A couple of years ago, my mother was driving her '05 Cobalt base sedan and constantly complaining about how hard it was to get in and out of it. She became aware of the 3 boxy hatchbacks that were hitting the market... xB, Cube, and Soul. She was enamored, I was bemused. Until I realized that for a little lady of her age (4'11", age 65 at the time), the ease of entry and cabin volume with small footprint, affordability and good fuel mileage might be ideal for her. So after test driving the Cube and Soul (with her in the passenger seat, amusingly), she decided on the Cube for its laid back, rolling living room feel and "unique" looks. The flat seats and soft suspension seemed to be the way to go... to me, so she leased one based on my advice. But since then, every time she saw a Soul while I was with her, she lamented her decision (and I was subliminally reminded that I should never give her advice, even if she asks for it.)

I don't work in the finance side of the business, so I was unaware that a lease could be traded in at any time just like a purchase. She had $3500 trade equity in her Cube, which proved advantageous to her in leasing a 2012 Soul + recently, in "Moss" (brown with a little bit of green cast in the sun).

She's already customizing it. I had one of my guys install a pinstripe (sparkly gold, purely her choice). She's got mudflaps for me to install, and now she's demanding window ventshades. I draw the line at stick-on Ventiports, however.

Really, it's like she's the kid, and I'm the parent. Glad she's having fun though.

Edited April 2, 201213 yr by ocnblu

A lot of older people are choosing vehicles like this because they're easier to get into. One of our major auto writers here in Canada highlighted this recently.

Modding it still strikes me as odd though.

ps. I think my mom has a "younger" vehicle than me too, she has a red Genesis coupe.

Neat...I've seen some older folks mod their cars...like the people w/ PT Cruisers w/ whitewalls, flame decals, '50s style wheels, etc. My Mom (4' 11", 81) has kept her '05 Navigator mostly original except for replacing the all-season tires w/ more aggressive mud & snow tires (for the muddy rural Ohio outback conditions) and replaced the carpeted floormats w/ heavy rubber WeatherTech ones).

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Welcome back, ocnblu, and congrats to your mom on her new ride.

Thanks, GMTG. And yup Mr. Dart and Moltie.

Welcome back Ocnblu, glad you got recharged and have brought your enjoyable thoughts back to the boards. Good luck to your family on their new ride.

That's nice of ya, Mr. dfelt.

Very cool! And very interesting she could get out of a Cube lease early with that much equity. Hmm, resale.

The fact that she want STUFF for it is even cooler. My younger "I have a new car again" mother is a big Soul fan. Not sure how or why, but based on the looks and then finally the hamster marketing, she loves them, would buy one, and told my father he should when car browsing recently. Has never been in one but loves them.

Cool move. Congrats ocnmom.

Do the mudflaps have little chrome ladies on them? ;-)

Yosemite Sam with guns a'blazin'?

Nah they're Kia Genuine Accessory Mudguards and they attached perfectly with the existing wheel liner hardware.

Very Cool, you will have to get a picture of the car and post it for us. Plus do a review and let us know what you think. I do not think anyone has done a review on the Soul yet on this board.