Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Don't Forget About Our eCoupons!

Like sand through an hour glass, so go the lives of our Facebook coupons. Be sure to visit the “Offers” tab to take advantage of our current deals!

Our Current Offers - http://on.fb.me/Wxr5Ji

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

2013 Kia Soul offers great mix of features and value

No matter how you feel about those rapping wannabe gangsta hamsters, the 2013 Kia Soul offers an interesting mix of good looks, technology, functionality, efficiency and refinement, in an incredibly affordable package, and does it in a way that attracts a wider spectrum of buyers than those hamsters are aiming for.

In spite of new engines and tweaked styling received in 2012, it’s still an inexpensive box-shaped runabout with Gen Y firmly in its crosshairs. But it’s surprisingly suitable for anyone — no matter what their age — who appreciates youthful styling, fuel economy, daily practicality, coupled with useful standard features like Bluetooth, iPod, and USB connectivity, and the best warranty on the planet.

While the Soul attempts to stand out in a sea of sameness — in spite of its basic shape — there are plenty of options and accessories to seriously personalize it. Kia makes no bones about what the Soul is — and is not: It’s a car — not a cute-ute, or “compact utility” as that segment is labeled, and certainly not an SUV, crossover, or minivan surrogate. Mechanically, it’s your basic small sedan, with no all-wheel or four-wheel drive offered.

Model Lineup: The 2013 Kia Soul comes in three models: Soul, Soul+ (Soul plus), and Soul! (Soul exclaim).

The Soul features an inline, 138-horse, 4-cylinder, 1.6-liter engine and comes with air conditioning, power windows and door locks, 15-inch steel wheels, black trim, body-color door handles and mirrors, AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 stereo, USB and auxiliary inputs, Bluetooth with steering-wheel controls, 6-way manual drivers seat, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, 60/40 split folding rear seat, remote keyless entry, and variable intermittent wipers. The base Soul comes with a 6-speed manual transmission, but a 6-speed automatic is available.

Options include alloy wheels and an ECO package that includes idle-stop-and-go start-stop system, power mirrors, alloy wheels, luggage under-floor tray, illuminated visor mirrors with extensions, and low rolling resistance tires. Accessories include illuminated sill plates, cabin lighting, auto-dimming mirror, floor mats, cargo net and rear spoiler.

The Soul+ upgrades to the 2.0-liter engine, and adds 16-inch alloy wheels, stereo tweeters, leather-wrapped steering wheel, Soul logo inserts on the upholstery, and metal-finish trim. The 6-speed manual is standard, but it’s available with the 6-speed automatic. Options available only on automatic versions include a power sunroof and fog lights, 350-watt Infinity/UVO by Microsoft entertainment system with rear camera and HD radio, and the ECO package.

The top of the line Soul! offers only the 2-liter and 6-speed automatic, and adds 18-inch alloy wheels, body-color trim, LED running lights, projector headlights, sand and black interior with houndstooth upholstery inserts, standard UVO, and more. The main option is the premium package that includes navigation, XM traffic, leather seating trim, heated front seats, climate control, and push-button start/Smart Key.

Safety equipment on all models includes six airbags, active front headrests, LATCH seating system, electronic stability control, antilock brakes, and a tire pressure monitor.

Walkaround: With rear windows that are narrower than those in front, it appears there’s a rear downward slope to the roof, but it’s a clever optical illusion because of the rising beltline below the windows. There’s also a black, horizontal, ding strip on the doors that’s both functional, and adds to the strong straight-line design.

The corners on the Soul are nicely rounded, taking away some of the hard edge of its box-like shape, with help from strong, chiseled wheel wells. The smile-like grille is small, and no bigger than necessary to suck in fresh air for the engine. The stylish front lighting elements are new, and include LED running lights and projector headlamps.

Big vertical LED taillamps outline the rear pillars, and complete the wraparound look. The rear window and liftgate are clean and smooth, with an indented handle and a stylish chrome Soul badge.
The 16- and 18-inch alloy wheels are larger than what’s often available in this market segment.

Interior: Everything inside the Soul is simple, clean, functional, and ergonomically positioned. The front bucket seats are more comfortable than I thought they’d be — especially after a couple of long jaunts. They offer plenty of legroom, and enough headroom for six-plus-footers.

Rear seat legroom is tight, but fine for kids or adults of average height, and the 60/40 rear seats easily fold flat. There’s a handy compartment under the trunk floor, and below that a space-saver spare tire. There’s 19 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat, about four under the floor, totaling 53.4 with the back seats folded down.

The interior vinyl and cloth trim is above average, and there are bottle holders in the front door pockets, plus cupholders in the console, which also offers a deep storage compartment. There’s a surprisingly large dual-level glovebox, map nets on the front seatbacks, and grab handles over every door. There are auxiliary audio, iPod, and USB port connections, and two 12-volt outlets.

The steering wheel boasts the usual standard controls, while the three-ring instrumentation is clean, with an eave over the gauges so they’re readable in the sun. The modest center stack features business-like knobs and buttons that accommodate the revised shifter and UVO/Microsoft entertainment system, which includes a rear camera.

There’s throbbing-to-the-beat rims of changing colored lights surrounding the front door speakers. This can be turned on and off, and you can program the way it reacts to sound — a quick way to amuse yourself while stuck in traffic.

Under The Hood: The 2.0-liter inline-four (which our test model was equipped with) got a much-needed upgrade during the 2012 model year refresh. Power was increased by 16 horses to 164, and torque by 11 pound-feet to 148. The base powerplant is a 138-horse, 1.6-liter (up from 122).
Kia upgraded the transmissions as well last year. The six-speed automatic is smoother, even when shifting down a couple of gears for acceleration and highway passing, with mileage improved by 1-4 mpg whether automatic or manual, to 27/35 mpg for the 1.6-liter and 26/34 mpg for the 2.0-liter.

Behind The Wheel: I found the Soul nimble, and fun to drive. There’s sufficient power available, although the transmission will run a gear up all the way up to redline before shifting under heavy acceleration. If that’s your driving style, you’ll pay for it with lots of engine noise. Road noise is also a factor, but no worse than any other vehicle this size, and this low to the ground.
Handling and braking are more than adequate for this class of vehicle, and there is that level of utility that makes this a surprisingly adaptable daily driver.


Bottom Line: The Kia Soul offers simplicity, four-door upright hatchback versatility, great gas mileage, and styling with personality. It’s easy to drive in urban settings because of its nimble size, and with every single option available — not to mention Kia’s 10-year/100,000-mile warranty — this car is an enormous value.

Courtesy of KPBJ.com.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

The Kia Sportage, A Not So Techie Review

So far I have really enjoyed all of the Kia cars I have driven. I would be happy to own any of them, especially the Kia Sorento! The Kia Sportage is another fantastic car!

Here is the fantastic red Kia Sportage that I drove for 7 days! My kids loved it, look closely and you can see that Emma can not contain her excitement!

The Kia Sportage was described to me by the Kia people as the Sorentos little cousin. I can totally see why. It still has a ton of room, but does not feature the 3rd row seating that the Sorento has. Even without the 3rd row seating option there is plenty of room for my family of 5 to travel most comfortably.

It has a lot of get up and go! Comparing it to the Suburban, this is so much easier to get out into busy traffic in. It goes when you want it to go!

Now, out of all the Kias I have driven, I have enjoyed the interior of the Kia Sportage the best. It is set up nicely and looks great! I have to say that this is an ideal family car, especially if you like to go out and do things…like camping, travel, etc.

I am very much in love with Kia right now. I would be happy to own one of these cars, especially the Kia Sorento or Kia Sportage, as I feel they would work best for my family with the way they are set up, room as well as being 4 wheel drive.

Thank you Kia, once again for letting us drive this awesome car to see what we thought of it.

All opinions are my own and no compensation was received.

Courtesy of Not So Average Mama

Monday, January 21, 2013

Maintenance Monday Post: Fill with washer fluid only

Does your car have a case of the Monday's?
Don’t add water to the windshield washer reservoir. It won’t clean as well as washer fluid, and it may freeze in cold weather and damage the system. Don’t try to run your windshield washer system once you suspect there’s no more fluid in the tank, or you may damage the washer fluid pump.

Courtesy of Reader's Digest

Friday, January 18, 2013

Listen to Coldplay if You Want to Stay Safe on the Road, Study Says

Want to stay safe on the road? Wear a seat belt, check your blindspots, avoid texting while driving and ... listen to Coldplay.

Strange as it may sound, the British band's soothing tunes could help you avoid accidents while driving. Coldplay's "The Scientist" landed on a list of "ultimate safe driving songs" compiled by Confused.com, the creator of driving app MotorMate.

From the data, London Metropolitan University professor Simon Moore concluded that the optimum music volume for driving is 55 to 65 decibels, while the ideal tempo should mimic the human heartbeat at around 60 to 80 beats per minute.

Based on Moore's findings, Confused.com created a safe-driving playlist that includes: Norah Jones' "Come Away With Me," Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours," Radiohead's "Karma Police" and Elton John's "Tiny Dancer." For more, check out the video above.

On the other side of the spectrum, Moore cautioned against listening to music that is noisy, upbeat and increases your heart rate. For example, drivers should avoid the Black Eyed Peas' "Hey Mama," which topped Confused.com's list of top 10 dangerous driving songs.

Courtesy of Mashable.com

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

As 2013 Rolls In, Forbes Finds The Kia Soul To Be In High Demand

As 2013 begins and many auto brands wrap up their holiday sales, Forbes has released a list of the vehicles that were in the highest demand during the busy selling season. Coming in at number four on the publication's Top 10 Hard-to-Get Cars list is the Kia Soul urban crossover, which has been attracting buyers with its affordable pricing and eccentric styling.

Forbes worked with auto researcher Edmunds.com to rank its Top 10 Hard-to-Get Cars based on the average number of days it took for each model to turn, or how long a dealer had a vehicle in inventory before it sold. Edmunds.com reported that the average Kia Soul model stayed in stock for just 15 days, as the vehicle remains a high-volume seller, moving well past 100,000 units in the United States in 2012.

"If you look at the Forbes Hard-to-Get Cars list, you'll notice that every model has attractive styling, but none of the other styles are quite as unique as the Soul's funky design," said Scott Levy, general manager of Rosen Kia of Elgin, a Chicagoland Kia dealer. "The tall roof and angular lines of the Soul have made it perfect for drivers who want to stand out but still need a practical, versatile ride for day-to-day driving."

Last February, Kia used the style of the Soul as the basis when it unveiled the sportier, two-door Track'ster concept, which was recently named a 2013 10Best Concept Car by Car and Driver magazine. Taking on a longer wheelbase and a wider stance with more prominent fender flares, the Kia Track'ster has a race-ready appearance, donning various scoops and vents as well as a pair of booster-rocket exhaust pipes.

Though there are no current plans for production, Car and Driver indicated that the aggressive styling of the Kia Track'ster could make the coupe a viable competitor to the MINI Cooper, in much the same way that the Soul has taken on its boxy four-door counterparts, the Scion xB and Nissan Cube. Even if the Track'ster remains a concept, it may influence the style of the next-generation 2014 Soul when it goes on sale as soon as this year. A prototype of the new Soul has been spotted with a steeper front end similar to that of the Track'ster.

"As an automaker, you have to be careful that you aren't trying fix something that isn't broken when redesigning a popular model, but all signs point to just the right amount of styling updates in the next Soul," added Levy. "Fans can expect the same recognizable shape along with new modern touches that will keep the crossover turning heads for years to come."

Courtesy of Read Media

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Awesome job, sales team! Another satisfied customer.

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"I purchased a Sorento and I absolutely love it. Do not hesitate to purchase a car from Paramount Kia of Hickory... Trust me when I say that they will treat you right and help you in any way that they can." - Customer

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Congrats, service team, on another great review!

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"I have always had my needs met in an orderly manner and any questions I had, they took care of. I will be using their service again in the near future." - Sonya P.

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Monday, January 7, 2013

Tire Myths...and Reality

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Myth: I should inflate my tires according to the pressure indicated on the tire sidewall.

Fact: The handwriting's not on the wall--the tire sidewall, that is. Molded into the sidewall is the tire's maximum inflation pressure, not the manufacturer-recommended pressure. For normal operation, follow inflation pressure recommendations in the owner's manual or on the vehicle placard located in the glovebox or on the door post.

Myth: A tread pattern is needed to provide great traction on dry roads.

Fact: A racing slick--a tire without any tread--provides the ultimate in dry traction due to the maximum amount of rubber touching the road. A tread pattern, with its groove voids, actually compromises this adhesion capability on dry roads. The role of tire tread is to act as a squeegee on wet roads to remove water from under the tire and channel it through the grooves for improved wet traction.

Myth: Performance tires wear out faster because of the sticky compounds.

Fact: Performance tires may wear out faster than conventional family-car tires; however, tread rubber polymers aren't the culprits. In fact, new polymers and ultratensile steel constructions make performance tires last longer than ever. Industrywide, performance tires average about 45,000 miles in tread life, similar to the figures for family-car passenger tires. Fast wear usually is due to high-horsepower vehicles fitted with the tires and aggressive driving. Jackrabbit starts and quick stops can shorten the life of any tire.

Myth: Wide tires provide better traction under all weather conditions. In fact, putting oversize snow tires on a car delivers better snow traction.

Fact: The opposite is actually true. Wide tires tend to "float" on deep snow, and the tread lugs never have a chance to "dig" through to the road surface to gain traction. Narrow tires are a better option in deep snow. The tire acts similarly to a knife cutting through butter; the blade works best when using the narrow edge to push through the butter rather than the wide flat side of the blade.

Myth: All-season tires are so good that winter tires are never needed.

Fact: In some parts of the country, this may be true, but if you live in the northernmost states or in Canada, the traction provided by winter tires can't be beat. Winter tires reign supreme in rural areas where snow remains on the road for days. They provide 25-percent-improved traction in deep snow over all-season tires. Metal-studded tires deliver up to 40 percent greater traction on hard-packed snow and ice over all-season tires, but many locales have restrictions regarding the use of studs.

Myth: Never rotate tires from side to side, only front to back.

Fact: Radial tires can be crossed from side to side in the rotation pattern. The old front-to-back rule applied to bias ply tires. Regular tire rotation--every 6000 to 8000 miles--promotes more uniform wear for all tires on a vehicle. (Goodyear recently designed a light-truck tire system that requires no rotation; the Wrangler RF-A provides a rear tire with a different tread design from the front tire).

Myth: Put your new tires on the drive-wheel position to get the most traction.

Fact: This is only true on a rear-drive vehicle. In all cases, install new tires on the rear axle. Most tire buyers purchase new rubber for the drive-wheel position to get the most traction; however, by doing so they transfer most of their traction capabilities from the rear and make it susceptible to oversteer. The vehicle's rear will fishtail and swing out in fast cornering or emergency maneuvers.

Myth: Sticking your fingernail in the tread can help you pick the tire with the softest compounds, and thus, the best adhesion.

Fact: It's sort of like kicking the tire, but with another part of your anatomy. Tread compounds only tell part of a tire's story. Tread pattern, tire shape, and tire footprint shape on the pavement provide clues to its adhesion capabilities. Don't rely on the fingernail test.

Myth: The government tests tires for traction, temperature resistance, and treadwear and assigns grades molded onto the sidewall.

Fact: Uniform Tire Quality Grading is a federal law that requires tire manufacturers to grade their own tires for treadwear, traction, and temperature resistance. Tire manufacturers, not the government, test tires and assign their own grades. Unfortunately, the government has not prescribed a formula for converting the manufacturer test results into universal grades; therefore, the numbers are not objective. According to the Federal Trade Commission, treadwear grades are for comparison purposes only and are not intended to be converted into anticipated or promised tire mileage.

Myth: An undulation on a tire sidewall is a weak spot that could lead to tire failure.

Fact: An undulation is created where materials overlap each other in the tire carcass, and it actually is the strongest part of the tire. Still, motorists perceive a "wave" on the sidewall as a defect. Goodyear's new ultratensile steel reinforcement eliminates this material splice and overlap. Ultratensile steel should reduce sidewall undulation in polyester-reinforced tires.

Myth: Before you buy a car, kick the tires.

Fact: It might not tell you much about the vehicle or tires, but it could tell you whether your shoe padding is adequate.

Courtesy of MotorTrend.com

Awesome job, Brent! Another glowing recommendation.

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"Car salesman, Brent Huffman, was a pleasure to deal with and I will be more than happy to give them my repeat business in the future, as well as offer a positive word of mouth recommendation to others." - Greg M.

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Friday, January 4, 2013

Great job to Jim and Patrick, our Dynamic Sales Duo!

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"The sales team really seemed focused on the needs of the customer and really listen before coming to a conclusion of what best fits that individual. Jim and Patrick made it an easy transition for me." - Customer

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Thumbs up to Preston and the rest of our service team!

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"Preston and his guys do great work and are professionals in every aspect. I would not hesitate to recomend Paramount Kia for any car needs." - Rick B.

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Thursday, January 3, 2013

Our support goes well beyond the dealership.

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Visit our website to see how we are helping improve our community.

Jim gave this customer an excellent shopping experience!

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"I was very impressed with the service I received at Paramount Kia from Jim Moir. He was very professional with the whole process. He answered all of my questions very promptly. I would recommend Paramount Kia to anyone." - Customer

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Keep up the great work, Mr. Woods!

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"I have always had a GREAT experience with Paramount. Mr. Woods, who is my service advisor of choice, is the BEST!" - Mike B.

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Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Kia Sorento: Cruisin' In Style With This Classy Family-Friendly SUV

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When we started a family several years back I traded in my stick-shift sedan for a more family-friendly mid-size SUV. I have a Hyundai that I really love, but its not new anymore and its definitely my Mom car. Ive been keeping my eyes peeled for a new ride since mine is getting up there in miles and would love to find something still very family-friendly but a little more modern and stylish. And guess what? I found it! The Kia Sorento is a classy, current, stylish SUV thats perfect for our whole family.

I love the way the Sorento looks. Its the perfect size, too. Not too small that its cramped for the kids and all their worldly goods, yet not so big that its hard to handle. Its not a boxy design either. Just perfectly sleek without looking space age! I just love it.

The first time I got inside I was a little surprised that theres no place to insert a key into the ignition. You just push a button to turn the car on and off. This took me a few rides to get used to but I ended up totally loving this feature. Its wintertime and cold here in Pennsylvania and while I was running around doing my last-minute Christmas shopping I loved being able to beep the locks open from a couple steps away, hop it and put my foot on the brake, hit that button and start the car. This feature totally eliminates fumbling with keys which is not only convenient but safer. You do have to have the smart key in your possession to be able to start the car with this button, so dont worry about just anyone hopping in and taking off with you car even if you leave it unlocked. (They thought of everything!)

The Sorento has two sun roofs, one in the front and one in the back. My kids thought it was the coolest to have their own sun roof to be in charge of! And I really liked being able to let in the light. We didnt open them and let the wind blow due to that whole cold winter thing, but I bet they are awesome fun in the summertime! Speaking of kids, we easily got both of them in the car. My sons convertible car seat uses the latch system which this car has so it was a snap to install. And they both had adequate space to themselves (though that never prevents them putting their hands on each other. Ah, siblings!).

One other really useful safety feature of the Sorento is the reverse camera. When you put the car in reverse you can see whats behind you in this camera. Obviously you should still look over your shoulders and check for cars or people or anything else that might be in your way, but this is a great way to see whats directly behind you that you might miss looking out a window. When that screen isnt serving as a reverse camera its a built-in GPS system. Its so handy to have that built right into the dash. We usually use our phones if we need directions and this is much easier to see and safer to use while driving.

Okay, now lets get to my favorite interior feature: heated seats. I never wanted to get out of this car because of these babies. When its bitter cold outside and you can push a button and warm up your backside….heaven! Theres a separate control for the drivers and passengers seats (lucky for my husband who doesnt like a warmed butt like I do), and you can control the level of heat too. I cranked that bad boy up and got nice and comfy. I definitely need heated seats in my next car. They are fantastical, especially when its 30 degrees outside!

Though we didnt have occasion to do it, you can pull up the floor of the trunk to create a third row of seats. More than once weve wished for more seating, either to take of the kids friends with us somewhere or to bring one of our parents out. Its so nice to have that option if you need it. So the Sorento can seat up to seven! And its really easy to pull the seats up and put them back with the little straps attached to the back. It can be done in seconds!

The other thing I found really useful is the HUGE trunk. This was really perfect for the time of year I got to test drive the car: Christmastime! I did a couple of last minute shopping trips, one with a friend where we seriously power shopped and we filled that trunk right up but had plenty of room for our bags.

My friend even bought table lamps so we were grateful for the cargo net in the trunk that kept anything from flying out when you open the door. (Yup, those are lamps, chips and hula hoops. Were a wild bunch.) This is such a genius idea. You should see me when I open the trunk with a load of groceries in it. One hand on the handle, pulling up very slowly. One hand at-the-ready to grab any loose items ready to hit the garage floor. Im half bent over, trying to see where the loose item will fall from. Its not pretty. Lets leave it at that. With this cargo net I had no worries that I was going to lose my load. I also really like that cargo screen that allows you to hide the contents of your trunk. Perfect for those shopping trips when you want to keep your purchases safe. While this isnt the greatest pic since I snapped it with my phone in the dark, you get the idea. Plenty o room for your goods!

The Sorento also has a USB port where you can plug in your iPhone or iPod and play your music right through the car stereo! I have a different kind of mp3 player that I couldnt get it to recognize, but my friend plugged in her iPhone and we rocked out for a little bit on our way home from shopping together. I totally love that feature. I have lots of music on my device that I dont have on CD. And is it me or is there nothing good on the radio anymore?! You almost have to take your own music. This would make it worth getting a compatible mp3 player to me! Id use it all the time.

Finally, the car rides like a dream. Its a smooth ride, not jerky or bumpy and definitely not noisy. One thing I noticed about it is that it has a really nice and tight turn radius. So you dont have to swing wide to make little turns. We got good gas mileage too. I was surprised how much running around I was able to do before I had to fill it up. We actually got to drive it in the snow twice and had mixed results. On Christmas Eve it had snowed for a little while when we ventured out to church and it handled pretty well on roads that had a decent amount of snow on them. A few days later I went out with the kids and it had just started snowing so there was barely a coating on the roads and that was a little slick. But, I heard the same thing from anyone who was out that day so it may have been more the conditions than the car. You can tell from that picture above that the roads are pretty nasty. Overall we think it handled well in inclement weather.

We totally fell in love with the Kia Sorento. All four members of the family were sad to see it go. My husband isnt the most excitable guy and even he was gushing over this car. He said hed definitely love to get a Kia for our next car. Music to my ears since I completely loved it, too! Its perfect for our family of four and yet feels more like a luxury ride than a Mom car. Really theres nothing Mom car about it! Classy and stylin is more like it.

These cars start around $23,000 and go up with added options. You can read more about all of the awesome features on the Kia Motors site!

I was provided with temporary use of a Kia Sorento to facilitate this review. The opinions in this post are 100% mine. You can read my full disclosure policy here.

 

Courtesy of Pandora's Deals.

Trustworthy service leads to another 5-star review.

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"Paramount Automotive is a GREAT place to have your car serviced. You can trust the people at Paramount." - Cindy P.

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