[kaidomac]

One quick note on using the ESC: it tends to make you turn further when in use. It's been snowing in my area a ton lately so I've gotten a lot of winter driving in with it this past week. The ESC works great, just be aware that it can add a larger turning radius to your car to handle the skidding. One trick I started using is switching the electronic steering mode into "Sport", which tightens up the steering response. That seems to really help navigating slippery roads covered in snow & ice.

I also REALLY like having the electronic steering mode. My previous Honda Fit was a fairly small car and required you to babysit the wheel on the highway because it had the equivalent of Sport mode on the steering - great on windy roads & for having fun with, but jittery on the highway. So instead, you can simply switch the '14 Soul to "Comfort" mode for steering and it gives you a lot more leeway on turning, which means you don't have to babysit the wheel on the highway - it has a lot more cushion like a larger, more stable car would. Really nice! All cars should come with that feature, haha.

 

[kaidomac]

Also can I just say how dang much I enjoy this car - I really love owning & driving it! If you're on the fence about picking one up, go out and take one for a test drive and see if it doesn't put a smile on your face. I'm so excited that a 2014 dark green model with standard transmission came to my area at just the right time, whoohoo!

 

[conwelpic]

and you can also make use of the manual mode of the automatic transmission when driving under those conditions too

 

[kaidomac]

and you can also make use of the manual mode of the automatic transmission when driving under those conditions too

Yeah, I will say that having a manual transmission is great in the snow. I'm really on the fence about upgrading the tires, actually. I was planning on buying someone's 18" 2014 rims (if I could find them) because I really like the looks, but the hubcaps aren't horrendously bad and steel is always a good way to go for durability, and really, the stock all season tires have been doing pretty well so far on ice & in snow. I'm kind of thinking of getting the 18's with high-performance all-seasons and then getting a winter set of rims for snow tires, and then keeping my stock ones in the garage for spares. Since I own the car this time (instead of leasing it), that would give me much longer tire life because I would only use the winter's half of the year and my all-seasons the other half, and then have my originals in case anything happened to one set. A little over-the-top, but she's my baby!

 

[kaidomac]

A quick shot next to my buddy's Honda Fit EV (very similar in size). It was overcast so I had to brighten the picture a bit, the Kale Green is actually quite a bit darker IRL, but it's been so overcast lately that I haven't been able to get any good pictures. It literally went from about 5F to 50F overnight, so everything started melting this afternoon & the roads are actually clear, whoohoo!

Edit: link to larger picture: http://i.imgur.com/qxVd5oP.jpg

 

[conwelpic]

Yeah, I will say that having a manual transmission is great in the snow. I'm really on the fence about upgrading the tires, actually. I was planning on buying someone's 18" 2014 rims (if I could find them) because I really like the looks, but the hubcaps aren't horrendously bad and steel is always a good way to go for durability, and really, the stock all season tires have been doing pretty well so far on ice & in snow. I'm kind of thinking of getting the 18's with high-performance all-seasons and then getting a winter set of rims for snow tires, and then keeping my stock ones in the garage for spares. Since I own the car this time (instead of leasing it), that would give me much longer tire life because I would only use the winter's half of the year and my all-seasons the other half, and then have my originals in case anything happened to one set. A little over-the-top, but she's my baby!

get snows for your original 16" steel rims, don't just keep them sitting around that's not good for tires over time.

 

[Lakeman]

Tire manufacturers say 10 years max depending on cracks. Meaning replace them at 10 years regardless or sooner. Michelin has an example of acceptable cracking on their web site. I just put $3,000 + tires on my RV that had 80% of the tread left, almost 10 years old. I was watching them closely and they went from OK to I better change these in less than 300 miles! You do not want a blowout on the front of a motorhome!

 

[kaidomac]

get snows for your original 16" steel rims, don't just keep them sitting around that's not good for tires over time.

I was thinking about it, but I'm not crazy about the stock rims - it'd be nice to have cool winter rims & cool summer rims, that way I could split them between the year (winters Dec to May & summers the rest) to reduce wear. No rims on Tirerack or Discount Tire Direct yet though. They do have one set of snow tires available for the stock steelies:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...ue&fromCompare1=yes&autoMake=Kia&autoYear=2014&autoModel=Soul Base&autoModClar=

I'm just debating if it's worth $465 + installation when the stock all-weathers are doing pretty well on their own so far...

 

[Lakeman]

If they are working you're fine.

 

[kaidomac]

One small thing: the top of the dashboard is pretty high up and so are the HVAC vents. Your options for heating/cooling are footwell, top vent, and window vent. Leaves a bit of a dead spot where your hands rest under the stereo receiver area, at least until the car really warms up. Just something strange to be aware of.

 

[Shaggy Wierdo]

One small thing: the top of the dashboard is pretty high up and so are the HVAC vents. Your options for heating/cooling are footwell, top vent, and window vent. Leaves a bit of a dead spot where your hands rest under the stereo receiver area, at least until the car really warms up. Just something strange to be aware of.

See if the wiring is there for the heated steering wheel and if it is, then install one. Otherwise, gloves work.

 

[kaidomac]

See if the wiring is there for the heated steering wheel and if it is, then install one. Otherwise, gloves work.

That's what I'm thinking. I had read about steering wheel swaps on the last-gen Souls to add cruise control, so if I could do that and get a more grippy wheel with heat & cruise, that'd be awesome! My first concern would be about the airbag though...

 

[jpstinne]

My hands are super toasty thanks to the heated steering wheel. I am surprised at how much I am using it!

 

[Shaggy Wierdo]

That's what I'm thinking. I had read about steering wheel swaps on the last-gen Souls to add cruise control, so if I could do that and get a more grippy wheel with heat & cruise, that'd be awesome! My first concern would be about the airbag though...

I believe that some of the threads on steering wheel swaps talk about the air bag in the wheel and its removal and replacement. I have never done it but I'll bet there are some on here that have. You have every right to be concerned though.

 

[kaidomac]

Regarding fuel economy, as it turns out I am actually getting "as advertised" this time around:

 

[jpstinne]

Regarding fuel economy, as it turns out I am actually getting "as advertised" this time around:

View attachment 30674

Great number - 30.0!

 

[remprimo]

I'm finding that the Trip Meter number tends to run a 'Tad' higher than actual -- usually, about 1 or 2 MPG. That MAY be due to my having a Base, with the 15" wheels?

Or, maybe, not .. .. ..

 

[kaidomac]

Great number - 30.0!

Yeah, and it's creeping up higher - my daily commute is around 50 miles and it went up to 30.8 today (mix of fun driving & just mild 6th-gear highway driving), so that's pretty good!

The only major issue I've run into is that the gears kind of grind if you're pushing it mildly hard. Like if I'm really goosing it up an onramp in 2nd or 3rd gear, it sometimes makes a very strange sound with a bit of chassis feel like it's grinding gears or something. I don't know how to explain it. It's happened to me three or four times though, never had that happen on any other car with a standard transmission...

 

[kaidomac]

I'm finding that the Trip Meter number tends to run a 'Tad' higher than actual -- usually, about 1 or 2 MPG. That MAY be due to my having a Base, with the 15" wheels?

Or, maybe, not .. .. ..

I started tracking my fillups on Fuelly from day 1, so I guess we'll start seeing over time: (only one logged so far)

Lean Mean Green Machine (Kia Soul) | Fuelly

Also, my 2014 Base came with 16" wheels standard (steel w/ hubcap). Wonder if they adjust the trip computer to compensate for wheel size.

 

[Lakeman]

Of course.