u/No-Kiwi7723

I’m currently leasing a 2023 Kia and need to figure out my options for getting out of it early. We are looking to transition into a Toyota or Chevy truck, but I’m not sure of the best path forward given we don't plan on keeping the Kia.

The Current Situation:
Vehicle: 2023 Kia
Remaining Lease: 23 months
Current Payment: $650/month
Mileage: Under the yearly limit
Equity: Roughly $1,000 negative right now (trade-in value is about $1k below my payoff quote).

The Goal: I want to lease a Toyota (Tacoma/Tundra) or Chevy (Colorado/Silverado) with a target payment of around $450–$500/month.

Where I Need Advice:
Kia’s Buyout Rules: I know Kia Finance America (KFA) generally does not allow lease transfers, and they are notoriously strict about blocking third-party lease buyouts. Because of this, a standalone Chevy or Toyota dealer might not be able to just buy it out directly. Has anyone navigated this recently in Texas? Do I have to trade it into a dealership that has a Kia store in their auto group, or do I have to buy it out myself first?
Rolling Negative Equity: If I am indeed $1k negative, is rolling that into a new lease feasible without completely blowing my $450–$500/month budget?
Feasibility: Are $450–$500/month leases even realistic right now for these crew cab trucks (assuming Tier 1 credit and minimal cash due at signing)?

Any insights, strategies, or recent experiences with exiting a KFA lease early would be hugely appreciated!

Just finished my first cook with the venom controller and SnS in my 22” kettle.

I only lit 12 briquettes to start with btw. I had it set to 275F and it overshot to 331F within 30 mins and wasn’t very consistent in the 4.5 hrs until the last hour of cook.

I also notice the ambient temp probe seems to be off by 15-25 degrees compared to my TempPro TB829. Notice the temperature spike to 330-340F on the TempPro and Venom has it closer to 310F.

What should I be doing differently?

In the market for a temp controller/fan setup for my 22" kettle and could use some input from those who have put theirs through the wringer. I'm usually cooking with a Slow 'N Sear and want to dial in my overnight/long cooks.
I'm perfectly fine with drilling a hole in the kettle to hard-mount a fan adapter, so it doesn't need to be a strictly "no-mod" plug-and-play unit.
My main hesitation with some of the models I've seen online is spotty connectivity and cheap fans. I'm looking for a unit that has a highly reliable app connection and a durable fan that can actually survive the heat and elements.