This is How You Save at the Pump!

I can't tell you just how excited I was when I saw the theme for this Kroger Mission.  It's called "Fuel Your Passion" and they don't know what they've just done. They gave us free fuel points to add to what we already had, and then want me to talk about why we love to hit the road!!!

As much as love Kroger (and it's a lot) I love even more how I get there.

Let's start at the beginning:

Christmas 2016: I got a Kindle Fire. It came with a free 3-month subscription to read lots of books.  I found a book I liked and then the author released more books in the series the next two years.
July 4, 2017: I started reading the next installment.  One day I went to unlock the Kindle and this was the ad on the lock screen:

https://www.kia.com/us/en/vehicle/niro/2019

Blue colors are my click bait. 

Ok, that's a pretty color. WHAT IS IT? TELL ME MORE!

A 2017 Kia Niro. Hybrid. Boasts 49 MPG on the highway - and MORE (52) in the city.  What, what?! That can't be right.  I thought cars got less mileage in the city because of all the starting-and-stopping.  TELL ME MORE!

I researched everything I could find about this car.  It was brand new, first of it's kind in the Kia world. 

(Fact: in 2013 we bought a 2010 Kia Soul. Used at that point, but still first of it's kind)

Then I researched hybrid engines.  Do they use gas? - Yes. But also have a battery? - Yes. The car knows when to swap to battery power to save gas.  Every moment it can.  Coasting, breaking, stopped at a light, sitting in park - Check.   

Passed the appearance inspection

But is it as pretty in person? - Yes.
My Google Photos history is proof:
Sat, July 15 we were with my parents in Paducah, and I actually managed to convince them to drive us by the Kia dealership (not so quick to do... it's not close to the mall, and basically right in the center of town.)  So we cruised the parking lot, but I hopped out.  I had to take a closer look. 

Y'all, IT SPARKLES.  

We of course were sniffed out by the salesman, and I played along so I could ask some questions.  He couldn't answer them.  It was an new car that he really hadn't learned much about yet.  REALLY?!  I did learn it doesn't come with a spare tire from the factory, so the dealers include one if they so choose. That's appreciated.  He tried to get us to come inside, so that was our queue to leave.

(I should also note Payton didn't think I was serious here. He may have rolled his eyes when I wasn't looking.)

Does it have the hybrid delay that some people dislike so much about hybrids? - Some say yes.  

So for the next two weeks, I drooled over this car. I dreamed about it. I researched. I played around on the Kia website where you can build your own. I read about all the features, what comes in the different "Trim" options, all the different add-ons they offer, even how much towing capacity it has. 

Then, I tried to talk to Payton.  

<We'll skip this part.>

So a few days later, I tried again.

I brought my notes, my calculations, and let him browse through the website and make his own.  We got on the same page, and even agreed on what features and "Trim" type we liked... aside from he did NOT want a sunroof. 

Then I started looking for actual on-the-ground cars that met our specs. 

Turns out you really just make a checklist and they find you cars that meet as many of those options as possible, within a designated number of miles from your location.  

We had FOUR options..  

Now the best part:     Talking to the salesman.

No joke, it really was.  

I already knew that a dealer in Clarksville where my parents live gives "Warranties For Life" and I wanted that.  Plus, since we visit them so much, we might as well buy in their town (Murray doesn't have one. Technically the one in Paducah is closer, but we rarely go up there.) 

I called, said I had some questions about the Niro, and spoke to Josh. He was super nice, definitely knew more than the last guy, and was really impressed with how much research I had done on this car already. Of course, he could tell I could be an easy sell.  I had just a few potential deal breakers....

The one wanted was in Evansville. 

We wanted to buy from him in Clarksville.

We wanted a deal.

So, two phone calls, four days, and maybe a few moments of pure shopper's-high ecstasy, we went to get her.

And let me tell you, a deal we got!
0% Interest
Warranty For Life
PLUS a discount off the price

Did I mention we also paid off our Soul before we did this?
Only one car payment at a time!  This is definitely the way to buy a car.  Now when we're ready for another, we'll buy from them again.

In at least five years LOL!

Ok, This has to also be about Kroger, whom I love too, and not just about our car, that I love more.

Better Together.

Kroger gives us fuel points: 1 point per $1 we spend. Unless it's during the Summer on weekends - then it's 2x's the points.  Unless it's buying a gift card - then it can be up to 4x's the points.  (i.e. If you buy from Amazon, buy a gift card at Kroger first! Get the points. Get your card rewards points. Then get your Amazon haul. Then get cheap gas!)

This Mission also gave us extra fuel points, plus the promise of more later.

Let me just tell you how we use it:
I drive 40 miles to work and back every day.  

When I started that job last year and was still driving the Soul, I needed a tank a week. Plus a tank for the weekends. It was half a tank to get to Clarksville and back. We also love to travel when we can. (In 2016, we took trips to Flordia, to Indiana, and to Texas. Not all of those were planned, but still lots of miles and lots of tanks of gas.)
It didn't take long to realize how much our gas bill was going to go up with this new job.  That was also a big reason why I was so interested in the fuel economy of the Niro.

NOW: 

One tank of gas can:

- two full weeks of driving to work (does not include weekend expeditions)

- 1.5 weeks to work if I have to go to Clarksville for the weekend

- ALL THE WAY TO FLORIDA (that's my favorite feature. We gassed up and didn't need another tank until we were passed the Florida state line.  One tank there was enough for all our exploring, plus at least 1/3 back. We only needed one fill up to get us home.  

I can't say enough about this car.  Here's some pictures to prove my point!  We filled up on a rainy night just a few days ago.

That particular tank had given us 47.8 MPG.

Yes, you can note that we've had the car since August 5, 2017...
and this fill up was on September 19, 2018.
We've put over 23,000 miles on her in 13 months.

WE'RE ROLLIN'!

It was raining. I didn't really want to get out.... but pretty pictures time!

Yes, of course we have Doctor Who stickers!

 I didn't realize how spoiled this makes you. Keyless entry. Keyless start. No more fumbling for the keys and scratching the paint on the car!!!

(Why doesn't my house also have a keyless entry? They have password locks. I want that too. 

This is immediately after our fuel up.  She recalculates how far you can go with this tank, and I reset our Trip "B" after each fill up just to see 

  

Other nifty things about the display:

Android Auto works with your phone to display maps, give you directions, play your music, and even text/call people hands-free.

She likes to tell me how far it is to work and to home. But I don't always want to be going to work. Like today. I want to be home working on this, and then all the many things for the Homecoming event. I have three weeks from today to get all that finished!!! 



I'm sure there's going to be a blog about that at some point. I love to take pictures.  (PS - Google Pixel phone is the BEST because you get unlimited photo storage when you take pictures using that phone. And I take a lot of pictures.  This post is a good example LOL!)

There's a diagram of the car, and it shows whether the engine is running or if the battery is being used, or if the simple fact that the wheels are turning so that's what is charging the battery!

So neat to see this and understand how a Hybrid engine works!

There's also a tree.
I think it shows how well you drive?
I like that almost all the leaves are filled in. 

And all Niro models come with a backup camera!
I never knew how great this was until we got one.
Especially in parking lots where you can't see around the giant trucks beside you.
It beeps. It has colored warning spacial features. 

I always back into our driveway, so this is so helpful to know how close to the other car (when it's there first) or garage door before I have to stop.  

Spoiled.

Have you ever played Exploding Kittens?

You should. Tell us, we'll introduce you.

As more proof:

This is what I got her to read after my next fill up.  It's satisfying only if just for these two miles. 

99.9 MPG!!!! 

I'll end with a few of my favorite "on the road" pictures:

Also, kitties, don't hide in or under cars.  Then you get trapped and we have to take you in and find you a new home.  Oh wait, maybe that was your plan all along. :)

Continue At Your Own Risk! 
When looking for the ad picture, I found this and watched it for the first time. I'm not sure I have words for what I just saw:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUbTpvbwR_s