It's a funky, fun kind of a deal...oh, and it's dirt cheap...

The KIA Soul is a fun, funky, red, Korean kind of a deal, and I really like this thing. That said, the big question that the folks at KIA are asking with the Soul is, will the kids like it. After all, that is the bet that all the Asian automakers are making with their little boxy people mobiles. They are aimed at the young, which makes me wonder why they’re using a variation of Sam and Dave’s “Soul Man” in the commercials thus aiming straight for the heart of old fogeydom…you know…where I live. But the car or truck or whatever the heck this thing is, it is really pretty good. The look is fresh but not as nerdy as the Nissan Cube. The familiar KIA grill and cool kickup in the back give it a fresh look that is quite appealing. Inside, our car was trimmed in the full Barnum & Bailey with red and black everywhere. The seats are comfortable and the cabin is roomy. Options on our Soul ranged from the nice like the electric sunroof to the downright goofy like pulsating lights in the speakers that throb to the beat. Under the hood, a 2-liter, 16-valve, 142-horsepower four will haul the 2800 pound Soul reasonably well with only a little less noise than having front row seats for the Stones. Economy is 24 city/30 highway which is just fine for a vehicle this practical. Our sport model was top of the line with a decent sound system, satellite radio and the erotic throbbing speakers and still came to only $17,000. Add the sunroof and shipping and your only a couple of hundred over $18,000. And that’s the Kia Soul. Good price, good mileage it is definitely worth a look.  In this day and age, that’s a positive steal for a car this well equipped. Forget the kids, maybe this thing is aimed at me. You know, the cheap me, not the cool guy me.