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Can I Make Modifications on a Vehicle I am Leasing?

There are specific terms and conditions to car leases which normally do not allow you to make any modifications to the vehicle. You are required to return the vehicle with its original equipment and in the condition it was originally leased from El Paso car dealerships. Otherwise, you are charged excessive penalties and fees for making modifications. However, there are several temporary modifications you can make, so long as you remove them before returning the vehicle at the end of the lease. Vinyl Wrap: Vinyl allows you to safely modify the exterior of the vehicle, such as adding graphics, secondary colors, or changing the color of full sections of the vehicle. Vinyl does not harm the paint and is removable at the end of the lease. Windowing Tinting: Certain types of window tinting are removable. Just make sure to check the local laws in your area regarding which windows may be tinted and the darkness of the tint. Upgraded Tires: You can upgrade the tires to different ones from the ones that originally came on the vehicle. If the original tires are not worn out and do not need to be replaced, you will want to keep the original ones and put them back on the vehicle before returning it at the end of the lease. Upgraded Wheels: You can change out the wheels for fancier or sportier wheels than came on the vehicle. It is important to keep the original wheels so you have them when you return the car. Carbon Fiber/Chrome Parts: You can swap out parts with carbon fiber and chrome parts to give the vehicle a more stylish look. Again, keep the original parts, as you will need them later. Plastic Dip: This is a special rubberized coating you can apply to various areas of the car to change the color of various components. It is easy to peel off the rubber coating when you want to remove it and return the vehicle. Electronic Components: It is okay to swap out stereo systems and other electronic components with different ones. You have to be careful when working with electrical systems to not damage the vehicle or the components you remove. Store the removed components, since you need to reinstall them at the end of the lease. It is recommended that you have a professional perform any of the modifications you want to make, to prevent causing damage to the vehicle, its systems, or the parts and components you swap out. Prior to returning the vehicle at the end of your lease, you have to remove all temporary modifications and reinstall any original equipment you replaced. Even if you intend to purchase the vehicle, it still has to be returned with the original equipment. For more information about car leases, feel free to visit or call Integrity Kia at 915-856-2982.

Are There Any Benefits to Add-Ons When Buying El Paso Cars for Sale?

Add-ons are extras offered to people purchasing new and used vehicles from dealerships in El Paso. Some people say it is not worth the extra money to purchase add-ons, while others prefer the protection they provide. In the end, it is entirely up to you to decide whether you want to purchase add-ons, and which ones you want. Take the time to review the following list of add-ons to learn what they are and how they are beneficial: Extended Warranties: Extended warranties provide protection for your new or used vehicle after the original manufacturer’s warranty expires. If the original manufacturer’s warranty is not going to end before you pay off the car, then you may not want to purchase extended coverage. However, if the original warranty is going to end before the car if paid off, it is recommended to purchase extended coverage until the end of your loan. This way, if anything major goes wrong, you are not hit with an expensive repair bill and still have to worry about making your car payment. Prepaid Service Agreements: Prepaying for certain services can save you money in the long run. These types of agreements cover oil changes, tire rotations, brake pad replacements, and other repairs not covered under warranties. When you purchase a prepaid service agreement, you normally get a discount and are paying today’s prices. If the costs of oil, brakes, or other parts or labor goes up, you do not have to worry, since you already prepaid your services. GAP and Life Insurance: GAP insurance covers the difference between what your insurance company pays and what is owed on your loan in the event the car is totaled. If you put down a large down payment, or if the vehicle does not depreciate quickly, then you do not need GAP insurance. Life insurance pays off the loan in the event you pass away unexpectedly. It is important to read exactly what accidental deaths are covered to decide whether you really need the coverage. All add-ons can be included into your car financing program at the time of purchase, too. Depending upon which ones you select, your monthly payments are only an extra $5 to $20 each month. If you have a hard time setting aside money for repairs, or do not have an existing life insurance policy, it is beneficial to consider purchasing add-ons at the time of sale. If you decide not to purchase any add-ons when purchasing El Paso cars for sale, you still have the option to buy certain ones later on. Keep in mind, you could be required to pay the full amount upfront for the add-on or, if payment options are offered, they are paid separately from your monthly car payment. For more information and details about add-ons available with a new or used car, feel free to visit Integrity Kia or call 915-856-2982.

Get a Sweet Deal on a Pre-Owned Ft. Bliss Area Kia

Buying a pre-owned vehicle is pretty sweet if you think about it. Consumers have access to a plentiful collection of thoroughly inspected vehicles with low miles, incentives, and prices much lower than brand new models. Buying a pre-owned Kia at Ft. Bliss area Kia is like buying new, and we have the best vehicle for you. 2014 Kia Forte LX The 2014 Kia Forte LX is a CARFAX 1-owner vehicle with fewer than 22,000 miles on the engine and a price tag below $16K. The pre-owned certified sedan has a 1.8-liter inline-4 engine that produces 148 hp at 6500 RPM and 131 lb.-ft. of torque. Kelley Blue Book ranks the Kia Forte #1 in its class for horsepower. The estimated fuel economy rating for the Forte LX with a 6-speed manual transmission is 25/37 mpg. Driving features in the 2014 Kia Forte include a 4-speaker audio system with satellite radio, power steering, 4-wheel disc brakes, front anti-roll bar, and an impressive safety system. In 2013, the IIHS recognized the Forte for its safety and awarded the sedan with a Top Safety Pick Award. 2013 Kia Optima The 2013 Kia Optima sedans on the lot are CARFAX 1-owner sedans priced below $19K. The Optima LX has fewer than 24,000 miles on it and Optima EX has fewer than 32,000 miles on its engine. Under the hood of the Kia Optima is a 2.4-liter inline-4 that produces 200 hp at 6300 RPM and 186 lb.-ft. of torque at 4250 RPM. The estimated fuel economy rating for the sedan is 22/34 mpg. Features in the Optima include a front-wheel-drive drivetrain, a 6-speaker audio system, alloy-look trim, satellite radio, premium upholstery, security system, anti-roll bars and a safety system. In 2013, the IIHS awarded the Optima with a 2013 Top Safety Pick+ Award.

How to Value a Trade-In Vehicle

One of the biggest mistakes people make when trading in a vehicle to purchase either a used or new vehicle from El Paso car dealers is not taking the time to find the value of their current vehicle. They put their entire trust into the dealer to give them a fair trade-in allowance. This is never a good idea, because you could end up getting far less than the vehicle is actually worth. It takes less than an hour to obtain an approximate value for your current vehicle using online resources like Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds. Keep in mind, there are numerous factors which are used to establish the value for your current vehicle. It is common to obtain completely different values for your current vehicle from each online resource you use. Criteria used to value a vehicle include the condition of the vehicle, age of the vehicle, and current mileage. It can be difficult to be honest about the actual condition of your vehicle, as owners tend to be a bit biased, but be honest with yourself to obtain accurate results. For instance, your vehicle could fall somewhere between good/average condition and very good/clean condition. In this case, look at the trade-in values for both conditions, and average those results to obtain an approximate value. If the good/average condition of your vehicle is $4,500, and the very good/clean condition value is $5,500, then the approximate value would be $5,000. ($4,500 + $5,500 = $10,000. $10,000 divided by 2 = $5,000). What Is the Difference Between Trade-In and Private Sale and Dealer Retail Values? There are up to three different values you can obtain from online resources. The trade-in value is how much you expect to receive from car dealers in El Paso. The private sale value is how much you could potentially sell the vehicle for if you sold it yourself rather than traded it in at the dealership. The dealer retail value is the average amount the same vehicle costs at local car dealers. Remember, the dealership wants to earn a profit on used vehicles, so they sell trade-ins for more money. Is It Better to Sell the Vehicle Myself? If the difference between the trade-in value and private sale value is at least $1,000, you may want to consider selling it yourself. However, it can take a few weeks or even months to find the right buyer. If you are able to wait, and sell the car before buying another one, you will have a larger down payment. In cases where you do not want to deal with selling the car yourself, trade it in at the dealer, instead. After you value your trade-in online, we invite you to stop by Integrity Kia in El Paso and allow us to make an offer on your used vehicle towards the purchase of a used, certified pre-owned or new vehicle. Feel free to contact us at 915-856-2982 with any questions or for further assistance.

Tips for Buying a New Kia from El Paso Kia Dealerships

Shopping for new Kia vehicles can be fun and exciting, as long as you take some time and do your homework. Before visiting Kia Dealerships in El Paso, take the time to review the following tips, as these could potentially save you thousands of dollars on your next new Kia. Value Your Trade-In: There are online resources, also used by car dealers in El Paso, like Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds, where you can see the trade-in value and private resale value. Learn the Value of the New Car: Using the same resources you used to value your trade-in, find out the actual value of the new Kia you desire. There is normally some price variance between the actual retail price shown on the vehicle’s sticker and what the dealership is willing to accept. Prequalify for Financing: If you intend to purchase the new Kia, get prequalified for a new car loan from your bank or credit union. First, this lets you know your “credit limit” the lender is willing to borrow toward the purchase of a new Kia. Next, since you are already preapproved, you are able to walk into the dealership like you were a cash buyer, rather than a buyer needing financing. Find Your New Car Online: Most El Paso Kia dealerships list their current new car inventories online. Shop around and find the dealer who has the model with the features and options you desire in the right color. In the event you cannot find what you are looking for, expand your search outside of the El Paso area. Authorized Kia dealers work with one another and exchange vehicles. Knowing where your new car is located allows you to go to your local Kia dealership, and tell them what you want and which dealer has it in stock. Test Drive the Car: Take the time to test drive the vehicle. If you do not like how it handles, or feel uncomfortable in the car, do not buy it. Attempt to Negotiate a Lower Price: Since you are already prequalified and have  researched new vehicle values, use this information to your advantage to try to get a lower price. Review Dealer Financing: Before closing on the deal, take the time to see what interest rate the dealer offers on financing. If it is lower than what you were prequalified for, use dealer financing. If not, you already locked in your rate and loan with your bank or credit union. Review All Contracts and Paperwork: Take the time to read through all contacts and paperwork before you sign. If you are not sure about something, ask for clarification. Take Delivery of Your New Kia: Schedule a time to take delivery of the new Kia and have the dealership give you a demonstration of all of the features on your new Kia. Closing the sale and taking delivery does not have to be done on the same day. Feel free to shop our online inventories, and contact Integrity Kia in El Paso at 915-859-2982 if you have any questions or need further assistance in finding your new Kia vehicle.

Is the Extra Cost for OEM Kia Parts for Sale Worth It?

One of the biggest questions people have any time they need parts for their Kia are whether these parts are really worth the extra money, because there are less expensive aftermarket parts to use instead. When you take your Kia to your Kia dealership in El Paso for service, the dealership uses OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts. These parts have been manufactured by Kia and meet Kia’s quality requirements. Depending upon the part replacement, it could have up to a one year warranty. Independent service centers tend to use aftermarket parts instead of OEM parts. It is estimated that independent shops use between 70 and 80 percent aftermarket parts. There are numerous aftermarket companies producing parts functioning similar to OEM parts. In some cases, the aftermarket part may be better than the OEM part—but not always. There are different levels of quality used by the various manufacturers. If you are replacing parts yourself, or at an independent shop, and you decide to use aftermarket parts, make sure to do some research to find out which aftermarket manufacturers produce high quality parts for your Kia. There are several advantages and disadvantages to using aftermarket replacement Kia parts. It was already mentioned, they are normally less expensive and might be equal or greater in quality than OEM Kia parts for sale. Since there are a large number of aftermarket manufacturers, there is normally better availability and variety. You can walk into any independent parts department or service center and walk out with the part. Even with these advantages, using aftermarket parts is not always beneficial. The quality of the parts varies greatly. There is an extensive selection of parts to choose from and, if you are not familiar with the top quality aftermarket manufacturers, you could easily choose a poor quality part. In most cases, aftermarket parts come with no warranties or a very limited 90 day warranty. Aftermarket parts tend to lower the resale value of your Kia. The advantage to spending a little bit more money on OEM parts is that you know the parts are made by Kia and are identical to the ones used to build your Kia. It is easier to find the right part for your Kia from your El Paso Kia dealer’s parts department. You can have confidence the new part is designed to work and perform the same. Most OEM parts have up to a one year warranty. In the end, it comes down to your own personal preference and, in certain cases, it is better to pay more for OEM Kia parts. If you are not sure which aftermarket brands make the highest quality parts for your Kia, stick with OEM parts. If you want to keep your Kia all Kia, use OEM parts. If you prefer to pay someone else to do repair and service work, use OEM parts. Always use OEM Kia parts whenever you are having your Kia repaired after an accident, especially if you are replacing exterior pieces, since aftermarket bumpers and body panels may not fit correctly or meet Kia’s crash safety standards. To order OEM parts for your Kia, or to schedule service, contact our Kia dealership in El Paso today at 915-856-2982.

When Is Leasing a Car Better Than Financing?

Some people have misconceptions about new car leases from their El Paso Kia dealerships, since you are essentially renting the vehicle for a period of two or three years. These people strongly believe you are throwing your hard-earned money away, because you have no ownership in the vehicle. While there is no ownership during the lease period, where people with this type of thinking quickly get into trouble is by trading in their vehicles every two or three years for a brand new model. Eventually, they are underwater on their car and find their monthly payments have grown out of control. How does this happen? They get the urge to have the latest features and options, and decide to trade in their current vehicle. Let’s assume the current vehicle is several years old and is fully owned. The value of the trade-in is deducted off of the purchase price of the new car at their Kia dealer in El Paso. They finance the remaining balance and drive the car home. A few years later, they decide they want a new car. The only problem they have is they still owe three more years of payments on the current vehicle. Luckily, the new car dealer is able to take their car in on trade and pay off their existing car loan. However, since there is a balance owed on the vehicle, it lowers the cash left over. For example, the trade-in value is $10,000, and the pay-off on the loan is $9,000. This only leaves $1,000 to be deducted off of the new car’s purchase price. Regardless, they decide to go ahead and get the new car. Now, two years down the road, they want to do the same thing. The only problem, this time, is since there was only $1,000 down payment, they discover they owe more on the vehicle than it is worth. Fortunately, their new car dealer in El Paso can work with them and help get them into a new car. Again, let’s assume the trade-in value is $10,000, but now the pay-off on the loan is $13,000. Instead of reducing the purchase price of the new vehicle, the extra $3,000 is added on, increasing the total amount financed. Remember, any time the amount financed increases, so do the monthly payments. Say this person repeats this pattern of buying and trading in a vehicle every two years for the next ten years. At the end of that time, they could easily have monthly car payments as high as $1,000 or more, compared to a leased vehicle with a monthly payment of $300 or less. In actuality, the person has no equity in the financed vehicle and is throwing away their hard-earned money without gaining any benefit by refinancing their car every two years. On the other hand, if they had leased a new vehicle every two years, their payments would remain consistent over the ten year period. In addition, they would have more money in their pocket, rather than an increasing monthly car payment. For anyone who likes to drive a brand new car every two or three years, leasing is a much better financial choice. To learn more about leasing a new Kia from us, here at Integrity Kia, call us now at 915-856-2982.

Is It Better to Trade In or Sell My Current Vehicle?

Whenever you are looking at getting a brand new car and disposing of your current vehicle, you need to determine whether it is more beneficial to trade in the vehicle or attempt to sell it on your own. People often assume they have to trade in their current car or truck. However, this is not the case, and you are free to either trade it in at your new car dealer in El Paso or attempt to find your own buyer. Benefits of Trading In Your Current Car The main reason for trading in your current vehicle is in those situations where you lack any form of down payment. Most lenders want to see buyers commit a percentage of their own money towards the purchase of their new Kia from Kia dealerships in El Paso. The amount of money contributed does not have to be cash and can be in the form of a trade-in, as long as the trade-in has sufficient value. In some cases, some lenders might require some additional cash when the value of the trade-in is not enough. Another reason to trade in your car is if you still owe money on the vehicle and cannot afford to make two monthly car payments. Your El Paso Kia dealer will take the value of the trade in, subtract the payoff amount owed your current lender, and deduct any remaining value off of the purchase price of the new Kia. Keep in mind, if you owe more on your current loan than it is worth, the dealer is still able to accept it as a trade-in. However, any amount in excess of the current value is added to the purchase price of the new Kia. Benefits of Selling Your Car Yourself One reason to not trade in your car and to sell it yourself is when there is a big difference between the trade-in value price and the private resale price. Sometimes this discrepancy can be several thousands of dollars, and you may not want to lose the additional money. You do not have to sell the current vehicle before you purchase your new one. However, if you take this route, you are probably going to need a cash down payment in order to finance your new Kia. After you sell your car, you can use the proceeds to pay down your new car loan. In the event you are leasing your new Kia, while you could trade in your current car, the value of it is sometimes more than the required lease deposit. If you do not intend to keep the vehicle at the end of the lease period, it makes more sense to sell the car yourself and put the extra cash in your pocket. Shop for your next new Kia today by visiting us, here at Integrity Kia today, or call us at 915-856-2982 for friendly and professional assistance finding your new car.

How to Shop Stress-Free for a New Kia from Your El Paso Dealership

Shopping for a new Kia from your local El Paso car dealer is supposed to be fun and exciting. If you are stressed out by the idea of looking for a new Kia Soul or other Kia vehicle, it might be because you are attempting to shop for your new Kia, get it financed, and drive it home, all on the same day. Taking this approach is overwhelming because you end up wasting an entire day, sometimes more, just to buy a new car. It is much better to take a more relaxed approach to finding your next new Kia Optima or other car. Start your new Kia vehicle shopping by browsing online at local El Paso Kia dealers to learn about current models, features, and options. While you are doing this, make a wish list of the packages and options you would like in your new Kia. In addition, compare interior and exterior colors and upholstery options, as well as wheel and tire options, and make a note of which ones you prefer. The next step is to check out the online inventories available from the Kia dealership in El Paso. Most dealers provide the same information online as is found on the window stickers of the vehicles sitting on their car lots. For instance, you can find out how many white Kia Sorento models the dealer has in stock, along with which features and options each one has. Once you have narrowed down your vehicle selection to a few models, the next step for stress-free shopping is to get prequalified for financing. Taking the time to fill out the paperwork from the convenience of your home is a big time saver. Lenders let you know ahead of time exactly how much they will finance on your new Kia vehicle. Further, you know how much of a down payment you are going to need, or if you even require one, like if you are trading in your current vehicle. If you have a trade-in, take the time to value it before heading to the El Paso Kia dealership. There are useful resources online, like Kelley Blue Book, to give you a good idea of what your current vehicle is worth and which allow you to compare trade-in values to private resale values. Sometimes it is more beneficial to sell the vehicle yourself than trade it in, because you can get more money. Lastly, it is time to schedule a test drive and visit your local Kia car dealer. Remember to bring along any printed information, notes, pre-approved loan papers, and other paperwork, like your list of features and options you want. Remember, if you test drive the vehicle and discover you do not like how it handles or performs, you are not obligated to buy that vehicle. You are free to choose another Kia model instead. If you have any questions, or need assistance using our online financing option or shopping for Kia vehicles online, contact us directly, here at Integrity Kia, at 915-856-2982.

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