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Road Trip Tips and Tricks Summer is here, and it's time to celebrate. There are so many new things to experience now that the snow is gone, and the skies are blue. We want to help you have fun on the road this summer. Check out our road trip tips to see what you can do to better enjoy your time with your family. more READ MORE: Indoor Family Activities: Rainy Days at the Jersey Shore Maintenance Spring cleaning may be a little overdue, but not for your vehicle. Make sure to clean out your vehicle before you start your journey. Organize your glove compartment to make sure that you have everything you need, especially a map and your insurance information. Fun Excursions What's a road trip without pit stops along the way? Take the time to schedule some fun events on your journey. See the sights and try new things before you reach your ultimate destination. Make sure to switch drivers every so often for safer driving. Staying Alert When you are driving a long way, it is important to stay focused on the road. Turing the air conditioning on high will help you from falling asleep. Eating a snack can also help you from falling asleep. You can also have a co-pilot to help tell you where to go and keep you company as you drive. Use these tips to help you drive safely this summer. READ MORE: 15 Dashboard Warning Lights: What are they? Summer is the perfect time for a cross-country adventure. We hope we helped answer your questions with these road trip tips and tricks. Have fun this summer and enjoy some time with your family. If you are looking for a new vehicle to take with you on your road trip, you can check out our online inventory to see what Kia models we have available and schedule a test drive with us at Matt Blatt Toms River Kia today.

Driving in the wintertime can be hazardous, to say the least. With snow and ice taking over New Jersey in these cold months, it's best to be prepared! Let's take a look at some winter driving tips from prepping your car to getting stuck: more Winter Driving Tips In New Jersey, our towns are prone to be visited by at least one storm in the winter season. And oh how we would all like to stay home! But unfortunately, life doesn't stop because of a few inches of snow. Though roads may be salted and cleared doesn't mean one shouldn't drive with extreme caution. If anything, this is a time to increase your defensive driving! Let's go through some winter driving tips: Preparing for Snow Understanding the Environment While Behind the Wheel If Your Car Gets Stuck Preparing for Snow Before the first flakes fall for the season, get your vehicle ready! Check your fluids! In the middle of a snowstorm is no time to be driving on bad brakes or without washer fluid. So check your car's brake fluid, anti-freeze, transmission fluid, oil, and windshield washer fluid. If you see you're using your windshield washer fluid a lot, refill it after the storm so your visibility is as good as it can be. Lastly, gas would fall under the 'fluids' category as well. Try to not go under a half tank. Imagine being stuck in the snow and losing heat! Next replace your wipers if they need replacing! You can check if they are working properly by squirting some water on to the windshield and if it leaves streaks, replace those bad boys. Also, ensure they are on there nice a tight so in inclement weather they don't fly off. Take a look at your tires. Are they properly inflated? The change from warm to cold weather will affect your tire pressure. You will probably need to add more air. On top of tire pressure, inspect your tire's tread. The more tread the better the grip. You can read more about tires here! A scraper is a must for winter. Preferably one with a brush on one side. In the morning, DO NOT try to scrape your windshield with only your wiper blades. It will ruin them and possibly burn out the wiper motor. Use the scraper and brush to clear your whole car of snow from windshields to lights! Sadly we see a large amount of drivers who don't clear off the snow from their roof and hood. Not only can the snow shift and fall onto your windshield causing obstruction to your visibility, but it can also fly off and land on other drivers' cars. Be safe and spend an extra minute fully clearing your car for you and fellow driver's safety. Lastly, what's inside your car? Winter is no time to keep your car barren. Add some extra supplies for the unlucky chance you do get stuck in the snow somewhere. Winter emergency kit items include: extra clothing or blankets, water, snacks, and a small shovel (see the section below If You Get Stuck). Understanding the Environment Two things to be aware about when it comes to your driving environment: if it is below freezing and what parts of the roads freeze first. Is it below freezing? Most newer cars have a thermometer displaying the outside temperature. Knowing what the temperature is can prepare you for unseen ice. What parts of the road freeze first? If it's freezing, below freezing, or if it was below freezing not too long ago, expect there to be ice. The parts of the road that tend to freeze first or remain frozen longer are bridges, overpasses, low lying parts in the road, streets near bodies of water, and spots in shadow. Similarly, people tend to forget about intersections. It may look slushy and not frozen but that is due to the constant stop and go of traffic. The friction creates heat that melts snow and ice to create a watery look. This actually can cover up ice and create extra lubrication. So beware! While Behind the Wheel Don't rush! Give yourself extra time to get to where you're going. Take your time with clearing off your car, braking, accelerating, and turning. Easy on the petals! And speaking of braking, accelerating, and turning, do them separately. Do not try to hit the brakes while turning or accelerate while turning. You're just asking for your car to loss grip and slide. Double your usual follow distance. Exactly what I said. Double how far you're from the car in front of you, because remember it's going to take you longer to stop. Finally, when driving uphill or downhill, don't floor it OR stop! Both could cause you to lose control of the vehicle and its grip on a snowy road. So generally, be smart, take your time, and extra care while driving! If Your Car Gets Stuck Now, IF you do get stuck: d on't panic, breathe, and think 'improve traction'. How can you do that? Start by removing snow and ice from under and around your tires with the little shovel you've stored in your winter emergency stash. Then ease on the gas very slowly. If you seem to be slightly moving but not quite getting there, try rocking the car. Meaning go into drive then reverse a few times to create a rocking. Be careful doing this. Your transmission can be damaged if you don't take care to stop and switch from one to the other. Lastly, try to lodge something under the front of your tires to increase traction. For example, find a large stick to shove under the tire. It may grib into the snow better and enable a extra amount of traction to free you from the snow. After you try those tactics and still can't seem to get out, call a tow truck. They know this happens frequently during snow storms and are at the ready. Winter Driving Tips: Ready to Ride! There you go! All the winter driving tips you need for this season. If you're looking for recommendations for better cars for the winter time, check out our new 2020 Kia Sportage with AWD, or the Kia Telluride with an exclusive SNOW driving mode. If you have an questions our team would be more than happy to assist you in safely driving during the winter. Thanks for reading and safe travels!

Driving a Kia is more than just driving. It's Eco Driving. It's Sport Driving. It's Smart Driving. The Kia Driving Modes are tailored for different styles so you enjoy every second whether you want an extra boost of acceleration in Sport Mode or to save some fuel in Eco mode. Let's take a look at each of the Kia Driving Modes and Which Models have them. more In the newer Kia models, you'll find different combinations of drive mode options for optimum usability and custom driving. But some of the more luxurious models have additional modes such as Smart, Custom, or Snow. Knowing which does what and when to use them will assist in your commute, alternate terrains, and to maximize comfort. "Driving modes, or Drive Mode Select (DMS), proactively controls parts of the engine, transmission, and air conditioning system to suit your driving style." Though the configurations differ per model, they are standard on every trim level of a model. For example, the Kia Optima has Normal, Sport, Eco, and Comfort on every trim level from the LX to the SX. So whether, you opt for the EX or the LX, the awesome driving modes are there! But what can you expect from each Kia Driving Mode? Let's take a diving into the details: Eco Sport Comfort Smart Custom Snow Kia Driving Modes ECO Mode The Kia driving mode ECO increases fuel efficiency. Each model slightly differs but essentially your a can expect increase MPG from the transmission shifting gears to a lower RPM, a different throttle response, and in some models, even shutting off the engine when in complete stop like in the Kia Telluride. These several factors are paired together to reduce fuel use and save you money. This is a great mode for everyday and urban driving! ECO mode is the most common apart from SPORT mode. You'll find ECO mode in the new Seltos, Sportage, Sorento, Stinger, Telluride, and Optima for an extra fuel efficiency advantage. SPORT Mode Looking for an extra boost? Switch into SPORT mode. You feel an increased response on the throttle, a raised the transmission shift point, and tightened steering. At higher speeds, SPORT mode increases control and helps handling. It's the extra kick you're looking for in instances when you prefer power over fuel efficiency. SPORT Mode is found in: Seltos, Sportage, Optima, Sorento, Forte, Soul, Stinger, and Telluride! COMFORT Mode Shift into COMFORT mode for a smoother ride, perfect for city driving. The steering is lightened for easier, more exact turning. Your Kia will also have a smoother suspension and acceleration for a cushioned ride. Relax and enjoy the ride in Kia Driving Mode COMFORT found in the Forte, Optima, Stinger, and Telluride. SMART Mode Exclusively found in the Kia Stinger, SMART mode is an adaptive, advanced mode that switched between COMFORT, ECO, and SPORT to bring the passengers a SMART driving experience. The seamless switching optimizes for fuel efficiency, smooth riding, and a power boost. Your driving is partnered with this dynamic mode for the best driving according to road conditions and your personal driving style. CUSTOM Mode The Kia Driving Mode CUSTOM is exactly that. Exclusive to the Kia Stinger, create your own driving settings with customized suspension, steering, and throttle characteristics. Enjoy your tailored machine and harness the power and comfort you crave. SNOW Mode The Kia Telluride is enabled with SNOW mode! In icy conditions, traction control increases and power is distributed between the wheels for better grip and more control. The Telluride is an amazing vehicle for alternate terrains and with the bonus of it's driving modes, you have the perfect Kia driving modes for your lifestyle. In the Telluride, the Kia Drive Mode Select presents you with the options of ECO, SPORT, COMFORT, and SNOW! Kia Models and the Kia Driving Modes in Each Sportage - Normal, ECO or SPORT. Sorento - Normal, ECO or SPORT. Forte - Normal, SPORT, or COMFORT.  (Automatic ECO enabled) Optima - Normal, COMFORT, ECO, and SPORT. K5 - Normal, ECO, and Sport. Stinger - Normal, ECO, SPORT, COMFORT, SMART, or CUSTOM. Telluride - Normal, ECO, SPORT, COMFORT, and SNOW. Soul - Normal and SPORT. (Automatic ECO enabled) Seltos - Normal, ECO or SPORT. READ MORE: 2019 Kia Forte Gas Mileage: How far can you go?