.”

Pugh thanked KMMG for the plant’s commitment to giving back to the local community.

"Ka Motors Manufacturing Georgia continues to demonstrate corporate citizenship by giving back to the community," said Pugh. "We are thankful for Kia's support. The child identification kits will greatly benefit our students."

Awesome work, Anthony!

Monday, December 17, 2012

2012 Kia Sedona - $2500 Cash Back

Sedona

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE

Cash back from Kia Motors American Inc. Must take delivery from a participating dealer and from retails stock from 12/4/2012 to 1/7/2013. Cash back offer when you purchase a new car and may not be combined with Special Low APR offer. Please see dealer for more information.  

Thank you for your great review, Ronald!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Christmas is for Kids Event!

Wrap
Help Paramount Automotive make a very special Christmas for a child this year! Join us for our Wrapping Party to wrap gifts for the Christmas is for Kids Event. The Wrapping Party will be held on December 14th from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at Paramount Kia Asheville. We will also be a sponsor for the main Christmas is for Kids event on December 15th, which will be fun for the whole family!
For more information, check out http://bit.ly/ZJA7Em, and see here for a list of upcoming events from Mix 96.5 http://bit.ly/KLfByl

Thanks everyone!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Kia Launches UVO eServices at L.A. Auto Show

Kia
Kia Motors announced it would launch the next generation of its UVO infotainment system with the 2014 Sorento crossover unveiled at the L.A. Auto Show.

According to a Kia press release, the updates to UVO center around smartphone connectivity. An eServices smartphone app will provide connected car telematics information, the ability to locate your parked vehicle in a large lot, a suite of new safety and security features including a service Kia calls 911 Connect, and the ability to upload map and point-of-interest (POI) info from the web or a mobile device to the UVO system.

Kia said the eServices app will not come with a monthly fee like GM’s similar Onstar service. UVO, short for “Your Voice,” will continue to offer drivers the ability to manage their mobile phones and music playlists hands-free. The eServices app will further expand that voice-controlled ability to the navigation system, the company said.

Much like MyFordTouch, which received a number of bad reviews after its recent updates and even got Ford dinged in Consumer Reports and J.D. Power and Associates’ Initial Quality Survey, UVO is Microsoft-powered. So far, Kia’s UVO is getting better reviews than MyFordTouch– we’d estimate that’s because it has kept buttons and knobs as part of the equation instead of trying to go touchscreen-only as MFT and some others have. We look forward to the opportunity to try the next-gen UVO with the eServices app when the 2014 Sorento bows next year.

 

Great work Matt! We appreciate your hard work.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Monday Maintenance Tip: Check your tire pressure

Tires

Here are two good reasons to get down there with the gauge and unscrew the valve caps as the weather cools:

1) Tires lose a pound of pressure for every drop of 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

2) An underinflated tire won't "bite" through snow down to the pavement as well as one at pressure. It's similar to hydroplaning on water -- and just as dangerous. You may have heard the guidance to let air out of your tires for sand or snow to get more contact surface area. That only applies only if the surface is bottomlessly soft, like a beach or foot-deep, unplowed snow -- not the mix of cleared road, ice and packed snow most of us encounter in daily driving.

Don't forget to put the valve caps back on (or, buy new ones) when you're done. Letting in moisture, which then freezes, could let the valve core leak out air.

Courtesy of Kiplinger.com

Thank you for your outstanding feedback!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

All-new Kia cee’d Design Story

Ceed
Kia’s all new cee’d premiered at the Geneva Motor Show this past March and quickly captured the attention of automobile enthusiasts worldwide with its enhanced design. The cee’d is a contender the world’s most fiercely crowded and competitive European C-segment (mid-size car) market, so creating an appealing design was vital. Today on Buzz, we’re going to unfold the first part of the cee’d’s design story from the outside-in, and breakdown its sportiness and unique design elements.

The main concept of the cee’d exterior design is ‘solid, fast and dynamic’. New design elements such as the ‘DLO (Day Light Opening)’ (overall shape of the car’s side windows) was extended to the front for a more dynamic and masculine appearance. The steep shoulder lines add to the ‘open’ look of the new cee’d.

Designers also focused on the exterior, as they wanted to create a well-equipped yet simple feel. For example, the DLO, exclusive headlamps and a chrome coating on the front grilles were all utilized to create a more luxurious expression.

The designers went to great lengths to create a more dynamic and sporty look by making the frontal design of the car lower and wider. The key design elements that define the character line of the exterior, including the radiator grille and headlamps, were created to achieve the highest aesthetic value possible. The location of the A pillar was pulled forward to create a more dynamic aspect, creating a cab-forward design. The volume of the different parts of the vehicle was then adjusted to create a balanced appearance.

The lower part of the cee’d was designed with the intention of creating stable and tough expression that would match any car on the road. The rear design was created with an emphasis on infusing strong and orderly look that would match well with the dynamic and solid display of its front and side.

Simplistic yet elegant, the design of the new cee’d manages to stand out from the crowd with its distinctive design elements and in particular boasting Kia’s signature front grille design. It can undoubtedly compete against all models in its class.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Kia to launch 51 new or updated models by the end of 2016

Kia
Kia aims to sustain its growth surge by launching 51 new or updated models before the end of 2016. So far, it has been so successful that in 2012, Kia is set to achieve its fourth straight record year of production, sales and profits. Under this plan, Kia will enter new niches. Kia has a new hot hatchback based on the new Procee’d making it arrival next summer. In 2014, Kia will produce an electric version of the next Soul and this would also be when a rear-wheel-drive sports car will be presented. Kia would also be making more derivatives of current or updated cars. For the European market, Kia will start by introducing the next Procee’d and an all-new seven-seat Carens in the first half of 2013. Before the end of 2012, Kia will reveal the second-generation Soul. It’s likely to arrive in the UK by 2014 at the earliest. Kia will also update and enhance three of its existing models. For non-European markets, Kia has recently unveiled a facelifted version of the K7/Cadenza executive saloon and a new K3/Cerato, which is a compact four-door car that has plenty of the same parts and systems as the European Cee’d. The flagship K9 saloon, which started sellingin South Korea earlier in 2012, will start exports as the Quoris. Kia took fewer than two years before it could replace nearly all of its European range so it will be 2015-2016 before huge changes are made to the newest models. After the Soul is replaced, it will be the Venga’s turn next.

Courtesy of 4wheelsnews

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

2013 Kia Soul is an Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the year

Kia
The 2013 Kia Soul has quickly become one of the most popular cars in the automakers lineup, thanks in large part to it cool aesthetic and hip appeal.

The car has been a hit with the younger crowd, which has now been reflected in the most recent awards the Soul received. It was named the Active Lifestyle Vehicle (ALV) of the Year at the 9th annual ALV awards in the Urban Vehicle category. That award follows close on the heels of the Kelley Blue Book awards for including "Top Tailgating Car for 2012? and "Top Back-To-School Car."

The ALV event was held on the campus of Local Motors in Chandler, AZ., and featured no less than 28 vehicles vying for the top spot. The judge's panel was made up of over two dozen media members, seventy athletes from a variety of different outdoors sports, and over 100 panelists.

Each member of the panel was chosen for their ability to judge how well each vehicle could fit into an active lifestyle. The testing of all the vehicles was performed in both on and off road environments.

Michael Sprague, executive vice president, marketing & communications, Kia Motors America said the company was honored to have received the award from ALV. He went on to say that he believed the award validated Kia's feeling that the Soul has the functionality and versatility to make it perfect for the casual outdoors lover to the world-class athlete.

He went on to talk about the performance of the 2013 Soul, as well as it's IIHS 'Top Safety Pick' status. He was also quick to point out that the comfortable interior and top of the line front suspension system make the Soul a great ride, no matter what sort of road it was driven on.

There are many different car awards out there, but the ALV award is the only one that takes into consideration the opinions of automotive journalists and local athletes. That makes for one truly unique award that is a real honor to win.

Source: Kia Media

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Pick Your Purse

Paramount
Paramount Kia of Asheville is sponsoring the "Pick Your Purse" Contest with local radio station Mix 96.5.

One dozen designer handbags will be given away & one will contain $1,000 in Christmas Cash! You can sign up on the Mix 96.5 website or in person at either Paramount Kia Asheville location at 1000 Ridgefield Blvd behind Biltmore Square Mall or at 740 Tunnel Road starting Monday, November 12th to Friday, December 7th.

For more details on the prize purses and information about how you can win, please visit http://www.mix965asheville.com/Pick-Your-Purse-2012/14689937

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

The Safest Cars In America

Car buyers often value safety above all the other features of their new cars, SUVs, or light trucks. It's true that manufacturers often stress other features such as gas mileage or bells and whistles like the latest moonroof or comfortable seat. Still, virtually none neglect descriptions of safety features, which include airbags, crumple zones, and anti-lock brakes. The problem is that this mix and assortment of features leaves buyers with the difficult task of determining which autos are extremely safe and which only claim to be. 24/7 Wall St. sifted through the claims and the data from auto safety measurements used across the industry to find the safest cars sold in America.

Private organizations such as Edmunds, Consumer Reports, and J.D. Power have their own safety benchmarks. While these are often based on government tests and figures, each firm uses its own unique methodology to create its lists of safest cars. The two organizations that issue the most widely and closely followed research are The Insurance Institute for Highway the Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The IIHS describes itself as "an independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organization dedicated to reducing the losses - deaths, injuries and property damage - from crashes on the nation's roads." The organization measures front crash, side impact, and rear crash effects, as well as roof strength. The weakness of the IIHS system is that its highest rating, Top Safety Picks, number about 100 cars. 24/7 views this set of measurements as incomplete because such large number of vehicles pass the test.

Tests done by the NHTSA, a division of the Department of Transportation, are extremely thorough. The agency posts the results of the tests at Safercar.gov, and its Five-Star Safety Ratings database goes back to 1990. Starting with 2011 models, the NHTSA has upgraded its rating system by introducing "tougher tests and rigorous new 5-Star Safety Ratings that provide more information about vehicle safety and crash avoidance technologies," the agency notes.

The Five-Star Safety Ratings evaluation covers dozens and dozens of models. However, Catherine Howden of the Department of Transportation told 24/7 Wall St. that "NHTSA rated 81 percent of the light vehicle fleet for the 2012 model year, and estimates 85 percent of the light vehicle fleet for the 2013 model year will be rated." The ratings are based on measurements of overall safety, frontal crash, side crash, and rollover. Each car can receive up to five stars in each of the four categories, but only four model cars received five stars across all four categories. These are "The Safest Cars In America."

When reviewing the four cars, 24/7 Wall St. looked at major safety features, even if they were not a part of the government evaluation.

1. Chevrolet Camaro.

The Camaro is among America's iconic muscle cars. It was built and marketed by Chevy from 1966 to 2002. Over the course of that period, it competed with such cars as the Ford Mustang and Pontiac Firebird. As a matter of fact, the Mustang and Camaro fight for the attention of buyers today after the model was re-launched in 2009.

The Camaro comes in several models, depending in large part on engine size. The base Camaro has a sticker price of $23,345. The highest-end Camaro, the ZL1, has an engine comparable to the one used in Chevy's sports car flagship - the Corvette. Its eight-cylinder engine has a horsepower output of 580. The price of this model can be as high as $54,350.

All Camaro models come with StabiliTrak, a stability control system made by GM, and with limited slip differential that helps the car maneuver in difficult driving situations. The Camaro also has daytime running lights and a tire pressure monitoring system. Although the government tests do not consider this, the fact that the Camaro is built close to the ground and therefore has a low center of gravity makes it less likely to roll over than many cars and light trucks.

2. Honda Accord.

The Accord is usually among the top ten selling cars in the U.S. In September, Honda sold 29,182 Accords. For the first nine months of the year, total sales were 247,847, up 37% from the same period in 2011. The Accord is a relatively low priced, mid-sized car that happens to have a large number of standard safety features.

The Accord has three basic models. The first is a four door version with a four-cylinder engine. The next has four doors and a six-cylinder engine. The last is a sedan version. The base Accord has a sticker price of $21,680. The Accord competes primarily with the Toyota Camry, the Ford Fusion, and Nissan Altima.

Among the safety features of the Accord are Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering, which is built to distribute the energy of a frontal crash more evenly throughout the car's frame. Anti-lock brakes are standard on most cars, but Honda also has a system to distribute brake force among the four wheels as needed when the car stops sharply. Front airbags deploy based on the crash force and tension on seat belts. The Accord is also available, in some models, with a radar system that senses the distance between the front of the car and a vehicle ahead of it its, and another feature that detects whether the car has drifted out of its lane.

3. Kia Optima.

Each of the two major versions of the Optima makes our list - the four-door front-wheel-drive version and its hybrid counterpart. The Optima also made the Five-Star Safety Ratings list with its 2011 and 2012 models.

Kia is part of the family of brands made by Korea's huge car maker Hyundai which also markets in the U.S. under the Hyundai brand. Each of the car lines has done particularly well in America and has been able to gain market share due to its reputation for being a low-priced, high-quality car. Hyundai and Kia vehicles combined sold over 974,000 cars and light truck in the U.S. through the first nine months of the year. That is more vehicles than Nissan sold over the same period. The Optima has a base price of $21,200. The base price for the hybrid version is $25,700.

4. Volvo S60.

One of the stablemates of the S60 - the Volvo V40 - was recently named "the safest car in the world," scoring five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests.The "premium hatchback recorded the highest score of any car to undergo the tests," The Telegraph of the U.K. recently reported.

Volvo, for years the major car maker in Sweden, is now owned by China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. Ford was the company's owner from 1999 to 2010. Volvo has struggled to compete in the U.S. with larger carmakers at the high-end of the luxury import market - BMW, Mercedes, and Audi. It also competes with the high-end models of Ford and GM. Through September, Volvo sold on average of nearly 6,000 cars a month in the U.S. Geely hopes that, over time, Volvo can build a brand presence in China, which would lift the brand's sales.

The V60 four-door comes in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions. The S60 is Volvo's mid-tier sedan with a base price of $31,750. This model has a five-cylinder 250 horsepower engine. The V60 is heavy and weighs over 3,500 pounds. Weight tends to be an advantage in a collision. The S60 has advance stability control to aid handling in difficult driving situations. The car also has an optional pedestrian detection system, which helps maneuver in city driving situations.

Daily Finance

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Monday, November 5, 2012

Monday Maintenance Tip: 9 Ways to Ruin Your Paint Without Knowing It

Keeping your car looking good isn’t just a matter of enhancing its resale value, although that’s important too, it’s also your car’s only line of defense between the sheet metal and the elements. You already know parking lot dings, gravel roads or an angry ex can ruin your car’s paint in the blink of an eye, but a lot of things out there can do just as much, if not more, harm to the exterior of your car.

We contacted Mothers for advice on how to deal with common paint-damaging situations. While their specific advice is below, time and time again, they recommended keeping a good coat of wax on your car. Not only does it keep it looking pretty, it helps prevent most paint damage, or at the very least, buys you some time to get your car professionally washed. Mothers also recommended keeping a bottle of quick-detail spray and a microfiber cloth in your trunk. As you’ll see, a lot of these common problems can be prevented with a quick wipe of this solution.

The Source: Wildfires

The Problem: When wet, ash forms an alkali that can ruin your car’s finish.
The Solution: Keep your car covered, use a car duster for white ash, wash thoroughly if it’s soot.

These days it seems like every state is burdened with wildfires. The ash gets everywhere, and your car’s finish is no exception. While your instinct may be to hit the windshield washers, or just hose down the whole car, water mixed with ash can create powerful alkalis, which will ruin your paint. White ash can be removed with a car duster, or just by driving away and letting it blow off. Black ash can scratch your paint, even when you use a duster, so you’ll need to wash it off using a car wash solution, and dry thoroughly. Once the fires are out, get your car professionally washed, and put on a new coat of wax.

The Source: Tree sap

The Problem: Ancient peoples used tree sap as glue for a good reason.
The Solution: Bug and tar remover, mineral spirits, clay bar treatment

Just wiping sap off when it’s still gooey only smears it around a larger area. Instead, get a bottle of bug and tar remover from your local car parts store, and use it as directed. If the sap dries, mineral spirits can dissolve it, and remaining residue will come off with a clay bar treatment. Just be sure to wax the car after you’re done.

The Source: The gas pump

The Problem: Spilled gasoline
The Solution: Don’t top off, and clean up accidental drips

Times are tough, but “topping off” your gas tank and accidentally letting it overflow is a surefire way to damage your car’s paint. If left alone, gasoline will leave a stain on your car’s finish that’s nearly impossible to get off. If you do happen to spill gas by accident, the best solution is to grab a bottle of instant detailer and a good, clean microfiber cloth and clean up the gasoline before it does any harm.

The Source: Fingertips and mischief

The Problem: Writing or rubbing on dirty paint causes permanent marks.
The Solution: Keep your car clean.

We’ve all seen “wash me” written on a car’s finish, but the well-intentioned tagger actually just made things worse. Dirt acts like sandpaper when it’s dragged across paint, and it can make the marks last long after the dirt is gone.

Get yourself a long-handled duster and wipe down your car every day to prevent accidental sanding. If it’s too late, most small scratches come out with a polish or scratch remover. Just always be sure to clean the car well before waxing or polishing.

The Source: Your morning coffee

The Problem: Coffee and sodas contain acids that can etch your clearcoat.
The Solution: Wash it off immediately

Driving off with your coffee cup or soda bottle on your roof isn’t just a day-ruiner, it can ruin your paint. Many beverages are acidic, and since any acid can hurt your car’s finish, you’ll want to get it washed off as soon as you can. Letting it sit will only give it more time to do damage, and letting it dry will only make it harder to get off later. If it’s a soda, or if you take a lot of sugar in your coffee, then you’re going to be dealing with a sticky residue in addition to corrosive chemicals. If you can’t hit a car wash, then break out your bottle of quick detailer and your microfiber cloth and wipe it up.

The Source: Dirt on your car-wash tools

The Problem: Unseen dirt can scratch
The Solution: Keep an extra mitt handy.

Washing your own car can be fun, but a common mistake can cause more damage than you think: dropping your sponge. Even the finest, most expensive microfiber wash mitt on the market can be ruined if it touches the ground. The bits of grit and sand it inevitably picks up can’t be entirely washed off, and you’ll have swirl marks and other scratches before you know it. The solution is to never drop anything. But if you’re like us, it’d be best to keep a spare washing mitt or two on hand to avoid the resulting expenses from car detailing or repainting.

The Source: Automatic sprinklers

The Problem: Water leaves hard-to-remove spots on your paint.
The Solution: Stay away from sprinklers whenever possible

That primo parking spot right next to the planter may look good, but if it has automatic sprinklers, you could be in for trouble. You wouldn’t think that plain water would be such a problem, but the minerals left behind bond to your car’s paint, making them very difficult to remove. Your best bet is to avoid parking where sprinklers can do their damage, but that’s not always possible. If you do get water spots, it’s best to take it to a professional detailer.

The Source: Avian digestion

The Problem: Bird poop is acidic
The Solution: Wash it off immediately

Bird poop isn’t just unsightly. It’s also acidic. Just look at the number of ruined marble statues in pigeon-infested cities and you’ll see what we mean. Not only that, but birds eat seeds and bits of gravel that can scratch your paint.

The solution is to wash bird droppings off as soon as you see them. Use a bottle of quick detail and a soft microfiber cloth to wipe it up. Be sure to use a lifting action, since you don’t want to grind any grit onto your paint.

The Source: Bugs

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The Problem: Bug guts are acidic.
The Solution: Get to the car wash

You’re heading home from a road trip when suddenly the eighth plague of Egypt strikes, with thousands of bugs splattering your windshield. But just cleaning the windshield isn’t enough. Bugs are surprisingly acidic, and if you do hit a swarm, don’t let the bugs get the last laugh as their remains slowly etch your paint. Wash your car as soon as you can with a good car wash solution, and for the more stubborn guts, use a bug and tar remover.