Protect Your Car from Sun Damage With These Tips
When you live in a bright city like El Paso, you get the advantage of beautiful sunshine all year long. Unfortunately, all those bright UV rays can do damage to your vehicle. Follow these tips from Integrity Kia on how to protect your vehicle from the sun and heat.
Keep on Top of Your Tire Pressure
Heat from the sun causes the pavement temperatures to skyrocket. Combined with under inflated tires, the hot pavement can cause tires to blow out. Even the best tires may lose close to a pound of pressure each month, so it is important that you check the pressure regularly, especially on very hot days. Follow the recommended tire pressure from your vehicle manufacturer.
Wax Regularly
After a wash, a layer of wax between the paint job of your car and the sun’s UV rays is an excellent way to protect the exterior. How often your car should be waxed varies based on the make and model, the kind of wax being used and the time of year. At a minimum, you should wax your car twice a year. Not only will it protect the car, but it will make it look shiny and defend it from other damage like bird droppings.
Park in a Shady Area
If you don’t have a garage, try to park in an area shaded by houses or buildings. (Parking under trees can lad to bird droppings, leaves and sticks on your car). This will prevent your interior from heating up and causing cracks in the dashboard and vinyl or leather upholstery.
Wash and Dry Regularly
Heat and sun can cause the paint to fade and crack. By regularly washing and hand drying your car, you will be able to remove dust and dirt particles that can cause tiny scratches and dull the finish. Try to wash your car at least once every other week, depending on how dirty it gets.
Follow these tips and you should have no problem keeping your vehicle protected from the harmful UV rays of the sun!
![[Facebook]](https://www.casakia.com/blogs/912/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png)
![[LinkedIn]](https://www.casakia.com/blogs/912/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/linkedin.png)
![[Twitter]](https://www.casakia.com/blogs/912/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/twitter.png)
![[Yahoo!]](https://www.casakia.com/blogs/912/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/yahoo.png)
![[Email]](https://www.casakia.com/blogs/912/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/email.png)
Enjoy All There is to Do in El Paso This November
If you’re looking for something different to do this fall, El Paso is the place to be. There are plenty of events going on in and around the city to keep everyone busy. Check out these awesome upcoming November events in El Paso and you’ll never have a chance to be bored!
“A Christmas Fair”
Nov 6-8
El Paso Convention Center
The Junior League of El Paso, Inc has been holding “A Christmas Fair” since 1973. The event features more than 150 merchants from across the US that offer one-stop shopping for all your holiday needs. Over 15,000 people are expected to attend the 2015 Fair, with events for those of all ages. Before “A Christmas Fair” begins, there will be the return of “Girls’ Night Out”, which includes a fashion show featuring items from some of the merchants. There will be a silent auction, complimentary cocktail, hors d’oeuvres, preview shopping, music and contests. Money raised through “A Christmas Fair” allows the Junior League of El Paso, Inc to donate millions of dollars to the local community. The League’s mission is to promote volunteerism, develop the capabilities of women and make the community better through the leadership of trained volunteers.
Taste of El Paso
November 12
El Paso Convention Center
The fun event, Taste of El Paso, features 13 of the best restaurants in the area, coming together for one evening. Sample a unique dish prepared by each restaurant that comes with a craft beer or wine sample. The meal is followed up by dessert. The night starts with cocktail hour and each guest gets a goodie back with a name plate and the official Taste of El Paso program inside. Reserve your seat and make you way through the samples from each restaurant. Be sure to bring your appetite.
These are just two of the many exciting events going on in El Paso this November.
On Thursday, November 26, 2015, get ready to kick off Thanksgiving with the Sun Bowl Parade in El Paso. The 2.7 mile parade starts at 10 am on Montana Avenue, starting at Ochoa and concluding at Copia. If you can’t make it in person, catch live coverage on NBC KTSM Channel 9.
Highlights of the Sun Bowl Parade
The Sun Bowl Parade will be made up of 100 units. Attractions of the event include giant helium balloons, floats, clowns, equestrian units, Mexican drum and bugle corps, marching bands, dignitaries, royalty and a celebrity Grand Marshal. There will be an array of specialty highlights that are made up of Indian and Mexican dancers, as well as military ceremonial participants. There is a large crowd anticipated, which will line the street to view the biggest community celebration in the Southwest United States.
Parade History
The Sun Bowl Parade has been active for 80 years. In 1935, the first parade was organized by the Downtown Lions Club. From 1936-1977, the parade took place on New Year’s Day. In 1978, it was rescheduled to take place on Thanksgiving morning. Volunteers organize the holiday pageant, which attracts more than 250,000 spectators. Throughout West Texas, New Mexico and parts of Mexico, the Sun Bowl Parade is considered the biggest community event. The parade unites civic organizations, service clubs and sectors of industries and business in the community.
Purchase Sun Bowl Parade Review Stands Tickets
Tickets for the event review stands will be available for purchase at all Circle K Stores, the Sun Bowl Association Office and FirstLight Federal Credit Union branches. The cost is $5. The review stand is located at the First Baptist Church at 805 Montana Avenue.
Don’t miss this wonderful Thanksgiving tradition in El Paso!
El Paso takes Día de Los Muertos seriously, and organizes a fabulous celebration of honoring those loved-ones who have passed. The event features fortune tellers, ghost tours and exhibits along with a special Día de Los Muertos alter. Join us on November 1 at the Concordia Cemetery for the 2015 Día de Los Muertos celebration.
About the Día de Los Muertos Celebration in El Paso
From 2 pm-8 pm on November 1, visitors can come to the Concordia Cemetery in El Paso to take part in the annual Día de Los Muertos celebration. Tickets are $5 for adults, $2 for seniors and $1 for kids. The funds received support the Preservation and Restoration of Concordia Cemetery. The non profit organization, Concordia Heritage Association, runs the event.
What Will I See at the Day of the Dead Celebration?
Relatives have the chance to decorate and prepare the graves of their loved ones in the cemetery. There will be many people in costumes for the event, dressed as skeletons, ghosts and in black clothes. Vintage Mexican clothing is commonly worn by those who attend the festival. Relatives will be sharing stories of their loved-ones who are no longer with us, and you’ll simply have the chance to socialize with one another. The Gunfighter John Wesely Hardins grave is a popular attraction in the cemetery.
Other highlights of the event include the 10-foot dancing skeleton puppets, called “mojigangas”. Take part in ceremonial offerings or their scavenger hunt. Additional highlights of the festival include live music, arts and crafts, poetry reading and dancers. The featured musical act returning for 2015 is Echoes in the Park, as well as live performances of Mariachi Leyenda Azteca.
Keep the spirit of Halloween alive a little longer by taking part in the 2015 Día de Los Muertos celebration in El Paso!
Test-Drive the Powerful 2016 Kia Sportage SX
The all-new 2016 Kia Sportage is a stylish SUV with a powerful engine and sporty handling. The SX trim comes stocked with top-of-of-the-line standard features that will make the Sportage even more fun to drive. Stop in and be the first of your friends to drive a 2016 Kia Sportage SX.
Performance and Power of the 2016 Kia Sportage SX
The 2016 Kia Sportage SX runs on a 4-cylinder 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that makes 260 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard along with front-wheel-drive. All-wheel-drive is optional for those who want more traction. The SX with FWD will go from 0-60 in a fast 6.5 seconds, while AWD takes slightly longer at 7.3 seconds. Fuel economy stands at 22 miles per gallon combined with FWD and 21 mpg combined with AWD.
Standard Exterior Features of the Sportage SX
The SX trim of the 2016 Sportage is sportier than the other trims. The exterior comes equipped with a uniquely designed front grille, trim-specific 18-inch wheels, dual exhaust outlets, aluminum scuff plates, LED daytime running lights, LED taillights and a panoramic sunroof. Additional exterior features include fog lights and heated power-folding exterior mirrors.
Inside the 2016 Sportage SX
Behind the rear, 60/40-split folding seats, you get 26.1 cubic feet of cargo space. Fold them down and the number more than doubles o 54.6 cubes. Store even more in the divided organizer beneath the cargo floor. Standard interior features include:
-
6-speaker audio system
-
7-inch color touchscreen display with voice commands
-
Navigation
-
Rearview camera
-
Trip computer
-
Tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel
-
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Stop in to find out even more about the 2016 Kia Sportage SX!
Go Green in a 2015 Kia Optima Hybrid EX
28The 2015 Kia Optima Hybrid is a car that will do wonders for the environment and your wallet. Not only is it efficient and functional, the Optima Hybrid is a very attractive and stylish vehicle. Come to Grand West Kia and take a 2015 Optima Hybrid EX for a test-drive and see what a great car it is for yourself!
What Makes the 2015 Optima Hybrid EX Go?
The 2015 Kia Optima Hybrid runs on a 4-cylinder 2.4-liter gasoline engine that works in tandem with an electric motor and an automatic six-speed transmission. When combined, the maximum output is 199 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque. The Optima Hybrid EX earns 37 miles per gallon combined city and highway driving.
Exterior Features of the 2015 Optima Hybrid EX
When you opt for the EX trim, you will receive luxurious upgrades, inside and out. Standard exterior upgrades include xenon headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, power-folding heated exterior mirrors and LED foglights. The EX also comes with keyless entry and ignition and a 10.8 cubic foot trunk.
Inside the 2015 Optima Hybrid EX
Interior upgrades to the 2015 Optima Hybrid EX include an electronic parking brake, 8-inch touchscreen display, navigation system, rear climate vents, auto-dimming rearview mirror, 4-way power passenger seat, heated tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, leather upholstery, 8-speaker Infinity audio system, driver memory settings, heated rear seats, ventilated and heated front seats and HD radio. Additional interior features include:
-
Automatic dual-zone climate control
-
Satellite radio
-
Bluetooth audio and phone connectivity
-
Cruise control
-
Power lumbar adjustment for the driver seat
-
Rearview camera
-
Laminated windshield and front windows for a quieter cabin
Stop in and take the 2015 Optima Hybrid for a test-drive!
Keep the Inside of Your Car Clean, Please!
Most people focus on keeping the outside of their car clean since it is the first thing they see and what others focus on. Did you know that it is just as important to keep your car’s interior as clean as the exterior? If the interior of your car is too dirty, it can cause health problems and negatively affect its resale value. Below we discuss tips for keeping your car’s interior clean.
Organization is Key
The more time we spend in our car, the more it tends to get cluttered, especially when you have children. Clutter can be overwhelming and get out of control if you let it. Don’t let this happen and purchase an organizer for your vehicle instead. Many retailers sell car organizers that fit behind the front seats, in a cargo hold or on the floor. Fit whatever you use the most inside them like the kids’ travel toys, chargers and adapters, tissues, maps and so forth. To keep your organizer organized, routinely remove any items that don’t fit any more and aren’t being used so that clutter stays at bay.
Keep Trash Bags Handy
We try and try to keep trash from accumulating in our vehicle, but it can seem impossible when little items like receipts, ATM printouts, straw wrappers and napkins continuously make their way into the car. To combat this issue, keep a stash of garbage bags in your glove box or console. Reuse plastic grocery bags and whenever you’re near a trash can, you can throw it out.
Tack on Extra Protection
Factory floor mats do not always offer enough protection to keep the floor clean, especially in the winter months. When your car’s carpet is worn out or stained, the vehicle will sell for much less than one with clean rugs. Invest in heavy-duty floor mats or buy customizable cut-to-fit mats for your specific vehicle from an online retailer.
Follow these tips and you’ll be able to keep your vehicle’s interior clean all the time!
Art is not limited to paintings hanging on walls. Art takes many forms and expressions, so there is something for all personalities to enjoy. Be sure to catch these museum exhibits in El Paso this October:
Victoria Sambunaris: Taxonomy of a Landscape
August 20-October 24
Rubin Center
Photography enthusiasts will love the Taxonomy of a Landscape exhibit. For over ten years, Victoria Sambunaris has traveled the United States with a 5X7 wooden camera and sheets of color negative film. The artist has discussed her curiosity to understand the landscape of America and our place within it as inhabitants. The first monograph on the work of Sambunaris is made up of two beautiful hardback volumes. Included in this amazing array of documents are images of books on history and geology, maps, artifacts like mineral specimens, road logs and journals along with her small photographic sketches.
Tell Me Something and Take It Back: An Exhibition of Contemporary Drawing
August 20-October 24
Rubin Center
Tell Me Something and Take it Back is a collection of works by three contemporary artists who use mark making and drawing to make thought-provoking and precise pieces. Subject matter and imagery are drawn from everyday situations, then dissected, put into layers, isolated and rescaled to create detailed works that suggest meanings, stories and states of mind as they resist easy narratives.
Poland’s Heroes of the Holocaust
September 1- November 1
El Paso Holocaust Museum
“Poland’s Heroes of the Holocaust” is a presentation of two traveling exhibits. The exhibits tell true accounts of those who risked their own lives and those of their families to save Jewish men, children and women during the Holocaust. The exhibit is based on more than 400 interviews done with Poles who rescued Jews. Another part of these exhibits involve a deeper look at Jan Karski, who secretly risked his life to enter the Warsaw Ghetto, gather information and return to the US and Great Britain to advocate on behalf of the Jews.
Enjoy an educational and informational exhibit in El Paso this October.
Maybe you don’t think of mountains when you think of Texas, but we’ve certainly got them! What better way to experience the mountains of Texas than to run through them in a friendly road race? The Franklin Mountains Trail Run on November 14th offers a 5K, 10K, ½ marathon and 50K race that are part of the Trail Racing Cup Over Texas.
About the Race Course
The races are True Texas Mountain races over and through the Franklin Mountains. The 50K will climb to 7700 feet. The majority of the low trails are desert trails that have terrain which is easy to run on and simple technical trails. When you climb the North Franklin Peak there will be a combination of switchbacks and straight climbing. The start and finish will be at the pavilion area circle within the Franklin Mountains State Park. More race details include:
-
One loop of 32 miles for the 50K
-
13.1 mile ½ marathon will be 2 loops. 1 loop of 9.3 miles and one of 3.8 miles.
-
Total elevation for 13.1 is 2477 feet up and 2697 feet down.
-
10K is 1 loop of 3.8 miles and 1 loop of 2.6 miles.
-
Total elevation for 10K is 1221 feet up and 1371 feet down.
-
5K is 1 loop of 3.1 miles
-
Total elevation for the 5K is 417 feet up and 505 feet down.
Specifics About the 50K Race
All runners need to be aware of the risks involved in this mountain ultra marathon. Runners need to be prepared to carry enough water to get them through 6-7 miles, which could be 2-3 hours if you are hiking. Dropping out of the race must only happen at an aid station.
Sign up now for one of these exciting races through the Franklin Mountains!
Tips for Finding the Best Used Cars in El Paso
Shopping for and finding the best used cars in El Paso means spending some time conducting research and making a list of those features and options you desired the most. The best place to start is by making a list of the brands you are considering and the specific models. Do you want a car, truck, SUV, or crossover model? Once you have determined the type of vehicle you want, write down a list of features and options you want, and break these down into two categories: must-have and optional. Additionally, take the time to consider each of the following:
Differences in Body Styles
Do you want a two-door or four-door model? The main consideration is whether you need easy access to the back seat and the actual size of the back seat area. Normally in two-door models the back seats are much smaller. Car insurance rates tend to be slightly higher on two-door models than four-door models.
Differences in Engines
Engine sizes vary from small four-cylinder engines to large eight-cylinder engines. The size of the engine determines the amount of horsepower it can generate, which translates to the amount of time needed to accelerate from a stop to the speed limit. Bigger engines tend to accelerate quickly. However, the drawback is that large engines increase the weight of the vehicle and lower fuel efficiency.
Fuel Efficiency
How far do you want to be able to drive in between fill-ups? If you drive an excessive amount, you should consider used vehicles with higher fuel efficiency ratings, like hybrid and electric models. If there is only a few miles difference in ratings between the models you are evaluating, then fuel efficiency is not as much of a concern.
Safety Ratings
You should look at the safety ratings on the vehicles you are considering. Safety ratings will let you know how the car performed during crash tests, and the risks for roll overs. If you have children, you probably want to look at a vehicle with higher safety ratings.
Price Differences
Differences in prices between similar models can influence your decision. Is it really worth paying several hundred dollars more for a single feature? When it comes down to it, ask yourself if the feature is a must-have or something you can do without, especially if you are on a tight budget and want the lowest car payments possible.
Once you have conducted your research, the next step is to visit car dealers in El Paso and shop their used car inventories. It is highly recommended to test drive any vehicle you are considering purchasing. Depending on the age of the vehicle, you might want to take it to your mechanic and have them inspect the engine and related systems to ensure they are in decent condition. For sales-pressure free, friendly assistance in finding your next used car, feel free to stop by Integrity Kia or call us at 915-856-2982.
Connect with us
Recent Blog Entries
Categories
Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.